# **Charity Registration Number: 1177252 Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway** 

**Annual Report, Financial Statements and Independent Examiner’s Report for the Year 27/09/2022 to 26/09/2023** 




## **1. Introduction** 

This fourth Annual Report is an account of the activities of the Friends of the Stockton & Darlington Railway (FSDR), for the year 27[th] September 2022 to 26[th] September 2023. The FSDR year runs from the anniversary of the opening of the railway on 27[th] September 1825. 

The Friends became a constituted group in 2013 and a registered charity in 2018. The particular legal form of the charity is as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). 

This Annual Report reflects a year of progress and development following the COVID pandemic which continues to impact on activity in terms of volunteer numbers and activities. Nevertheless, significant progress is being made on a number of fronts once again in particular our participation in numerous working groups with partners in local authorities and government agencies in the planning for the S&DR bicentenary in 2025 and in putting in place a lasting legacy beyond. 

|Summary of the purposes of<br>the charity as set out in its<br>governing document|Para 1.17|**To advance the education of the public**<br>**about the Stockton and Darlington**<br>**Railway (S&DR) and its seminal role in**<br>**the development of the modern railway**<br>**through its national and international**<br>**influence and the conservation of the**<br>**structures, archives and artefacts of the**<br>**S&DR.**<br>|
|---|---|---|



## **2. Acknowledgements.** 

As ever, the work of the FSDR would not be possible without the significant support and work of many people. We work with many individuals, communities, and organisations and while there is always a danger in missing out someone, we would in particular like to thank the following for continued support and participation; 

• The Trustees and our many other volunteers within our Area Groups, those who attend our meetings and events, or simply follow us on Facebook. Those, whose physical and administrative tasks have kept the charity growing and our objectives to be worked towards. 

• The staff and elected members of Durham County Council staff, Darlington Borough Council, Stockton Borough Council and the Tees Valley Combined Authority who continue to support us in our efforts and to work in partnership, together with institutions such as the staff of the SMG at Locomotion in Shildon. 

• The local organisations, businesses and communities along the S&DR who have provided us with physical help and support. 

• To those who have provided funding for our work, in particular this year Historic England for Capacity Grant Funding through the S&DR Heritage Action Zone. 

• To Tim Hardman for being our independent Examiner’s Report. 



## **3. Chair’s Report.** 

Dear Friends, the danger of writing the annual chair’s report is that I repeat or steal the thunder from the various hard-working trustees and volunteers who are reporting elsewhere and without whom the Friends would be nothing. Our work is presented at our AGM each year, and to ensure a lasting record of this we endeavour to produce a fulI annual report for the charity commission which is more detailed than we are legally obliged to provide, but which we feel is important in being open and clear in our business and making it easily available to any interested party. we are legally obliged to submit to the Charity Commission and which is freely available. Such reporting and other ‘unseen’ but essential work, such as commenting on planning matters, lobbying local authorities, and people of position and influence, attending innumerable meetings, and the general bureaucracy and administration of running a growing charity should not be underestimated.  As ever I urge and invite more members to get actively involved and help out directly with this fantastically worthwhile work. 

I begin this year’s Chair’s report by announcing we have now (finally!) acquired our first area of S&DR land, the former Coal Depot at Fighting Cocks. The negotiations for this along with a donation of £5000 by PH land have taken over two years and were finally completed in late September 2023. Thanks are due to all who helped this come to fruition, in particular trustee Ross Chisholm for his forensic examination of documentation, and to Peter Bainbridge for taking forward on-going conservation work. Ownership of the site now means we are in a position to take forward ideas for conservation and interpretation and following planned meetings with the Middleton-St-George community later in 2023 I very much hope to report on substantial progress next year. 

