Hutton Rudby celebrates the coronations of 1911 and 1937

Hutton Rudby celebrates George V's coronation

This photograph – provided to me by Malcolm McPhie from the Album entitled The Green on the Facebook page of the Hutton Rudby and District Local History Society – gives a brief glimpse of the village's celebrations in 1911 at the coronation of George V.  

A programme survives in Miss Winifred Blair's Scrapbook, from which I made notes in the days before scanning such things was easily done:-

"The Coronation of their Majesties King George V and Queen Mary"  on Thursday 22 June 1911 was to start at 8:30 am with presentation of Bibles and mugs to the children – church service – cricket – Maypole – sports.

These fascinating instructions showing how they managed to give a Public Tea to the entire village:-

Public Tea in the Council School, Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist Chapels.  

Those having RED Tickets take Tea at the Council School.

     "         "   WHITE     "         "       "    "    "   Prim. Methodist Chapel.    

     "         "   BLUE       "         "       "    "     "  Wesleyan Chapel.

Tickets can only be used by the person whose name is on it.  It will be impossible to obtain Tea without a Ticket. 

This was followed by a continuation of the sports – dancing on the Village Green – and finally the Bonfire at 10 pm

But the photograph and my notes from the programme don't convey the sheer scale and colour of the occasion – the "streamers, flags, and banners", the band, the sports, the marching round the village.  So I was very glad to find this, in the Darlington & Stockton Times:-

Darlington & Stockton Times, Ripon & Richmond Chronicle, 1 July 1911

HUTTON RUDBY

Right loyally did the inhabitants of Hutton Rudby celebrate the Coronation, and never was a happier day spent.  As early as 8.30 am the Hutton Brass Band gathered on the village green, conducted by their old bandmaster, Mr Henry Bainbridge, who freely gave his services on this most special occasion, and they played 'God Save the King' in a manner that did credit to the band, and which set the whole village a-going with a delightful determination to make the day one of the best.  

The band then played a march to the Council School, where Bibles were presented by Mr A. Park to all the school children of the parish, to the number of about 250.  They were also presented with a mug each, given by Mr J.T. Barthram.  Before the presentation Mr Park addressed the children in the schoolyard. 

On the conclusion of the presentations the children, under the control of Mr S. Eyre and his staff of teachers, formed a procession, headed by the band, and marched round the village, which was exceedingly pretty.  The streamers, flags, and banners flapped and danced in the morning breeze, which seemed to give life and gladness to everything.  The smiling faces of the happy children, with a Bible in their right hand and a mug in their left, walking in step to the music, was a sight that will not soon be forgotten.  

On they marched to the fine old Parish Church, which stands as a monument of the faith of our forefathers, and which has just been beautified by the fitting in of a reredos at the back of the altar table, with side wings down to the altar rail splendidly carved and panelled in solid wainscot oak, at a cost of something over £50.  This has been given to the church in memory of King George the Fifth's Coronation by Mr Allan Bowes Wilson, J.P., and Miss Annie Hutton Wilson, of Hutton Rudby.  The Coronation service was a most impressive and delightful one, the band taking part in the service by playing hymn 300 and the National Anthem.  The singing was taken up by the congregation with great enthusiasm.  The Vicar-in-Charge, the Rev F.W. Shepherd, gave an address on the great influence derived for good in having a Christian King.  

After the church service the band again headed the procession to the village, where the children dispersed, and the band lunched at the King's Head.  Later on they marched to the cricket field, playing selections while the cricket match was being played between Married and Single, the single winning.  At half-past twelve sports commenced, and lasted all day.  In fact they were not finished until Monday night.  At 2.30 pm the maypole dancers' march from the Council School, headed by the band, was a very pretty sight.  Great praise is due to Mrs Eyre for the trouble taken to get the dancers trained so splendidly, for the singing, dancing, and music was most enjoyable and pretty.  

A free tea was provided for all the parishioners, commencing at 4pm when 915 partook of an excellent repast provided by Misses Sedgwick, Hall, and Mello.  One of the most amusing parts of the programme was the fancy and comic costume parade, which was remarkably good and well got up.  The judges had great difficulty in deciding who was the most fancied and the most funny.  The rest of the night until dark was spent in sports and dancing until 10pm, when the bonfire was lit by Mr S. Snowdon.  

Result of sports:- 

Cricket match for men, Married v Single - 1st, Single
120 yards handicap footrace - J Honeyman; 2, T Bainbridge, 3, S Snowdon
Tug-of-war - G Nelson's team
Potato race - A Bainbridge, 2, D Fortune, 3 P Grearson [Grierson]
Clout the bellman - V Gordon
Sack race for men - J W Sidgwick and A Bainbridge
Point-to-point race - J Honeyman, 2 W Bainbridge, 3 L Hodgson
Pricking the donkey for men - G Featherstone
Do.do. for women - A Irwin
Race, women over 50 - Mitchinson, 2 Walker, 3 Smith
Fancy costume parade - 1 J Garbutt, jun, and M Sherwood, 2 B Foster and Miss Garbutt
Comic costume parade - T Liverseed, 2 D Fortune and R Hodgson, 3 G Husband and Miss Garbutt
Climbing greasy pole for leg of mutton - Gordon, 2 Dobson, 3 Coverdale
Band musical novelty race - T Sidgwick, 2 Lobley
Boys and girls under 14 - Cricket match, Up and Down Towners - Down Towners
Plaiting the maypole - £1 divided
Footrace for boys, under 7 - H Garbutt, G Hodgson
Do.do. for girls under 7 - D Smith
Needle and thread race - M Weighell
Skipping for girls under 14 - M Honeyman, 2 M Weighell
Do.do. for girls 7 to 10 - M Hodgson, 2 H Honeyman
Do.do. under 7 - J Coverdale, J Honeyman
Handicap footrace, 10 to 14 - J Mello, 2 G Stringer
Potato race - M Bainbridge, 2 V Dodsworth
Sack race - B Garbutt, 2 A Kay
Egg and spoon race - M Wood, 3 H Weatherell
Three-legged race for boys - A Wilson and C Chapman
Do.do. for girls - A Metcalfe and J Coverdale
Long jump - J Burton, 2 J Mello
High jump - N Williams, 2 J Dobson 

NOTES

I think the bandmaster must have been the builder Henry Bainbridge, who lived in Enterpen, on the site of the old Sawmill.

