Author Archives: chris.twigg

Chandelier, Kirkleatham Almshouses

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This chandelier by Claud Demeny dates from 1735 and it believed to have originated from St. John’s Cathedral in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands although it later years it hung in the offices of insurance company Royal and Sun Alliance.
1735 Chandelier, Sir William Turners Almshouse
Its only been in the Almshouses since November 2007, replacing the giltwood ‘Chandos’ chandelier by James Moore from around 1719 which was sold for £337,250 at Christies to help fund almshouse repairs. That chandelier was mades for James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos for the Chapel at Cannons. Later aquired by Cholmley Turner for the Chapel of his great uncle Sir William in 1747.

Graffiti in the Chapel, Sir William Turners Almshouses

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As well as 20 elderly people, the Almhouses originally cared for 20 children / orphans
Graffiti, Sir William Turners Almshouse
It actually still functioned as a school until as late as 1942, and the upper stalls in the chapel are covered in carved initials and dates (including 1797 in the picture below)
Graffiti, Sir William Turners Almshouse

Its interesting to note that as you move along the balcony to where the staff would have sat, the graffiti gradually disappears until there’s none at the other end. I’m sure at the time there would have been ‘youth of today’ style comments about the vandilism, but now 200 years later its a fascinating insight.

Graffiti, Sir William Turners Almshouse

Although its hard to imagine how you wouldn’t get caught it a fresh set of your own initials just appeared ?

 

Stained Glass Windows, Kirkleatham Almshouses

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An open day was arranged 28/29th July 2012 to view the recently restored window in the chapel of the Kirkleatham Almshouses. The window was on the verge of collapse until a year-long restoration was undertaken by York specialist Keith Barley at a cost of £35,000.
Stained Glass, Sir William Turners Almshouse
The windows date from the 1740s and are the work of William Price, who’s face is depicted in the centre of the scene, theres also a second face of his father Joshua Price but its not visible on my photo.

The central panel is a nativity scene designed by Sebatiano Ricci, the right panel depicts Sir William Turner in his robes as the Lord Mayor of London. On the left his elder bother John Turner, a serjeant-at-law,

Memorial to Private William Short VC, Eston

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William Short from Eston was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery on 6th August 1916 at Munster Alley, Contalmaison, France, during the Battle of the Somme.

Memorial to William Short VC, Eston

At the time it was reported :-
He was foremost in the attack, bombing the enemy with great gallantry, when he was severely wounded in the foot. He was urged to go back, but refused and continued to throw bombs. Later his leg was shattered by a shell and he was unable to stand, so that he lay in the trench adjusting detonators and straightening the pins of bombs for his comrades.
He died before he could be carried out of the trench. For the last eleven months he had always volunteered for dangerous enterprises, and had always set a magnificent example of bravery and devotion to duty.

Short had worked as as craneman at Bolckow, Vaughan & Co Steelworks in Eston. The upper part of the momument looks very much like local ironstone, having weathered in much the same way as the ironstone obelisks in the area.

Ironstone Obelisks, Normanby Road.

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Since the demolition of the old Town Hall on Fabian Road the ironstone obelisks have been moved to this new location at the City Learning Centre on Normanby Road.
Eston Ironstone Obelisk
Eston Ironstone Obelisk

I don’t think this will be the final home of the 2.5 tonnes items as its just a temporary home for the council.

I’m adding these comment by Dave into the main article as I think its important given the current council squabbling about where they should be.

“I think it wrong to say that the Fabian Road Town Hall pillars originally came from Eston Hospital, as they were there some 20 years before the hospital was closed and demolished. I gather they originally came from a set of four or more pillars sited on the entrance drive at Bolckow Vaughan’s old mine and works offices – Cleveland House – on Middlesbrough Road E in South Bank, a building that was bought from BV, when the firm went into post WW1 decline, by the old Eston Urban District Council.

I gather the pillars were originally crafted for the building and used as a motif for BV’s trade exhibitions. This, of course, means there were more pillars in the beginning and there were definitely a set at Eston Hospital These are now back. Whether they also originally came from Cleveland House, I don’t know. I expect they did”

A total of five pillars are currently in existence with two more at the old Eston Hospital site and one in South Bank.

Having checked OS maps from 1915 and 1929 for Cleveland House it looks like the pillars are no strangers to movement as they change position there when the Fire Station is built.

Demolition of Town Hall and James Finegan Hall, Eston

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By pure chance I happened to drive past on the 24th of July and find the demolition taking place, here are some before and after shots.


Eston Town Hall, Demolition


Eston Town Hall, Demolition

The James Finegan Hall was already gone by this point.

James Finegan Hall Demolition, Eston
This hall was the home of a Mighty Wurlitzer organ from 1981 (having arrived there from Redcar pier after it’s demolition, although originally from the Granada Theatre in Bedford)

Old Bridge between Slapewath and Guisborough

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The location of the road between Slapewath and Guisborough has changed over the years, just to the south of its current course remains a much older sandstone bridge.
Old Bridge, Slapewath
Its now surrounded by heavy undergrowth and is missing a few blocks in places.
Old Bridge, Slapewath
The remains of a cobbled surface can be found on top.
Old Bridge, Slapewath

Looking at old maps i would say it was the only road shown on the 1938 map, the 1958 suggests both exist and by 1968 its just the new more northerly location.