REDCAR was originally a small fishing village, in the shadow of neighbouring Coatham, until the railway arrived from Middlesbrough in 1846 and transformed it into the ultimate east coast holiday resort, with trains bringing Teessiders for daytrips and longer stays, and also holidaymakers from such faraway places as Leeds or Scotland. When Saltburn began to rival it as a railway resort in the 1860s, Redcar responded by opening the racecourse so there was always an attraction for the working class visitor...
READ MORE: TAKE A TOUR OF OUR WONDERFUL COAST IN VINTAGE RAILWAY POSTERS
An Edwardian postcard view of the front at Redcar. The same view today would have the vertical pier slap bang in the middle of the picture
A 1930s postcard showing the bathing pool and boating lake built in the Majuba Road, which also enabled the huge crowds of holidaymakers to shelter from the bracing sea breeze behind a tall concrete wall
SEE MORE: OUR WONDERFUL COAST IN ALL ITS WIDE-EYED GLORY
A 1930s postcard showing a Punch and Judy show taking place on Redcar beach
All buttoned up on Redcar beach in the 1940s is Ken Jefferson, at the front, with the Benstead brothers
READ MORE: LARRY GRAYSON AND THE END OF THE PIER SHOW IN REDCAR
A lady snoozing in a hairnet on the Esplanade in Redcar in 1962, with the pier ballroom behind her - "Dancing nightly", says a large message on its side - and a boat named Middlesbrough on the right
An excellent picture from January 1963 showing the Majuba Road boating lake off-season when the park-keeper is breaking the ice with his whip for the swans. The parkie was obviously a very smart chap in his cap and uniform, but do you think his trousers were a little short?
READ MORE: MEET MISS CRIMDON, THE QUEEN OF THE DURHAM COALFIELD
Donkey rides and attractions on Redcar beach in April 1962 with the pier behind. Ever since 1826, members of the Burniston family have given rides on their donkeys at Redcar
Boats lined up along Redcar sea front on September 9, 1965
READ MORE: THE SEASIDE GLORIES OF SUNDERLAND'S TWIN RESORTS
The late Victorian bandstand in Redcar was a large shelter which jutted out onto the beach and had a more traditional iron bandstand on top of it, complete with sheltered seating for those listening to the concert. This picture was taken on November 16, 1968, shortly before it was demolished. Leo's pub and disco was built on its site followed by the famous 80ft tall vertical pier, which opened in 2013
No trip to the seaside is complete without a game of housey housey and here a game takes place on Redcar seafront in April 1972
This mid 1970s advertising campaign for Redcar ended up with the council in hot water - because the water at Redcar is renowned for being cold. Somehow the council had allowed a Mediterranean picture of a loving couple about to go snorkelling in the crystal clear waters to grace the front of its brochure. You can, of course, have happy holidays in Redcar, but you are more likely to find seaweed in the waves than snorkellers
A fascinating leftover from the First World War is to be found nearly a mile inland surrounded by the modern houses of Holyhead Drive. It is a "sound mirror": the circular concave depression collects all the sounds out in the sea and reflects them into a trumpet mounted in front of it. A stethoscope connected to the trumpet relayed the sounds to a "listener" who would interpret them. The part of the dish where the sound was loudest indicated where the threat was coming from. The mirror was built in 1916, the year after the Germans had begun sending Zeppelin airships over the east coast - there were 15 Zeppelin raids between April 1915 and November 1917. A Zeppelin's maximum speed was 85mph so the mirror could provide a 15-minute warning of a raid. When aircraft, especially planes, became faster, it became redundant and radar replaced it. There is another Grade II listed sound mirror in Fulwell, Sunderland
READ MORE: A ROLLERCOASTER RIDE AMID THE BRACING SEASIDE AIRS OF SEATON CAREW
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here