The Lily Pond in Stewart Park

An old postcard:

The Middlesbrough Opera House for sale, 1907

I found this amongst my old papers:

It has two rather nice sketches "for purposes of illustration only, and their accuracy in points of detail is not guaranteed":

The Particulars show that:

The Theatre, designed from Plans prepared by Messrs Hope & Maxwell, Newcastle-on-Tyne, the well-known Theatrical Architects, was erected in 1903, and is a Building with a commanding appearance.  It is well built, and has a frontage to Linthorpe Road of 100 feet and to Southfield Road of 152 feet 6 inches, and an area of 1,750 square yards or thereabouts.  The premises are built with Accrington bricks and artificial stone dressing, and are in a thorough state of repair.

The position is a most central one, on a splendid site in two of the principal thoroughfares of Middlesbrough, and a population of about 250,000 is resident within a radius of 4 miles, with an excellent tram and train service to all parts.

It had a holding capacity of 3,300 persons, with 10 Private Boxes, Orchestra Stalls, Dress Circle, Upper Circle, Pit Stalls, Pit, Amphitheatre, Gallery and Standing Room.  There were two Foyers "of ample dimensions" with "hand-painted and elaborately decorated ceilings and mosaic pavements".  There were six Cloak Rooms and four Saloon Bars.  It was lit throughout by Electricity, and had Gas laid on in case of emergency. 

There is a Glass Verandah covering the Entrances and Exits and Shops on the Linthorpe Road side, which is continued to the Grand Entrance in Southfield Road, forming an excellent protection in wet weather to those waiting admittance.

The Chocolate Machines annexed to the seats, and their contents, are not the property of the Vendor, and are not included in the Sale; these Machines are the property of the Theatres' Sweetmeat Automatic Co., Ltd ...

Sadly, this grand building was being sold by the Receiver appointed by the Debenture Holders of the Middlesbrough Grand Opera House Company Ltd.

Concert troupe in the First World War

These photographs are from a concert troupe called The Headlights.

"The Headlights on Demobilization"

On the left (seated) is Private Henry (Harry) Storey.  At the outbreak of war he was living with his family in the road where he was born, Felton Street in Byker.  He must have been seventeen or barely eighteen when he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorials) in Newcastle.  According to family tradition he was a bugler – each Field Ambulance had a bugler. By the end of the War he was in the Army Service Corps.

Henriette Vienne & Harry Storey

This photograph is signed "Meilleur souvenir, H. Vienne" and "Sincerely yours, Harry Storey".

"Avec mon meilleur souvenir de la troupe Headlights, Henriette Vienne"

The Band

This must be the band that played for the Headlights troupe.  On the reverse is written "Sincerely yours" followed by two signatures:

Ted C. Chopping
George Howarth

Harry Storey's family had a great love of theatre. His father, John Henry Brett Storey, worked on the railways but his heart was given to drama and music and in his evenings he worked backstage.  Harry himself, after several years of great enjoyment as an amateur actor during the War, was very close to taking to the stage as a professional after 1919 – his sister Nancy was to be a Gaiety Girl.  Marriage in 1921 and a growing family must have played a part in his decision to take less risky employment. He set up his own successful building company in Newcastle and, after growing bored with retirement, was involved in the printing business of Hindsons, which was later bought up by Jordisons.

If anyone recognises any of the other men in the photo – or knows anything about Henriette Vienne – do please let me know!

(Harry Storey was my grandfather, btw)

Christmas Greeting 1914

A Christmas card was sent in 1914 by the Heaton Road Baptist Church in Newcastle upon Tyne to the young men of the congregation who had joined the armed forces.  This particular card was sent to 18 year old Private Harry Storey of the R.A.M.C.  He lived with his family at 40 Felton Street, Byker.

The minister wrote that

I am desired by your many friends in the Church and Sunday School to convey to you our united wishes for your welfare, our earnest prayer for your safety in the hour of peril, and our strong hope that amidst the temptations and difficulties that beset your path, you will remain true to the ideals taught you by loving hearts, in the days that are past.

The recipients are listed in the Roll of Honour:

 but one of them already would not be coming home.  William Stanley Green had died in the sinking of HMS Aboukir.

