Middlesbrough now and then

B

Bigstrongman

Active member
Not sure if this has been posted before so apologies if it has.
Worth looking at this guys YouTube channel, of Middlesbrough now and then, some old photos from as early as the 1800s with photos taken from the same spot in the current day.


Quite sad really when you see a photo of a woman walking down the street with a 3 year old kid, then the next photo from the current day and they're gone in the blink of an eye. You think your invincible in your childhood and your never going to get old
 
Absolutely criminal when you look back. People visit places for the architecture and Middlesbrough was a beautiful town cut down by the A66 and poor planning- North Ormesby Hospital, buildings around Wilson St, Corporation Road would've been incredibly now if maintained, along with another short sighted decision to get rid of the trams.
 
Huddboro said:
Absolutely criminal when you look back. People visit places for the architecture and Middlesbrough was a beautiful town cut down by the A66 and poor planning- North Ormesby Hospital, buildings around Wilson St, Corporation Road would've been incredibly now if maintained, along with another short sighted decision to get rid of the trams.
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On a positive note the people, businesses and community organisations are now working with Historic England to renew and revive the historuc quarter around the railway station which itself is currently being renovated.
Exchange Square looks great now and lots of people are using it during to sit out during the day. We can celebrate the past by breathing new life into these buildings and enjoying them now and for the future.
 
fmttmadmin said:
On a positive note the people, businesses and community organisations are now working with Historic England to renew and revive the historuc quarter around the railway station which itself is currently being renovated.
Exchange Square looks great now and lots of people are using it during to sit out during the day. We can celebrate the past by breathing new life into these buildings and enjoying them now and for the future.
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That is all very good to hear Rob but, what could it have looked like without the A66 splitting the town in two?
 
Norman_Conquest said:
That is all very good to hear Rob but, what could it have looked like without the A66 splitting the town in two?
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It has happened - for me we have to make sure we use and do not lose what is there now. There was not enough opposition at the time or public will to revive a declined area. At least now public money is being wisely invested in that historic core of the town. For me it becomes dangerous when people turn a blind eye to heritage being allowed to fall into decay or being knocked down - in the name of "progress."
I have just seen Kelpies in Helix Park, Falkirk. It was the most run down area in a post industrial town and now it is an international tourist destination. Free to visit. Car parks full. Thousands there. Teesside and the banks of the River Tees could easily do this with a little imagination, political support and crucially public will.
 
The St hildas community was practically demolished and left for years untouched. half of whinney banks and grove hill demolished (and since replaced)

I had my first walk around the town centre in a long time yesterday and it was grim, but the same can be said about alot of town centres, the shopping centre in Peterlee is almost empty of tennants
 
fmttmadmin said:
It has happened - for me we have to make sure we use and do not lose what is there now. There was not enough opposition at the time or public will to revive a declined area. At least now public money is being wisely invested in that historic core of the town. For me it becomes dangerous when people turn a blind eye to heritage being allowed to fall into decay or being knocked down - in the name of "progress."
I have just seen Kelpies in Helix Park, Falkirk. It was the most run down area in a post industrial town and now it is an international tourist destination. Free to visit. Car parks full. Thousands there. Teesside and the banks of the River Tees could easily do this with a little imagination, political support and crucially public will.
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I can’t disagree with any of that but my only concern is we continue to waste money on things like the Temenos, which for me is ugly (my opinion only) and also in the wrong place.

I remember you saying you hadn’t heard of The Kelpie’s when I was asking for advice on staying up there. I am really glad you enjoyed them. It would be nice if we could incorporate our heritage into a visitor’s centre.
 
Norman_Conquest said:
I can’t disagree with any of that but my only concern is we continue to waste money on things like the Temenos, which for me is ugly (my opinion only) and also in the wrong place.

I remember you saying you hadn’t heard of The Kelpie’s when I was asking for advice on staying up there. I am really glad you enjoyed them. It would be nice if we could incorporate our heritage into a visitor’s centre.
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Oh yes I well remember the conversation. To be honest I went to Falkirk to see the Antonine Wall, my friend said we have to see The Kelpies and I recalled your post. They were right and you too. Well worth seeing.
Temenos was supposed to be one of a series of giant sculptures and structures between Stockton and Middlesbrough and the mouth of the Tees. Two were recently blown up. The idea was to bring people back to the sides of the Tees. As in Teesside.
The Kelpies are next to a canal. Imagine heritage, art, industry all coexisting by the river. Newport Bridge, Transporter Bridge, Temenos, Riverside, Black Path, Saltholme, seals at Greetham Creek, South Gare and new industry and shipping down the river. With views of the hills beyond.
 
fmttmadmin said:
Oh yes I well remember the conversation. To be honest I went to Falkirk to see the Antonine Wall, my friend said we have to see The Kelpies and I recalled your post. They were right and you too. Well worth seeing.
Temenos was supposed to be one of a series of giant sculptures and structures between Stockton and Middlesbrough and the mouth of the Tees. Two were recently blown up. The idea was to bring people back to the sides of the Tees. As in Teesside.
The Kelpies are next to a canal. Imagine heritage, art, industry all coexisting by the river. Newport Bridge, Transporter Bridge, Temenos, Riverside, Black Path, Saltholme, seals at Greetham Creek, South Gare and new industry and shipping down the river. With views of the hills beyond.
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You have mentioned some of my favourite Teesside places on that list.

