Guisborough

Historical and geographical information

Hyperlinks to other pages are in dark blue.

Headlines are in brown.

References and citations are in turquoise.

Context and local history are in purple.

This webpage is divided into the following sections:

The Farndales of Guisborough
Guisborough
Guisborough Timeline
Buildings of Guisborough
Guisborough People
Anne Weatherill’s Diary
Links, texts and books

The Farndales of Guisborough

Whilst Guisborough will have been a focal point for most of the Farndales who lived in Cleveland, the Farndales particularly associated with Guisborough were: Mary Farndale (FAR00179); William Farndale, wheelwright and cartwright of Guisborough (FAR00200); William Farndale, wheelwright of Pinchingthorpe near Guisborough (FAR00218A); Joseph Farndale (FAR00228); Hannah Farndale (FAR00274A); Joseph Farndale (FAR00299); William Farndale (FAR00309); Mary Farndale (FAR00320); Jane Farndale (FAR00332); Mary Jane Farndale (FAR00351); John Farndale (FAR00355); Sarah Farndale (FAR00357); Hannah Farndale (FAR00360); Peter Farndale (FAR00373); Sarah Ann Farndale (FAR00392); Mary Ann Farndale (FAR00418); William G Farndale (FAR00421); Alice Esther Farndale (FAR00433); Sarah Maria Farndale (FAR00442); Annie Farndale (FAR00471); Male Farndale (FAR00479); William George Farndale (FAR00492); John William Farndale (FAR00501); Sarah Annie Farndale (FAR00505); Mary Ann Farndale (FAR00507); William Henry Farndale (FAR00516); Annie Paver Farndale (FAR00519); John Martin Farndale (FAR00520); Joseph Farndale (FAR00524); Thomas Farndale (FAR00525); Hannah Elizabeth Farndale (FAR00533); Lily Farndale (FAR00534); Margaret Ann Farndale (FAR00541); Sarah Farndale (FAR00543); Edith Emily Farndale (FAR00546); Mary Elizabeth Farndale (FAR00551); Richard Farndale (FAR00562); Lavinia Harrison Farndale (FAR00570); Albert Farndale, an architect of Guisborough (FAR00574); Harry Farndale (FAR00583); Thomas William Farndale (FAR00587); Ernest Farndale (FAR000589); Richard Henry Farndale (FAR00594); Sophia Farndale (FAR00601A); Edith Farndale (FAR00611); John Martin Farndale, a store keeper in Guisborough who later emigrated to Newfoundland (FAR00613); Mary Elizabeth Farndale (FAR00618); Ruth Farndale (FAR00619); Edwin Farndale (FAR00626); George Farndale, a farm worker and miner rom Guisborough (FAR00627); Mary Frances Farndale (FAR00634); William Farndale (FAR00639); John Farndale (FAR00640); Elizabeth Farndale (FAR00654); Ethel Farndale (FAR00658); Meggy Farndale (FAR00660); Robert Farndale (FAR00661); William Farndale (FAR00665); Lily Farndale (FAR00673); Polly Farndale (FAR00676); Frank Farndale (FAR00687); Louisa Hutchinson Farndale (FAR00689); Edwin Farndale (FAR00691); Alice Maude Farndale (FAR00696); John William Farndale (FAR00698); Josephine Salvatori Farndale (FAR00705); Ellen Farndale (FAR00712); Richard Farndale (FAR00715); Hannah Farndale (FAR00733); Samuel Farndale (FAR00741); Alice Jane Farndale (FAR00753); Leslie Farndale (FAR00757); Polly Farndale (FAR00774); Samuel S Farndale (FAR00776); Doris S Farndale (FAR00789); Irene Farndale (FAR00797); Ethel Farndale (FAR00798); Alice Farndale (FAR00806); Doris M Farndale (FAR00807); Ethel Farndale (FAR00831); William H Farndale (FAR00840); Thomas T Farndale (FAR00842); Mary Farndale (FAR00847); Christie A Farndale (FAR00860); Dorothy Farndale (FAR00861); James Farndale (FAR00863); Albert W Farndale (FAR00866); Edith Farndale (FAR00870); Elizbeth Farndale (FAR00887); and Miriam W Farndale (FAR00905).

