Jimmy Grant's Prayer Book

A CHORISTER'S DIARY





Many Guisborians will remember JAMES MACKAY GRANT, popularly known as Jimmy Grant. In 1881 he came from Scotland to serve as Assistant Master a the Providence Boys' School on a temporary basis and remained in Guisborough for the rest of his life. From 1887 to 1889 he was Head of the school. In 1890 he became Head of the Northgate Senior Boys' School and finally Head of Northgate Boys' School from 1908 to 1922.

Throughout his career he was closely associated with local activities, being a chorister at St Nicholas Church for over forty years; a member of the Cricket Club; honorary treasurer of the Mechanics' Institute; a member of the Dramatic Society and also of the Rifle Club.

His place in the choir stalls gave him the opportunity to write down on the endpapers and narrow margins of his Prayer Book events of local and national interest. But his occupation did not deflect his attention to the service. He noted the occasion when the Curate, "Mr Cowx omitted the Comfortable Words" from the Communion Service. Meditation also resulted in annotations on the Epistle for the day. The discovery of a tomb is recorded in 1912,: " Vaults on north side of Church found - Ward Jackson " .

The passing of local worthies found a place in his unusual diary. In 1921 "Johnny Clarke died" (JC was an Estate Agent and lived in Kemplah House). 1924: "D E Haker, the last of the Quakers, died" . 1921: "Belmont Mine closed, 450 men out of work". 1931: "Richard Williams, 'Cornish Dick', died" .

Highlights concerning the Cricket Club crop up: "Stan Carter ­scored 207 not out - Saltburn II at Saltburn" ( 1937) . "Walter Winter 114 - 10 sixes, 10 fours" 1938. We can easily imagine his reflective pleasure in recalling Saturday's cricket match and writing the scores in his Prayer Book in the serenity of the chancel on a Sunday morning.

James MacKay Grant died in 1947, aged 85 years .

Walter Dack Brelstaff
10 April 1989





1902
ANT (Arthur Nutter Thomas) “Water under the bridge” (A sermon text?) Mothering Sunday
Mar 8 - (Sat) Mrs Chaloner died
Apr 13 - (Sun) Rev FH Morgan died, aged 79
Apr 27 - (Sun) New arrangement of choir
Aug 24 - Church closed for cleaning; service in Chaloner Hall


1903

Feb 1 - Mr Fordham absent in the evening – Mr Charlton
ANT septuagesima


1904
Jun 1 - (Wed) ANT married
Aug 9 - (& 10 & 11) Parish Church Bazaar
Nov 12 - Dedication of restored chancel, tower and organ by Archbishop of York (McLaglan)
Dec 2 - Lee Jones appointed to living at Daresbury, Cheshire


1905
(Thurs) Unveiling of East Window
Mar 26 - Lee Jones preached farewell sermon

Apr 28 - Mr Berwick arrived
Sep 2 - Guisborough Cricket Club won league championship
Sep 4 - Mrs Denny died, aged 83
Nov 26 - The rector announced his appointment to the Bishopric of Adelaide, Australia
Dec 10 - Rev Lee Jones; GG master leaving (see Apr 28)


1906
Jan 7 - Mr Thomas preached his farewell sermon
Jan 21 - Mr Glossop preached (acting temporary rector)
Feb 2 - (Fri) Mr Thomas consecrated Bishop of Adelaide
Apr 7 - (Sat) Induction and institution of Rev GH Cobham.
Nave closed for restoration.


1907
Jul 20 - Nave opened after resoration
Oct 13 - Mr Elliot preached first time


1908
Apr 6 - (Sun) Wm Buckworth elected to UDC
Mrs Merryweather died
Jul 21 - (& 22 & 23) Bazaar

Aug 3 - (& 4) Water Tableaux
Wm Pattison (painter) died
Aug 16 - Bishop Thomas (ANT) preached morning and night
Sep 8 - Mrs Lowes died (B Messenger)
Dec 20 - Mr Elliot ordained Priest


1909
Jan 25 - Enthronement of Dr Cosmo Lang as Archbishop of York
Feb 5 - 6 Redcar fishermen drowned at Saltburn
Mar 3 - Confirmation of Archbishop Lang and men’s service in church
Sep 4 - Won league championship 4th time
Sep 26 - Rev WH Elliot’s farewell sermon
Oct 22 - (Fri) Mrs Alan Garthwaite – twin boys
Nov 30 - House of Lords refused to pass Budget by 375 to 75
Dec 3 - Commons prorogued
Dec 26 - Mr Ivens preached farewell sermon


1910

Jan 9 - Mr Foster preached for first time
Jan 15 - General Election commenced
Feb 14 - General Election finished: Lib 275, Lab 40, Nat 82 = 397; Unionist 273, maj 124
Apr 29 - The 1909 Budget passed by the Lords
May 6 - King Edward VII died
May 20 - King Edward VII buried; memorial service
Sep 3 - Guis Cricket Club won League Championship 5th time
Sep 10 - Guisborough v Norton – all out for 19
Oct 31 - Sermon first GHC
Nov 4 - Lady Pease died
Nov 29 - Parliament dissolved; Lords’ veto
Dec 3 - General Election – polling began
Dec 19 - General election – polling ended
Lib 272, Lab 42, Nat 84 = 398; Unionist 272; majority 126


1911
Jan 1 - Rev Mr Bode preached 1st time
Feb 22 - Robt Jackson (81), Church Sq, died
Mar 17 - CS Musk died
Apr 14 Good Friday - T Leng (Plumber) died
Aug 13 - Mr Radcliff preached
Aug 16 - Nation Strike of Transport Men, Dockers, Carmen, Railwaymen
Aug 18 - Guisbro’ Cricket Club won Championship 6th time



1912

Easter - Rev JC Foster left
Aug 31 - N Yorks & S Durham Championship won by Guisbro’, 4th time in succession, 7th time in all
Dec 22 - Mr Twidle began duty. Vaults on north side found


1913
Oct 26 - Mr Masters’ 1st service
Dec 21 - Mr Twydle ordained priest


1914
Aug 4 - War declared v Germany and Austria


1915
Oct 14 - Bulgaria joins Germany, Austria, Turkey v Russia, France, England, Belgium, Serbia & Italy
Dec - Rev Twidle Chaplain in the Fleet
Dec 16 - Hartlepool bombarded by German cruisers


1916
Mar 10 - Portugal joins Allies
Sep - Roumania joins Allies


1917
Apr - USA declared war on the German government
Apr 1 - Very heavy fall of snow; snow and frost till 15th; coldest for over fifty years
Dec 8 - Russia collapsed – deserted Allies


1918
Mar - Great German offensive; many British prisoners taken; 3 German salients of 30 miles
Jul 2 - German offensive
Jul 16 - Foch’s counter attack
Jul 18 - German defeat
Nov 11 - Armistice signed; German envoys accepted every article laid down by Foch
Dec 28 - General Election; results published; Lloyd George majority over 200


1919
Jan 26 - Mr Cobham preached farewell sermon
Feb - Mr Marston Curate in charge
Mar 22 - Mr Marston died after influenza
Mar 28 - Rev HE Hubbard MA MC DSO inducted by Archbishop
Mar 30 - New Rector read himself in
Apr 27 - Heavy fall of snow
Jun 23 - Last day for signing of Peace Conditions by the Germans
Jul 1 - NR Teachers’ strike to 22 Oct
Sep 27 - Railwaymen’s strike to 7 Oct
Nov 2 - Mr Hopkins began. Christmas – midnight communion – choral – big


1920
Jan 22 - Moulders’ strike ended – 18 weeks
Mar 10 - Confirmation – about 70 candidates
Mar 14 - (to 17) Military coup in Germany failed
Apr 11 - Mr Hopkins’ last Sunday
May 5 - Dr …. Bishop of Durham died
Jun 20 - Mr Lambert’s last sermon
Aug 10 - Bishop of Adelaide officiated at the wedding of Miss Richardson
Aug 11 - Sale of work – Bishop of Adelaide opened
Sep 25 - Strike suspended for a week
Oct 3 - Further postponement; fresh ballot
Oct 16 - (to 16 Nov) Miners’ strike


1921
Jan 1 - Mr Lambert (Curate) married
Feb 12 - Belmont Mine closed; 450 men out of work – bad trade – slump after war boom
Feb 26 - JW Clarke Esq JP died, aged 79
Mar 17 - Bonar Law resigned; leader Unionist H of C
Apr 1 - All coal mines closed; wage dispute
Apr 15 - Strike of Railway and Transport declared official
May 30 - Children’s breakfasts begun
Jun 30 - Coal mines stoppage ended (3 months)
Jul 21 - JR Batterbee, UDC Clerk, died
Sep 28 - Mis Cynthia Chaloner married
Dec 6 - Treaty between Irish and Britain agreed to


1922
Nov 15 - General Election; coalition ended; Con, Lab, Lib and others; Con majority 77
Nov 30 - Mr Hopkins and Miss P Richardson married
Dec 3 - Henry Langburne died, aged 82
Dec 15 - Irish Free State Bill passed; new government in Ireland


1923
Home Rule Bill thrown out 1885
Jan 11 - French occupied Essen
Dec 6 - General Election; Con 259, Lab 192, Lib 156, Others 6


1924
Tory government resigned; Labour government formed
Jan 1 - Chas Butler, chorister, died
Feb 1 - (& 2) Nativity play, Chaloner Hall
Feb 5 - CH Fordham, organist and chorister since 1878, died, aged 68
Feb 16 - Dockers’ strike began; ended Feb 24
Mar 16 - Mr DE Baker, last of the Quakers, died
Mar 21 - Rickaby, 84, died in Workhouse
Mar 27 - Confirmation 8pm Bishop of Whitby, 22M, 45F
Apr 13 - Mr Pelmear, new organist, on duty
Apr 26 - Newcastle United beat Aston Villa 2 – 0 Cup
Aug - Mr Hubbard preached morning and evening
Aug 13 - Mrs C Brady, twin boys
Sep 26 - Lord Long (Walter Long) of Wraxall died, aged 70; brother of Lord Gisborough
Oct 8 - Labour Government dissolved
Oct 29 - General Election; Con 415, Lab152, Lib 43, Others 5
Nov 18 - John Harrison, aged 98, died
Dec 26 - John Simpson, aged 66, died


1925
Jan 2 - Rowland Hughill, Hambleton Hill, died, 64
Feb 18 - Harry Ward and Mary Fordham married
Apr 23 - Confirmation, M30, F38; Bishop of Whitby
Jul 21 - RC Merryweather died, (Perth, W Australia)
Aug 15 - GH Chapman, Barnaby Grange, 73, died
Sep 11 - Dr Crosthwaite (88) Bishop of Beverley, died
Sep 29 - Robt Bulmer (79) died
Oct 4 - Memorial to Mr Fordham dedicated and unveiled
Nov 22 - Queen Alexandra died
Dec 2 - Treaty of London signed
Dec 30 - J Warley Pickering (77), Hutton Hall, died


