Ayton Monument Ironstone Mine

Posted on October 27, 2010 by chris.twigg

Ayton Monument was worked for 23 years between 1908 and 1931 by Pease and Partners, the site is now in regular use as a offroad bike circuit.
This beautifully carved stone dates from the building of the main hauler engine house.

An sirocco fan was installed to ventilate the mine in 1919, the date is still visible on the remains of the fanhouse.

At the top of the steep incline up to the site are the foundations of the braking drum.

At the base of the quarter mile long incline which provided a link to the railway is a intact electrical substation for the mine from around 1921.
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Fox Almshouses, Norton.

Posted on October 24, 2010 by chris.twigg

Founded in 1897 with Â£20,000 from the will of brewer John Henry Fox of Norton
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They are still almshouses today, run the Hospital of God in Greatham.

Norton Board School Entrance

Posted on October 24, 2010 by chris.twigg

Norton Board School was opened in 1872, only this archway and lodge remain as the school itself was demolished around 1982

Cyril Smith Plaque – Costa Street, Middlesbrough

Posted on October 16, 2010 by chris.twigg

I have to be honest and say I was expecting the recently deceased portly politician, but the Cyril Smith we’re talking about here was a virtuoso concert pianist of the 1930-50s

Square and Pencil Sculpture, Queens Way

Posted on October 7, 2010 by chris.twigg

Another in the series on new artworks on local Industrial Estates.

These are by Andrew McKeown

Hammer Sculpture, Sotherby Road, Middlesbrough

Posted on October 7, 2010 by chris.twigg

A few sculptures seem to be appearing in the industrial estates with no fanfare or information, presumably via this scheme. Heres a hammer on Sotherby Road.

These are by Andrew McKeown

Hawker Demon Propeller, Thornaby Library

Posted on October 5, 2010 by chris.twigg

The Hawker Demon was flown by 608 Squadron at Thornaby between 1937 and 1939. This propeller was rescued from a field in 1957 and passed via the Air Training Corps to the local council to be mounted in the library since 1969. It has recently been restored and remounted.

Thornaby Aerodrome Runway

Posted on October 4, 2010 by chris.twigg

Thornaby Aerodrome was developed in 1930, although the area known as Foggins Field had been used for flying previously. The aerodrome closed in 1958 with the town of Thornaby being developed over the site. One small scrap of the runway remain and acts at the car park to the National Reserve & Patriotic Club