Guisborough

Guisborough is a market town and civil parish in Yorkshire. It belongs to the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland, the Tees Valley region and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire. The name probably comes from ‘Gigr’s fortification’, also Ghigesburg, Gighesborc, Ghigesborg, Giseborne 1086, Gisebur(g)h c.1130-15th century, Gi- Gysburgh 1285-1577, Gysborow, -borough 1530, Gi- Gyseburne (1119) 15th century-1430, Gi- Gysburn 1228-1483. Old Norse personal name Gigr, secondary genitive singular Giges, and Old English varying with Old Norse borg and Old English burna.

Guisborough Priory

Some archaeologists date the town to the Roman occupation, when it may have been a military fortification. Discovery of a few Roman artefacts support this, such as the elaborate ceremonial Guisborough Helmet. Gighesbore is recorded in the Domesday Book. The ruined Gisborough Priory dates from the 12th century.

Guisborough Museum, behind Westgate's Sunnyfield House, exhibits photos of Guisborough's history and inhabitants. There is a working watermill at Tocketts Mill.

Guisborough Timeline

Roman period

The Guisborough Helmet is a Roman cavalry helmet found near the town in 1864. It was originally fitted with protective cheek-pieces, which have not survived, but the attachment holes can be seen in front of the helmet's ear guards. It is lavishly decorated with engraved and embossed figures, indicating that it was probably used for display or cavalry tournaments, although possibly for battle as well. It was unearthed in what appears to be a carefully arranged deposition in a bed of gravel, distant from any known Roman sites. After its recovery during roadworks, it was donated to the British Museum for restoration and display.

1086

The Domesday Book includes:

· Lands of the King: “In Chigesburg, Ulchel (had) 1 carucate of land for geld. Land for half a plough.

· Land of the Count: “In Ghigesburg, 17 carucates.”

· Lands of Robert Malet: ‘In Ghigesborg, Leisinc had 3 carucates and 2 bovates of land for geld, where 2 ploughs can be. Now Robert has 1 plough there, and 3 villeins with 1 plough. T.R.E. it was worth 5s. 4d; now (it is worth) the same.’

A carucate was roughly 100 acres. A bovate was roughly 15 acres. Geld was a tax that had to be paid. T.R.E. means “in the time of King Edward the Confessor”.

Count Robert of Mortain held considerable lands at Guisborough at the time of the Domesday Book but by the reign of Henry I, the whole of Guisborough had come into the hands of Robert de Brus of Skelton Castle.

(The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Yorkshire North Riding” vol.2 (ed.) W.Page (1923)).

1119

In 1119 Robert de Brus founded Guisborough Priory, a house of Augustinian Canons. and granted the manor of Guisborough to the canons there. It remained in the hands of the canons until the priory was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1538. In 1550 the Chaloner family purchased the priory and eight years later they became lords of the manor of Guisborough.

Robert De Brus of Skelton Castle granted land to the Canons Regular of St Augustine for the building of Guisborough Priory.

Reconstruction of Guisborough Priory

1263

A weekly market and a three day fair every August were granted.

1289

Much of the priory was destroyed by a fire that began accidentally.

1290

The Church of St Nicholas

The Anglican Church of St Nicholas holds the De Brus Cenotaph. A church may have existed in 1290, though the chancel dates from the late 15th century. The nave and interior have been altered. The church in its present form resulted from major rebuilding in 1903–1908 to a design by Temple Moore.

1301

The Lay Subsidy of 1301: More than 80 people in Guisborough had to pay this government tax on moveable goods. Many more were exempt. This was almost as many as Whitby, the busy North Riding seaport. The highest taxpayer was Adam de Tokotes, paying almost 10 shillings. The total tax paid was just over £7 15 shillings (The “Yorkshire Lay Subsidy” edited by W.Brown (Yorkshire Archaeological Society Record Series) 1897).

1405

The head of Sir John Fauconberg was placed on the tollbooth for rebelling against the king.

1536

Prior James Cockerill surrendered the priory to the Commissioners of King Henry VIII.

Robert Pursglove was appointed Prior. He proved to be a loyal servant of the Crown.

1537

James Cockerill was executed for his part in a protest against the closure of the monasteries during the Pilgrimage of Grace.

1539

The Act for the Dissolution of the Great Monasteries and Abbeys was passed in 1539 and this year Guisborough Priory was pulled down.

1550

Thomas Chaloner purchased the Priory lands from the Crown.