Land and property acquisition so that we can directly manage S&DR heritage in the future is something we are exploring in a number of ways. While the ownership of land comes with some liabilities, it also means we can get on with things without the need for complicated and time consuming legal licences, to my mind it gives a feeling of ‘ownership’ for our members and communities, and in some cases may provide a source of income for our future activities. Clearly, we need careful assessment and business planning before we take on any substantial liabilities, but we do need to explore opportunity when it presents itself. A singular case in point is the former Heighington Station which some may remember as the Locomotion No.1 Pub. As members will recall this is a long and drawn-out saga beginning several years ago when we discussed with Durham County Council them buying the property as part of the walking/cycling route development. After much protracted internal debate Durham CC finally decided they couldn’t do this, but would support the Friends taking a project forward. We have begun exploring this with discussions with the owner who is willing to sell and have begun the process of exploring grant aid with a number of sources. With only two years until the bicentenary, it is unlikely the building can be purchased and fully restored, but I’m optimistic we can be well on the way to securing its future. Apart from the clear need to save the world’s oldest railway station, it’s location on the S&DR walking/cycling route half way between the major museums at Shildon and Darlington must mean it has a promising commercial future…how good would it be to stop off at a Georgian railway inn/station for refreshments! Clearly lots of work and business planning to undertake before this goes forward but to my mind an exceptionally worthwhile project. 



As members may recall from last year’s Chair’s Report, the future role of the Friends including such areas as ownership of land and property and how the 26 miles of the S&DR outside of the main museums can be looked after beyond 2025 has been the subject of a study and report by Tricolor Associates. This was commissioned by the Rail Heritage Board and funded by Durham, Darlington and Stockton councils. Tricolor were tasked with identifying the best way to take forward long term management of the S&DR and held wide consultations and workshops with many groups including ourselves. The outcome of the study, and now adopted by the three councils as well as your trustees, is that a single focus charitable body is the best delivery mechanism and the Friends will be supported to develop into that organisation, one that will need a proper business plan, resources and quite likely paid staff. Again, with generous financial support from Durham, Darlington and Stockton Councils, we hope to reappoint Tricolor to make a bid to National Lottery Heritage Fund for a major grant to help us develop a business plan to take this forward and make sure what we aspire to do is both sustainable and achievable. This may include means of generating income and appointment of paid staff in future. 

Talking of paid staff, a major step forward for us this year was the appointment of Jonathan Ratcliffe as our first employee in the role of Secretary. A generous donation from our Vice Chair Alan Townsend has allowed Jonathan to work around one day a week to provide a professional focal point for recording minutes of meetings, ensuring our insurances are paid, arranging the AGM and a wide number of other tasks. This will hopefully free up time for myself and other trustees to work on other matters. One ‘backroom’ task Jonathan has already organised is an online shared filing system for trustees and new FSDR emails, so in future you can contact me at Chair@sdr1825.org.uk and Jonathan at secretary@sdr1825.org.uk 

We have now completed the first year of our three-year agreement with Durham County Council who are providing £5,000 per year to manage the Brusselton Incline and area at the Masons Arms Crossing.  Initial more substantial works were commissioned from contractors at the Masons Arms to cut back trees, re-seed grass and plant a new boundary hedge. Following which further works on grass cutting, weed spraying etc have taken place. There have been some hitches with the first year including some petty vandalism of new hedge planting, but overall things are shaping up well. Agreement with Shildon town council over grass cutting and firmer instruction for contractors remains to be worked on, but in principle the Incline should look good for 2025. This way of working with volunteers supported by contractors is something we need to develop post 2025 as we look to step up in our role as custodians of the line. 

The S&DR Heritage Action Zone initiative funded by Historic England has now come to an end after five years. The good news is that the project officer Richie Starrs has been retained by Darlington Council to continue his essential work in managing the overall S&DR project along the 26 miles.  Not only is Richie’s continued involvement excellent news, but it is excellent to see the commitment from Darlington in keeping the post going at what are difficult times in local government funding. The HAZ ran for five years and really kick started the current work to conserve and celebrate the S&DR. Members of the Friends, and the communities along the line have put a huge amount of time and effort in, hugely surpassing the original hopes for volunteer time (a full report is available on the HAZ, please email and ask for one if you’d like to read it). The Historic England input also saw lots of published research on a number of sites/themes including The Shildon Coal Drops (now recognised as the world’s oldest design 



