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.

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.”