1926
Jan 15 - Snow in Valencia; not seen for 100 years
Feb 14 - Electric light installed in church - lit
Feb 22 - Archbishop of York preached in the evening
Mar 11 - Confirmation, M21, F43; Bishop of Whitby
Mar 14 - Mr Twidle (Curate 1912-15) preached (Waifs and Strays)
Mar 29 - (& 30, 31) Resurrection play given in Church
Apr 1 - Maundy Thursday – Evening Communion
Apr 15 - Geo Wear (76), confectioner, died
Apr 18 - Wm Pallister (85), cabinet-maker, died
Apr 29 - Robt Stevenson, Trouthall, 75, died
May 1 - Miners ceased work; hours and wages dispute
May 4 - General Strike declared by Council of TUC without ballot or notice
May 12 - 1.15 General Strike called off by TUC
Aug 7 - Guisbro’ I & II beat Darlington I & II, 5 wkts
Aug 16 - (- 20) England beat Australia by 287 runs
Oct 4 - JH Orton (retired saddler) died, 80
Oct 6 - Alf Armstrong and daisy Ward married
Nov 29 - Nearly all miners ordered back to work, but no official statement


1927
Jan 2 - Rev PA Illingworth farewell sermon:
Vicar of Ugthorpe – 7 Jan 1927
Jan 25 - Rev OG Mackie, Rector (1921-1927) died at redcar, suddenly, aged 59 (£11,900)
Feb 6 - Mrs Orton died, aged 81
Mar 25 - The late Sir Robert Peacock, Chief Constable of Manchester for 30 years, left £35,000
Apr 6 - Robt Pybus died at Redcar, aged 70
Apr 26 - Wm Richardson (solicitor) dies, aged 68
May 14 - Wm Shand, MD, died, aged 71
May 20 - Rev T Longworth instituted by Archbishop of York (from Glass Houghton)
Jun 12 - Bishop Thomas preached (evening)
Jul 15 - Dr WW Stainthorpe, the late MOH 1906, died, 83
Aug 6 - Guisbro’ 179, D’ton 85 (first loss of this season)
Aug 29 - Jno Lynas, 85, died
Sep 3 - Tom Clarke, 68, died
Sep 25 - Rev Christopher Hildyard, curate, began duty
Nov 21 - Bennie Beaton died
Dec 31 - Wilson Thompson, 70, died


1928
Jan 20 - Field Marshal, Earl Haig of Bemersyde, died suddenly of heart failure, 58
Lord Oxford & Asquith died, 75
Mar 13 - W Charlton, ME, JP, CC, died, 76
Apr 9 - EPC Hesk, aged 71, died
Jun 13 - Prayer Book ……. defeated by 46; Commons twice refused the revision measure
Jun 27 - JR Bradley and Margaret Thompson married
Jul 7 - Memorial window (OG Mackie)
Sep 30 - Mr Hildyard – farewell sermon
Oct 9 - TM Allison, 67, died


1929
Mar 11 - EH Oliver, 41, died (estate agent)
Apr 14 - CS Messenger died, 80
Apr 18 - William Ableson died (ironmonger)
May 3 - General Election, S 288, C 260, L 59, others 9
Jun 27 - Miss E Chaloner married to Capt Field
Aug 5 - Jno Jas Pybus, Cartwright, Parish Clerk for 45 years, died, aged 81
Dec 1 - Archbishop Temple preached
Dec 5 - Geo Bulmer (painter), 89, died


1930
Jan 17 - James Mayhew, 89, died
Feb - Tom Sawyer, 69, died
Maggie Sayer, 60
Mar 8 - Robt Brown, shoemaker, 79, died
Mar 20 - Lord Balfour (AJB), 80, died
Oct 5 - George Page, 72, died (watchmaker)
Airship R101 crashed at Beauvais; 47 men dead, 7 saved
Dec 8 - Confirmation, Bishop of Whitby, F37, M30 – 67


1931
Jan 14 - FV Stokeld, 49, died suddenly in his sleep
Feb 11 - FR Hardwick, 72
Mar 11 - Richard Williams (‘Cornish Dick’), 88
Mar 19 - GW Wrightson, 50, Head Teacher, Margrove Park School
Apr 12 - Jno Watson (‘Nobby’), 78
Apr 23 - Jack Adams, 74
May 3 - Rev LP Milnes farewell sermon
May 30 - ‘Barney’ Wm Buckworth died, aged 74
Jun 1 - Vic Jefferies, 26, spotted fever
Jun 11 - T Salkeld, 72, suddenly
Jun 13 - Mr Angus (formerly Schoolmaster at Hutton)
Jun 23 - W Cowen, Co-op Secretary, 60, died suddenly
Aug 31 - ‘Trucky’ Leng found dead in caravan, 75
Sep 8 - National Government; Con, Lib and some Labour – JR Macdonald, S Baldwin, Sir H Samuel
Sep 19 - JW Walton, 59, died suddenly
Sep 24 - WC Colling, 56
Oct 27 - ‘Stability’ General Election; Can 472, Lib 68, Nat Lab 14, Ind 3 - 557
Lab 52, Ind Lib 4, Irish 2 = 58 maj
Nov 25 - ‘Protective’ Duties take effect; Free Trade policy abandoned
Dec 22 - Mr Feast, Deacon, arrived
Dec 28 - Tom Nelson, Saltburn, died suddenly, 54


1932
Jan 14 - Mr Routh, new grammar School Master, came; began work
Mr O Lowes left, 31 years service – master
Feb 28 - Mr Routh joined choir
Apr 1 - George Moore, 78, died
Apr 9 - Rev C Ramsden died, 68, Rector of Loftus (Curate of Guisborough 1889-91)
Apr 20 - Jno Heckle, 80, joiner, cricketer
Jun - Robt Askew, 97, oldest in Guisbro’
Jun 21 - Robt Johnson, retired grocer
Jun 29 - Mr Feast married
Aug 15 - TJ Woodcock, 74, grocer/cricket/football
Aug 28 - Edwin Gill, 75, suddenly (barber)
Oct 10 - Mrs Haswell, 76, RH’s widow
Oct 28 - Ted Blackburn
Nov 5 - Laundry burnt, 5.20 to 6.30pm
Nov 30 - Harry Brittain, Vet, 56
Dec 6 - Confirmation, M31, F48, Bishop of Whitby; tenors, 2 basses


1933
Feb 4 - GH Tamblingson, 60
Feb 21 - Heavy snowstorm
Feb 25 - Quick thaw
Feb 27 - George Dunning, 92, died; oldest man in town
Feb 28 - Annie Batterbee, 48, teacher
Apr 11 - Philip Parkin, 78, buried at Ayton
Jun 5 - Guisbro’ won by 2 runs v Blackhall
Aug 21 - Mrs C Wiley, 71, fell downstairs and broke her neck
Nov 25 - Harry Scott, 38, flour dealer, died
Dec 15 - Confirmation. M22, F60 – 82


1934
Jan 15 - AJ Leeming, chemist, 50, died; meningitis
Feb 6 - Mrs Cowen, 93, burned herself, died from shock
W Ray Robinson, 86, buried in Churchyard
Mar 5 - Robt Brown, 54, boot dealer (cancer)
Mar 23 - HG Proctor, 48, auctioneer
Apr 11 - GW Bulmer, 28, choir tenor, gall ulcer
Apr 24 - FW Allison, 71, died in the train –Chairman UDC, cricket and football
May 30 - Church Bazaar for organ
Jun 19 - Jno T Brice , 70, killed on railway, Belmangate Bridge
Jul 19 - Bishop Thomas preached morning and evening
Aug 21 - Jno Mawer, butcher, 72, died
Sep 15 - Guisbro’ II won 2nd Division Championship for the 12th time
Oct 7 - W Bowmaker, tinsmith, died
Oct 11 - Harvest; Rev LP Milnes preached
Oct 20 - John R Darnton, 49, butcher, died
Nov 11 - Mrs Brown, bootshop, died
Dec 9 - Rev Hopkins, Provost of Wakefield, preached morning and evening


1935
Jan 6 - Mrs H Ord, member of the choir since 1883 (Esther Salkeld), 66
Feb 11 - Confirmation, Bishop of Whitby
Feb 24 - Mr Longworth farewell sermon, Phillipians IV5-6
Last burial in Churchyard, Mrs Easton
Mar 9 - JR Jackson, 71, The Knoll, Chairman, Wright & Co, Middlesbrough, died suddenly at Tower House, 2pm
Apr 7 - Miss Brown (Sally), 81, died
Apr 26 - Jack Bishop, 87
Apr 29 - WT Harrison, 84, painter and decorator
May 17 - Very cold; fall of snow
Jun 7 - Rev AG Wilken inducted; Whit Sunday, 8th, first sermon
Jul 11 - Mr Feast (curate) left to Eltham
Aug 21 - Miss Sylvia Stainthorpe married
Sep - Guisbro’ 2nd XI won Brown Cup and Flag 2nd time in succession
Sep 8 - Rev Cowx began and preached
Sep 14 = Carnival in aid of Hospital; torchlight procession; historical pageant – Priory
Sep 28 - Jack Cowen, Rolley man, collapsed at football match, died in N.O. Hospital, 63
Nov 14 - General Election; Govt 431, Opposn 247, maj 184
Dec 8 - Mr Cowx (Curate) omitted the ‘Comfortable Words’
Dec 10 - Geo Sayer, 73, retired farmer
Dec 13 - Robt Bailes, 54, butcher
Aquila Bendelow, 66, tailor
Dec 20 - Sir Samuel Hoare, Foreign Secretary, resigned



1936
Jan 20 - King George V died, 11.55, 70 years
Jan 23 - Alf Headley, 72
Jack Biggins, 71
Jan 25 - Mrs M Calvert, 85
Jan 28 - King George V buried; service in church; full
Feb 11 - Mrs Walton, 89, widow of John Walton, horse trainer
Feb 19 - W Dawson Proctor (Saltburn), died suddenly, 56
Feb 25 - Jack Sanders, 99, 1881-90 - Assistant at Northgate School, 30 years
Mar 7 - German troops occupied the Rhine Neutral Zone (18 years)
Mar 9 - Morris Wilson (75), tinsmith and fruiterer
Mar 28 - Mrs Ward, 73, Bow Street
Oct 15 - F Wright, 71, Bow Street
Oct 18 - Bob Postgate, 82
Nov 4 - Marjorie Woodcock and Jno Eric Thomas married
Dec 10 - Edward VIII abdicated, age 42; a unique event
Dec 17 - Mary Jane, widow of geo Page, 72
Dec 31 - Mr Pelmear finished as Organist