The names listed in the Roll of Honour are:

Pte. H. Armstrong, Com. Battalion
*Pte. Norman Ayre, R.M.
*Pte. William Aitkin, R.M.
Pte. C. E. Bennison, R.A.M.C.
*Pte. T. Burdon, R.N. Brigade
Gunner J. Calff, R.E.
2nd-Cpl. H. Campbell, R.E.
Sapper J. Campbell, R.E.
Pte. W. Catto, London Scottish
A. Youll Catto, R.N., H.M.S. Assistance
Pte. F. Crosier, Com. Battalion
Pte. O. Y. Charlton, R.A.M.C.
Pte. Harry Dodds, R.A.M.C.
Pte. G. Daley, Com. Battalion
Pte. R. Dixon, Com. Battalion
Pte. T. Galdrath, Com. Battalion
Pte. J. Glass, 6th N.F.
Lc-Cpl. J. Gow, 11th N.F.
Sidney Green, H.M.S. Lancaster
Stanley Green, H.M.S. Aboukir
Driver S. Harris, R.F.A.
Pte. A. Hargreaves, Com. Battalion
Pte. J. Hall, Com. Battalion
Pte. E. Hutson, Com. Battalion
*Pte. W. G. Innis, R.M.
*Pte. G. W. Jobes, R.N. Reserve
Cpl. J. Murray, R.E.
Drill Instructor Linton, Gordon Highlanders (Canada)
Pte. J. A. Mitchell, 5th N.F.
Pte. J. Morrison, Com. Battalion
Pte. T. Morrison, Com. Battalion
Pte. J. McCutcheon, R. Marines
*Pte. J. McFarland, R. Marines
Pte. J. Lambert, R.E.
Pte. J. Locke, Com. Battalion
*Pte. A. Nutt, 6th N.F.
Sgt. J. Proudman, R.F.A.
Bugler R. Pritchard, R.F.A.
Pte. T. Ridley, A.S.C.
Lc.-Cpl. F. Reeves, 6th N.F.
Pte. J. Swift, Com. Battalion
*Pte. Harry Storey, R.A.M.C.
*Fred Taylor, H.M.S. Black Watch
Petty Officer T. G. Thompson, H.M.S. Mohawk
Cpl. Miles Veary, R.E.
Pte. Tom Wilkinson, Nth. Cycl.
*Pte. E. Wraith, R.A.M.C.
Pte. R. Walker, R.E.
Pte. A. S. Watson, A.S.C.
Pte. W. Whitmore, 6th N.F.
Pte. E. Yeoman, Com. Battalion
Pte. S. Yeoman, Nth. Cyclists

* Byker Baptist Mission

A further detail to the story of Kitty Martineau

I have just found a note – as I continue to go through the last of my papers – to add to the story of Katherine Dawson Martineau, as told in the story of Helen Savile Clarke and her daughters.  (The series of posts on Henry Savile Clarke, his wife Helen Weatherill and their daughters begin here)

Kitty, a beauty with "violet eyes," died a few days after the birth of her son Esmond, on 7 December 1901.  She was looking quite well and was receiving visitors, when she called, "Nurse! nurse!" and died.

The story comes from her second cousin Madge Buchannan and may be true.

Her death certificate gives the cause of death as:

Alcoholism, eight months
Child Birth, four days
Acute Uraemia, four days
certified by Robert Boxall, M.D., of 40 Portland Place, Marylebone, present at the death

I didn't include this detail in the original piece, partly as I felt unqualified to comment on it, and partly because I couldn't quite bring myself to do so at the time.

On looking into it further, I think all I can comment is:

As far as I understand, "uraemia" is a term which was first used in 1840 to describe a patient in renal failure.  In this case it may be more an observation of symptoms than a diagnosis.  I notice that the Revised US Standard Certificate of Death instructions to be found in Mortality Statistics, vol 9 by the US Board of Census (1909), states

“Never report mere symptoms or terminal conditions such as […] “Uraemia” […] when a definite disease can be ascertained as the cause.  Always qualify all diseases resulting from childbirth or miscarriage."

I think all that can be ascertained (in the absence of someone experienced in historical medical terminology) is that she died four days after child birth and that her kidneys had probably failed.  

And to think of that beautiful woman, who had lost her parents and her sisters so suddenly and in such a short space of time, suffering from alcoholism through her pregnancy – that's just too sad to comment on.

The family of the Revd Henry Clarke of Guisborough (1813-61)

I have just come across these notes made by the late Miss Grace Dixon, noted Guisborough historian.  They end with a lovely reminiscence of Guisborough in the early twentieth century:

Henry Clarke, master mariner of Whitby, died 1780.  Wife was Joan.

Henry Clarke, only son (presumably to have survived infancy?) married Elizabeth, who was buried in Guisborough 30/7/1827 aged 79, described as "widow of H. Clarke, late of Whitby"

Henry Clarke, solicitor, (1785-1862) married Elizabeth Hutchinson of Guisborough in 1811.  He had a brother John and 3 sisters.  He was in Guisborough in the early C19.
Elizabeth was born Guisborough and died 1862, aged 75, one week after her husband's death.
Both were buried in Guisborough.

Reverend Henry Clarke (1813-1861) not born Guisborough, married (1840) Catherine Francis Dawson, b Ripon.  She died 1852 aged 33.  First wife.

