Show on map I believe this shaft clearing grab originated from the construction of the Boulby Potash mine.
N Burdett is welded on the side, I don’t know the significance of the name.
Show on map Around the top of Redcar Lane are four old painted signs, none of which are stunning examples, but I thought I should record them all before they disappear.
Pine and Cane (closed within the last 5 years I think)
Cycle World (closed within the last 10 years I think)
Begg Travel (don’t recall this personally, perhaps the oldest of the bunch ?)
Zetland Cafe (closed more recently, might be reopening ?)
Show on map I noticed ‘Lifelines’ being winched into place recently although I forget the exact date, I don’t believe theres been any official unveiling ceremony yet.
This is a sister sculpture to Sinterlation which is further down the seafront.
Show on map An amusement park opened in Redcar in 1924 on a 15 year lease. The park contained a large covered skating rink, ‘Hilarity Hall’, ‘Noahs Ark’ and ‘River Caves’
The big attraction was a wooden rollercoaster called the ‘Giant Racer’ (called a ‘scenic railway’ on the OS map)
Aerial photos fortunately exist too of the Giant Racer and River Caves rides.
This film footage of the Giant Racer and River Caves rides also exists.
The site closed in 1938 when the lease ran out, and was used for building Sandringham and Buckingham Road. The Giant Racer was disassembled and moved to Sheerness, although its life there was cut short by the outbreak of war, the site later became Butlins in 1945.
Show on map Located on a bridge at the edge of Chop Gate, i’ve been puzzling over this one for a week and cannot locate any references to it online.
My best guess is the third line is ‘LANDRO’ and the fourth line “ADEND’ if you ignore the lack of spaces that could be “…land Road End”
I suspect its a parish boundary and could be a roadmens stone like the one at Rosedale / Farndale
This is something that gets commented on again and again, even many years after my original post on one of the locations. I think the main reason for all the confusion is there are at least three sites, all in disused whinstone quarries, all look similar.
The name ‘Blue Lagoon’ never appears on maps either so your ‘Blue Lagoon’ might not be someone elses ‘Blue Lagoon’
I believe the location most people who visited in the 1970’s would have known as the Blue Lagoon was around Langbaugh Quarry and Nunthorpe Quarry, between Great Ayton and Nunthorpe, now the location of the Whinstone View Bistro.
The 1970s OS map shows three pools here, which also ties in with peoples recollections of being able to dive under the water and emerge in other areas.
This location no longer exists, it was filled in, as you can see from aerial views today.
In more recent times people have started to call the Donkey Pond the ‘Blue Lagoon’, this is about 0.5 mile E of the Gribdale Gate car park, also an old whinstone quarry.
The third location is Lonsdale Quarry which is on private property about 0.5 miles NE of Kildale. This location was used by Jack Hatfield to practice swimming for the 1912 Olympics.
Here’s a recent photo by a friend who had permission to visit.
Over the years i’ve picked up a couple of photos, its hard to say which location is which and i’m afraid I don’t recall where I got them from so if they are yours let me know so I can credit you.
Ray Simpson between Great Ayton and Nunthorpe 1958 / 59
Show on map The children of Chop Gate School interviewed village residents about village life during the last 60 years. The information was made into 6 mosaics (although I only spotted 5)
Show on map There are a large variety of plaques in the park associated with trees planted for major events. I’m sure i’ve missed some.
Mayor Charles Willman Esq
Jubilee of Middlesbrough
6th October 1881
There should be another planted by Lord Frederick Cavendish according to records from the day.
Mayoress of Middlesbrough
Councillor Mrs H. M. Levick M.D.
Centerary of Middlesbrough
7th July 1931
Chairman of Parks Committee
Councillor Emanuel Spence J.P.
Centerary of Middlesbrough
10th July 1931
Captain H.C.R. Bolckow
Centerary of Middlesbrough
7th October 1931
Mayoress of Middlesbrough
Mrs Thomas K Briggs
Royal Silver Jubilee King George V and Queen Mary
6th May 1935
Mayoress of Middlesbrough
Mrs Geo Carter
Corononation King George VI and Queen Elizabeth
12th May 1937
Show on map Two tree were planted and a memorial unveiled on September 12, 2013. The idea came from local Kurdish exile Ahmed Jaff.
The Halabja chemical attack on March 16, 1988 is to date the largest chemical weapons attack directed against a civilian area.
Show on map Park Methodist Church was design by W.J. Morley & Son of Bradford.
It was built in 1904, I don’t know the exact date it stopped being used as a church, but I recall it being converted into a pub in the 1990s.
It is now apartments.