This is an image Derick Pearson reproduced on a CD rom for an exhibition in 1983, his comments included: ”The little pony and trap belonged to Peter Dorman’s family from Stanghow Hall. Peter’s great grandfather was Isaac Scarth who built Stanghow Hall in 1776. This blacksmiths shop replaced an earlier one (c1800) which used to be under the tree at the entrance to the old Easter Field path. For those who don’t remember the Easter Field, it was the Moorsholm wood path next to Stanghow Hall. This later one was there before the turn of the century. My father was playing there in 1929 and got his thumb trapped in a large grindstone which can be seen in this image, beside the bicycle on the right. A bungalow is now on the site of this old blacksmiths shop. When the image is zoomed in the large board to the left of the doorway is advertising a dwelling house for rent.”
Bill Danby has supplied us with the following information about this image: “1. Tom Curnow, a Lingdaler and later a Skeltoner included this photograph in his book, “Skelton and its History”, which is available in local libraries. He describes working the bellows there as a lad. 2. Derick Pearson mentions the Scarths’ at Stanghow House. The family was still there in 1917; their son also called Isaac was killed, aged 23, at Arras while serving as a Lieutenant with the local 1/4th Battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, on the 23rd April. The circumstances of the day and more details about him are described on my “Skelton in Cleveland in History & 1/4th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment website.”
Paula Miller tells us: ”This image I used in a calendar to raise funds for a local group and Mr Richard (Dick) Dorman bought a copy from me and asked me where on earth did I get the photograph from; as the trap is indeed his and he still has it and invited me to go see it; its rotten now. The lady in the trap was indeed his gran.”
Cuth Earl tells us: ”The blacksmith with the beard is I think my great grandfather George Langstaff. He was the son of John Langstaff, a farmer, who is mentioned in Bulmer’s Directory 1890 – Stanghow Township. Another son, Christopher (Kit) was a grocer in Lingdale. The Langstaff family hailed from County Durham originally, principally in the area of Witton le Wear”.
Image originally supplied by Mike Holliday, but particular thanks to Bill Danby and Derick Pearson for the above information; also to Paula Miller and Cuth Earl for the updates.
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