1561

Prior Pursglove founded the Jesus Hospital and a school in Guisborough.

1569

Several rebels were captured after the Rising of the North and executed in Guisborough.

1600

Thomas Chaloner II began extracting alum near Guisborough.

1613

At the Helmsley Quarter Sessions in July 1613 a Guisborough tailor and alehousekeeper was presented before the magistrates “for suffering great disorder in his house on Sunday 2 Jany. 1613 in the time of afternoon service &c. and for not selling ale according to the rate limited &c.”

1643

The Battle of Guisborough. A Parliamentarian army defeated a Royalist force.

1651

George Fox visited Guisborough. Quaker meetings in the town started during the following year.

1673

The Hearth Tax of 1673: The ancient Wapentake of Langbaurgh stretched from Yarm in the east to Lythe near Whitby in the west, and from the River Tees to the River Esk. In 1673 Guisborough was its largest town. 105 houses in Guisborough had 1 or 2 hearths while a further 28 houses were larger, with 3 or 4 hearths. There were 7 even more substantial homes with 5 or 6 hearths, while the largest dwellings in the town were those of “Tho Wilson” with 7 hearths, “Mr Ja Lynne” with 10 hearths and “Sr Edw Challoner Kt” with 17 hearths. In addition to these 143 properties, there were 68 single-hearth houses that fell below the tax threshold, making a total of 203 dwellings. This was more than you would find in Stockton or Hartlepool in 1673. (“The Hearth Tax List for the North Riding of Yorkshire, Michaelmas 1673, Ripon Historical Society (2011)).

1687

Tobias Hoopes of Skelton was one of four leading Quakers of the area who bought a room in a house in Westgate, Guisborough for a meeting place

1700

William Chaloner built the Old Hall in Bow Street.

1759

John Wesley preached in Guisborough for the first time.

1768

A Quaker Meeting House was built in the town.

1770

An early mention in literature appeared in “A Description of England and Wales” vol. 10, F.Newberry and T.Carnan (1770): “Six miles north by east of Stokesley is Gisborough, or Guisborough, a town situated in the road from Whitby to Durham. It stands on a rising ground, in a delightful situation and has a remarkable pure air; a fine scene of verdure overspreads all the fields near it, which are adorned with plenty of wild-flowers, almost all the year round, whence it has been compared to Puteoli in Italy. The town is well built, and the inhabitants famous for their civility and neatness. Here was formerly an abbey, the church of which seems by its ruins, to have been little inferior to the best cathedrals in England. Near this town are mines of iron and alum, but the latter are said to be now almost neglected. This town has a market on Mondays, and six fairs, held on the Monday and Tuesday after the 11th of April, for linen-cloth and horned cattle; on Tuesday in Whitsun-Week, for horned cattle and linen; on the 27th of August, the 19th and 20th September, and the first Monday after the 11th November, for horned cattle.”

1777

A Methodist chapel was built.

1790

The Providence School was established.

1811

The Wesleyan Church was dedicated. Ebenezer Chapel was built by the Independents, later known as the Congregationalists.

1814

A new market charter for the town was issued.

1821

A town hall was built to replace the old toll-booth.

1801

The Census 1801 recorded a population of 1,719.

1821

Guisborough's prominent Town Hall was built on Westgate in 1821. Its initial two storeys were extended to three in 1870. The ground floor served as a shambles or meat-market, with rooms above, some used from the building's earliest days as solicitors' offices (Lewis 1831, 286 & Baines 1823, 3). The ground floor also contained a cell or vault (Harrison & Dixon 1981, 131).

1823

Baines’ Directory of 1823 recorded Guisborough as a busy town. Included in this directory were 15 grocers, 3 shopkeepers, 6 butchers, 4 bakers, 4 wine and spirit dealers, 2 chemists, 9 drapers, 5 milliners and dressmakers, 5 tailors, 5 straw bonnet makers, 9 boot and shoe makers, 4 booksellers, 3 clock and watch makers and 6 ironmongers. 17 inns and taverns were named. The directory also listed a number of joiners and cabinet makers, plumbers and glaziers, stone masons, blacksmiths, coopers, wheelwrights, millers, farmers, gardeners, skinners, saddlers, flax dressers, linen manufacturers and rope-makers.

1839

The Guisborough Union Workhouse was opened.

1851

The Census 1851 recorded a population of 2,062.

