This tiny village school in Over Silton carries an inscription that dates it 1844

The school house was built in 1844 by Sir George Wombwell, 3rd Baronet. After his death in 1855, his son Sir George Orby Wombwell, 4th Baronet (a survivor of the Charge of the Light Brigade) sold the Over Silton Estate.

Thompson’s in Osmotherley, began trading in 1786 and passed through six generation of the family.

Grace Thompson ran the shop alone and was still delivering newspapers aged 75 , she retired in 2004 and passed away in 2014.

A strict condition of the sale means any new owner has to run the building with all its original fittings as a shop, but unfortunately it still appears to be stood empty in 2022.

Pinfolds were designed to hold stray animals until their owners paid a fine for their release.

They would have been a feature of all medieval villages, although this one dates from the 18th century.

Restoration work was done in 2011

The wonderful doorway arch shaped like horseshoe can only be a Blacksmiths, built in 1858 as the inscription tells us and still used for that purpose into the 1960’s

John Turton was a physician to ‘mad’ George III, he bought the manor of Roxby but died in without children, the estate passed to the youngest son of Rev William Peters (chaplain to the Prince Regent) who assumed the Turton name and coat of arms.

This wall-box in Wilton village has been in use for at least 120 years as it carries a “VR” Royal Cypher

VR – Queen Victoria (1853-1901)

ER VII – Edward VII (1901-1910)

GR – George V (1910-1936)

ER VIII – Edward VIII (20 January 1936 – 11 December 1936)

GR VI – George VI (1936-1952)

ER II – Elizabeth II 1952-present)

It was made by W.T. Allen & Co, who stated production in 1886, so it can only date from 1886-1901

By the roadside at Thornhill Farm, between Commondale and Castleton are a number of roadside gravestones.

The farmer has been erecting memorials to his old dogs with the older stones now being eroded away.

Some of the more modern names are still visible such as Cindy, Raz Pup and Ely

The Kent Gate dates from between 1730 and 1760, it is named for being in the style of William Kent, a landscape architect and furniture designer of the early 18th century.

It was moved to its current location in 1893 and restored by the Stokesley Society in 2001

The Packhorse bridge in Stokesley is a Grade II listed building, dating from the 17th century.

It crosses the River Leven and would have been a route connecting Durham to Helmsley and York.

Interestingly this old postcard calls it “Taylersons Bridge”

Trev Teasdel solved the problem :-  If you look in the intro Daphne Franks pamphlet called Printing and Publishing in Stokesley, published 1986 by Stokesley Local History Group, she says in the parish register of 1759, Nicholas Taylerson’s occupation was given as ‘Printer’ at the time of his marriage to Miss Amelia Clarke in 1793. he was a member of a well known family of merchants in the town who gave their name previously to the Pack Horse Bridge. Also if you walk along the river towards the watermill, there’s a a cobbled path -or old road on the left which I think may have been the old road to Helmsley.

For many years there has been a massively overgrown plot at St Andrews, surrounded by railings.

Persons unknown have now cleared this and revealed the graves hidden underneath, some of which are in excellent condition.

One grave appears to belong to a Robert Watson Darnell of The Grange, Bishop Wearmouth,

Robert De Mowbray Darnell seems to have spent most of his life in Dringhouses, so what keeps bringing people back to this family plot in Upleatham ?

The oldest grave appears to be MARY and WILLIAM WATSON from who all the others are descended, I have found the following reference to his will

William Watson, Upleatham in Cleveland. Yeoman. dated 20.9.1760, proved 12.11.1761 (f.161)
son Richard Watson
[copyhold lands etc @ Cockerton, Co. Durham which I purchased from my brother Thomas Raby]
grandson William Watson son of my son Richard Watson

Here are some transcriptions of the graves

110 In memory of ELIZABETH the wife of RICHARD WATSON who died August 4th 1773 aged 39 years, 1 month and 12 days. Also two of their sons ROBERT who died October 12th 1735 aged …years, 3 months and 12 days. THOMAS died January 24th 1738 aged …years 9 months. MARGARET their daughter died June 22nd 1789 aged 26 years and 6 months. .LILLIAN DARNELL who died June 12th 1803 aged 49 years and MARGARET his wife who died June 22nd 1739 aged 36 years. Also WILLIAM DARNELL their son aged 65 years who died December 1850. Also ELIZABETH their daughter who died January 28th 1866 aged 79 years. In memory of RICHARD WATSON who died 28th May 18…aged …years. .Also RICHARD their son, late of Hilton, and interred at Hutton Rudby who died August 13th 1844 aged 57 years. “In my distress I cried unto the Lord and he heard “.

 

111 Sacred to the memory of ROBERT WATSON DARNELL of The Grange, Bishop Wearmouth who departed this life May 3rd 1829 aged 41 years. Also JANE, relict of the above ROBERT WATSON DARNELL, who died at Redcar September 1857 aged 76 years. “There remaineth a rest for the people of God”. Sacred to the memory of ELLEN DE MOWBRAY DARNELL, the beloved child of ROBERT MOWBRAY DARNELL and ELLEN his wife, who died October 12th 1842 aged 1 year 2 months. “Jesus said suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for as such is the Kingdom of Heaven”. Luke 18 v 16.

 

112 To the dear memory of ROBERT DE MOWBRAY DARNELL, Lieut Kings Dragoon Guards. Born August 1845 died 2nd December 1871. Beloved and only son of ROBERT MOWBRAY DARNELL and ELLEN his wife. “What …thou knowest not now but thou shalt know hereafter”.

 

113 MARY the wife of WILLIAM WATSON died November 22nd 1740 aged 39 years. WILLIAM WATSON died September 30th 1762 aged 65 years.

 

114 “My peace I give unto you”. ROBERT MOWBRAY DARNELL entered into rest August 16th 1886 aged 73 years. ELLEN HOARE DARNELL entered into rest March 3rd 1890 aged 74 years. “The Lord God giveth them light”.

This Public drinking fountain and horse trough was erected in 1911 for Alice and Maude Scurfield to commemorate the accession to the throne of King George V

The fountain head is badly damaged, with just the pipe remaining

The fountain no longer run and has been used as a flower bed.

Alice Scurfield died just a couple of years in 1913 and (Rose) Maude in 1936