Show on map This sign is visible on the side of Coopers Chemists in Great Ayton. Its still fairly clear and I read it as :-
Wm Pearson, Builders & Depot for Builders Materials
In the 1901 census there is a William Pearson, 52 Builder Contractor living at Well Cottage. He built the terrace known as Pearson Ville and also the house that became the Worthy Pearsons shop owned by his descendants.
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 One of my readers told me about this months ago (sorry I forget who) but I finally got around to visiting.
It certainly looks like a stench pipe, although its location is a little unusual as most of them tend to be either in built-up areas or near grand houses. This one stands in a relatively rural location at the edge of Great Ayton.
Show on map Parts of the church are thought to date from the 12th century although the main tower is from 1901 by Temple Moore.
During repairs in 1827 this stone depicting a dragon attacking a horse/cow/panther (opinions vary)Â was discovered under the floor, it is thought to be Anglo-Saxon.
A stone coffin was also found under the floor at the same time.
Show on map I’ve previously posted photos of Ayton Banks when it was heavily overgrown.
The foundations of the terminal of the ropeway have since been cleared of brambles and weeds and are now much more visible.
The ends of two steel ropes from the ropeway can still be seen anchored into the concrete.
The 1928 OS map shows the cable running from the mine site about 2km to railway sidings near Cliff Rigg Quarry
Show on map This beautiful old wooden sign for the joiner and undertaker can be found in Station Road, Great Ayton.
The building is no longer the undertakers and has more recently been converted to a house.
Show on map All Saints Church in Great Ayton contains the graves of James Cook’s mother and five of his brothers and sisters.
My interpretation of the inscription :-
“To the Memory of Mary & Mary, Jane & William.
Daughters and Son of James and Grace Cook.
Mary died June the 30th 1737 in the 5th year of her age.
Mary died June the 17th 1741 aged 10 Months & 6 days.
Jane died May the 12th 1742 in the 5th year of her age.
William died July(?) the 29th 1747/8 aged 2 yrs 12 months 16 days 7 hours.
and also John their son died Sept the 20th 1750 aged 23 years”
“In memory of Grace Cook who died Feb 18th 1765 aged 63 Years and of James Cook who was buried at Marske April 1st 1779. The above James and Grace Cook were the parents of the celebrated circumnavigator Captain James Cook who was born at Marton Oct 27th 1728 educated in this village and killed at Owhyhee Dec. 14th 1779”
This inscription is actually incorrect as Cook was killed on Feb 14th 1779
Cooks father is buried at St Germains in Marske
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Captain Cook attended this school between 1736 and 1740 which now operates a museum. The school itself was founded in 1704 by Michael Postgate
The plaque on the wall is also by Nicholas Dimbleby the same as the statue on the green.
Show on map This obelisk marks the location Captain Cooks family cottage.
The cottage itself was shipped to Australia for the Centenary of Melbourne in 1934 where is still stands in Fitzroy Park. The cottage was built by Cooks parents in 1755 so its unlikely Cook himself actually lived there as he moved away to Staithes in 1745.
The obelisk is constructed with stone from near Point Hicks which was the first part of Australia spotted by Lieutenant Hicks from the Endeavour. It is a replica of an obelisk that stands there.
The unveiling of the obelisk was actually captured and is available on the Pathe Website.
UPDATE : A friend of mine has recently visited the cottage in Australia, so many thanks to Eric for the photo.
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This status shows James Cook at the age of 16 looking towards Staithes. The sculptor is Nicholas Dimbleby. It was unveiled on 12 May 1997 by Captain Chris Blake who was the Master of HM Bark Endeavour a replica of Captain Cook’s ship.
