Work

Farms
1881 Census: Paradise Belmont near old mine. Thomas Dale, 40 yrs old, farmer of 238 acres.

1841 Census: Belmangate: Wm Potter 40, John Potter 35, Robert 30, all farmers. Mary Gr---wood 15. Mary Minikin, female seervant. Ann Bolton, female servant.

Also in Belmangate - John Wood, Wm Pollard, John Calvert, Thomas Mills.

Guisborough Corn Market: Public meeting of Farmers and Millers and other inhabitants held 11 March 1833: Unanimously resolved to establish a Corn Market. Sale and purchase of grain. Each Tuesday.

Guisborough Provident Corn Mill Society
Stockton Gazette & M'bro Times

Oct 10, 1862
Annual General Meeting: Half-yearly sales

23,209  stones   Flour
 2,124    "      Breadmeal
10,463    "      Offal
 2,498    "      Barleymeal
   384    "      Beans
   263  bushels  Oats

Profits for h/yr £5.2.7d! Sales down.

Presumably in Mill St. Yes, note the house with 2 upper storeys and large entrance into what was the Mill yard and also a back way into the 2 cottages east of the mill.
Established 1858-9? Advertised for sale: A Co-operative venture which preceded the consumer "store" of the Co-operative Movement. One supposes the Corn Mill Society would have the support of the local farmers. Check this. The same townsfolk prominent in this venture as in other local affairs: CO Ord, D Baker, TT Trevor. Was this mill established following the abandonment of the windmill in the Cleveland St area?

Occupations 1827/28 and 1830/31

Anchor smith       1
Bass maker         1
Brush maker        1
Bricklayers        4
Blockmaker         1
Boat builder       1
Bakers             3
Basket maker       1
Butcher            1
Cartwright         1
Carpenters         6
Coopers            2
Cropper            1
Cork cutter        1
Collier            1
Carpet weavers     2
Cotton stamper     1
Currier            1
Combmaker          1
Comb cutter        1
Coachmakers        2
Copper roll marker 1
Dyer               1
Fisherman          1
Flax dresser       1
Glassblowers       2
Gunsmith           1
Groom              1
Gardener           1
Glazier            1
Hatters           23
Hoop maker         1
“5 men going a-harvesting”
Joiners           15
Lath river         1
Labourers         26
Millers            2
Nailor             1
Printers           4
Papermakers        3
Painters           3
Paper stainer      1
Plasterer          1
“Paviour”          1
Pedlars            2
Ropers            20
Stonemason,masons  8
Sailmakers         2
Saddler            2
Sawyer             1
Schoolmaster       1
Seamen             2
Tanner             1
Tailor             1
Tobacconists
   (named)         2
“Tradesmen”        9
Wheelwright        1
Weavers           25

Solicitor (Watson)
chaisedriver
Weatherill – Common brewer
1832 Wool comber = “heckler”

1832 Henry Baliol, Comedian. (1813-1841 Bapt. reg.) daughter baptised
1834 Wm son of Wm Henry & Ann (1813-1841) Wilson, a travelling ventriloquist
1835 (1813-1841) a daughter to Anthony Nicholson, Travelling beggar. Born at Greenock, NB.
1839 George Andrews, travelling sailmaker. (1813-1841 Bapt Reg.)
1832 Richard Lamb, travelling apothecary (1813-1841 Bapt reg)

Parish register 1713 – occupations

Agricol
Blacksmith
Barber
Baker
Butcher
Clockmaker
Currier
Cobler
Chandler
Farmer
Gentn
Gardener
Glover
Husbandman
Joiner/Carpenter
Officer in the Customs
Potter
Labourer
Saddler
Skinner
Schoolmaster
Sailor
Shoemaker
Surgeon
Tailor
Tanner
Tinker
Yeoman

Baptism, Feb 14, 1724. Anne, daughter of Mr Xtopher Dent, Excise Officer.
(Parish reg.)

Sailcloth.
Manufactured at Guisborough. (Defoe). ? 1660-1731 His “Tour” 1724-27.
Note: gravestone at S Mary’s, Whitby. Monument to Christopher Preswick, sailcloth manufacturer: obit 9th july 1792. (Ralph Ward’s Diary re one Preswick: also Par Regs @ Guis.) Any connection?