1937
Jan 1 - Mr WE Dalby began as Organist
Mar 3 - Confirmation, over 50, Bishop of Whitby
Mar 26 - Fred Wright, 73, tailor, died suddenly, dropped down dead in Whitby Lane
May 1 - Sunderland beat Preston North End 3 – 1 Cup Final at Wembley; 1st time Sunderland has won the Cup
May 12 - Geo VI and Queen Elizabeth crowned
Aug 7 - Stan Carter scored 207 not out v Saltburn II @ Saltburn
Aug 28 - Mr Trollope, in the Choir 50 years ago, visited the Church
Sep 11 - Bomber plane crashed Belmont, 4 dead
Sep 20 - Mr Cowx preached farewell sermon
Sep 24 - Mr Precious 1st service as Curate
Oct 9 - Mrs Pease (Cynthia Chaloner) – funeral service choral


1938
Jan 23 - Richard Godolphin Walmsley Chaloner (Long) Baron Gisborough, 81
Jan 31 - Ted Wilson and Alice Goodwill married
Mar 4 - Mrs FE Charlton JP died, aged 87
Mar 13 - Fred Pattinson, 63, painter, died
Mar 13 - Boothroyds burned out; Priory Hall
Mar - FC Merryweather died in Canada; captain of Cricket Club for a number of years 1880’s
Mar 17 - Confirmation
Mar 25 - CT Trevor, 60, solicitor, Magistrate’s Clerk – 35 years
Mar 25 - WH Sanderson, 77, Mr Trevor’s Clerk for 53 years, retired 1934
Apr 30 - Preston North End won FA Cup by a penalty goal in last minute of extra time against Huddersfield Town; Preston North End last won Cup 1899
May 5 - EW Metcalfe, 67, retired bank manager
May 7 - W Winter 114 (10 sixes, 10 fours) v M’bro
Nov 18 - Joseph Cottrell, 81, Co-op President, died
Dec 1 - Mrs S Pallister, 96, widow of Robt Pallister
Dec 3 - Tom Scott, 77, formerly flour merchant, died at Scarbro’
Dec 10 - Squire Wharton, 79, died
Dec - Mrs Knaggs, 87


1939
Jan 10 - Boy from Children’s Home killed – Bolckow street
Jan 12 - Wm Nicholson, 43, gardener, died suddenly
Jan 25 - Earthquake in Chile, 30,000 dead
Feb 2 - HE Hubbard consecrated Bishop of Whitby
T Longworth consecrated Bishop of Pontefract
Feb 7 - J Medd Biggins, 64, died suddenly
Feb 16 - Tom Gardiner, 68, died at Chaloner Hall (caretaker)
Feb 16 - Confirmation, 12M, 23F, by Bishop of Whitby
Mar 26 - GTR Bradley, 52; 37 years with M’bro owners
Apr 16 - Mr Precious farewell sermon
Apr 23 - Mr Garbutt began duty
Apr 24 - George Ord, aged 91, oldest man in Guisbro’
Apr 27 - Sir Alfred Pease, 82, BT, JP, former MP, big-game hunter and historian
May 1 - Submarine ‘Thetis’ sunk and lost with 98 men; out for trials off St Ormes Head – 4 survived
May 24 - Jim Smurthwaite took 5 wickets for 7 runs, Yorkshire v Derbyshire; Smailes 4 for 11, Derby 20 - Sep 1 - Germans invaded Poland
Sep 3 - England and France declared war on Germany
Oct 26 - Snow fairly heavy
Nov 9 - Munich Beer Hall esplosion; Hitler escaped death
Nov 30 - Russia invaded Finland


1940
Jan 21 - Wm Pybus, joiner, died
Jan 22 - TE Furniss, gas manager, died, 55
Jan 23 - Wm Myers, shoemaker, died
Mar 13 - T Howarth, 55, chemist, died suddenly
Mar 14 - Confirmation, Bishop of Whitbby
Mar 25 - OR Wealleans, 33, died after an accident; Choir member
Apr 9 - Germans invaded Denmark and Norway to protect them from Britain and France
Apr 16 - British and French troops in Norway
May 1 - British withdraw; German Airforce too strong
May 29 - Germans invaded Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg
Jun 10 - King Leopold (2) of the Belgians deserted his country, his people, his allies without notice
Jun 10 - Mussolini joined Hitler and allies
Jun 17 - Evacuation of BEF, French and Belgians from Dunkirk; 335,000 saved from overwhelming German attack
Jun 19 - French govt sued for armistice
Jun 22 - French govt accept German terms
Jun 25 - French govt accept Italian terms
Jun 26 - French surrendered everything
Oct 7 - Rumania occupied by Germans (King fled)
Oct 28 - Italy invaded Greece


1941
Mar 26 - Confirmation, M14, F23
Apr 5 - Germany declared war on Greece and Yugoslavia
May 10 - Rudolph Hess, German Deputy Fuehrer, landed by plane in Scotland
Jun 22 - Germany declared war on Russia (the eternal ally)
Nov 15 - Ark Royal, aircraft carrier, sunk
Dec 7 - Japan bombed American and British Pacific bases without warning
Dec 10 - Japanese bombers sank Prince of Wales and Repulse


1942
Mar 7 - GW Trigg, councillor, died suddenly; heart; aged 54
Mar 29 - Binns Shop, Middlebro’, burned down
Jun 3 - Hegdri, 39, the butcher, shot at Prague; died of wounds 10/6/42
Jul 2 - Sebastopol evacuated after 8 month siege
Jul 26 - Hugh Ord, 75, over 50 years in the choir, currier and grocer; Gas works, ARP Warden
Duke of Kent, King’s brother, killed in air crash on a mission to Iceland; 14 dead, 1 saved
Sep 6 - Air raid warning during morning service, 11.45. One German plane shot down
Oct 23 - American troops landed in North French Africa by British Fleet


1943
Jan 12 - C Wiley, 88, died
Jan 22 - Italy lost all African conquests; Tripoli lost
Jan 30 - Berlin bombed by day at 11am and 4pm; Nazi anniversary
Apr 15 - Tom Pallister, JP, 65, confectioner (a batchelor), councilor, died; cremated 19/4/43
May 12 - (13, 14 & 15) Complete defeat of German and Italian forces in Tunisia, 225,000 prisoners
Jun 30 - TW Bradley, 86, JP, died suddenly
Jul 9 - British, Canadians and Americans made a landing in Sicily
Jul 20 - Rome bombed; stations, airfields and factories
Jul 25 - Mussolini resigned – fate unknown
Aug 12 - Mrs G Sayer died (81) – Jane Elizabeth Postgate
Sep 3 - Allied landing in Italy and the Italians capitulated
Sep 8 - Italian surrender published
Oct 2 - Naples entered
Nov 13 - Henry Greear, 81, grocer, bacon curer, seedsman, cricketer


1944
May 13 - Sebastopol re-taken in 5 hours; Crimea cleared of enemy; 120,000 men lost by enemy May 26 - WM Morris (Frank), Cleveland Hunt, 30 years, 61
Jun 6 - Allies landed in Normandy between LeHavre and Cherbourg
Jun 22 - Mrs Scutt (May Hillary) died suddenly
Jul 13 - Henry Newson, 81, retired relieving officer
Jul 20 - Hitler broadcast attempt on his life (is it a fact?)
Jul 28 - 7 strong points in 700m front captured
Aug - Allies landed in south of France between Cannes and Toulon
Aug 25 - Paris liberated
Aug 26 - De Gaulle in the city
Sep 15 - Siegfried Line pierced in five places; Germany invaded to a depth of
Oct 1 - Calais freed
Dec 3 - Archbishop Cyril Garbutt preached. Confirmation, Bishop Hubbard
Dec 24 - Flying bombs passed over here today


1945
Jan 29 - (& 30) Heavy snowfall and severe frost; roads blocked
Oct 4 - Berlin captured by Russians, Hitler and Goebels reported dead
Feb 15 - Hy Stokeld, 65, printer, died suddenly
Mar 22 - Shirt factory burned out
Mar 23 - New Rhine crossings
Apr 13 - Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President USA, 63, died suddenly in 4th term as President
Apr 26 - Fred Raine, 61, died; teacher in Guisbro’ for 40 years
May 4 - All German armies in NW Germany, Denmark and Holland surrender
May 3 - Unconditional surrender of all the German forces, land, sea and air; many high Nazi leaders committed suicide, Hitler, Goebels, Himmler and others
Jun 13 - Saltburn all out for 6 runs, Kerridge Cup
Jul 5 - General Election, Lab 390, all other parties 250
Aug 15 - Japan surrendered

Sep 9
Formal signing of surrender

Sep 29 - JG Hunter died suddenly


1946
Jan 10 - Mrs Newson, 72, died (H Newson’s widow)
Jan 15 - GW Bulmer, 71, painter, cricketer and formerly a tenor in the choir for many years
Jan 30 - Matt Batterbee JP, 93, miners official
Mar 5 - Mrs AA Wilson (Goodwill), 72, retired teacher, 37 years Headmistress Providence girls School, also Northgate Junior
Apr 28 - Derby County won the FA Cup for 1st time; versus Charlton, 4 - 1


1947
Jan 11 - JF Barker, 68, cabinet maker
Feb/Mar - Snowstorms, wind and floods, 6 or 7 weeks; worst weather in living memory; property, cattle and sheep lost
Apr 6 - Rev Basil Shaw began
Apr 28 - Cup final; Charlton beat Burnley 1 – 0
May 5 - Mrs Stainthorpe, 68, died
Jul 1 - Wm Bramley, 96, retired tailor, former councilor, churchwarden, died

Quotations

"A Trip to Coatham, a Watering Place in the North Extremity of Yorkshire”, by William Hutton, FSAS. 1810. Aged 81 in 1804.

Guisborough given three lines:
“Eight thousand acres; the property of Mr Chaloner; which is better in the Squaire’s hands than in those of the Monks.”

But six pages to Guisborough Abbey. “While at Coatham my friend Henry Clarke, Esq, informed me that two coffins had recently been found (Aug. 1808) in the garden of Robert Challoner, Esq, Lord of the Manor of Guisborough, about fifty yards from the ruin of the Abbey, on the North-east side, and not more than three feet from the surface of the ground. There were very few bones in either of the coffins; one was smaller than the other. In a line with them was found a perfect skeleton, inclosed in a square coffin, formed of flag, but without a lid. Many years ago a great deal of plate was found near the place where the coffins were dug up.”

