One of your inscriptions is about Lionel Bootiman a freestone quarryman killed in 1906. This family lived next door to my grandparents in Dial Place and Lionel's daughter was a witness at their wedding in Newcastle in 1899. My great grandfather who was also in the household was a freestone quarryman too.
Morpeth Herald, 28 April 1906:
"While loading a waggon last week in Edlingham Quarry, the sudden breaking of a steam crane resulted in the death of Lionel Bootiman of Warkworth, and dreadful injuries to another man named Harry Hornsby. An inquest was held at Edlingham Quarry before Mr Charles Percy, coroner. - Thomas Bootiman, son of the deceased, stated that his father was a foreman quarryman at Sparlaw Quarry, Edlingham, and was 50 years of age. - Jas. Hedley Thompson deposed that he was crane driver and was loading a waggon with the crane. He had three stones on, and was just going to put the fourth on when the deceased asked him to bring the stone back on to the banker. He did so. He took the jib out again, and then heaved off the hauling on the burden rope. He was doing this when he heard a crack, and something fell down. He shouted "Watch out!" The metal work was then flying all ways. The crane jib fell on the deceased and killed him. The brackets of the crane gave way. He could not say what broke, as the crane seemed to be all right up to that moment. The jib, he thought, was broken in falling, not before. He also thought that the breaking of the brake caused the drum to fall away from the mast. - A verdict of accidental death was returned."
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