Mrs Wilkinson had written on this photograph, that these houses had been built for the alum managers, now tell me where they were? A hint – this may be the location of Rawcliffe (Rockcliffe) Cottages, situated above Rockcliffe farm, near Street Houses and demolished pre Second World War. Could anybody assist in identifying the residents of the cottages? Following researches the Archive has discovered that in 1939; Elizabeth Nicholson who was born in 1857 was living at Gallihowe Farm and George Nicholson was living at No. 1 Street Houses. Eric Johnson advised: “In the late 1940’s early 1950’s, Betty Graves lived with her family in the left hand cottage. The small out building was the wash house; the toilet was down the field and had a well for water. Myra and Eddie Cross lived next door. The word “Howe” in Gallihowe is an ancient word for a “Grave”. And in the field behind the cottages was discovered the Anglo Saxon Cemetery containing the grave of the Anglo Saxon Princess.” David Camidge assisted with: “I have a copy of the same picture. My grandfather was born at Gallihow. His parents and paternal grandparents are shown as living there, along with his elder brother, in the 1911 census records. I am not sure when the family moved from Gallihow, but I believe that by the time the photograph was taken my grandfather was working for Mr J Gill at Ellerby. My grandfather once said that the building stone from Gallihow was re-used in the construction of a new house somewhere in the North Yorks Moors area. I have no further details, and I am not sure if my grandfather knew any more about this matter.” David also added: “I also have a copy of a photograph, possibly dating from about 1938, showing ‘the Nicholson family from Gallihowe’. It does not identify where it was taken, but it appears to have been related to my great-great-grandmother’s 80th birthday. It shows her with her seven children, George (my great-grandfather), Jack, William, Maude (aka Shand?), Esther (Cossey), Sally (Dawe) and Elizabeth (Garbutt).” George Don Nicholson added: “George Nicholson (b. August 1932) now living in Devon; I remember visiting Gallihowe in late thirties and meeting my Great Grandma Elizabeth then bedridden at 80 years (nee Lyth daughter of Richard a farmer of 60 acres at Egton). Great Aunt Ester (my Grandad John’s maiden sister) was in charge at the time and made us very welcome with a feast to behold including a memorable Yorkshire cheese curd tart. In the summer time a cow or cows were kept in the Warren (half way down the cliff) a male member of the family lived down with the cows and carried milk up to Gallihowe where it was churned into butter. In about 1940 there was a search-light battery on the cliff, the drinking water was carried in two buckets, they were supported by a wooden yolk 2-300 yards to the farm from an enclosed surface spring. I can trace the Nicholsons back to the 18th century when there are just too many George Nicholsons living in Whitby, all involved with the sea. I have this romantic idea that one of them either sailed with Cook on his epic voyages or at least was involved in the construction of his ship. I visited the area ten years ago and spoke to a Mrs Garbutt at street Houses, she gave me the name of the builder who bought the stone from Gallihowe but sadly I can’t remember.”
Image courtesy of Mrs E. Wilkinson (via Keith Bowers), thanks to Eric Johnson, David Camidge, George Don Nicholson, Susan Camidge and Barbara Whittle for the updates.
A coloured postcard of Grinkle Park, Easington. Once the home of Sir Charles Mark Palmer, now a hotel where the rhododendrons make a fine display in early summer.
Or Red House Farm, 150 acres situated at the side of Whitby Road quite close to Staithes at the junction of Cowbar Lane. Described as having 5 bedrooms, 2 attics, bathroom, 2 sitting rooms, kitchen with range, scullery with sink, pantry, wash house with copper. Water from the three crosses well supply. Rent on Ladyday tenancy £137-13s-0p per annum. Estate makes an allowance off the rent of this farm for aerial standards (at one time used by Boulby Mine) which crossed the land. Not all the mod. cons of today, but all you would expect in 1946 when this farm was for sale in the dispersal sale catalogue for the Grinkle estate.
Or Angel Cottage, lot 62 in the catalogue. Described in the sale catalogue as having one double and one single bedroom, kitchen with range and cupboard, back kitchen with sink and cupboard, pantry, coal shed etc. Water from spring in woodland at rear. Built of stone with slate roof, the south wall is of great thickness and has a castellated parapet giving the appearance of 8 chimney’s. Rent was £13 per annum. The image was taken from Grinkle Park Estate sale in 1946.
