20 February –
DRUNKS REFUSED TO LEAVE.
William Fairplay, a Sinker of Skelton was convicted for being quarrelsome and disorderly on the licensed premises of Henry Hutchinson at Skelton and refusing to leave when asked by the said Henry Hutchinson and also for assaulting him.
Henry Parrish and John Brown, both Labourers of Skelton were convicted for for being drunk and disorderly on the licensed premises of Richardson Dixon at Skelton and refusing to leave when asked by the said Richardson Dixon.
5th March –
BAILIFF ASSAULTED.
Samuel Costin, a Labourer of Skelton was convicted for assaulting George Stubbs of the township of Skelton Bailiff. Case heard at Guisborough.
THE WILD WEST – RIOTOUS DRUNKS AND ASSAULTS.
Summary conviction of Robert Golden of Skelton Labourer for being drunk and riotous in the street. Offence committed at the township of Skelton on 10 March 1872.
Summary conviction of Sarah wife of James Bailey of Skelton Labourer for being drunk and riotous in the street. Offence committed at the township of Guisborough on 20 March 1872.
Summary conviction of John Chapman of Skelton Joiner for being drunk and riotous in the street.
Summary conviction of John Mitchinson of Skelton for being drunk and quarrelsome on the licensed premises of William Riley and refusing to leave when asked by the said William Riley.
Summary conviction of Thomas Henderson of Skelton Sinker for assaulting James Cooper Wilson of the township of Skelton labourer on 28 April 1872.
Summary conviction of Israel Pelchard of Skelton Sinker for assaulting James Cooper Wilson of the township of Skelton labourer 28 April 1872.
Summary conviction of John Neesham of Guisborough Miner for being drunk and riotous in the street at Skelton on 20 April 1872.
Summary conviction of Henry Ware of Skelton Bricklayer for being drunk and riotous in the street on 20 April 1872.
27th March –
OVERSEERS OF THE POOR.
M Young and J Leng were appointed as the Overseers of Skelton for the year and J Andrew and William Wood as the Constables.
1st June –
VIADUCT OPENED.
Designed by T E Harrison, it was 150ft high and 783 feet long, over the valley of Skelton beck .
The 11 redbrick arches carried a double track when opened.
Although passenger trains ran over it from 1875 to 1951, its main purpose was to carry ironstone from the newly opening mines to the ironworks at Middlesbrough, thereby saving a journey round by Guisborough and an awkward reversal in Middlesbrough
NORTH SKELTON, SKELTON PARK AND SOUTH SKELTON IRONSTONE MINES OPENED.
North Skelton by Messrs Bolckow and Vaughan and Co. [720 ft deep], Skelton Park by Bell brothers [380 ft] and South Skelton by Vaughan Co [212 ft].
There was a continuous seam of iron ore, which varied in thickness from about 8 to 11 feet, running right across the East Cleveland area.
This was called the “main seam”, as there were other thinner seams, and the ore contained about 30% iron. The depth of the seam at North Skelton had caused great problems, first in finding it and then dealing with flooding.
Some rocks are naturally more impervious to water than others and an underground lake had built up and filled the Mine shaft as it was being dug. The shaft had to be lined with cast iron in parts. Water was at first lifted out in tubs and then pumps had to be installed.
At its worst water was being removed at 3000 gallons per minute. The first stone was not taken out until 7 years after the mining rights had been bought.
The Ordnance Survey map of 1856 shows the present day North Skelton area as open fields with a place, possibly just a farm, called Old Fogga at the spot where the Mine shaft was excavated.
1872 was the wettest year on record.
For more information on N Skelton Mine, click here.
The radient varied from area to area. North Skelton was only 1,200 metres from Longacre, but the Mine shaft went over 100 metres deeper and tubs of ore were lowered to North Skelton pit bottom by cable.
Whereas the shaft at Skelton Park Pit which was about 2,400 metres from Longacre was of a similar depth.
1st May –
MINERS’ ASSOCIATION FORMED – SKELTON DEMONSTRATION.
The trade union ‘The Cleveland Miners and Quarrymen’s Association’ was founded in Brotton.
