Here is a picture that shook the cobwebs, Saltburn with its paddling pool (no longer PC since the Health and Safety laws and litigative society), Miniature Railway running from the tourist hot spot and the beck as a useful facility instead of the state we have today. Notice that the miniature railway (15 inch gauge) with its rake of toast-rack carriages is still in its original Saltburn Motor Services livery of red with cream lining (although we are told that the original colour was green and this was the early Council livery called ’Dustcart Red’ and white!). The four carriages were built in the SMS garages in Saltburn and the train was driven by one of SMS’s regular drivers during the brief summer season. Following our request for a date to the image, Martyn Richardson told us: ”1973 I would say – I remember playing in the paddling pool, and also going on the “boating lake” – I can remember being brave if you went close to the edge of the little waterfall bit that ran over and under the road bridge. Good memories from this photo – didn’t the pier fall foul of the weather in 1974? – I can remember that and I was only seven at the time.”Bill Fletcher asked: “Very interesting picture but did you notice all of the ships near to the horizon and has anybody any memory of the bridge structure between 2 vertical poles about half-way up Saltburn bank and just visible here?”. However Callum Duff tells us: ”Saltburn’s boating lake was laid out after Saltburn’s Centenary celebrations in 1961, opening for the Summer season in 1962. Based on a slide I own from 1963, the paddling pool was constructed at this time. Looking at the photo above and the new-looking paving around the pool (it was still being laid in 1963) I would put the likely date for this card at 1966 or 67. I always think of the 1960′s as being Saltburn’s last decade as a popular resort with most if not all of its original attractions. unfortunately I grew up in Saltburn in the 1970′s when the opposite was true!”
Thanks to Martyn Richardson, Bill Fletcher and Callum Duff for those updates.
We think this image was taken in the 1950s. Do you remember this boating lake? It was known as just Saltburn boating Lake. What’s left of it now, is now the orange beck that runs through the Saltburn Gill and into the sea. Where the cars are is now the car park and public toilets and the little hut behind them is the beach cafe. I remember going to the kids paddling pool down there when I was little and my grandad telling me, that when he was younger the beck was a lot bigger and wider than it is now and it went under the road bridge too. It would be great to find out who it is in the boat? Callum Duff tells us: “The ‘Official’ Boating Lake (with a weir, defined shape and demarcation for age groups and vessels) was laid out in 1962 with the Paddling Pool being completed in 1963. Despite many fond memories of the boating lake, it had a very short lifespan. This is attributed to two main factors; the weir was built too high which caused the lake to flood the surround banks and the cost of maintenance was never recouped by usage. The Boating Lake finally went out of use in 1983 and the paddling pool was demolished in 1987. This photograph is earlier than 1962 although you have to wonder who transported this rather sturdy boat to the beck for the children to use?”
Image courtesy of Julie Tyrka and many thanks to Callum Duff for the update.
A bit further upstream, at the footbridge, the water flooded the field and filled the valley. The toll bridge keeper’s cottage for the old Ha’penny Bridge can be seen at the top of the bank on the left.
This image from the D Constance postcard series, taken from the Ha’penny Bridge (or Valley Bridge) in 1948, shows the original station of the Saltburn Miniature Railway – it was moved further towards the beach the year after this was taken. The footpath was in better condition than it is now! Notice the caravans where the picnic area is now. Image courtesy of Iris Place, Saltburn Miniature Railway and Jean Hall.
We have photographs of the halfpenny bridge being blown up but this is the first one I have seen of it being built in 1869. It was built by Gilks and Wilson, and was 126 feet high and 650 feet long. The tolls were: Pedestrians – half-penny. Bicycles and rider – one penny. Carriages – half-penny per wheel, passengers – one half-penny. (Information courtesy of Howard Wilson). Originally built to facilitate travel to Skelton Castle the bridge was unable to be used by motorised traffic and so in the later 20th century was use by walkers, cyclists, horse riders and horse drawn vehicles until it’s demise in December 1974.
Any more photographs of this bridge out there that you would like to share with us?
Not yet completed Mount Pleasant at Carlin How in early 1900s, Alan Pearson was able to assist with: ”Mount Pleasant is not on the 1894 Ordnance Survey map, but in the 1911 census no 15 Mount Pleasant is occupied by my great-grandfather Chapman Pearson. There were 13 people living there on census night – and they had a shop there as well!!”
Image courtesy of the Pem Holliday Collection and thanks to Alan Pearson for the update.
A lovely view of the front at Redcar in the 1930s, showing the pier; I remember going dancing there but there was no pier left then. Derick Pearson has memories of the pier: “The white building just past the pier on the left was the Pastime Amusement centre on the promenade. Seems it was more busy there than the high street at that time.” Alan Etherington remembers: “We used to go to the truncated pier in the early 1960s to dance the night away to Danny Mitchell’s orchestra. He had a large black Alsatian that was seen around town with him. I saw him in the Post Office and he asked for a dog licence (takes you back, eh?) and the counter clerk said, “Well that depends.” Danny smacked the counter and said “Hup!” and the dog leapt up to put his paws and face on the counter. “Yes, that’s fine,” said the assistant and proceeded with the licensing.”
Image courtesy of Mike Holliday and others, thanks to Derick Pearson and Alan Etherington for the updates.
A rather blurred image of ”The Ha’penny Bridge” (so called as the standard toll to cross was a half penny) at Saltburn taken from the boating pool; this beautiful Victorian edifice was destroyed for expedience’s sake in December 1974. Rodney Begg tells us: ” I can remember cycling across the bridge delivering paraffin to White House School and paying the toll to the gate-keeper at the bungalow on the far side in 1963.”
Image courtesy of several sources, thanks to Rodney Begg for the update.
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