SKELTON - IN - CLEVELAND
IN HISTORY
1891.

Guisborough Work House.
Situated at the corner of Northgate and Church Lane.
Built 1838/9 to accommodate 130 individuals.
1891 - The national census of this year recorded the population of Skelton [including Lingdale, Boosbeck and N Skelton.] at 6382.
There were 3596 males and 3133 females.
The number of inhabited houses was 1275 with 435 uninhabited and presumably in process of being built.

Guisborough Workhouse had 6 registrations from Skelton:-

Robert Hutton, gamekeeper, age 74.
Robert Easton, ironstone miner age 77.
John Elcoat, agricultural labourer, imbecile, who had been there in 1881.
Clara Andrews age 17.
Sarah Marshall age 8.
Maria Marshall, age 6
John Leng age 3.
To learn more about the Workhouse, click here.
The national population was estimated at 29 million.

9th to 13th March an easterly blizzard brought snow to virtually all England.

9th February Parish Magazine - A successful concert was held in the Infant School on Monday evening in order to raise funds for the purchase of a harmonium for the use of the Girls' Sunday School and the Band of Hope.
Mr Robert Bell presided at the piano and also gave two violin solos in capital style.

June - We understand that at last the plan for a passenger station at Skelton is ready, but there will still be some delay before it is carried out , as no provision has been made for merchandise or cattle or coal.
The Squire had interviewed the Directors and assured them that we want a goods station, with cattle dock and coal depot, as much as a passenger station, at the same time offering them the land required for the purpose.
Also for a road to come out near the first bridge between New Skelton and North Skelton as a gift.

Whit Sunday - The Skelton Volunteer Corps had their Church Parade. Assembling at the Drill Hall, they marched under the command of Captain Hamilton to the Parish Church, their band headed by Sergt-Instr Freen leading the way.

20 Trout Hall Lane, Richardson Blacksmith family.
It was said some time ago that our Local Board had determined to put down some asphalte footpaths after the fashion of the Scarboro ones.
While the question is before the members, we should like to suggest that a favourable site for the experiment would be at the end of High Street, Skelton, on the south side opposite to the church and that at the same time the footpath should be extended to the Cemetery.
Considering the hundreds of foot passengers who daily pass along this particular piece of road, including the Stanghow Lane school children, it is hardly to our credit that this provision for their safety and comfort has not been made before this.
The path in front of the Cemetery might also be widened sufficiently to admit of two persons walking abreast upon it.
If this suggestion be carried out and found to be a success, the path might afterwards be continued, when the parish admitted of the expense, to North Skelton.
It is rather hard upon its twelve hundred inhabitants and four hundred at New Skelton, when they visit our metropolis, to have to walk in the middle of the raod and take their chance of being run over, to say nothing of our convenience at Old Skelton when we desire to visit the Cemetery, the Schools, New Skelton or North Skelton.

September - Parish Magazine.:-

"North Skelton - The mothers' meeting, conducted by Mrs Ellis [curate's wife] in the Mission Room, Richard St, will commence on Monday, November 2nd at 3pm and be continued, God willing, weekly on Monday afternoons during the winter season,
All mothers in North and New Skelton are invited to attend."

16 September - "On Wednesday morning the old village was astir to see the wedding of Miss Hannah Petch, second daughter of Mr Thomas Petch of The Barns, to Mr H J Nightingale of Loftus.
A large congregation gathered in the Parish Church to witness the ceremony conducted by the Rector and the Rev J A Thompson BA.
The bride was attired in white bengaline silk with veil and wreath of orange blossoms.
The Bridesmaids wore pale blue merino dresses with large white hats, trimmed with ostrich feathers and carried baskets of roses. On leaving the organist, Mr R Bell, played Mendelssohn's Wedding March."

November - "Mother's meetings, conducted by Mrs William Wharton of Skelton Castle resumed in the Local Board Room [location not known] at 3.30 pm."

4th November - "The annual missionary meeting held in the Drill Hall, when a lecture, illustrated by diagrams, entitled "The Gods of India and the Drowning Child" was given by Rev A H Bowman, late missionary in India."

"The holders of missionary boxes are requested to send them in to Mr Thompson of 91 High Street for the half yearly emptying."

"Work is proceeding for the bazaar to be held at Christmastide for the fund for completing our Parish Church Organ.
We would remind our readers that sewing meetings will be held fortnightly on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 in the Infant Schoolroom to which any worker with skilled and willing fingers will be welcomed."

Skelton High St at the end of the 19th Century.
"Our hopes were raised a few days ago by the sight of loads of white bricks laid by the side of the road between the end of Skelton High Street and the Cemetery.

But they were rather dashed when we found that the Local Board only contemplated channelling, without providing the footpath so urgently needed along the side of that narrow roadway,
The footpath might be run along the top of the bank if excavation cost too much on either the north or south side of the road.
If bounded on the field side by an iron fence wiuld not take up much more land than is now occupied by the hedge.
A further great improvement would be to round away the corner of Mr Robinson's garden, next to Mr Robert Wilkinson's shop, opposite the Wharton Arms."
December - We regret to announce that Dr Dunn is shortly leaving Skelton.
Ill health compels him to seek a warmer climate. During the time that he has lived amongst us, as assistant and then partner with Dr Merrywheather and as parish doctor and house surgeon at the Hospital, he has made many friends, not only amongst his patients, but amongst others too. It is intended to present him with a testimonial before his departure.

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