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Brotton
Historical and geographical information
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The
Farndales of Brotton |
Brotton is
a village in the parish of Skelton and Brotton in North
Yorkshire, England. The local council, a unitary authority, is Redcar and Cleveland. It is situated
approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) south-east of Saltburn-by-the-Sea, 12 miles (19 km)
east of Middlesbrough and 14 miles (23 km)
north-west of Whitby. In 2002, the village had a population of 5,384. The name of the village (known in
medieval times as 'Broctune') literally means,
"town on the brow of a hill", and is listed in the Domesday
Book. The hill in question, Warsett
Hill, tops the large Huntcliffe which was the site of one of the many Roman signal stations
built along the east coast to defend against Anglo-Saxon attack. Brotton was one of a number of manors granted by William the Conqueror to Robert de Brus,
Lord of Skelton. Over recent years Brotton
has become somewhat isolated because of a bypass which was opened in 1998
between the villages of Skelton-in-Cleveland and Carlin How. The discovery of ironstone brought
major changes to the village and a large increase in the population. The majority of former miners' homes are found in the
'Brickyard' and 'the Park' areas of the village. Lumpsey
Mine, the largest of the Brotton mines, opened in
the 1880s and closed in 1954. During the First World War Lumpsey Mine had a rail-mounted artillery piece to defend
the mine against Zeppelin attack. Brotton is close to the historic seaside town of Saltburn-by-the-Sea, known for its pier,
and Guisborough, with its ancient Priory and market. The village is divided into two parts:
'Top End' (the area east of the railway line) and 'Bottom End' (the area to
the west). Brotton Anglican church
is dedicated to St Margaret. The village contains a parade of shops on High
Street, and its public houses include The Crown, The
Ship, The Green Tree and The Queen's Arms. Brotton has two primary schools, Badger Hill Primary School
and St Peters Church of England school. There is also a school for children
with learning difficulties, Kilton Thorpe. The
village secondary school, Freebrough Academy, has
recently been rebuilt. The sculptor Charles Robinson Sykes (1875-1950),
was born in the village. He designed the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot which is
used on Rolls-Royce cars.
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Click here for the first mention of Brotton in the family records. |
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About 1895
Brotton High Street 1897 |
The
Farndale gravestones in Brotton cemetery in 2016
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