1853

Belmont ironstone mine opened just south of the town and Chaloner ironstone mine opened just to the north.

The town shared in the prosperity of the Industrial Revolution through proximity to the ironstone mines of the North York Moors. One of Teesside's leading ironfounders, Sir Joseph Whitwell Pease, chose as his country seat the Alfred Waterhouse-designed Gothic revival Hutton Hall, situated at Hutton Lowcross, near Guisborough. It had its own station on the Middlesbrough–Guisborough branch of the North Eastern Railway, but this closed in 1964.

1854

The first passenger railway line to Guisborough came into service.

1856

Guisborough Hall, a Victorian mansion, was built in the Jacobean style in 1856. Once the home of the family of Lord Gisborough, the estate was then owned by the Chaloner family from just after the dissolution of Gisborough Priory until the 1940s. Gisborough Hall is a Grade II listed building, now converted into a hotel.

1857

Thomas Chaloner built Long Hull, his new family home.

1861

Chapel Street Primitive Methodist Chapel was dedicated.

1863

Anne Weatherill's diary: Guisborough 1863. See separate section below.

1864

A Roman helmet was discovered near Guisborough.

1865

Guisborough Foundry was extended about 5 years after it began working.

1871

Guisborough Water Company was formed.

1873

Admiral Chaloner’s Hospital was created for injured ironstone miners.

1881

Northgate Schools opened.

1887

There is a Guisborough link between Henry Saville Clarke and Lewis Carroll – see the North Yorkshire History blog.

1888

Prior Pursglove’s Hospital was rebuilt as Guisborough Grammar School.

1894

Guisborough was designated as an Urban District with its own council.

1901

The Census 1901 recorded a population of 5,645.

1907

The Primitive Methodist chapel was dedicated.

1911

The Empire cinema opened. It closed in the 1960s.

1913

Kelly’s Directory of 1913 included in a probably incomplete list of businesses, 21 general dealers, 12 grocers, 10 butchers, 5 confectioners, 3 fruiterers, a baker, 4 drapers, 8 tailors and outfitters, 3 watchmakers, a chemist, a stationer, a tobacconist, 2 hardware dealers, 2 coal merchants and 8 boot and shoe makers. There were 3 beer retailers, 11 inns and taverns, and 5 fish and chip shops.

1928

Guisborough Police Station was built.

1933

Belmont mine closed. Chaloner mine closed six years later.

1939

The last ironstone mine in the Guisborough area stopped extraction.

1941

A “starfish” wartime decoy site was built on the moors above Guisborough as part of Teesside’s air raid defences.

1948

The workhouse infirmary became Guisborough General and Maternity Hospital.

1951

The Census 1951 recorded a population of 6,531.

1958

Guisborough County Secondary School was built. It was later called Laurence Jackson School.

1964

Railway passenger services from Guisborough were discontinued.

Buildings of Guisborough

Guisborough Priory dates from 1119, but was much altered after a fire in 1289.

The Priory dovecote dates from the 14th century.

St. Nicholas Church dates from the sixteenth century on a much older foundation.

The Market Cross dates from the mid 18th century, altered in 1817.

Tocketts Mill dates from about 1810.

The Town Hall was built in 1821.

Gisborough Hall was built in 1857, and enlarged in 1902.

The following no longer exist:

The Hospital of Jesus (1561) demolished c. 1888.

The Toll Booth (mentioned in 1599) demolished in 1821.

Nos. 1 to 5 Market Place (18th century) demolished in 1963.

The Wesleyan Church (1811) demolished in 1963.

The Rectory (1859, destroyed by fire in 1868 and rebuilt) demolished in 1966.

Guisborough People

Robert Pursglove (1503/4 to 1580) was a cleric from Derbyshire who became Prior of Guisborough. He also founded the Grammar School and Hospital in Guisborough.

Thomas Chaloner (1564 to 1615) was a man of many parts who grew up in London. He brought the alum industry to Cleveland.

Joshua Ward (1684/5 to 1761) was a quack doctor from Guisborough who became well known in London after he treated King George II. He invented two medicines, Ward’s Pill and Ward’s Drop with some dangerous ingredients. He was buried in Westminster Abbey.

John Wright (1807 to 1882) was a poet from Guisborough who became known as “The Bard of Cleveland”.

