Built in 1874 by Bell Brothers local mine owners as the Miner’s Hospital and according to Bulmer’s Directory in 1889 the hospital had accommodation for 17 patients and Bulmer’s records: ”During the last year 75 persons received the benefit of the institution. It is under the care of the Sisters of the Holy Rood from North Ormesby.” It later became the local cottage hospital for East Cleveland, being replaced by the newer building on Alford Road. The building has now converted into private housing. Comments which arose following the initial posting of this image included: Alison Bates asking: “We have been going through my father-in-law’s possessions and have come across a silver tea set in the name of Sister Arabella, 25 years of service by the workmen at Brotton. Carlin How, Huntcliff, Kilton, Lumpsey and North Skelton mines. Brotton cottage hospital April 1901. Would really appreciate it if you could find any other information on her, she is obviously a distant relative.” Colin Hart assisted with: “Sister Arabella (Arabella Bates)in 1901 census she is the matron aged 63 living at Brotton hospital, born in Lancashire in 1838. In 1911 she is 73 single, living at 15 Upleatham St Saltburn. Date of death 1924 aged 86 registered in Stokesley.” Alison then queried: “Does anyone know where Sister Arabella Bates is buried?” Nigel Anderson has memories: ” Had my tonsils out here in 1950! Six of us in one dorm for same operation. All frightened of the rumours of “black sick” (sorry!!!). Kind staff.”
Photograph courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum; thanks to Alison Bates, Colin Hart and Nigel Anderson for the updates.
A postcard view from the Phoenix Series (Brittain & Wright of Stockton) and dating from pre-1909, showing Brotton’s Chemist Corner from below the White House.
Brotton Co-op (Drapery Department), again very early 1900s. Note the Salvation Army building on the right above High Wall and just above it St Margaret’s Church. Also note the wire frame Gas lamp in front of the No 1 Branch Co-op. An update from Julie Riddiough: ”Hi, it’s actually the Co-op drapery which was later owned by Ivan Dawson from Loftus and became Brotton Drapery, then became the New Methodist Church in the 1980’s. In the gap to the right of this building was a large tent like structure which was the first picture house in Brotton opened by Joseph E. Huntrods the photographer who lived in Errington Street Brotton and operated his photograph studio out of the back of his parent’s confectionery shop.”. Valerie Healy adds: “My husband’s mother was Helena Huntrods, Joseph Huntrods was her uncle.”
Image courtesy of Derick Pearson and others; thanks to Derick Pearson for dating information; thanks to Julie Riddiough and Valerie Healy for the updates.
Brotton High Street again; this time the photograph is taken from the High Wall, looking up the High Street. Plenty of people about and this is earlier image than the last; there is no Salvation Army Hut, no Roman Catholic Church, the entrance to the quarry is visible and so is the Blood Tub (Queens Arms) and St Margaret’s church prominent on the hill top. Note the four complete gas lamps as well. Things don’t change so much; men still gather at the High Wall. Whilst Patsy Gallon tells us: ”My grandparents lived in Brotton; my grandfather John James Rogerson would not walk past those houses as he felt sure they would fall down!” Interestingly they still lean and as yet have not fallen down.
Image courtesy of Derick Pearson and others, thanks to Derick Pearson for dating information and thanks to Patsy Gallon for the update.
An excellent tinted postcard showing possibly an itinerant knife sharpener, dated about 1907? This is another postcard in the ”Phoenix” Series produced by Brittain & Wright of Stockton.
This was the Wesleyan Chapel at Brotton. A fine Victorian building which stood on the upper part of the High Street, Brotton. We have the following information from the ’London Gazette’ 30th November 1909: ”A seperate building, duly certified for religious worship, named WESLEYAN CHAPEL, situated at Brotton, in the civil parish of Brotton, in the county of York, North Riding, in Guisborough registration district, was, on the 25th November, 1909, registered for solemnizing marriages therein, pursuant to 6th and 7th Wm. IV.c.85, Dated 26th November, 1909. 452 T. W. Bradley, Superintendent Registrar.”Ms J. Findlay advises: “Lovely looking at these pictures, I was christened there and spent many happy times at the “sunshine Corner in the 1950’s.” Susan Smith adds: “My Grandmother was born in Brotton (High Street) in 1899. The family attended a chapel and I wonder if it was this one.” Whilst Patsy Gallon tells the Archive: “My Grandmother was also born in 1889 and lived in Brotton for most of her life. She was called Elsie Rogerson.”
Image and information courtesy of Julie Riddiough, thanks to Ms J. Findlay, Susan Smith and Patsy Gallon for the updates.
St. Peter’s Church in Brotton. This was the third church to stand on this site. ’British History On-line’ states: ”The chapel was rebuilt in 1778 and is now used as a mortuary chapel. It is a plain rectangular stone edifice, measuring internally 67 ft. by 25 ft., with a tower 6 ft. square at the west end. It is lighted at the east end by a large round-headed window and by three similar but narrower windows on each side.” The church was finally demolished in 1958, a little more information has come to light in an extract from a booklet “Know your Parish” it states:- “When St Margaret’s was built St. Peter’s became the mortuary chapel, this chapel was cleaned & restored in 1901 but was demolished later. When the workmen removed some large flagstones near to where the altar had stood they discovered a tunnel which had been bricked up some time in the past. The registers commence in 1641, baptism to 1881: marriages to 1901 and burials to 1956?
Image courtesy of Peter Appleton and Julie Riddiough
Two contrasting images of the same grave in the same cemetery about 70 years apart. This shows a well-kept graveyard and immaculate grass. Phillip Smith enquired: “Could you possibly tell me if Mary Ward is buried in the old Brotton cemetery?” Keith Bowers obliged with: ” There is a record of Mary Jane Ward buried 24 February 1944 Brotton Cemetery”.
Image courtesy of Julie Riddiough; thanks to Phillip Smith and Keith Bowers for the updates.
The same graveyard some 70 years later; I can remember it when you couldn’t have found this grave, the grass was so long! At least the grass gets cut sometimes now! What a contrast. .
A beautiful hand-tinted image (from a Phoenix Series postcard) of St. Peter’s Church in Brotton. This was the third church to stand on this site. ’British History On-line’ states: ”The chapel was rebuilt in 1778 and is now used as a mortuary chapel. It is a plain rectangular stone edifice, measuring internally 67 ft. by 25 ft., with a tower 6 ft. square at the west end. It is lighted at the east end by a large round-headed window and by three similar but narrower windows on each side.” We are told by Norm Dobbs: ”My grandfather was born in Brotton, Yorkshire, England and came to this country when he was a small boy. I have a shaving mug with the picture of this church with the name ’Brotton Old Church’.”
Image courtesy of Kim Whaley and Julie Riddiough, with thanks to Norm Dobbs for that insight.
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