Sole objection

The article on October 16 about the new tenancy agreement for Dilston Castle and chapel referred to by the anonymous writer, and a second article in the following week’s issue about the first of two weekend openings organised by The Fifteen (The Northumbrian Jacobite Society) to mark the tercentenary of the 1715 Jacobite Rising, both clearly stated that visits could only be made by prior arrangement.

This was due to the need to monitor numbers and to admit the public under supervision because of Cambian Dilston College’s primary duty of care towards its vulnerable students, which was also emphasised in the articles.

There was no mystery about the contact person “John”, as, if you read either article, it was obvious that this was me, John Nicholls, chairman of The Fifteen, mentioned more than once.

As for authorship of the articles, I naturally sent information to the Courant, but did not write either article.

I remember the woman who rang me well (apologies if I compromise her anonymity by revealing her sex) as she was the only person making enquiries about visits to Dilston over two weekends whose manner was negative.

She was also the sole enquirer who objected to the entry charge, though I explained that this was necessary as it had to go towards the heavy cost of public liability insurance and maintenance of the site and buildings which a new body, The Northumbrian Jacobite Society Dilston Heritage Trust, will have to bear.

This we are doing willingly, with the help of our members and through much-needed donations, because we wish to care for Dilston’s heritage and make access to interested parties available again, even if this has to be more limited than in earlier days, for obvious reasons.

Your anonymous writer does not mention that the entry charge included two interesting exhibitions in the Lord’s Gallery, with items never before seen on display, as well as an introductory talk in the chapel and an accompanied exploration of the castle.

I would be interested to learn of a similar visitor experience anywhere else that is free.

Had she taken up the opportunity to come to Dilston on one of our scheduled visits, she would have seen that, not only did our many visitors thoroughly enjoy the experience, but they also came away with a new understanding of our aims and how much help we needed from volunteers to bring the site back to life.

We gained several new members over each of the two weekends and not one person was unhappy about paying an entry charge. Indeed, many added an extra donation at the time in appreciation of the task ahead of us.

There is little use in harping on the past, though the writer forgets that when Dilston Castle and chapel were last open to the public, there was an entry charge at that time, too. I know because I was one of those who paid it, for myself and for a friend.

The fence she refers to was put up by Mencap, not by the present owners, Cambian, and is likely to be replaced by a more sympathetic one in the near future.

We have been most encouraged by the interest and excitement engendered by our commemorative event and very grateful for the support that has already been given.

JOHN NICHOLLS MBE,

Chairman, The Fifteen (The Northumbrian
Jacobite Society),

Hume,
Kelso.