Bourne

HENRY BOURNE (1694 - 1733)

The earliest historian of Newcastle was William Grey (fl. 1649). Middlebrook describes his Chorographia as having winged words and a touch of high imagination, a 'fascinating and original fragment'. Bourne was born in Newcastle, the son of a tailor and was intended for the glazing trade. Friends recognised his talents, however, and he was sent to complete his education at the Free Grammar School, and later at Cambridge, under the Rev. Thomas Atherton, a fellow-townsman. In 1724 he was appointed curate of All Hallows in Newcastle and remained there until his death. In the following year Bourne published his Antiquities of the Common People, which gave an account of their 'opinions and ceremonies'. This was republished by Brand in 1777 in his Popular Antiquities and forms the basis for the later work of Sir Henry Ellis and W.C. Hazlitt. Bourne also wrote a history of Newcastle, a much fuller account than Grey's. It was left unfinished at his death and published by his widow in 1736 as The History of Newcastle upon Tyne, or the Ancient and Present State of that Town. Bourne was described by his vicar as: 'universally loved'.

Myers Literary Guide:	The North-East
HENRY BOURNE (1694 - 1733) The earliest historian of Newcastle was William Grey (fl. 1649). Middlebrook describes his Chorographia as having winged words and a touch of high imagination, a 'fascinating and original fragment'. Bourne was born in Newcastle, the son of a tailor and was intended for the glazing trade. Friends recognised his talents, however, and he was sent to complete his education at the Free Grammar School, and later at Cambridge, under the Rev. Thomas Atherton, a fellow-townsman. In 1724 he was appointed curate of All Hallows in Newcastle and remained there until his death. In the following year Bourne published his Antiquities of the Common People, which gave an account of their 'opinions and ceremonies'. This was republished by Brand in 1777 in his Popular Antiquities and forms the basis for the later work of Sir Henry Ellis and W.C. Hazlitt. Bourne also wrote a history of Newcastle, a much fuller account than Grey's. It was left unfinished at his death and published by his widow in 1736 as The History of Newcastle upon Tyne, or the Ancient and Present State of that Town. Bourne was described by his vicar as: 'universally loved'.
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