Still a public house today, the Bulls Head at North Skelton was together with North Skelton Club the social centres of the village. This photograph shows the Bulls Head all decorated, possibly to celebrate a Royal event; but what was the occasion? Peter Appleton suggests: “From the style of the clothing I would hazard a guess that this is either “between the wars” era or just after WW2. Could it be an Empire Day celebration or part of VE celebrations? Not sure when Empire Day ceased to be celebrated nor on what date it fell. No doubt Google would be able to cast light on those two questions.” Image courtesy of Keith Bowers; thanks to Peter Appleton for the update.
This view of Vaughan Street, North Skelton dates from about 1906; it is from a used postcard bearing that date. The original village hall is today replaced by a more modern building, whilst “Smarts Stores” is now the location of ‘Curly Tops’ hairdressing salon. However I would not suggest trying to stand with a wheelbarrow in the middle of the street today; traffic is more prolific and moves at a faster pace that then. Judy Last advises: “My grandparents Albert and Emma Tuck, ran Tuck & Thompson’s Grocers/Drapers (later Smart’s Stores) at 27 Vaughan Street and my grandfather was postmaster from about 1895 or before until 1901. My father, Alexander Tuck, was born above the shop in 1897. I know that my great grandparents, Edwin and Grace Tuck had a Grocer’s shop in Boosbeck by 1877 and had connections with North Skelton as well, so they may have owned the shop in Vaughan Street” Peter Appleton adds information with: “I was alerted a 4d Tuck& Thompson token by the property owner, who was doing some renovation work. Tuck & Thompson had a grocery business in North Skelton. I am presuming that this would have been part of a miner’s wages and could only be redeemed in Tuck & Thompson’s shop. An attempt to ensure that the miner didn’t spend all his earnings on the three B’s (booze, baccy and betting).”
Image courtesy of The Pem Holliday Collection and Derick Pearson, thanks also to Peter Appleton for the information on Tuck & Thompsons token system.
Do you remember Vaughan Street like this? Also in North Skelton is Bolckow Street (the other part of the mine partnership of Bolckow and Vaughan), which leads to the former mine site; now occupied by Tees Components. mine owner. Image courtesy of Joan Webster.
The other side of Skelton High Street, on a lovely sunny day as the shades outside of the shops prove. The Halfpenny Bridge at Saltburn can just be seen in the distance.
We don’t have many photographs of Skelton, it’s a pity this one has a mark down it, but lots have turned out to see the man with the camera. The position is clearly recognisable, with what used to be Kingston’s Chemists and is now a floral centre. Derick Pearson advises: “I photographed the original photograph, the numbers were from the last negative on the film. But I printed it because I considered, a poor photo is better than no photo.” In the meantime the Archive is now endeavouring to locate a copy of the original image.
An interesting view of Skelton Cross Green, without the small park with War Memorial now situated beside the modern day traffic lights. Interestingly the large double-fronted shop stood until the end of the last century, when demolition created the space we now see next to the Duke William pub! It is remembered by Roger Barwick: “I can remember going in the shop shown it was called “West End Corn Store” and was a general dealers. I don’t really remember who owned or ran the shop.” Ailsa MacKenzie assisted with: “When I was a child it was run by Mrs Moreland, a widow from Warcop, Cumbria. She had a daughter Angela and son Hebron who lived, I think, in Australia. Also living at the shop was Mrs Moreland ‘s unmarried sister Daisy. This was in the 1959s / early 1960s.” This assisted memories for Bryan Young with: “With Roderick MacKenzie, we used to buy “cannon” bangers and go down the fields. Past Crow Wood and light them in cow pats! I always thought that a fire caused the demolition of the store.”
Image courtesy of several sources, thanks to Roger Barwick, Ailsa MacKenzie and Bryan Young for the memories.
The Miners Arms, Boosbeck Road, Skelton Green, according to Julie Riddiough in the 1890s it was run by a Mrs Harriett Ord; this postcard view produced by Clissold’s. Peter Appleton tells us: ”David J Clissold was the licensee of The Miners Arms in the 1901 Census.”
Image courtesy of Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum and thanks to Julie Riddiough and Peter Appleton for the updates.
Two shots of the St Andrew’s church at Upleatham small but perfectly formed. For years it was described as the smallest church in Britain, but unfortunately that honour goes to Bremilham Church in Wiltshire at 4 metres by 3.6 metres. Upleatham is about 6 metres by 4 metres and is actually the remains of a much larger church.
Image courtesy of Eric Johnson, additional information courtesy of Chris Twigg ‘Hidden Teesside’.
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