SKELTON - IN - CLEVELAND
IN HISTORY
HOW THE CHURCH RATES WERE SPENT
Church Repairs and Rebuilding.

The only part remaining of the Church prior to the re-building of 1785 is the irregular stone-work between the Buttress and the ashlar [regular cut stones] to the Right. .
CHURCH REPAIRS.
The Church was rebuilt in 1785. The only brickwork remaining of the previous one is shown on the photograph. This section of wall was preserved as old memorials and plaques were attached to it internally.
The rebuilt Church was roofed with tiles, but the old one had been of Lead. The cost of rebuilding was £443 2s 7d and £108 10s 0d of this was paid for by the sale of the old Lead.
The Church Rate records show that the old Church, which had been erected in the 1300s needed regular repairs and the Lead covering was a constant problem and possibly the reason for the rebuilding.
1718 Over £10 worth of new Lead -

1718 To 3 days pulling off the old Lead £1 7s 6d
Paid to Robert Lamb for a cart load of Lime and Sand to mix it 10s 0d
To George Dickson for a new beam £1 1s 0d.

1719 Paid to John Dysley for glazing the Church windows 2s 6d.

1730 For leading stone to Bagdale Bridge 1s 3d

1731 To Thomas Carter for mending y Great Bell 6d
To William Dixon for repairing the seats in the Church 3s 6d

1732 To George Emerson for painting the Church and laying stones before the porch 1s 4d

1735 To the Mason for one and a half days pointing 2s 2d

1741 To repairs on the top of the Church 12s 6d.

1742 To 20 lbs of Lead 3s 4d.
To 9 lbs of sowdr at 10d per lb 7s 6d.

1743 To Thomas Sanders for mending the Church Lead.

1744 To the plummer for mending the Church Lead 12s 0d.

1746 For cleaning Bagdale Bridge 1s 0d.

1748 To George Dixon for mending y Gate and Pews 2s 0d.
To John Barker for 10 bushels of Lime 5s 0d
To John Lynas for leading it from Saltburn 10d
Spent when y bridge was doon 1s 0d
Sharping tools 7 and half pence.

1749 To Saxton and shovelling of Bagdale Bridge.

1752 To Wm Barry for mending a shovel 0s 4d.

1753 To George Dixon for wood and work at West window 5s 0d.
To William Barry iron and nails for West Window 3s 11d.
To Thomas Sanders and foot of glas for y West Window 6s 0d
Paid forlats for y window 5d.
William Dixon for mending y ladder 1s 6d.
To William Barry iron work att y Great Window £1 0s 11d.
To Thomas Saunders for 6 pecks of Hair.
To William Peacock for 9 bushels of Lime 3s 6d.
To Johnathan Keilor for cutting y West window and cleaning y glas for 5 and half days 8d 3d.
To Thomas Sanders for 22 foot of glas at 9p per foot 16s 3d.
To William Peacock for leading Lime and Sand and clearing Church=yard of rubish 3s 6d

1771 To Thomas Sanders for 6 lb of sowder and work at the Bell.

1777 To John Snowdon walling churchyard £9 9s 0d.

1781 Paid for white washing the Church £1 1s 6d.

1783 To bringing wood from Cargo Fleet 5s 0d.
Going to Cargo Fleet and expences 4s 6d.
To building Gallery William Dixon £2 1s 0d.

