Show on map A death mask is a wax cast made after a persons death, considering Sir William died in 1692, this one is in fabulous condition.
Calculations from the size of the head suggest he was 5 ft 3 inches tall.
Show on map An open day was arranged 28/29th July 2012 to view the recently restored window in the chapel of the Kirkleatham Almshouses. The window was on the verge of collapse until a year-long restoration was undertaken by York specialist Keith Barley at a cost of £35,000.
The windows date from the 1740s and are the work of William Price, who’s face is depicted in the centre of the scene, theres also a second face of his father Joshua Price but its not visible on my photo.
The central panel is a nativity scene designed by Sebatiano Ricci, the right panel depicts Sir William Turner in his robes as the Lord Mayor of London. On the left his elder bother John Turner, a serjeant-at-law,
Show on map When I last photographed this in 2011 it was a burnt out shell. In what makes a pleasant change from the norm, I can happily report its a working building again.
Theres also been a lot of effort made to remove the years of grafitti although a little is still showing.
Show on map Although WW1 and WW2 memorials can be found in most towns, Boer War memorials (1899-1902) are much less common.
Its very telling that there are only two names killed in fighting at Wolmaransstad, while the remaining four died of disease.
The monument was unveiled by Middlesbrough MP Samuel Sadler on 27th January 1904.
Show on map William Short from Eston was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery on 6th August 1916 at Munster Alley, Contalmaison, France, during the Battle of the Somme.
At the time it was reported :-
He was foremost in the attack, bombing the enemy with great gallantry, when he was severely wounded in the foot. He was urged to go back, but refused and continued to throw bombs. Later his leg was shattered by a shell and he was unable to stand, so that he lay in the trench adjusting detonators and straightening the pins of bombs for his comrades.
He died before he could be carried out of the trench. For the last eleven months he had always volunteered for dangerous enterprises, and had always set a magnificent example of bravery and devotion to duty.
Short had worked as as craneman at Bolckow, Vaughan & Co Steelworks in Eston. The upper part of the momument looks very much like local ironstone, having weathered in much the same way as the ironstone obelisks in the area.
Show on map Since the demolition of the old Town Hall on Fabian Road the ironstone obelisks have been moved to this new location at the City Learning Centre on Normanby Road.
I don’t think this will be the final home of the 2.5 tonnes items as its just a temporary home for the council.
I’m adding these comment by Dave into the main article as I think its important given the current council squabbling about where they should be.
“I think it wrong to say that the Fabian Road Town Hall pillars originally came from Eston Hospital, as they were there some 20 years before the hospital was closed and demolished. I gather they originally came from a set of four or more pillars sited on the entrance drive at Bolckow Vaughan’s old mine and works offices – Cleveland House – on Middlesbrough Road E in South Bank, a building that was bought from BV, when the firm went into post WW1 decline, by the old Eston Urban District Council.
I gather the pillars were originally crafted for the building and used as a motif for BV’s trade exhibitions. This, of course, means there were more pillars in the beginning and there were definitely a set at Eston Hospital These are now back. Whether they also originally came from Cleveland House, I don’t know. I expect they did”
A total of five pillars are currently in existence with two more at the old Eston Hospital site and one in South Bank.
Having checked OS maps from 1915 and 1929 for Cleveland House it looks like the pillars are no strangers to movement as they change position there when the Fire Station is built.
Show on map By pure chance I happened to drive past on the 24th of July and find the demolition taking place, here are some before and after shots.
The James Finegan Hall was already gone by this point.
This hall was the home of a Mighty Wurlitzer organ from 1981 (having arrived there from Redcar pier after it’s demolition, although originally from the Granada Theatre in Bedford)
Show on map The location of the road between Slapewath and Guisborough has changed over the years, just to the south of its current course remains a much older sandstone bridge.
Its now surrounded by heavy undergrowth and is missing a few blocks in places.
The remains of a cobbled surface can be found on top.
Looking at old maps i would say it was the only road shown on the 1938 map, the 1958 suggests both exist and by 1968 its just the new more northerly location.
When I posted my mystery negatives last week, I thought people might be able to identify the location eventually if I was very lucky, but assumed the chance of ever knowing who any of the people are were was virtually non-existent. However with the huge help of Norman Dunn and the Hebburn message board lots of progress has been made.
They were very quickly identified as being taken in Jarrow, but now a photo clearly taken in 1905 on the same day of the same family has emerged from a book.
This names them as Jane Elizabeth Hill and her children Raymond, Florrie and Lillie, who can be seen again in this studio portrait.
Their father John Edwin Hill being the town hatter, I don’t think its too much of a jump to say this is probably him with the same children on the same studio chair, although perhaps looking a little younger ?
This has really shown me the huge powers of the internet and I thank everyone involved for their help again. I have donated the box of slides to Norman so he can continue his investigations on their home town.
Show on map Local mining expert Simon Chapman will be leading a walk through Errington Woods on Sunday afternoon 29th July looking at the ironstone mining and railway remains. It will start from the car park near the junction of Sandy and Grewgrass Lanes above New Marske at 1pm.
It has been arranged by the local branch of the Stephenson Locomotive Society but is open to anyone who wishes to come along.
The walking will be along well made paths but could be muddy in places depending on the summer weather, and may take 2 – 3 hours.