German shell is found in stable

Aug 17 2006 By The Journal

A blast from the past has been uncovered at a Northumberland holiday park, after maintenance workers found a First World War artillery shell in an old stable block.

The huge shell, possibly from a German "Big Bertha" Howitzer, was discovered in outbuildings recently acquired by Haggerston Castle Holiday Park, near Berwick.

But the device is a dud, dedicated to the people of nearby Beal for their contributions during Gun Week in 1918.

And local historians say it is one of the few artefacts from the 1914-18 conflict to be found in the hamlet, which does not have its own war memorial.

Ian Martin, Curator of the King's Own Borderers Museum in Berwick, believes it was donated to the community in thanks for its part in raising a war loan of £1bn just two months before hostilities ended in 1918.

"Larger communities were presented with tanks or large pieces of artillery after the war," he said.

Donal O'Sullivan, Haggerston Castle general manager, said: "As yet we have not decided what to do with it. We may put it on permanent display as part of the new development at the stable block or it may be better on show somewhere in Beal or at Berwick Museum."