East Cleveland Image Archive

What more can I say about this photo?   The caption says it all, peace and tranquility.

(photo courtesy of Mike Holliday)

I want to know who the little girl is with the big hat!  An image before the iron horse this one, no metalled roads. 
Derick Pearson tells us: ”It is actually taken 2/3rds of the way up Loftus bank from the mill. The Pit and the Works are a givaway. I was informed many years ago that the wall on the photo led to 2 paths that cut through to the gardens to the right of(High Row) and to a place called THE OLD MANS park on the path directly behind the little girl. The old men would have a nice view from here overlooking both Pits and the Mill as the trees in those days did not go all the way down.”
Norman Patton adds: ”I recall not only the two pathways but three! On the high side, it was possible to walk along the bottom of the furthest “allotments” in front of St Hilda’s Terrace/Short Row. The central path led into the park where there were Swings, Roundabouts, a SeeSaw and several seats. This recreation area was revitalised during the 50s but again fell into dis-use. The third path was just below the Park and would have been wide enough for carts and possibly vehicles. This path might have lead to Loftus Pit and possibly Skinningrove before the Pit was opened? NN
Thanks to Derick and Norman for the updates.

This must be one of our earliest photos of Mill Bank (correct me if I am wrong) but it is the only one I have seen of the bank with horses and carts going up it.  Looking closely the  road doesn’t seem to be made up, is it?  Duck Hole pit  that can be seen on the left and through the haze top right Mount Pleasant?  The huts in the field were used to house the Australian Army in World War I.

Thanks to Kathleen Hicks for the update. John