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Friday, 24 September 2021

SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL. FRIDAY. 24 SEPT. 2021.



Beach Buoy and Another Dog reached the car park at 6-36 a.m.

A man walked the car park wearing headphones...

There was a mild breeze from the south west.

There was a lady already down by the water's edge with her two dogs.



A sunrise seeker had positioned himself, with camera in hand, up in the dunes.

The Very Wet Labrador came bounding over.

She had managed to find away of becoming even wetter than on previous visits.

"Susie!"

"Morning."

"Morning."


Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed south as the sun came up.

They paused and pawsed to stop and chat to the 

7 a.m. club.

It was a lovely morning.

A jogger headed south .

 As he walked,  Beach Buoy tried to absorb every touch of the sunlight.

He gathered some stones for

Stubborn Dog Stack.

The jogger chose to be a walker on the way back North, for much of the way at least.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog climbed the dune edge, to reach the stack.



"Morning Mate."

He place the beach stones onto the stack.

He patted 

THE 

stone.

They had a sit and think.

Beach Buoy looked to the north.

The sunrise seekers had gone.

The beach seemed to fall silent.

There was just the thud of a waves as the sea unravelled like a dropped  stitch.

Sit and thinks are an important part of the beach time.

Another Dog isn't fully happy with scenario just yet...


Like a child on a long car journey, 

for 

"Are we nearly there yet?

read

"Can we go?"

"Seriously, can we go?


They went.

But only after going back to the stack to say goodbye and look at the view north.

"See yah mate."

The had a slow walk back.

Bus time.



BEACH BUOY.






THOMAS GRAINGER.

Sunday, 10 November 2019

THOMAS GRAINGER

Thomas 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 MAIL

17 JULY 1894

FALL OF COPING STONES

Narrow 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 Thomas

Was third in Class 10 (Freehand drawing) at Hartlepool Flower Show

 




Ward’s Directory of West H’pool 1896 –7
Joiner 
T Grainger 49 Studley Rd West H’pool

NORTHERN DALY MAIL

11 APRIL 1898

THE SKETCHING CLUB

EXHIBITION AT THE ATHENAEUM

The 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
House by River.1898
Countryside scene.1890






UNKNOWN SCENE.. OWNED BY BEACH BUOY... FOUND ON EBAY.





ROBIN HOODS BAY

SAME SCENE.

STRANTON CHURCH.

AND MORE RECENTLY.

SEATON CAREW LIGHTHOUSE.
FOUND IN NEARBY CHURCH.

LIGHTHOUSE  SCENE...MORE RECENTLY.

BOATS AT HARTLEPOOL .. FOUND IN AN AMERICAN THRIFT STORE.

GREATHAM, NEAR HARTLEPOOL.

MORE RECENTLY


OLD BRIDGE AT HESLEDEN.



CASTLE EDEN DENE.


IN 2021 BEACH BUOY SPOTTED TWO MORE PAINTINGS ON EBAY.
HE BOUGHT THEM.

HERE THEY ARE...





A RIVER SCENE FROM 1898.
ON THE REVERSE THOMAS HAS WRITTEN THAT IT WAS A PRESENT FOR HIS STEP-DAUGHTER ELIZABETH BRASS FOR HER 21st BIRTHDAY 
26 MARCH 1899.











A COUNTRY SCENE FROM 1890.


BEACH BUOY.



 

Thursday, 23 September 2021

SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL. 23 SEPTEMBER 2021. AN EVENING WALK.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog reached the beach at 6-20 p.m.

It was overcast.

There was a strong, but mild breeze from the north west.

It was overcast.

The tide was well in.


The tide had not long turned.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog passed a distinguished looking gent,

he was stood with his Black Greyhound.

"Lovely Evening." said Beach Buoy.

"Lovely to be out in the freshness."

With the tide just turning from high, the beach was narrow.

Two ladies walked their horses.

One of them was a small pony.

Another Dog danced on two back legs in excitement. 

There was a lady with a Rusty Spaniel which had a cone on its head.

