Show on map The station at Beck Hole closed in 1914, but this sign still remains.
I strongly suspect its not been left standing alone for 100 years without getting the attention of a scrap man or railway collector. I would guess it was erected as part of the Moors Railway / Rail Trail.
Show on map Its always a happy day when someone brings a new stench pipe in your home town to your attention (well it is for me anyway). This excellent example even stands on its own mini-roundabout.
This brings the count to 10 in Redcar, although I feel there must still be more hiding in plain sight.
Show on map Following on from yesterdays post, the remains of a second bridge on the same line.
The one crosses back over the Murk Esk again, near Murk Side
Show on map The original line between Grosmont and Beck Hole was opened in 1836 by the Whitby and Pickering Railway and was horse drawn. Steam came in 1845 when it was absorbed into the York and North Midland Railway.
The original line was closed in 1865 when a deviation was made to avoid the rope hauled incline at Beck Hole, although parts were later reused for summer services to Beck Hole and for goods.
Although the parapets are stone, the timbers in the river suggest the bridge itself was wooden.
A friend of mine with an interest in old bottles sent me the following images of a ‘Middlesbrough Mineral Water Company’ bottle.
(photo courtesy of Gavin Brett)
The gentleman on the bottle with a coat over his arm seemed very familiar, and I soon figured out it appears to be John Vaughan in the same pose as his 1884 statue.
Show on map Plans were first made from this church around the turn of the century, as can be seen in this 1900 news clipping. It was actually constructed in 1905 having been designed by G. Baines & Son
There are two heavily eroded sandstone dedication stones, the first seems to relate to a Mr Doggart of Bishop Auckland from 1905.
And a Miss G Davies of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
The church itself is made of red brick and is still in good condition despite sadly being now fortified with barbed wire and metal plates over the windows.
To the rear of the building are two much later dedication stones.
A very clear one from Arthur Graydon, Teesville, July 4th 1934.
And also now eroded badly, ? T. Grassham, ? House Eston, 1934.
Those presumably relate to the later hall at the rear.
Show on map Today marks the 50th anniversary of the closure of the last ironstone mine at North Skelton on 17th January 1964.
The East Cleveland Image Archive has two photo taken on that day when the TV cameras were present.
I covered the site in more details back in 2009
Show on map In the woods just to the North of Kildale are the remains of a large weir.
The first OS Map from 1856 and subsequent editions marks this area as “Old Fish Ponds”
A great flood is recorded to have taken place in Kildale in 1840 by the breaking of a dam at Kildale Hall.
Although I cannot say for sure, this seems the likely the location of that event as the river now flows to the North around the old weir.
Show on map As far as I can tell this one is called “Toy with chequered pattern”
Show on map St Peters in Commondale was built in 1897/1898 with red bricks from the adjacent brickworks.
The foundation stone was laid on August 11th 1897 by G. Claud Braddell, who appears to have been a trustee of the church land charity. It is in memory of Admiral Thomas Chalenor who died in 1884.
A plaque inside shows the chuch was consecrated on December 7th 1898 and its links to Rev Francis Henry Morgan who was rector from 1862 to 1900
The church contains some more modern looking stained glass.
The name Commondale is said to be derived from Colmandale, St Colman was 3rd Bishop of Lindisfarne.
