Hidden Teesside

The Forbes Buildings were built around 1900 for John Forbes as a bakery with shops and stables.

Forbes came from Aberdeen in 1875 and ended up being mayor of Middlesbrough in 1904, he also had some involvement in the Ironopolis football club.

The original tower was built by John Middleton in 1847, only three sides of the clock tower have a face because they were erected by subscription and its said the businesses on the blank side didn’t want their workers clockwatching.

After numerous redesigns of the docks, the current tower is said to date from around 1870, it doubled as a water tower to maintaining water pressure in the dock gates.

At the beginning of the ‘Boro Brick Road’ outside the Riverside Stadium are a series of bricks to commemorate the 8 Middlesbrough players killed in both World Wars.

• Andrew Jackson died 1917
• Henry Cook died 1917
• Donald McLeod died 1917
• Bobby Atherton died 1917
• Archibald Wilson died 1918
• Dick Wynn died 1919
• David Murphy died 1944
• Ralph Arran died 1944

Their full stories can be read here

Despite being two of the founding fathers of Middlesbrough, the graves had fallen into disrepair until they were recently refurbished

Bolckow died in Ramsgate on 18th June 1878, 10,000 people attended his funeral, said to be one fifth of the population of Middlesbrough.

Vaughan died in London on 16th September 1868

A plaque to Vaughan which was found under a bush 20 years ago is also going to be put back on display

William Henry Thomas (1858 - 1923) was the founder of the Middlesbrough and District Betterment and Open Spaces Association, a small rest garden on Acklam Road houses the memorial.

Considering the subject matter, its rather sad that part of the park has recently been lost to roundabout for new housing estate and the general state of disrepair of the steps leading up to the monument.

However I found some council meeting minutes which say the developer is to spend £500,000 on upgrading the public open space, hopefully those will include the park and memorial.

The North Riding Infirmary donated to the town by Ironmaster Henry Bolckow in 1864 was demolished in late 2006 to make way for a much needed Aldi and Travelodge (ahem)

The portico was saved after pressure from locals, although initially hidden behind road signs the owners have still not seen fit to remove the numbering and clean it up properly

This painted sign has somehow survived 65 years and indicates the site of a likely still intact Second World War air raid shelter for 367 people.

Apparently only demolished in 1963 but I can locate no photos on the internet, does anyone have one ?

All that remains is this plaque very hidden away in a back alley.

The statue of ironmaster and mayor of Middlesbrough John Vaughan was sculpted by George Anderson Lawson and unveiled on 2nd June 1884.

There are four metal panels on the sides of the statue depicting various mining and industrial scenes.

The cottage which was the birthplace of Captain James Cook in 1728 stood in what is now Stewart Park.

It was actually demolished in 1786, its position was originally marked by cobbles but was replaced by Bolckow with a granite vase in 1858

This is all that remains of Henry Bolckows residence, built in 1856. The original building showing the collonade can be seen here

The house burnt down just before it was due to be demolished in 1960, it is now the site of the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum. and has some interesting Totum Poles outside. Northwest Coast Canadian totem pole by Tim Paul and Richard Hunt (1979) and Community totem pole by North East carver David Gross (2006) 

Also theres the Marton Moai made with stone from Aislaby

Finally a short distance to the west, stands a garden temple

The status by Vivien Mallock was unveiled on May 16th, 2007. It is positioned where Brian crossed the park on his way to Ayresome Park.

The statue was removed in March 2009 when cracks developed in the leg and returned in June 2009 with a redesigned plinth.

The 8 bells from St Hildas are now located in central Middlesbrough.

They date from 1864 and were cast by Mears and Stainbeck, bells were donated by Bolckow and Vaughan, Thomas Vaughan, Cochrane and Company, Joseph Pease, Hopkins and Company, Gilkes Wilson Company, Clay Lane and South Bank Iron Companies and the local clergy.

After the demolition of the church in 1969 they were stored until 1975, then hung in a side street at the south side of All Saints Church, in 2005 they were moved to the current more prominent location.

The chuch of St Hildas was demolished in 1969, all that remains is a brick block marking the position of the altar from which even the plaque has been stolen. The housing that replaced it is already being demolished.

The area is surrounded with flattened gravestones which are now all virtually covered in grass,

A relatively modern relic built by the Marske Machine Company that used to stand in Victoria Park before it was relocated. It now stands in Ayresome Gardens

Joseph Pease donated the fountain decorated with herons and swans in 1869.

The current bandstand is a replica of the 1871 original made by George Smith and Co. of Glasgow.

West Lodge was actually built in 1866, two years before Albert Park was opened

There should be a plaque of dedication on the right, but it appears to be missing currently, there is coat of arms with Middlesbroughs motto “Erimus” which is Latin for ‘We shall be’. There is a carved owl to the rear of the building, possibly something to do with the Friends of Albert Park who I think are based there.

The memorial clock was donated by Councillor Thomas Sanderson in 1900. It was manufactured by Walter Macfarlane & Co. of Glasgow.

Lieutenant General Sir Henry Leslie Randle, unveiled the to the memorial to 1899-1902 South African war on 7th June 1905

The ’Bolckow Niche’ was at West Lodge near the park gates from 1898 and moved to its current location some time around 2004. It was donated by the Evening Gazettes founder, Hugh Gilzean Reid.

The sun dial was donated by Henry Bolckow in 1879 (aong with the park itself in 1868)

It was designed by John Smith of Stockton and gives the times in New York and Melbourne as well as Middlesbrough.