Brotton
Encyclopedia
Brotton is a village in the parish of Skelton and Brotton
, in the unitary authority
of Redcar and Cleveland
and ceremonial county of North Yorkshire
, England
. It is approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) southeast of Saltburn-by-the-Sea
, 16.7 miles (26.9 km) east of Middlesbrough
and 16.6 miles (26.7 km) northwest of Whitby
. In 2002, the village had a population of 5,384.
The name of the village (known in medieval times as 'Broctune') literally means, "town on the brow of a hill", and is listed in the Domesday Book
. The hill in question, Warsett Hill, tops the large Huntcliffe which was the site of one of the many Roman signal stations built along the east coast to defend against Anglo-Saxon attack. Brotton was one of a number of manors granted by William the Conqueror to Robert de Brus
, Lord of Skelton. Over recent years it has become somewhat isolated because of a bypass which was opened in 1998 between the villages of Skelton-in-Cleveland
and Carlin How
.
The discovery of ironstone brought huge changes to the village with a tremendous increase in the population, the majority of these former miners homes are found in the 'Brickyard' and 'the Park' areas of the village. Lumpsey Mine, the largest of the Brotton mines, opened in the 1880s and finally closed in 1954. During World War I
Lumpsey mine had a rail mounted artillery piece to defend the mine against Zeppelin
attack.
Brotton has an Anglican church called St Margaret's, as well as a large parade of shops on the High Street. Locally the village is split into two parts: 'Top End' (the area east of the railway line) and 'Bottom End' (the area to the west). It is very close to the historic seaside town of Saltburn-by-the-Sea
which is well renowned for its pier, and Guisborough
, with its ancient Priory
and pleasant market. For its size there are many pubs, including The Crown, The Ship, The Green Tree and The Queen's Arms (known locally as 'The Bloodtub').
The most celebrated Brottoner remains the sculptor Charles Robinson Sykes
(18 December 1875 - 1950), better known for designing the Spirit of Ecstasy
mascot which is used on Rolls-Royce
cars.
Skelton and Brotton
Skelton and Brotton is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland, England. It consists of the towns of Skelton-in-Cleveland and Brotton, which had a combined population of 18,952 in 2002....
, in the unitary authority
Unitary authority
A unitary authority is a type of local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all local government functions within its area or performs additional functions which elsewhere in the relevant country are usually performed by national government or a higher level of sub-national...
of Redcar and Cleveland
Redcar and Cleveland
The borough of Redcar & Cleveland is a unitary authority in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England consisting of Redcar, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Guisborough, and small towns such as Brotton, Eston, Skelton and Loftus. It had a resident population of 139,132 in 2001, and is part of the Tees...
and ceremonial county of North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) southeast of Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Saltburn-by-the-Sea is a seaside resort in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. The town is around east of Middlesbrough, and had a population of 5,912 at the 2001 Census.-Old Saltburn:...
, 16.7 miles (26.9 km) east of Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
and 16.6 miles (26.7 km) northwest of Whitby
Whitby
Whitby is a seaside town, port and civil parish in the Scarborough borough of North Yorkshire, England. Situated on the east coast of Yorkshire at the mouth of the River Esk, Whitby has a combined maritime, mineral and tourist heritage, and is home to the ruins of Whitby Abbey where Caedmon, the...
. In 2002, the village had a population of 5,384.
The name of the village (known in medieval times as 'Broctune') literally means, "town on the brow of a hill", and is listed in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
. The hill in question, Warsett Hill, tops the large Huntcliffe which was the site of one of the many Roman signal stations built along the east coast to defend against Anglo-Saxon attack. Brotton was one of a number of manors granted by William the Conqueror to Robert de Brus
Robert de Brus, 1st Lord of Annandale
Robert I de Brus, 1st Lord of Annandale was an early 12th century Norman baron and knight, the first of the Bruce dynasty of Scotland and England...
, Lord of Skelton. Over recent years it has become somewhat isolated because of a bypass which was opened in 1998 between the villages of Skelton-in-Cleveland
Skelton-in-Cleveland
Skelton-in-Cleveland is a small town in the civil parish of Skelton and Brotton in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire in the North East of England. It is situated at the foot of the Cleveland Hills and about east of Middlesbrough. Skelton is...
and Carlin How
Carlin How
Carlin How is a village in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England ....
.
The discovery of ironstone brought huge changes to the village with a tremendous increase in the population, the majority of these former miners homes are found in the 'Brickyard' and 'the Park' areas of the village. Lumpsey Mine, the largest of the Brotton mines, opened in the 1880s and finally closed in 1954. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
Lumpsey mine had a rail mounted artillery piece to defend the mine against Zeppelin
Zeppelin
A Zeppelin is a type of rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century. It was based on designs he had outlined in 1874 and detailed in 1893. His plans were reviewed by committee in 1894 and patented in the United States on 14 March 1899...
attack.
Brotton has an Anglican church called St Margaret's, as well as a large parade of shops on the High Street. Locally the village is split into two parts: 'Top End' (the area east of the railway line) and 'Bottom End' (the area to the west). It is very close to the historic seaside town of Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Saltburn-by-the-Sea is a seaside resort in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. The town is around east of Middlesbrough, and had a population of 5,912 at the 2001 Census.-Old Saltburn:...
which is well renowned for its pier, and Guisborough
Guisborough
Guisborough is a market town and civil parish within the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England....
, with its ancient Priory
Gisborough Priory
Gisborough Priory is a ruined former Augustinian priory in the town of Guisborough, now in the borough of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. It was founded in 1119 as the Priory of St. Mary by Robert de Brus, 1st Lord of Annandale, an ancestor of the...
and pleasant market. For its size there are many pubs, including The Crown, The Ship, The Green Tree and The Queen's Arms (known locally as 'The Bloodtub').
The most celebrated Brottoner remains the sculptor Charles Robinson Sykes
Charles Robinson Sykes
Charles Robinson Sykes was an English sculptor, better known for designing the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot which is used on Rolls-Royce cars...
(18 December 1875 - 1950), better known for designing the Spirit of Ecstasy
Spirit of Ecstasy
The Spirit of Ecstasy is the name of the hood ornament on Rolls-Royce cars. It is in the form of a woman leaning forwards with her arms outstretched behind and above her...
mascot which is used on Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce Motors
Rolls-Royce Motors was created from the de-merger of the Rolls-Royce car business from Rolls-Royce Limited in 1973. The original Rolls-Royce Limited had been nationalised in 1971 due to the financial collapse of the company, caused in part by the development of the RB211 jet engine...
cars.