Nora’s archive

Nora Handcock spent many years researching the social history of Allendale and its surrounding areas.

Nora served on Allendale’s parish council and then went on to become the first female chair of Tynedale Council. In that capacity she presented a locally hand-woven rug to Queen Elizabeth II at the official opening of Kielder Water on 26 May 1982.

After she married and moved to live in Allendale in 1952, Nora was particularly interested in the changes that took place in the Allen Valleys during the first half of the twentieth century. Her research led her to collect – with the significant support of, and loans from, local people – a vast archive. This contains oral histories from local inhabitants, their photographs, documents and memorabilia.

Nora’s first publication was Allendale Town: a history in photographs in 1993 and this was followed in 2007 by Allendale: Twentieth Century Memories.

Volunteers from the Allen Valleys Local History Group subsequently catalogued Nora’s collection. This was a significant task – there being over 800 images alone – along with documents and copy papers.  Since catalogued, the archive is accessible at the Border Library at Hexham Gaol to best ensure that Nora’s archive is easily accessed for future research.