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Saltburn-by-the-Sea

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Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Population5,912 (2001 Census)
OS grid referenceNZ663213
• London263.1m
Civil parish
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSALTBURN-BY-THE-SEA
Postcode districtTS12
Dialling code01287
PoliceCleveland
FireCleveland
AmbulanceNorth East
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire

Saltburn-by-the-Sea is a seaside resort in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. The town is around 12 miles (19 km) east of Middlesbrough, and had a population of 5,912 at the 2001 Census.

History

Old Saltburn

Old Saltburn is the original settlement, located in the seaside area of Saltburn Gill. Records are scarce on its origins, but it was centre of local sea smugglers, with Landlord John Andrew referred to as the "King of smugglers." In 1856, the hamlet consisted of the Ship Inn and a row of houses, containing mainly farmers and fisherman.

Iron stone

The development of both Middlesbrough and Saltburn was driven by the discovery of iron stone in the Cleveland hills, the monies of the Pease family of Darlington, and the development of two railways to extract the minerals.

The Pease family had developed Middlesbrough as an industrial centre, and after discovery of iron stone, the Stockton & Darlington Railway and the West Hartlepool Harbour and Railway Company both developed routes into East Cleveland. By 1861, the S&DR reached Saltburn with the intention of continuing onto Brotton, Skinningrove and Loftus. But the WHH&RCo had already developed tracks into the area, leaving little point in the extending the S&DR tracks further.

Development

The Zetland, now an apartment building, formerly the historic Zetland Hotel.

In 1858 while visiting his brother Joseph in Markse, Henry Pease while walking along the coast path towards Old Saltburn had seen a vision of a heavenly city reminiscent of the description of Jerusalem in the Book of Revelation in the Bible. The Pease family owned Middlesbrough estate and had control of the S&DR, so agreed to develop Henry's vision by forming the Saltburn Improvement Company.

Land was purchased from the Earl of Zetland, and the company commissioned surveyor George Dickinson to layout what became an interpretation of a gridiron street layout, detracted from by the fact that the railway ran through the middle of the site. With as many houses as possible having sea views, the layout was added to by the so-called "jewel streets" along the seafront (Coral, Garnet, Ruby, Emerald, Pearl, Diamond and Amber Streets), said to be a legacy of Henry's vision.

After securing the best positions for development by the SIC, monies were brought in for these constructions by selling other plots to private developers and investors. Most buildings are constructed using the "Pease brick," transported by the S&DR, with the name "Pease" set into the brick. The jewel in Henry Pease's crown is said to have been The Zetland Hotel, one of the world's earliest purpose-built railway hotels, with its own private platform.

The Pease family also built a residence at the junction of Marine Parade and Milton Street, and lived there until Sir Joseph W Pease died in 1903. The house was later sold to the Working Men's Club and Institute Union ("the CIU"), which converted it into a convalescent home for club members, one of several around the country. Its "residents" usually came, from all the major working-class areas of the UK, for subsidised two-week breaks. They were easy to recognise from the yellow button badges they were issued by the "Superintendent" on arrival. The Milton Street Club, located right next door to their home-from-home, was understandably very popular among the Clubmen.

Tourism, leisure and amenities

Saltburn-by-the-Sea pier and cliff lift.

Saltburn's attractions include a Grade II* renovated pier, plenty of Victorian buildings, the Valley Gardens, accessible via a forest walk and on the shore, a smugglers' museum. Saltburn is also on the Cleveland Way. The coastline is popular with surfers and national surfing events are held during the autumn and winter months, attracting competitors from all corners of England, Scotland and Wales.

Annual events include Saltburn Victorian Celebrations (once known as Victorian Week), the Saltburn Swashbuckle (a beach event for children based on a piratical theme), the Saltburn Custom Classic Car Show (a lower prom display of mostly American cars) and the annual Folk festival.[1] Saltburn has been host to a number of beach parties organised by local dance music lovers. There is also a thriving local theatre, The 53 Society, and a public library.

Funicular railway

Main article: Saltburn Cliff Lift

The Saltburn Cliff Lift is one of the world's oldest water-powered cliff lifts (the oldest being the Bom Jesus funicular in Braga, Portugal). After the opening of Saltburn Pier in 1869, it was concluded that the steep cliff walk was deterring people from walking from the town to the pier. After the company was taken over by Middlesbrough Estates in 1883, they discovered that the wooden Cliff Hoist had a number of rotten supports.[2] The Saltburn tramway, as it is also known, was developed by Sir Richard Tangye's company, whose chief engineer was George Croydon Marks. The cliff tramway opened a year later and provided transport between the pier and the town. The railway is water-balanced and since 1924 the water pump has been electrically operated. The first major maintenance was carried out in 1998, when the main winding wheel was replaced and a new braking system installed.[3]

Public houses

As a town founded and dominated by Quakers, Saltburn originally had no public houses. Alcohol was served in the local hotels and the bars attached to them. The public houses on the lower promenade were part of Old Saltburn. In addition to The Ship Inn there was The Pelican and others. Vista Mar was first opened as tea rooms and later a fish and chip cafe.

Today the following public houses exist in Saltburn: Alexandra Vaults ("Back Alex"),The Victoria, Marine, Ship Inn, The Spa, Vista Mar (formerly Bankside, previously Rosie O'Grady's) and Windsors (formerly Queens). There are also several members' clubs: Conservative Club, Lune Street CIU, Royal British Legion, Masonic Lodge, Saltburn Golf Club, Saltburn Cricket Tennis and Bowls Club, and Swingdoors.

