![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
1850 - Bolckow and Vaughan had recognised early the growing demand for iron that the coming of the railways would bring and the potential of the growing town of Middlesbrough, which, between 1830 and 1838, had been transformed from a hamlet of some 40 persons into a boom area. |
![]() |
![]() |
In 1841 they had opened a puddling furnace and bar mill in Vulcan Street, manufacturing rails for the Stockton and Darlington Railway Co and in
1843 diversified into marine engineering. At first they used cheap Scotch pig iron and when, in 1842, 'railway mania' caused a sudden growth in the iron industry they decided to make their own pig iron. They built works at Witton Park, 20 miles west of Middlesbrough and iron ore which outcropped on the coast was shipped from Whitby to Middlesbrough. and thence to the new works for processing. It then had to be returned to Middlesbrough for finishing. A depression in the industry in 1847 brought home the wastefulness of this procedure and initiated a search for local iron ore. This is the old story. But, in any event Cleveland iron had to be brought to Durham coal or vice versa. On the 8th June 1850, John Vaughan and his mining engineer, John Marley, discovered a |
![]() |
16 feet thick seam of ore at Upleatham Hill,part of the Eston Hills.
For the next century this region was to become the nation's main producer of iron. The railways would be extended into the Cleveland Hills and agricultural villages, like Skelton, would be invaded by people from all quarters. The consequences, good and bad, are still reverberating. 18th June. The death of the Rev William Close, age 75. Tombstone in Skelton Old Church. 1851 - The Great Exhibition is held in the Crystal Palace, London. 1852 - Fourth wettest year on record. 1853 - Middlesbrough was recognised as a Borough. [And recognised its Skelton beginnings.] "By the provisions of its Charter, the Corporation was authorised to have a Common Seal, which could also be used as a Coat of Arms, and its design was entrusted to W Hylton Longstaffe, the Town Clerk of Gateshead. There can be little doubt that he was the author of that name who wrote "The History and Antiquities of Darlington", which was published in 1854, and the artist who sketched and described the remains of the Middlesbrough Priory which came to light in 1846 with the demolition of the Middlesbrough Farm House.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
As the basis of the Borough Seal, Longstaffe borrowed the blue lion from the arms of Robert de Brus of Skelton, the 12th century founder of the
Middlesbrough Priory. To this, he added ships and anchors to highlight the town's importance as a seaport, while his use of black in certain
details was to denote the significance of coal in relation to its industries.
1855 - 2nd November. The death of John Andrew Jnr, age 61, of Hunting fame and Smuggling notoriety. 1856 - The North Riding Constabulary was established with 51 county police officers. It policed the Skelton area until 1968,
1857 - Ordnance Survey mapped the area. Thomas Pressick Andrew. Master of the Cleveland Hunt 1855 - 1870. |
Contents Page |