K Benz built first internal combustion engine car in Germany.

A further 2 acres were added to the New Skelton cemetery.

About 1500 people, mainly single men, emigrated to America from the Cleveland area around this time. The population had multiplied fivefold from 1871 to 1881 and yet the demand for ironstone had declined as the local ore competed with foreign imports with a richer iron content. The price per ton went down from 7 shillings and sixpence in 1873 to 3 shillings in 1879.

The mine owners had formed their own association and got the miners' wages linked to the price of pig iron on Teesside.

2nd January - THE WINTER'S TALE.
Joseph Winter, John Winter, Wiseman Bland and Harrison Winter, all of Skelton, were charged with assaulting Joseph Bosomworth at Guisborough on the 23rd December.
Secondly with assaulting PC George Dunville and PC Cook. Joseph with tearing PC Cook's uniform.

3rd January. - WIFE ASSAULT.
William Scilling, miner of Skelton, was charged with assaulting his wife, Elizabeth, after coming home drunk with another man. He had beaten his wife on several previous occasions. Case dismissed.

13th January - RENTS REDUCED BY HALF.
The half yearly rent audit of the Skelton Estate was held at the Wharton Arms Hotel.
Owing to the unprecedented depreciation of prices for farm produce the Squire had reduced rents by 50 percent and in recognition he was presented with an illuminated address in a gold frame from the farmers of the district:-
Martin and Charles Farndale of Kilton Hall, Matthew Young of Claphow, William Judson of Stankhouse, John Smith of Moorsholm Grange, William Raw of Red Hall, Henry Robinson of Howla Hay, Ralph Lynas of Cambank, Thomas Petch of Barns, Henry Atkinson of West Throstle, Robert W Stevenson of Trout Hall, William D Petch of East Pastures, Charlotte J Thompson of Boosbeck, Eli Wotton of Skate Beck.

17th January. WIFE DESERTION.
William Scilling was charged with deserting his wife at Skelton, whereby she became a charge to the Guisborough Union Workhouse. They had been married for 13 years.

21st January. - SCALDED TO DEATH.
"Charles Senior Lowe of Skelton, aged 2, was accidentaly scalded early on Saturday morning at Skelton and died in the evening from the effects of the accident. The deceased's parents were upstairs and deceased, his brother aged 11 and his sister were left in the kitchen and it appears that deceased had gone to the kettle which was staning on the hob and had drunk some hot water out of the spout. The boy began to cry and this brought his parents downstairs. They found him severely scalded about the mouth and at once sent for Dr Dunn. The child died after lingering 14 hours."

27th January - DRUNK ROLLEY DRIVER.
George Lewis was charged with being drunk in charge of a horse and rolley at Skelton on the 16th and fined £1 8s 6d including costs.

2nd February - FREE TRAIN TRAVEL.
Adelaide Wiscoff, aged 18, of North Skelton was charged for travelling between Boosbeck and Saltburn without a ticket on New Years Day. She was fined 12s including costs or 14 days imprisonment. She has previously been convicted. Her father said he would not appear and neither would he pay for the girl.

11th February - POACHED HARE AND 14 RABBITS.
Mark Mills, James Smith, Jesse Boucher and Charles Maize were charged with poaching at Skelton. Sgt Imeson and PCs Calvert and Brough apprehended them with 1 hare, 14 rabbits, 320 yards of netting and several heavy cudgels. Mills fined £1 or 1 months hard labour and the others £2 or 2 months prison.

24th February - EMBEZZLER.
A warrant was issued for the apprehension of George Williams, who had absconded. He was a check weigher for the miners at Skelton Old Shaft Mine and local secretary of the Miners Union.
He was wanted on a charge of embezzling £30 1s 8d from the Northumberland and Durham Miners Relief Fund.

25th February - DRUNK AND RIOTOUS.
William Hudson, a miner, was fined 18s 6d and Addison Lightbourne, who did not appear, 24s, for being drunk and riotous at Skelton Green on the 18th.

2nd March - FOOTBALL.
A match played on Saturday between Boys of Skelton Green v Skelton Church Choir resulted slightly in favour of the choir boys.

17th March - HALF WITTED RUM DRINKER.
A half witted man named Robert Thompson was charged with being drunk and disorderly at Skelton on the 16th. One of his sisters said that he had an income and when he got it he spent it in drinking rum until he went mad. Fined 16s including costs.

