Kiln Bank House

[janwhin]

While looking for stuff on the gas works, Kiln Bank House came up as one of its properties. It had been the home of John Henderson, who founded the works and then his son, John Marshall Henderson. It went on the market along with everything else in 1878. It presumably didn't sell as in 1879 it came back to market for sale or to let. Bizarrely it reappears in an advertisement in the Alnwick Mercury of 25 March 1882 as the "Kiln Bank School for Young Ladies"
"Mrs Kinnear assisted by Miss Deuchars, with a first class certificate from the University of Edinburgh and qualified to teach English, French, music etc., will open a school for the above branches on 17 April.
Pupils can be enrolled Prospectus and other information obtained by applying to Mrs Kinnear who will also receive a limited number of weekly boarders."

It appears as a school in the 1891 census but by 1896 the Earnshaws have bought it.

I bet that was a roaring success in Amble

[Coquet]

Does "Kiln Bank" have any historical significance earlier in origin than the gas works? Or is it just that the gas works retorts were referred to as kilns?

[janwhin]

you would wonder whether Kiln Bank was the original name of the Wynd. A tallow candle factory operated in Amble before gas came, perhaps that was in that area....would it need a kiln?

[Alan J.]

Mrs Kinnear must have had great expectations for Amble to start a school for "Young Ladies" and it must have lasted for at least 9 years according to the census.

[brownknees]

Did it have a cannon in the garden?

[Coquet]

Originally Posted by brownknees

Did it have a cannon in the garden?

There's a picture of that WW1 German field gun somewhere, and I think it was at the top of the Wynd, as the road turns. I might be wrong though!

[hollydog]

I have seen that photo - at the top of the Wynd. Did they not dump some in the old quarry by Cliff House after WW1 or is that an urban myth ?

[Coquet]

True story. Locals grabbed it, trundled it down to the quarry and chucked it in.
They tried to place guns in other towns as well with similar results I believe.

[leslie]

Originally Posted by brownknees

Did it have a cannon in the garden?

There was a small Cannon on the step of the large house next to the"VIC" entrance . not noticed it for years but always looked out for it when passing as having a significance to me, always wanted it .