Fred Priest (1874-1922) was a Guisborough-born footballer who played for Sheffield United when they were Football League champions in 1898 and F.A. Cup winners in 1899 and 1902.

Willie Applegarth (1890 to 1958) was an athlete from Guisborough who won a gold medal for the 4 x 100 metres at the 1912 Olympic Games.

Elinor Lyon (1921 to 2008) was writer of children’s books who was born in Guisborough.

Bob Champion (born 1948) is a jockey from Guisborough who won the Grand National in 1981 on Aldaniti.

Selina Scott (born 1951) is a Guisborough-born newsreader and presenter on national television.

Mark Benton (born 1965) is a television and film actor who was born in Guisborough.

Katy Livingston (born 1984) is a sportswoman from Guisborough who represented her country in the modern pentathlon at the Olympic Games in 2008.

Anne Weatherill's diary: Guisborough 1863

The diary of Anne Weatherill of Guisborough, was written when she was 22 years old. It was written in a small notebook, measuring six inches by four inches and records her activities between January and September 1863. She began the diary soon after returning from a visit to London. See the North Yorkshire History Website page for Anne Weatherill’s diary at Guisborough.

Back at home in Guisborough, she recorded her attendance at impromptu dances and invitation balls, a visit to Redcar and stays with friends in Stockton and Carlton-in-Cleveland. She took part in a choir festival and lent a hand in local festivities. A constant feature through the months is her response to the changing seasons and the beauty of the countryside.

Anne lived in Northgate in Guisborough with her family. Her father Thomas was a prosperous brewer, landowner and businessman. Her mother was Margaret, and she had a 20 year old sister Kate, and brothers William and Herbert, aged 18 and 14.

A recent acquaintance of the family was a young solicitor, John Richard Stubbs; he was often to be met with at the Richardsons' house in Sussex Street. He had come north from Boroughbridge in 1861 and on 1 January 1863 went into partnership with an older solicitor, John Brewster, at 28 Bridge Street, Middlesbrough.

The year began with parties. Priory Hall, behind the Cock Inn, was a large assembly room and the chief venue for Guisborough's social events. The Hall and the Cock Inn were owned by Anne's father.

January 1^st - The workpeople had their Christmas party in the Priory Hall.

January 3^rd - Went to a party at Aunt Todds.

… January 6^th - A large party at the Parsonage.

January 10^th - Took tea with Anne Louise. The Harpleys and Mr M & Mrs Wilson were there.

January 12^th - Had our first lesson from the Choir Master.

… January 20^th - The first snow has fallen this winter; the wind last night in the North was terrible. The sailors expected a storm tomorrow – but it has come today.

January 28^th - Went to Stockton to get our dresses for the Middlesbrough ball.

January 29^th - Had a little practice dance in the Priory Hall.

January 30^th - Very warm for the time of year. The roads almost like summer. Ball at Middlesbrough.

February 5th 1863 - Committee: … The Committee request the honor of Miss A Weatherill's Company at the Assembly Rooms, Watson's Hotel, Middesbrough, on Thursday, February 5th 1863 … Dancing to commence at 9 o’clock … The favor of an answer is requested

February 3^rd - Margaret was up – nothing talked of but the Middlesbro ball – I stayed and had tea down street where there was quite a large party in the evening. Messrs Wilson, Morgan, Roberts, T & C Clarke. We sang catches and glees, played bagatelle & had a very pleasant evening.

February 4th - We had a great storm of thunder & hail in the evening.

February 5^th - The day of the Middlesbro ball. We four girls all went by the early train – the most glorious fun. Mr Cochrane dined with us that day and took tea with us the next. H.C came unexpectedly. It was a jolly time.

February 10^th - Went to the Loys party (William Loy was a doctor in Great Ayton, whose daughter Mary (Polly) was then 19). The most delightful party since I left London – I stayed & the next day Polly, Lou & I had the greatest fun helping to put by the things. A most lovely day.

February 11^th - Another beautiful day – with a most seasonable frost – Mrs Loy, Polly, Louise & I drove to hear the Christy Minstrels. We had such a pleasant drive.

February 12^th - The fine weather continues. Had a little dance in the evening.

February 13^th - Drove to Stokesley in the afternoon, spent the evening with Mrs T Loy (Thomas Loy was a doctor in Stokesley).

