Captain Cooks Family Grave

Posted on October 3, 2011 by chris.twigg

All Saints Church in Great Ayton contains the graves of James Cook’s mother and five of his brothers and sisters.

My interpretation of the inscription :-

“To the Memory of Mary & Mary, Jane & William.
Daughters and Son of James and Grace Cook.
Mary died June the 30th 1737 in the 5th year of her age.
Mary died June the 17th 1741 aged 10 Months & 6 days.
Jane died May the 12th 1742 in the 5th year of her age.
William died July(?) the 29th 1747/8 aged 2 yrs 12 months 16 days 7 hours.
and also John their son died Sept the 20th 1750 aged 23 years”

“In memory of Grace Cook who died Feb 18th 1765 aged 63 Years and of James Cook who was buried at Marske April 1st 1779. The above James and Grace Cook were the parents of the celebrated circumnavigator Captain James Cook who was born at Marton Oct 27th 1728 educated in this village and killed at Owhyhee Dec. 14th 1779″

This inscription is actually incorrect as Cook was killed on Feb 14th 1779

Cooks father is buried at St Germains in Marske

Captain Cooks School Room – Great Ayton

Posted on September 28, 2011 by chris.twigg

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Captain Cook attended this school between 1736 and 1740 which now operates a museum. The school itself was founded in 1704 by Michael Postgate

The plaque on the wall is also by Nicholas Dimbleby the same as the statue on the green.

Obelisk at location of Captain Cooks family cottage – Great Ayton

Posted on September 28, 2011 by chris.twigg

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This obelisk marks the location Captain Cooks family cottage.

The cottage itself was shipped to Australia for the Centenary of Melbourne in 1934 where is still stands in Fitzroy Park. The cottage was built by Cooks parents in 1755 so its unlikely Cook himself actually lived there as he moved away to Staithes in 1745.

The obelisk is constructed with stone from near Point Hicks which was the first part of Australia spotted by Lieutenant Hicks from the Endeavour. It is a replica of an obelisk that stands there.

The unveiling of the obelisk was actually captured and is available on the Pathe Website.

UPDATE : A friend of mine has recently visited the cottage in Australia, so many thanks to Eric for the photo.

Statue of young James Cook- Great Ayton

Posted on September 27, 2011 by chris.twigg

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This status shows James Cook at the age of 16 looking towards Staithes. The sculptor is Nicholas Dimbleby. It was unveiled on 12 May 1997 by Captain Chris Blake who was the Master of HM Bark Endeavour a replica of Captain Cook’s ship.

Great Ayton ROC Post

Posted on March 28, 2011 by chris.twigg

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Until recently this post was hidden in heavy undergrowth, but it looks like the area is being cleared and the post has already taken some heavy damage.

I suspect the site is about to be completely lost, so visit soon if you want to see it. The inside of the post is currently accessable but its wet and not in great condition

Ayton Monument Ironstone Mine

Posted on October 27, 2010 by chris.twigg

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Ayton Monument was worked for 23 years between 1908 and 1931 by Pease and Partners, the site is now in regular use as a offroad bike circuit.
This beautifully carved stone dates from the building of the main hauler engine house.

An sirocco fan was installed to ventilate the mine in 1919, the date is still visible on the remains of the fanhouse.

At the top of the steep incline up to the site are the foundations of the braking drum.

At the base of the quarter mile long incline which provided a link to the railway is a intact electrical substation for the mine from around 1921.

Ayton Banks Ironstone Mine

Posted on October 22, 2008 by chris.twigg

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Ayton Banks was mined by three different companies between 1909 and 1929, it was a small royalty entirely enclosed within Ayton Monument mine.
The most obvious remains are the numerous shale heaps, some with ironwork on top probably from aerial ropeways.

A number of building remains and foundation can be spotted in the dense undergrowth

A very small length of drift is visible at the bottom of a large collapse, but its tricky to reach and also flooded.

About 100m to the south of the drift, iron stained water can be seen emerging from what was presumably a drainage level, this appears to be lined with corrugated iron sheets which have collapsed a few feet in, water can again be seen at the bottom of that collapse.

Victorian Urinal and bridge dedicated to Ironstone Miners

Posted on October 21, 2008 by chris.twigg

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

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.

Cliff Rigg Whinstone Quarry

Posted on December 14, 2007 by chris.twigg

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The site was leased by the Leeds Corporation from 1868 to provide street setts, it stretches for about half a mile. In 1883 the lease moved to William Winn