Bombardment of the Hartlepools

Posted on July 5, 2022 by chris.twigg

On my previous visit to the site in mid-2014 this monument did not exist, it appeared a few months later.

It commemorates the death of 114 civilians, 9 soldiers and 7 sailors killed in the Bombardment of the Hartlepools on 16th December 1914.

It was erected to mark the 100th Anniversary and unveiled on 16th December 2014 by the Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham Sue Snowdon.

The engraving is tricky to photograph, but it a reproduction of the painting The Bombardment of the Hartlepools by James Clark, painted in 1915.

A huge amount of information about the events of that day is on display in the nearby Heugh Battery.

Bombardment of the Hartlepools Fragment — Shrapnel from December 16th 1914

Royal Army Ordnance Corp – Brockley Hall Saltburn

Posted on June 11, 2022 by chris.twigg

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This small painted sign can be found on a gatepost outside Brockley Hall. The property itself dates back to 1875 and became a Christian Endeavour Home in 1937.

I have no detais, but the sign would suggest it may have played a role in WW2 when the RAOC was responsible for the supply of ammunition, clothing and general stores. The “CSS” may stand for Combat Service Support.

No.1 C.S.S. / R.A.O.C Brockley Hall Saltburn

Darlington Station Bell

Posted on May 2, 2022 by chris.twigg

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The Darlington Station Bell originally hung in the Clock Tower over the Victoria Road entrance to the station.

It was cast in 1886 by John Warner and Sons of London, who are best known for the clock chimes at the Houses of Parliament.

The bell had fallen out of use and was moved inside the station in 1983

Over Silton School 1844

Posted on April 8, 2022 by chris.twigg

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This tiny village school in Over Silton carries an inscription that dates it 1844

The school house was built in 1844 by Sir George Wombwell, 3rd Baronet. After his death in 1855, his son Sir George Orby Wombwell, 4th Baronet (a survivor of the Charge of the Light Brigade) sold the Over Silton Estate.

Thompsons of Osmotherley Established 1786

Posted on March 1, 2022 by chris.twigg

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Thompson’s in Osmotherley, began trading in 1786 and passed through six generation of the family.

Grace Thompson ran the shop alone and was still delivering newspapers aged 75 , she retired in 2004 and passed away in 2014.

A strict condition of the sale means any new owner has to run the building with all its original fittings as a shop, but unfortunately it still appears to be stood empty in 2022.

Charltons Methodist Chapel ?

Posted on February 19, 2022 by chris.twigg

This stone from a Methodist Chapel is in a modern bungalow opposite the community centre at Charltons. However old maps don’t show any previous buildings on this site.

It is also unclear whether Alderman J.T. Fletcher is associated with the 1873 date or the 18/2/61 (which must be 1961 if it was re-laid then?)

This news report from 1874 hints work may have still being ongoing

Could it actually have been the chapel and school midway between Charltons and Margrove Park as suggested by 1890s Primitive Methodists circuits ?

Osmotherley Pinfold

Posted on February 3, 2022 by chris.twigg

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Pinfolds were designed to hold stray animals until their owners paid a fine for their release.

They would have been a feature of all medieval villages, although this one dates from the 18th century.

Restoration work was done in 2011

Borrowby Cross

Posted on January 9, 2022 by chris.twigg

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The cross in the centre of Borrowby is of medieval origin.

The village is built at the junction of four roads and was once split between two wapentakes, Allerton and Birdforth. The portions which belonged to Birdforth were known as the Gueldable.