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 | 1878 - Building of the Wharton Arms Hotel. Opening of Priestcroft railway loop, which connected line running from Guisborough-South Skelton-Boosbeck to Saltburn-Brotton line and allowed trains of ironstone to reach works east of Middlesbrough without awkward reversal in Middlesbrough. See map under year 1913. South Skelton Mine. Thomas Vaughan, the mineowner went bankrupt. 13th April. Stephen Emmerson, farmer of Hollybush, Skelton and Edward Bell Hamilton, land agent of Rigwood, Skelton were elected to Skelton Board of Health. 17 April. South Skelton Mine. William Edwards, a miner aged 50, was killed. "He was struck on head by a piece of stone from a shot, which rebounded from the opposite side wall. 1st June. Thomas Taylor, a miner of Skelton, was bound over to keep the peace for six months after threatening his wife on 18th May. 15th June Skelton Park Pit. John Vaughan accompanied by Matthew Wraith, Adam Hunam, John Sillick and Moses Raynor were proceeding to their work up the incline in the pit, when an explosion of gas occurred. All five were were seriously burnt about the face and hands. They were taken to Guisborough Miners Hospital. 25 June. North Skelton Mine. John Cottle, a miner aged 38 was killed. "He was in the act of drilling a hole when a piece of dogger weighing about eight hundredweight fell on his leg, almost severing it below the knee. His leg was amputated but he died in Brotton Hospital." Skelton Park Pit. The Whitby Gazette reported that shallow workings in the mine collapsed and left a length of the railway line in Boosbeck suspended in mid air.
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Drilling machines were introduced into the ironstone mines to reduce manual labour costs. A hole between 3 and 5 feet long, to take an
explosive charge, had until this time been made by a miner with a metal bar.
This hour long process could be done by machine in a tenth of the time and, it was remarked, would displace "a very troublesome staff of men".
Lockwood Beck was enlarged and new filtration beds built to improved the quality of the water supply. Stephen Emmerson, farmer of Skelton, stood for election to Skelton Board of Health. 12th Oct. Margaret Close charged with stealing 9 pennyworth of potatoes from the garden of James Todd at Skelton at half past six in the morning. Pleaded guilty and case remanded for 6 months. 26th Oct. Henry Delicate was charged with assault at Skelton in that he struck one W Granger in the eye at midnight. Fined £5 and costs. 26th Oct. John Wiltshire was fined 50s with costs or six months hard labour for assaulting John Rowland at Skelton. Said he had trained a man who won a handicap in Mr Stephen Emmerson's field at Skelton, but the defendant had disqualified him and he had lost his money. Defendant split Wiltshire's eye with a fighting ring.
Nov 9th - Guisborough ' Fair was postponed because of a snowstorm. 14th Dec, Daniel Collingwood, miner of Skelton, alias Cockney, was charged at Guisborough Petty Sessions along with Daniel Alfred Willows of Skelton, with trespassing in pursuit of game on land at Upleatham belonging to the Earl of Zetland. They were fined 5 shillings and costs.
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1879 - An Act of Parliament included Moorsholm-cum-Gerrick and Stanghow in the Skelton Local Government District. The Skelton sanitary authority combined with those of Guisborough, Loftus and Brotton into a Board of Public Health and a Dr Keith of Kirkleatham was appointed as medical officer. This dealt with matters like pollution of water supplies, insanitary accommodation, epidemics etc. There were outbreaks of scarlet fever, smallpox, typhoid at these times. South Skelton mine is acquired by Clay Lane Iron Company. 3 January. Skelton Park Pit. Henry Grainger, a miner aged 21 was killed by a fall of ironstone after a shot had been fired. He was taken to the Miner's Hospital at Guisborough, but died of shock. 6 March. North Skelton Mine. Benjamin Bell, a Deputy and overman aged 45, was killed by a fall of stone while setting timber.
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