Education

Saltburn's only secondary school is Huntcliff School which was rebuilt during 2007-8, reopening on the 8th September 2008. The redundant 50 year old school buildings were then demolished to allow the town's Junior and Infant schools to relocate to the same site in 2009.

Landmarks

From Marine Parade you can look out over the pier which points just east of north. The coastline at Saltburn lies practically east west. To the north east of the town is the imposing Hunt Cliff, topped by Warsett Hill at 166m. Skelton Beck runs through the wooded Valley Gardens in Saltburn, then alongside Saltburn Miniature Railway before being joined by Saltburn Gill and entering the North Sea.

The Saltburn seafront.

Teddy's Nook is a house built in 1862 by Henry Pease (MP) a director of the Stockton and Darlington Railway,[4] for his own occupation. Peas was responsible for the foundation of the seaside resort and the sturdy sandstone house was first named "The Cottage".[5] The following stories, whether fact or fiction is debatable, all relate to this house.

  • When Saltburn Bank was only a track, two eccentric ladies who lived in the house allegedly kept a lion for a pet. They are sid to have exercised it on the beach daily and it is said to be buried somewhere in the garden.[6]
  • Mrs Lillie Langtry (the Jersey Lily) stayed at the house at sometime between 1877 and 1880. She was often visited by Edward Prince of Wales (late Edward VII of the United Kingdom) who had a suite of rooms at the Zetland Hotel. The cottage, consequently, became known as Teddy's Nook.[7][8][9]
  • In wartime German spies are thought to have contacted ships out at sea by means of flashing lights from Teddy's Nook.[citation needed]
  • The Kelly family,[10] who leased the house in later years, were cousins of Jimmy Savile who visited regularly.[11]

"The Cottage" was the only one built of what were intended to be one of four similar houses to be called "Clifton Villas". It was the family home of Audrey Collins MBE, who served as Mayor of Saltburn and chair of the South Tees Health Authority. Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital has named a teaching unit in her honour.[12]

Transport

The railway station is at the end of the line from Middlesbrough and Darlington. The Redcar to Saltburn Railway, opened in 1861, was an extension of the Middlesbrough to Redcar Railway of 1846.[13] A freight line continues to the potash mine at nearby Boulby. This line used to continue to Whitby as part of the Whitby Redcar and Middlesbrough Union Railway.

Sport

Sports played in Saltburn include cricket, bowls and tennis played at the Club in Marske Mill Lane. The Club has been in existence for over 100 years and is nearly as old as the town itself. New facilities were provided in 2002 with financial help from the Lottery.

The North Riding Duck Race is held each year on 1 August to celebrate Yorkshire Day.[14] The winner receives the "Colin Holt Cup", named in honour of the late Colin Holt, for many years the Chairman of the Yorkshire Ridings Society. A prize is given also for the duck with the most original name.

Notable people

For a full list, see People from Saltburn-by-the-Sea

See also

References

  • Tony Lynn - 'Saltburn-by-the-Sea Revisited' (2006) ISBN 0752437739
  • Alan Whitworth - 'Saltburn-by-the-Sea: A Brief History from Its Earliest Times to 1900' (2006) ISBN 1871150477

Notes

  1. ^ "Saltburn Festival of Folk Music, Dance and Song".
  2. ^ Paul Delplanque (2010-01-04). "Saltburn Cliff Lift...Then and Now". Tees Gazette. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  3. ^ "Saltburn Cliff Lift". BBC Tees. Retrieved 2010-06-05.
  4. ^ Robinson's Railway Directors 1841
  5. ^ "Saltburn draft conservation area appraisal" (PDF). Redcar & Cleveland. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  6. ^ "Of Royal nookie in the Nook". www.highbeam.com. Retrieved 2009-09-14. {{cite web}}: Text "Article from The Northern Echo" ignored (help); Text "HighBeam Research" ignored (help)
  7. ^ "nebusiness.co.uk - News - Business Interviews - Businessman with a talent for giving something back". www.nebusiness.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  8. ^ "The Darlington and Stockton Times :: News, Sport, Business, North Yorkshire moors, County Durham - Teddy's Nook and a royal dalliance". archive.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  9. ^ "Shopping - Francis Frith". www.francisfrith.com. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  10. ^ "The Northern Echo : News, Sport, Business, Leisure from the North East and North Yorkshire - Talent of a kindly caricaturist drawn to record an entire generation". archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  11. ^ "Sir Jimmy Saville". Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  12. ^ "Zebrahosts News". www.zebrahosts.net. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  13. ^ Ellison, MH. "North Eastern Railway Association". Newcastle University.
  14. ^ "Celebrating Yorkshire Day". Redcar and Cleveland Council.
  15. ^ "Bluebird Supporters Club - Malcolm Campbell". www.bluebirdteamracing.net. Retrieved 2009-06-05.
  16. ^ "The yo-yo years of Middlesbrough FC: Time Trail". Evening Gazette, Millennium Memories: p16–17. 1999-11-16. {{cite journal}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  17. ^ Glasper, Harry. The 'Boro Bible. ISBN 0952793253.
  18. ^ "Biographical Data - Nicholas J. M. Patrick". NASA. January 2010. Retrieved 5 February, 2010. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
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