An aerial view of Marske Mill, taken from the viaduct beneath which it used to shelter. Demolished in the early 1970s, attempts have now been made to indicate the previous existence of the mill of which only small traces were evident; now to be viewed are some of the original mill walls. No evidence remains of the red brick Victorian farm-house which once graced the site. The Archive understands that the scene below was taken from a train driven over the viaduct pre 1952 by the engine driver; on a box Brownie camera. Owen Rooks assists with: “The photograph was indeed taken from the viaduct…by my father with the family box Brownie using the poor quality film that was all that seemed to be available in those days. He took it shortly before he retired in 1952 after a lifetime working on the railway, mostly on the track between Saltburn and Brotton.” Callum Duff advises: ”The house to the right of the mill was built by the railway as the Superintendent or custodian of the Viaduct’s house. It wasn’t excavated as part of the Marske Mill archaeological dig of 1986/7 because it wasn’t deemed to be of any archeological interest. I know this because I asked Cleveland County archaeologists this question when I worked for them in 1991.”
Image courtesy of Owen Rooks who also kindly supplied the information, his father being the engine driver. Also thanks to Callum Duff for the update.
A fine sunny day at Saltburn. But where are the people?. Posted in 1905 and 1907 (we now have two copies of the same view) was produced by Valentine’s of Dundee. The site of the present car park is an empty waste land, swings across the road from the beach hut are deserted. I wonder if it was published for the sand and cliff views. Image courtesy Ken Johnson and Iris Place.
These five views of Saltburn, are from a card posted in 1932. All of the views have changed over the years, none more so than the Pier; which is now a shorter version of it’s original length.
A different viewpoint of Saltburn Valley gardens, also known as the ”Italian Gardens” The Bandstand and Halfpenny Bridge are prominent. The view is from a handcoloured postcard, posted in 1905. Katharine Broome tells us: ”In 1941 or early 1942, the bandstand was destroyed by a bomb. For it’s size and “usefulness”, Saltburn suffered much bombing in the early part of the war. The Infants School in Upleatham Street was destroyed one night.”
Image courtesy of Ken Johnson and thanks to Katharine Broome for the update.
A coloured postcard of the Cliff Lift at Saltburn, replacing the orignal Vertical Lift in 1884; viewed from the Pier which was some 1,500 feet long at this date. The slender gas lamps on the pier look far too fragile for being exposed to the North Sea Storms.
”Talk of the Town” – Saltburn’s Free Monthly Magazine has further information regarding the lift: ”Birmingham businesses were involved in the provision of machinery and cables. Tangye Ltd representative was George Marks (later 1st Baron Marks of Woolwich) who was responsible for the design and construction of the railway. The railway began operating in June 1884 proving very reliable, safe and convenient. The Cliff Lift is the oldest operating water balanced system in Great Britain and continues to be very popular with visitors and locals. The original Otto Gas Engine was replaced with a DC Generator in 1913 and adapted to a mains supply in 1930. The track was re-laid to a slightly wider gauge during the winter of 1921/22. Saltburn and Marske Urban District Council purchased the railway in 1930.” Since then the Cliff Lift has been maintained by Langbaurgh Borough Council and latterly by Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council.
Image courtesy of Ken Johnson and additional information courtesy of Cath and Tony Lynn for ”Talk of the Town” Saltburn.
A hand painted postcard of Saltburn Valley Gardens, The bandstand is seen on the left; but the eye is drawn to the Saltburn Bridge. Built in 1869 by Gilkes Wilson of Middlesbrough, Callum Duff tells us: ”The official name for the bridge across the valley was simply, ‘Saltburn Bridge’. The local nickname for the structure became the ‘Ha’penny Bridge’ named after the toll for each pedestrian crossing it.”
Image courtesy of Ken Johnson and thanks to Callum Duff for the update.
An interesting postcard of Saltburn; it shows construction work on the bridge over the Skelton Beck. Can any of our knowledgeable viewers put a date to the new bridge. Today a Bungalow stands to the right on the grass in the foreground; whilst to the left was the Beach cafe, now the ‘Tomahawk’ steakhouse.
The farm house (part of the original Saltburn Mill) at the bottom of the bank, that led to Skelton, still has the Roundhouse, for the horse wheel used to power the threshing machinery. Later photographs show that it has been demolished. We asked ”Does any one have a date for this Saltburn Postcard?” Callum Duff advises us: ”I believe that this photograph was taken in 1902. The Spa Pavilion is being extended and this was carried out using bricks from the demolished rubble of Alpha Place, Saltburn’s first houses which were finally removed from their site in Milton street in November 1901.”
Image courtesy Tina Dowey and thanks to Callum Duff for the update.
An early twentieth Century postcard view of Saltburn lower promenade. The beach, pier, and promenade are busy on a glorious summers day. The two-storied structure in the foreground, appears to have an open viewing platform, so we asked: ”Does anyone have any information as to it’s purpose? Callum Duff has told us: ”The two-storied structure on Saltburn’s lower promenade was built as a shelter but also served as covered viewing area for theatre productions and Pierrot shows which took place on the promenade opposite. A makeshift stage was set up (later made more permanent with an iron legged structure behind) and the two ramps either side of this served as ‘stage left’ and ‘stage right’. For shows comprising many parts but few cast, the area behind the stage was probably used for quick costume changes. Popularity in these shows declined with the advent of TV and the permanent stage was destroyed in the great storm of 1953 and never replaced. A building of similar design to the base of this structure survives as Saltburn Surf School and there are what look like original steps at the back of the building.” Callum also advises: ”As an addendum to my previous post, I have been informed that the current Surf School is housed in the ground floor section of the original building. The upper cast iron floor was removed around 1960, either due to deterioration of the structure or because Victorian architecture was deemed to be unfashionable. The steps were truncated to the rear to prevent anyone climbing on a roof that now had no safety railings. In my youth this former shelter was used to store deckchairs and other beach equipment for hire. It also looked rather sorry for itself until it was rescued by Nick Noble and his Surf School.”
Image courtesy Ken Johnson and many thanks to Callum Duff for the updates.
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