for mechanical refuelling of locomotives), Darlington Lime Cells, Goods Shed and Carriage Works; and substantial numbers of new designations to list buildings and schedule areas of the line to give them legal protection. In particular Skerne Bridge is now Grade I listed, Heighington Station Grade II* (and recognised as the world’s oldest railway station), and perhaps most touchingly the Railway Tavern on Northgate, Darlington at Grade II…finally being recognised officially after all the hard work and research of various members and in particular the late Brendan Boyle. All publications and many more are available to download from our online library at https://www.sdr1825.org.uk/publications-and-research/ 

As in previous years I once again take great pleasure in complementing our amazing volunteers and partners along the line for the work and passion they show in caring for our railway heritage. Our membership continues to hold steady and accounts are in healthy shape and for this I’m grateful to trustees Peter Bainbridge and Ian Ross for their hard work in these areas and especially for successfully dealing with a long tedious problem with Barclays and our bank account. I pay thanks to all of those volunteers along the 26 miles who continue to celebrate our rail heritage in whatever way they can, be it through repair works, guided walks, events, litter picking, tree planting or just trying to enthuse their neighbours and relatives to get involved. This year we marked the 198[th] anniversary of the S&DR opening with a well attended public Railway Market in Locomotion Museum organised by member George Morton. Thanks to George and to Locomotion for hosting us and the all the traders who generously donated to the FSDR. As in previous years on the 27[th] George and Cindy Alderslade hosted a members’ party at their home in the former station master’s house at St Helen. 

Following the frankly disappointing three years to go launch to 2025 last year, this year 2025 plans have taken some major steps forward. We warmly welcome Niccy Hallifax as 2025 Festival Director, Niccy is a breath of fresh air and something of a force of nature and it has been fantastic to see how she has quickly grasped all the latent ideas for 2025 and begun innovatively to bring them together as a full programme of events. A festival logo and website have now been launched and its worth checking in with www.sdr200.co.uk to keep up to date with the latest on the 2025 festival as it becomes available. A centre piece of 2025 is to be a recreation of the Inaugural journey of 1825 using the restored 1975 replica No.1 and a train of waggons and the coach Experiment. We’ve been pleased to work with Steve Davies of the International Rail Consultancy and North Bay Engineering on this work, helping to make sure coach, waggons and train are as authentic as possible. 

All of this research needs to find a wider audience and we are especially pleased that the Early Railways Conference will meet in Darlington in September 2025. Here all things S&DR as well as other research n other early railways will be presented and debated. You can find out more here https://rchs.org.uk/early-railways-conference-combined/ 

Much of the work of myself and the Trustees is not so obvious but is absolutely essential in building partnerships, commenting on and steering planning applications along the line and providing guidance on solid factual information on the S&DR and early railways to ensure our story is told properly; my continued thanks to trustee Ross Chisholm our lead on planning work. Our continued support for and input to the proposed 26-mile S&DR walking/cycling route is such a worthwhile but time-consuming task. We were pleased that Durham County Council received c.£7 million pounds of Levelling Up Fund grant to take forward this and new works at Locomotion Museum. After substantial work in negotiating with landowners and addressing 



concerns we’re very pleased to see DCC now out on the ground building the route, all to be completed by mid-2024 including a new bridge on the 1825 stone abutments across the Gaunless (consultation on this by the end of 2023 I’m told). Interpretation and signage is also in the process of design and FSDR members have had an opportunity to be briefed and to input on this in recent weeks. Hopefully by the time of our 2024 AGM much of this should be in place. 

Darlington Council received substantial funding from central government through the Towns Fund to improve the town centre and fringes and one key project was the purchase and restoration of Edward Pease’s house on Northgate. Now separated into four and semi derelict on upper floors, this house where Pease lived, met George Stephenson and many important railway decisions was made deserves better. Darlington have bought one key part, but sadly negotiations on other parts have stalled. We are however working with Darlington Council to take the scheme forward and would hope that at least in part the house is accessible for 2025. 