The Mr A. Park who presented the children with Bibles was Alexander Park.  

From The People behind the Plaques, an account of the memorials in All Saints', Hutton Rudby:-

The lectern was carved by Alexander Park, a gentleman farmer who retired to live at Leven House (across the river from the church) with his elderly spinster sisters in the late 19th century.  Mr Park was for years the honorary secretary of the Hurworth Hunt, and was said not to have made a single enemy during all his time in office.  On his last day out with the hounds he and his old black horse had a combined age of ninety-nine.  He and his sisters were very generous and active in village and church life: the choir stalls and altar rails were given to the church by the family.

Mr J T Barthram, who presented the mugs, was John Thomas Barthram, grocer & draper, who lived with his wife Mary, and children Martha, Thomas, Richard and James half way along North Side.

Samuel Eyre was the village schoolmaster.  He first appears in the Hutton Rudby census of 1881 as a young married man of 25.  He was born in Hope, Derbyshire and was twice married, firstly to Sarah and then to Hilda Marguerita.  Both women were schoolmistresses; Sarah was born in East Harlsey and Hilda in Hutton Rudby.  Hilda survived him.  In the early 20th century Samuel lived at West House.  This is the house next door to the Village Hall; it has been much extended over the years.  Under Mr Eyre, the garden in front of the house was put out to vegetables and boys were sometimes sent out of their lessons to do some weeding for him. (A History Walk round Hutton Rudby).  He died on 18 November 1914, aged 60.

The first verse of Hymn 300 of Hymns Ancient and Modern:-

All hail the power of JESUS' Name;
Let Angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him LORD of all.

Mr S. Snowdon was the 20 year old son of Dr Anthony Snowdon, who lived at Ravensthorpe on Doctors Lane.  For more on Dr Snowdon, his car and the story of the pet raven, see A History Walk round Hutton Rudby.

The name Mello appeared twice in the newspaper account as Mellor, but I have changed it to Mello on the assumption that it is a typo.  Mr Joshua Arnold Mello and his family lived, according to the 1911 Census, in the Bungalow on North End, next to the original Methodist Chapel, in the island of houses in the middle of North End Green.  Mr Mello is described as a Refreshment Caterer; the Bungalow was used as Refreshment Rooms and a dance hall before the building of the Village Hall.

There are many familiar village names in the list of winners, and I am sure their descendants will get in touch with Malcolm McPhie to explain who they are!

The Coronation in 1937

The Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on 12 May 1937 was celebrated in a similar style.

The programme in Miss Blair's Scrapbook shows that it was to start at 8:50 am with the children assembling at the school and marching to the Village Hall – presentation of mugs and souvenirs – cricket – service – sports – children’s tea at Village Hall, followed by tea for over 65's – fancy dress parade – sports – broadcast at the Village Hall – King’s speech broadcast from the Village Hall – dance in the Village Hall at 9:30

Hutton Rudby celebrates Queen Victoria's Jubilees, 1887 & 1897

In 1863, Hutton Rudby had celebrated the marriage of the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VII) in great style with flags, the brass band, tea and plum cake for 500 or 600 people, an immense bonfire and a firework display.  In 1887, the villagers prepared for another day of festival when Queen Victoria celebrated her Golden Jubilee.

Jubilee 1887 celebrations on Hutton Rudby Green

This remarkable photograph shows the crowds gathering around the maypole, newly erected for the purpose, on 21 June 1887.  The only account of the festivities that I can find in the newspapers is a few lines about the village's plans.  This appeared in the Whitby Gazette:-

Whitby Gazette, 21 May 1887

HUTTON RUDBY

QUEEN'S JUBILEE

The inhabitants of this village have decided to celebrate the approaching Jubilee by a dinner for the aged poor, tea and medals for the children, old English sports, including a dance round a May pole, and a display of fireworks.

However, a memento of the Jubilee does exist, which conveys the ambitious scale of the event, and was kindly lent by Bob Hutchinson to Malcolm McPhie for scanning.  You can see this booklet in full on the Hutton Rudby History Society facebook page.  Here is its attractive front cover:-

I have transcribed the booklet, and will set it out here, broken up into paragraphs for easier reading.  I've left the punctuation as it was, but have corrected the spelling of Dr Snowdon and of Osmotherley, so that they may be found in an onlline search.  

You may notice that the date of the celebration was 21 June 1887, but the date is frequently given elsewhere as 20 June.  The Royal Family's website explains that the Jubilee was celebrated on both 20 and 21 June.

