Show on map Hopetown Carriage Works was built for the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1853 and operated until around 1884.
The building was Grade II listed in 1986 and restored in the 1990’s
Show on map After the last two slightly unusual models, we’re back to something more conventional in build and design.
This is a lozenge design with three embrasures on the longest side.
Its the same as the one on Croft Road on the other side of town.
Its positioning is presumably to defend the crossing point over the railway.
Show on map This pillbox is only a short distance from the one on the opposite side of the bridge, but of a completely different construction.
It’s been made from concrete blocks and beams, with a couple of rows of bricks at the top.
The roof is now gone and the walls badly cracked, so i’m not sure it would have stood up to any heavy attack should it ever have been needed.
Show on map This Pillbox is one of a pair defending the Blackwell Bridge crossing of the River Skerne in Darlington
The structure is now deeply buried in the undergrowth and tricky to approach
The pillbox itself is not like any other i’ve ever seen, it seems to have been constructed from pre-fabricated sections
Several areas have ripples that look like they were cast against corrugated iron sheets
At first glance these ponds appear unremarkable, but the name and the aerial images hint at something much more interesting. They are actually sinkholes in the Magnesian Limestone
The holes are believed to have formed in an earthquake in 1179 and a huge amount of local folklore and legends have built up about site, which you can read on the ‘Old Corpse Road’ website. Links to Lewis Carols Alice in Wonderland have also been claimed as Charles Dodgson lived nearby as a child
The northern ‘Double Kettle’ is filled with water from surface run-off, however the water in the southern ‘Croft Kettle’ comes from subterranean springs, which is very noticeable on Google Earth imagery. The site is a SSSI as its the only place in Country Durham where this occurs.
First batch that I posted on Facebook this week, thought it a good idea to post them here too as not everyone uses Facebook and if it didn’t just happen you’ll never find it.
Gjers Mills & Co, Ayresome Ironworks, Middlesbrough
Darlington Railway Plant & Foundry, Bank Top
Davy and United, Roll Foundry, Billingham
River Tees Conservancy Commissioners
Show on map Ceramic tiles were placed on properties owned by the Stockton and Darlington Railway in the late 1850s, early 1860s.
The F-Line ran to Barnard Castle and F10 is Barnard Castle crossing.
These photos were kindly shared by the owner of the item in question. They show the 1915 On War Service badge of Michael Pease.
These badges were issued to people to avoid them being accused to dodging military service, in this case this one was for the Cargo Fleet Iron Company Ltd
Part of the Pease dynasty of Quaker businessmen, Michael Lloyd Pease was born in 1891 and died in 1968, a photo of his grave can be seen here
Richard Freeman kindly sent me this photo of a plaque he recently purchased
It depicts Locomotion No.1 and the Bulmer Stone. The Head of Steam museum has the mould for these which was made by Stephen Bell in 1909 with the plaque being registered as a medal design in 1911.
They appear to have been sold by the Pawnbroker,  Arthur E Berry of 58 – 61 Northgate
Show on map Backhouse’s Bank was founded in 1774 in Darlington by Quaker, James Backhouse. This ‘branch’ is at Preston Hall Museum. Jonathan Backhouse was heavily involved in the £125,000 financing of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.
In 1896 Backhouse merged with other Quaker banks, Gurney of Norwich and Barclays of London to form what is still known today as Barclays Bank.
I’m not sure which branch this plaque originated from, possibly Stockton given the date and current location ?