Late in 2023 the National Lottery Heritage Fund gave the thumbs up to a major grant for our joint bid with Darlington Brough Council. This has funded the appointment of Cait Barrat as the S&DR Heritage & Community Participation Manager and I’m sure we’ll all be seeing a lot of Cait and two additional posts (Education and volunteering) over the next four years. In particular Cait is coordinating the lottery funded £200,000 community fund for ourselves and others to use in our on-going work and events along the line. Drop her a line if you’re interested in applying for a grant at s&drcommunitygrantsscheme@darlington.gov.uk 

Every year I’m amazed at the passion and time given by our volunteers and there are frankly too many people to thank individually, but my gratitude in particular goes to our trustees who work incredibly hard and without whom we wouldn’t be pushing forward with such great promise as we are. 2023 is our tenth anniversary, and I’m not sure if any of us knew what we were getting into when we started. While we may have had disappointments along the way, it’s a credit to everyone involved that directly or indirectly we have made people sit up and take notice of the railway that got the world on track.  2025 is shaping up to be a major event here in the region and with a wider planned Rail200 initiative across the UK supported by Network Rail. 

I conclude with a note of caution, while there is significant and substantial activity and funding from many partners large and small, we are now less than 2 years away from September 2025. If all our aspirations to have in place a world class visitor attraction are to be realised in time for the bicentenary and to have a sustainable vision to look after it in years to come, we and our partners need to keep pushing to ensure all these wonderful plans come to fruition. I’m sure with everyone’s continued support we can achieve great things but time as ever is of the essence. We rely on members continued support and we hope that in your dealings with friends, work colleagues, family and others you keep telling them about the S&DR story and how this part of North East England changed the world. 

_Niall Hammond, Chair, Friends of the S&DR._ 



## **4. Membership Secretary’s Report** 

Membership as of 26 September 2023 

Membership – 230. 

Members on Facebook – 30.87 % 

Corporate Members – 20 

Membership renewal invitations/reminders have been issued to all members, mostly via email but for several members via the Royal Mail. We are asking all members to pay their fees via Standing Order as this saves me a massive amount of work each year. 

There will be a few members who cannot set up a Standing Order but for anyone with a bank account you will have Standing Orders to pay for various items – Gas, Electricity, Water Rates, Council Tax, etc. so why not add another Standing Order to save me a large amount of unnecessary work. 

At the end of October 2022 - 47 out of 210 members did not renew which equates to 22.4%. The figure of 47 includes 2 deceased (possibly 3), 10 who advised that then were not renewing and 35 who did not respond to renewal emails. 

Despite issuing renewal invitation/reminders to all members and assuming that there will be no change to the current membership status (excluding new members) before the end of October 2023 the equivalent data will be - 56 out of 230 members will not be renewing which equates to 24.3%. The figure of 56 includes 2 deceased, 7 who advised that they were not renewing, 4 who have advised that they intend to renew (pending) and 43 who have not responded to renewal emails and letters. 

I am very concerned about the significant reduction in membership, and of those who are not renewing 26 joined in the last 12 months, several, in the last few months. Corporate Members – 20 of whom 14 have renewed and 1 has advised that they are renewing. No response from the remaining 5. 

_Peter Bainbridge, Membership Secretary_ 

## **5. Planning Officer’s Report** 

It is the job of the planning system, through Local Plan policies and decisions on planning applications, to serve the aims and objectives of the Rail Heritage Board and facilitate the proposals of the Programme and Delivery Plan of the Heritage Action Zone. Throughout the last year, the Friends have continued to try to ensure the protection, enhancement and promotion of the S&DR by responding to opportunities to comment on emerging Local Plans, on other studies and on planning applications, with varied success. 