Weardale Mine, Upper Belmangate
vide Mr Harry Jerret 25 April 1962. HJ dies 1984.
Weardale Iron Co. Overhead line across Belmangate to station. 2 wagons up and 2 down. HJ saw old wagon wheels in mine with WMCo. lettering.

The going of the railway

Cleveland Railway map 1863

The Staithes viaduct

Sparrow Lane.

On the branch into Guisborough station. Not the “high line” which went on to Boosbeck and beyond.) Sparrow Lane Bridge, and in the foreground the remains of the bridge of the old Cleveland Railway.

Guisborough station from the W.

Railway plaque.

Stockton and Darlington Railway Number Plate at Guisborough on wall of Stationmaster’s house.

Line opened for mineral traffic 1853, and for passengers 1854. Last train out 29 April 1964.

Site purchased for use by UDC as car park. Additional cost of £400 to break covenant restricting use of site to railway purposes.

Cart entrance to the station, on the right

Entrance to Passenger Station

Passenger Station and House

Goods Station during demolition.

View from the station, up Chaloner Street with Goods line in the foreground.

Temperance Hall on the left, Masonic Hall on the right.

Station Staff, February 1964

Last train 1964

Coming of the railway: 2 letters

1
Letter, dated 16.01.1852, from WW Thomas at Pinchinthorpe, to Wm Brown Esq of Cliffe House, Whitby


pages 4 and 1

pages 2 and 3

Pinchinthorpe

January 16^th 1852

Dear Sir,

I have since you were here had the engineer over and taken down every outlet likewise provided for bringing the water into each field where the same was cut off, we also have examined the spring in the little Dicky and that can also be managed as we shall be so near the fence as not to disturb the head of the spring – with respect to the Roseberry Branch (the Engineer reports) Mr. Brown’s ironstone might easily come on to the railway where there is a 11ft embankment; if Mr. Brown was to cast the earth covering the ironstone on to the south side of the railway and so make a road level with the railway; or the ironstone might come on to the railway at the west end of Mr. Brown’s field where the railway is level with the surface. Now with respect to crossing the railway in your higher land field the engineer proposes for you to cross at level as there will be little traffic over the line on to your other land and this crossing he proposes to make at the west end of your field adjoining Mr. Lee’s trustees and one crossing in that locality w^d do for each intack – another advantage will occur on this line to your property on the hill which I forgot to name and that is they will not be plagued with the moor sheep as the railway company will make a secure fence above the line –

I find from the engineer that we might have to take from your moor land ab^t 4 acres what with the severed land and one thing and another and that the price of 50£ per acre is three times more than value, and as we profess to give double the value c^d I prevail on you to take 30£ per acre – The draft of agreement is being prepared for you only waiting your reply with respect to the price per acre of the moor land – Hoping Mrs Brown, yourself and family are all well with kind regards –

Believe me dear sir

Yours truly

W.W.Thomas

2

Breaking the Sabbath. A letter in the Middlesbrough Weekly News & Advertiser 15 October 1859.

“Dear Sirs – Allow me through the medium of your newspaper to complain of an evil of such a demoralizing tendency, that if continued it may prove a curse not only to the parties engaged, but also to the neighbourhood in which they reside. I allude to the system of Sunday labour as conducted on the new Extension Line in Waterfall Valley. It is not for me to limit the labours or consciences of men, but I have the right to protest against all evil influences, especially those of a public or demoralizing character. That the work is not so expedient as to demand an infringement of the Sabbath I have the testimony of an official on the line. If the Railway Companies are allowed to break the Sabbath with impunity, soon we shall have every species of trade and occupation conducted with the same impunity. I am very sorry that men can be found so low and debased as to lower themselves to a task so degrading and sacriligeous. Yours most respectfully, A Guisborian.”

Yards

UDC 1910 - Plan for proposed new room in Kirtley's Yard for Tom Pallister - was this the old Priory Hall, sometime a cinema, and later destroyed by fire?

Bramley's Yard - not thought to be officially used.

Adcock’s Yd – next to Black Swan. Also a candle factory.

Allen’s Yd – NR Record Office – 1833 – List of persons entitled to vote at election of 2 Knights of Shire. vide Barry Harrison.

Bird’s Yd – Demolished 196?. Top storey in brick with date. Ground floor stone.

