This is a collection of material brought together by, or relating to, local nineteenth century collectors John and Thomas Bell. There are four boxes relating to the local book trade, seven more relating to the Port of Tyne, and forty packets of cuttings, correspondence and other miscellaneous items which are useful for local history.

Consists of Annotated typescript of short story The Champion. Annotations consist of changes and corrections in blue ink. Annotated typescript of short story Six Little Pigs. This was reworked into short story The Pig Killing. Annotations consist print copy corrections in black ink. Clean copy typescript of page 1 - 2 of short story The Homecoming of Uncle Joseph. Annotated typescript of short story The Liar, The Pram and the Crocodile. Annotations consist of print copy corrections in pencil. Clean copy typescript of short story The Bed. Annotated typescript of short story The Plush Lined Ghetto. Annotations consist of changes and corrections in blue ink. Includes handwritten notes on the back of the last sheet. Annotated typescript of short story The Cheviot. Annotations consist of print copy corrections in black ink. From the Third North Countryman 1962. Newspaper cutting of article The Mother… she's the one I am thinking about today. This article is from The Daily Express regarding the aftermath of pit disasters. Newspaper cutting from the Daily Express of article Where the heart is. Newspaper cutting of article A world that I am proud to call my very own. Newspaper cutting of article Sid Chaplin… the man who always had to come home. Annotated newspaper cutting of article Adventurous Eating, with alternative working title of To eat in Fellowship. This article was written for The Guardian as part of the Northern Accent series. Annotations consist of changes in blue ink. Newspaper cutting of article Moment of Glory, regarding the Durham Cathedral Festival of Sound and Light 'Son et Lumiere'. Written for the Guardian as part of the Northern Accent series. Annotated typescripts of short story The Blacksmith's Tale. Annotations consist of changes and corrections in black ink. Newspaper cutting from the Radio Times September 1949 of article The Legacy of D H Lawrence. Magazine pages with short story The Cloth of Kings. Newspaper cutting of short story A Christmas Crutch, written for the Christmas Extra series, 24 December 1973. Newspaper pages from the Northern Echo Christmas Special, with short story The First Nowell. Newspaper cutting from the Guardian of short story A Dog's Life. Newspaper cutting from the Guardian of short story Where is my old friend Bing Crosby tonight? Newspaper cutting from the Guardian of short story A Certificate for lifesaving. Newspaper page from the Guardian with short story Easter 1927. Annotated typescript of introduction to the Banner Exhibition DLI. Annotations consist of changes and corrections in pencil. Annotated typescript of Banner Bright by John Gorman, with introduction by Gwyn A Williams. Annotated typescript of The Durham Coalfield, regarding the history of mining and mining in Durham. Annotations consist of changes and corrections in pencil. Annotated typescript of A short life, regarding Sid's family history and his uncle's journal. Annotations consist of changes in blue ink. Clean copy first draft of A Pattern of Durham Villages. Annotated typescript of "Songs of the Lower Empire, regarding John Bell's Rhymes of Northern Bards Annotations consist of changes and corrections in blue ink. Some of the pages are photocopies. Annotated typescript of article The Bonny Pit Laddie. Annotations consist of changes and corrections in blue ink. Annotated typescripts of short story The Tramp. Annotations consist of changes in blue ink. Annotated typescript of article The Laughter of the Geordie. This is not the chapter from A Tree with Rosy Apples but a version of the article that was published in the Daily Express as A World that I am proud to call my very own Clean copy typescript of short story The Wrecker. and an annotated typescript of article People in the Pit Villages, regarding Durham pit folk. Annotations consist of additions in blue ink.