SKELTON - IN - CLEVELAND
IN HISTORY
1850 ~ 1857

 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.

Henry W Bolckow
John Vaughan
 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


Arms of Middlesbrough>
 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.


Skelton High St 1850
Quakers cemetery and Fords

 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.
As far as a motto was concerned, he took further inspiration from the de Brus family, whose own motto was, in the Latin, "Fuimus" ("We have been"), denoting their former glory. Looking positively to the future, Longstaffe opted for the Latin "Erimus" ("We shall be")."

1855 - 2nd November. The death of John Andrew Jnr, age 61, of Hunting fame and Smuggling notoriety.
See the year 1835 for more about him.
He was buried in Skelton Churchyard and left six children, Thomas Pressick, Ann, James, George and Mary.
His eldest son Tom took his place as Master of the Cleveland Hunt.

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.

N Riding Yorks Bobby 1856-1968
The section of map [above left, centred on Skelton High Street] shows a large building where the present Coniston Rd branches off.
A Wharton Arms Inn is situated about where the present Fire Station stands.
Another large building, which seems to have been used as a store stands on the site of the present Wharton Arms Hotel.
To the south was a large sandstone quarry, with a horse and cart access road called Stackgarth Lane, which is now just a footpath from Flowston to New Skelton.
Wells and horse troughs are dotted all over the village.

The map above right, centred on Trout Hall Farm, shows the location of the Quakers' Cemetery on Stanghow Road. The road bridge there did not exist in these times and the stream had to be forded. Similarly the old carrier on his way to "Lofthouse" would have had to take his horse and cart through a ford where the present Leyland estate is sited as only a footbridge existed.

On the next page is the map of 1856. Use the scroll bars to pan around it.

Next Page - Skelton Map 1856
Previous Page - 1841 TO 1850
Contents Page