As much as he had wanted to go to the beach tonight, it wasn't to be so.
He made do with a walk along Seaton Carew Promenade .
It was around 6 pm when they parked up on a chilly sea front.
The large white building behind Beach Buoy's van is Seaton Hall.
It is a home now, it once belonged to a wealthy man.
Many years ago when the promenade was being developed, there was plans to build a large shelter with seating on the Promenade.
It would have spoilt the view from the Hall so he complained.
They still built the shelter but it was dug into the ground.
You had to take steps down to gain access.
Well since then, the Promenade has been redeveloped and the underground shelters was filled in and buried.
They headed north.
It was cold.
The sea was visible from the vantage point that the promenade gives the walker.
They passed the former home of John Darwin.
The man who faked his own death to claim life insurance.
Supposedly drowned at sea in his Canoe, he was living in the house.
For a while the village became known as Seaton Canoe.
Next it was the sea glass sculpture.
Beach Buoy gave some glass to the artist; others did too.
Beach Buoy has the drawing for the sculpture in his desk, oddly he was going to make the sculpture but plans changed.
It may not look like it, but the promenade was very busy.
The photograph is a bit of a fluke.
For a dark January night it was very busy.
Dog walkers.
Joggers.
Cyclists.
Three people in a line drinking coffee as they walked.
Two people in a line drinking coffee as they walked.
A jogger well over six foot tall, he was wearing one of those head lights.
He looked like a lamp post on the run.
Beach Buoy half expected a line of dogs chasing him, legs crossed, wanting to pee.
Another three in line drinking coffee as they walked.
What with all this coffee drinking going on no wonder the "Lamp post." was running!
Beach Buoy and Stubborn Dog were a little like slow moving traffic on a motorway.
They continued North to Newburn Bridge.
Passing a line of those people who sit facing the Promenade with their car headlights on.
The headlights are bright ..............
If only he had brought a Top Hat and Cane, Beach Buoy could have put on a show that would have made Micky Rooney proud.
Beach Buoy looked out to sea.
The Scene of the wreck of Trio back in 1901.
Where his Great Grandfather earned his Sea Gallantry Medal in 1901.
More of that at the end of this blogpost.
The wreck of Trio, November 1901.
Newburn Bridge.
Urban Stubborn Dog.
Had to part carried like a babe in arms.
(He loves a carry and the fact his head hangs over Beach Buoy's arms.)
They headed back to the van, passing the site of the Seaton Carew Lighthouse.
Painted here
(See Below.)
by a distant relative of Beach Buoy's
Thanks to Hartlepool arts and Museums.
1902.
By
Thomas Grainger.
There is more reading about the Trio ship wreck and about Thomas too
below.
TRIO 1901.
In November 1901
around 3-30 pm.
around 3-30 pm.
there was a ENE force 9 gale and a shipwreck taking place.
My Great Grandfather; William Grainger SGM, was one of the Rocket Brigade
crew
trying to
get a line to the Swedish ship; Trio.
The Gale was blowing the line back, so in his frustration my Great Grandfather
The Gale was blowing the line back, so in his frustration my Great Grandfather
tied a rope around his waist and swam out
to help save life.
He was awarded a gold medal by the town ; a number of others were too,
He was awarded a gold medal by the town ; a number of others were too,
but only he was awarded the Sea Gallantry Medal.
Almost unbelievably the whole thing was photographed
Almost unbelievably the whole thing was photographed
and reproduced thanks to Hartlepool Arts and Museum Service.
Some of the crew perished; one was making his final voyage home.
The Captain was one of those who survived. |
| The ship had left Port and headed North but dashed back to Hartlepool for safety when the weather turned. The weather was so bad that it could not get into the Port and she was breaking up in Hartlepool Bay. Note the men in flat caps watching. |
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| More onlookers as the ship is at the Sea's mercy. |
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| Masts are breaking up as the Ship is tossed around. |
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| It looks like a puff of white smoke on the left, perhaps from the Rocket team? |
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| WILLIAM GRAINGER . SGM 1864-1946. |
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| Eye witness account, written at a later date. |
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| Page 2. |
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| William and Biddy; his wife. |
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HIS SEA GALLANTRY MEDAL.  THOMAS GRAINGER
Beach Buoy did his family tree a few years ago. Thomas was one of the many Graingers and Grangers who moved from Robin Hoods Bay to Hartlepool. It is because they all moved to Hartlepool or West Hartlepool that Beach Buoy is where he is and who he is, for better or for worse. He is a distant relative of Beach Buoy. Thomas' death notice in the local press stipulated that no women should attend his funeral. THOMAS GRAINGERThomas Grainger. 