All three councils (Durham County, Darlington Borough and Stockton Borough) have adopted Local Plans, each of which contain a specific policy for the S&DR. The policies maps show the main S&DR line and the Haggerleases, Black Boy, Surtees, Darlington (Coal Depot), Croft and Yarm Branches. Middlesbrough BC has started to prepare a new local plan, and we have already requested it to include a policy for the 1830 Middlesbrough extension to Port Darlington and the New Town. A draft plan was intended to be issued for consultation during the summer, but it has been delayed. 



Since the last AGM we have been involved with 25 planning applications about which we submitted comments. Nine of these were carried over from the previous year. Ten have been approved and two were refused. The rest remain to be decided. This represents a lower caseload than last year and the hours I logged on planning duties reduced from 180 to 106 hours. This includes time spent on monitoring the three Councils’ online planning registers for applications on or adjacent to the S&DR and its branch lines (we are not always notified of new applications); identifying any issues which need to be addressed; visiting the sites; submitting comments after consulting the Trustees and Friends (where time permits to meet consultation deadlines) and keeping track of changes to the proposals. In some cases there are meetings with developers and negotiations to modify the proposals to resolve any problems. As a last resort to achieve a satisfactory outcome, we sometimes have the opportunity to attend the Planning Committee and address members. 

It remains a problem that some applicants are either unaware of policies for the S&DR or that they choose to ignore them when justifying their proposals. Particular failings are to omit or under-represent the impact of the proposed development on the setting of the S&DR or to make provision for the Walking and Cycling Route. It is important that we draw attention to these discrepancies when commenting on applications as we cannot always be sure that the planning officer responsible for the case is fully aware of the situation. Very few applications obtain our unreserved support but it is rare for us to object totally to an application. Wherever possible we recommend how an application could be improved to become more compliant with policy or where a financial contribution to the line’s enhancement can be justified. 

Unfortunately, this last year got off to a most unsatisfactory start. In November, Darlington’s Planning Applications Committee approved the Burtree Solar Panel Farm application without paying due regard to the harm it will cause to the setting of the historic Myers Flat embankment. We suggested amendments to overcome the damage, including our Chair making an address at the committee meeting, but these were ignored. This prompted our Chair to write to the Council’s Chief Executive, complaining about this and other unsatisfactory decisions and seeking assurances that matters would improve. His reply was not as encouraging as we had hoped. 

Another disappointing decision was to approve the car park for the Darlington Rail Heritage Quarter visitor attraction without remedial landscaping to respect the setting of the (now) Grade 1 Skerne Railway Bridge, particularly where seen from the viewpoint in John Dobbin’s famous painting. 

I reported last year that we had regular virtual meeting with the Darlington Planning Officer to discuss informally issues raised by various applications. These were useful in that we were kept up to date on progress but the meetings were discontinued and they have not resumed. 

Of the applications not yet decided, these include the proposals for an extension to Craggwood Holiday Park at Ramshaw and to resolve the issue of the wall alongside the Brusselton Incline foot at Hackworth Industrial Estate with a mural. Discussions are continuing and we hope for positive outcomes. 

Once again, I am again very grateful for help given to me by individual Friends and those in the various local interest groups for their local knowledge, visiting sites, taking photographs, 



talking to local residents and notifying me of any issues they come across whilst ‘out there’ and think needs attention. 

## **6. Editor and Webmasters Report** 

While there are too few officers to cover both the editor’s role and the webmaster’s, I have joined them into one combined report. For ease we have also added to this report a record of book sales at events. 

## Globes 

Two Globes have been produced this last year in December 2022 and July 2023. Hard copies are sent by Peter Bainbridge to those who expressed a preference and copies have also been sent to the British Library. To all those who have submitted articles in the last year, thank you on behalf of all our readers. If you would like to submit something S&DR related in the future, ask me for our guidance notes – this can save time later. The deadline for contributions for our next Globe is 24th November 2023. 

We print 100 hard copies a year, although most members prefer a PDF copy. Currently there is no additional cost to members who request a hard copy. The costs of printing are however increasing and so those spare copies that we sell at events and on our web site have gone up from £3 to £3.50. 