Eston’s ‘Onward Lodge’ walked over the hills with the New Marske Miners to join in the first ‘Demonstration’ at Skelton.
When other areas were denied to them, Stephen Emmerson of Hollybush Farm, Skelton allowed them to use one of his fields for the meeting, a generosity which was repeated over the following years.
He was presented with a painting of himself, the reverse of which says that on this day 6 to 7 thousand miners gathered.
He became known as the “Miners’ Friend”.
1806 to 1887.
[Image kindly contributed by the owners of the painting, the Judson family, Norman, Anne and Neil, of Saltburn by Sea. Norman is the son of Stephen Emmerson’s niece, Alice.]
7th May –
MALICIOUS TO GRASS.
Summary conviction of George Robinson of Brotton Labourer for maliciously damaging grass growing in a field, the property of William Wood of Trout Hall Farm, Skelton.
13th May –
FARM LABOURER FINED FOR GOING AWOL.
Order for compensation to be paid by Thomas Ward of Skelton, Servant of John Clark of Ormesby, Farmer, for absenting himself from the service of his employer without just cause.
JUNE DRUNKS –
Summary conviction of George Fisher of Skelton Miner for being drunk and riotous in the street. Offence committed at the township of Skelton on 15 June.
Summary conviction of Francis Boynton of Skelton Miner for being drunk and riotous in the street. Offence committed at Saltburn on 24 June
Summary conviction of William Weir of Skelton Miner for being drunk and riotous in the street. Offence committed at Saltburn on 24 June. Summary conviction of Ralph Warner of Skelton Miner for being drunk and riotous in the street. Offence committed at Saltburn on 24 June.
3 July –
DICE FINE.
Elizabeth Hughes and Isaac Levi were convicted for gaming with dice in a public place.
24th July –
POACHED HARE.
John Pennington, Gamekeeper, summoned Robert Slater for trespassing in pursuit of game on land owned and occupied by Mr J T Wharton on the 15th.
He stated that he and another on the day in question watched a dead hare that had been concealed in a place near the railway.
Defendant came along at meal time and took the hare away.
When stopped he said his son was ill and he thought the hare would make him some broth.
His defence said he found the hare on his way to work and he hid it to pick up on his return.
He had no dog and there was no proof that the hare was alive. Case dismissed.
30th July –
DRUNK AND “ROWCHES”.
William Moore, Jane Moore and William Raynor denied being drunk and riotous at Skelton on the 21st.
The husband and wife were drunk and troubled with “effusing tongues”.
They turned out into the street and then Rayner endeavoured to assist the woman in thrashing her husband.
Moore was afterwards wheeled to the lock-up in a barrow, being unable to walk.
The female prisoner was now anxious to know where she got the beer from to make her “drunk and rowches.”
PC Haw said that from 10 to 11 p.m on Sunday he found the men fighting.
The woman was “bleeding fearfully”, then one of the defendants flourished a poker and the other lay down kicking his legs out.
He “then shouted, bawled and made a tremendous noise.”
The woman was the drunkest of the 3.
The men were fighting and woman on the top of them, encouraging Rayner to thrash her husband.
Moore put his head through Haw’s legs and tried to send him backwards over.
The woman said that her husband had accused her of a man she knew nothing about, and the man refused to go with her, as he should have done, to face it out.
In answer to Moore, PC Haw said he “never saw a more violent man nor a bigger brute in his life”.
Jane was dismissed with costs, her husband fined 20s and costs and Raynor 10s and costs. All in default 14 days prison with hard labour.
15 August –
ELECTION CHEATING – SECRET BALLOT VOTING FIRST USED.
Employers and land owners had been able to use their power over employees and tenants to influence the vote, either by being present themselves or by sending representatives to check on the votes as they were being cast.
The Ballot Act of this year saw the introduction of a sealed box at polling stations. There was much opposition.
25th August –
DRUNKEN SHOEMAKER.
Summary conviction of John Pratt of Skelton Shoemaker for being drunk and riotous in the street. Offence committed at Saltburn on 25 August 1872.
26th August –
ASSAULT ON PC.