Anti-monastic: “The most remarkable era in the English History is that of Henry the Eighth demolishing the Religious houses. He crushed a monster in a moment, which had been thriving twelve hundred years. His Herculean hand cleansed the Augean Stable. The worst of kings performed the best of services. Though a tyrant himself, he set man at liberty; set conscience free by opening the Bible, and taught the mind to think for itself, without leaning upon another. He served the human race, without the least design to serve them."

“Expences at Coatham. We chose the Public Hotel, kept by Mr Wilks. The terms were four and sixpence a day each, for my daughter and I, including malt liquor and beds, three shillings for the coachman, and three for each of the horses, eighteen shillings for the whole, exclusive of tea, wine and liquors, but including corn.
The two streets of Coatham and Redcar are covered with mountains of drift sand, blown by the North-west winds from the shore, which almost forbid the foot; no carriage above a wheelbarrow ought to venture. It is a labour to walk. If a man wants a perspiring dose, he may procure one by travelling through these two streets, and save his half-crown from the Doctor. He may sport white stockings every day in the year, for they are without dirt; nor will the pavement offend his corns. The sand beds in some places are as high as the eaves of the houses. Some of the inhabitants are obliged every morning to clear their door-way, which becomes a pit, unpleasant to the house-keeper, and dangerous to the traveller.”

From "Antiquities and Memoirs of Myddle" by Richard Gough.
Introduced by WG Hoskins, Centaur Press 1968.
Also Penguin 1981 Ed David Hey, £2.50.
And as a ‘Futrura Book’ £1.60, 1981. Good introduction and background by Dr Peter Razzell.

“Shee was more commendable for her beauty than her chastity, and was the ruin of the family.” (p 132)

“Hee (Wm Parker) also had a great desire to be made churchwarden of this parish, which att last hee obtained. It was sayd that hee gave a side of bacon to Robert Moore, to the end hee would persuade his brother the Rector to choose him Churchwarden, and afterwards hee made that yeare the epoch of his computation of all accidents, and would usually say such a thing was done soe many years before or after the yeare that I was Churchwarden.” (p 156)

A dispute about the settlement of Samuel Peate, ‘a slothfull prateing fellow’. “This Peate as is well knowne was once worth £250, but by his idlenesse came to a peice of bread.” (p 191)
(“He took a tenement and lands at Ellesmeare worth £10 per annum and upwards, and held hem peaceably for above forty dayes, and thereby had a good settlement.”)

Of a wife whose husband hit her so that she lost an eye: After “many contests” ... “I think she never boasted of the victory for she had lost an eye in the battle ...” “This wife (his third wife) is still liveing and I think she will not contest with her husband, for if shee loose an eye shee looseth all.” (p 128)

Of the family of “William Bickley had two sons – Thomas and William, and three daughters – Mary, Elizabeth, and Susan. Thomas practised his father’svirtues, William imitated his Grandfather’s villanyes and the three daughters followed their mother’s vices.” )p 130)

From the Lyttleton Hart-Davis Letters, vol 4, 1959. John Murray. 1982

(p 95) On Examinations – “the Barbados boy who wrote: ‘Wellington was the French general who helped Nelson to defeat Napoleon at the Battle of Trafalgar Square’. And I did not invent that”.

(p 45 – an advt) “Communist with own knife and fork would like to meet Communist with own steak-and-kidney pie.” (Geo L)

(p 44) Political bias? Rupert H-D’s son Adam, at Eton, “reports that his boy’s maid has got her own television set and wonders whether the Welfare State hasn’t gone a little too far.”

From Monastic Life in Medieval England, JC Dickinson. Black. 1961.
“If the Abbot of Glastonbury (richest English house) were to marry the Abbess of Shaftesbury (richest English nunnery) they would be wealthier than the King of England. But they only numbered two or three dozen out of a grand total of over 1000 English monasteries.”

From the Brotton Almanac, 1874 (1d.) Guisboro' tradesmen’s advts. Ptd & pubd by Wm Matthews at the ‘Exchange’ Steam Ptg Wks, 32 Westgate. JT Stokeld, Machine & Genral Printer, Book-binder, Chaloner St, Guisborough.

From Middlesbrough News & Cleveland Advertiser, 1884. ALMANAC SHOW at Guisbro’.
Nearly 200 exhibits. “Many almanacs sent from a long distance.” Awards for “the best face for 1884”.
Grocers used to present regular customers with an almanac at Christmas. Sentimental pictures plus some advertising and general information. When out of date, pictures cut out and pasted on walls inside privies for leisurely contemplation – a gallery!

And over half a cenrury later -

Besides being a grocer, Walter Dixon, father of Grace, the teacher and local historian, was a bee-keeper, a river Esk fisherman, a gambit-style chess player, a motorist, philosopher and friend. (JB)

“Paupers and Pig Killers”
The Diary of William Holland, a Somerset Parson, 1799-1818
Edited by Jack Ayres. Alan Sutton 1984

Over Stowey, Somerset; social life and customs.

The difficulty of collecting tithes ‘crops’ up frequently! The inadequacies of apothecaries and the miseries of the poor from poverty, and the miseries of the well-to-do from over-indulgence. The threat of “Boney”. *Summer weather as unpredictable as that of June 1968! The Church of England in the doldrums and the ‘Methodistical’ menace!

*Weather – Wed. June 5, 1816 – “We have had cutting winds for many days past which is bad for trees and fruit. I did not ride out on account of the cutting weather and my cold has not left me and I am uncommonly costive.”
See Ralph Ward’s Diary re use of rhubarb!

1809 Tu. 3 Jan – “Miss West came to us in the afternoon. Miss West is a violent woman of a bad temper but has some good qualities and she has taken lodgings in the house of another violent woman and ill-tempered. They soon quarrelled and a good deal of ill-natured tricks pass between them, in short Miss West has notice to Quit and no one will take her in. Bad as her temper is I pitied her and would do her a kindness but at a distance.

Quotes & Legends

About ‘Little Jack Horner’.
Jack Horner was steward to the last Abbot of Glastonbury who sent a pie to Henry VIII to appease him. Jack put his thumb in the pie and got the title deeds of the Manor of Wells. One Thomas Horner took up residence there after the dissolution of Glastonbury. The Horners are still there, but say they paid £2,000 for it! Kissing goes by favour! The monks had a real concern for temporal possessions. I remember seeing an illustration depicting a monk dashing out of a burning monastery, clutching the deeds! There are some revealing letters in the Domestic and State Paper of Henry VIII showing how the avaricious ‘gentry’ (the 16C ‘developers’) were seeking the favours resting in Cromwell’s hands.

- ‘The nest had been destroyed lest the birds should build there again.’ (A new owner, after he had pulled down a monastic church.)

- John Hasce, steward of Lord Lisle, re impending fall of Peterbrough, Romsey and St Alban’s ... ‘I trust something will fall to your Lordship! And to Lady Lisle: ‘I pray Jesu send you shortly an abbey, with many good new years’. 1537

“The Lisle Letters”
Ed by Muriel St Clare Byrne, 6 vols. 1981. Chicago Press.
The L. L. An Abridgement 1983, Hdbk. £12.50
Saw a crit in the Guardian in Octr 1885 re a paperbk edn, price £4.95. Reqn this from our library. Rec’d vols 3/4/5/6 of original edn! Asked again for pb edn. Recd hardback edn!!

A lifetime’s work by Ed. Pub in 1981 when Ed was 86! (On her birthday). 1900 letters. Cover 7 years – “...a unique picture of life in a family of the early Tudor period ...” 1533-1540.
Lord Lisle was Deputy of Calais.
“Public character of the reign of Henry VIII is well documented.” Dissolution of monasteries. Breach with Rome. Pilgrimage of Grace (Yorkshire). Creation of a new state church and a new ‘despotic’ state .. a reign of terror?
From the Foreward ... “Lord Lisle – illegit. son, by daughter of a Hampshire gentleman, of King Edward IV. A Plantagenet.

Priory

Dissolution of Monasteries.

For a well-documented account of the character of Henry VIII consult “The Age of Plunder – the England of Henry VIII 1500-1547” by WG Hoskins. A Longman paperback. 1976. A corrective to the image of a monarch possessing genuine talent. WG Hoskins’ research reveals the falsity of ‘historians’ who were courtiers and not genuine countrymen.
“The reformation in Northern England”, by JS Fletcher. Allen and Unwin 1925 . Six lectures. Page 32 –
LEGH. “A fop and a dandy, dressing himself in the height of fashion and going about with a retinue of twelve liveried servants.” Overbearing, insolent. “Layton and Legh, either accompanied by Blitheman, or shortly afterwards joined by him, arrived in York, as the centre of the Northern Province, early in January, 1536.”
N.Prov. then = dioceses of York, Durham and Carlisle.
Suppression Paper. Yks Arch Soc (Clay, Editor) Vol 48. Record Series.

Excavation at Guisborough Abbey

“A Trip to Coatham, a watering place in the North extremity of Yorkshire”. W Hutton, FASS. London 1810. A naïve a/c. Preface: “I took up the pen, and with fear and trembling, at the advanced age of 56, a period in which most authors lay it down, I drove the quill thirty years, in which time I wrote and published fourteen books. 1st 1779”.

An example: “Whorleton Castle” 3½pp. one fact: parish contains 554 people. Nothing relevant to castle! Pages 139 and 140 on “Guisborough Abbey”. “While at Coatham, my friend Henry Clarke, Esq. informed that two coffins had been recently found (Aug 1808) in the garden of Robert Challoner, Esq., Lord of the Manor of Guisborough, about 50 yards from the ruins of the Abbey on the north-east side, and not more than 3 feet from the surface of the ground. There were very few bones in either of the coffins; one was smaller than the other. In a line with them was found a perfect skeleton, inclosed in a square coffin, formed of flag, but without a lid. *Many years ago a great deal of plate was found near the place where these coffins were dug up…”

Hutton refers on p.141 to the Monasticon also p.177 to Graves History of Cleveland re Ormesby. Three lines to Guisborough: “Eight thousand acres; the property of Mr Challonrer; which is better in he Squaire’s hands than in those of he Monks”. (p.173)
*No authority given.

Monastic Granges

(Borthwick Papers No 32 ‘Moorland and Valeland Farming 13 and 14 cent)
Sheep granges and cotes in Eskdale. Guisborough Priory 200 sacks of wool (200 fleeces to a sack – ie 4,000 sheep)
G B1900 see Nicholas Cockerill. p80. Manager @ Commondale.

“Monasticon Eboracense”

John Burton MD 1788. Preface – “physician and man-midwife”. Learning of neighbourhood when attending patients, sometimes staying several days.

