Names of 76 fallen First World War ironworkers unearthed by TeesAMP Newport Ironworks heritage project
The Samuelson’s Newport Ironworks First World War Memorial
The names of 76 fallen World War One soldiers have been unearthed as part of the redevelopment of the former Newport Ironworks in Middlesbrough. The team behind the new Tees Advanced Manufacturing Park (TeesAMP) are working with neighbours TWI to restore the plaque which is inscribed with the names of the town’s fallen WW1 heroes who worked at the Ironworks before heading off to battle. Records show that there were 3,765 recorded WW1 deaths identified as being from the local area.
The memorial pre-restoration
Geoff Hogg of Cleveland Property Investments, who is working with Middlesbrough Council and Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) to bring TeesAMP to life, said: “This site’s history was always going to be celebrated as part of our redevelopment.
“Newport Ironworks played such a huge part in Middlesbrough’s industrial heritage and it’s important to give these local heroes the respect they deserve by ensuring the commemoration is restored for future generations.”
The plaque had been in storage for some years and had deteriorated as a result, however it will be fully restored so it can once again be displayed in honour of the local men who fought and died in the Great War.
And now, the team behind the redevelopment is searching for relatives of those named.
Geoff added: “We’d love to find out more about those who are honoured on the plaque and invite their relatives to join us in the unveiling.”
As part of the ongoing works, a team from historical consultancy Heritage Unlocked are documenting the site’s industrial heritage.
The project will also see the creation of new educational resources centred on the history of the ironworks – as well as collaborations with other heritage sites and visitor attractions – giving schools, colleges and the general public access to the site.
Dr Tosh Warwick, owner of Heritage Unlocked, said: “It is fantastic that the TeesAMP development has provided the opportunity to create new education and community resources that will enhance access to Middlesbrough’s industrial heritage.
“By engaging the wider community with the site through the use of historic material, including rare iron and steel records from Teesside Archives, we are able to help celebrate the area’s iron and steel industries that have helped shape the world.”
Phase one of TeesAMP will include 180,000 sq ft of space set in high quality, well-designed, high specification buildings in a quality landscaped environment.
Ongoing archaeological investigation is taking place in light of the historical significance of the site. Remains associated with the former ironworks are being recorded and assessed by Durham University and their findings will be published in due course.
More information on TeesAMP can be found on their website.
Anyone interested in sharing information and memories of the site can contact Heritage Unlocked at info@heritageunlocked.com or by visiting the Heritage Unlocked website.
Those named on the plaque include:
A Anderson, E A Andrews, E J Atkinson, T L Bagley, W A Beavon, H Binns, J E Blake, W Buckle, T Burns, E Calvert, J Cant, J Coupland, R Crutchley, P Curtis, E Davies, J Docherty, M Docherty, F A Driscoll, J R Dryden, T Dunnell, J Durrant, R G Evans, W Evitts, A Fisk, M Foster, A Gibson, G W Goldsborough, R Hall, C Hatton, F Hinson, W N Hopkin, J K Hunter, T Jennings, H Johnson, E Jones, A Kay, B Kelly, T Kenvyn, R J Kilvington, F Leavey, A E Lockington, J R Maplethorpe, J Marlow, E Mcmanus, J Mcquade, G Morrison, J Murgatroyd, E O’brian, M O’connor, F Parker, J B Porter, A Prest, J Prunty, A Rhucroft, E Rhucroft, A Richmond, J Richardson, Thos Roberts, E Robinson, R Rudge, G H Scott, E Simpson, R H Teasdale, A Thomas, Thos Thornburn, W H Thornburn, J Tonkiss, N Wainfor, J Walsh, F Wanless, H Ward, A West, G H Wilkinson, T Williams And A E Wright.