Sidgwick family in Enterpen in the early C19

This beautifully engrossed indenture dated 18 July 1828 is part of the legal paperwork by which Edward Meynell the younger of Enterpen, weaver, bought property in Enterpen from John Sidgwick of Broughton, yeoman.

John Sidgwick was one of the sons of the late John Sidgwick of Enterpen, linen manufacturer. 

He had inherited the property from his father – and he had previously inherited it from his father, also called John Sidgwick, who had bought it from the Flintoff family in 1779.

John Sidgwick of Broughton was selling Edward Meynell two houses in Enterpen with the garden lying behind them.  They had been in the occupation of the late John Sidgwick, and were now tenanted by Thomas Hawman and James Meek. 

The properties are described as being bordered to the east and north by a house and grounds belonging to John Sidgwick of Broughton – to the west by ground belonging to Sarah Sidgwick – and to the south by the King's Highway leading from Hutton near Rudby to East Rounton.

A comparison with the Tithe Map, in which Edward Meynell is shown as owning a house and garden of 22 ½ perches, indicates that the property lay at the eastern end of Enterpen, to the west of the old Station Hotel. 

It is clear from the Tithe Map that the Sidgwick family still dominated that end of Enterpen in the 1830s.  John the linen manufacturer and his father John before him had clearly laid down a good inheritance for their successors.

Note: the first John Sidgwick acquired the land by "certain indentures of lease and release bearing date respectively 15th and 16th May 1779 and the release made or expressed to be made between George Flintoff and Ann Flintoff widow (1) John Newsam (2) and the said John Sidgwick the Grandfather (3)"

One of the witnesses was William Weatherill – perhaps an early appearance by William Weatherill, solicitor of Guisborough?  Possibly.

Reckless driving near Stockton in 1877

From The Weekly Exchange
(Price One Penny)

Thursday 1 March 1877

RECKLESS DRIVING NEAR STOCKTON

At the County Petty Sessions at Stockton this morning, Frank Clayton, a Stockton cabman of notorious character, was charged with being drunk in charge of a horse and conveyance.  Mr Bolsover prosecuted on behalf of Mr J P Jewson, music teacher.

On the evening of the 15th of February, Mr Jewson, who had been at the Titiens’ Concert, was driving, about eleven o’clock, to Hartburn from Stockton.  When near to the first bridge in Yarm-road, they saw the defendant driving a conveyance at a furious rate in an opposite direction on the wrong side of the road.  Mr Jewson’s driver drew out of the way as much as possible, but was unable to prevent an accident, and the two vehicles collided.

The splashboard of Mr Jewson’s was broken to atoms, a carriage lamp was broken, and other damage was done.  The shaft of defendant’s conveyance struck Mr Jewson, jnr., on the arm, and bruised it.  Defendant’s late employer was called to state that he had been compelled to discharge the defendant on account of his drunken habits and for having injured a horse and carriage by his carelessness.

The defendant had practically no defence.

The bench fined him £2, including costs, or two months hard labour.  They cautioned him as to his future conduct.

but on the bright side...

STOCKTON: THE FREE LIBRARY

The reading-room in connection with the Corporation Free Library was opened on Tuesday.  It is situated in the Freemasons old Hall in Wellington-street.

Messrs Blair & Co Marine Engine Works: 1877

Newspaper reports from the Stockton works of George Young Blair of Drumrauch Hall, Hutton Rudby:

From The Weekly Exchange
(price one penny)

Thursday 25 January 1877

THE SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT STOCKTON

The young man William Cockfield, who was seriously injured on Saturday evening at Messrs Blair and Co's Marine Engine Works, at Stockton through the breaking of a crane, died yesterday afternoon at the New Surgical Hospital, Bowesfield-lane, whither he was conveyed immediately after the accident. 

An inquest was held on the body Mr Coroner Settle at the New Hospital this afternoon.  A verdict of "Died from injuries received" was returned.

Thursday 1 March 1877

PRESENTATION

On Monday evening, Mr Robert Graham (who has relinquished his situation as a foreman at Messrs Blair and Co's Marine Engine Works), was presented by the workmen at this establishment with a handsome timepiece, and a valuable gold brooch was at the same time presented through him to his wife.  The presentation took place at the Borough Hotel, of which house Mr Graham has become landlord.  Mr John Wood, on behalf of the subscribers, presented the articles and referred to the esteem in which Mr Graham was held by the workmen; and Mr Graham suitably acknowledged the kindness which they had shown him.