Prior Notice
from The Guardian 27.6.1969

Ah, les Anglais! Gwynne Hart, the London public relations firm promoting the English edition of Le Monde sent circulars to monasteries throughout Britain including the priory of Augustinian Canons at Guisborough, in North Yorkshire. Some drew orders, some did not. One came back with a covering thesis from AR Jelly*, the Postmaster of Guisborough.
Their circulation list, he suggested, seemed a little out of date. Perhaps they were working from the Domesday Book. Just the sort of thing foreigners might get up to. This was the eight-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary of the priory, but Henry VIII dissolved it and left it in ruins in 1540. The last Dean was ‘retired’ on a pension in 1540.
‘His present whereabouts is, to say the least, uncertain, if one accepts the charges made against him by Doctors Leyton and Leigh at their inquiries a short time before the dissolution. These charges included vice, sodomy, corruption, adultery, and a few more shortcomings. Hence the Prior may have left vertically up, or down, when quitting the mortal coil. It is doubtful if the issue you offer would be of value to him unless you could transcribe it on to asbestos paper.’
None the less, the letter added, the circular had received ‘the correct treatment and endorsement from my staff, and I hope these few lines will amplify the reason.’ Ah, les Anglais! Mais leurs chefs de postes sont formidables.
*Roy Jolly was his name.

Priory (VCH Vol III, p212)

Clear annual value in 1535 was £626/6/8d.
Prior and convent paid £8 a year for a student at the university, and among the reprises (yearly charges) were alms, including the portion of a canon given daily to 13 poor persons in bread, ale and meat, in honour of the BV, and for the souls of Robert de Brus the founder and Agnes his wife. Symbolism of 13: Xt and his disciples. Also 13 the number of monks who went to establish a daughter house anywhere.

Altars: 13c. S Nicholas, S Katherine, early 16c Jesus Christ Crucified. S Thomas, S Crux. “Mon. Eboracense” John Burton 1758 (or 3?)
Holy Cross, 14c. vide VCH Vol II.

Chapel of S Hilda 1302
As by the new hall of Guisborough priory…….Hugh…..of Hartlepool, for supporting a LIGHT in the DORMITORY gave an annual rfent of 3/- issuing out of houses in Hartlepool.

Robert de Lyum gave a road of 8 feet in breadth, and in length from his toft in BELMUNDEGATE, on the N side of his toft, to the ditch or fosse.

Two acres in Guiseburn field, extending from Langdal to Sandwat. “Mon. Ebor.”

1523: Will of Thomas Boynton of Rowsby (Roxby) in Hinderwell.
“Item to the Preiour of Gisburne 6/8d. Item an olde noble. to an olde monastery. Item to the Convent X ls.

1520: Will of George Evers of York, notary – X lb of wax maid in V serges (large candles) to burne about my bodie the day of my burial … To the Priors and Convents of Bridlington and Guysborne (and other houses) each Xs. (Surtees Soc. Vol 79, p110)

Chapel at Baraby: mentioned several times at the end of 12c or beginning of 13c;
maybe Holmeswath Chapel to the priest of which Dame Helen Gibson made a bequest (1451) of 3/4d. Holmes Bridge, S of Scugdale Close. Chapels often built where streams crossed. (VCH. NR. II)

1539-40: 2 water mills for corn. 1 windmill. 2 water mills still existed 1767. Only one in 1794. (VCH Vol II p358)

1502: Prior of Guisborough at Beaulieu; bursar paid 17/4d for his entertainment. (“Medieval Origins of Billingham”. L Still and Joan Southeran MA. Billingham UDC 1966.)

1205 Sinnington
“Early Yks Charters” (Farrer) I. 467-8-9:
“…when Ralph de Clere’s widow confirmed a grant of land, this time to the canons of Guisborough” – (previous grant 1180 by Roger de Clere to S Mary’s Abbey York). Refs. to a mill of Roger’s. He granted a right of way. His widow’s confirmation “whereon to erect buildings extending from the chapel to the water(course) and in breadth from the chapel south to the highway. Chapel of S Michael. Identified with site marked on OS maps to NE of village.
Full details RYEDALE HISTORIAN No. 2. April 1966.
-NOTE – Manuscript records – Guis. Sessions – Cty Rec. Office.

“Guis. Priory had most of its sheep granges and cotes in Eskdale, the great east-west valley of the moors.”
Whitby 4000 in 1356. 1366 down to 1307 thro’ mismanagement and disease.
Guis. 20 sacks, therefore 4000 sheep end of 13c.
(+200 fleeces to sack) Rievaulx 60 sacks – 12,000 sheep.
monasteries also collectors of wool.
“Guis. appears the least important of the larger monasteries; whether this impression comes from lack of detailed evidence is hard to say”.
Also more mining in Eskdale and salt-working in Teesmouth.
(“Moorland and Vale-land Farming in NE Yorkshire – the Monastic Contribution in the 13 and 14c.” Bryan Waites. Borthwick Papers No 32. S Anthony’s Press, York. 1967)

Priory Steeple. Ord p171. (Cottonian Ms):
“Over the doorway in the steeple are ceraine auncyent letters circular wyse written. Auncyent men sometimes broughte up in the monasterye told me that a Dutchman was maister-workman of the abbeye when it was built, and yt seemeth to me that the inscription is in Dutch.”

The above caused Ord to have a sketch made and included in his History of Cleveland. It is unlikely that the central tower had a spire and certainly not of the height depicted. Probably steeple and tower were synonymous as in the case of the inscription on Upleatham tower: “Crow builded steeple”.

Priory excavations 1867
(Ch 9 Gu 736 Clev. Cty Pub. Lib.)

Antiquarian discoveries at Guisborough Abbey.
The Building News, October 18, 1867.

During the past month, Captain Chaloner RN., the proprietor of the Guisborough estate, in Yorkshire, and of the remains of this beautiful abbey, has been employing a number of workmen in clearing away the accumulation of rubbish that covers the foundations and floors of these interesting remains, and the discoveries that have already been made in the choir of the church, which since the dissolution in 1540 had been entirely buried, are of great historical interest. Tesselated pavements, heraldic tiles, painted glass, monuments, sepulchral slabs, mouldings, coins and other relics, have been discovered about 3ft. beneath the present sward, which did not correspond with the original floor of the abbey church. Ay the time of the Reformation, Guisborough was one of the wealthiest, most magnificent, and extensive monastic institutions in the kingdom. Walter de Hemmingford, who was a canon of this monastery, and one of the choicest historians of the fourteenth century, tells us, that in 1289 this monastery, with all its books, plates and vestments, was destroyed by fire. A new church was erected shortly after by the princely grants and donations of the neighbouring nobility; and it is among the ruins that now remain that the excavations have just been made. At the Reformation, the work of destruction commenced, and the recent discoveries show traces of the fierce passion, religious rancour, and wanton destruction which then took place. Generally, little more than the timbers and lead of the roofs, the glass in the windows, and internal fittings, were removed; but at Guisborough it would appear that the tower and other buildings, with the exception of the east end, immediately after the expulsion of he monks, were thrown down, and falling with great force on the pavement, in many places crushed the monumental slabs and shrine work of the tombs. The wanton destruction that took place at this abbey may be accounted for, from the fact that Henry VIII, in 1541, granted a lease to Sir Thomas Leigh “of the buildings, with the site and precincts of the priory, as the King should henceforth command, to be them demolished and carried away.” Six years afterwards, King Edward VI granted the site to Sir Thomas Chaloner, ambassador to Charles V, and afterwards to King Ferdinand of Spain. For many years after the Reformation these monastic buildings were converted into a stone quarry, for the use of the adjacent town and country, and the second Sir Thomas Chaloner used some of the materials to build his mansion. The choir of this abbey was larger than any other monastic institution in Yorkshire, as appears by the plans in Sharp’s and Paley’s “Parallels”. The present excavations were commenced by cutting a trench across the church about 200ft from the east window, in a line with the outer wall, and a large doorway, with the remains of Early English pillars in Purbeck marble, were discovered.
The heraldic tiles discovered in this portion of the church were of great beauty. On some were the arms of England and France—the latter seme de lis; others had two chevrons. A lion rampant crowned the figure of a bell, appearing above and on each side of the shield; a fess between six cross crosslets or, or three cross crosslets on a chief; on a shield two bars embattled; on a shield two bars in chief, three roundlets—a lion rampant. On one fragment, which had apparently borne four shield of very exquisite design, can be traced a shield cheque, and on the other a bird. Numerous other tiles of beautiful design, some Early English, others of a later date, were discovered. About 170ft from the east window the workmen came upon what appeared to be portions of he central tower, just in the state in which it had fallen. Under the solid masonry which had been thrown down inn great masses, there were three large monumental slabs 6in. thick and 9ft 6in. long and 4ft 9in. broad; at a depth of 5ft from the surface the skeleton of a man was found in the remains of an oak coffin. This skeleton was measured by Dr Merrywether, of Guisborough, and was 6ft 8in. Two circular bronze buckles, like those displayed in the heraldry of the fourteenth century, were found. Apparently they had been used to fasten the materials in which the body had been swathed. On the centre slab was this inscription, in fine black letters, deeply cut, of about the middle of the fifteenth century:— “Sit. Pax Eterna Tecum Victore Superna.” Under this slab was a stone coffin much broken by the fall of the masonry from above. In this coffin was a bronze buckle similar to the one just described, but of a stouter material. In the same coffin, on the feet of the skeleton, were a pair of sandals, which may have belonged to a canon who had been buried in his vestments, of which there were also some remains. The third slab had had a brass plate, the studs of which alone remained. In the debris above were found portions of a shrine, carved in fine white Caen stone, the finials and tracery, much of which was painted in bright colours and in gold, and all of exquisite workmanship. In the spandrels of an arch forming part of this shrine was the figure of an angel drawing a man out of fire with a chain. Other remains of considerable interest have been found, consisting of coins, portions of the lead, silver, and iron fused together in the great fire of 1289; at which time, Hemmingford tells us, all the chalices, images, books, and plate were destroyed, and in a soluble state had made their way through the more ancient floor. Among other interesting antiquities that have been discovered are the remains of a figure in chain mail, part of a figure in plate armour of the early part of the fifteenth century, and, from the arms on the breast, appears to be one of the Latimer family; bosses from the roof, rich in gold and colour; large quantities of coloured glass, pottery, remains of alabaster tombs, &c.

Priory Granges
"Ryedale Historian" No 2. April 1966(?)
"Aspects of medieval Farming in the Vale of York & the Cleveland Plain" by Brian Waites.

