Thomas Rowland Smitheman – A Hero In Humble Life

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Thomas Rowland Smitheman was born without arms and legs in 1878 and was raised to adulthood by his mother in the days before the welfare state and NHS.

He was said to be man of exceptional mental and moral character and numbered his friends in the thousands.

From 1897 onwards the readers of the North-Eastern Daily Gazette and North-Eastern Weekly Gazette subscribed a total of nearly £400 to erect a shop and cottage for Thomas and his mother, in a campaign where he was known as ‘A Hero In Humble Life’ (this equates to something in the order of £40,000 today)

Thomas Smithemans Shop, North Ormesby

The official opening event on Saturday 25th February 1899 is covered in the Daily Gazette for Middlesbrough with two illustations one of Thomas and one of the shop
Smitheman2
Smitheman3
The shop still stands with the plaque on the side at 5 Beaumont Road in North Ormesby
Thomas Smithemans Shop, North Ormesby

Records suggest Thomas died aged 69 in March 1946

Thomas Bryan Jet Merchant, Whitby

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Jet workshops existed in the early 1800s, but there was a huge expansion in the 1850s after its appearence at the Great Exhibition and in the 1860s due to its strong association with Queen Victoria in mourning for Prince Albert.
Thomas Bryan Jet, Whitby
This faded sign for Thomas Bryan Jet Merchant can still be seen above modern signs at the end of Baxtergate. The 1871 Census lists Thomas Bryan living here at 76 Baxtergate where an 1890s trade directory shows him based at 4 5 and 6 Princess Place with a Mrs. Margaret Bryan at 76 Baxtergate. So perhaps between those two dates.

W. Harbottle and Sons Joiners and Undertakers, Great Ayton

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This beautiful old wooden sign for the joiner and undertaker can be found in Station Road, Great Ayton.
Harbottle, Great Ayton
The building is no longer the undertakers and has more recently been converted to a house.

Redcar Primary Care Hospital Time Capsules

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This plaque records the placing of two time capsules on 30th September 2009.
IMAG0078
One from Lakes Primary School and another from the NHS and RSRM containing information about the hospital and the Stead Hospital that it replaced.
They are intended to remain buried until at least 24th April 2038

Pybus Brothers, Roman Road, Middlesbrough

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Pybus Brothers were a chain of grocers based in Middlesbrough, the brothers were Thomas and William who setup the firm around 1900. They were known for roasting their own coffee and blending their own tea bags.
Pybus Brothers. Middlesbrough
Pybus Brothers had 13 branches across the area, mainly in Middlesbrough but also in Redcar, Saltburn and Norton. They were bought out by Newsfare in 1973.

The shop can just be made out on the extreme right of this old photo.
Pybus Brothers

Marquess of Zetland Plaque, Laburnum Road, Redcar

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This sign is fixed to a bungalow on Laburnum Road, Redcar and reads:-

These cottages were erected as a tribute from the community to the Marquess of Zetland. June 1931
Marquis of Zetland, Laburnum Road, Redcar
Lawrence Dundas, 1st Marquess of Zetland was a local landowner and politician who died on 11th March 1929. His wife was Lady Lilian Zetland and theres a matching plaque to her a few doors away, although on a cottage built two years later.
Lilian Zetland, Laburnum Road, Redcar
These cottages were erected as a tribute from the community to Lilian Zetland. July 1933

Robert McClean Plaque, Laburnum Road, Redcar

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This sign on a bungalow near East Halt station reads :-

Erected in grateful memory of Robert McClean Esq. J.P. Barrister-at-law, Redcars first town clerk. By the corporation of Redcar and by the spontaneous gifts of the admirers of his worth. July 1936

Robert McClean, Laburnum Road, Redcar

His obituary reads :-

Mr. ROBERT MCCLEAN, town clerk of Redcar, died on Thursday of last week (6th September 1934) at the age of 53. He was the pioneer of a scheme started at Redcar in 1921, whereby men forced to seek poor law relief were given an opportunity of doing useful work for the money granted. He endeavoured to secure provision in the new Unemployment Bill for some such scheme, which he held had enabled more than 2,500 men in recent years to work their way back from poor law relief to national insurability

Another Redcar Ghostsign, Rear of West Dyke Road

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If you spin around while looking at the sign I posted about yesterday, you will in fact notice another sign on the wall visible from trains travelling in the other direction.
West Dyke Road / Birdsall Terrace Ghostsign
This one appears to the relate to a Dispensing Chemist, I would guess it may be Davies ?

Redcar Ghostsigns, Rear of West Dyke Road

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The position of this old advertisement is initially confusing as it’s down a back alley and not easily visible from the road.
Ghostsigns behind West Dyke Road, Redcar
It makes much more sense if you think of it as being visible from the railway rather than from the road or footpath.
Ghostsigns behind West Dyke Road, Redcar
The first letters appear to be CLA on a red band, sadly I cannot figure out what it’s an advert for.

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