The Normanby Local History Group........
           .........What We Do

  The Normanby Local History Group is a non-profit making collection of people who are interested in keeping the rich history of this small area in the North East of England alive for future generations to enjoy.

  Normanby began as a small village in the North Riding of the county of Yorkshire. This county was succeeded (for Normanby) in 1968 by the county borough of Teesside which only lasted six years until 1974 when absorbed into the new county of Cleveland - itself abolished in 1996.
  So Normanby is now in the borough of Redcar & Cleveland     (within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire).
  Nevertheless traditionalists consider Normanby still lies within the North Riding of Yorkshire.

  The Normanby Local History Group covers the geographical area from the top of the Eston hills northwards to the river Tees foreshore at South Bank.   Spencer Beck forms the Western boundary, with Crossbeck forming the ancient Eastern boundary.   However we have extended our area of research eastwards to include Woodgarth and Old Eston.

  We research and uncover: archive records, photographs, artifacts and living memories of everything that has created the community of Normanby that we live or have lived in.

  We produce booklets, postcards, calendars and even short movie documentaries on some fascinating subjects about Normanby including Spencer Hardwick's brilliant booklets on life growing up in Normanby gained from his 90 years of living here along with Eric Armstrong's booklet on The Poverina Pub, the Old Mill and Richardson's Brewery.

  This website is to act as an online magazine where new and interesting articles on Normanby can be published and new material discovered with your help.

  You can add your memories of Normanby to our Message Board and we welcome any photographs that you may have and are willing to share with us.

Latest News and Articles

Planned Events for 2012

  As well as monthly meetings we hold other events including exhibitions of our work and collections.
  You are very welcome to come along and see what we do.
  More information can be found on our Events  page.

Elsie McDermid - Operatic Singer (1889-1933)
                                                                      - 19 Apr 2012

  This local lady developed her talent and became an operatic singer renowned not only locally but also nationally.
  She toured the country with the D’Oyley Carte Opera Company and performed many operas for the Royal Opera Company at Covent Garden.
  The information for this article was gathered by Joan Outhwaite and used to produce a display at one the group's annual exhibitions.
       See this Article

Normanby Timeline to 1901                    - 20 Mar 2012

  This article provides a timeline of events of significance to Normanby from its earliest times up to 1901.
  The information was gathered by Sylvia Fairbrass for part of a display at one the group's annual exhibitions.
  Further information and links to more detailed information will be added over time as it becomes available.
       See this Article.

Normanby - 1891 Census Extracts       - 26 Jan 2012

  The 1891 census provides information of the growing 'township' of Normanby at the start of the 1890s.
  Joan Outhwaite transcribed & assembled these extracts of the details of the Heads of each of the 252 households from the 1891 census documents.
  The details include age, occupation, address and place of birth.
  The records of 252 individuals can be listed in 5 different sequences so as to provide an interesting insight into the changing occupations & lifestyles of Normanby's inhabitants & of their origins.
       See this Article.

Three New Articles                                   - 31 Dec 2011

  Following a contact made from the USA by Richard White in mid-December (see our Message Board ) these articles were derived from the information & photographs kindly provided by Richard:
-  Stapylton Arms Inn Mystery : does anyone know the explanation of the secret of the Stapylton Arms Inn?
-  Normanby School 1914 Class Re-union : report & photos of a surprise 1914-class reunion held in 1977 for a former Normanby schoolboy visiting from the USA.  Do you recognise anyone in the photographs?
-  Normanby Lad Faced Fiery Fred : sequence of events led to a sporting confrontation between a former Normanby lad & a Yorkshire legend far from England.

Normanby - 1841 Census Extracts       - 2 Dec 2011

  The 1841 census provides early details of the 'township' of Normanby at the start of the Victorian era.
  Sylvia Fairbrass researched & assembled extracts from these documents into this informative article.
  Her analysis of the records of 143 individuals in 23 households provide an interesting insight into the occupations & lifestyles of Normanby's inhabitants.
       See this Article.

Normanby - the Last Decade of 19th Century
                                                                      - 4 Nov 2011

  The 1890s was an eventful decade for Normanby. Many stories were reported in the local press and some events made regional and even national press.
  Joan Outhwaite researched & assembled a selection of these in a time-line that was displayed at the Group's July Exhibition.
  The events covered vary from council activities, sales of land & property to fatal accidents & deaths.
       See this Article.

Normanby-born Lady Celebrates 104th Birthday
                                                                      - 22 Oct 2011

  Beatrice Valentine (nee Flintoff) was born in Normanby Hall Cottages in 1907. She married her late husband Ernest, who worked on the Ingleby Greenhow estate, at Christ Church, Eston in 1931.
  Beatrice has two daughters Ann Coulson, 78, from Ormesby, and Beatrix Sanderson, 73, from Guisborough & has five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren.
  She celebrated her birthday with her family, friends & well-wishers at her home at Upsall House Residential Home in Nunthorpe.
  Many Normanby residents past & present will have happy memories of this remarkable lady.
  (see more in the Evening Gazette  22 Oct 2011.)
  The 1911 census shows Beatrice Flintoff age 3 living in No.2 Cottage, Normanby Hall with her parents George William & Edith together with her sisters Edith age 6 & Dorothy age 1.
  (Photo opposite is copyright Evening Gazette)

Saint Helen's Church Rebuild Progressing
                                        - 30 Apr 2011 (updated 1 May 2012)

Exciting news!  The old Saint Helen's Church, which had stood in the grounds of Eston Cemetery since the 12th Century and was dedicated for worship in 1393, is being rebuilt at Beamish Open-Air Museum.
  This article outlines the church's history, use, deterioration, removal to Beamish, rebuilding plans & progress so far.
  Work started in March 2011 & the foundations have been laid.
  A director from Beamish appeals for your help to provide photos & any original artefacts to help restore the churches fabric.
  See this Article.
  Update 5 July 2011: plinth stones of church nave laid & those for the tower being laid.
  Update 26 July: foundations & lower levels of the church are now mostly complete, with work started on reconstructing the vestry (which had been stolen from Eston).
  Update 10 August: first of the scaffolding has gone up and some decorated stonework added.
  Update 12 September: Very quick progress with most of the stonework up to next level of scaffold. Work on the Tower begun & next level of scaffold going up shortly.
  Update 3 October: Wooden arch former is in place, and stonework on the arch begun. 'Fish Man' - a carved stone character - appears!
  Update 24 November: The beams for the gallery which will overlook the nave are in place & the arch (with former) is coming along too. The curved doorway formers are in place ready for stone to be added later.
  Update 22 December: Chancel roof timbers in place - protecting the interior & much progress on stonework (see video).
  Update 22 March 2012: After mild winter work restarted in February. Hand-carved roof beams & trusses lifted in place & roof lats fitted so slating began.
  (see latest news on Rebuild Progress  at Beamish.)

The Diaries of Ralph Jackson (1749-1790)

  This booklet features extracts edited by David Wilkinson from the diaries of Ralph Jackson (born:1736 died:1790). He was the founder of the Ward-Jackson line of squires of Normanby in Cleveland.
  The selected extracts concentrate mainly on Ralph Jackson's time in Guisborough and Normanby.
  This is the fifth booklet to be published by the group.
See our Publications  page for more details & availability.