          Grange  Total  Value of  value    Total
          land    land   moveables 1523     1539
                         1301

Barnaby   347a    same   8/7/6     8/6/8    12/12/8
N.Cote    395a    same   6/6/3              7/16/8
Marton    ng      ng     22/5/0    5/0/0    4/19/0
Ormesby   12.5b   37.5b  30/18/9   15/6/8   16/8/4
Yearby    ?       405+a  64/3/9             20/15/8
Kirk-
 leatham  ?       195+a  -         9/15/4   8/10/11
Coatham   ?       3b     -         20.14.0  23/16/6
                  262a
Marske-  
 Redcar   14b     31b    28/3/9    20/13/10 22/2/4
                  40+a
Linthorpe ng      ng     8/15/0    2/13.4   20/9/11
Thornaby  16b     31a    11/6/3    17/4/4   20/9/11
Arsum     12b     124a   -         4/0/0    6/0/9

a=acres, b=bovates, ng=not given

Cleveland Granges: “With exception of Barnaby and North Cote (mainly pasture) all the land quoted appeared to be arable in 1539…” Stability of land ownership: canons cultivated 360 acres at Barnaby in c.1300; in 1539 grange was 347 acres which had turned to pasture. Cleve. granges main centres of canons’ arable farming. Plus land owned in vills. Rent Roll c.1300 no tenants mentioned at *. This rent roll says canons working 360 acres. “The Monastic Grange as a factor in the settlement of NE Yks.” YA Journal. Pt CLX. 1962). At Linthorpe 20½ bov. had tenants, 26 at Thornaby, 15 at Arsum and 9 at Marton. But canons had moveables at some of these places, so presumably land was being worked by them. Leasing of land had begun, speeded no doubt by disasters which overtook the Priory at the turn of the 13c. Period a watershed between wholesale leasing and personal cultivation.
“One of the most significant facts in history that the rise of the New Orders of Monasticism should follow so closely upon the devastation of Yorkshire.”

Ord's History

JOHN WALKER ORD

Cleveland Historian

1811-1853

The publication in 1972 of a reduced facsimile edition of Ord's "History of Cleveland" revived interest in one of the more popular volumes of local history published in the nineteenth century. An excellent introduction to this new edition by the late Mr.Robert Wood sets out the origin and publication of the work. Summing up, he concluded that "The History can be described as a wonderful example of Victorian journalism".
The popularity was due in some measure to the numerous illustrations, particularly when it was first published in parts: many people only bought the parts dealing with their parish.

An earlier work on Cleveland by the Rev.John Graves, published in 1808, gave Ord the opportunity to update the history of Cleveland. Ord’s own work, published in 1846, was out of date in the decade following his death in 1853.

Family background

Richard Ord, father of the Cleveland historian, was born at Brawith, near Knayton, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. His baptism is recorded in the register at Leake Parish Church:

"1783 - Jan. 7th - Richard Ord,
son of Richard and Mary,
Brawith".
(North Riding of Yorkshire County Records Office, Northallerton)

Richard’s wife Ann (nee Walker) was a descendant of Dame Walker and John Walker Ord dismisses the tradition that she was a mere village school dame. A footnote on pp.545/546 of the History states that she "was the daughter of the wealthiest farmer in the neighbourhood; and her husband, a respectable yeoman of the first class, resided at Marton Grange". In short Mary Walker's connection with James Cook "...then a mere lad, tended the stock, took the horses to water and ran, errands for the family; and in return for such services the good old lady, finding h~ an intelligent, active youth, was pleased to teach him his alphabet and reading" .

It is perhaps probable that Richard's background made it possible for him to set up as a tanner and currier in Guisborough in 1809 was twenty-six years of age. This was the commencement of a success story.

The Census Return of 1851 records him as a master tanner and currier, employing four men in the tannery, thirteen curriers, in addition to which, as the tenant-farmer of seventy-five acres, he employed four labourers.

His family life was marred by bereavements. His wife Ann died in 1855. Previous to this, five of his children had been buried in the churchyard.
A curious feature is the belated entry of Ann Ord's burial in the Guisborough Parish Registers.
The entry was made in the burial register for the month of July and recorded 5 June as the actual date of her burial. Did she die away from home?

Although Richard Ord was not a native of Guisborough, he became so closely identified with parish affairs that when he died at the age of ninety-six in 1819 he was described as 'one of Guisborough's most honoured and respected inhabitants". It was also stated that his trading activities had extended beyond Cleveland "throughout England, Scotland and Ireland" .

For over twenty years he was Vice-Chairman of the Guisborough Board of Guardians and associated with the most important public bodies in the district. As a Liberal he had proved to be "a great support to the local party in the stirring times of reform agitation". (The Whitby Gazette)

A tantalising reference in a local newspaper (The Daily Exchange, 13/8/1897. Middlesbrough Public Library) stated that the late Mr Richard Ord, JP, kept a diary of all events relating to Guisborough”. Unfortunately this has not come to light.

In 1901 the local branch of the family ended with the death of Richard's son, Charles Ovington Ord. The day of the tannery was over and the sole relic was the existence of a currier's workshop where leather was sold. The tannery was on the site behind the present supermarket (Hintons) No.15 Westgate, running down to the beckside. The frontage was a substantial dwellinghouse, the residence of the Ord family. After the closure of the tannery the site and some of the premises were converted into a laundry. When the laundry moved to new premises in Northgate the Empire Cinema was erected. This was razed in 1976 when Hintons took over.

Charles Ovington Ord (got his will) buried in lead coffin. A character. A barrister. Did not practise. Left s estate to Poynters &c, &c (Executor Mr Trevor). Had he Richard Ord’s Diary?

Made Benny Beeton drunk and sent him over the road to the Chemist Fairburn. Staggered into shop and pulled down iron stove-pipe. Also the road-sweeper who was given a “strong” doctored drink by Charles Ovington Ord. Sweeper’s mate took him home in a barrow.
Stone from old tanyard “slid into place” over Plantin Beck (Bakehouse Square).
CO Ord and Barney Buckworth. Crowd at door. Soot bags. CO pulled out his yellow handkerchief (Liberal) and saved himself.
The above from Ernie Pattison, plumber, Bakehouse Square. 1 May 1960.
E Pattison’s Grandfather (Wright) had foot blown off Gunpowder Plot Night.

JOHN WALKER ORD, son of Richard and Ann Ord, was born 5 March 1811 at Guisborough and baptised in the Parish Church on 5 April.

His education commenced at the local Grammar School, a joint foundation of almshouses and school, erected in 1561. Situated on the verge of the churchyard it had a picturesque setting with the east end of the priory dominating the scene. In later years the schoolmaster was criticised for neglect and personal absenteeism and it is interesting to note that John Walker Ord spoke up for his former master, recalling no doubt his own years at the school. Memories of his schooldays were later romanticised in verse.

After leaving the grammar school Ord went to a boarding school at Sowerby near Thirsk. At the age of eighteen he went to Edinburgh to study medicine. (Baines 1823 Directory lists a boarding school a mile and a half s.of Thirsk. Prop: Thos. Gibbons)

Unfortunately he did not complete his studies. Information concerning his departure from Edinburgh may be found in a book written by another local historian (The Bards and Authors of Cleveland and South Durham. George Markham Tweddell. 1872.):“I am sorry to have it to record that the subject of this memoir was plucked on presenting himself for examination. I know that many of his friends have conceived that his libelling of the magnates of the university had much to do with his rejection; and it is probable enough that he was doomed to feel that he had made enemies of those who could have served him as friends ...But I candidly confess that I fear literature too much engrossed our author's brain to allow him to pay proper attention to those studies necessary to prepare him for a physician”. This memoir refers to the libels as "ephemeral pasquinades" and dramatises the affair by stating that Ord and his fellow-student fled and were outlawed. This escapade must have upset his parents, in particular his father who had the tradesman's natural ambition to lift his offspring out of trade into one of the professions. (Ord's brother Charles Ovington Ord became a barrister. 1816-1901). The fact that Dr.Knox, the notorious anatomist, came down from Edinburgh to persuade Ord to resume his studies, points to this. He was unsuccessful. It is unlikely that he was alienated from his family at this time whilst there was a possibility of returning to Edinburgh. A decade later Ord referred to "the narrowness of my circumstances and meanness of fortune”. In 1834 Ord and Knox enjoyed "a principally pedestrian tour through a part of Holland and South Wales". This suggests that he was still supported by his parents.

Ord's literary inclination had attracted him to two poets: James Hogg, styled "The Ettrick Shepherd" and Thomas Campbell. Other literary acquaintances included the Countess of Blessington and John Wilson, the latter better known to readers of Blackwood's Magazine as "Christopher North". Ord's close association with the Wilson family and his desire to win the affection of one of the daughters resulted in a sad disappointment: he saw her married to another. Tweddell (see footnote on p.4) refers to a letter by Ord declaring his intention to be married by the twenty-one.
Ord had hoped to do what Professor Wilson had done: wooed and won a wealthy English lady. This was Tweddell’s summing up. All things considered Ord’s departure from Edinburgh is not surprising.

By this time Ord’s first poem was published, "A Vision of the Moon” (1829), described by Professor John Wilson as “full of fancy, feeling and imagination".

A more ambitious work was published in two volumes in 1833/34: "England - A Historical Poem" John Wilson’s comment, quoted above, applies to this work, which contains padding in the form of footnotes.

In 1836 Ord embarked on his journalistic career. Matthew Milton, his fellow culprit at Edinburgh, joined him in launching a threepenny weekly in London: "The Metropolitan Journal of Literature, the Fine Arts, etc.". Its motto was "Eyes to the Blind, Ears for the Deaf, Limbs for the Maimed", a clinical claim which in Tweddell’s words, "...appeared for sixteen Saturdays and left the blind, the deaf and the maimed to shift for themselves".

Undeterred by this failure, they secured the joint editorship of a new Tory weekly newspaper entitled "The Metropolitan Conservative Journal”. In 1838 this weekly was buttressed by “The Church of England Gazette”, whose editor personified bigotry, with the result that Ord left London in 1839 to take up the post of manager at "The Tory Beacon" in Sunderland. This appears to have been an attempt to revive a declining circulation, and the doubtful expedient of changing the title to "The Northern Times" did not induce Ord to settle down in Sunderland.


Mr.Wood’s introduction to the 1972 facsimile edition of Ord’s “History of Cleveland" includes an interesting account of the circumstances leading up to Ord's decision to commence his major work. To this may be added Tweddell’s prospectus for his own projected History of Cleveland (1862): "It is now eighteen years since the author announced his intention of publishing a History in cheap form. Finding however, that the late Mr.John Walker Ord was undertaking to write one, the author of the present work(see footnote* p.4) determined to suspend his project for some years, rather than interfere with the labours of a literary friend. But Mr.Ord’s History (which was published at a price beyond the reach of the bulk of the population) being now out of print, this obstacle no longer exists".