18th March - ILLICIT BOOZE.
J F Wilson, who holds an "off" beer license at New Skelton was charged with a breach of the Licensing Act on the 8th. Sergeant Imeson said that on that date about 7.30 p.m, he, in company with PC Calvert, concealed themselves in a water-closet opposite the defendant's house. They witnessed 3 men enter about 9.30 and 3 more about an hour after. About 12.30 Mr Wilson came out of the house and went a short distance down the street looking about. The police then climbed over the wall and entered the house, where they found the 6 men, who were all under the influence of drink. Supt Clarkson said there had been many complaints about the way in which the house was conducted. Fined £5 and costs or 2 months imprisonment.

20th March - SKELTON GREEN SCHOOL PLANNED.
The question of providing additional school accommodation in the neighbourhood of Skelton Green was brought before the School Board by Mr S R Wilson, HM Inspector, who directed the attention of the Board to the overcrowding at the Stanghow Lane Schools and recommended that a mixed school should be built on Skelton Green to accommodate 200 children, who should be taught to Standard II.

21st March - SWINDLER CHARGED.
At Manchester yesterday, John Hawkins, a surveyor of Ebury Street, London was remanded on several charges of fraud. One of these alleged that he obtained sums of money from Mr Wharton of Skelton Castle by representing himself as a relative.

27th March - CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY AT SKELTON.
In connection with the Cambridge University Scheme, Professor Laurie concluded his course of lectures on "Fire and Smoke" on Wednesday evening at Skelton.
The average attendance during the lectures has been 240 out of 288 on the books. Professor Roberts also attended and gave a lucid explanation of the workings of the scheme.
On Thursday next Professor Laurie will deliver a lecture on "The Sun" in aid of the Free Library, which contains over 1,000 volumes.

31st March - MINERS' HOSPITAL.
Representatives from Park Pit, Boosbeck, South and North Skelton with Mr Joseph Toyn, the miners'agent met Mr J T Wharton and Mrs Wharton at the Drill Hall Skelton to discuss the question of supporting the Miners Hospital that has recently been opened at Skelton Green.
It is a neat little building with 4 beds available and room for another two. It cost £592 0s 1d to build and £181 13s 7d to furnish.
The Squire has presented a cheque for the amount and all subscriptions from mineowners and others have been brought forward for the current year.
A large number of men in the Skelton District are desirous of commencing at once to contribute a weekly sum to supporting the Hospital and there is a strong feeling that the 3 Hospitals at Guisborough, Skelton and Brotton should be worked out of one fund.

14th April - SHUT THE PUBS.
At the School Board meeting it was proposed by Mr Charlton and seconded by Mr Milligan to sign a petition to Parliament praying that all Public houses should be closed on Sundays throughout England.

18th April - QUOITS.
An amateur quoit club has been formed at Skelton, called the Skelton Zoedone Quoit Club. It practices behind the Wharton Arms Hotel.

24th April - SUED FOR DEBT.
John Oakley, of High Street, Skelton, was sued by Robert Ward, a grocer of Skelton, for £1 5s 11d for groceries supplied. Oakley admitted the debt, but said that he could not pay.
Registrar - "What are you ?"
Oakley - "I am anything that anybody likes to call me."
Registrar - "A good all rounder eh ?"
Robert Ward - "He is a tinner, Sir."
Registrar - "Are you a tinner ?"
Oakley - "Why , we keep a kind of a sort of a greengrocer's shop or rather a "sucky" shop. I am willing to do anything I can get."
Registrar - "But, you are a tinner as well ?"
Oakley - "Well I do a little matter in that way when I have a chance."
Ordered to pay the debt at 4 shillings per month.

12th May - KNIFE ASSAULT ON PC.
John Smith, a miner of North Skelton was charged with assaulting PC Calvert with intent to commit grievous bodily harm.
The Officer said that he was going down Richard St, North Skelton when he came upon defendant drunk and causing a disturbance.
He advised him to go home, whereupon Smith drew a pocket knife and opening the blade made a rush at him. He eluded the blow and knocked Smith down with his truncheon. Defendant made another lunge at him and cut the constable's right hand.
Henry Mason and Robert Blackie gave similar evidence.
Defendant said he was drunk and did not know what he was doing. Case reduced to common assault and fined £1 10s including costs or 1 months hard labour.
Defendant said he would be a teetotaller all his life after this and would not get into any more scrapes.

