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1872 - 1st June opening of the viaduct, 150ft high and
783 feet long, over the valley of Skelton beck . The 11 redbrick arches
carried a double track when opened. Although passenger trains ran over it from 1875 to 1951, its main purpose was to carry ironstone from the newly opening mines to the ironworks at Middlesbrough, thereby saving a journey round by Guisborough and an awkward reversal in Middlesbrough.
Opening of North Skelton ironstone mine by Bolckow and Vaughan
Co [720 ft deep], Skelton Park by Bell brothers [380 ft] and South
Skelton by Vaughan Co [212 ft]. There was a continuous seam of iron
ore, which varied in thickness from about 8 to 11 feet, running right
across the East Cleveland area. This was called the "main seam", as
there are other thinner seams, and the ore contained about 30% iron.
The depths where it was found varied considerably from place to place
as the seam actually dipped in a saucer shape underneath Skelton. |
 [Kindly contributed by Owen Rooks.] |
 Map showing the development of Railways around Skelton. The bridge closest to the camera was the first to be built to carry the line that opened in 1865 from Middlesbrough to Whitby. In 1872 the line from Middlesbrough via Saltburn was opened. The far single bridge in the photograph was built for the Priestcroft Loop which opened in 1873. |
The shaft had to be
lined with cast iron in parts.
Water was at first lifted out in tubs
and then pumps had to be installed. At its worst water was being
removed at 3000 gallons per minute. The first stone was not taken out
until 7 years after the mining rights had been bought. Voting by secret ballot was introduced. 1872 was the wettest year on record For more information on N Skelton Mine, click here. The trade union 'The Cleveland Miners & Quarrymen's Association' was founded in Brotton. Eston's 'Onward Lodge' walks over the hills with the New Marske miners to join in the first 'Demonstration' at Skelton. 1873 - 4 acres of land were given by Skelton Castle
estate for a cemetery at New Skelton with two mortuary chapels, at a
cost of £3,200. Building of Council offices near the present fire station. |
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10th April. Birth in Skelton of one of the heroes
of Antarctic Exploration, John Robert Francis Wild, better known as
Frank. He was the eldest son of Benjamin and Mary Wild, who had 8 sons and 3 daughters. His mother was the Great Granddaughter of North Yorkshire's most famous son, Captain James Cook RN. Like Cook he joined the Merchant Navy as a young lad and later transferred to the Royal Navy. In 1901 he was a member of Captain Scott's expedition to the South Pole. In 1911 he was a member of Mawson's "Aurora" expedition. In 1914 was second in command of Ernest Shackleton's "Endurance" and played an heroic part in the great real-life adventure that ensued. He served in the RN in the First War and returned to the Antarctic once again in 1921 with Shackleton. He was awarded the CBE and Silver Polar Medal with three clasps. The only man to achieve this. Afterwards his fortunes sadly took a downturn with failed business ventures in South Africa and he died there at Klerksdorp on the 19th of August 1939. To read more about his exploits Click here |
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25 houses were built in Dixon Street.
The Skelton Co-operative Society opened in Skelton High St. Skelton Shaft Mine, 19 June. Richard Barker, aged 47, was killed by a fall of stone. Skelton Park Pit. 6 September. J Maddock, a miner aged 48 was killed by a "shot blowing through". Shaft sinking began for Longacres Mine. In the December, either by accident or arson, the wooden framework at the pithead and a storehouse was destroyed by fire. The nightwatchman, John Ward, who appears to have been asleep, was sent to prison for a month, being unable to pay the £5 fine. 1874 - North Skelton Mine. September. William Roll, a miner aged 33, was killed. The 'Redcar and Saltburn News wrote - "Last week three mining accidents of a shocking character occurred in Cleveland. The most serious took place at North Skelton, at an early hour on Friday morning, and resulted in one man being killed and anothe so seriously injured that he now lies in a precarious state. The unfortunate men were William Roll and Edward Headlam. |
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They appear to have been working together as mates in the
east drift of Messrs Bolckow, Vaughan and Co's mine where, between one
and two o'clock, they were heard blasting stone, One of the shots
seemed to give them some trouble, inasmuch as they had tried it with a
good fuse and it failed to go off. As they were going forward to ascertain the cause the charge exploded and the poor fellows were blown some distance along the drift. Roll came in contact with one side of the mine and besides being burnt, he was sorely mangled and bruised. Indeed on being brought to the bank it was evident he could not live and he only survived the accident about a quarter of an hour. Headlam was likewise much burnt and injured and was removed as soon afterwards as he conveniently could be to his residence where he was visited by Dr McCutcheon of Skelton." Skelton Park Pit. 24 June. Thomas Wright aged 27 was killed by a fall of stone. Skelton Shaft. 2 November, Joseph Senior, a miner aged 17 was killed. " Supposed to have been crushed between tub and props ; deceased was acting as driver when injured." |
| The miners in this area went on strike over a reduction in
pay rates, but eventually had to go back to work for the lesser amount.
London Gazette. 21st January. Bankrupt. A Factory Act limited the working day to 10 hours. Births and Deaths Registration Act introduced a penalty for failure to register and for first time required a medical certificate for cause of death |
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Discussion of this building can be found at:-
It appears to have been built as a Wesleyan Chapel, around 1873/4 as a temporary measure, during the rapid expansion of North Skelton at this time. There was an entrance, with porch, from the rear of the building as shown on the photograph. From this entrance there was access to a cellar which was, reportedly, used by the Home Guard during the Second World War. |