Author Archives: chris.twigg

Memorial Plaque to William Henry Thomas

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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.

 Boro 001 Boro 002

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.

Boro 003 

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.

Sheave Wheel from Boulby Potash Mine

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Despite being very close to Lumpsey pit, this item has no relation to the ironstone site.

Sheave Wheel, Brotton Roundabout Sheave Wheel, Brotton Roundabout

The wheel was donated to the “Blooming Lights” group in September 2003 and originated at the Boulby Potash mine.

At 18ft I have read elsewhere it is the largest Sheave wheel in Europe.

Skinningrove Mosaic and Sylvania Anchor

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This mosaic by Derek Mosey, Helen Gaunt and the village community depicts various aspects of Skinningrove such as the mine and the “merman” legened, it was erected during 2009
Skinningrove Mosaic Skinningrove Mosaic

Skinningrove Mosaic Skinningrove Mosaic

Skinningrove Mosaic Skinningrove Mosaic

The small park also contains the Sylvania Anchor, which was used to help refloat a ship stranded at Skinningrove for six months, it was retrieved from the sea in 2001 after spending 100 years buried.
Skinningrove Anchor

sylvania.jpg

Evolution of Life In the Sea Mosaic, Doorstep Green, Skinningrove

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This mosaic was originally constructed in 1963 for Rosecroft School in Loftus, when that was demolished in 2009 it was moved here. Its 18ft by 9ft and weighs 4.5 tonnes.
Sealife Mosaic, Doorstep Green, Skinningrove

The original artist Philippa Threlfall who was 23 at the time and is now 70 visited to see its new location, one of the councillors involved in the move was actually one of the school children who collected the stones and fossil from Skinningrove beach 46 years earlier.
Sealife Mosaic, Doorstep Green, SkinningroveSealife Mosaic, Doorstep Green, SkinningroveSealife Mosaic, Doorstep Green, Skinningrove

Sealife Mosaic, Doorstep Green, Skinningrove Sealife Mosaic, Doorstep Green, Skinningrove Sealife Mosaic, Doorstep Green, Skinningrove

Repus Cobble, Skinningrove

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The boat and chainsaw carved figures appeared some time in mid 2008.

Repus Cobble, Skinningrove  Repus Cobble, Skinningrove

Despite the enigmatic name, a previous owner points out its just Super spelt backwards
Repus Cobble, Skinningrove Repus Cobble, Skinningrove

Mo Mowlem Mosaic, Coatham Enclosure

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This mosaic memorial to Mo Mowlem by John Todd was unveiled on 23rd October 2009, It was funded by £12,000 of public donations.

Mo Mowlam Mosaic, Redcar 

 (its location makes it tricky to photograph whole)

Mo Mowlam Mosaic, Redcar Mo Mowlam Mosaic, Redcar 

Mo Mowlam Mosaic, Redcar Mo Mowlam Mosaic, Redcar 

Subject matter includes local steelworks and racecourse, doves for the Northern Ireland Peace deal and the Houses of Parliament

Mo Mowlam Mosaic, Redcar Mo Mowlam Mosaic, Redcar

Mo Mowlam Mosaic, Redcar Mo Mowlam Mosaic, Redcar

 The 1930s boating lake has recently been redeveloped at a cost of £850,000

Coatham Boating Lake, Redcar

Old Redcar Coat of Arms

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Redcar Motto 

‘Mare et Ferro’ – Sea and Iron, granted 10th October 1922 (Coatham Enclosure was built in the 1930s)

The heavily eroded parts at the top are iron ingots and a blast furnace, they can be seen better in this printed version

redcar.jpg

Face Stone, Urra Moor

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The stone is mentioned in the first preamble of the Duncombe Estate from 1642, other than that very little is known of its origins or the reason for the carving.

Face Stone, Urra Moor

Picture Postcards, Redcar

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23 local scenes from 1994/1995 by the blacksmith Chris Topp from designs by Stephen Abbey, Humphrey Holland, Richard Albanese and Pete Douglas. , situated between the Regent cinema and the boating lake.

They all contain letters which form a riddle (answers on a postcard)
Redcar Seafront Redcar Seafront

Redcar Seafront Redcar Seafront Redcar Seafront

Redcar Seafront Redcar Seafront Redcar Seafront

Redcar SeafrontRedcar SeafrontRedcar Seafront

UPDATE : As of 2012 these have been removed for the development of the new sea wall, it is unknown whether they will return.
UPDATE : The returned in 2013, but in different locations all along the sea front.

Hand of Glory, Whitby Museum

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One very unusual artifact in the Whitby Museum is a Hand of Glory.

Hand of Glory, Whitby Museum

Reputed to be the hand of a hanged man which gives the owner the powers of a master thief.
I’ll leave the detailed descriptions of the item and its magical powers to the museum and wikipedia