Ord's History was published in part form at 2/6d. per part, 1844-46.

Tweddell's History was originally intended to consist of twelve parts at one shilling each, but his printer became insolvent. Tweddell had told Ord that he was wrong to issue the History so soon: "...he ought to have devoted two or three years at the least to collecting materials for the book; and that then he would have found it quite sufficient labour to have moulded them into shape, to have added such fresh information as is always turning up and to have corrected the printer's proofs; but that he was then attempting too much to be done creditably with safety to his own brain".

Ord rejected the advice, saying "You are quite wrong, friend Tweddell; when I know a thing has to be done, I set to work and do it; but if I can take my own time, why then I do take my own time and it is never accomplished.

A few years later Ord admitted that the advice had been sound counsel: "You were right, friend Tweddell, though I did not believe at the time ...You were the only one that gave me that advice; I did not accept it; but I wish to God that I had; but it is too late now!"

His next book "Remarks on the Sympathetic Condition existing between the Body and the Mind, especially during Disease" revealed a morbid interest in lunacy. This may have been a spin-off from his medical studies or an earlier manifestation. He had used his poem "England” as a means of dealing with the subject. Tweddell’s comment on this was "I wish I had space to give 'Queen Philippa' entire, because it contains the most complete description of every phase of lunacy which I know of" may have had the benefit of hindsight, but there is a prophetic conclusion attached to these publications.

In 1841 "The Bard and Minor Poems" was published, followed in 1845 by "Rural Sketches and Poems, chiefly relating to Cleveland".

Considering that these were published during his engagement with the History it is likely that he was working against the clock, possibly hoping to bolster his finances. His sojourn at Lady Phillips home, Middle Hill in Worcestershire, resulted in his dedication of Rural Sketches to her “in gratitude for hospitalities”. Sir Thomas Phillips likewise received recognition in the preface to Ord's History: "... I am especially indebted for the use of his vast and magnificent library, and for his personal assistance and hospitality”.

By the time the History was published in 1846 Ord was thirty-five years of age. Tweddell describes him as "very tall and of a commanding appearance...as a public speaker he was remarkably eloquent and animated. In private life he was so meek and mild in his manners that one had some difficulty in comprehending that it was really the same man who wrote such strong articles".

He had the distinction of being included in the Dictionary of National Biography", but his work was down graded. Described as "a topographer, poet and journalist". "This work is written in a fulsome style. The author was unfit for such a great work; he was not an antiquary". Two qualities are noteworthy in the History – his affection for Cleveland in general and for his birthplace, also for his awareness of the contemporary scene.

His sad decline and the awful isolation of his death in the city where he had started as a student of medicine twenty-four years earlier, evoke our compassion.

W.H. Burnett, author of "Old Cleveland", 1886, attributes Ord's dissolution thus: "To make matters worse, he became too frequent a patron of that enemy which the Bard of Avon tells us men put into their mouths to steal away their brains. It seems that Ord sometimes stayed overnight at Stokesley with the Braithwaite family, who were afraid that he might wander out in the night”. The inevitable comment – "His friends found it necessary to place him under restraint".

All this points to an estrangement in the family, which may account for Richard Ord's refusal to Tweddell's request for biographical information: "I cannot but express my very deep regret that his nearest relatives should, from some cause or other have thought it fit to refuse me even the slightest materials towards his biography".

John Walker Ord died on 29 August 1853, aged 42, at Morningside Asylum, Edinburgh, and was buried in the churchyard at Guisborough.

In a poem "Home Revisited" published in Tait's Magazine, 1840, he expressed a desire to be buried within the shade of the east window of the Priory –
"And, 'mid this vale of my kinsfolk, my comrades –
Here, where the loved and cherish'd repose –
Here, where the abbey salutes the last sunbeams,
Grant me a grave".

An obelisk marks the grave where he was reunited with his mother and younger members of the family. It was twenty-six years later when his father was interred close by.

W.D. Brelstaff
1985



Works by JOHN WALKER ORD,

1829
Poem- "A Vision of the Moon"
Tweddell says this was Ord's first production, written at Guisborough on New Year's Day. Professor John Wilson (Christopher North) of Edinburgh described it "full of fancy, feeling and imagination." An accurate summary of all Ord's poems.
1834/35
"England: a Historical Poem"
Volume I, 1834; volume II, 1835. Over 500 pages. Bound as a single volume in ~[iddlesbrough Public Library. Some padding: historical footnotes on Guisborough.
1836
“Some remarks on the Sympathetic Condition existing between the Body and the Mind, especially during Disease”
Unusual subject for a young man of 25. Prophetic in view of his tragic decease. Was it connected with his study of medicine, or was it arising from out of his family background? His mother, Ann Ord, was buried on 5 June 1855, but was not entered in the Guisborough Parish Register until July. Did she die elsewhere? Or was it accidentally omitted from the register at the time of her burial?
1841
"The Bard and Minor Poems "
Collected and edited by John Lodge.
Dedicated to Prince Albert.
1845
"Rural Sketches and Poems. chiefly relating: to Cleveland"
Dedicated to Lady Phillips of Middle Hill, Worcestershire, "in gratitude for hospitalities."
1844/46
"The History and-Antiquities of Cleveland. comprising: the Wapentakes of East and West Langbaurgh North Riding County of York"
Issued in parts 1844. Completed 1846.
1847
Ord edited a poem “Roseberry Topping” by Thomas Pierson, first published 1783
Dedicated by Ord to Thomas Jennett, Esq, three years Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees. "Affectionately dedicated by his attached friend, John Walker Ord."
"The Bible Oracles"
Unfinished manuscript.

Medical

Doctors, Apothecaries and Surgeons from Parish Registers
1711 Joseph Anderson
1713 Thomas Dubiggin (Dowbiggin) Chir. and Apo. (Surgeon)
1717 17 March, by License, Marriage of James Marten of Guisborough, sojourner and MD and Elizabeth Walters of Yarum. By John Hall.
1718 Thomas Gofton, apothecary. Grammar Sch. Cal. (ZJB 3/2/1718-1)
Thomas Milner, Chiru. and Apothecary (1726 a daughter baptised)
1765 Thomas Proddy, Surg. and Apoth. (see Ralph Ward’s Diary 1754-6)
1770 Robert Harrison, Apothecary, buried Kirkleatham 6 Mar.
Charles Bissett MD (Ord’s “History of Cleveland” p230.
A tablet in Leake Church. Note also memorial window (Consett) N side of chancel – seal of Archdeaconry of Cleveland 1733. A vesica with Guisborough Priory in centre. “Resided in Guisborough many years.” Military surgeon. Died 1791 at Thirsk.
1817 A gravestone (now missing) in Guisborough churchyard: In Memory William Wilson Surgeon &c, who followed his Profession in Guisborough with the greatest Respectability … half a century and died February 11th 1817 in his …Year. Also Elizabeth his Second Wife died Oct. 25th 1839. Aged 65 years. (In Grave’ 1808 “History” – list of subscribers includes Mr W Wilson Junior, surgeon.)
1841 (Census) Henry Wilson, Surgeon, 40. John 15, Emma 9, Henry 7.
Under the same roof: Hannah Sanders 40, Mary Wilson 25, Edward Downs 14. Check 1851 Census.
1850 Henry William Wilson. Will 13.10.1847. Proved 5.3.1850. Bequeathed his pews in church. See deeds at Guisborough provident Industrial Society Ltd, 73 Westgate.
1808 Mr JA Fletcher, surgeon, Guisborough.
1863 Thomas Bird, surgeon, died 14 July 1863, aged 61. Clev. Cty. Archives, Guis. c/yard. Mon.(?) Bird’s Yard: check on rate books.
1881 (Census) Henry Messenger, 30, Physician and Surgeon, 14 Chaloner St.
1952 William Waters Stainthorpe. Born 3 Aug. 1878. Died 7 Dec. 1952.
Lived in Sunnyfield House. WWS gave memorial window in Parish Church in memory of his wife. WWS saw a companion window alongside dedicated to his life’s work. He was present in a wheel-chair. Burial Service form in this collection. His uncle Dr W Stainthorpe of Wareham, Dorset, appointed MOH for combined districts of Guisborough, Skelton and Brotton and Loftus Local Boards of Health @ £370 per annum (Whitby Gazette 24 June 1882. 37 applicants) (Saw old copies of Whitby Gazette courtesy of Mr Horne many years ago.) From “Who’s Who in Yorkshire, N & E Ridings” 1935, p225: “Stainthorpe, William Waters, JP, MD, BS Medical Practitioner, Sunnyfield House, Guisborough. Born 1878 Sunderland, son of the late John Henry Stainthorpe. Educated Guisborough (GGS) and Durham University. Married 1902 Eugenie Anna Clothilde, daughter of the late Thomas Thatcher Wieland. Past President, BMA, Cleveland Branch. House Surgeon Southern Hospital, Liverpool. Medical Officer Post Office and Poor Law Hospital. Radiologist, Admiral Chaloner Hospital, Guisborough. Governor of Guisborough Grammar School.”
Include Trenholme gravestone built into bridge on Hutton Lane by Stump Cross.
Dr Merryweather. Dr Shand. Dr Bland

Dr Michael Mackereth, Surgeon, Guisborough.
Buried in Guisborough Churchyard, so details of burial will be in the Guisborough Parish Registers.
Died 1836, age 46, Buried 2 July. There was cholera?
According to Fairfax Blakeborough, Micael Mackereth was “hard riding and hunting”. Also a fisherman. In Tweddell’s “Peoples’ History of Cleveland” (1873) “…The Rev Henry Clarke and Michael Mackereth Esq, Surgeon of Guisborough, caught these smolts … corroborated by Mr weatherill, a solicitor of the town, Mr Joseph Biggins, Gamekeeper of the late Robert Chaloner Esq…four or five pairs of salmon trout, caught early in October, were put in the dam head by Mr Matthew S Milton, Mr John Walker Ord, and Mr Joseph Biggins. Also Dr Know, FRSE. (Note: Dr Knox of Edinburgh, the notorious anatomist, came to Guisborough to try to persuade John Walker Ord (the author of “History of Cleveland”) to resume his study of medicine.) Ord appears to have neglected his studies and “was plucked on presenting himself for examination”.
His alleged libellous statements referring to the University officials contributed to his rejection. Matthew Milton referred to above suffered the same fate. In 1836 Ord and Milton launched a threepenny weekly in London: “The Metropolitan Journal of Literature, the Fine Arts, &c”. The motto “Eyes to the Blind, Ears for the Deaf, Limbs for the Maimed” a claim which, in Tweddell’s words “appeared for sixteen Saturdays and then left the blind, the deaf and the maimed to shift for themselves”.
Dr M Mackereth and Mr J Rigg were two promoters of the Cleveland Agricultural Society.
Query:Was the dam head mentioned above about “two miles from Saltburn? Was Matthew Milton a native of Cleveland? Mr Mackereth is mentioned on page 135 of the recently published book “Guisborough Before 1900” – a generous prescription for a local pauper!