25th June - TORY BASHING.
Last evening a meeting was held in the large room of the Wharton Arms, Skelton to hear an address to his constituents from the Hon Guy C Dawnay, MP.
A brass band preceded the speakers to the venue playing "Auld Lang Syne".
Mr Dawnay had been the MP for the old North Riding of Yorkshire constituency since 1882 and this had always been held by the Conservatives. He was a Soldier and held a Government office for Military supplies. Recent Liberal legislation had redistributed the seats and extended the franchise. Now the constituency was Cleveland and many of the workers could vote for the first time.
The Conservatives had opposed the Franchise Bill and hence the MP was given a rough time at the meeting. He suffered many hisses, interruptions and cheers for Liberal names.
At one point he said that one reason he opposed the Franchise Bill was that he did not consider individuals who came to political meeting and interrupted like that when their member came down to address them upon a crisis like the present were fit to have the vote.
[Mr Dawnay lost the election and died aged 40 in 1889.]

15th July. - QUOITS CHALLENGE CUP.
The North of England Quoit Association held its annual competition at Eston Cricket Ground. 4 splendid "ends" eleven yards had been prepared.
The draw was Middlesbrough Erimus v Whitby, Hartlepool Raglan v Durham City, Middlesbrough Ayresome v Eston [holders] and Skelton v Darlington.

7th August - GARDEN COMPETITION.
The following awards were made in connection with the recent garden competition on the Skelton Estate:-
North Skelton. [41 gardens] 1. John Dawson. 2. Alfred Brighton. 3. Robert Carver. Commended William Radford and C Bowgen.
New Skelton. [28 gardens] 1. David Grainger. 2. William Clark. 3. Mayhew and Lundy. Commended R Pennock.
Skelton High Street. [21 gardens] 1. Charles Clark. 2. William Brown. 3. T Wilkinson.
Back Lane. [88 gardens] 1. Matthew Burt. 2. Robert Slater. 3. George Kidd. Commended George Beaumont.

14th August - OVER BAWDY RIBALDRY.
The letter of "Alpha" on the proceedings at a recent dinner at Skelton is justly severe, but the great length of it prevents its insertion - in short the ribaldry sung on the occasion is unworthy of being quoted in a Newspaper.

15th August - MINE DISPUTE.
153 miners at South Skelton had been given a fortnight's notice owing it was said to the bad state of trade in the industry, but on the expiry of the period non-union men were engaged at a reduction of wages from 10 to 15 percent.
A mass meeting was told by Mr Toyn that they would be backed by the Miners Association and bills had been sent throughout the district telling miners to boycott South Skelton until the dispute was settled.

20th August - SWINE FEVER.
Superintendent Clarkson has reported to the Guisborough Magistrates an outbreak of swine fever in a garden opposite Bolckow Street, North Skelton. Report is confirmed and the place declared an infected area.

22nd August - MINER SUED FOR DOCTOR'S SUBS.
At the Guisbrough County Court before Judge Turner, G S Newton of Skelton Green was sued by Dr Shand of Guisbrough for the sum of £2 5s 6d, being the amount withheld by him in collecting doctor's subscriptions from the men employed at Park Mines.
From the evidence, it appeared that defendant had been applied to for the money, but on each occasion had asked to be allowed to keep a certain amount in hand to be used as change.
At the end of September of last year, however, he left his situation at the mines, and on his books being given up, it was found that several leaves, on which were accounted subscriptions, had been torn out, and defendant denied having received the money.
In giving an order for the full amount, His Honour told defendant it was lucky he had been brought to the County Court and not charged with a more serious offence.

24th August - BOOSBECK AND SKELTON SHOW.
The 8th annual show and sports of the Boosbeck, Skelton and District Horticultural, Industrial

5th September - SKELTON AND BROTTON LOCAL BOARD.
It was resolved that the Clerk be instructed to draw up a memorial for signature praying the Post Office authorities to grant an afternoon delivery at Brotton and Skelton.
GAS LAMPS. A letter was read from the Skinningrove Gas Company offering to light the lamps from the 1st September to the 30th April for the sum of £2 7s 6d [£2 35.5p] per lamp.
Mr Calow:- That is 3s 6d per lamp more than Brotton.
The Clerk explained that the extra cost was in consequence of the great outlay incurred in bringing the gas to Skelton. It was resolved to ask the Gas Company to erect additional lamps in the public streets at New Skelton.
The question of the pollution of Saltburn Beck again came up for consideration.
The Clerk was instructed to inform the Saltburn Local Board that the Skelton and Brotton Board do not admit any liability on their part, to keep the course of the beck at Saltburn open and to ascertain who is responsible for the formation of an artificial lake or pool at Saltburn which prevents the free course of the water at the point named.