## Walks booklets 

We have now updated and republished two of our self-guided walks booklets, thanks to funding from Brightwater. These are now attractive full colour booklets designed by Maud Webster and for the first time we have included QR codes which can be easily scanned with a smart phone which will take users to our web site to find out more detailed information. We have also produced attractive folders which can be used to hold complete sets of walks booklets (or Globes). These are all for sale on our web site. https://www.sdr1825.org.uk/store/ 

An initial first edit has been done on booklet 1 which covers Witton Park Colliery down to St Helen/West Auckland. However, it is not possible to take this further until the route of the new path is fixed. As soon as other routes are fixed, or if the Friends decide that the official route can be improved upon, we can start editing those booklets too. 

## Coffee table book 

Work has started on compiling costs for a S&DR coffee table book to be published by 2025. The intention is to produce a book with an introduction to the S&DR at the beginning then full colour images opposite short captioned text. We have approached professional photographers and drone users for costs. 

## Webmaster 

The web site has had additional information added to it, namely the Black Boy Heritage Trackbed Audit, which was completed by the end of March this year. The Education page has also been added and a page where you can report damage or concerns about the remains of the S&DR is also available with a simple form to fill out. Globes have been added too as PDFs (there is a delay 



to allow members the benefit of seeing it first) and hard copies are for sale. All of the second-hand books we have been donated are also up for sale. 

The web site is also our first point of contact with the public. We have had approaches in the last year from council organisations wanting help with activities, with members of the public who have inherited archives and are looking for advice on where they should be deposited and people carrying out family history. Developers also contact us in the hope of making pre-application enquiries, and media organisations looking for help in generating content or for a quote to use in reports. As our web site is easily accessed from anywhere in the world, we have also had enquiries from America regarding the Dixon family of Cockfield. Some of these are dealt with directly, but others are kindly taken up by other Trustees and partners. 

In total the online shop has had 85 orders (down from 143 in 2022-3) in the last year totalling £1346.62, down by 24% from last year. Of this amount, £240 is a result of four separate donations, for which we are extremely grateful. 

Here is a summary of online book sales for the past year: 

Globes 11 

Etherley Inclines booklet by Mary Smith 8 

Self-guided walks booklet folder 6 

Self-guided walks booklets (full set) 6 

Self guided walks booklets (singles) 5 

It Wasn’t Rocket Science by Mike Norman 3 

Royal George products (cards, postcards, prints) 1 

The Railway that got the World on Track 2 

The Yarm Branch 3 

Passenger traffic on the S&DR 1 

Three Greeners of Etherley and a model steam engine 2 

Cradle of the Railways CD 1 

Pre-owned books from the Peter Holmes collection 8 

BIG calendar 1 

AGM tickets 7 

The web site is also a place where membership can be purchased or renewed. There were 48 orders for new or renewed membership via the online shop in the last year resulting in £542.50 net sales. 

And other stuff…. 



Many Friends take on voluntary S&DR tasks outside their honorary positions. In that respect, outside my editor and web master’s work, I have been working with a film producer, Austen Atkinson of Fitztooth Ltd, on a proposal for a TV drama about the life of Hackworth, thanks to funding from A. V. Dawson and North East Screen. A draft pitch for a film has been produced over the last few months by Austen. However there have been strikes in the film industry which means that streaming companies are not commissioning new projects yet, but it is thought that this should be resolved by the end of November. Based on discussions with people in the industry, it is looking like any output commissioned will be for one 90-minute drama for streaming with the intention of commissioning more if they like what they see during development. 

The project has also been about generating interest in producing high end documentaries on the S&DR. These are not affected by the strike, so pitches created over the last few months will be presented to commissioning bodies in November. 

The proposal to also produce a series of short films covering STEM subjects aimed at Key Stage 3 and 4 has not yet made progress, but was always intended to take place at the end of the project. 

The project to record the music played on the opening day using authentic musical instruments of the period has stalled due to a lack of input from the various local authority music services who were helping to broaden the outputs into schools. I will therefore submit an application for funding without any wider educational outputs, but which will create a free musical download available to anyone to use for their events. We can revisit the educational outputs at a later date. 