Bonfire Night

For some years now, Guy Fawkes' Night has been marked by organised displays of fireworks.  It seems a long time ago that families and villages celebrated with a few fireworks and as big a bonfire as they could manage – and now the expense of insurance and the effects of the recession are curtailing the municipal displays.  

This account from Bill Cowley's Cleveland Calendar is for those of you with fond memories of the days when November the Fifth meant, above all, bonfires ...

A great pile of hedge-trimmings makes a good start for a bonfire on November 5th.  From the vantage point of Potto Hill our children used to look out to see the bonfires starting up across half the Cleveland Plain – an early starter at Ingleby Cross, Swainby a few fields away, a dozen farm bonfires like our own starring the darkness north west to Crathorne, then three miles to the north the sky would be glowing with the great holocaust that Hutton Rudby produces.  Seamer, Stokesley, Carlton, Faceby – and all the time rockets would be going up into the great arc of the Cleveland sky, to burst in blue and red and silver, whilst the rapid-fire of crackers and bangers sounded like a minor war.  As we stirred the last embers of our own fire, smoke and sparks from a dozen others would still be mounting into the night, punctuating the dark horizon with their repetition of an ancient sacrifice to the dying year.  Fingers smelling of woodsmoke and gunpowder we could leave the night to other revellers, satisfied at having played our part in this pagan ritual.

Middlesbrough Football Club plays Tees Wanderers, February 1877

from The Weekly Exchange
(Price One Penny)

Thursday 1 March 1877

MIDDLESBROUGH FOOTBALL MATCH

On Saturday afternoon a match (Association rules) was played between eleven of the Tees Wanderers and eleven of the Middlesbrough Football Club, on the archery ground of the Albert Park.  There was a good attendance of visitors.

The ball was kicked off by Mr Harvey (captain of the Middlesbrough Club).  A very strong wind was blowing against the Wanderers, but, notwithstanding this, some excellent play was witnessed.  The ball was taken towards the Wanderers’ goal, and kept near the whole of the half with one exception, when it was again taken back in very good play by Jenkins, and a goal kicked by Ewbank.

In the second half the wind was with the Wanderers, who after showing some excellent play, succeeded in making a goal, thus making a tie, both sides having one goal each.  The playing of Lees, Ewbank, Jenkins, and Hildreth for the Middlesbrough Club was very good.  As was also that of Logan, Dickens, and Wilson.

The sides were as follows:- Middlesbrough Club: Harvey, (captain) goal keeper; Windross, Hardisty, backs; Booth, Parkin, half backs; Lees, Ewbank, Greenwood, Jenkins, Harson, Hildreth, forwards.  Wanderers:- E Wilson, goal keeper; Brewster, Wilson, backs; Dickens, Addyman, half backs; Bell (captain), Child, Napier, Brewster, Logan, and W Richardson, forwards.

St Mary's Church, Whitby

St Mary's, seen from beside the table tomb of George Langborne (1773-1832) and his wife Jane Galilee and their family:

a view of the table tomb from the church ...

Views of the church interior ... not very good quality photos, I know! ... but enough to give an idea of its charm ... the three-decker pulpit ...  and the stove is the only heating for the nave ...

A visit to Whitby

Some snaps of Whitby ...

Views from the East Cliff:

 
and with the mini Endeavour coming in:

If you haven't already visited the Whitby Museum in Pannett Park, surely these photographs will tempt you?  It's simply the nicest museum in the country ...

There's something there for all the family ...

Who would want to miss the Hand of Glory?  It was believed that using the mummified hand of a hanged man as a candle holder would enable a thief to cast a charm that would send the household to sleep ...

 

The replica of the Tempest Prognosticator -

unfortunately Dr Merryweather of Hutton Rudby and Whitby did not make his fortune with this leech-powered barometer 

A glimpse of a few of the toys on display ...

dinosaurs, fossils ...

the ship carved by French prisoners of war from the bones from their meat ration ...

 more tiny ships ...

of particular interest to this blog, the Letter of Marque of Michael Langborne, which set him up as a licensed pirate ...

 

I have only mentioned a fraction of the fascinating things to be seen ... there is so much to see ... plenty of Whitby history on display ...

and there is a fascinating exhibition on at the moment about Bram Stoker and Whitby, based on ongoing research by members of the Whitby Lit & Phil - where did Stoker stay?  which local characters appear in Dracula?

and before you leave the museum to admire the view of the Abbey, don't forget to visit the café!