Archive for the 'Glimpses' Category

Victorian Urinal and bridge dedicated to Ironstone Miners

The bridge into Waterfall Park in Great Ayton is dedicated to five ironstone miners who lost their lives in the First World War.

Great Ayton Bridge
The under manager George Whitbread worked at Ayton Monument rather than Ayton Banks.

Over the bridge is a cast iron Victorian Urinal, it was originally one of three, it moved here in 1998 from Station Road.
Great Ayton Urinal

Redcar Gas Lamp

One of a number of iron gas lamps that can still be spotted around town, I imagine they will all still be around long after the present round of new street lights are gone too.

Redcar Gas Lamp

Guisborough Spring

The site of the last fresh water spring in Guisborough, unfortunately doesn’t run any more and is currently full of litter.
Guisborough Spring Guisborough Spring

Near the end of Fountain Street, where there was a fountain and a lake in front of the original Guisborough Hall on Bow Street which was demolished in 1847.

engraving.jpg

Kettleness Mysteries

I really have no idea what this short tunnel/shelter just below the cliff top is for, it seems too neat and too short to be mine related. To me it gives the impression of being a shelter from where the view can be admired. It looks to have been cut by hand.

Kettleness Mystery Tunnel / Shelter Kettleness Mystery Tunnel / Shelter  Kettleness Mystery Tunnel / Shelter

Does anyone have any idea of its age and purpose ?

Just a short distance away to the north, this unusual item is visible by the side of the Cleveland Way, the metal part still freely rotates and there appear to be the remain of powerful springs attached.

Kettleness Mystery Item 

It is some distance away from both the Sandsend and Kettleness tunnels.

Any ideas ?

Hartlepool to Middleton Ferry Steps

The ferry ran from 1854 - 1952 to the now non-existant village of Middleton.

Steps to old Hartlepool - Middleton Ferry Crossing.

The last true ferry man Bull Boagey slipped on these steps in 1951, cracking his head which killed him.

Sandwell Gate, Hartlepool Headland

Sandwell Gate is named after the long gone chalybeate spring on the beach. It was most likely built in the 14th Century.

It lead directly into Sandwell Chare and the Croft which were in-filled and demolished in the 1930s.
Sandwell Gate

More details on the town walls here 

Bathing Pool, Hartlepool Headland

The open air bathing pool opened in 1923, there a photo here, it was damaged beyond repair by the 1953 storms

The outline of the pool can still be seen on the shore at low tide.
Outdoor Bathing Pool Foundations Outdoor Bathing Pool Foundations

Hartlepool Lighthouse

The current lighthouse was built in 1926 after the previous lighthouse was removed to give the Heugh Battery and Lighthouse Battery a clearer view of the sea.

The position of the orignal stopped retaliatory fire during the Bombardment of Hartlepool on 16th December 1914

Hartlepool Lighthouse Hartlepool Lighthouse

1500 shells were fired at Hartlepool during the bombardment by the German Cruisers Seydlitz, Moltke and Blucher. Leading to the death of the first soldier killed on British soil during the First World War

First Soldier Killed on British Soil in World War 1, Hartlepool 

Baysdale Abbey, Ancient Bridge.

The Priory of St Mary was granted land in Baysdale in 1189, the bridge is believed to have been built in the following century.

Bridge at Baysdale Abbey Bridge at Baysdale Abbey

After the priory was suppressed in 1539, the bridge continued in use for Baysdale Abbey farm.

Roseberry Topping Shooting Box

The plaque states built by Commodore Wilson of Ayton Hall in the late 18th century as a shooting shelter in inclement weather. True to its word the weather was extremely inclement when these photos were taken.

Although the recent book Roseberry Topping by the Great Ayton Community Archeology Group suggest none of  that may be true.