As to whether it was genuinely a letter found in Doctors Lane, I leave it to the reader to judge.  It begins with a foreword by Allan Bowes Wilson and Alfred Wilkinson Kindler:-

A Memento of the Celebration of Queen Victoria's Jubilee Year

Hutton Rudby, June 21st 1887

The following letter was found a few weeks ago in the Doctors lane and though evidently not intended for publication it gives so good a description of our rejoicings on the jubilee day that a copy will it is thought form a very agreeable memento of the day

We apologize to the writer and the person written to for the advantage taken of the discovery

Wishing you a very happy new year
We are
Yours faithfully
[signed]Allan Bowes Wilson
              A W Kindler

Hutton Rudby
Decr. 1887 

Hutton Rudby

June 23rd 1887

Dear Kitty

You remember what a jolly time we had when we were staying here with Auntie 3 years ago how we enjoyed ourselves and how we both joined in saying we never had so festive a time and never met a jollier lot of people than we met at Hutton then  Well you know I was delighted when I was invited to spend the jubilee week by Auntie though I was sorry that you could not come too as dear Harry was coming over to stay with you but I dare say you enjoyed yourself and you and Harry managed to get lost or lose yourselves 

The chairman of the committee who had charge of the arrangements was Mr A B Wilson you know what a good sort he is and the programme for the day of which I have got a copy for you was printed in Old English on rough paper and a time was arranged for everything and it was signed by a formidable list of secretaries some of whom you will remember. Here they are the schoolmaster Mr S Eyre, Mr T B Wilson, Mr Wm Chapman and Mr A W Kindler 

The morning was a lovely one and when we turned out on the green it was as pretty a sight as ever I saw  There was a triumphal arch at the brow of the hill and flags on each side of the road down to the wynd  The boys were already playing a cricket match and when the bandsmen with the children had assembled at the bottom of the village to receive the pretty gold stars the gift of the chairman which were hung round the girls necks with ribbons and pinned to the breast of the boys by an ornamental pin everyone had turned out.  Visitors came in from all round the district even from Stockton and Middlesbrough  

Then there was a service at the church which is a fine dear old building standing as it does in the Leven valley close by the river and surrounded by woods on the north and east  

Afterwards more medals were given to the children and everybody joined in a procession which reached from the school half way up the Doctors lane and marched round the village singing  

Then all the people formed a large ring round the maypole which had been given by Mr Pyman of Linden Grove  The maypole dance which I had never seen before is so pretty  The boys and girls about 20 of them who had been trained by the schoolmaster each held a colored ribbon which was fastened to the pole about half way up and then when the band played they moved round in and out singing as they went until the ribbons were plaited round the pole  

After this we had a presentation to that merry old gentleman Mr Mease who teased you so much when you were here of a timepiece and supports  During this time photographs had been taken by McLeish of Darlington of the scene  

Until tea time we had all sorts of sports skipping and racing  At tea time there was such a crowd everybody who came had a free tea and all of us had to work hard  At the school we had about 6 sittings down and Kitty Garbutt who had charge of the children at the Wesleyan School had as many

After tea and until dark we had more sports about half of which I can't tell you  There was the old game of Clout the bellman a lot of blindfolded men blindfolded with ugly masks carrying bag of flour running after a man who was not blinded who carried a bell  They kept hitting each other until they were all over flour  There was sack racing and old men racing racing over obstacles through barrels and all sorts of funny things I forgot to tell you about the donkey racing which was very amusing especially with the committee and later in the evening by others of which I will tell you some other time 

After the sports were over there was dancing on the green and an immense bonfire  Some were playing Kiss in the ring and other games and some were dipping for coins in an electric bath provided by Dr Snowdon  After the fireworks everybody went up to the bonfire and there was a lot of speechmaking and cheering  Mr Wilson Mr Pyman Mr Jas Kindler Dr Snowdon and Mr Thompson from Osmotherley all made speeches  After that we went in but the men kept it up until about 2 o'clock in the morning I heard cousin Bob say he had an awful spree  I do wish you could have been here it was one of the best days I ever had 

Of course [blank] was with me the whole day and took care of me  If all Jubilees were kept as they keep them in Hutton I wish they would happen every month

With love to all
I am
Yours affectionately

An appendix is added, listing the prize winners at the sports

So we can see from the Memento that the photograph at the top of this post was taken by Mr McLeish of Darlington, and the maypole was provided by Mr Pyman of Linden Grove.

Notes on people mentioned

Allan Bowes Wilson (c1839-1932) and his brother Thomas Bowes Wilson (1845-1929) ran the Sailcloth Mill and were considerable figures in the village

Samuel Eyre was the village schoolmaster.  He died aged 60 on 18 November 1914.

William Chapman farmed at Old Hall, Sexhow.  He was for many years a churchwarden and Superintendent of the Sunday School.  He was in his sixties when he died in 1916.  The font cover was donated to All Saints' church by his siblings in his memory.

Alfred  Wilkinson Kindler was a Stockton solicitor.  The family lived for a time at Eden Cottage on Belbrough Lane.

Mr Thomas English Pyman of Linden Grove (and for more on the house, see here) was a member of the Cleveland shipowning family.  After living in Hutton Rudby for many years, he and his family moved on to West Hartlepool.  Sadly he died there at the age of 49 – his death is noted with much regret in the Parish Magazine in 1892.

Mr Mease.  This must be Joseph Mellanby Mease (1827-1928). 

[29 February 2020: For more on the Mease family, see the articles that begin here]

Percy A F Blair.  Percy Alexander Field Sadler (1866-1906) took his wife's surname Blair after the death of her brother.  For the Blairs of Drumrauch Hall see here

Alexander Park was a gentleman farmer who retired to live at Leven House (across the river from the church) with his elderly spinster sisters in the late 19th century.  Mr Park was for years the honorary secretary of the Hurworth Hunt, and was said not to have made a single enemy during all his time in office.  On his last day out with the hounds he and his old black horse had a combined age of ninety-nine.  He and his sisters were very generous and active in village and church life: the choir stalls and altar rails were given to the church by the family.  He died on 8 May 1914.

Henry Chapman (born 1859) the son of Henry Chapman (1800-78), farmers of Enterpen.  Henry built Highfield on Enterpen when he retired from farming.

