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
This small building dating from 1879 once housed a water pump for the village. The pump was shaped like the Sockburn Worm with its tail forming the pump handle.
After the pump was removed in 1911 the structure remained as a shelter, which is now a Grade II listed building. It caries a plaque with the 1879 construction date and the initials “SRW” for Samuel Rowland Chapman-Ward of Neasham (who committed suicide at Penrith Railway Station just a few years later in 1883)
Delve into the past childhoods of free roaming children and listen to colourful stories of local characters. Based on recordings from our Heritage Lottery Funded, Where the Wild Things Were project, we will take you off the beaten track and out into your local area to discover how childhoods, wildlife and the local landscape have changed from recordings, maps and archival photos.
These fun and friendly walks begin promptly at 10.00am and finish by 1.00pm or earlier. Dress for the weather and wear suitable footwear for walking along muddy footpaths and tracks. There may be steep sections on some of the walks. Bring a hot drink, a snack and your camera. The schedule of walks is:
Places on each walk will be limited. You are required to book by calling 01287 636382 or email info@teeswildlife.org For more details visit the Tees Valley Trust’s website events page http://www.teeswildlife.org/events/
Ugthorpe Pinfold is thought to date from about 1700, it was used to hold livestock that had strayed from the common pasture and moorland, onto fields or roads. A fine or ‘poundage’ would need to be paid to recover them.
The pinfold was restored as a seating area in 2007 by the Parish Council
Many thanks to Peter Edwards for these photos of a wall in Stockton on the corner of Inkerman Street and Bishopton Lane.
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The image was uncovered late 2011 when a hoarding was removed,
Peter believed the advert relates to a 1930’s /1940 cocktail called Everybodys, but it looks like its actually a magazine that ran from the mid=40s to the mid-50s.
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Sadly it will never be seen again as it was painted over late 2014.
The Saltergill Inn was said to contains a peat fire that had never gone out since the 1730s. The folklore tale is that smugglers hid the body of a murdered Customs and Excise Man under the hearth and he would never be found as long as the fire was kept burning.
The inn dates to 1648 but sadly has been closed since 2007 and is now in a poor state (not sure if anyones checked for the body under the hearth yet either)
