Diary of Events in Stokesley.
1860 - Summer very wet. Rain fell almost incessantly for three months.
Last thatched roofs in Stokesley — on West Row near the Masonic Hall
- were replaced. The old poor house [on High Green] had been
thatched as was the “old corn mill” before its roof was destroyed by
fire. (This was possibly the mill built in the 1600’s)
Roman Catholic Mission founded at Stokesley in an upper room in the
yard of the [recently closed] Angel Inn.
An lndian Sepoy [soldier] captured at Delhi, was exhibited around
Stokesley by a Captain Ball - both men in regimental dress.
The chestnut trees on the north side of the Leven planted by Miss
Hildyard of the Manor House.
June 1st - Railway branch line between Stokesley and Castleton
started taking passengers.
October 11th - Heavy Fall of snow.
1861 - April 7th — census taken - population of Stokesley 2,401.
1862 - February 10th — Human skeleton found at Parish Creyke farm near
Stokesley, in the remains of the heating chamber of a Roman Villa.
October 25th - Public meeting at Stokesley to consider improvements
ln Statute Hirings [see section on farming in first part of “Stokesley in
The 1860’s'j Association formed and a committee appointed.
1863 - March 10th - Prince of Wales [later Edward Vll] and Princess
Alexandra of Denmark marry — Stokesley celebrates with a tea for all
Children under 14 years. The poor in the workhouse, and those on
out-door relief given a good dinner. A Ball was held in the Town Hall.
Old English sports and pastimes, and a procession of the Oddfellows
Friendly Society.
July 8th — Smallpox prevalent in Stokesley - 3 children ill.
July 12th — Vaccination inspector visits the school.
July 23rd - Agricultural Show (unusual date !!!)
August 1st - 2 more cases of smallpox - children.
August 7th — Schoolchildren entertained to tea by Rev. Charles Cator
- “all kinds of merry games”.
August 15th -Annual children's treat to Marton.
September 24th — “A poor Coventry weaver” exhibited a model of a silk
loom and also specimens of raw silk from different parts of the world,
at the National School.
September 28th - Stokesley Volunteers’ shooting match at Busby.
September 30th — heavy rain and flooding.
December 14th - Wombwell’s circus at Stokesley.
1864 — April — Gas meeting in National Schools (now Devereaux).
May 27th — Mr John Newball, lately entered in the Three Tuns Inn
was found quite dead, having hung himself in his bedroom. Deceased
was for many years a postboy in this town, in which capacity he was
highly regarded [he had been] in a moody state of mind for some days ,
when it was said he had been disappointed in marriage...
August 19th - Funeral with full military honours of Volunteer Richard
Cooper
Last burial in Stokesley churchyard - military funeral of George Young
A solicitor’s clerk and member of the Volunteers. Procession a mile
long, headed by the band.
October— Volunteers’ prize shooting match.
December 16th — Funeral with full military honours of Volunteer Edward
Smith of the Golden Lion Hotel.
1865 – April - “Panorama” show in town.
May - many cases of measles in town.
June — Volunteers’ presentation to Captain Marwood.
August 2nd — Grimmett’s circus in town.
Charles Wynne Griffith Wynne of Stokesley Manor died. Succeeded by
son Charles Wynne, who in 1863 resumed the family surname of
Finch.
A tricycle made by Wright and Rowntree, blacksmiths in Stokesley, and
A bicycle made by Rowntree, were raced up and down the High Street
lt made a grand entertainment for the townspeople.
1866 — Church choir outing to Redcar.
July 19th — Pinders circus in town.
August 29th - Floods — Stokesley completely under water — Esk bridges
and the Whitby fleet damaged .
Floods postpone Stokesley Show.
October - Circus in town.
November 12th - Mander’s circus in town.
1867 — First two houses built at Springfield.
February — death of John Slater Pratt, well-known Stokesley printer and publisher, late of Oaklands House and Didderhowe. Died at
Tonbridge Wells, and buried at Danby.
June 17th - Sports held in Stokesley.
August 29th —- School treat to Carlton Banks.
1868 — Stokesley Races restored after being discontinued for three years.
May 1st - Daly’s menagerie in town.
September 1Oth — “Panorama” in town.
September 24th - Agricultural Show.
November -circus, unspecified, in town.
1868 - March 17th - a melancholy accident occurred near Stokesley on
Saturday night. Mr George Jackson of Tanton Hall, had been
at Stokesley attending the sale of three high.-bred young bulls. He
was returning home in the evening, on a high spirited horse, when on
turning the angle at Tanton Bridge, he was thrown off and fatally injured.
(at the end of this extract from the Darlington & Stockton Times, there
was a comment “too much liquor’ written in ink).
May 14th — Stokesley Races.
July 23rd - School treat - tea at the Rectory, with races and games in
the field.
November 2nd - Scarlet fever prevalent.
November 29th — Fever almost gone. (despite this comment, the
Fever continued sporadically during much of 1870)
December 2nd — Snowy weather, becoming very wet and stormy by the
end of the month and decade.
1903 - Primitive Chapel built on College Square
1905 - Draper's known as Shepherd & Farrow's
1906 - Stokesley cricket club pavilion opened 1909
1909 - Draper's known as Shepherd & Farrow becomes Farrow & Kitching
1920 - Unveiling and dedication of war memorial for the fallen during 1914-1918 and other's ceremony in parish church at 3—30pm 08 December
1930 - July heavy rain causing much flooding, Stokesley high under water
1940 - January (20th) heavy snow causing drifting Nunthorpe - Stokesley buses stranded
1946 - Kenneth Waring becomes qualified pharmacist for Howgarth & West 1946-1973
1954 - August river overflows at Stokesley published in Evening Gazette sat price of paper (2 pence)
West Green flooded
1957 - Stokesley football team winner's Jefferson cup winners
1958 - Stokesley County Grammar & Modern School founded
Ken Waring pharmacist win's first prize national competition Benger Laboratories Ltd
1963 - Stokesley Primary School choir 1963-1964 winners of Whitby/Darlington competition
1960 - Tuesday (June 16th) formal opening of Stokesley secondary school opened by the Bishop of Whitby
1967 - Stokesley cricket club second team Cleveland cup winner
1968 - Stokesley football team (2nd) xi win's Charles Thompson challenge cup
1970 - Stone Hall and Brewery Terrace demolished flats created
1970 - Spence brothers create home's for the elderly behind north road
1975 - Stokesley School football team 1975 area cup winners
1976 - October Methodist youth club formed
1980 - Howgarth & West chemist calls it a day after ninety one year's business taken over from the late Robert Calver Noel age 66 years, John age 64 years and Eric age 60 years. Notice of closure Evening Gazette 30 October 1980
1980 - Malvern Drive created off Thirsk road
1983 - Fiddler's Mill Stokesley demolished 1989
1989 - Stokesley cricket team first N.Y & S. D. league champion Div. B
1992 - The Mill wheel unveiled at Stokesley Town Bridge
2002 - Saturday 22 February final day full operating United bus service, depot closed
2004 - Site of United bus depot turned into flats