24/2/1849 – 1930.Thomas Grainger was the eldest of George and Isabella Grainger’s children and like his brother was born in Robin Hoods Bay. George was a joiner/undertaker and Thomas worked with him but was not really interested in this. He preferred art and was, it is believed, an assistant master at an Art School. On 9th September 1888 Thomas married Elizabeth Brass, née Coath. Elizabeth was the widow of William Brass who died in West Hartlepool in 1883. She had 3 children from this marriage, Minnie, Elizabeth and Fred are recorded in censuses and on a posting on the West Hartlepool Family History Society web page but Elsie Bradley gives their names as Jane and Edith but I think she is wrong. Elizabeth at one time had a general dealer’s shop, which presumably had been her husband’s. Barton had said she was very hardworking. After their marriage, Thomas and Elizabeth moved to a very nice house in York Road near the Burn Valley where they took in gentleman boarders. They had 2 children, Thomas, born 24th February 1889 (5 months after the marriage) and Isabella, or Issie as she was known, in 1891. Apparently Issie had very nice manners. Thomas and Elizabeth kept quite a lot of company (which seems a nice old fashioned way of saying that they entertained a lot); it was at one of these gatherings that Barton’s daughter Isabella met her future husband, Jack Bradley. Isabella and her sister Lizzie were very good pianists and were much in demand. At these parties Thomas used to insist on singing the Marsellaise! It would seem that Elizabeth was quite well off as she seemed to pay all the expenses; Thomas was only expected to pay the gas bill but he didn’t even do that apparently, and after a while Elizabeth and all the children upped and left him with only his chair to sit on. After that he lived by himself for a while. Thomas must have tried to support himself through his painting; he did jobs for Barton as well but he used to complain about bills as long as your arm and about chasing children off the paint. Eventually he moved in with his Sister; Lizzie, and he still painted. He was asked to do some paintings of the Denes (an area of WH?); at one point there were 56 of Thomas’ paintings in the passage of Lizzie’s house. When Thomas died they were all sold for 1/6 pence each so there must be some out there in homes in West Hartlepool. Thomas was buried in West Hartlepool’s North Cemetery on 30th December 1930. Row B, Number 56. (Unconsecrated.) He had been living at St Paul’s Road in Hartlepool. He was 81 years old. Thanks for the above item go to…Elsie Bradley, Isla Evans (nee Grainger.) and Grainger Group member Vicky. Since the article first appeared on Grainger Group I have found some additional information about Thomas Grainger & Family. See following page for details…………. Kelly’s Directory of West H’pool 1887 Shopkeepers. Mrs E Brass 49 Studley Rd West H’pool Kelly’s Directory of West H’pool 1890 Shopkeepers. Thomas Grainger 43 Studley Rd West H’pool NORTHERN DAILY MAIL17 JULY 1894FALL OF COPING STONESNarrow Escape of Mr T Grainger.About 12-50 today, as Mr T Grainger, Joiner and Undertaker, Charles St, brother of Councillor Grainger was getting dinner in his workshop, several large coping stones from an overshadowing gable crashed through the roof. Mr Grainger called to his boy to run and he himself made a dash for a safe spot. He thought that perhaps the large telephone pole attached to the exchange and was giving way and was coming through. On looking round he found that the stones, one especially of considerable weight had come from the source indicated. The opposite gable abuts into Charles St. No one was hurt. The landlord’s attention was drawn to this matter. 2 Aug 1894 Northern Daily Mail informs readers that ThomasWas third in Class 10 (Freehand drawing) at Hartlepool Flower ShowWard’s Directory of West H’pool 1896 –7 Joiner T Grainger 49 Studley Rd West H’pool NORTHERN DALY MAIL11 APRIL 1898THE SKETCHING CLUBEXHIBITION AT THE ATHENAEUMThe article states that …..While T.Grainger contributes several pieces of work of undoubted merit, his drawing of “Gunner’s Pool” in Castle Eden Dene being one of the best in the collection. The same artist in his view of “Wynyard Hall” and “The Water Mill Near Cotherstone” has made a distinct reputation for himself.Ward’s Directory of West H’pool 1898 – 99 Joiner Thomas Grainger York Rd West H’pool Dressmaker Miss E Brass York Rd West H’pool Ward’s Directory of West H’pool 1900 – 01 Joiner T. Grainger 4 The Promenade West H’pool Dressmaker Miss E Brass 4 The Promenade West H’pool Kelly’s Directory of West H’pool 1902 – 03 Joiner Thomas Grainger The Promenade West Hartlepool Ward’s directory of West H’pool 1904 – 05 Joiner Thomas Grainger 4 The Promenade & also South Rd. West H’pool At all Saint's Church, Stranton on Jan 29th 1887, Thomas and Edith Brass (Possibly Elizabeth his wife?) were witnesses for the wedding of Walker Wheelhouse , Guard aged 30 and Emma Plumb. NORTHERN DAILY MAIL (WEST HARTLEPOOL.) M0N 29 DEC 1930. DEATHS. GRAINGER, on Dec 27th 1930, Thomas aged 81, eldest son of the late George & Isabella Grainger. Service to be held at his sister’s residence, 9 St Paul’s Rd, 1-45pm, Tuesday, Dec 30th – Cortege leaves the above address for Old Cemetery, Gentlemen Only. Thomas’ will details… Gross value £130, Executors were Barton Grainger (His Brother and one time Alderman of West Hartlepool and Sister; Isabella. To son Thomas & daughter Isabella, he left them each any one of his paintings they might choose within one month of his death. Everything else to be sold and divided into six equal parts. The beneficiaries were Barton (Brother.) x 1 share Isabella (Sister.) x 1 share Hannah (Sister.) x 1 share Maria Caroline Fisher. x 1 share. Hannah Grainger Durham (Daughter.) x 2 shares The group has copies of the following paintings by Thomas, See the Photograph Section. Boats at Hartlepool 1876.Found in America Stranton Church 1884 Cottage and Farm, Church Hesleden 1887 West View of Greatham Seaton Carew Lighthouse 1902 Castle Eden Dene Viaduct 1903 Part of Robin Hood’s Bay 1908 Old Bridge,Hesleden Dene Castle Eden Dene Cottage and Farm Farm near River Tees BELOW ARE SOME OF HIS PAINTINGS I WAS GIVEN PERMISSION TO SHARE COPIES FOR THE FAMILY HISTORY GROUP I HAD. So thanks again to those who let me share including Hartlepool Arts and Museums
 
 
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