Show on map William Guy is the only Redcar Lifeboatman ever to lose his life on a rescue callout.
He died on Christmas Day 1836 after being lost overboard from the Zetland lifeboat while trying to save the crew of the Danish ship Caroline.
The Caroline’s crew were also lost and Guys body was not found until 17 days later, near Staithes. (although All of Her Past Glories by David Phillipson says 6 weeks)
A plaque was unveiled in May 2011 in St Peter Church and a new grave marker laid in the cemetery.
Show on map The ‘vertical pier’ has progressed a lot in the last week and their are some huge cranes on site.
Work on the new ‘Tuned In’ youth centre is also progressing quickly at Coatham Enclosure.
Show on map On my way to work this morning I spotted that the first part of the ‘vertical pier’ (otherwise known as a tower) has appeared.
Theres been a lot of negative reaction before its even been built, but i’m willing to give it a chance before judging.
Show on map Three wooden seals were placed on the Coatham Roundabout on 08/11/2011.
Theres no plaque or details on the council website yet, but I strongly suspect they will be the work of chainsaw artist Steve Iredale
UPDATE January 2012 : They are indeed by Steve Iredale commissioned by Redcar In Bloom with a grant from Tees Valley Community Foundation. The seals have been named by children at Coatham Primary School. Neil the Seal, Splash & Bubbles. A fourth seal called Cecile should be arrving early 2012.
Thanks to the Eye Magazine for the update, I also noticed the seals sporting tinsel and antlers regularly over Christmas.
Show on map Inspired by a request from Kev Oyston for photos of the Gas Holders in Redcar.
Redcar Gas Company was originally formed in 1857, by various mergers and nationalisations I suspect it was part of Northern Gas in its later years. I recall there being one gas holder remaining on the site in the 1980s but I can’t remember exactly when it was removed, does anyone remember ?
The following photos have appeared on Redcar.net and Redcar.org and seem to show there were originally three gas holders.
OS Maps over the years show many changes on the site.
1894
1929 
1954
 1966 
 1983 – 
 The site is now the location of the McDonalds Drive-Thru and Morrisons petrol station.
Show on map 
This poster by Henry George Gawthorn depicting the pier is due to come up for auction at Swann Auction Galleries in New York next week where its expected to sell for £5,000 and £7,500.
Show on map The Pig and Whistle was demolished in 2001 when Redcar was redeveloped, Dave Woods has kindly contributed the following photos and his memories of the pub.
The location for anyone who does not know was where Morrisons car park now stands just before the railway crossing.
Not being brought up in Redcar and moving there in 1970 I don’t know too much about it’s early years. It was well liked for the quality of the beer pulled with a massive creamy head that they called a boiler. As you can see from the door it used the be The Alexandra Hotel in former years
The original entrance on West Dyke Road can just be made out below the Fosters Lager sign
The name Pig and Whistle, I was told years ago was a nickname for the place. The whistle from the trains and I’m assuming pigs nearby. People brought ornamental pigs from all over the world to give to the pub. Some of these can be seen in this photo taken in the bar.
The landlord at the time told me that he had boxes and boxes full of pigs upstairs but had nowhere to put them. I wonder where they all are now. When the pub was relocated to Station Road as much as possible of the old bar woodwork was reinstalled there but to me it’s not like the old place.
Dave Woods.
As a footnote, I located these two photos of the Alexandra in 1935
Show on map One wing of the Coatham Hotel was never completed in the style of the rest of the building and the Windsor Ballroom was added some time between 1955 and 1961 (see discussion in comments). In later years it became a nightclub and a gym.
The lop-sided appearence of the hotel made it perfect to be a bombed out Dunkirk ruin when Atonement was filmed in Redcar in 2006
The building has remained derelict since with its French set-decorations still on display, until August 2011 when its been given a fresh coat of paint and is now covered.
Show on map Redcar once had an outdoor swimming pool and paddling pool next to the existing boating lake.
I recall perhaps 20 years ago the curve of the large pool was visible in the waste land between the boating lake and the swimming baths (now demolished)
This area is currently being redeveloped for the Tuned In / myPlace centre, while this was happening I noticed a lot of concrete has been dug out of that area.
Its possible these are the remains of the swimming pool, although I also have a recollection of some concrete steps leading into the ground in this area, so it could also just be an old drainage tank of some sort.
Update : Some discussion below has pointed out the concrete was actually the skating rink, thanks to those involved for clearing that up.
Show on map Foxrush Farm Community Woodland was only planted in 1997 but is already pretty well established. The farm itself is now owned by Saltburn Animal Rescue Association (SARA). and is also the site of an Iron Age settlement
The carved fox is the work of Steve Iredale back in late 2007, as of 2011 a mosaic map of the area has also appeared, produced by the Redcar Community College
