West Lodge and Memorial Clock, Albert Park, Middlebrough

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West Lodge was actually built in 1866, two years before Albert Park was opened

Middlesbrough West Lodge, Albert Park

There should be a plaque of dedication on the right, but it appears to be missing currently, there is coat of arms with Middlesbroughs motto “Erimus” which is Latin for ‘We shall be’. There is a carved owl to the rear of the building, possibly something to do with the Friends of Albert Park who I think are based there.

Middlesbrough West Lodge, Albert Park Middlesbrough, Carved Owl, Albert Park

The memorial clock was donated by Councillor Thomas Sanderson in 1900. It was manufactured by Walter Macfarlane & Co. of Glasgow.

Middlesbrough, Memorial Clock and West Lodge, Albert Park  

At one time the clock bore the inscription ‘This Clock, with Tower, was presented to the Inhabitants of the Town by Thomas Sanderson, Esq., J.P., as a momento of his long connection with the Council (as Councillor, Alderman, and Mayor), and with the Borough of Middlesbrough. May, 1900.’

The clock was started by Sanderson on 28th August 1900 and two years later he paid for a striking mechanism.

Sundial, Albert Park, Middlebrough

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The sun dial was donated by Henry Bolckow in 1879 (aong with the park itself in 1868)

Middlesbrough Sun Dial, Albert Park 

It was designed by John Smith of Stockton and gives the times in New York and Melbourne as well as Middlesbrough.

Middlesbrough Sun Dial, Albert Park Middlesbrough Sun Dial, Albert Park 

The plaque below it shows corrections for the time of year, accounting for BST its pretty much spot on for the time I took the photo.

 Middlesbrough Sun Dial, Albert Park

Crimean War Cannon, Memorial Garden Albert Park, Middlesbrough

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The cannon has a long history and has been in several locations since arriving in 1858, it overlooked Cannon Lake in Albert Park until 1947 before being dumped in Stewarts Park, recovered after an Evening Gazette campaign in 1965, with the Territorial Army until 1978, then to the Dorman Museum for 23 years and finally over the road into the Albert Park Memorial Garden in 2001

Middlesbrough, Memorial Cannon, Albert Park  

The right inscription mentions 1824, which is the year the cannon would have been cast.

Middlesbrough, Memorial Cannon, Albert Park Middlesbrough, Memorial Cannon, Albert Park

There are a number of other plaques to other conflicts and causes in the Memorial Garden

Middlesbrough Memorial Garden, Albert Park Middlesbrough Memorial Garden, Firefighters, Albert Park

Middlesbrough Memorial Garden, Green Howards, Albert Park Middlesbrough Memorial Garden, Navy and Marines, Albert Park

 UPDATE : One of my contacts ‘Picture Esk’ has come up with some very interesting information on the cyrillic inscription :-

The three lines of inscriptions carry the following information about the cannon-
First the registered number of the cannon, 19180.
Next are the Cyrillic letters for ALKND – ZVD, which is an abbreviation for the Aleksandrevsky Factory where the cannon were cast.
The Tsar held every craftsman responsible for his work. So every cannon bears the name of the master cannon maker on the bottom line. Heaven help the master cannon maker if the gun did not perform up to specifications. Your cannon bears the name FULLON.
This was Alexander Fullon who was director of the cannon factory from 1818 to 1833.
The name Fullon is not very Russian. He was son of The French cannon maker Foullon who had been persuaded to take charge of the same works from 1777-1786.

More Transporter

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In addition to a previous post here are some shots of the ceremonial Aberdeen granite foundation stones from 3rd August 1910

Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge Foundation Stone Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge Foundation Stone

One laid by Alderman Joseph McLauchlan, the initiator of the scheme and Lieut. Colonel T. Gibson Poole the Mayor. The contractors Sir William Arrol were also involved in the Tay Bridge, Forth Bridge, Tower Bridge, Severn Bridge and Humber Bridge.

The £84,000 bridge was opened on 17 October 1911 by Prince Arthur of Connaught.

Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge Opening Plaque 

If Wikipedia is to be believed, the man seen falling from the bridge during the opening ceremony is Arthur Darwin, a relative of John “Seaton Canoe” Darwin.

 

Middlesbrough 1837 Railway Station

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This plaque just marks the location of the first Middlesbrough railway station, which had a passenger service as part of the Stockton to Darlington Railway . The original station itself no longer exists and was replaced in 1847.

Middlesbrough Original Railway Station 

Port Clarence just across the river already had a goods connection with the rival Clarence Railway in 1834