PC Coates charged George Herbert Gidding and John Newbury with assaulting him in the execution of his duty near the Royal George Inn, Skelton on the 24th.
Prisoner said he only resisted when the officer put the handcuffs on. Officer swore Gidding struck him beforehand. Fined 21s or 21 days hard labour.
3rd September –
MINES REGULATION ACT.
In response to the many lives still being lost in Mining accidents each year the Government passed this Act.
It required pit Managers to have state certification of their training.
Miners were also given the right to appoint Inspectors from among themselves.
The employment of boys under the age of 16 for more the 54 hours per week was prohibited.
Attendance at school for at least 24 hours in every 2 weeks, during which children under the age of 12 are employed about the mines.
The payment of wages in public houses was banned.
Single shafts were outlawed.
Accidents and the abandonment of mines to be officially notified.
Restrictions were made on the use of gunpowder.
4th September –
PRIZE SHOOTING.
The prize shooting of the Skelton Company of the North York Rifle Volunteers took place at their shooting range – the Carrs – near Messrs Vaughan and Cos mines on Saturday last.
Good shooting was made at some of the distances.
Besides several money prizes the challenge cup was won by Private J J Wood and as this was the third time he won it, it becomes his property.
It is hoped they will endeavour to become as efficient in drill as they evince a desire to become marksmen.
The cup is the gift of their gallant Captain T L Yeoman, who was present.
The shooting for the money prizes took place at 200, 400, 500 and 600 yards.
In 1908 the Volunteers nationwide were linked to their local Regular Army Regiments by Haldane’s Act of Parliament which created the Territorial Force.
The North York Rifle Volunteers became the 4th Battalion of Alexandra, Princess of Wales’ Own, Yorkshire Regiment.
The story of their battles in the First World Ward during which over 1,000 Battalion men were killed can be read on my website :- here.
After the First War they were re-formed in February 1920 and became part of the new Territorial Army in October of that year.
Now better known as the Green Howards they had another proud history in the Second World War and still exist today in a much re-organised form.
8th September –
WIFE BEATING.
Thomas Stanway, a Miner, of Skelton was charged with assaulting his wife. Fined 20s and costs.
12th September –
FOOT AND MOUTH COW IN ROAD.
Summary conviction of John Brown of Skelton carrier for allowing a cow which had been in the same field as animals affected with foot and mouth disease, to be moved along the highway. Offence committed at the township of Skelton.
22th September –
ANOTHER MAN’S WIFE ASSAULTED.
Summary conviction of Thomas Wallis of Skelton, Sinker, for assaulting Mary Ann, wife of Richard Shepherd, of the township of Skelton, Sinker.
PC HAD WHISKERS PULLED AND HAD TO BE RESCUED BY WIFE.
Samuel Bagnall, quarryman, admitted being drunk and riotous and rolling about near the Royal George and Duke William Inn at Skelton on Sunday afternoon last.
Sgt Haw told a terrible tale of the Sunday conduct of Bagnall, who was also charged with assaulting him in the lock-up at Skelton.
Defendant refused to empty his pockets and when the Officer tried to search him, he threw him down, pulled his whiskers and threw his legs round his back.
It was necessary for Mrs Haw to go into the cell to rescue her husband. Fined 28s 6d including costs.
MORE RIOTOUS DRUNKS AND ASSAULTS.
Summary conviction of James Graham of Skelton, Sinker, for being drunk and riotous in the street. Offence committed at Saltburn on 27 August.
Summary conviction of Elijah Young of Skelton, Bricklayer, for being drunk in the street. Offence committed at the township of Skelton on 7 September.
Summary conviction of William West of Skelton, Brick maker, for being drunk in the street. Offence committed at the township of Skelton on 7 September.
Summary conviction of Hugh McMaster of Skelton, Sinker, for being drunk in the street. Offence committed at the township of Brotton on 15 October.
Summary conviction of William Toughton and Joseph Smith of Skelton, both Miners, for being drunk and disorderly on the licensed premises of James Gladders, Duke William, and refusing to leave when asked by the said James Gladders.