1785 To plastering the new Vestry £1 3s 11d.
To flagging same 10s 0d.

THE CHURCH WAS REBUILT IN 1785 AT THE FOLLOWING COST:-
 		   £
   s
   d
To John Snowdon and William Lamb as per contract 180
   0
   0
To Thomas Calvert as per contract 175
   0
   0
To letters to and from Mr Clough of Yorks and others
18
   8
To Mr Clough for faculty to build   10
 19
   9
To Mr Clough for Confirmation of Grant of Seats     3
 11
   8
To expenses to Commissioners and on all other occasions     8
 17
   8
To John Taylor baring quarry
     1
   8
   -
To Mr Forster for an Article and two Bonds
     1
 10
   4
To Churchwardens going to Gisbro' 4 times each
  5
   4
To Cart Hire in all
     1
 17
   9
To Churchwardens collect Money themselves and Horses two days each
14
   -
To Johnathan Snowdon and William Lamb for digging and walling the Groundwork
    3
 10
   -
To J Parrington for Damages in the Church-yard and taking part of it up
    5
   5
   -
To T Calvert for Bells hanging in the new Steeple
    1
   -
   -
To T Calvert for Window Soles and painting them
15
   -
To raising and new flagging the Chancel
    2
   -
   -
To setting up the old Seats and raising the Door
10
   6
To Johnathan Barry Smith work
  3
   6
To R Pulman 2lb and 5lb Lead
  7
   -
To the Vestry flagging and plastering
    2
   -
 11
To Masons 13 Days at the Church Walk and Gate
    1
   6
   -
To Labourers 9 days
12
   -
To the Painter for Extra Work not in T Calvert contract
    2
   5
   6
To G Macnaughton Desk and Pulpit Cloth
    1
 11
   6
To spare slates for repair
    1 
  -
    -
To two stools to place corfine upon
  3
   -
To Thomas Calvert for plans
10
   6
Omitted 3 days Labour at Church Walk
  4
   -
To Attendance of Churchwardens each 7 days at 1/6 per day
    1
   1
   -
Paid at the last concluding meeting
  3 
   6
To Thomas Calvert for the new Gallery
  21
 10
   -
To J Snowdon and William Lamb for new Gallery
  10
   -
   -
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS
 443
   2
   7




CASH RECEIVED FOR THE BUILDING OF SKELTON CHURCH


Of Joseph William Hall Stevenson Esq - a Benefaction
 100
   -
   -
Of the Subscribers for Seats
 200
   -
   -
For two small pews
    4
   -
   -
Of Richard Pulman for the old Lead
 108
 10
   -
Of Subscribers to additional Gallery
  31
 10
   -




TOTAL RECEIVED
 444
   -
   -
TOTAL DISBURSED
 443
   2
   7
BALANCE REMAINING
17
   5
1786 To repairing the Church Causeway 6s 6d.

1787 To Jonathan Snowdon for a Fire Place 6s 6d.

In the old Church is a small room opposite the 3 decker pulpit. Folk memory says it was a "private room" for the residents of Skelton Castle and the old story that the Squire rattled the fireplace with the poker if the Sermon was prolonged.
This may well have been true when Services were conducted, but it must otherwise have been the "Vestry" where the Parson donned his Surplice and where the Churchwardens met to manage the Church and Poor Rates - Skelton in Cleveland's Local Council of the time.
The fireplace in the background is almost certainly the one bought for 6s 6d in 1787.
1795 To 17 lbs of white paint for Church Windows at 6d per lb 8s 6d.
Paid linseed oil for same to John Hutton 8s 6d.
To spirits of turpentine 4s 0d.
To 2 men 4 days each painting at 2s 2d per day 17s 4d.

1802 Paid to James Gowland for glazing Church windows. 3s 2d.
Paid to Thomas Peart for his draught 2 days leading gravil for Church Walks 12s 0d

1812 Paid for levelling Bagdale Bridge with earth £1 7s 0d.
Allowance for Masons when at Bagdale Bridge 14s 0d.
To Single Horse Cart hire 8 days at Bagdale Bridge £1 16s 0d.
To Two Horse Cart hire 60 and half days for ditto £12 3s 0d.

1813 Paid to Mr Cole and Carrick for painting in the Parish Church of Skelton. public concern £19 11s 11d.

1817 Paid to John Rutherford for leading Gravil to the Church Road from Bagdale Bridge to the Church £2 15s 0d.
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