PICTURE ABOVE: It is March 1978 and North Yorkshire County Council is relaying the cobbles in Richmond Market Place. It is a long and painstaking task which, in the modern era, is very expensive and why the council has come in for criticism in recent times for replacing damaged cobbles with tarmacadam.

From this newspaper 150 years ago. –

Cleveland Iron. We have again no change to report in reference to the numbers of furnaces in blast, though judging from the state of the trade, and the progress that is being made by those whose furnaces are advancing towards completion, the figures which have varied so little for sometime past will speedily be changed, – not for the worse but for the better. The most noticeable feature in connection with our trade is the establishment of the Exchange at Middlesbro’, where a system and mode of dealing have been introduced analogous to that of Glasgow. Up to this day – five days from the opening – nearly 150,000 tons of metal have been sold. We cannot say that we ought to be surprised at the result, when we consider the large make of the district, and the extent of the transactions in the Glasgow market; but it is complete evidence of how great a necessity such a place to buy and sell in had become, and it is most gratifying that all parties have appreciated the Exchange which, like the iron district of Middlesbro’ itself, has, in an amazingly short space of time, established itself, and at once become an undoubted success.

Through it the makers of the district will have many advantages of which they have been hitherto deprived, the chief benefits being that they will always know at once, to a few pence, the value of their material, and, as readily as in any other district, obtain a market for it. The other feature which we have to note is the unsettled state of things in Staffordshire, described by our Wolverhampton correspondent.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

Although this is better than an average time for the iron trade generally, the prospect would seem to be by no means bright for Staffordshire, and seeing that makers in our district have large remunerative orders, and are extending their puddling furnaces and mills of all kinds, and that new works requiring additional hands will shortly be in operation, it seems as if a transfer of business from Staffordshire to Cleveland were likely to come on very rapidly. Wages of men are higher here than in Staffordshire, and any attempt to reduce wages there will lead to a still greater number of men removing from that district to this – there being no question of want of employment for them here at the higher scale of wages.

From this newspaper 100 years ago. –

The Limitations of Tar Macadam. In the matter of cleanliness and general excellence of its streets Darlington has long been looked upon as a model town. The Corporation some years ago recognised the advantages of resurfacing streets with tar macadam and in adopting this method of street repairing an up-todate tar macadam mixing plant was erected in order to reduce the cost of material to the lowest point.

Further street improvements are now contemplated and this week an application was made before a Local Government Board Inspector for sanction to borrow £8,372 for re-surfacing streets with tar macadam. But while tar macadam roads have done much to allay the dust nuisance and are in other ways a distinct improvement on the old method of road making, they are nevertheless viewed with much disfavour by many horse owners who contend that in wet and frosty weather the smooth surface of the road renders it extremely dangerous to horse flesh. A rougher surface has been obtained by experimenting but even yet the results are not to the entire satisfaction of horse owners.

A cause for more general complaint, however, presents itself during the summer months. With excessive heat the roads become soft and in many cases the tar is reduced to a liquid. This, of course, adheres to the boots and shoes of pedestrians who take it into their houses, much to the discomfort of housewives. It is due to the residents of the town that something should be done to minimise this grievance.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. –

If Guisborough is not to develop into a dangerous and nervewracking town, with stagnating traffic and streets overpowered by petrol fumes, a courageous future development plan must now be drawn up.

This was the claim put forward last week by Mr A T Pallister, Guisborough Urban Council Engineer and Surveyor, in a detailed report to the Roads and Improvement Committee on the future of the town. He told the meeting that the growth of Guisborough from the present 7,000 population, to a sizeable town of 19,000 forecast in 1981 would bring many problems. More and more building sites would have to be opened up and increased services would have to be planned. On accommodation, Mr Pallister said that negotiations were taking place at present for the development of sites at Fair Field, Galley Hill Farm and Hutton Gate Camp.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

But in addition land should also be secured between Stokesley road and at Hutton Beck; south of the railway at Hutton Gate; south of the railway running west from Belmangate; and east of Belmangate and Butt Lane area. Mr Pallister added that obviously no single developer could stand the cost of guaranteeing revenue on the capital sum involved and recommended that the Water Board be asked to prepare a scheme for a new pumped supply, show the amount of overall guarantee required, and also break down the guarantee into the sum required for the various sites affected. Similar negotiations between the Water Board and other Councils had taken place elsewhere. In considering other essential services, Mr Pallister said that refuse collection should not be forgotten. At present the two collection vehicles owned by the council can cope with the number of houses, but in a short time the work will become more than can be handled by two vehicles.