Upsall Blacksmith’s Forge 1859

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The horseshoe shaped archway carries the words Upsall Town and is dated 1859.

Upsall Blacksmith

It is very similar in design to Turton Cottages in Roxby which are dated a year earlier in 1858, another estate owned by the Turton family.

Upsall Blacksmith

Upsall Blacksmith

John Turton was a physician to ‘mad’ George III, who died without children, the estate passed to the youngest son of Rev William Peters (chaplain to the Prince Regent) who assumed the Turton name and coat of arms.

Upsall Blacksmith

Thompsons of Osmotherley Established 1786

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

Thompson Osmotherley 1786

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.

Turton Cottages Blacksmith – Roxby

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The wonderful doorway arch shaped like horseshoe can only be a Blacksmiths, built in 1858 as the inscription tells us and still used for that purpose into the 1960’s

Turton Cottages - Roxby

John Turton was a physician to ‘mad’ George III, he bought the manor of Roxby but died in without children, the estate passed to the youngest son of Rev William Peters (chaplain to the Prince Regent) who assumed the Turton name and coat of arms.

Victorian Postbox in Wilton

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This wall-box in Wilton village has been in use for at least 120 years as it carries a “VR” Royal Cypher

Wilton Post Box

VR – Queen Victoria (1853-1901)

ER VII – Edward VII (1901-1910)

GR – George V (1910-1936)

ER VIII – Edward VIII (20 January 1936 – 11 December 1936)

GR VI – George VI (1936-1952)

ER II – Elizabeth II 1952-present)

It was made by W.T. Allen & Co, who stated production in 1886, so it can only date from 1886-1901

Wilton Post Box

Packhorse Bridge – Stokesley

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The Packhorse bridge in Stokesley is a Grade II listed building, dating from the 17th century.
Packhorse Bridge - Stokesley
It crosses the River Leven and would have been a route connecting Durham to Helmsley and York.
Packhorse Bridge - Stokesley
Interestingly this old postcard calls it “Taylersons Bridge”

Trev Teasdel solved the problem :-  If you look in the intro Daphne Franks pamphlet called Printing and Publishing in Stokesley, published 1986 by Stokesley Local History Group, she says in the parish register of 1759, Nicholas Taylerson’s occupation was given as ‘Printer’ at the time of his marriage to Miss Amelia Clarke in 1793. he was a member of a well known family of merchants in the town who gave their name previously to the Pack Horse Bridge. Also if you walk along the river towards the watermill, there’s a a cobbled path -or old road on the left which I think may have been the old road to Helmsley.