Image from the catalogue courtesy of Mrs Lilian Waton.
Lot 68 in the catalogue of lots of Grinkle Park Estate, was Marsh Farm, Scaling village; 150 acres land, farmhouse with 5 bedrooms, sitting room, front kitchen, back kitchen with sink, dairy, drinking water from Scaling well at the road side on south of garden. Rent £124 per annum, date of sale 1946.
This postcard image of Grinkle Hall dates from when still under the ownership of Sir Charles Mark Palmer, a Tyneside magnate. The hall was built in the 19th century, he controlled iron and coal mines, as well as a Jarrow shipbuilding yard. Locally he developed Grinkle mine and constructed the harbour at Port Mulgrave to export the ironstone to the Tyne. Ann Jackson tells us: ”My great grandmother was a dress maker at the Hall in the late 1800′s. My Grandmothers name was Mary Jackson nee Jordan. She was born in Kendal and came to Easington in the late 1800’s with my Great Grandad James Jackson who was a stone mason working on the Railways. I believe he worked on the tunnel at Easington and also on Paddy Waddells railway.” Whilst Norman Patton tells us: ”William Forbes was my wife’s great grandfather. He was an apprentice gardener in a place near Stranraer and at some point worked for the Beatty Balfours who were plant hunters and particularly concerned with the importing of rhododendrons from the Himalayas. We are quite certain that he was involved with the planting of the rhododendrons at Grinkle Hall after it was rebuilt about 1890s during which time he met and married Mary Welford from Midge Hall, Roxby.” Pat Lawrence asks: “I am trying to find information on Grinkle Hall. My grandfather was head gardener there in the 1800s and my grandmother was a maid. It would be lovely to find some information about the house and workers.”
Image courtesy Alan Richardson; also thanks to Ann Jackson, Norman Patton and Pat Lawrence for the updates.
Now no longer standing but in 1946 it was for sale; all 32 acres of it with the house standing by the side of the swift running mill stream and adjoining a series of waterfalls, at the end of the house is the old water wheel. This had it’s own water supply piped from a spring situated on high ground, another property on a Lady Day tenancy of £38 per annum. Today a weir and mill race running towards the mill can still be easily identified, but the actual location of mill is little more that a few foundations now.
Stuart Grey told us: ”In the early 1970s, I explored the remains of Scaling mill and took photographs of the remaining water mill mechanism. The “pit wheel”, the “great spur” and the shafts for the “stone nuts” which actually turned the “mill stones”; all made out of wood were still in good condition. Outside in the stream standing against the wall of the mill,there was still part of the actual waterwheel; although only the metal framework.” Carole Popham tells us ”My grandparents, Ben and Betty Barry used to farm here. I remember visiting late fifties/early sixties. I went back last year for the first time since then and was sad to see that there was virtually nothing left but did find some bricks from the old dairy. As a child it was a wonderful place to visit but there was no lighting in the house and life must have been quite hard for my grandparents.”
Image courtesy of Mrs Lilian Waton; thanks to Stuart Gray and Carole Popham for the updates.
Morehead Terrace, Easington (across the Grinkle Lane/Whitby Road junction); this time, consisting of three cottages. Corner Cottage, sold for £460 and wow it had electric light. The next cottage also had electric light, but water was still obtained from the fountain across the road. The last on the terrace (no 1 Morehead Terrace) was the police house; occupied by Constable Clarkson, mains electric lighting but no running water. Michael Leyland updates with: “Morehead Terrace consisted of numbers 1, 2 and 3 on Whitby Road; and 3a, 4, 5, and 6 on Grinkle Lane.” Whilst Deborah Garbutt advises: “My grandparents lived in number 3, my dads aunty lived in number 2.” Whilst Justine enquires: “Was this ever referred to as Fountain Terrace back in 1913?”
Image courtesy of Mrs Lilian Waton (from the catalogue for the disposal sale of the Grinkle Park estate), thanks to Michael Leyland and Deborah Garbutt for the updates; also to Justine for the comment.
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