They all walked along the water's edge, looking like some odd sort of Circus Parade.

A couple sat on the dune edge.

The lady used her partner as a reclining chair.


Two teenagers sat on a driftwood bench.


Beach Buoy headed for 

Stubborn Dog Stack.



A man with a dog passed.

"Evening."

.......... 

no reply....



Another Dog has began to climb on the stack the they reach it.

"Evening Mate."

He added beach stones.

He patted

THE

stone.

They stayed a while.

They had a think.

They watched and listened to the sea.


The tide was still high, up near to the dunes.


 



They began a slow walk back.

Beach Buoy, Another Dog and sadness headed North.


BEACH BUOY.

SEATON SANDS, HARTLEPOOL. THURSDAY, 23 SEPT 2021. ANOTHER DAY OFF.



Beach Buoy left the house at 5-50 a.m.

It was another day off, but he was dropping a friend off at work, down by the River Tees...

As he drove past the local shops, he saw a man wearing headphones heading for the beach car park...

It was 6-30 a.m. when they arrived in the car park.

There was this man with headphones............


Beach Buoy had made two thermal cups of coffee for the morning.

He eagerly drank coffee from the first.

He reached down and picked a doughnut from a bag of five that he had bought yesterday.

As they always seem to do the following day, the doughnuts, like those caught in Medusa's gaze were turned to stone.

He persevered.

A man walked the promenade, holding the cuffs of his jacket in fists as he did so.



They headed for the beach.

Susie, the Wet Labrador saw them, she came running over.

She always scored a direct hit, no messing about with introductions.

Today she carried a large piece of driftwood in her mouth as she ran.

The wood was wide enough to knock three people over  with one strike. 

😃

"Susie!"

"Susie-sue!"

"Morning."

"Morning."

Another Dog was keen to meet Susie's owner.

"How old is she now?"

He made a fuss of Another Dog.


Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed south.

There was a very mild, but blowy wind from the north west.

The tide was well in but going out.


The Moon over the Dunes was hidden behind a net curtain, looking through like a nosey neighbour.


The Lady with a Dry Labrador was to the North. 

She took photographs before returning to the north.

The sunrise was hidden today.


A man walked the water's edge.

He had a Young Old English Sheepdog.

"Morning."



The man didn't reply, he just called his dog's name.

The man looked disappointed that the sunrise was hidden?

He seemed to storm off as if he had came out for 

"Nothing."



Milky sunlight and reflections lit the way south.



The tide was slowly working its way back out.


He gathered some suitable beach stones as he headed towards

Stubborn Dog Stack.




"Morning Mate."

he placed the beach stones, before patting

THE

stone.

It was a little more exposed in the dunes.

The warm wind blew out to sea.


"See you later mate."

They were gone.



A Tug returned to the Returned to the River.




There were a few Bits and Bobs to record.


Another Dog was glad to be heading back.


She playfully chased small strips of  wind dried seaweed as it tumbled in the breeze back to the sea for rehydration. 

Up to the north, two people messed on with a paddle board.

Someone was sat on the strand-line. minding their gear.

They had a head buried deep into a hood as protection from the wind.

The same head was buried deeper into a mobile phone.



The paddle boarders began to pack up for the day.

Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed to the van.

Beach Buoy paused to allow a lady and her dog time and space to reach the beach via the access ramp.


The Lady, her Border Collie and her big wooly hat headed for the sea.

Beach Buoy returned to the van.

Another Dog slept on the beach bag as Beach Buoy drank coffee, whilst looking out to sea.

A jogger headed North along the promenade..

He spat!

He hadn't taken wind speed or direction into account.

He wiped his face with his right hand whilst trying to scratch an itch on his left knee, whilst keeping his momentum going.

A sort of hop, skip and trip technique.

Beach Buoy pulled up his hood, then rested his head on a raised hand.

He had left the side door of the van open slightly for some ventilation.

The wind whistled an unfamiliar but calming tune.

Beach Buoy dozed off.

Beach Buoy woke, woken by the Village Church Bells ringing

 for 8-30 a.m.