Bartholomew Goldsbrough, butcher.  For more on Bartholomew Goldsborough (both spellings seem to occur) see The planting of the trees on Hutton Rudby green

George Smith.  George Henry Smith farmed at White House [Bulmer's Directory 1890]

John Goldsbrough.  Mr John Goldsborough is listed in Bulmer's Directory 1890 at the Gospel Temperance Hall.

Dr Anthony Snowdon lived at Ravensthorpe on Doctors Lane.  For more on Dr Snowdon, his car and the story of the pet raven, see A History Walk round Hutton Rudby.  He died aged 66 in 1920

Hutton Rudby Invitation Ball 1887

This programme for an Invitation Ball to be held that same year also survives, and Malcolm McPhie suggests that it probably relates to the Jubilee as well, but was evidently not held on the same day.  Thirty-six dances, in two parts, with supper in the middle at midnight, and festivities to end a 6 o'clock in the morning!

We don't know where this Ball was held, but I think it was probably in the Schoolroom.

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, 1897

The success of the celebrations of 1863 and 1887 set a pattern for the future, and when the old Queen's Diamond Jubilee came around, there were grand plans made.  Luckily a programme survives in Miss Winifred Blair's scrapbook.  I made notes from it in the days before scanning documents and photographs was easily done - I do hope Malcolm is able to go through the Blair albums!

As in 1887, the 1897 programme was written in Olde Englishe:-

Ye Ceremonyes and Games at ye Rejoycyngs on Ye Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, at ye town of Hutton Rudby, June 22nd , 1897…Chairman:  Myster Allan Bowes Wilson … Commyttee:  Mysters P A F Blair, William Chapman, Alexander Park, Henry Chapman, Barthw. Goldsbrough, George Smith, John Goldsbrough and Dr Snowdon

The day started at 8:30 am with boys and girls at school being given 1/- (one shilling) each by Allan Bowes Wilson – then there was cricket – thanksgiving service – parade – Maypole – children’s tea – aged people given half-crowns – games and sports – great "fyre" at 10 o’clock

Again in 1911 and in 1937, the village celebrated with fervour.  The 1977 Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was celebrated in style, and can be glimpsed on this video, while these videos on youtube show the Village Event in the 1990s.

Photographs courtesy of the Hutton Rudby & District Local History Society.  

Visit their Facebook page for many more!

Excerpts from the Rudby Parish Magazines of the 1890s

April 1893
9 April – baptism of Rebecca, daughter of Thomas and Martha Barthram of Hutton
1 April – burial of Martha Barthram of Hutton, aged 40 years

The Archbishop of York will hold a Confirmation in All Saints' Church some time in June.  Intending candidates are requested kindly to send in their names soon to the Vicar.

September 1893
The magazine contained an account of the Sunday School Treat.  On 1 August, 47 children went by train from Potto to Redcar.  There had also been an outing to Skutterskelfe where Lord and Lady Falkland provided amusements and refreshments.  On the 17th, the Choir Trip – 25 people – went to Redcar.  They bathed, walked, visited the church at Coatham.

November 1893

"A most successful Concert was given in the School-house on the 22nd September, by the friends and through the kindness of the Miss Parks.  The music and singing was much appreciated, and the room was crowded.  The proceeds, amounting to £8 8s. 6d., were divided between the Sunday school and Reading Room."

December 1893
Oct 24 – the vicar was married to Florence Mary Wright of Enterpen
Sat 11 Nov –

"Tom Honeyman was killed accidentally when engaged in some iron works in Stockton.  The greatest sympathy is felt for his mother, who is a widow, and he was a good son to her."  

He was buried on the 14th: Thomas Harwood Honeyman aged 20.

Lady Falkland announces "owing to her absence from Skutterskelfe she is for a time discontinuing the Parish Magazine"

In 1894, the parish part of the magazine was reduced in size to the cover of the Church Monthly and the price had risen to 1½d.
It was distributed by Mrs Brigham, Mrs Robson and M.E. Johnson.

February 1894

"The Annual Sunday School & Choir Treat took place in the Schoolroom on January 5th.  The delicious cakes and sandwiches for the tea, provided by the kindness of our ladies, were thoroughly enjoyed by the schoolchildren, who were vastly amused by the contents of the crackers - another kind gift."

1 Jan 1894 - baptism of Denton James, son of John Thomas and Emma Jane Fortune of Hutton

March 1894
Day School.  The children were examined by A E Richardson, Esq., in November.  Shortly afterwards the Chief Inspector of the district (R P A Swettenham, Esq.) visited and inspected the school.  His report speaks very highly of the whole school, for he says, "The children are in good order, and have been very well taught."  The Grant which has been received is £1 0s 6d per head, the highest possible grant payable by the Department.

May 1894
Announces the Hutton Rudby Temperance Society's Annual Horticultural and Industrial Exhibition and Poultry, Pigeon, Rabbit, and Cat Show on 21 July.
A Band Contest was also arranged for the Show.

"The Committee regretted (with many others in the village) seeing so many prizes taken away from the place by outsiders last year, especially in the Juvenile departments.  This year the Penmanship classes will be confined to the village, and the committee hope the children will take special interest in this, and make a good entry."

Prizes were donated by various firms – eg, the first prize for Best Tray of Six Vegetables for cottagers of Hutton was a pair of meat carvers, value 15s., donated by Sunlight Soap Co.

July 1894
29 May – burial of Dorothy Passman of Hutton, aged 72

The Travelling Dairy Co from Leeds Agricultural College gave a display on dairy management, and butter and cream cheese making on 22 May

August 1894
Report on success of the Show, with 800 exhibits.

"The Committee … would have been gratified if more of the school-children had competed in the classes especially arranged for them."

