Pillboxes, Thorpe Thewles Viaduct

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On either side of the Northern end of the demolished viaduct is a type 23 Pillbox.
The western one is on an accessible part of the walkway
Thorpe Thewles - Pillbox
Thorpe Thewles - Pillbox
The eastern example is in a private field, so no close-up.
Thorpe Thewles - Pillbox

Thorpe Thewles Viaduct Remains

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The 1877/78 Thorpe Thewles viaduct was demolished spectacularly in 1979
Thorpe Thewles Viaduct Remains
This stone outside the village is part of the structure.
Thorpe Thewles Viaduct Remains
At the top of an embankment overlooking the village are a few scant remains of the viaduct
Thorpe Thewles Viaduct Remains

St. James Church, Thorpe Thewles

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St James Church was built in 1886-7 on the site of the short lived Holy Trinity Church of 1848
Thorpe Thewles Church

The font outside is originally from St. Thomas a Becket’s church in Grindon.

Thorpe Thewles Church

Thorpe Thewles – Roger De Fulthorpe Grave Cover

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This is one part of Teesside that’s remaining hidden at the moment, the grave cover is currently covered for its own protection.
Thorpe Thewles -  Roger De Fulthorpe Grave Cover
The stone was originally in St. Thomas a Becket’s church in Grindon
Thorpe Thewles -  Roger De Fulthorpe Gravecover

This photo from the Thorpe Thewles History Group shows a comparision betwen 1940 and 2007 and the rapid deterioration of the inscription.


The group are hoping to start a conservation project this year, so hopefully it will soon be on view again.

Thorpe Thewles Pillbox

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This pillbox near the middle of the village is a variant on the Type-23 design
Thorpe Thewles - Pillbox
A doorway has been cut in the back, rather than it being accessed from above.
Thorpe Thewles - Pillbox
Pillboxes like this are often partially buried, so presumably the modification was to make access easier to this un-buried model.

Hardwick Park – Serpentine Bridge

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The Serpentine Bridge dated from 1754 and was designed by James Paine. It was rebuilt to match the original in 1994 as part of the restoration of Hardwick Park and opened on 21/10/1994 by Ken Manton.

Hardwick Park - Serpentine Bridge

Temple of Minerva – Hardwick Park

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The temple is dedicated to Minerva goddess of wisdom and the arts and was originally constructed between 1754 and 1757.
Hardwick Park - Temple of Minerva

The niches on each side contained busts of Homer, Virgil, Horace, Milton, Shakespeare, Ben Johnson, Dryden and Pope.

It’s fascinating to see this picture from 2004 when the site was a ruin before restoration.
© Copyright Neil Atterby and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Gothic Seat – Hardwick Park

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The Gothic Seat was reconstructed as part of the regeneration of the park, some original parts had been buried to prevent their theft, but much of it is new.
Hardwick Park - Gothic Seat

Although looking at the original you would be hard-pressed to tell.

Gothic Ruin – Hardwick Park

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Hardwick Park was laid out by John Burdon in the 1750s, this folly from 1764 was built with stone from Guisborough Priory
Hardwick Park - Gothic Ruin
Hardwick Park - Gothic Ruin
The buildings were genuinely ruined until a Heritage Lottery Grant allowed their restoration as this photo from 1972 shows.

© Copyright Stanley Howe and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence