Amos Hinton Plaque, Middlesbrough

Posted on by
2
Geotag Icon Show on map

Amos Hinton (1844 – 1919) is probably best known for founding the chain of Hintons stores which were absorbed into Presto in 1984 (and then in turn Safeway and Morrisons)

Conflicting adjacent plaques date the Corporation Road store which took over the site of Dr William Grieves Cleveland Academy to either 1886 or 1890. Hinton went on to be a Town Councillor, Alderman, leader of the Temperence Movement, a magistrate, Poor Law Guardian and Mayor of Middlesbrough in 1886
Amos Hinton Plaque, MiddlesbroughAmos Hinton Plaque, Middlesbrough
The original building (now the HSBC Bank) was largly destroyed by fire in 1986, luckily the Tomorrow History site has a drawing by the architect Robert Lofthouse

HSBC Middlesbrough

Gunner Smiths Grave, Redcar Cemetery

Posted on by
Reply
Geotag Icon Show on map

Gunner John Thomas Smith died on the 21st June 1887 aged 28 in an accident at Redcar Battery. The date is significant as he died preparing the royal salute for Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee.

Gunner Smith, Redcar Cemetery
The gravestone was erected by the First North Riding of Yorkshire Volunteer Artilliary, but over the years the cannon balls on the grave were either lost or stolen. They have recently been replaced by the Friends of Redcar Cemetery with cannon balls retrieved from the sea bed locally.

Gunner Smith, Redcar Cemetery

Joseph Constantine Plaque, Teesside University

Posted on by
1
Geotag Icon Show on map

Constantine Technical College was opened by the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VIII, on 2 July 1930. Eight years after the death of local shipowner Joseph Constantine who contributed £80,000. His families companies were known as Constantine & Pickering Steamship Co and Joseph Constantine Steamship Line.

Joseph Constantine  

The college became Teesside Polytechnic in 1969/1970 and Teesside University in 1992

Royal Exchange Middlesbrough – Green Man

Posted on by
1
Geotag Icon Show on map

I have previously posted about another scrap of the Royal Exchange currently outside the Corus offices, so I was very happy to receive the following photograph from P Swan who previously worked for the council.

Royal Exchange Middlesbrough, Green Man
At the top of the frieze of the greek style front of the Royal Exchange was a Green Man – in the middle, a symbol for good luck. The whole facade was removed and taken to Cargo Fleet Depot. On the
demise of Cleveland County Council most of it was put in skips and cleared.

Fortunately this part survives and i’m very grateful to Mr Swan for sharing it with me.

Grosmont Heritage Weekend – Saturday 11th September 2010

Posted on by
Reply
Geotag Icon Show on map

Saturday and Sunday 11th and 12th September a new exhibition will start in Grosmont Parish Church (North Yorks) focussing on the local ironworks, although access may be restricted on the Sunday during a visit by His Grace the Archbishop of York.

On SATURDAY there will be a walk from the church led by Simon Chapman, departing 1 pm, to visit the sites of ironworks and mines including Murkside. On return to Grosmont there will be an optional tour of the workshops and engine shed of the North York Moors Railway.

Birger Anchor, Redcar

Posted on by
Reply
Geotag Icon Show on map

The Birger was the vessel that collided with Victoria Pier on 18th October 1898.

13 of the 15 crew lost their lives so the anchor which was recovered in 1999 by the Cleveland Divers Club is now used as a memorial to mariners.

Birger Anchor, Redcar Birger Anchor, Redcar

UPDATE : As of 2012 the anchor is no longer there due to the development of the new seawall, whether it will return is unknown.

Heartbreak Hill

Posted on by
8
Geotag Icon Show on map

During the great depression between 1929 and 1933 many of the Cleveland ironstone mines closed which lead to unemployment rates of up to 91%. Major James Pennyman the owner of Ormesby Hall bought land near the mining communities of Margrove Park, Boosbeck and Lingdale. This land was cultivated as a work camp to provide alternative employment for the miners and their families.

Heartbreak Hill Heartbreak Hill

The list of people involved in the scheme is astonishing.

Sir Michael Tippet was involved in staging the Beggars Opera and his own work Robin Hood at Boosbeck church hall. Boosbeck Industies was also formed which manufactured furniture for about four years.

Local legend has it that William Joyce who became better known as Lord Haw Haw was present at the sixth work camp in April 1935.

Theres a very interesting book on the subject by Malcolm Chase and Mark Whyman