October 1894
August Sunday School trip to Redcar (it rained)
Choir trip to Scarborough

November 1894

"We deeply regret to record the death of Mr Blair.  The immense gathering of all classes at his funeral bore striking testimony to his worth, and their sorrow at his departure from us …"

December 1894
Was there an epidemic?  There are four burials of infants:
20 Oct – Florence Butler, aged 7 days
1 Nov – George Bell, 4 years and 5 weeks
2 Nov – Thomas Alderson, 7 months
15 Nov – Percy Hare, 9 weeks

"We are sure our readers will have much pleasure in hearing that Rudby Church is to be enriched by the possession of a fine organ, the generous gift of Mrs Blair and her stepdaughters, as a memorial of the late Mr Blair and his son Mr Borrie Blair"

"We regret to announce that the Parish Magazine will now be discontinued"

1896 – the magazine returns, with the parish content on the cover

January 1896
Mrs Brigham is still running the Coal Club!

February 1896

"On Jan 3rd a gathering of 130 villagers had tea, and spent a most happy evening at Drumrauch"

(The Misses and Mrs Blair have taken over the philanthropic role of Lady Falkland).

May 1898
Reporting on the Easter services:

"for the first time were used the handsome new altar-rail of oak, and beautiful kneeling-mat of needlework, made and given by some Communicant Parishioners"

June 1898
baptism:
1 May – Norman, son of Thomas and Mary Hannah Williams, Drumrauck Cottages

September 1898
wedding at Rudby – Aug 17, Edgar Robinson Johnson, Stockton, to Alice Elizabeth Gears, Hutton Rudby
burial – 11 Aug – Catherine Stringer aged 73 year of Hutton Rudby

June 1899
6 May – Arthur Edward Greaves and Ethel Annie Smith of Hutton

September 1899
Marriages:
25 July – St James' Day – Mr Smollett Clerk Thomson of Edinburgh and Miss Margaret Amy Blair of Drumrauch
1 Aug – at East Rounton – Mr Harold Raynton-Dixon of Gunnergate Hall, and Miss Dorothea Margaret Johnson of Rounton Grange

Rudby Parish Magazine: November 1892

More from the old magazines:

CHURCH OFFERTORIES

Sept 25 ...... £1 11s.10d
Oct 2 ......... 8s. 5½d
Oct 9 ......... 19s. 4d
Oct 16 ......... £1 3s. 3½d

MARRIAGE

Oct 15 – Thomas Halliman, of Hutton, and Jemima Jordan, of Scarborough

BURIALS

Sep 22 – Mary Huby, of Hutton, aged 84 years
Oct 1 – Thomas Sleigh, of Hutton, aged 92 years

EAST ROUNTON

There is a Service in the Church at East Rounton on Sundays at 2.30pm

CHURCH OF ST CUTHBERT'S, MIDDLETON-ON-LEVEN

A Service is held on alternate Sundays at 2.30pm

..............................................

Mrs Brigham is most kindly arranging to have an entertainment in the School House on the 4th November for the benefit of the Cottage Hospital.  "A Perfect Cure" will be acted by some of her friends, who are kindly coming to assist her.

.................................................

HUTTON RUDBY DAY SCHOOL

The children attending this School were examined on Friday, May 13th, 1892, by A. Richardson,  Esq., H.M.I.A., and on Friday, August 12th, the Chief Inspector of the district, R.P.A. Swettenham, Esq., visited and inspected the School.  The following excellent report has been received, and will speak for itself:-

MIXED SCHOOL
"This School has on the whole passed a good examination, and I recommend the higher principal Grant.  The Upper Standard should read and write with more taste."

INFANTS' SCHOOL
"This School is going on well, and bids fair to become a very good School."

Amount of Grant received, £130 0s. 6d.

The Girls' Needlework was judged, and the annual prizes were distributed in connection with the Day School on Monday, August 22nd, by the Vicar, Lord and Lady Falkland, Mrs T Bowes Wilson, Dr and Mrs Snowdon, Mrs Blair, Mrs Percy Blair, the Misses Park, Miss A B Wilson, and Mrs Brigham.

...........................................

Note: For more information on the system of schools' inspection and payment by results, see Education in England

Rudby Parish Magazine: September 1892

More from the old parish magazines:

THE FALKLAND COTTAGE HOSPITAL

RULES FOR ADMISSION

Any sick person in Hutton Rudby or the immediate neighbourhood wishing to be admitted must apply to Lady Falkland, at Skutterskelfe; or to Sister Florence, at the Hospital; or to Dr Snowdon.
In all medical cases a doctor's certificate must be brought.

RULES FOR VISITORS

No visitors to Nurse or Patients are admitted to the Hospital in the morning.
Visiting days for the patients, friends are as follows:

Sundays, from 2 o'clock to 4.30 pm
Saturdays, from 2.30 to 4.30 pm., and 6 o'clock to 7.30 pm.
Wednesdays, from 6 o'clock to 7.30 pm.

On fixed days Lady Visitors are visiting from 2.30 to 4.30 pm.

.....................................................

The Sunday School Children had their Treat, August 13th.  It was spent as usual at Redcar.  Rain was the order of the morning, but after midday the sun shone and there was great enjoyment for the nearly fifty children who had gathered up.  They amused themselves with tricycles on the sands, plodging in the sea.  Some went on the switchback railway.  The donkeys this year were at a discount.  During the rain a 10 o'clock meal was partaken of at the Temperance Hall.  At the end of the day another good meal before starting homewards.  Several parents joined the party to look after the welfare and amusement of the young ones.  Happily none were missing on their arrival at Potto Station.

...............................................................

