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 Our postcard view shows Redcar High Street in the 1950s, do you remember how the bus stops for the 78 (Lingdale) and 79 (Loftus) United services used to pick up outside Tylers shoe shop – clearly visible in this view – no bus shelters in those days! Image courtesy of a supporter of the Archive.  An early postcard view of Redcar Golf Course, the gentlemen players complete with dark suits and flat caps appear to be looking, perhaps for a lost ball? Image courtesy of a supporter of the Archive.  At the end of The Stray, Zetland Park is the smallest of the parks in Redcar. Today it even has its own website for Friends of Zetland Park; another example of the power of the local community in wanting to maintain their own amenities. Image courtesy of John G Hannah.  A view looking eastwards along the front at Redcar, with the pier dominating the scene. Redcar Pier Company was formed in 1866 but work did not begin until August 1871. The 1300 foot structure opened on 2nd June 1873 to the public, The 1300 foot structure opened on 2nd June 1873 to the design of J.E. & A.Dowson. Facilities included a 700-seat bandstand and separate landing stage; this was one of two piers at this point on the coast; the other was at Coatham. The pier was demolished finally in 1981 having become unstable. Julie Matthews believes: ”I may be wrong but I think it was demolished later than 1981. I worked in the front part which was a restaurant as a Saturday girl waitress around 1977 to 1979, whilst I was still at school.” Craig White has assisted with: ”It was taken down in the winter of 1980 / 1981. The restaurant was open till quite near the end, often a Police van was parked outside picking up meals for prisoners in Redcar nick! If it had survived a few more years it may have made it into the preservation era as opposed to the demolish everything old era that prevailed in the 1960’s and 1970’s.” Image courtesy of a supporter of the Archive, historical information courtesy of National Piers Society and thanks to Julie Matthews and Craig White for the updates.  Post marked 1923, this Valentine’s postcard views the Gare from the Coatham side, with the World War I gunslits still in place. The site was a fortified area to protect the mouth of the Tees and part of the coastal defences. The lighthopuse still survives but the white buildings in the centre have long vanished, interestingly the whole promontory would be as hard to acess for the general public then; as it is today. Image courtesy of Joan Jemson.  Viewed from what is now Redcar Road, Marske; this postcard view of the then home of the Marquess of Zetland dates from 1905. During World War I it was used by the Royal Flying Corps; they used the airfield at Marske as a training and flying school (the area now occupied by Barnes Wallis Way and other similarly aeronautical named roads). Image courtesy of Ann Wedgewood and Keith Bowers.  Dating from 1905 this postcard view shows Redcar Convalescent Home which used to stand more or less where latterly Redcar Bowl was; presently an open space. The forefront of the convalescent home at Redcar had a large area of sand banks which separated the building from the beach. The convalescent home owed its existence to Teresa Newcomen and the Reverend John Postlethwaite (vicar of Christ Church, Coatham); it cost £4,500 to develope. It was built behind the Sandbanks Sand; facing the sea near to Newcomen Terrace in 1861. During the 1914-18 war, the 12th Battalion Green Howards were billeted here. During the 1939-45 war, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers were billeted. It was bought by Redcar Borough Council and demolished in 1951. Cynthia Greaves (nee Bareham) asks: “My Grandfather John George Bareham borne 12/12/1876 lived in The Caretakers cottage in the Coatham Convalescent Home. When his parents celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary, photos of the home show pictures of my Great Grandmother and family in the home. Please are you able to tell me if I’m correct in believing that my Grandfather was Caretaker and my grandmother Charlotte Ann Bareham (nee Neeve) was possibly cook or house keeper at this time. Both remained in the lodge until their deaths. Please can anyone advise me as to where I may find help in acquiring this information.” Whilst Anna Rowe asks: “I am delighted to see this picture. Is it possible to see records of people who were treated in the Home? My great-grandmother and her little sister were there in the 1870s with tuberculosis. The family believes that the Matron at Coatham saved my Great- Grandmother’s life but her sister died there, aged 2 years 6 months. I would really like to know more. They were Mary Hannah and Lilian Mary Rochester.” Image courtesy of Ann Wedgewood and Keith Bowers, can anbody assist with the queries from Cythia Greaves and Anna Rowe?  This view of the almshouses at Kirleatham taken from a glass plate negative is relatively unchanged today. The stone pillars in the foreground serve as the entrance to the complex from Kirkleatham Lane (former A174 before the road alterations), the cobbled roadway replaced by more modern tarmac. It is still a magnificent façade to view, at odds in some ways to the present day world which passes by the gates. Image courtesy of Geoff Patton.  This postcard print of Redcar from the west comes from a postcard produced by T. Walton of Redcar, possibly dating from the 19th century. St Peter’s Church can be seen on the right of the print. The tower and nave were by Ignatius Bonomi dating from 1828, chancel added in 1888. The windmill although appearing to be sited towards the present day coast road to Marske; is believed to be Redcar Windmill. Fred Brunskill explains: ”Although St Peters was opened on August 27th 1829 by the Archbishop of York it still remained under the Mother church of Marske until the Redcar Parish was formed in 1867. The Redcar Windmill was situated at 127 Lord Street (formerly Back Lane) and part of the original sand stone can still be seen. The Redcar mill ( Miller Robert Coulson ) had six wind vanes whereas the Coatham windmill only had four.” Following a query from Walter Ferrand (whose maternal family are the Coulson family and a direct decendant of Robert Coulson): ” My maternal family are the Coulson family and my direct descendent Robert Coulson great great great great grandfather lived at Mill House Coatham and was the miller at Coatham. I am trying to understand from the comments above how he was also at Redcar Mill and would appreciate any information any one has to help me with their history in the area.” Ruth Coulson explains: ”It appears that there were two Coulson brothers, Stephen and Robert. Stephen had the Redcar Mill and Robert the Coatham Mill. My husband is decended from Stephen. I have only recently found out about the facts of the mills.” Image courtesy of Kim Whaley; thanks to Fred Brunskill, Walter Ferrand and Ruth Coulson for the updates.  This unused card of Photogrgravure Reproduction, shows Redcar Road; minus zebra crossing and the bustle of present times. Image courtesy of Kim Whaley. |
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