Explore Our Heritage In Loftus Town Hall
Letters from the Front
An Illustrated talk by Mr Peter Appleton from Skelton History Group
Friday 23 March 2018 ​
7 for 7.30pm
Loftus Town Hall
TS13 4HG
Everyone welcome – free entry – Tea and Coffee (but donations towards costs welcomed!)
This is the first in a short series of local interest talks for 2018 organised by Loftus Town Council with the active support of local experts, mostly held on the 4th Friday in the month
Show on map This sculpture of an airman stands by the side of the Northallerton Road at Dalton-on-Tees.
Per Ardua Ad Astra
In memory of and to honour those who served at Croft during World War II.
Dedicated by the members of 431 Iroquois and 434 Bluenose R.C.A.F Squadrons. 6 Group Bomber Command. 26 September 1987.
The sculptor was Helen Granger Young
Show on map This roadside pillbox on the outskirts of Darlington is in remarkably good condition, with little in the way of damage or vandalism. It is a Lozenge style pillbox that are generally only found in the North-East.
Internally many of the concrete shelves are still in place
Show on map This Second World War Pillbox now rests on the beach, just to the north of Skinningrove
It was originally higher up the cliff, but has fallen here due to coastal erosion over the last 70 years.
It actually upside down as the doorway would have been at ground level.
The remains of the metal shutters to cover the firing position are still in place.
Show on map The solider was first erected in 2014 to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of World War 1.
Woollen medals knitted by the Great Ayton Knit and Knatter group are put on the soldier on the day each one was killed, also a minutes silence is held at the village war memorial on the exact centenary of their death.
The project will continue into 2018 by which time all 50 who were killed will have been remembered.
Show on map Not the Scotch Corner on the A66 but a hill near Sutton Bank, but either way after over 10 years of Hidden Teesside I have finally added a new category to the site called ‘Yes I know its not in Teesside’ to cover things that may be a short drive away.
This chapel was built by sculptor John Bunting as a memorial for those killed in the Second World War, he acquired the derelict farm buildings in 1956 and completed the rebuild in 1957.
It specifically commemorates three people all educated at Ampleforth College
Hugh Dormer, killed during the battle of Europe in 1944
Michael Fenwick, a poet killed in 1941 at Kowloon.
Michael Allmand, who was killed in Europe in 1944 and received the Victoria Cross
The chapel will next be open to the public on: Saturday 15th April 2017; Sunday 9th July 2017; Saturday September 9th 2017 and there is a huge amount of information available at http://www.johnbunting.co.uk/memorial.html
Show on map This pillbox now stands alone in the middle of a field between Kirbymoorside and Keldholme.
The countryside location may seem unusual now, but wartime air base RAF Wombleton is nearby.
During WW2, the couple that then lived in our home had a custom built shelter dug! She wanted her own shelter, especially after 6 houses were brought down in an air raid! He, was a retired civil engineer, and hence a pretty nifty piece of work!Scroll on to 2014, by which time the roof had long been removed, a concrete slab, and the hole filled in and a garden created to our having to dig up said garden to find source of damp problem – blocked air bricks which had been covered over with concrete when garden recreated! We found the top step which, had a pivot hole at one end and decided to dig down! The rest you can see, nobody in the street remembers it but one gentleman, now in his late 80’s, does remember the shelter being there.
Show on map Roseberry Square library has a new plaque that marks the location of the First World War, Royal Naval Air Station.
Erected by the Friends of Redcar Cemetery, the plaque was unveiled by John H Watson, Author of ‘Aces High at Redcar’ on 4th July 2015
Show on map Ripon Camp was a vast First World War camp, it could accommodate 30,000 troops and an estimated 350,000 men passed through during the course of the war.
A huge military hospital with 670 beds stood opposite the turning to Studley Roger, this was demolished after the war and is where the memorial now stands, of the site of the chapel and canteen.
A collection of photos can be found courtesy of the Kings Own Royal Regiment.