United Buses Ghostsign – Redcar

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Travel by Road to York, Doncaster or London by United. Luxury coach services by day or night.
This sign apparently dates from the opening of the bus station in 1938.

United Ghostsign

United were formed in 1912 before becoming Tees & District in 1990 then eventually becoming the ubiquitous multi-national Arriva around 1998.

You can find thousands of photos of United buses in this dedicated Flickr group.

175 years since death of Redcar Lifeboatman

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William Guy is the only Redcar Lifeboatman ever to lose his life on a rescue callout.
William Guy, St Peter Redcar
He died on Christmas Day 1836 after being lost overboard from the Zetland lifeboat while trying to save the crew of the Danish ship Caroline.

The Caroline’s crew were also lost and Guys body was not found until 17 days later, near Staithes. (although All of Her Past Glories by David Phillipson says 6 weeks)

A plaque was unveiled in May 2011 in St Peter Church and a new grave marker laid in the cemetery.
William Guy, St Peter Redcar

Redcar Gas Company

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Inspired by a request from Kev Oyston for photos of the Gas Holders in Redcar.

Redcar Gas Company was originally formed in 1857, by various mergers and nationalisations I suspect it was part of Northern Gas in its later years. I recall there being one gas holder remaining on the site in the 1980s but I can’t remember exactly when it was removed, does anyone remember ?

The following photos have appeared on Redcar.net and Redcar.org and seem to show there were originally three gas holders.

OS Maps over the years show many changes on the site.
1894

1929

1954

 1966

 1983 –

 The site is now the location of the McDonalds Drive-Thru and Morrisons petrol station.

Pig and Whistle, Redcar

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The Pig and Whistle was demolished in 2001 when Redcar was redeveloped, Dave Woods has kindly contributed the following photos and his memories of the pub.

Pig and Whistle Redcar
The location for anyone who does not know was where Morrisons car park now stands just before the railway crossing.
Pig and Whistle Redcar
Not being brought up in Redcar and moving there in 1970 I don’t know too much about it’s early years. It was well liked for the quality of the beer pulled with a massive creamy head that they called a boiler. As you can see from the door it used the be The Alexandra Hotel in former years
Pig and Whistle Redcar
The original entrance on West Dyke Road can just be made out below the Fosters Lager sign
Pig and Whistle Redcar
The name Pig and Whistle, I was told years ago was a nickname for the place. The whistle from the trains and I’m assuming pigs nearby. People brought ornamental pigs from all over the world to give to the pub. Some of these can be seen in this photo taken in the bar.
Pig and Whistle Redcar
The landlord at the time told me that he had boxes and boxes full of pigs upstairs but had nowhere to put them. I wonder where they all are now. When the pub was relocated to Station Road as much as possible of the old bar woodwork was reinstalled there but to me it’s not like the old place.

Dave Woods.

As a footnote, I located these two photos of the Alexandra in 1935

 

Coatham Hotel, Windsor Ballroom, Redcar – In Atonement Colours

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One wing of the Coatham Hotel was never completed in the style of the rest of the building and the Windsor Ballroom was added at a later date. In later years it became a nightclub and a gym.

The lop-sided appearence of the hotel made it perfect to be a bombed out Dunkirk ruin when Atonement was filmed in Redcar in 2006
Redcar, Atonement Filming

The building has remained derelict since with its French set-decorations still on display, until August 2011 when its been given a fresh coat of paint and is now covered.

Redcar Outdoor Swimming Pools / Skating Rink

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Redcar once had an outdoor swimming pool and paddling pool next to the existing boating lake.
Redcar Outdoor Swimming Pools
I recall perhaps 20 years ago the curve of the large pool was visible in the waste land between the boating lake and the swimming baths (now demolished)
This area is currently being redeveloped for the Tuned In / myPlace centre, while this was happening I noticed a lot of concrete has been dug out of that area.
Redcar Outdoor Swimming Pool (Possibly)
Redcar Outdoor Swimming Pool (Possibly)
Its possible these are the remains of the swimming pool, although I also have a recollection of some concrete steps leading into the ground in this area, so it could also just be an old drainage tank of some sort.

Update : Some discussion below has pointed out the concrete was actually the skating rink, thanks to those involved for clearing that up.

Unveiling the Palace Cinema, Redcar

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The redevelopment of Redcar seafront has revealed the old Palace Cinema which sits over the top of the deserted amusement arcade which is to become “The Hub”
Palace Cinema Redcar
Palace Cinema Redcar
Palace Cinema Redcar

Theres a much more detailed “Palace Watch” blog being kept which also contains the history of the Palace

Below are some photos that appeared on Redcar.net, but its currently offline so I cannot credit them to the right people, if they are yours let me know.