The Railway Station Shop www.therailwaystation.shop is a privately owned online shop designed to raise the profile of the S&DR, work with local craftspeople to design commemorative gifts, and to raise funds for the Friends. In the last year it has donated over £300 to the Friends. We would love to hear from more talented local artists and craftspeople looking to work with us. No income is currently taken from this shop, but money from sales is reinvested in widening the stock range, replacing stock, or donating money to the Friends. 

In order to reach a younger audience and to continue to spread the word about the S&DR, I have a children’s book coming out before Christmas called Little Loco’s Big Day. It is suitable for children in the 6-7 age bracket and younger ones who are being read to. This will retail at £8.99 and would make a lovely Christmas present. The illustrations are by fellow archaeologist John Pickin and are marvellous. This is a private venture to avoid the Friends having to fund it and any profits will be used to write the next book in the series. I am happy to discuss with schools, museums and libraries doing readings which also include a specially written song (thanks to Phil Sculthorpe) and activities to go with the story. You can find out more here: https://www.therailwaystation.shop/little-loco/. 

_Caroline Hardie Trustee, editor and webmaster_ 

## **7. Archivist and Researcher Report** 

It is incredible that we are still coming across original material that does not seem to have reached the light of day before. Four years ago, the Raisbeck Collection was found in a bookshop in London, has since been transferred to Search Engine at the NRM in York, and our member, Peter Bainbridge, is currently transcribing the contents although he finds it very hard to transcribe some of the schedules of figures, but I think he is enjoying it! 



David Pennington, also a member, felt it was an indulgence to travel all the way to the Museum of Industry in Stellarton, Newfoundland, Canada to see Samson designed/built by Timothy Hackworth. When he saw it, all doubts evaporated, ‘The locomotive was far more than I had ever expected, & an incredible tribute to a genuinely remarkable man’. David’s report can be found in the July issue of our magazine ‘The Globe’ Issue 20, with a po8ed history of Samson by me! David also took the opportunity to visit the Chicago Museum of Industry and Engineering, built on land where the Chicago Exposition was sited- see below. 

We also saw the launch of ‘It Wasn’t Rocket Science’ by Mike Norman, a biography of Hackworth as wri8en by his grandsons, one of which, Timothy Hackworth Young, was involved in setting up the 1893 Chicago Exposition. 

David Pennington has also been looking at the building of Active (Locomotion). Timothy Hackworth went as a borrowed man to the Stephenson Forth Street Works for 6 months in 1824 whilst the engine was being built. Robert had gone to South America; George was already engaged with the forthcoming Liverpool & Manchester Railway. Timothy used his knowledge of the building and fitting of cylinders at Wylam, applying it to Active, which he went on to rebuild 3 times. 

Our Vice Chair, Alan Townsend has continued, his work and research on the Quakers and their connection with the S&DR. This project was supported by Historic England and involved two well a8ended workshops by members, Quakers and historians at the Friends Meeting House in Darlington. The first workshop covered the period to 1825 encompassing the financial backing of the S&DR as a railway rather than a canal. The second workshop covered the period from 1825 – 1902 and demonstrated how the momentum of the S&DR, supported by the business skill of the Quakers, led to the building of railways not only in Britain but across the world. A full bibliography is available. 

Other members and non-members have contributed greatly to research programmes and there have been many articles in The Globe ‘The end of the Line - the story of the Chaytors ‘The Globe’ Issue 19; and in ‘The Globe’ issue 20; ‘Engineer Gerstner’, ‘Henry Pease’ and research on the railway taverns by our late member, Brendan Boyle, who is sadly missed. Member Maggie Pulle – has researched the Morgan connection with the S&DR and has transcribed my father’s research notes (1970’s) of various documents, some of these now held at Woodhorn which we have not been able to access. MEMBER George Smith has researched the S&DR pay bills and written an article for ‘Backtrack and has launched his book ‘Tanfield Railway-The first 300 Years’. 

