Redcar Pirate Cat Returns

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The pirate cat in the crow’s nest was previously on the site of the new Redcar Beacon (vertical pier) from where it was removed in March 2011
Pirate Cat Returns
They have now moved to the top of the High Street next to the ‘Redcar Figures’
Pirate Cat Returns
Looks like a lick of paint wouldnt have hurt before it was re-erected. I beleive its been adopted by Redcar In Bloom and the children of Zetland Primary School.

Eston Mystery Millstone (solved)

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Once again I turn to my readers having drawn a blank on this.
Mystery Millstone, Eston
The millstone is on Eston Recreation Ground, but I cannot find any link between the area and a mill and my internet searches have drawn a blank on when and why it was placed.
Mystery Millstone, Eston
Any ideas ?
The only thing of note on old maps appear to be a Fever Hospital on the opposite side of the road.

UPDATE : The mystery has been solved by Cllr Sheelagh Clarke.
The millstone was purchased from the stone merchant attached to the kennels in Guisborough as part of the landscaping of the Church Lane Pocket Park. It was placed there purely as a decorative item to enhance the landscaped areas rather than representing something specific.

Upsall Pit

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The remains of Upsall Pit are now heavily covered in undergrowth, although the outline of the reservoir and spoil heap can still be identified

The pit was 564ft deep and sunk in the 1850s – 1860s, it is the lowest point of the Eston Mines so was used in pumping water from the mine and ventilation as well as providing access for men and tubs.
The row of houses know as Barnaby Moor or Pit Top (now demolished) were still in existence but deserted in the late 1940s.
Upsall Well
This concrete cover marks the location of the village well.

This extract from ‘A Century is Stone’ by Craig Hornby gives much more detail.

Middlesbrough Library

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Middlesbrough library opened on the 8th May 1912 by Amos Hinton, so its just celebrated its centenary.
Middlesbrough Library
Inside there are two large brass plates from its opening (now hidden behind plastic)
Middlesbrough Library
The first records that the building was a gift (of £15,000) from Andrew Carnegie a leading American steel maker who spent much of his fortune establishing over 3000 libraries. The land was donated by Sir Hugh Bell and Amos Hinton
Monetary donations came from the major industrialists such as Samuelson and Co, Bolckow and Vaughan, Dorman Long and Gjers Mills.
Middlesbrough Library
The second records the foundation stones being laid by Walter G Roberts and Mayor Thomas Gibson Poole on 2nd May 1910 and the opening two years later.

South Bank and District Unionist Club

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This lovely building now stands derelict, I don’t know if it has a future due to the demolition of the community around it. I imagine its even nicer under the pebbledash.
South Bank Unionist Club, 1908
The carved 1908 date stone leaves no question as to its age.
South Bank Unionist Club, 1908
I would imagine the name plaque is also original
South Bank Unionist Club, 1908
I have found one reference to its construction :- Fred Walshaw, architect, 69 Lorne Terrace, South Bank ; T. W. Wade, secretary of the club

Cromwell Road Primary School, South Bank

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Nothing now remains of the school apart from the entrance doorway for girls.
Cromwell Road School, South Bank
I’m not sure on the exact demolition date but the school celebrated it’s 100th year in 2004 and was due to be merged with Beech Grove Primary at the end of 2005.

There were large scale demolitions of the surrounding streets around 2006/2007

Methodist Chapel / Sacred Heart Church, Redcar

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The history of this location seems to be in complete conflict from two sources. A recently published book by Vera Robinson MBE says it was built in 1874 as a Wesleyan Chapel and became the Catholic Sacred Heart Church in 1915.
Wesleyan Chapel / Sacred Heart Church, Redcar
While pages on the Communigate website says the opposite, that it was built for the Catholic community and became Methodist when the current Sacred Heart Church on Lobster Road  was built in 1913/1914.
Wesleyan Chapel / Sacred Heart Church, Redcar

One clue is a dedication stone which confirms the 1874 build date and a re-opening on September 9th 1913 by Miss A.D. Hutchinson of Saltburn

Comparing maps from 1895 to 1915 backs up the latter sequence of events.
 1895
 1915