Loftus History
Skinningrove
postcard
Skinningrove (posted August 2nd 1907).
Kindly contributed by Freda & Gordon Harrison.
Skinningrove works 1960's
Kindly contributed by Mike Holliday
April 09
Skinningrove works office staff
possibly taken during a lunch break at Skinningrove Works.
pictured is Thomas B Wood, others unknown
Kindly contributed by Irene Fowle and Margaret Roberts (nee Wood)
Skinningrove 1980
the following 7 photographs were taken in 1980 when Skinningrove was knocked down and rebuilt.
There were very few of the original houses left standing.
All kindly contributed by Pat Sparkes.
the men in this photograph are the office staff who took to manual work during Skinningrove Works Strike.
from left: Thomas B. Wood, others unknown.
any help with names would be very welcome.
Kindly contributed by Irene Fowle and Margaret Roberts (nee Wood)
Skinningrove Project
Simon Williams was at Teesside Poly from 1976-1979, and was involved in making a film around Skinningrove. A video was produced from still photographs, he also has short pieces written by pupils at the local school. He also has photos of various pigeon lofts and owners, and some general shots of the area.
He can see from Google Earth, and this site, that Skinningrove was largely demolished in 1980.
He would like to go back one day and meet some of those people he met 30 years ago.
Simon would like to perhaps organise a small display that may be of interest to the residents of Skinningrove.
This is one of many images he took of pupils at the school in Skinningrove. They were preparing for the Silver Jubilee (see wall in the background!), and were 10-11 years of age at the time. They each wrote short accounts of themselves, which Simon was given and still has to this day! He would like to try and identify these people, 33 years down the line, and find out how things have worked out for them.
Please let me know if you know of anyone who could help with this project and I will pass the information on to Simon
Thank you
Noel Agar Scrap book - cuttings
A loud bang at the Skinningrove Iron Works early today was heard by residents in the district. The explosion, it was learned, was caused by the ignition of a pocket of gas, but no one was injured.
Some damage was caused including that to the base of a high chimney on the works, and it is understood that its structure was also cracked and it may have to be demolished.
Dated June 28 1958
Delivery planned for to-day
A special train of nine Rolls Royce diesel locomotives arrives at Skinningrove Iron and Steel Works to-day (Friday). Together with a new servicing shed, and modifications to the Works' railway system, they have cost the Company about £200,000. The first of the locomotives was delivered recently, and has been in use for the training of drivers handling this new form of motive power. The heavy expenditure by the company on this addition to the Works can be regarded as an induction of their confidence of the future of the Works.
Since the Carlin How Works were established 90 years ago, steam engines have been used for internal transport. Now the urge towards greater efficiency, improved working conditions for the men and the desirablility of smoke abatement has led to the introduction of this modern equipment.
Waiting to welcome the train at the new maintenance shed, specially built on the works for servicing the new locomotives, will be the nine drivers who are to take them over and operate them over the twenty miles of Works sidings. The leading three locomotives will be hauling the other six, and they began their 185- mile trip to Carlin How from Shrewsbury, where they were built, yesterday (Thursday).
An historic steam locomotive will also be on view at the Works today, a reminder of the early days of railways in the North Riding.
This Locomotive was originally used by the Irish contractor, Paddy Waddle, in the contruction of the ill-fated railway line from Kilton to Glaisdale. Dated 26th July 1963
Twenty three horses have given long, faithful service at the Loftus mine of the Skinningrove Iron Co. But now the mine is to close what will be their fate?
At the moment there has been only one inquiry regarding them. They are of the heavy draught type, and have been at work for periods varying from a few months to eight or nine years. Until a year ago they were stabled under ground, now their stables are on the surface. But where will they find their next home?
The question will be asked 23 times. For there are 23 horses which will be out of a job when the Loftus mine of the Skinningrove Iron Co, closes down. Here are just two of them – Dart, a newcomer to the stable, held by Mr Tom Smith, on the left and 20 year old Drummer, the pit veteran, with Mr George Adamson. They are just entering the mine shaft….from daylight to darkness.
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Dated 27 August 1958
The village square at Skinningrove, overlooked by the gaunt steelworks, was splashed with colour and the happy shouts of children yesterday - the first day of May.
The boys and girls of the junior school, carrying posies of flowers, walked in procession from the school to the square, led by the younger children who formed a percussion band.
There the Maypole was erected and 120 children took part in the dancing to music recorded by Miss M. Pullan, a member of the school staff.
The tradtional welcome to May was arranged by the headmistress, Miss M. Jordan, and the whole village turned out to watch.
The names of the six oldest children were put into a hat and Lynne Grout, who will be 11 next week, was chosen May Queen and was crownded by Mrs Tidman, wife of Mr C.F. Tidman, chairman of the school managers.
Later the school, parents and friends heard a programme of music by the choir and percussion band.
Dated 1963
This 'sea monster' was washed ashore on the beach at Skinningrove yesterday. Local opinion is that the unusual visitor is a grampus or killer whale, and that it had only been dead for a very short time when found on the beach.
It measures 18 feet from its nose to the tip of its tail, has a girth of about 12 feet and is estimated to weigh about three tons.
It was found on the north side of Skinningrove jett and its reputation for being ferocious is well borne out by the rows of razor-like teeth in its huge mouth.
The whale is to be cut up and buried.
Dated 20th July 1960
This special train of nine new locomotives for Skinningrove works caused tremendous interest for the whole of its journey from Shrewsbury. Two Birtish Railways motive power inspectors, Mr George Finley of Darlington and Mr W.E. Ashmore of Middlesbrough, who travelled from Northallerton, were amazed with interest.
Said Mr Finley: "There were even people standing on bridges to see the train."
It was the largest train of locomotives ever to leave the manufacturers' works. But for many of the men at Skiningrove, the fleet will not be seen for a fortnight. They started their holidays last night before the train arrived.
Picture shows Mr H.G.W. Debenham, chairman and managing director, with Mr Thomas Hill of Rotherham, inspecting the new diesel locomotives after their arrival at Skinningrove.
Dated 26th July 1963
Timm's Coffee house at Skinningrove, dating back to 1764, which had been declared a place of special architectural and historical interest.
At one time miners were believed to have supped rum and coffee there for breakfast.
Skinningrove miners supped rum and coffee for breakfast before they set off to work at six in the morning.
Now those days are dead and gone. Timm's Coffee House, Skinningrove, no longer serves a day's starter, but sticks to beer.
All that remains in the village's only pub are the huge rum casks with grass measures down the sides, the brass 'coffee pot' which stores rum, water and coffee and a huge bottle which contained the celebrated rum - Mountain Dew from Leith.
The pub itself, once an old maor house dating back to 1704, has today been declared a place of arcitectural and historical interest by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.
The Licensee for the past seven years, Mr. Jack Shepherson, a former Normanby Hall cricketer, said "Nobody knows how the place got its name or who the owner was when it was a manor house."
He explained that he thinks there may have been a pub in the village before 1900 which was moved across the road to the present site.
The house itself has numerous rooms and a Queen Anne look at the front. The main door at present opens into rooms used as a surgery for the lst three years so that people don't have to wait elsewhere in the rain.
"Hikers often come after seeing the sign from the road, because they think it is a coffee bar. I was told that a previous owner happened to see the name in London and the pub has been called Timm's Coffee House ever since"
Other places in the Loftus urban area of special architerctural or historical interest are Boulby Grange, All Saints Church and rectory. Eastington, Handale Abbey, St Michael's Church, Liverton, St Leonard's Church, Loftus and the rectory, Water Lane.
Dated 21st March 1967