Burrow's Yard - In 1881 Census. Plus Johnson's Yd?

9 houses in Burrow’s Yd

4 in Bolton’s Yd (a Porteous residing there)

(‘Porteous’ never Bolton’s Yd!)

vide old Jack Richardson the painter.

Foster’s Yd – also called Clarke’s Yd after the licensee of the Chaloner Inn adjoining.

In Northgate. Quoit Club on this site now. The Old Theatre was in this area too.

Hardy's Yd

Hutton’s Yd – also called Lodging House Yd from common lodging house fronting the entrance to the Yd. Ex Brit. Leg. Club/cum Boyes shop now on site.

Johnson’s Yd – also called Burrows Yd – 9 houses 1881.

Kirtley’s Yd – old Priory Hall? UDC plan 1910.

Moore’s Yd – Belmangate, also called Grout’s Yd from licensee of Anchor Inn nearby.

Merryweather's Yd

Mallaby's Yd

Metcalfe’s Yd 1855

Mermaid Yd (off Bakehouse Square)

Old Chapel Yd

Porteous Yd – also known as Bolton’s Yd.

Poynter’s Yd – also called Page’s Yd. 9 houses in 1881.

Parker's Yd

Rodham's Yd

Scaife’s Yd – off Dragon Inn passage

Scarth’s Yd – now Greear Garth

Wiley's Yd

Wynn's Yd

YARDS—names which have disappeared

NR Rec. Office ‘List of Persons entitled to vote at election of 2 Knights of Shire’ Allen’s Yard 1833

Rodham's 1854

Metcalf's1855

Mallaby's

Mermaid

Foster's (off Northgate)

Clarke’s Inn Yd – p213 ‘Guis. Before 1900’

Poynter’s Yard (Now No. Westgate on E side of passage, and No. Westgate on W side. 1861 Census – 8 houses.

Porteous' Yard (Bolton’s Yd) see old photos of thatched cottages, Highcliff View.

Old Chapel Yard (now between No. and No. Westgate.

1861 Census 15 houses incl Lodging house. In Lodging house: man/wife and 17 lodgers – surely using more than one single cottage ?

Hutton’s Yard (scheduled for demolition 1960) also called

Lodging House Yard. After demolition British legion Club erected on site. After BL Club foundered financially Boyes store next door on E bought the Club. 1983/4 this site set back from adjoining properties. 1861 Census 7 houses.

Scarth’s Yard (now upstaged to Greear Garth) between No. and No. Westgate, E of Wilson St.

Johnson’s Yard – slum property scheduled for demolition 1960 (1861 Census 8 houses also called Burrows Yd. There was a Burrows, joiner and wheelwright there in 1900) 1988 – a carpet warehouse. Johnson’s Yd an example of very bad or devious planning; should have been demolished, but allowed to be turned into lock-up garages and decay.

Parker’s/Metcalf’s Yard – 1861, 3 houses

Kirtley’s Yard 1910 – Plan for a room there for Tom Pallister, a confectioner at No. Westgate. Was this the “Priory Hall”?

Bird’s Yard – 15 houses (10 in Yard, rest in Westgate frontage)

Wiley’s Yard – adjoining Martin’s Newsagency on West and cottages stood on a site now Hinton’s Supermarket: slum property. Tap outside!

Hardy’s Yard – between Black Swan and No. Westgate leading to houses now demolished.

Dragon Passage – also called Scaife’s Yd. 1854. After 1960 redeveloped. (Dragon derived from 19^th c pub George and Dragon)

Moore’s Yard – off W side of Belmangate. (Grout’s Yd ? Grouts had Anchor pub nearby.) 1861 Census 15 houses. Slum property demolished 1960s)

Merryweather’s Yard. Slum property demolished 1960s. Dr Merryweather’s plans for 8 cotts subject to demolition of old buildings (Bd of Health Vol I, 25/11/1871 – get a copy).

Adcocks ?

Throstle’s Nest, corner off Church Street:

from Kirkleatham Regs. (printed) 1789-94

Robert Frankland, Clerk of Guisbro, and Elizabeth Thrush, Licence, 24 Sep, 1791.

A Thrush was ‘Register’

Yard back of 81 and 83 Westgate

Adcock's Yard

3 views of Hutton's Yard

Unknown

3 views of Bird's Yard, S side, note ground floor stone, 1st storey brick.

