Elswick Amateur Rowing Club

Elswick Amateur Rowing Club existed prior to the formation of the Sir William Armstrong Amateur Rowing Club which was formed in 1866. Not a great deal of information can be found on the Elswick Club, but some snippets are listed here:

17th April 1857
The Durham Chronicle reported: ...on the Northern Amateur Rowing Club Opening Day event on Easter Tuesday, that "the afternoon was fine and the procession was headed by H. Clasper and R. Chambers in skiffs, followed by four oar crews, one pair and two open skiffs, alongside many pleasure boats. On their return to their waters they received a salute of guns from the Elswick Amateurs and from the Meadows".

18th May 1860
A Mr. James Hadock of the Elswick Amateur Rowing Club is mentioned as being an Umpire in 1860 for a match between William Lumley, Forgeman of Gateshead, and Matthew Taylor, the eldest of the brothers Taylor of Ouseburn.

4th February 1865
The Newcastle Chronicle reported: Robbing a Boat House. - Isaac Bird, aged about 19, was brought on remand charged with entering the boat house of the Elswick Rowing Club on Thursday last and stealing therefrom a pair of flannel trousers, cotton rowing jacket, and a quantity of copper nails. The case had been remanded until yesterday in order to find the property. The nails were found, and these having been identified, the prisoner was asked if was guilty or not guilty. He said was not guilty. Ald. Nichol: Then you are committed to the sessions. Prisoner: I wish to be tried here. Ald. Nichol: You must go to the sessions if you plead not guilty. Prisoner (turning back after had left the dock): I’ll rather plead guilty. Ald. Nichol: Not rather; but are you guilty ? Prisoner : Well, I'm guilty. Inspector W. Scott said that the prisoner had been convicted of similar offences before, and the Bench sentenced him to two months’ imprisonment.