Our thanks go to Eric Branse-Instone of Historic England for his invaluable contributions to The Globe and we are absolutely delighted that various buildings have now been listed or their listings upgraded. 

All the articles that appear in The Globe’ are due to our Editor, Caroline Hardie. I have finished transcribing the le8ers to and from Robert Young (jun) author of the definite life of Hackworth ‘Timothy Hackworth & the Locomotive’, first published a century ago this year. These le8ers are now in Search Engine at the NRM York. I have also worked on the Young family tree (the Young and Hackworth families are interlinked). Descendants of brothers of Robert Young (snr) (Engineman at Brusselton Incline from 1827 to his death in 1848) include Ralph - a Railway 



Guard at Middlesbrough, William - a Railway Guard at Shildon, Thomas - a Railway Engineer at Esh Winning and Jack - Pit Manager at West Auckland and living in Hackworth House! All kinds of other pieces of work have been finished and some others started. 

_Jane Hackworth-Young – Researcher, Friends of the S&DR._ 



**8. Annual Accounts.** 

## **FRIENDS OF THE STOCTON & DARLINGTON RAILWAY** 

## **INCOME & EXPENDITURE STATEMENT** 

|**YEAR - 27/09/2022 to 26/09/2023**<br>**INCOME:-**<br>Membership Subscription & Donations<br>Sale of Publications<br>Gift Aid Recovered<br>Projects (reserved) Income<br>Miscellaneous Income<br>**Less: Expenditure**<br>Administration Expenses<br>Printing and Stationary<br>Projects (reserved) Expenditure<br>Professional Fees<br>**Surplus/(Deficit)**<br>Reserves Brought Forward<br>Reserves Carried Forward|**2022/2023**<br>£<br>4,533<br>1,585<br>514<br>34,417<br>566<br>**41,615**<br>£<br>2,326.04<br>1,433.00<br>31,236.03<br>592.00<br>**35,587.07**<br>**6,027.62**<br>29,640.48<br>35,668.10|**2021/2022**<br>£|
|---|---|---|
|||**20,218.82**|
|||£|
|||**20,647.53**|
||||
|||**-428.71**|
||||





## **FRIENDS OF THE STOCTON & DARLINGTON RAILWAY** 

|**BALANCE SHEET**<br>**YEAR - 27/09/2022 to 26/09/2023**<br>**CURRENT ASSETS:**<br>**Current Account - 31/08/2023**<br>**CURRENT ASSETS:-**<br>Debtors:-<br>**CURRENT LIABILITIES:**<br>Non<br>**FINANCED BY:**<br>Revenue Reserve 2017/2018<br>Revenue Reserve 2018/2019<br>Revenue Reserve 2019/2020<br>Revenue Reserve 2020/2021<br>Revenue Reserve 2021/2022<br>Revenue Reserve 2022/2023<br>Difference<br>**Restricted/Unrestricted Reserves Balance**<br>NB:- Outstanding Reserved Funds Balance|£<br>35,668.10|
|---|---|
||**35,668.10**|
||£<br>2,359.98<br>3,983.05<br>625.07<br>23,101.09<br>-428.71<br>6,027.62|
||**35,668.10**|
||0.00<br>19,552.87|





## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT TO THE FRIENDS OF THE STOCKTON & DARLINGTON RAILWAY** 

I report on the accounts of the Charity, registration no. 1177252, The Friends Of The Stockton & Darlington Railway, (FS&DR) for the year ended 26 September 2023 which are as set out on the enclosed pages. 

## **Respective Responsibilities of FSDR Trustees and Examiner** 

The FSDR members are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The members consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. 

It is my responsibility to: 

- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act 

- to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and 

- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. 

## **Basis of Independent Examiner’s Report** 

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the FSDR and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as members concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair view” and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. 

## **Independent Examiner’s Statement** 

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: 

1) Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements: 

- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; - to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act 

have not been met; or 

2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

T J Hardman 7 Elvet Waterside CTA Durham DH1 3DA 19 July 2024