Pavement leading to S side of Westgate

4 views of Johnson's Yard, N side of Westgate, bounded on the west by Registrar's Office and County Library.

Scarth's Yard Looking towards Westgate House

Wiley's Yard 1 (Nos 21 & 23 Westgate)

So called because the Wiley family lived there for many years. In the 1850s the family had a carrier's round, travelling twice each week to Whitby and Middlesbrough. Very handy premises for stabling, storage and carts of hay, but obviously unsuitable for human habitation in the 1950s. Miss Maggie Wiley was the last occupier, leaving in the late 1950s. As a young woman did her share of humping coal. Such yards were the products of 19th century tradesmen-developers who turned their yards into rentbooks. Wiley's Yard was one of the better ones - it did get some sun, and was not the work of a jerry-builder. Demolished, along with the Empire Cinema and Billiard Room at the rear of the Mechanics' Institute March 1976.

Wynn’s Yard (back of E side Redcar Rd, nr entrance to Pursglove College)

The Priory and the Privies, Photo: WD Brelstaff

Schools 2

A New School Needed

A Londoner builds a school in Guisborough. George Venables visited Guisbrough in 1790 and saw the need for a Charity School – a need which had escaped the notice of the Church and the Chapel.

In 1792 he built a school with accommodation for the master and the mistress at the Westgate end of New Road. When the school closed 86 years later in 1878 it had done more to raise the standard of literacy in the township than any other single institution.

Two views, one from the north, the other from the south, show how the school was enlarged by the provision of additional buildings till it occupied all the site facing the houses in New Road.

Earlier in the 18^th century there was a small charity school controlled by the Ward family but it is not known how long this functioned.

Bishop Pursglove’s Grammar School was unfortunately ineffective through the limitation imposed by the founder’s Statutes and its meagre income: the pensioners of the Jesus Hospital were the real beneficiaries.

Private schools met the needs of fee-paying pupils.

Guisborough County Modern School

Election of the First School Board for the Parish of Guisborough

Under the Act of 1873 the setting up of the School Boards became possible. An unsuccessful attempt to form a School Board was made soon after the passing of the Act, but the Board was not elected until 1876. This was not unusual. The fear of increased rate charges and the dislike of State regimentation resulted in the deferment of the election. There were 18 nominations and 7 candidates were elected. The highest number of votes went to the “developer” of the day – Robert Wilson, a builder. The inference is that he would emphasise the need for stringent economy and professional oversight in the erection of the new schools in Northgate and Providence Street. Rector Morgan was closely associated with the old charity school – the Providence School – situated in New Road. Without some knowledge of the undercurrent feelings of the time it is difficult to account for the for the comparatively low number of votes cast for Admiral Chaloner. With the establishment of the Local Board eleven years earlier in 1865 it is possible that some of the candidates for the School Board had already achieved a reputation for public service. John Buckworth with 29 votes was a character and his election literature was of a serio-comic nature. Extracts from one of his efforts are given overleaf (missing). Joseph Brown, another builder, who received 400 votes, suggests that as in the case of the most successful candidate, Robert Wilson, the developers of the 1870s had a shrewd awareness of participation in public administration. Northgate School (erected 1879-81) with a house for the master cost £5,068. There was accommodation for 500 boys and 200 infants. The Providence School (erected 1879), with three houses for head teachers, cost £ ? and accommodated 400 girls and 275 infants.

Northgate School Staff Group

Back row: not known – J Lynas – J Merryweather – Miss Ord – MISS GELDER – J Dickinson – MissTones (Mrs Hunter?) – H Pollard

JM Grant – R (‘Dickie’) Comins

Front row: Fred Raine – Miss F Robson (Mrs Holland) – not known – Bert Maskell

Photo: J Logan, Photographer, Mayfield St, Stockton on Tees

(James Logan, 12 Lucan St, Stockton on Tees)

School in Chapel Yard. Mr Carr schoolmaster. see Mr Henry Robson in Law and Order file.

SCHOOLS – Baines’ 1823 Directory, Vol II.