I think Stockton are going to beat the other major towns to embracing the river. It would be lovely if we could all get our acts together and great a place worth visiting.
 
Norman_Conquest said:
You have mentioned some of my favourite Teesside places on that list.

I think Stockton are going to beat the other major towns to embracing the river. It would be lovely if we could all get our acts together and great a place worth visiting.
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We have to remember that the Tees is no longer a working river through Stockton. ie no fabrication yards and port facilities etc. Fortunately, there is still a substantial amount of work and traffic in the Port of Middlesbrough and on the north bank between the Newport Bridge and Transporter. Am looking forward to the revamped Transporter Bridge Visitor Centre being relaunched soon.

I really think we all have to be on the case pressing to make sure the Transporter is reopened as a working bridge. That way it takes a steady income from passengers and as transport infrastructure it will receive big money grants. Tyne Bridge is getting £41 million this summer. That sort of a sum is an impossible dream for a museum. But as an active bridge it can also double up as a visitor attraction again. And this time be really pushed regionally and nationally.
 
I’ve been working around Newcastle for the last couple of days, the difference is stark compared to Middlesbrough, the old buildings have been preserved and repurposed properly.
Meanwhile in Middlesbrough once beautiful buildings have shamefully been destroyed forever.

What is left needs to be protected now.
 
fmttmadmin said:
We have to remember that the Tees is no longer a working river through Stockton. ie no fabrication yards and port facilities etc. Fortunately, there is still a substantial amount of work and traffic in the Port of Middlesbrough and on the north bank between the Newport Bridge and Transporter. Am looking forward to the revamped Transporter Bridge Visitor Centre being relaunched soon.

I really think we all have to be on the case pressing to make sure the Transporter is reopened as a working bridge. That way it takes a steady income from passengers and as transport infrastructure it will receive big money grants. Tyne Bridge is getting £41 million this summer. That sort of a sum is an impossible dream for a museum. But as an active bridge it can also double up as a visitor attraction again. And this time be really pushed regionally and nationally.
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It will be short sighted on our behalf if it doesn’t open.

I previously visited one of its sister bridges in Rochefort, France and it had a visitor’s centre with cafe/bar facilities and also gave you a short insight into the other bridges of similar build. Crazy as it may seem, I was able to buy a post card with our bridge on it.

When we installed the open gondola, I thought we were heading in the same direction.

Not everyone is like you and I think it should be saved.
 
Bernies_quiff said:
I’ve been working around Newcastle for the last couple of days, the difference is stark compared to Middlesbrough, the old buildings have been preserved and repurposed properly.
Meanwhile in Middlesbrough once beautiful buildings have shamefully been destroyed forever.

What is left needs to be protected now.
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Bernie - Grainger Town is superb but an awful lot of Newcastle was destroyed by motorways carving through the town. They have big problems now in Ouseburn where the very warehouses and former industrial buildings that first made it an attraction are now being torn down for fashionable apartments,
Yes lots of Middlesbrough has been lost but now there is a real will to preserve and give new purpose and heart with the historic town centre action zone. But it will only succeed if people really stand up and say it is worth it.

Middlesbrough High Street Heritage Action Zone | Middlesbrough Council

We're making our Historic Quarter a more desirable place for businesses, visitors and investors.
www.middlesbrough.gov.uk www.middlesbrough.gov.uk
 
Norman_Conquest said:
It will be short sighted on our behalf if it doesn’t open.

I previously visited one of its sister bridges in Rochefort, France and it had a visitor’s centre with cafe/bar facilities and also gave you a short insight into the other bridges of similar build. Crazy as it may seem, I was able to buy a post card with our bridge on it.

When we installed the open gondola, I thought we were heading in the same direction.

Not everyone is like you and I think it should be saved.
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The engineers are still working on the bridge. I regularly communicate with the council for updates and do what I can to keep the Transporter in peoples minds. I was part of a task force briefly a year or so ago and had to conclude that it could only be revived by being reopened as a working bridge. Call it a road bridge and the kind of money needed can be found.

The revamped Visitor Centre opens very soon I am told. It would be great if we get some events on there on Boro matchday.
 
My brother in law was involved in restoring a couple of old rundown buildings over the border, they are situated close to the corner of the road that runs down to Base camp
 
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