Show on map This sundial is dated 1776 and carries the motto “”Ut Hora Sic Vita” which is apparently quite common amongst sundials, translating as “As is the hour, so is the life” or “Life is as an hour”
Sundial Row was originally a terrace of Almshouses.
Show on map Although partially obscured at the moment the plaque reads.
THIS PUBLICK SCHOOLHOUSE WAS ERECTED IN THE YEAR 1744 AND REBUILT IN 1773.
The building has many scar of older windows and doors
Show on map What is now a cross outside Ormesby House was once a lamp in Ormesby High Street
The first inscription states :-
“THIS LAMP WAS ERECTED TO COMMEMORATE THE DIAMOND JUBILEE OF HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA BY ELIZABETH CAROLINE BROWN OF ORMESBY HOUSE AD 1897”
The later inscription states :-
“THE CROSS ERECTED 1967 REPLACES THE LAMP REFERRED TO WHICH WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR WHEN THIS MEMORIAL WAS REMOVED FROM ITS ORIGINAL SITE”
Elizabeth Caroline Brown was a local benefactor responsible for a number of buildings such as the church Lych Gate through which is her impressive grave.
Show on map ‘Jacks Castle is a shelter on Marine Parade in Saltburn, I’m afraid I can find nothing on the origin of the name although it is supposedly 70 years old.
There was some talk of it being demolished a few years ago, but its still there today.
These photos from 1932 and 1938 calls it the Grotto
Show on map This teddy bears picnic mysteriously appeared in mid October 2011, the tags suggests they are part of Saltburn’s 150th anniversary.
The identity of the creator ‘Yarn Junkie’ remains a mystery !
UPDATE March 2012 : Sadly the teddies and the scarf on the pier were vandalised over the weekend and the teddies were gone when I drove past today. Hopefully the creator is not too discouraged and will continue depite the action of some knuckle-dragger.
Show on map Parts of the current tower are thought to date from around 1000 AD, a very through description of the buildings can be found here
An Anglo-Saxon settlement existed in Billingham as far back as the 7th century, inhabited by early followers of Cuthbert
Outside the church stands an attractive Lych Gate
Show on map Piercebridge was the location that the Roman Dere Street crossed the Tees, the course of the river has changed so much since Roman times that the remains are now in a field about 100m south of the river.
The remains were found during quarrying in 1972–3, the bridge itself was wood but the stone abutments and piers are to be seen today, the pavement of blocks exists to stop the piers being undermined.
Show on map Three wooden seals were placed on the Coatham Roundabout on 08/11/2011.
Theres no plaque or details on the council website yet, but I strongly suspect they will be the work of chainsaw artist Steve Iredale
UPDATE January 2012 : They are indeed by Steve Iredale commissioned by Redcar In Bloom with a grant from Tees Valley Community Foundation. The seals have been named by children at Coatham Primary School. Neil the Seal, Splash & Bubbles. A fourth seal called Cecile should be arrving early 2012.
Thanks to the Eye Magazine for the update, I also noticed the seals sporting tinsel and antlers regularly over Christmas.
Show on map Despite its theatre/cinema looks this building was built as a department store for the Stockton Co-operative Society.
The building is currently used as carpet shop, although the Billigham Players use the “Theatre Upstairs”
The building outline appears in its current form between the 1938 and 1939 editions of the OS map, although it could date from slightly earlier if the 1938 was already out of date.
I’ve found a reference to the nearby Heslops Brewey being sold to the Billingham Picture House Company in 1936 and demolished shortly afterwards, so suspect this whole area dates from around that time.
Show on map Inspired by a request from Kev Oyston for photos of the Gas Holders in Redcar.
Redcar Gas Company was originally formed in 1857, by various mergers and nationalisations I suspect it was part of Northern Gas in its later years. I recall there being one gas holder remaining on the site in the 1980s but I can’t remember exactly when it was removed, does anyone remember ?
The following photos have appeared on Redcar.net and Redcar.org and seem to show there were originally three gas holders.
OS Maps over the years show many changes on the site.
1894
1929 
1954
 1966 
 1983 – 
 The site is now the location of the McDonalds Drive-Thru and Morrisons petrol station.