The Grammar School	Geo Sunley (Commercial Day) Mkt Place
Ann Best (Ladies’ Day)	Joseph York (Commercial Day)
Wm Chipchase (Day) Church St	Mary West (Ladies’ Day) Westgate

The Providence School – an earlier charity school in 18C established by grandmother of Ralph Jackson – therefore, Ralph Ward’s mother – see Ralph Jackson’s Diary – M’bro Ref. library.

(SAUNDERS) Marriage of Thomas Saunders par. of Guisborough. Danby Par. reg. 1585 – 1812.

SANDERS (see Venables) Geo Young’s History of Whitby, Vol II, p 557.

re sail-making. Messers Jon and Jos Sanders. Begun business in Whoitby about 1756, by late Ion Sanders. 3 branches; 2 in Whitby, 1 in Guisborough. – 16 rooms. (Poor gravestone in churchyard.) One Preswick a branch in Church St Whitby 1758. Guis. 2 breweries 1817.

Baines Directory Vol II 1823 Thomas Sanders, Gent, Westgate. Also see under N in this index Conveyance 18 April 1789 (29 yr Geo III) Samuel Sanders, yeoman (of/cf? 2^nd part) signed W^m Sanders.?

ZJB. GG School Calendar Vol III 11/11 – 6 “John Sanders elected about 18 years ago, in place of W^m Jackson , remained until 1786.” (ie, JS elected as a warden).

Robert Frankland, Clark of Guisbro, & Elizabeth Thrush, Licence, 24 Sep^t 1791. In Kirckleatham (printed) Regs 1789 – 1794.

SCHOOLMASTERS

See History of Grammar School for list of Masters.

1718 John Colthirst, schoolmaster, buried 19 July (Earlier syled “Gentn”)

1738 John Harr, a son baptized 2 January

1777 Peter Cavalier, schoolmaster, a child baptized.

1777 Thomas Pratt, schoolmaster, dr Mary baptized.

1793 John Shepherd, schoolmaster, buried 29 June

1794 James Scott, a daughter baptized. Master at new Providence School

1814 Thomas Dent, schoolmaster, buried. Check parish register for age?

1817 George Sunley, dr bapt. Dec 29 1813-41 reg. J Wilcock offic. minister.

1821 Thomas Yorke, son bapt (1813-41 reg)

1831 George Lowe, 1813-41 bapt reg, son Henry bapt July 26.

1831 Joseph Flockton 1813-41 bapt reg, dr bapt.

1837 Henry Cross, appointed assistant overseer, 6 Decr (see Select vestry Minutes) School in junction Patten lane and Church St. House in Patten Lane. (re Rate Books, M’bro Archives)

1871 Wm Cockerlyne, 24, bachelor, schoolmaster, married Mary Coleburn, spinster, schoolmistress, both of Westgate. (Providence School)

Stone in churchyard to ? Blezard, master of Providence School.

Sextons

1743 George Morley buried

1753 William Attley (a son baptized)

1808 John Bulmer buried “sexton for 40 years”.

Ward School.

Bequest of £300. John and Ralph Ward and their heirs to ay £13 towards maintaining a school. 1721. Mary Ward died 1723. A reference in the Ward Diaries. Any subsequent connection with Henry Cross?

Yearby School Log

1880

3 May

Master – Mr J Jones – 6 children left school to go to new school at Guisborough. Reason stated by parents: handy for children to do marketing without being absent from school. No fault found with Yearby school or teacher.

10 May

2 boys left for Guisborough school.

24 May

Mr Rutherford (correspondent) promised to write to Admiral Chaloner to use his influence to prevent children from going to Guisborough school, as they go there merely to avoid attendance officer.

1881

7 Feb

Declined to give attendance officer list of absentees until such time as he arranged with the Guisborough School Board that they declined to receive our children without their giving reasonable cause for leaving this school.

Schools 1

GGS and Potash Royalties
6 April 1970. Guisborough Grammar School Foundation and Governors. Learned today from Mr Reg. Walker, Land Agent (cf. Clarke and Watson) attached to Kemplah House, that 153 acres of land at Ellerby are on lease of 500 years. Marquis of Normanby. Rights still being negotiated. A complicated question. Capital Gains tax. Betterment Levy. Income tax! Income?
About this time Mr Alexander, Headmaster of GGS, asked me what a 'carucate' was.Why didn't he try a dictionary? Possibility of financial benefit to school foundation.
Mr Walker was then (1970) Clerk to Governors. Very cautious about prospects. He is now (1980) a Governor.