February 15^th - Still most beautiful weather. Drove to Stokesley in the afternoon, took tea with Mrs Graham. Two Miss Burrels are staying with her, very nice girls. They are going out to their brother in New Zealand in the course of a month or so. We danced in the Hall, & they taught me two new dances, the Highland Polka, & God Save the Queen.

February 16^th - Seem to have almost lived in Goodchilds the last day or two, everyone here is having their likeness taken. The boys came from S to see about theirs and stayed the day with us. Rained in the afternoon, the first interruption of the beautiful weather since I came. Goodchilds of Bath Street was the local photographers.

February 17^th - Finished Aurora Floyd (this was a popular and sensational novel by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, published in 1863). A horrid book though not without a little redeeming talent in it.

February 18^th - Polly came home with me. Mr M and Mr R in the house.

February 26^th - Emma & Aunt took tea with us. Johnnie, R & Will in the evening.

February 27^th - A most glorious walk to Park Wood, Polly rode my pony. Her papa and mama came for her in the afternoon. Mr M gave us quite a comic concert which appeared greatly to amuse Mr Loy. Park Wood or the Park is the woodland on the edge of the hill overlooking Guisborough to the north-west. It had been medieval parkland.

March 4^th - A spring day such as only comes once in several years. We drove to Skelton starting about ten a.m. and from there walked to Saltburn. The woods were most lovely, some of the banks were covered with primroses and the mercury and saxifrage were out by the beck. The rooks are beginning to build. Papa showed us the Jackdaw cliff of which we have heard so much. Saltburn will soon be a fashionable watering place – they are making rapid progress with the buildings which have a beautiful effect seen in emerging from the wood with blue blue sea for background. For more about the development of Saltburn at this time, see the works of John Farndale. Anne's father had been born at Marske, where his father farmed at Hob Hill. The rocky steep valley side by Marske Mill weir on the Skelton beck was called the Jackdaw Cliff. The valley was later bridged here by the railway viaduct.

March 7^th - Still beautiful weather. Clear, bright & slightly frosty. Herbert came home last night and we all went to Wilton this afternoon. Roberts went with us & kept us laughing all the way. Our object was to procure ferns for Mrs Clapham – and we got some most beautiful. Papa & I drove home together & congratulated ourselves on the beautiful weather. The Princess Alexandra enters London today.

March 8^th - The beautiful weather seems to be broken up, this morning we woke to find a covering of snow. Mr Tyreman preached this evening, capital sermon.

March 9^th - South E Wind with wet.

March 10^th - The Princess Alexandra's wedding day. I don't know why it should be more hers than the Prince of Wales', only being a woman one feels more sympathy with her – A stormy day with continuing showers of sleet, nevertheless the town contrived to be gay with processions, games & races of all descriptions. About 800 children walked in procession and sang an appropriate Anthem at the cross, after that had tea in the Priory Hall. I enjoyed helping with the tea, & afterwards took a tray at the tea provided for the teachers. We all went to the old Bank & had tea there, Aunt, Uncle, ER, John Charles & Anne Louise had tea with us, and after tea the boys let off fireworks, etc which were great fun. Altogether a very pleasing day. I forgot to put down a very important event – Herbert came home on Friday, March 6th and stays till tomorrow.

March 11^th - Stormy day. Herbert left.

March 17^th - The weather has been the same for the last week – stormy with more or less snow daily, Wind N.E.

March 18^th - Finer, wind East.

March 19^th - West wind in the morning, turned round to the East.

March 20^th - Fine bright day, very cold. North wind.

March 21^st - A very beautiful appearance of the Aurora Borealis. The stars so clear & bright. Yesterday the boys got quantities of violets in the Park Wood Today has been a lovely day. There are records of brilliant appearances of the Northern Lights in this district in the nineteenth century.

… March 23^rd - A glorious spring day. We went to fish for things for Helen's aquarium, and certainly were successful – spent the evening at Aunt's.

March 29^th - I have neglected my diary for some time, but will endeavour to recollect some of the principal events during the interval. The weather has been very fine and dry but not warm. The east winds have prevailed much less than usual. My birthday gifts on the second of April were a very pretty gold necklet, "The Lady of Garaye" (poem by the Hon. Mrs Norton), a charm service & scent. We had no party. Roberts came to supper.

April 7^th - The girls down street & Margaret Elizabeth spent the evening with us. Mr Bowen & Roberts came in & sang some comic songs.

