PICTURE: It is March 1970 and Skellfield, a girls’ public school near Topcliffe in North Yorkshire, announces it is to close. Senior pupils are pictured with the headmistress Miss Kathleen Jones. Rising costs are blamed for its demise. The D&S expressed concern for the future of the 73-room Palladian mansion built for the “railway king” George Hudson but the fears proved unfounded. In due course Baldersby Park became the home of another private girls’ school. Queen Mary’s School is thriving in the building today. But what about the girls? How did life treat them after Skellfield closed its doors for the last time that summer?
From this newspaper 150 years ago.
Darlington Land Society.
The success of this and similar institutions in the town may be taken as indicating the general state of prosperity amongst our working population.
The brief history of this society likewise illustrates very forcibly that the industrial classes, more than any other, look before they leap.
VERSATILE: from this newspaper 50 years ago
For several months after the society was projected, the directors had to work single-handed; notwithstanding their strong convictions that the purchase of the Harrowgate Hill Estate would turn out profitably, notwithstanding their extensive advertising and numerous public meetings, they are unable to include the popular feeling to their view.
Yet, by the offer of Messrs Thompson to take up all the unalloted shares, they were induced to proceed, and they went on until the allotment meeting was announced.
No sooner was that done than the secretary’s office was flooded with applicants for shares; and by the time of the meeting there were more applications than lots.
From this newspaper 100 years ago.
THE rumours that has been prevalent in Darlington for some time that the North Eastern Railway Company had designs on another big estate in the north part of the town appear to have been well founded.
It has been currently reported this week that they have acquitted Faverdale, which adjoins Stooperdale estate, purchased by the company some years ago, and on which they have erected extensive offices and workshops.
If the report of this latest purchase is confirmed, it will mean that the company have become possessed of practically an unbroken stretch of land between the Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle lines, and thus have made themselves assured of outlets for sidings.
It is well known that the shops at Stooperdale are not yet fully occupied but the numbers of men employed there are being added to week by week, and it is understood that before very long another large department will be transferred from Gateshead.
Precisely to what use the company will put their latest acquisition remains to be seen, but it is certain that before many years are passed Darlington is destined to become on of the greatest railway centres in England.
From this newspaper 50 years ago
THE creation of a new allpurpose County Borough to cover the area of the present 12 local authorities on Teesside, with small extensions into Stokesley Rural District and Guisborough; a small extension of Darlington by the inclusion of the built-up part of Blackwell; the amalgamation of Hartlepool and West Hartlepool with extensions into Stockton Rural District, including Greatham where the South Durham Steel Company’s works are situated; and some extensions to Sunderland – there are the main proposals in the report of the local Government Commission published on Wednesday.
STRONG AND LIGHT: from this newspaper 50 years ago
Darlington, Sunderland and the Hartlepools retain their status as county boroughs, Durham County Council had claimed that Darlington and the Hartlepools should cease to have county status.
The County Council’s suggestion of the Rural District of Startforth should be transferred to Durham has also been rejected.
The effect on the North Riding of the creation of the new Teesside Authority, says the report, will be discussed in the report on the proposals for the York and North Midlands general review area.
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