10 Oct. 1903 Rev. TT Lee-Jones
Headmaster guisborough Grammar School.

'The Prior of Gysburne'

M.J.Cook, with birthday greetings from her loving Son, Alfred John Cook, October 2nd 1887.
Guisborough Grammar School
Additional interest will be taken from the perusal of this work, because the Grammar School I am now building is on the site of part of the old priory and on digging our foundations we came on the place where the Abbey Workmen dressed their stone and burnt their lime, and also I am using stone which came out of the old Grammar School which had previously been used in the Abbey. The beautiful ruin seen on the frontispiece faces my office window. AJC.

Written on the flyleaf of a copy of ‘The Prior of Gysburne’, A chronicle of Olden Times, in the Days of Richard Second, Henry Fourth and Fifth’, by The Rev. FH Morgan, MA, Rector of Gisborough, Author of ‘Hillsland'’ &c. 1887.

DIRECTIONS TO BE GIVEN TO THE PARENTS ON THE ADMISSION OF THEIR CHILDREN TO THE PROVIDENCE SCHOOL AND STRICTLY ATTENDED TO.


Providence School 1801
from George Venables Cash Book:

“Finding a great inconvenience for the want of a Clock and Bell for the use of Providence School, an estimate was made under Twenty pounds which some had bearly saved by work at my trade and flattered myself it would be accomplished without an intrusion on the Benevolent, Aug 23rd 1801 being the 11th Anniversary of this Great Work of Providence, the clock was erected in the front of the Building and the bell hung in the Belconey above both proving highly beneficial, the first in ascertaining the Time and the latter in calling and dismissing the Children, Justice appears to have been done in the execution, but the expence has much exceeded my expectation, being a Plan of my own have been the more particular in stating the Supplies, fearful my Generous Friends should think I had disposed of the Benevolence contrary to their intention.
and other exes cost well over £30.
On a subsequent page “The Lord be Praised – Balance £28.5.0½”

Providence School, late 1940s showing WWII air-raid shelters bottom left of picture.

Now, April 1968. The Providence Board School in what used to be Providence Street (houses demolished and Foundry on site) is now abandoned by NRCC and gradually being vandalised. The tablet with inscription to George Venables still in situ on south-facing gable.

In 1981 the school and site was bought by the Territorial Assn. social Club, who have had the school bell polished and displayed on a table in the entrance porch to the club. There is no inscription, but it is most likely the original bell bought by George Venables and erected on his school at the Westgate end of New Road.

Providence School Accounts

Copied from a board at the Providence School, Guisborough,
by members of the Guisborough Branch of the WEA, 1958.

PROVIDENCE SCHOOL
Instituted August 23rd, 1790, For the instruction of 90 Children

Providence School Archives
Saw these in the 1960s when they were discovered by Mr Edward Cowan at the Town Hall and later given to Mr J Morgan, Head of Laurence Jackson School.
Later at Cleveland Cty Archives.

(1) Cash Book, 1790-1810
(2) Minute Book, 1795-1868 (1836-43 missing)
(3) Minutes and Accounts of Infant School, 1860-1873
(4) Log Book, Girls’ School, 1862-1893
(5) Deed dated 22 September, 1804, “Bargain and Sale of the Frontstead, etc. of Providence School in Guisborough”.
(6) Letter written by Mr George Venables, Junior, dated 20 November, 1810.
Addressed to Jno. Harrison, Esq., Guisbrough, Yorkshire.
Depsatched 12 December, 1810.
(7) Ledger 1865-1874

Providence School House

Mr Venables’ account book shows that the original school house cost £118.16s.0d. Subsequent work raised the total cost to £452.8s.7d.

Providence Teachers’ pay - Geo Venables’ account book

“Received & Paid by George Venables, Sr
1790 to 180? with a Recapitulation by George Venables, Jr.”
Bound in boards covered in vellum. Various watermarks:

Cash exp for 1791 £10/8/9d

Feb 1791 GV buys stk 1726, 350 @ 78 and three-quarters

Cost with comn: £276/1/3d

To secure teacher's salary GV advanced £165/14/1d of the £276.

1790 Teacher paid £2/7/3 qr, 3 qrs teaching 30 pupils, 4th qr + 7/6, 36 pupils.