The Hutton Rudby Choir Trip of 1892 were fortunate in having a fine day for their Annual Holiday.  They started by first train in the morning, August 4th, for Middlesbro', the scene of the Great Yorkshire Agricultural Show.  Not being provided with a sufficient number of third class carriages, some of the boys were put into first class seats.  At Trenholm Bar they were taken out, left on the platform, coming on in the next train, but they were put out at a different station from the first detachment, causing fatigue and trouble to those who felt bound to meet them.  At last, all together, they saw the place decided on for final meeting and tea, then adjourned to the Show, where they viewed the animals, implements, etc., and wandered about according to their various tastes and fancies.  They met as arranged, returned by the last train.  Though tired, all agreed that they had spent a pleasant day.

........................................................................

GIRLS' FRIENDLY SOCIETY

A Sale of Work was held at Linden Grove, by the kind permission of Mrs Percy Blair, on Thursday, August 18th.  The work had been done and the prizes were competed for by the members and candidates of the G.F.S., under the direction of Mrs Brigham.

Again this year we owe our thanks to Mrs Brigham for the untiring interest she has taken in the G.F.S.  The amount of time and thought she has devoted to the improvement, as well as the amusement, of the girls has been great, and perhaps only fully appreciated by those who have had the opportunity of seeing how much Mrs Brigham has the happiness and welfare of the girls at heart.

The work was judged by Lady Falkland and Miss Kate Park, and the following Prizes were awarded:-

Class I.  – D. Passman, Plain Work.

Division II. – E. Elgie, Pillow Case.

Class II. – M. Fawcett, Knitted Stockings.

Class III. – S. Garbut, Men's Socks.

Class IV. – D. Meynell, Patchwork.

Division II. – M. H. Johnson, Patchwork.

Class V. – S. Garbut, Dressed Doll.

Class V., Division II. – B. Rowell, Dressed Doll

Class VI. – Elizabeth Hall, Knitted Petticoat.

Division II. – K. Thorman, Knee Caps.

Class VII. – D. Passman, Crotchet Petticoat.

Class VIII. – B. Rowell, Grasses.

Class IX. – H. Brown, Wild Flowers

EXTRA SPECIAL PRIZES

B. Rowell, Apron.  Minnie Smith, Pinafore.  H. Brown, Holland Apron

NOTE

The unnamed author of the Parish Magazine is clearly very anxious to keep Mrs Brigham happy at her work!  I haven't been able to find Mrs Brigham in the censuses of 1891 and 1901 so far ... perhaps she left the village, worn out by her labours.

Rudby Parish Magazine: April 1892

More from the old parish magazines. 

The variation in the amount given to the church offertory over the weeks must indicate the absence of some wealthier inhabitants ...

Meanwhile, the existence of the Coal & Blanket Club reminds us that there were "very poor" people living in the village ...

CHURCH OFFERTORIES

Feb. 28th .............................. 17s. 8½d.
March 6th ............................ 7s. 4½d.
March 13th .......................... 14s. 11d.

BURIALS

March 1st – Thomas Bursfield, of Sexhow, aged 63 years
March 12th – William Redhead, of Enterpen, aged 65 years

COAL AND BLANKET CLUB

Mrs Brigham will be at the School House on the second Wednesday in April, the 13th, to receive Coal Club subscriptions.
As the Coal Club is for the benefit of the very poor, the Committee consider that they only should benefit by the bonus.  At the same time, if those who are better off and in good employment like to bring small sums to Mrs Brigham, she is quite willing to take charge of the money, returning it to them at the appointed time without any addition.
If any prefer Blankets or Clothing, she will give a ticket on one of the shops for either one or the other.

CONFIRMATION
At the Confirmation held at Yarm, on March 7th, by the Bishop of Beverley, the following Candidates were presented from our Church of All Saints, by the Vicar:-

George Barthram
Ralph Dennison
Hannah Brown
Dorcas Corner
Jane Fortune
Jane Elizabeth Garbutt
Mary Harrison
Amy Picken
George Fortune
Thomas Russell
Sarah Picken
Laura Richardson
Jessie Rowell
Francis Sowter
Kate Thorman

EAST ROUNTON

There is a Service in the Church at East Rounton on Sundays at 2.30 pm

BAPTISM AT EAST ROUNTON

Feb. 28th – Cicely Mary, daughter of William and Hannah Elizabeth Smith, of Field House Farm

CHURCH OF ST CUTHBERT'S, MIDDLETON-ON-LEVEN

A Service is held on alternate Sundays at 2.30 pm

Rudby Parish Magazine: February 1892

Excerpts from the parish magazine of Rudby-in-Cleveland:

CHURCH OFFERTORIES

Dec. 27th, 1891 ....................... £1 3s. 8½d.
Jan. 3rd, 1892 .......................... 8s. 1d.
Jan. 10th, 1892 ........................ 10s. 0d.
Jan. 17th, 1892 ........................ 14s. 8½d.

MARRIAGE

Jan. 2nd – Harry Butler and Hannah Honeyman, both of Hutton.

BURIALS

Jan. 12th – Thomas Milburn, of Hutton, aged 77 years
Jan. 16th – James Richardson, of Potto Carr Farm, Parish of Whorlton, aged 65 years
Jan. 16th – William Hammond, of Hutton, aged 47 years

EAST ROUNTON

There is a Service in the Church at East Rounton on Sundays at 2.30 pm

CHURCH OF ST CUTHBERT'S, MIDDLETON-ON-LEVEN

A Service is held on alternate Sundays at 2.30 pm

COAL AND BLANKET CLUB

The names of those who have kindly subscribed to the Coal and Blanket Club this year are –

Viscount and Viscountess Falkland

Mrs Sadler

Mrs Brigham

Mr A B Wilson

Miss Wilson

Miss Paver

Mr Barthram

Mrs Chapman

Miss O'Connor

Mr Park

The Misses Park

Mr T Bowes Wilson

Mrs Blair

Mr Passman

Mr Coverdale

N. H. Coal Company

These subscriptions amounted to £13 10s. 7d.  Money paid into Club by members, £17 0s. 9d.  With this fund 25 tons of coal and 9 pairs of warm blankets were distributed to the members, the total amount paid for the coals and sending being £24 16s. 9d., and for the blankets £5 9s. 9d.

