East Cleveland Image Archive

A further War Memorial created and erected by William Arrowsmith of Loftus. The Staithes War Memorial stands at the top of the bank that leads down into the lower part of the village, and the harbour. The memorial is inscribed: ”Staithes War Memorial: To Perpetuate the memory of Those Who Made The Supreme Sacrifice for King and Country. During the Great War 1914 – 1918”. As the century progressed this deeply felt sentiment had to further include the soldiers, airmen, and a large number of sailors from the Second World War; to the present day as with all Memorials the more recently fallen are remembered. As Laurence Binyon’s poem states: ”WE WILL REMEMBER THEM!” 

Anne Beckett advises: “One of the brave men mentioned on the war memorial is Alexander Macdonald Watson – he was the Chief Officer on the Adellen – the ship was hit by a U-boat in the North Atlantic. He lived at Glendevon Cottage in Barrass Square, Staithes and was married to Lily Watson.”

Image courtesy of Loftus Town Crier, thanks to Anne Beckett for the update.

A modern view of Staithes dating from the 1960’s and produced by Friths. Still a delightful view of Staithes harbour at full tide and so a more unusual view. Christine Marshall comments: “My grandma lived up on Cowbar. Two rows of cottages at the top of Cowbar Bank. I came to Staithes ever summer with my mum from Edinburgh until grandma did in 1972. Have been back twice since then and it really hasn’t changed that much. Wonderful memories.”

Image courtesy of John G. Hannah, thanks to Christine Marshall for the memories.

The storm of 1906 with the Cod and Lobster corner taking a bit of a wave!

Image courtesy of John G. Hannah.

A postcard view of Staithes postmarked 5th August, 1941, is obviously pre World War II. It shows the village much as it is today, although the breakwaters are not as prominent.

Image courtesy of John G. Hannah.

Clearly posed this image of Staithes fishermen, perhaps taken on as part of a Victorian study of working fisher folk. But how posed?

Image courtesy of Olive Bennett.