18 Nov 1983 – saw his marriage, Mbro Archive Office – Microfilm Guisbro Regs: Michael Mackereth, surgeon, to Margaret Hurchinson. 21 July 1819. By Licence. By TP Williamson. Robt Wharton Parish Clerk.
In 1841 Census:
Margaret Mackereth, 40, and Elizabeth (15), living with Elisabeth Hutchinson, 70, and Mary Hutchinson, 50. (April 1984)

Admiral Chaloner Hospital
ZFM Chaloner Papers 303/304/305. Norhallerton Co. Record Office.

List of patients 1914-1924. Names, injuries, etc.

“Hospital closes its doors
THE one-hundred-year-old Admiral Chaloner Hospital at Guisborough will close on Saturday.
Services will be transferred to Guisborough General Hospital as part of a £250,000 upgrading.
Sector administrator Mr Tony Averillo said it was part of “reprovision” for the Langbaurgh area. Staff will transfer to the new building and in-patients will be located on the second floor in a ward to be named Admiral Chaloner Ward.
Maternity services are also being transferred to the same building.
Mr Averillo said the new place is totally re-equipped and it would help the staff to improve services.
The GP casualty service will be run from the ground floor next to the main entrance, while the out-patient clinics will also be held at the new hospital.
Admiral Chaloner Hospital on Whitby Road, was built in 1873 as a refuge for men injured in Cleveland ironstone mines. The men made a contribution towards its maintenance and collections were held in Guisborough and surrounding villages.
In 1901 the dining room, toilets and bathroom were installed at a cost of £1000 and later an X-ray room and operating theatre were added. It was taken over by the National Health Service in 1948.” Evening Gazette 20.3.1982

Became “Studio Print” works.
Converted into dwellings 2004.

Medical Officer’s Reports

1958 By Dr DHS Griffith (p 1): Pub. October 1959.
“During the year I have had the opportunity to report to you on the conditions of some of the property in the district. It is unfortunate that many of the houses which give the town its air of charm are in fact no more than slums. There is nothing which can be said for living in damp, badly lit houses, some of which provide neither water nor proper sanitary conveniences” ..... “It is welcome to note that in regard to slum clearance progress is being made. A regular programme is being pursued .....”

1962 By Dr TMB Rohan (p 13): Pub. November 1963.
“Closet accommodation ..... The whole of Guisborough is now on the water carriage system.”
Population for District 12,520. For Guisborough:
Area of District 18,948 acres.
No. of inhabited houses according to rate books 3,8822.
Rateable Value £294,163.
Sum represented by a penny rate £1,190.
No. of births registered 303.
No. of Council houses: North side estate ?
Hutton Lane Estate ?

Paratyphoid Epidemic 1936
Reported in national ‘Daily Express’ Sept 28

Started in July. 40 cases in Cleveland. 21 from Guisborough, last of these on way to recovery. No deaths. Summer tourists in the town. Fear of losing trade – ‘Guisborough would have been rubbed off the holiday map’ – ‘Guisborough kept its head and said nothing.’
Water heavily chlorinated, so well water used. Medical experts said no contamination. Visitors had tea made from spring water.
Dr CR Gibson MO to five districts. Ice-cream tests negative. No knowledge of origin. ‘Dr Gibson the hero of the hour'.

Plague and population. John Walker Ord’s story (p354 Ord’s “History of Cleveland”). In 1662 there were 330 households in Guisborough. (Hearth Tax Returns 1662). In 1743 in Archbishop Herring’s Visitation Return a similar figure, ‘above 300 families’.
According to Ord the weekly market was transferred from Guisborough to Marske in 1667 ‘…the plague having nearly depopulated the town of Guisborough…’ It is known that Marske has suffered in 1665 when stringent measures were enforced to keep George Mason and his family in quarantine for forty days. (NR Yorks Qtr Sessions Records Vol VI). Under the direction of he constable six men maintained a day and night watch at Mason’s home because he had ‘…lately come from the city of London’.
Ord does not appear to have checked the Guisborough parish registers. Burial entries in the 1660s are as follows:

           1661   42          1666    50
           1662   39          1667    53
           1663   27          1668    60
           1664   29          1669    26
           1665   31          1670    31

The years 1666-1668 show a marked increase but not sufficiently high to believe the town ‘nearly depopulated’. During these ten years there is no reference to a mass burial, such as was recorded in the register of S. Mary’s Church, Beverley: ‘ Note June 1610 here began ye Plague. July 1610 there was buried of ye Plague this month of July 32, besides 40 that was shuffled into graves without any reading over them at all. Nov 1611 here ended the Plague.’
There is a note in the register of Egglescliffe parish church in 1664: ‘In this year there died of he Plague in this towne one hundred and twenty people. They are not all buried in the churchyard and are not in the register.’
On p228 of Ord’s ‘History of Cleveland’ there is a reference to a mass burial: ‘During the rebellion of 1745 all the troops posted inn the North of England were drafted into Scotland to resist the Highlanders who fought under Charles Stuart. In lieu of these troops, government commissioned a regiment of Dutch soldiers, who were quartered on the respectable inhabitants of the town and neighbourhood, sometimes tree or four in each house and in the public-houses ten or twelve. Great numbers of the poor fellows died of what was called the ‘Dutch fever’, and were buried in the lower part of the churchyard. The ground was only opened a few years ago, the sexton being afraid of the infection…’ There is no record in the registers of the burial of these soldiers. But there is proof in the registers of an increase in the burial of Guisborians.

          1745   30
          1746   70
          1747   39

These unusual deaths in 1746 could have occurred after the soldiers had been billeted in the town. The report* in the ‘Darlington and Stockton Times’ on 10 April 1982 suggests a mass burial, but more evidence is required.
* “Priory Plague Victims?
A laboratory report on bones found near the ancient Priory near Guisborough suggests that the site may have been the burial pit for victims of the plague.
Human and animal bones were uncovered by the Curator several months ago and confirmation pointed towards it being a communal grave. However, radio-carbon dating was not done on the bones because of expense and the scientists in London could only make an educated guess at them being medieval and why they were there.
Press Officer for the Ancient Monuments Department at Newcastle, Mr Jonathan Lawson, said: “It would appear that the bones came from four people, all male. There was a boy aged between 15 and 20, two men aged between 40 and 50, and one aged between 25 and 35. There were also some animal bones there.
Guisborough CID has been informed that Mr Lawson doubted whether there will be a need to look into the matter any further. It is likely that the bones will be returned and either reburied or kept in a local museum. A CID spokesman said: “A report has been returned by the Department of the Environment and analysis shows that they are most likely medieval bones”.

Footnote: The burial registers for 1717-18, 1737, 1741 and 1769 contain evidence of an increase in the death rate.
At the time of the Black Death (1347-49) Guisborough churchyard was enlarged. At Ayton, Brotton and Wilton new burial grounds were made.
In 1598 Guisborough suffered from the plague. There is a reference in the West Riding Quarter Sessions Rolls which states: ‘For the relieffe of the poor distressed people of Richmond and Guisborough visited with the plague yt is ordered by this Court that the some of xxxiiili vis viid shall be allowed them out of the Westridinge … for the better aide and Maynteynaunce of the said poor infected people’. (‘Lost Villages’ – Prof. M Beresford.)
CHOLERA epidemic 1835-36.
Thomas Pym Williamson, 62, Perpetual Curate of S. Nicholas, buried 28 May 1836.
His son, Wm Leigh Williamson, 24, buried on 7 May 1836.
Margaret Williamson, 78, buried 20 Dec 1836.
Also Michael Mackereth, Surgeon, age 46, buried 2 July 1836.
Nos. in Burial reg. – WLW 1019, TPW 1020, MM 1023.
Noted at Cleveland Archive Office Aug 1983 that pp114 and 115 were missing from microfilm of Burial reg.
Page 113 ends at no. 904 (1833): Page 116 commences no. 921 (9 Jan 1834)
Burials

          1830   43      1833    ?      1836   42
          1831   57      1834   41      1837   46
          1832   33      1835   51      1838   39

Planning Nursing Home
D&S Times 17/12/88

An enforcement notice in respect of the controversial extension to Graceland Nursing Home at Belmangate, Guisborough, is to be withdrawn.
After heated exchanges at Langbaurgh planning committee meeting on Wednesday it was agreed to await counsel’s opinion on how best to proceed with action to have part of the extension removed. The extension for 14 extra bed spaces at the nursing home for people with mental illness was considered to be going up much closer to the boundary hedge than outlined in the plans. Original objections came from residents of Whaddon Chase, who claimed it should have come within 30ft of the hedge but was in fact being built half that distance away. After a site visit four months ago the committee agreed with the neighbours but the applicants disagreed saying it was being built in accordance with planning permission. The committee decided to seek counsel’s opinion and issue an enforcement notice requiring the removal of part of the extension to bring the end wall 30ft from the hedge. However, at Wednesday’s meeting some members claimed their recommendation had been altered to include the entire extension. The chairman, Coun Allan Gwenlan, said that he had hoped that discussion would be deferred until they received counsel’s opinion. He said the wording of the notice had to be changed to include the whole extension as the council was alleging that it was in breach of development control. He said adjustments could be made to the order and eventually it would be up to the inquiry inspector. He said enforcement action like this could take up to a year before there was a decision. Coun Arthur Taylor said it didn’t alter the fact that the wording of the original minute had been changed. Members agreed to advise the Department of the Environment that they were withdrawing the notice and to consider future action after hearing from counsel.

Evening Gazette 8/2/89:
The owners of a nursing home have vowed to continue their fight against a demolition order. Langbaurgh Council has ordered that an extension built onto Graceland Nursing Home should be demolished because it breaches planning rules. But the owners claim the council is ignoring the needs of residents and staff. Now they are to take their case to the Department of the Environment in a bid to get the council’s enforcement notice overturned. A partner in the business, Barry Parvin said: “No one on the council has taken into account the care needs of the clientele and their carers. The development of this much needed specialist provision is an enhancement of the area which was once the site of a derelict hospital. Planning permission was granted so long as it was built nine metres from the site boundary. But after finding that the new building was just under five metres from the boundary the council slapped on an enforcement notice.”

Magic Lantern Slides

Scenes from the dramas of everyday life