Roseberry Topping Shooting Box Plaque Roseberry Topping Shooting Box Roseberry Topping Shooting Box

Six Stoups Waymarkers

The waymarkers line the side of the road near Birk Brow and show the safe path through formerly marshy ground, they have only recently been restored to an upright position. Details of that work can be found here
Six Stoups Standing Stones (well two of them) Six Stoups Standing Stones

Commondale waymarker carved with hands

Commondale Hand Signpost Commondale Hand Signpost

Although a little tricky to make out, the writing on the various faces reads.

TO WHITBY, TO STOKESLEY, TO GISBER all with carved hands

Transporter Bridge

OK, so its not exactly hidden as you can see it from miles away, but I got the chance to go up as part of Heritage Open Days
Normally the only chance to get up there is if you fancy the quick way down via a bungee rope.

Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge Heritage Open Day Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge Heritage Open Day Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge  Winding Engine

Glad i’m not scared of heights

Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge Heritage Open Day Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge Heritage Open Day Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge Heritage Open Day

Once on top you could watch the gondola trundling below

Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge Heritage Open Day Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge Heritage Open Day Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge Heritage Open Day

Saltburn Mortuary

Got the rare opportunity to see inside this normally locked building as part of Heritage Open Days.

The mortuary was built in 1881, bodies lost at sea tended to arrive here due to prevailing currents and it was still in use in the 1960s

There was the opportunity to try out the slab, but I declined.

Saltburn Mortuary Heritage Open Day Saltburn Mortuary Heritage Open Day Saltburn Mortuary Heritage Open Day

Echo Tunnel - Liverton Mines, Kilton Viaduct

Located where Kilton Beck passes under a viaduct that was buried in 1913.

Viaduct
To the north you need to climb down a steep shale bank that looks like its regularly used by scramblers, the water at that end is almost knee deep, so we couldn’t attack it from that side and had to go all the way back up.

Echo Tunnel North Entrance

To the south another steep climb passing a large heap of burnt out cars, but the beck is much shallower and access is easier. Here’s an image from inside with a normal flash, and a colourful HDR image built up from several shots.
Echo Tunnel  Echo Tunnel HDR Shot

Then it was time for some fun

Echo Tunnel Light Painting Echo Tunnel Light Painting Echo Tunnel Light Painting

If anyone fancies calling Most Haunted looks like theres a ghost too :-)

Echo Tunnel Light Painting Ghost

Many thanks to Sayzey for putting me on to this one, and giving me the idea to try HDR photography. 

Hunters Sty Bridge Westerdale

Ancient packhorse bridge, visible from the modern road. Restored in 1874. It has unusual arches unlike any other bridge i’ve seen. It is believed to have some connection to the Knight Templar who were based very close by.

Ancient Bridge Westerdale Ancient Bridge Westerdale Ancient Bridge Westerdale Ancient Bridge Westerdale

 

Errington Woods, Smallpox Hospital

The large number of mature plum trees in the picnic area always seemed a little out of place to me. The car park appears to have been a smallpox hospital.

Small Pox Hospital

I can find no pictures or references to it, other than a few mentions of a smallpox epidemic in Teesside in the late 1890s 

Yearby Icehouse

Visible from the main path through the woods at Yearby, although the tree cover made GPS reception tricky.
There appears to be a second chamber through the doorway at the rear, although i had neither a powerful torch or a ladder to venture any further to photograph it.
Wilton Bank Icehouse Wilton Bank Icehouse Wilton Bank Icehouse Wilton Bank Icehouse

Some sort of ladder is needed if you want to get inside (or more importantly get back out afterwards)
There is a record of a hermit called Mick Plummer actually living here.

Roxby Hall

Only one corner of the 13th Century Roxby (or Rousby) Hall remains in a field adjacent to St. Nicholas’ Church

Roxby Manor 2 Remains of Roxby Manor

Guisborough Milestone

Situated on cemetery corner at the junction with the Redcar road. Currently I have no idea of its age or origins, although the fact it points to Kirkleatham rather than Redcar is perhaps a clue.
Milepost Guisborough Milepost Guisborough