This postcard image of Grinkle Hall dates from when still under the ownership of Sir Charles Mark Palmer, a Tyneside magnate. The hall was built in the 19th century, he controlled iron and coal mines, as well as a Jarrow shipbuilding yard. Locally he developed Grinkle mine and constructed the harbour at Port Mulgrave to export the ironstone to the Tyne. Ann Jackson tells us: ”My great grandmother was a dress maker at the Hall in the late 1800′s. My Grandmothers name was Mary Jackson nee Jordan. She was born in Kendal and came to Easington in the late 1800’s with my Great Grandad James Jackson who was a stone mason working on the Railways. I believe he worked on the tunnel at Easington and also on Paddy Waddells railway.” Whilst Norman Patton tells us: ”William Forbes was my wife’s great grandfather. He was an apprentice gardener in a place near Stranraer and at some point worked for the Beatty Balfours who were plant hunters and particularly concerned with the importing of rhododendrons from the Himalayas. We are quite certain that he was involved with the planting of the rhododendrons at Grinkle Hall after it was rebuilt about 1890s during which time he met and married Mary Welford from Midge Hall, Roxby.” Pat Lawrence asks: “I am trying to find information on Grinkle Hall. My grandfather was head gardener there in the 1800s and my grandmother was a maid. It would be lovely to find some information about the house and workers.”
Image courtesy Alan Richardson; also thanks to Ann Jackson, Norman Patton and Pat Lawrence for the updates.
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