April 8^th - Mamma went to Stockton to see Uncle Robert.

April 12^th - Margaret Elizabeth, Anne Louise & Aunt took tea with us.

April 14^{th -}Mamma went to Stockton again. Uncle very ill.

April 20^th - Poor Uncle Robert died.

April 24^th - Uncle was buried. The day promised to be very fine but turned out stormy. Many attended the funeral. My cousins from Stockton & Jasper Barugh spent the day with us.

… May 11^th - The rook shooting at Danby, and a break-up of the fine weather. Aunt, Mamma, Helen and I drove together. The rain commenced when we had got little better than half way to Danby and presently poured down never to cease the whole day. It happened to be Castleton Fair & the girls enjoyed driving through the town exceedingly. We all seemed to enjoy the day notwithstanding the wet. The drive home was very wild.

May 13^th - Showers, which will greatly benefit the grass. Papa says we shall probably never live to see such another spring. He never remembers one so genial with so little East wind.

June - The day of the visitation (of the Archdeacon). The Kirkleatham choir came and joined ours so the singing was good. We sat in the chancel and had no organ. In the afternoon I came to Stockton.

Whit Monday - Miss Hunter, Annie W, Mrs W, Jane & myself went to Hartlepool and Seaton. Walked by the sands to Seaton and had tea there. Altogether a very pleasant day. Had great fun in the morning watching a circus in which Tom King figured.

Thursday - Went to old Mrs Gibson's party. The weather was bitterly intensely cold with East wind from the day I came till Whit Monday when it became warmer. Came to Jane on the Friday. Margaret Elizabeth and Anne Louise were taking tea here.

June 1^st - Went to see the 'Southerner' and L.F. spent the evening with us.

June 2^nd - Went to Middlesbrough in the boat. Mr F. Reed took tea with us. The Middlesbrough to Stockton boat was a regular way of travel between the towns.

… Friday 19^th - Went to the theatre to see Miss Lucette & was delighted with her performance. Took tea at Mr Biglands last Monday.

June 22^nd - Returned home. Mr H drove Jane, Mary, Little Jimmie and myself. The day was tolerably fine, the drive very pleasant.

June 23^rd - A glorious day. Mamma, Papa, Herbert and I walked towards the Park after tea. Everything seemed so fresh and pure, surely the country must have a purifying influence on those who live in it, and large towns must present much greater temptations and fewer good opposing influences to their inhabitants.

Saturday July 4^th - We have had lovely weather since I came home. Papa has got his seed hay and is going down to Redcar for a week.

Monday July 6^th - Kate and I joined Papa and Mamma and Herbert at Redcar. We drove down in the afternoon with Anne Louise who went to seek for lodgings. She had some difficulty in obtaining them, as the place was so full.

July 7^th - Anne Louise came down. Had a game of Croquet on the sands.

July 8^th - The grand Volunteer Review day. Corps after Corps with their respective bands poured into the town making quite an excitement. The day intensely hot and brilliant. Saw a number of Stokesley people among them. T.L., R.N., Anne Louise went off in a boat with us. It was cooler on the water. In the afternoon went to see the Review on the sands; our Corps were drafted off to supply deficiencies in other Corps. Thought the Review rather stupid as I do not understand the movements. Mr Morgan [vicar of Guisborough] and Anne Louise took tea with us. Was too tired at night to accompany Kate and Anne Louise to the promenade concert. The Volunteers were the successors to the Militia. Between 1846 and 1859 a French invasion scare prompted the formation of bands of Volunteers across the country; the movement was enormously popular amongst the burgeoning middle classes. The Volunteers were later transformed into the Territorials. In Guisborough a branch was sponsored by Thomas Chaloner in 1861 and the town developed a company of Volunteer artillery. Herbert and William Weatherill were both members, and Margaret Elizabeth’s son William Richardson was later to be Hon. Colonel.

July 9^th - Went to the promenade concert in the evening.

July 13^th - Returned home. Found the town quite deserted all down street & the Todds away. Fine warm weather the evenings, so that you would like to stay out basking in the soft air and listening to the still sounds of darkness. Drove down to Redcar on the 16th. A great deal colder. So cold about this time that the hands of the haymakers were numbed in the fields.

Wednesday 22^nd - They returned from Scotland.

Friday July 31^st - Lucy came. The day clearing we drove onto the moor in the morning.