Children:

Henry Savile, b1841 married Helen Weatherill; 3 daughters [he was baptised Henry Clarke - the name Savile appears later]
John William "Jock" (1842-1921) married Marjorie Gow of Cambs in 1877; no children
Rev Arthur Dawson b1843, living 1922.  Became priest in 1883, but in holy orders only until 1889
Francis (1845-1900) Professor of Music in Guisborough [he was baptised Francis Savile Clarke]
Cecil James b1846
Catherine b1849

Reverend Henry married as his second wife Ann Louise Weatherill in 1857.  He became incumbent of St Nicholas, Guisborough, in 1836 when two of the Williamson family, father and son, curates, died of cholera.
He was the first incumbent to inhabit the new parsonage of Guisborough from 1859 but did not live to see it become a Rectory.
A plaque in Latin was erected to his memory on the south side of the chancel in the church.
Ann Louise Clarke survived her husband and remarried.

John William Clarke was the Land Agent to the Gisborough estate, and must have had many differences of opinion with Wm Richardson in the latter's work for Guisborough Council.  Mrs Channon [the late Mrs Diana Channon, daughter of William Richardson] remembers seeing Mr Clarke

"turn out of his stable yard at Kemplah House to go up to Gisborough Hall in a dogcart with a 'Tiger' with top hat and cockade on the back seat and a dalmatian dog running underneath.  All of them (except the dog) suitably clad.  A lovely sight."

23 February 2021:  Another detail on the Revd Henry Clarke

The Revd Henry Clarke, who had been appointed to the perpetual curacy of Guisborough in 1836, married Catherine Frances Dawson, daughter of the late William Dawson of Azerley Hall near Ripon, on 13 May 1840 at Guisborough.

A note in the Walter Brelstaff Archive shows that there is a memorial on the wall of the south aisle of Guisborough parish church to a Mrs Anne Pullan, who died on 24 January 1838 at the age of 42.  She was the widow of William Dawson of Azerley Hall when she married Edward Pullan of Skelton.  This probably explains how Catherine Dawson came to Cleveland.

Sir Thomas Layton finds himself before the Star Chamber, 1633

Sir Thomas Layton (1597?-1650) was the son of Charles Layton of Sexhow (d1617) and his wife Mary Milner of Skutterskelfe (c1568-1633).

Sir Thomas's grandfather, the lawyer Thomas Layton (1520-84), had left his family in a fine position through his years of private practice, public service and astute property dealings.  The marriage of Thomas's parents in 1594 had completed the work, reuniting the manors of Sexhow and Skutterskelfe under one ownership for the first time since the death of their ancestor John Gower in 1377. 

Sir Thomas came into his inheritance as a very young man on his father's death in 1617.  Just how young he was, is rather hard to say.  He is recorded in the 1612 Visitation [cf Graves' History of Cleveland] as being 15 years old and that would certainly accord with the transcription made of the baptismal register by J W Ord and by the Christian Inheritance Project; they disagree on the month (February or July) but they agree on the year.  The Victoria County History entry for East Layton in the parish of Stanwick St John states that he was 23 on his father's death [citing Chan. Inq. p.m. (Ser. 2), ccclxvii, 93]; his parents married on 27 February 1594, so this is possible.

His father arranged for him to be married at a very young age – probably 16 (or at the most 19), for it was in 1613 that Charles settled the manor of Kirkby Sigston upon his son.  Thomas's wife was Mary Fairfax, daughter of Sir Thomas Fairfax of Walton and Gilling Castle near Malton.  The Fairfax family had been suspected of Catholic sympathies over the years, but most of them had remained loyal to the Crown in the Northern Rebellion of 1569.  Sir Thomas Fairfax himself was a committed Protestant and so much trusted by government that he continued to hold office in spite of his wife's open Catholicism.  Catherine, daughter of Sir Henry Constable of Burton Constable, was a known recusant and her mother was accused of harbouring priests associated with the exiled Earl of Westmorland.  Catherine (who died in 1626) had sent two of her seven sons to Catholic seminaries on the Continent;  her daughter Mary's religious affiliations are unknown.

A knighthood was bought for Thomas from King James VI and I – knighthoods were in cheap and plentiful supply during the reigns of James and his son Charles I, who together created 3,281 knighthoods between 1603 and 1641.  It was a far cry from the knighthood bestowed on his great-grandfather Sir James Metcalfe of Nappa in Wensleydale.  Sir James had served on the Border under the future Richard III and held many high offices for the Crown – and probably fought at Flodden – before Henry VIII knighted him at Windsor at the age of 68.  Young Thomas was knighted in 1614, the year after his marriage [Victoria County History: Stanwick St John, citing Chan. Inq. p.m. (Ser. 2), ccclxvii, 93].

The young couple must have begun a family immediately, because Sir Thomas was a grandfather before he was forty.  He had married his daughter Mary to Henry Foulis, son of Sir David Foulis, 1st Baronet of Ingleby, and their son David was baptised on 14 March 1633.

This connection with the Foulis family was to bring him to trial before the Star Chamber in 1633.