We think this image was taken in the 1950s. Do you remember this boating lake? It was known as just Saltburn boating Lake. What’s left of it now, is now the orange beck that runs through the Saltburn Gill and into the sea. Where the cars are is now the car park and public toilets and the little hut behind them is the beach cafe. I remember going to the kids paddling pool down there when I was little and my grandad telling me, that when he was younger the beck was a lot bigger and wider than it is now and it went under the road bridge too. It would be great to find out who it is in the boat? Callum Duff tells us: “The ‘Official’ Boating Lake (with a weir, defined shape and demarcation for age groups and vessels) was laid out in 1962 with the Paddling Pool being completed in 1963. Despite many fond memories of the boating lake, it had a very short lifespan. This is attributed to two main factors; the weir was built too high which caused the lake to flood the surround banks and the cost of maintenance was never recouped by usage. The Boating Lake finally went out of use in 1983 and the paddling pool was demolished in 1987. This photograph is earlier than 1962 although you have to wonder who transported this rather sturdy boat to the beck for the children to use?”
Image courtesy of Julie Tyrka and many thanks to Callum Duff for the update.
The ‘Official’ Boating Lake (with a weir, defined shape and demarcation for age groups and vessels) was laid out in 1962 with the Paddling Pool being completed in 1963. Despite many fond memories of the boating lake, it had a very short lifespan. This is attributed to two main factors; the weir was built too high which caused the lake to flood the surround banks and the cost of maintenance was never recouped by usage. The Boating Lake finally went out of use in 1983 and the paddling pool was demolished in 1987. This photograph is earlier than 1962 although you have to wonder who transported this rather sturdy boat to the beck for the children to use?