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Who fashioned the Wood Carvings in All Saints Church, High Street, Skelton ?
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I am researching the works of my great-great granduncle, George Walker Milburn (1844-1941), the York sculptor.
I have found records in Durham County Records office relating to him, and one of these is a very detailed Tender, dated 1880, which he submitted to the architects Austin, Johnson and Hicks, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, for carving work to be carried out in "Skelton Church".
The Tender was for a wide variety of Stone and Wood carvings (pinnacles, finials, paterae; spandrils over the vestry door; ceiling bosses; a carved cross for the east end, etc).
I have been trying to identify to which "Skelton" these documents relate.
Skelton-in-Cleveland would appear to be the most likely, the "new" Church of All Saints there being consecrated 4 years later, in 1884.
However I have had difficulty corroborating this.
I came across your hugely comprehensive website on Skelton-in-Cleveland.
I am wondering if you know whether All Saints was the work of the architects, Austin, Johnson and Hicks, or whether George Walker Milburn did carry out any work in the Church ?
I would be very much appreciate any information you might have.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Anthony Power, Dublin.
The only reference that I have to any carving work in the Church is the following:-
13th June - SKELTON CHURCH NEW PULPIT.
Mr F Caldeleugh, builder of Durham has just completed a magnificent oak pulpit for the new Church at Skelton.
It is octagonal in form and stands on a curved stone base, springing from a small centre stone, with carved foliage round the upper member.
The lower compartment of each panel of the pulpit is filled in with elaborately cut tracery, above which is a text in Old English letters.
The upper panels are of open tracery with curved spandrels, the whole being surmounted by a neat battlemented cornice with carved foliage running right round.
It is from a design by R J Johnson, architect, of Newcastle and the carving has been executed by Mr R Hedley of the same place.
Bill,
Thank-you for your extraordinarily quick response!
I'm pretty sure now, that George Walker Milburn's tender WAS for Skelton-in-Cleveland.
As you've pointed out, this does not mean he was chosen for any work on the Church.
Indeed on the back of the Tender he submitted, someone, presumably a costings clerk for the architects, has put his own estimates for the work, and has described George Walker Milburn's estimates as "very unreasonable".
Very many thanks for your reply.
If everyone I corresponded with, answered me as rapidly as you did, I'd have all the information I needed in weeks, instead of the months I've been on the trail.
Many thanks
Tony Power
Please contact the email address on the Introduction page if you can assist further.
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Rowley Family connections to Skelton ?
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I've just been reading your excellent website.
I am researching my husband's family history - Rowley surname.
The family came from the Nether Silton/Kepwick area of North Yorkshire to Skelton sometime between 1914 & 1918, before moving on to Middlesbrough by 1932 (though could have been earlier).
I know that in 1918 they were living at 41 Charlotte Street, New Skelton
I wondered if you had any more Rate Books that might help establish when the Rowley family moved to Skelton or if you know where I could find this information from.
Also, the occupation of my husband's grandfather, Richard Rowley, was given as 'Woodman'.
Would you know if he would have been employed by Skelton Castle Estates in this capacity or could it have been on any woodland in the Skelton area ?
Any help would be much appreciated.
Regards,
Linda Rowley.
I advised Linda to contact Teesside Archives about any Skelton Parish Rate Books later than the 1913 version on this website;
that Richard Rowley almost certainly worked for Skelton Castle and to inquire at the Estate Office on North Terrace Skelton, where the old pay books are kept.
Please contact the email address on the Introduction page if you can assist further.
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