8th September - DID NOT VOLUNTEER UNIFORM.
Daniel Collingwood, a Private in the 1st North York Rifle Volunteers of Skelton, was charged with neglecting to conform with regulations of the Army in not returning a portion of his uniform after being discharges from the service. Prisoner admitted his guilt, but as there was no dishonest intent only costs were paid.

23 September - ILLEGAL BOOZING.
Five men named Joseph Hollingworth, Josepth Boynton, John Wilkins, Flagg King and William Herring as well as Mrs King were charged with being on licensed premises during prohibited hours. Sgt Imeson said he visitied the New Inn, Skelton Green, on Sunday and found the whole of the defendants seated with drink before them. Case against King and wife dismissed. Herring fined 5s and costs and the rest 2s 6d.

28th September - ELECTION.
Mr Henry Fell Pease, the Liberal candidate had to address a crowd of electors packed to the doors at the Drill Hall Skelton as heavy and persistent rain caused the planned meeting on the Cross Green to be adjourned.

28th Sep. - GROCER AND DRAPER BANKRUPT.
A Second and Final Dividend of Is. in the pound has been declared in the matter of a special resolution for liquidation by arrangement of the affairs of Robert Thompson Barker, late of Skelton-in-Cleveland, but now of No. 71, Russell-street, Middlesborough, in the county o£ York, Grocer and Draper, and will be paid by me, at the offices of the South Durham and North Yorkshire Wholesale Traders' Association Limited, No. 134, High-street, Stockton-on-Tees, in the county of Durham, any Wednesday or Saturday, between the hours of nine and one.....

29th September - DRUNK.
William Seamen and E Frost were each fined 5 shillings and costs for being drunk at Skelton on the 19th.

2nd October. - WHO CAN VOTE ?
The Reform Act of 1832 had given the vote to middle-class householders in the towns; the Reform Act of 1867 had extended the franchise effectively to all householders in the towns.
In 1884 William Gladstone's Liberal government, with great opposition in the House of Lords, brought in a Franchise Act which extended the vote to male householders with 12 months continual residence in the counties.
About 6 million males were added to the total who could vote in parliamentary elections nationwide.

17th October - LAMB PRICE CHOP.
We learn that Mr J T Wharton and several farmers in the Skelton district have in consequence of the high prices charged by the butchers, commenced to kill and sell their own mutton.
The farmers are charging about 6d per lb, which is said to be considerably more than the butchers are inclined to pay them, although the latter charge the consumer from 8d to 10d per lb.

11th November - BURGLARY.
At the York Assizes Charles Shaw, aged 19, a labourer was sentenced to 4 months imprisonment for burglary in the dwelling house of George Fawcett of Skelton on May 20th 1885.

24th November - GENERAL ELECTION.
This was the first election after the extension of the franchise and the Redistribution of Seats Act.
The old constituency of the North Riding which had sent 2 members to Parliament was divided and created the new constituency of Cleveland of which Skelton was a part.

People who believed that they qualified to vote at General and Board Elections had to fill in the following form.
[Whatever its democratic omissions, the system resulted, generally, in responsible people, who were obliged to contribute to the common fund, electing responsible representatives. Members of the Local Boards were usually mine managers and their like, who were used to decision making and good governance of finances etc. Sadly the same does not apply today.]

22nd December - BAD ATTENDERS.
Ada White was charged at the instance of the Skelton School Board with non-compliance with the Education Act in not sending her son, Joseph, to school. He had attended 18 out of a possible 122 times. Fined 5s.
John Drake, John Williams, R Busby, G T White, and Mary A Benson were all fined 2s 6d for a similar offence.

30th December - RAPE.
Richard Cost, alias Richard Smith, was charged with committing a rape on a girl named Julia Helen Westcott, aged 14 on Saturday last.
The accused was married to Julia's sister and lived at Redheugh Colliery. Julia lived with her parents at Skelton in Cleveland. On his return from a visit to Skelton the defendant asked the girl's father if she could accompany him back to see her sister.
They left Boosbeck Station and arrived at Gateshead at 8 in the evening. In the train the accused made indecent remarks to the girl and when they got out he took her over Redheugh Bridge, along by the Rabbit Banks, to a very lonely place.
There he took a parcel and a rabbit from Julia, assaulted her and committed the offence.
He left her and 2 railway police constables found her on the road crying. Accused was found at his house with the items he had taken. Committed for trial.