Summary conviction of John Smith of Skelton, Sinker, for being drunk in the street. Offence committed at the township of Brotton on 15 October.
Summary conviction of Robert Jenkinson of Skelton, Blacksmith, for being drunk and riotous in the street. Offence committed at the township of Guisborough on 26 October.
Summary conviction of Noble Sanderson of Upleatham, Labourer, for assaulting John Robinson of the township of Skelton, Miller. Offence committed at the township of Skelton on 5 November.
Summary conviction of William Collings of Skelton, Sinker, for being drunk and riotous in the street. Offence committed at the township of Skelton on 17 November.
Summary conviction of William Riley of Skelton, Innkeeper, for being drunk in the street. Offence committed at the township of Skelton on 18 November.
Summary conviction of James Bray of Skelton, Sinker, for being drunk in the street. Offence committed at the township of Skelton on 23 November.
Summary conviction of James Churchman of Skelton, Labourer, for being drunk and riotous in the street. Offence committed at the township of Skelton on 7 December.
Summary conviction of William Humble of Boosbeck, Sinker, for being drunk in the street. Offence committed at the township of Skelton on 9 December.
Summary conviction of William Jones of Boosbeck, Sinker, for being drunk in the street. Offence committed at the township of Skelton on 9 December.
The “Sinkers” were employed in moving the massive amount of material to create the shafts for the local ironstone mines.
The usual sentence at the Guisborough Court was 10 to 15 shillings, or 2 to 4 weeks hard labour on the Treadmill at Northallerton Gaol.
21st November –
POACHER WITH GUN ASSAULTED GAMEKEEPER.
Bill of indictment of Flirler Little for trespassing on land occupied by John Thomas Wharton at the Parish of Skelton, armed with a gun, with intent to kill game; and assaulting John Julyan, Servant of Wharton, who was about to apprehend him.
18th December –
BASTARDY MAINTENANCE.
Elizabeth Pearey, singlewoman, of Skelton, charged William Jackson, Joiner with being the father of her son, on the 14th of November.
Defendant admitted the offence and was ordered to pay 2s 6d per week towards its maintenance, with double payment for the first 6 weeks and the doctor’s fee.
25th September –
ASSAULT. MAGISTRATES 3 HOURS LATE.
Everyone had to wait 3 hours for the arrival of the magistrates, J W Pease MP. W H F Bolckow MP and A H T Newcomen.
M A Shepherd, Skelton, a Sinker charged Thomas Wallis, Skelton with an assault on the 22nd Fined 6s with 19s 6d costs.
21st September –
INDECENT ASSAULT.
E Johnson of Skelton charged John W Dearden and George Thorpe of Brotton with indecent assault. One month’s imprisonment each.
23rd October –
DRUNKS.
Henry Johnson admitted a charge of drunkenness at Skelton brought by PC Haw. Fined 10s and 7s 6d costs.
John McLaren of Skelton did not appear to a charge of being drunk and riotous at Guisborough on the 19th.
20th November –
STAGGERING DRUNKS.
John Longston, Miner of Skelton, did not appear to a charge of being drunk and riotous at Skelton on the 2nd. A/Sgt Haw proved the case. Fined 11s and costs or 1 months hard labour.
Richard Corner was charged with being drunk and rolling to and fro about the streets of Skelton with a bottle of whisky on the 3rd. Fined 14s 6d including costs or 14 days hard labour.
James Malloy admitted being drunk and staggering about the streets of Skelton from one side to the other on the 2nd. Fined 14s 6d or 14 days hard.
4th December –
LOVE AND MARRIAGE.
At the Wesleyan day school in Skelton, in connection with the Good Templars lodge there, a lecture was delivered on “love, courtship and marriage” by Mr J W Kirton, the author of “Buy Your Own Cherries.”
24th December –
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE – DRUNKEN PUNCH-UP WITH 2 BOBBIES AT ONCE.
Thomas Roberts, of Skelton, was convicted of being quarrelsome on the licensed premises of Henry Hutchinson and refusing to leave when asked.
He was further convicted of assaulting Sgt Robert Haw and Constable Richard Brough of Skelton police in the execution of their duty.