SKELTON - IN - CLEVELAND IN HISTORY

The following information is supplied by Simon A Chapman, the author of many books about Ironstone mining in East Cleveland.

One of your e-mail correspondents queried the building of the terraced houses at North Skelton.
BOLCKOW and VAUGHAN Streets were named after the company sinking the new ironstone mine on a greenfield site which made the construction of new houses necessary.
Sinking really commenced in 1870, so these two streets were probably built about then.
Soon followed by WHARTON Street, named after the landowner.
WILLIAMS Street was named after Edward Williams.
He was the General Manager for Messrs. Bolckow and Vaughan.
Edward Williams retired in 1875, so we can take it that by that date the above streets were completed.
His successor was E. Windsor Richards as General Manager (another Welshman).
So when another street was built, 1876 or later, it was named after him.
On page 29 of my book "Hope to Prosper", published by Peter Tuffs, is a copy of the Ordnance Survey 1:2500 map of 1915.
This shows the outline of these streets and their orginal spelling.
The modern nameplates of WILLIAMS and RICHARDS Streets leave out the 's' and make them first names.
So, losing the historic significance of those names.

Another correspondent queried the name of the driver of the first train around Huntcliff.
Bear in mind that the Cleveland Railway from Skinningrove around Huntcliff to Guisborough and beyond opened 21st April 1865 for mineral traffic, and 10 years later for passengers.
The connecting line between Saltburn and Brotton over Skelton Beck Viaduct opened 1st June 1872.

Map of 1856.

The following e-mail was received from L Harvey Kirk III of Chester, Virginia, USA. It concerns "Ness Hagg", which can be seen in the centre of this 1856 map as buildings in the form of an inverted T with what appears to be a walled area behind - presumably used for workshops and storing oak, as the occupant, according to Harvey, had been a cooper, a maker of barrels. A map of 1894 shows that, even by then, some of the building had disappeared and the area was being wooded over. Today the whole area is woodland. For the past 5-6 years I have been researching my family's history with the intention of writing an historical genealogy. The earliest ancestor I can document is Roger Kirk He and his family were Quakers and lived at Ness Hagg, not far from Skelton. Roger worked as a barrel maker, a "cooper". In 1658 they emigrated to the North of Ireland. I have found your History of Skelton-in-Cleveland on NTL World fascinating and an excellent resource. With your permission I will quote from it and credit you as the source. Also, perhaps you can advise me about one other thing:- An old map shows a small settlement in a cleared area at Ness Hagg Wood, then newer maps show the forest having grown back over the once-cleared land. I have been told there are ruins or foundations of a few old buildings in the reforested area. Have you any knowledge of this, or can you shed any light or direct me further?

I sent Harvey a section of the 1894 map and a few photos like these below of Ness Hagg, as it looks today.