Our best thanks are again due to Mrs Brigham this year for the time and thought she has given to the Coal Club.  Her good work is much appreciated throughout the village, both by the poor and by those who realise what an amount of labour and of anxiety is incurred by the successful carrying on of a Coal Club.

CONFIRMATION

A Confirmation will be held at Yarm on March 7th.  It is requested that the names of those desirous to be confirmed may be sent in at once to the Vicar.

CHOIR TEA

The members of the Choir and their friends gathered together at the Schoolhouse on December 29th, for their Annual Tea.  After a comfortable tea dancing began, and continued with unabated spirit until one o'clock in the morning.  The dancing was interspersed with a few much-appreciated songs from Miss Clarkson.  

The Sunday School Tea took place on December 31st.  Oh, children!  judging from the noise you made you must have been happy.  Prizes were given to the scholars for attendance at school during the year.

The planting of the trees on Hutton Rudby Green

In 1878 three young men of Hutton Rudby – two of them were the brothers John and Joseph Hutchinson of Toft Hill – conceived the idea of beautifying the village by planting avenues of trees along the Green and North End.  They explained their idea at a public meeting where they were met with an enthusiastic response.  Donations were called for and a fund-raising concert was planned.

Hutton Rudby Green

They were possibly inspired by the lime trees planted on Stokesley West Green in 1874 to commemorate the marriage of Miss Caroline Marwood of Busby Hall and Mr Wynn Finch of Stokesley Manor.  The main Green at Hutton Rudby had always been a bare grassy expanse with a wide view across the rooftops towards the Cleveland Hills.  The trees planted in 1878-9 would grow to become one of the most recognisable and beautiful features of the village.

Chapter 20. "A very queer chap"

While Robert Barlow contemplated the success of his pamphlet, the nation was horrified to hear of the uprising in India.

In late July 1857 Lieutenant Hector Vaughan sailed with his regiment from Portsmouth on the Champion of the Seas.  She was a clipper charted by the government as a troop transport, and she made the journey in only 101 days.  Lieutenant Vaughan's regiment was to be present at the capture of Lucknow in 1858, and he would later receive the Indian Mutiny Medal.  It was the beginning of Empire.  Meanwhile, the old way of life in Cleveland was rapidly changing. 

Middlesbrough, which had been a farm and a few cottages when Mr Barlow arrived in the area, was made a municipal borough in 1853; ironstone had been found in the Eston Hills.

Railways were spreading across the countryside – the line from Middlesbrough to Guisborough was built in 1853, and on 2 March 1857 the North Yorkshire & Cleveland Railway opened a line from Picton station to Stokesley.

It was an age of technological marvels, which Mr Barlow must surely have enjoyed – the first iron ship built on the Tees was launched at South Stockton in 1854, and in 1858 an iron steamer was built at Middlesbrough. 

Improvements of all kinds were being carried out.

In Osmotherley, the open drain in the middle of the main street was covered over at last in 1852.  By 1856 Yarm's trade as a port had almost entirely disappeared, but they had the railway and gas street lights.  Stokesley had gas lighting, paved streets and a new Town Hall.  The "odious unsightly shambles, situated in the centre of the main street" described by Ord in 1846 had finally been demolished, and neat new buildings erected in their place.  Mr Barlow himself was improving his glebe land, and his notebooks contain records of field drainage undertaken.

Chapter 14. Deaths, Changes & Recession: 1837 to 1842

On 20 June 1837 King William IV died.  It was a personal grief to his daughter Amelia, Lady Falkland, who had lost her sister Sophia in childbirth earlier in the year, but it was also a blow to her husband's career.

Lord Falkland had been made a Privy Councillor on 1 March, but a new reign brought a new Court and there was no hope of future favour.  His new mansion house at Skutterskelfe was nearly complete, but in the event he and his wife and son had only a short time in which to enjoy it before he left the country.  A career in public service was the answer to his financial problems, and on 30 September 1840 Lord Falkland took office as Governor of Nova Scotia, leaving a steward at Skutterskelfe Hall. 

It is not clear whether by 1840 George Brigham was still acting as Lord Falkland's agent.

His old friend John Lee of Pinchinthorpe Hall had died a few years earlier in 1836, and it is said that he shot himself.  Lee was unmarried but for some years before his death had been paying a considerable amount for the upkeep of an illegitimate child, and his estate was left heavily encumbered with debt [1].  Perhaps the personal and social difficulties arising from the Harker and Powell Chancery case also contributed to his unhappiness. 

In December 1841, George Brigham himself died at the age of fifty-one.  His brother-in-law James Dobbin registered the death, giving the cause as "general debility"; the registrar was Brigham's old enemy Thomas Harker.

George died without making a Will, as he had nothing to leave [2].  His eldest son George, who was only thirteen years old at the time, later became a clerk with Messrs Backhouse & Co, the Darlington bankers.  When asked in 1854 if he would act in the still-continuing Chancery case, in his capacity as his father's heir-at-law, he not surprisingly declined. 

The general depression in trade deepened after 1836, and while Whitby dwindled in importance as whaling declined, Middlesbrough grew ever larger.

Chapter 13. Agitation, Ambition & Education

Mr Barlow, now established in his parish, was eager to make improvements to the church in Rudby.  On 2 July 1833, the churchwardens' accounts record that

At a meeting held this day according to Publick Notice Sarah Hebbron was elected Sexton and to have £2-12 per year for doing the duty of a Sexton to attend to the fires and keep the church clean.  The Churchwardens to see about getting the stove in repair. 

