Our image carried the caption on the reverse of: ”North Skelton Mine – Machine Shop”; however we are now advised by Simon Chapman: ”This shows the inside of the power station at Lumpsey Mine erected in 1903. You can make out four sets of machinery; each one comprises two vertical steam cylinders driving a generator. The chap is standing behind one of the generators, which is not revolving fortunately, as those unguarded rotors spinning round must have been highly dangerous, and probably sparked impressively. This plant was installed to power drilling machines underground and also some lighting and pumping equipment. Now 110 years later the huge building has gone but the concrete foundations for these four machines still remain.”
Image courtesy of Olive Bennett and many thanks to Simon Ch
An Arthur Dixon coloured postcard from the 1960’s showing Helmsley on a quiet but very sunny afternoon. No squabbling over parking spaces then; there were plenty for all those affluent enough to possess a vehicle.
Now familiarly known as the Natwest (the National Provincial became the National Westminster finally shortening to its present title); the bank still stands in the same situation on Redcar High Street. The image is from a ‘Sepiatone’ postcard dating from the early 20th century.
Hinderwell Windmill, a Valentines postcard dating from about 1895. The chimney showing the mill machinery was operated by steam engine at this date. The sails redundant and later removed. the gates in the foreground are a level crossing across the Loftus Whitby Railway. Wendy Wharton asks: “Do we know what year the windmill was built and was it part of Holme Farm that was built in 1726?” Can anybody assist?
Image courtesy of Olive Bennett, thanks to Wendy Wharton for that query.
A postcard view looking eastwards along Skelton High Street, the houses on the south side beyond the Co-op building have not as yet all been completed. Peter Appleton has assisted with this information: “This image possibly is dated to between 1901 and 1911. In the 1901 census, the southside properties are pretty much as shown here. By 1911, most of the south side had been built. In November 1911 the Estate applied for planning permission to build three cottages to fill the remaining gap. These three cottages can be identified, even today, by an observant pedestrian. The secret is to study the lintels over the first floor windows. Those of the last three are of a slightly different colour of sandstone.” The Archive has since seen the post card, it being postmarked September 1906.
Image courtesy of Peter Appleton and Olive Bennett; many thanks to Peter Appleton for the update.
Skinningrove valley, a tinted Edwardian postcard, with the five old hand charged furnaces dominating the skyline. Post marked 13th June 1906 gives a reason for the absence of the coke ovens. Image courtesy of Olive Bennett.
The Service of Dedication for the Memorial included a volley of rifle fire, which this images shows. Chris Colbeck advises us: ”I have same picture postcard which came from father Mr Edgar Colbeck, who was apprenticed at William Arrowsmith Monumental Masons from 1928. The text on the back of the card states: Skinningrove War Memorial; In Cornish Rustic Granite. Transported, erected by William Arrowsmith. 15′ 0″ X 9′ 6″ X 6′ 6″ overall. Total Cost £190.”
Image courtesy of East Cleveland Image Archive files and Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum; many thanks to Chris Colbeck for that update.
This aerial view of the Library was produced by Skyviews & General Ltd, Leeds; for the North Riding Council. Supplied 14th October 1964, very shortly after the Library was opened.Olive Bennett was the first caretaker for the Library and Clinic (which was the upper floor) of this dual-purpose building, with the pram shelter at the left of the car park. The building was demolished in 2023!
Dating from 1903, this postcard view was actually posted in Loftus to a Loftus address as a birthday card! Perhaps it was cheaper than a birthday card and perhaps they enjoyed this familiar view?
The Co-operative Stores at Loftus; with separate departments for Butchers, Clothes, Shoes, Food, Furniture, etc. Later with branches at Staithes, Carlin How, Brotton and Castleton; it later became the East Cleveland Co-operative. with a bank upstairs. The wheelbarrow outside the butchers department containing sheepskins, suggests the Co-op had its own slaughter-house. Maurice Dower tells us: “The butchers did indeed have a slaughter-house. I had a part-time weekend job delivering orders on a Saturday on a conventional butchers bike with the big basket in the front. During a school holiday in 1958 I also helped out in the slaughter-house, not with the slaughter but the clearing up and processing. I wish I could remember all the characters from that time. Harry (?) was the manager, Danny Plews worked there along with a couple more, one of who was an outgoing man from Staithes, Names escape me must be an age thing. The toilets at the back were well inscribed with lewd graffiti of which Tom Cole was a recipient. Tom worked in the drapery dept. Some happy memories of the camaraderie there.” Keith Cook has updated with: ” I think the manager was Harry Waite. I worked in the grocery warehouse from July 1958 to January 1959 and he was manager then.” John Wilson believes: “the manager of the butchers was Harry Bainbridge.” Norman Patton assisted with dating the image with: “I believe that the Odd Fellows Hall, in this picture, was completed in 1874, which was the same year that the 3rd storey was added above the Co-op food department. (There is a date stone at the peak of the gable). So I assume that the photograph was taken sometime in 1874 or just earlier!”
Image courtesy of Olive Bennett and many thanks to Maurice Dower, Keith Cook, John Wilson and Norman Patton for the updates.
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