St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Mission School, Thornaby

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St Andrews Mission at Thornaby is still a functioning church, their website states that St.Andrews was a mission station started by the much larger Presbyterian Church in Stockton, originally as a Sunday School. When the Presbyterian Church and the Congregational Church joined together, it became part of the United Reformed Church

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Mission School, Thornaby

The date stone above the building carries the date 1893, it cost about £950 and could seat 200.

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Mission School, Thornaby

One foundation stone was laid by Mrs Bouge of the Manse on October 1st 1892, presumably the wife of Rev. J Bogue

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Mission School, Thornaby

The second stone is heavily eroded and difficult to interpret, but my research shows it to be Mrs G Y Blair who laid the stone. That would be the wife of George Young Blair who managed the Fossick & Hackworth Locomotive Engine Works which he came to own after 1866 as Blair and Co. who manufactured marine engines.

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Mission School, Thornaby

The Northern Echo from Monday 03 October 1892 report on the events in full.

Stafford Place Methodist Chapel, Sun Street, Thornaby

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The Stafford Place Methodist Chapel appears to have operated between 1911 and 1965 and had a seating capacity of 300. It cost £800 to build and replaced an 1833 building.

Stafford Place Methodist Chapel, Sun Street, Thornaby

This foundation stone was laid by Charles Arthur Head Esq, Mayor, May 25th 1911. One of the directors of Head, Wrightson, and Co.

Stafford Place Methodist Chapel, Sun Street, Thornaby

The second foundation stone has been badly eroded with only the 1911 at the end visible.

Stafford Place Methodist Chapel, Sun Street, Thornaby

The stone was laid by the Walker family of Scarborough who made a sizeable contribution. Their link is Ambrose Walker who puchase the nearby pottery in
September 1878.

Sheepdog Graves, Thornhill Farm, near Commondale

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By the roadside at Thornhill Farm, between Commondale and Castleton are a number of roadside gravestones.

Sheepdog Graves, Thornhill Farm

The farmer has been erecting memorials to his old dogs with the older stones now being eroded away.

Sheepdog Graves, Thornhill Farm

Some of the more modern names are still visible such as Cindy, Raz Pup and Ely

Commondale Brickworks Railway Bridge with Masons Marks

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A short branch ran north from Commondale railway station to connect the brickworks to the main railway line.

Commondale Bridge

The brickworks was opened in 1861 by Stokesley printer John Pratt, before passing into the hands of the Crossley family in 1873, who operated it until 1947.

Commondale Bridge

The bridge abutments still stand although the deck of the bridge is gone. The stonework is covered in a number of different masons marks

Commondale Bridge

Richard Baker Bench, Skinningrove

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The bench carries the inscription Richard Baker 1949 – 2016. Richard was lead builder of the Skinningrove bonfire for more than 30 years. A full obituary can be found here

Richard Baker Bench, Skinningrove

He wrote poetry, so I assume the words on the bench are his own.

Richard Baker Bench, Skinningrove