It was signed by Mr Barlow, the Middleton farmer Thomas Righton, the doctor Thomas Harker and John Sidgwick the grocer.

Mr Barlow must have been very anxious to have the stoves in working order – the Primitive Methodist chapel, only ten years old and packed with an enthusiastic congregation, would be much warmer and more attractive in the winter.  Unfortunately the stove could not be repaired and had to be replaced at a cost of £18; the result of the ensuing work – including more than £5 to the stone mason – was an expenditure of nearly £65.

Whilat Henry Bainbridge was happy to assist the vicar with this – perhaps in part because Hutton Rudby Methodists still brought their babies to baptism in the otherwise unheated church – the people of Hilton were not so amenable.  For historical reasons Hilton still paid a levy towards the upkeep of Rudby church, and not surprisingly in 1833 they refused to pay [1].  It was not only Nonconformists who found church rates objectionable.

Stokesley may have become a much quieter town during the previous decade, but it was still very much agitated by political argument on the great issues of the day.

The Roman Catholic population of Hutton Rudby, c1780 to 1830

After the Reformation, the mediaeval frescoes in Hutton Rudby parish church were whitewashed over and a wealthy parishioner left money in his Will for a pulpit to be installed, in accordance with the new Protestant emphasis on preaching.

Even so, in the late 16th century, Rudby was still known as one of the local centres of Catholicism and we know of two prominent Catholics in the parish: Sir John Ingilby and the Venerable Mary Ward.

Sir John Ingilby of Lawkland owned the manor of Rudby.  He was prosecuted for recusancy in 1604.  A labourer from Crathorne destroyed a seat in a close in Rudby which belonged to Sir John “on which the said John, an old man and lame, was wont to rest himself”. 

Mary Ward (1585-1645) lived in quietly in Rudby parish near the end of her life, after her many hard years of journeying in Europe and her struggle to found the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  In 1642, during the Civil Wars, she came back to her native Yorkshire and took refuge at Hutton Rudby with her Ingilby relatives.  During her time there, Mary prayed at the shrine of Our Lady at Mount Grace.

I think we can assume that she stayed in the old manor house of Rudby, which stood beside the river Leven.  (There is nothing of it to be seen today - only a field, across the road from the church).  In this obscure corner of the Ingilby estates it seems very unlikely that the family maintained another house that could be suitable for sheltering an elderly and infirm woman and her companions.

Hutton Rudby was, in those days, a very remote place and in early 1643 Mary decided that she must move to Heworth near York, in order to be in communication with friends and supporters.  She died there on 30 January 1645.  She was the foundress of the Bar Convent, York.

Apart from Sir John and Mary Ward, we know very little of Catholics living in the village - until the baptismal registers for St Mary's in Crathorne provide us with names for the period c1780 to 1830.

The Baptismal Register of St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Crathorne 1777 to 1839

I obtained a copy of St Mary's baptismal register while researching my book on Hutton Rudby in the time of the cholera.  My transcription follows below - please check against the original before relying on it.

The baptismal register book for St Mary’s, Crathorne is held at the National Archive (Public Record Office) at Kew and covers the period 1777 to 1839. 

During this time Parliament restored civil rights to Catholics in a series of Relief Acts beginning in 1778 and culminating in 1829 with the Catholic Emancipation Act. 

The register begins with an introduction by Thomas Ferby:  

“A Baptismal Book belonging Crathorne [sic] in which an account is kept of the children that have been baptized by me Thos Ferby Eng.h Miss. since Novr 1st 1777”

Hutton Rudby - parish life in the 1890s

An early photograph of All Saints'

A collection of old bound volumes of parish magazines gives us a very full picture of Church and village life in Hutton Rudby in the 1890s.

I will begin with Church affairs - just skip those sections to go straight to other village activities.

These include: the Blanket Club; village cricket; hedge-cutting; and children's prizes & sports.  There are lists of those taking part, which might be useful to family historians. 

According to the account of the Sports Day in 1896,

"The race with the needle and thread created great excitement, as did also the old ladies' race for tea"

But unfortunately, there's no more information on how they were run - or the qualifying age for the old ladies.

Sunday School Outings & Choir Holidays in the 1890s

Anglican children in the village in the 1890s

Hutton Rudby churchgoers in the 1890s could subscribe to a magazine called The Church Monthly.  It was 'An Illustrated Magazine for Home Reading', with serialised stories, articles, poems, practical advice, quizzes and recipes, and  was published in London.

Inserted into each month's copy was All Saints' own parish magazine, sometimes only two or three pages long, priced initially at One Penny (1d), rising in 1894 to 'Three Halfpence' (1½d).  Several bound volumes of the magazine have survived.

Children's activities are covered in the magazines - confirmations, and outings by rail from Potto Station.  The names listed may be of interest to family historians. 

Miss Winifred Blair's scrap book

This scrap book in the possession of the Hutton Rudby History Society contains a miscellany of items, from postage stamps and theatrical programmes to newspaper cuttings. 

The following list gives the main details of the contents of the book.

Items of interest: a good deal about amateur dramatics in the village; a programme in Olde Englishe for the celebrations of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee; advertisements for Sidgwick's and Scupham's dairies; and the planning and opening of the Village Hall. 

Miss Winifred Blair's red album

The red album entitled "Newspaper Gleanings" covers the period 1894 to 1936.

Most of the cuttings relate to the early and mid-1930s and they give a vivid picture of life in Hutton Rudby in the years before the Second World War, when "Herr Hitler" was still a figure of fun and not an imminent menace. 

The notes that follow will convey some idea of the contents of the album.  The story of the thunderbolt that struck Doctors Lane in 1928 is particulary worth reading!

I have added photographs from the Hutton Rudby History Society collection, by way of illustration.