He dozed again.

He was woken once more, this time by a slamming of a nearby 

car door.


Time to go.



BEACH BUOY.


Wednesday, 22 September 2021

SEATON CAREW 22 SEPT 2021.


Beach Buoy and Another Dog reached the car park at 6-25 a.m.

As if on cue a man passed by, headphones on, as he walked the walk.

They pulled up, facing the sea and hopefully a visible sunrise to come?

Nearby was another white van.

The driver was out, tending to his 

"Wave King." 

paddle-board.

The Paddle-boarder headed for the sea.



The Big Friendly Greek Rescue Dog belonging to the Distant Wave Lady headed for The Paddle-boarder!

The Big Dog is smashing and wouldn't cause any harm.

It was quite funny watching him bound along the waterline, barking as his big ears flapped in the run-fed breeze.

"HUGO!"

"HUGO!"


Hugo stopped short of reaching The Paddle-boarder as he paddled off into the Bay.

Hugo's attention turned to a distant Beach Buoy and Another Dog who were on the beach by now.

The Dog started to bound across the sands.

It paused.

Beach Buoy whistled.

The Dog continued.

He gave Hugo a warm welcome and a neck scratch.

The Dog was almost as wet as Susie, the very wet Labrador who was nearby.

In time other people approached.

The Distant Wave Lady, her Mother.

"Morning."

"Morning."

A stranger, a young man who would have looked more at home with a Great Dane called Scooby was nearby

His Dog was another Wet Labrador.

He apologised as it came to give Beach Buoy a somewhat wet greeting.

"Wet Dogs are fine."

answered Beach Buoy.



Beach Buoy and Another Dog headed South.



They met an early 7 a.m. club heading north on the strand-line.

"By she's growing."

They chatted.

"***** was down yesterday with her Rescue Dog with a funny name."

Beach Buoy had no idea who ***** was.

The only person that he could think of yesterday was the lady with the Dry Labrador.

 He had seen her stop to chat to the 7 a.m club yesterday,

before taking photographs, then heading to the dunes.


They said farewell and Beach Buoy carried on.



A lady with a Dry Labrador was walking more quickly from the north and was soon near enough to overtake a dawdling Beach Buoy and Another Dog.







It was around then that the Sunrise came.

"It's lovely isn't it?"

"Brilliant."



They all paused a little to watch the sun and dogs.

Another Dog provoked an "Aw."

The Dry Labrador was a big friendly Dog.

Then... it went into the sea!

The Dry Labrador was now a Wet Labrador, this was becoming complicated!


A lady Jogger over-took them before sitting on the sand to take in the Golden sunrise.



The Labrador Lady carried on a while ahead.

Beach Buoy beach combed the shingle.




"See yeah."

"Tarrah."

The lady with the once dry, now wet Labrador was heading back.

Beach Buoy was pretty sure it was *****


Like the Border Collie couple the other day, they can't not say help if they pass.

The clouds over the dunes looked lovely.


They took aim at

Stubborn Dog Stack.

Beach Buoy gathered seven stones from the beach.



"Morning Mate."

He placed the seven stones in various locations on the stack.

he patted 

THE

stone.

"love you mate."

he patted 

THE 

stone again.

They headed back, down to the beach.


Beach Buoy had gathered a few Bits and Bobs. 





Not far offshore, there was a commotion.

It was a feeding frenzy of a different type.

There wasn't the dropping and diving of  Terns.

It just seemed like the Gulls were feasting on something that was on the surface?

A carcass perhaps?


Beach Buoy beach-cleaned a bucket barbecue.

It looked like it had only been used the once?  


Later, around Noon.

He parked the van up on the Sea Front.

He had Borrowed Dog and Another Dog in tow.

They had a walk...




The Village Green.


A Guest House Garden on the sea front.


Beach Buoy returned to the van.

Cake and Coffee for one.


 

It was from the van, with its tinted window that Beach Buoy managed to spot  the tiny hand-railers. 

They wont come out if they see you.

The tinted windows had made it possible.


BEACH BUOY.