SKELTON - IN - CLEVELAND
IN HISTORY
1896 to 1897.

Skelton from the Hills.
1896 - Wireless telegraphy invented.

15th January - North Skelton - Instead of the usual Band of Hope meeting, a Magic Lantern Entertainment was given.
The pictures were illustrative of the story of Little Nell taken from the Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens.

20th March. Longacres mine. William Hodgson, a deputy aged 43 was killed. "While he and another deputy were repairing an old airway a fall took place and put their lights out. Deceased lost his way and got into some 'stythe' and was suffocated"

21st June. - Parish Magazine - "Flower Service. This Sunday is looked forward to as one of the great events of the year.
The bunches of flowers were very fine, stocks and pinks being well to the fore, together with a fair proprortion of roses, canterbury bells, sweet williams and pansies. The South aisle of the Church was well filled with parents and other friends, while the centre of the nave and great part of the North aisle were packed with children bearing bouquets of flowers.


Boosbeck Railway station with steam train.
After the Service the flowers were quickly arranged by the teachers in different parts of the Church. At the close of the Evening service above 80 bunches of flowers were carried out to the sick and aged in Skelton, New and North Skelton and Skelton Green. Whilst the remainder were sent on Monday morning to Guisborough Union, Saltburn Convalescent Home, Middlesbrough Infirmary and Middlesbrough Union.

27th June - Choir Trip to Scarborough. We left Boosbeck Station at 8.15. Special carriages had been engaged in which the party were comfortably seated. A stop was made at Brotton for friends who had preferred the shorter walk. After stopping at Loftus, we went merrily on our way, passing through some of the prettiest railway scenery in England. After a stay of 20 minutes at Whitby, we moved on passing through the romantic scenery of Robin Hoods Bay, The Peak, and Hayburn Wyke and the Brighton of the North was duly reached. After the inner man had been satisfied at the breakfast rendezvous the party dispersed to spend the day as inclination prompted them. The Scarbro' lifeboat was viewed by some and the tale of a gallant rescue early in the year was heard from the old salt in attendance.

Others made for the North Cliff, where a Band was playing. Some made for the beach and donkeys were the order of the day. Some vain members of the party visited the flattering photographers. Some older friends could not resist the attractions and enticing words of the brilliantly got up jockey's, who kindly drove them round the town and shewed them all the sights. Boys at peril of life and limb were seen careering along the roads on high-spiritied steeds. The majority at some time of the day found their way to the Aquarium. Here a programme to suit all tastes had been provided. A ten hours' constant entertainment, beginning with acrobatic and swiming performances, up to vocal and instrumental concerts. At 8.30 we all met at the Station. The return journey was enlivened in many carriages by singing of all sorts and descriptions and we arrived back at 10.30 pm

5th July - The Committee of Friendly Societies in connection with Grange Convalescent Home have arranged for a Club Walk and Church Parade in aid of their object on Sunday afternoon. It is arranged that the |Boosbeck Free Gardeners shall meet at their Lodge at 1.30 and the Skelton Free Gardeners at the Free Gardeners Hall, Skelton, at the same time. The two companies will then march to Dr Merryweather's corner on Boosbeck Road, where they will join up at 2 o'clock. The united procession will then parade to Skelton High Green, Park Street, Prospect Place, Green Rd and by the High St to the Parish Church, where they expect to arrive at 3 pm. After the procession will be reformed and visit Robinson Street, Dixon Street and Yeoman Street, proceeding thence to New Skelton and North Skelton. Offerings will be collected on the road and in Church for the object of the Fund.

11th Nov. Longacres Mine. Charles Cranmer, a miner aged 45 of Brotton, was killed. "Fall of stone from a smooth back while he was drilling a hole in it; it fell without warning"

8th December. Skelton Shaft. Fred Whitwood aged 28 died from injuries received on 27 November, when his leg and arm were severely injured by a fall of stone.

Victoria, Diamond Jubilee. 1897.
A new shop was built for Young, butchers, 124 High St.

1897 - 8 April. South Skelton Mine. George William Jackson, a miner aged 27, was killed by a fall of stone from the roof of his working place.

22nd June - Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
Parish Magazine:-
Her subjects all over the world enthusiastically joined in celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Accession to the Throne of Victoria, the Queen, Empress of the British Empire.
And our Parish was in no way willing to be behind its neighbours in expressing its loyalty and thankful appreciation of the wonderful advance which has been made in every respect during the record reign of our record Queen.
As the Parish is widely scattered it was determined to have the festivities at six different centres - Skelton, North Skelton, Lingdale, Boosbeck, Slapewath and Moorsholm.
Children under 15 years of age and people over 60, numbering in all some 4,000 had an excellent meat tea and were presented with a Jubilee Beaker, made specially for the occasion for us by Doulton and Co.
The Parish Church bells rang out merrily at 8am and flags displayed in all directions announced a general holiday.
The children, gaily dressed in summer attire, the majority displaying the National colours as sashes or favours assembled at the Hospital [Boosbeck Rd] and Cross Green.
At 2pm the Skelton Brass Band stepped off from the end of Boosbeck Rd, followed by the Green children, marching four abreast and on reaching the Cross Green, picked up the Skelton children and with them up the High Street, presenting a most impressive spectacle.

Band and crowd on Boosbeck Road with nurse watching on from the Miners' Hospital doorway.
Two large banners and many small flags fluttering in the breeze, added liveliness and colour to a spectacle such as Skelton has rarely, if ever, seen before.
On reaching the Dog Kennels field, where a spacious marquee, 130 ft long, had been erected, the children and parents gathered round the platform outside and sang two verses of "God Save the Queen"
After short speeches by the Rector, Mr Clayton and Mr Fox, hearty cheers were given for the Queen and then for the Old Squire and his Son and the other contributors to the day.
Besides the free tea and beaker, each child received an orange, a handful of nuts and another of sweets.
The Old People receiving a packet of tea or tobacco. At 10 o'clock the Beacon fires at Hobhill and Brotton Warsett blazed up, proclaiming that the never-to-be-forgotten day was at an end.

20th August - This was an important day at North Skelton on the occasion of the formal opening of the New Institute.
The buildings...evidently meet a want in the place besides aiding very much to the appearance architecturally.

Victoria, Diamond Jubilee. 1897.
Beaker presented to each child in Skelton.
[Kindly contributed by Owen Rooks.]
They have been erected at the joint expense of the firm of Bolckow and Vaughan and the Squire, Lieut.Col Wharton, while the members [some 800 men] have provided the furniture and billiard table &c
Mrs Wharton, who was introduced by Alfred Pease.Esq.MP declared the Institute open. An illuminated address was presented to Mr and Mrs Wharton. In acknowledging the Squire said that he and his family wished to do what they could to advance the interests of the men in every way. He called attention to the notices placed in the rooms forbidding swearing and gambling.
He hoped that the Institute would help the members to raise themselves morally and intellectually. He assured them that the habit of bad language was not manly, as some of them seemed to think and added no weight to what they said but had quite the contrary effect.

9th September.North Skelton Mine.
George Kay, an assistant fitter aged 16 was killed.
"He was walking on a self-acting incline, and went into a refuge hole to allow the empty set to pass him.
After it passed he came out, forgetting about the full set coming down the incline, and it caught and killed him."

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