Minature Railway, Eston Recreation Ground

Posted on March 13, 2012 by chris.twigg

This curious metal frame was actually part of a miniature railway that ran in the park.

The track was raised up on concrete blocks, to allow your legs to dangle over the side, many of these are still in place.

I don’t know the closure date of this, but I’ve only been able to find a single photo of it in action in the 60s on the Communigate website, but there must be other family snaps out there somewhere.

This photo clearly shows the remaining frame which must have served to winch the train off the tracks and into the storage hut, its a real shame interesting things like this have been lost.

Bath House, Hardwick Park

Posted on March 8, 2012 by chris.twigg

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Currently nothing remains of the cold water Bath House other than a row of foundation stones. I believe its the intention of the Friends of Hardwick Park to rebuild it when funding allows.

The information board in the park shows a photo of it complete in 1900.

This chair and screen stand nearby as a reminder of its original function.

Grangetown Ghostsign, Pratts Petrol

Posted on March 7, 2012 by chris.twigg

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I took this photo last summer, but never posted it as I couldn’t figure out any of the text.

Drove past the same location today to find the wall repainted and the sign lost. Does anyone know what it said ?

UPDATE : I think Bruce is right about Pratts looking at this logo.

I can also make out ‘GH TEST’ as above after that hint.

Carlton / Redmarshall Station

Posted on February 28, 2012 by chris.twigg

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Calton station opened in 1836 on the Clarence Railway, after various mergers it became part of the London and North Eastern Railway and was renamed Redmarshall Station in 1923.

Two set of tracks existed here, with an early example of electrification taking place in 1915 for coal traffic on the line, two pair of lines passed under the bridge with theÂ left-sideÂ being electrified, this portal is now filled and the track lifted.

Perhaps this old insulator still on the bridge could be part of that system ?

The LNER removed the electrification in 1935, however the guard rails on this side of the bridge still remain,Â giving extra protection that’s not included on the non-electric side.

The passenger station itself closed on 31st March 1952

Head Wrightson No 21 – Stockton

Posted on February 4, 2012 by chris.twigg

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This unusual ‘coffee pot’ locomotive built by Head Wrightson ofÂ Thornaby dates from 1870

The loco spent most of its working life at Seaham Harbour where it was designated “16”

Coffee Pot No.33 from 1873 was also used at Seaham (where it was designated “17”) this locomotive can now be seen at Beamish

Also at Beamish is the more recently restored Coffee Pot No.1

Update : As of August 2012 the loco has been removed from the roundabout and relocated to Preston Park Museum. I will try to get some photos after they’ve given it a lick of paint perhaps ?

Saltburn Cliff Hoist

Posted on January 25, 2012 by chris.twigg

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Before its well known cliff lift, Saltburn had a cliff hoist between 1870 and 1883.

The wooden structure built by John Anderson of the Saltburn Improvement Company dropped people 120 feet to the pier level and must have been a pretty intimidating journey.

The new plaque to mark the location was unveiled by Councillor Vera Rider on Thursday July 28 2011.

The Flaming Stump and the Portrack Cut

Posted on January 1, 2012 by chris.twigg

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The Flaming Stump was an inn that stood on Portrack Lane, by the banks of the Tees. It was rumoured to be heavily involved in smuggling and featured the eloborate ‘Angel Room’ sculpted by a craftsman called Palini

The course of the Tees was shortened and straightened by the Tees Navigation Company and the Portrack Cut was completed in 1831, although the old course of the river is still very apparent on this 1899 map before the area was developed. This change lead to the inn closing and becoming Portrack Grange Farm also shown on the map below.

The buildings were still in existance as late at 1959 before being demolished, fortunately a photograph exists of the Angel Room in 1950

Time Team Dig – Captain Cook’s Birthplace Cottage

Posted on December 14, 2011 by chris.twigg

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Tees Archaeology’s Excavations in Stewart Park

The pictures on this page show the Time Team Big Dig which took place over the weekend of 28th – 29th June 2003 at Captain Cook’s birthplace cottage in Stewart Park

The Stewart Park and Marton History Group was a small local history group that now, no longer meets . It had a website that was in the process of being updated with local history when the group disbanded and these are the pages that survived.
The lasting legacy of the group is the graves of Bolckow and Vaughan in Marton Churchyard, a project the group started and fund raised for and it eventually came to be, through the work of Middlesbrough Environment City.

Guerrilla Knitter, Saltburn

Posted on November 17, 2011 by chris.twigg

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This teddy bears picnic mysteriouslyÂ appeared in mid October 2011, the tags suggests they are part of Saltburnâ€™s 150th anniversary.

The identity of the creator ‘Yarn Junkie’ remains a mystery !

UPDATE March 2012Â : Sadly the teddies and the scarf on the pierÂ were vandalised over the weekend and the teddies were gone when I drove past today. Hopefully the creator is not too discouraged and will continue depite the action of some knuckle-dragger.

Redcar Gas Company

Posted on November 9, 2011 by chris.twigg

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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