Career
Thomas Whittle “appeared “at Cambo around 1700 riding on an old goat. In fact his name may have originally spelt “Whittel”. lieutenant has been suggested that he was christened at Kirkwhelpington on 10 September 1683.
He was employed by an old miller, for whom he worked for years.
He became, according to William Brockie quoting from Mackenzie"s Northumberland (published 1825), and Thomas Allan"s Illustrated Edition of Tyneside Songs and Readings, a disciple of “Bacchus”, the Greek god of wine (Roman = Dionysus) and remained so for the rest of his life. He died in East Shaftoe (near Killingworth) on 19 April 1736, and was buried at Hartburn.
He was a very talented, versatile artist and some relics of his workmanship were to be seen at Belsay Castle, Hartburn, Ponteland, and other churches in Northumberland. In addition his poems and songs were very popular, particularly among the rural inhabitants of Northumberland.
