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Myers Literary Guide:
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The North-East
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JOHN HODGSON (1779 - 1845) Vicar in turn of Lanchester, Gateshead and Jarrow, Hodgson was a driving force in the Newcastle Society of Antiquaries. His biographer wrote that Hodgson 'seldom laughed aloud. Even in his happiest moments, his countenance had more in it of gravity than mirth'. Hodgson had an exalted view of the objectives of historical scholarship. 'It is only by retrospect into past ages, that we know whether the world is improving or at a stand'. It is indicative of his times that he did not envisage the world getting worse. In 1819, he advertised his intention of producing a six-volume History of Northumberland. He began, strangely with volume five, and further volumes appeared in 1827, 1828 and 1832. The undertaking, however, was too much for him and he died in 1845 with the great work incomplete. In 1890 a committee was formed to restart the attempt. The first volume came out in 1893, and the last, fifteen volumes later, in 1940, a remarkable achievement. Hodgson had the church at Heworth built by John Stokoe in 1822. Outside is the pathetic Haddon tomb of 1717, showing the children in a four-poster bed, tucked under a Durham quilt. There is also an obelisk to the 92 victims of the Felling mine disaster of 1812. Hodgson took an active part in the Society for the Prevention of Accidents in Collieries, and it was this period which saw the introduction of the safety lamp.
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