Coatham Pier and South Gare are both on this postcard which is quite unusual.
Image courtesy of Mike Holliday.
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 Another lovely pier long gone; the Archive now has further information on this pier from: ‘Yorkshire Piers’ author Martin Easdown. He tells us ”Coatham Pier had actually opened to the public in 1872 and was fully completed in 1874 to a length of 2,250ft before it was hit by the ‘Griffin’ and ‘Corrymbus’ in December 1874. The pier was repaired but was wrecked by storms in December 1876 and was shortened to 1,770ft. The pier was demolished in 1899 after being cut in two by the ‘Birger’ in October 1898.” Image (from a postcard produced by Peter Sotheran) courtesy op Mike Holliday, thanks to Martin Easdown for the update.  Now the way I look at this it is Coatham pier cut in two, do you agree? How great Redcar would have looked today with two magnificent piers. Fred Brunskill advises us: ”Originally Coatham Pier was to be much longer than Redcar pier with a glazed ballroom pavilion in the centre. Unfortunately before the seaward side of the pavilion could be completed it was breached in 1874 by the brig ‘Griffin’ and had to be abandoned. During the same storm the ‘Corrymbus also breached the pier causing much more damage. The final straw was in 1898 when the Finnish barque ‘Birger’ tore out a hundred yard section leaving the pavilion isolated. Repairs were too costly and the the pier was partly dismantled and left for many years. Not being able to meet their debts the Pier company ceased trading the following year.” Rev. Neil McNicholas asks: “On p11 is a picture of Redcar Pier with, as you can just make out, criss-cross bars underneath – as in this picture. So is this Redcar Pier rather than Coatham?” Further investigation reveals that above the cross-bars there are smaller cross-bars on the Coatham pier. Image courtesy of Mike Holliday, thanks to Fred Brunskill for the update and to Rev. Neil McNicholas for the enquiry.  Opened in 1888 the Gare is two and a half miles long and cost £219,300 to construct of slag provided by the local ironworks who also contributed to the transport costs. The Stockton & Darlington Railway Company constructed a line from the blast furnaces at Cargo Fleet to the Tees Conservancy Commissioners’ Railway at Tod Point to transport the slag. During the opening ceremony of the South Gare the line was put to an unusual use as trains from Middlesbrough took special guests to the base of the lighthouse. Later, as there were no trains running on the track, workmen boarded a flat bogey propelled by a sail. Other images of the sail trains can be seen on the Archive. Image courtesy of Mike Holliday, information courtesy of ”South Gare” a Cleveland Urban Fringe Scheme publication. Also featuring in ‘Lighthouses of the North East Coast’ by Robin Jenkins.  I remember this too and many happy hours here dancing. The beautiful pier has gone and all that remains is this building. The image taken it is believed from a postcard is possibly from the late 1940s or 1950s. Callum Duff advises: “There doesn’t look like there’s any structure beyond the shore end of the pier so late 1940’s – early 1950’s is a reasonable estimate. This is a photograph of Redcar Pier Pavilion which was completely demolished in 1981 and not to be confused with The Regent Cinema, built over the entrance of Coatham Pier which is currently being re-developed.” Alan Franks tells us: “I used to go here in the mid 1950s when I lived at Redcar as a young teenager; five Woodbines between two of us a lemonade and a glance from a girl we fancied and we went home happy.” Image courtesy of Mike Holliday, thanks to Callum Duff for the update and Alan Franks for the memories.  T. Wakefield is the name on the sign and by what is written on there he was watchmaker, jeweller and optician. Next to him ”The Noted Cheap Shop – articles suitable for presents”, wonder if that was the £ shop of yesteryear? This now being the location of William Hill (the Bookmakers!); this post is a closer view of part of the junction beside Redcar Clock as mentioned in “High Street” Image courtesy of Mike Holliday.  Four different shots of Redcar, don’t think the diver will make the Olympics. Image courtesy of Mike Holliday.  1917 was the date this photograph was taken and the information the Archive has is: “Nellie Ramsdale is the young lady standing by the table; Nellie was in service for a family on Coatham Road.” Anyone know Nellie or the family she worked for? Image and information courtesy of Mike Holliday.  We knew it was Redcar, but where on the beach and what sort of whale. Dave Woods advised: “That looks very like Granville Terrace in the background. My friend lives in the middle bit not yet built in the photograph. When built, a gap was left in the middle because people living in South Terrace (Fisherman’s Square) complained about losing their sea view. Must be a very old picture.” Carmen Davies has advised us: ”It looks very much like a Minke whale, judging from the shape of the head and the throat grooves. They can still be seen travelling through these waters in the summer.” It is possibly dating from 12th September 1912, but are now researching to confirm this belief. Image courtesy of Mike Holliday, thanks to Dave Woods and Carmen Davis for the updates.  Now I don’t remember putting on the stray at Redcar, but there obviously was as this picture proves, when was it do you know? Robert Fowler advises: “I came to Marske in Autumn 1955 aged 11 and can remember have many games of putting on the stray I think it closed in the late 1960’s.” Image courtesy of Mike Holliday, thanks to Robert Fowler for the update |
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