Saturday 1 August - Drove on the moor. Another lovely day. We did so enjoy the beauty of the moors and sea.

Tuesday August 11^th - All went down to Redcar to the meeting of the choirs, and had a most pleasant day on the whole, though it was spent chiefly in Church for we went to the practice at twelve and did not leave till about two, when we went to dinner; at three back again to Church, and the service continued till after five. The musical part went off very well on the whole, very well, that is there were no mistakes, which is a good deal considering there were three hundred comparatively untrained singers.

Friday August 14^th - Mr Morgan's picnic. Mr Atkinson opened a tumulus in the moor near Tidkinhoe (Tidkinhow) and found two urns, the date at least one thousand five hundred years before Christ. Canon Atkinson of Danby, natural scientist and archaeologist, was much engaged on the Skelton and Guisborough moors that summer. Tidkinhow was home to the Farndale family from 1885.

Friday August 21^st - The school feast. A really happy day. We drove to Hutton in the morning. The day was warm but sunless, very pleasant for being in the open air. How the children did enjoy the tea, and after when you thought it impossible for them to stir how they did enjoy the games. We had spent the evening at the Parsonage and closed a very pleasant day by playing chareds till eleven o'clock.

Saturday August 22^nd - Took tea down street. E. Blanchard there.

August 23^rd Lucy left, drove to Redcar with her. Feel quite a bord without her.

August 29^th - The two previous days have been more or less wet but today is fine so the corn will not suffer I hope. Papa's was down the beginning of the week. Walked to Tockets Lythe. Read Willis Cruise in the Mediterranean ('Summer Cruise in the Mediterranean' by Nathaniel Parker Willis). It is interesting, the ground of his travels is so famous, but his descriptions are poor, and his comparisons instead of raising you up, bring the sublime down to the commonplace.

In September, Anne's parents went to Matlock, and Anne spent a little while visiting Mr & Mrs Hart at Carlton. Her sister Kate had been to stay there at the beginning of the year. Robert and Cecilia Hart may have been related to Anne's mother. The 1871 Census shows them farming at Faceby Grange.

September 1^st - Had a walk in the evening with Papa, Mamma, W and Roberts to Airy Hill in search of mushrooms. This walk and one we had on Saturday eve: seem to have stamped themselves on my memory, so much more strongly and pleasingly than many other so called days of pleasure, the first on account of the beauty of the scene – the purple moor, dark woods, the rising moon throwing a vernal hue over the grass fields seeming to slope from the soft grey blue sky. The latter because a solitary seat above the peaceful valley raised my mind above the struggles and cares of daily life & enabled me to look closely around me, recall the past & anticipate the future. How much more one lives in such moments than in the exciting turmoil of every day life & more especially than in the bewildering whirl of so-called fast life.

… September 7^th - A finer day. The corn will get led and quite time. Walked in the morning. E. Nightingale (Ellen, aged 22, whose brother Richard farmed at Faceby Lodge) & S.L. took tea with us.

… September 10^th - Walked up Carlton Bank in the afternoon, a beautiful day. The sun threw a mist in the west and N.W but it softened rather than obscured the landscape. The heather was in full bloom. Altogether the finest view I have ever seen, though I will not say my favourite. Helen [Ellen] Nightingale pioneered us up the hill, & R came in the evening, cards etc.

Friday - Walked on the Faceby Road with Mrs Hart in the morning & in the afternoon went to see a new farm house Mr H has planned. The house is delightfully situated commanding a view of the Carlton Hills with Roseberry to the East. Polly and I both feel sorry that this will probably be our last visit to Carlton, and that it may be a long time before we have the pleasure of visiting Mrs Hart again.

Here the diary ends

Anne died on 6 November 1866. She died of tuberculosis: "Phthisis [tuberculosis] 9 months – Abscess of Lungs 3 months – Diarrhoea 12 hours”

Anne's diary is now at the North Yorkshire County Record Office.

Links, texts and books

Anne Weatherill’s diary

“Guisborough Before 1900” by B.Harrison and G.Dixon (1981)

“Guisborough in Memory” by G.Dixon (1983)

“Robert Pursglove of Guisborough and his Hospital” by D.O’Sullivan (1990)

“Guisborough Past and Present” by P.Wilson and P.Smith (2005)

“Guisborough: Photographic Memories” (ed.) R.Darnton (2011)