EDITORIAL – Redcar Public Health

Accreditation The Redcar and Saltburn-by-the-Sea Gazette 01/07/1870.

“THE SEASONS.” AT REDCAR. 

            The following we quote from the Northern Echo of June 29, 1870:-

            “The position which Redcar has acquired on the fashionable and popular seaside resorts on the North-East Coast is every season becoming more secure. The natural advantages of the place in particular for families resorting to the seaside sufficiently account for this. When people, satiated with town life, or for any other reason, go to the coast, they wish to secure as much as possible, all the health advantages of the sea. These are surely to be found on the magnificent beach of the coast of Cleveland. At Redcar, the beach is nearly on a level with the houses, and is everywhere accessible; and it is, undoubtedly, this attraction which draws visitors to the place. There is to be obtained every health giving agent connected with the sea – strong sea air, clothes to the breaking tide,, forming a marked contrast with the town air, splendid sea bathing at all states of the tide; and unlimited advantages for pedestrian exercise. No wonder then that Redcar should become more and more popular; but the proximity of the place to large manufacturing towns and the improvements which have recently been made in it may also partly account for its prosperity. Much still requires to be done in the way of sanitary improvement and to make the place more attractive still for the perception of visitors. We would urgently impress on the authorities, in order that the reputation of the place may be sustained, the importance and almost necessity of speedily removing what visitors must regard as very objectionable features in the sanitary arrangement of the place, such as clothes drying up on the beach, and making the beach, a receptacle for broken pots, glass, and rubbish in general. Notwithstanding some ugly rumours – chiefly prevalent inland, at some distance from Redcar – respecting the prevalence of epidemics, we are somewhat surprised to find the present season has commenced in a most promising manner, and will be, in all probability, equal to any form season. We hear the influx of visitors is daily increasing. We have made very careful enquiry into the public health of the place, and I’d like to find – and we make this statement on the best authority – that it is most satisfactory; there is no prevailing epidemic, and therefore visited resorting to Redcar will incur no risk whatever. The rumour is also imputing the prevalence of epidemic at Saltburn are totally without foundation. We learn with satisfaction the health of this most attractive watering place is usually good.

Chatterbox Writes.  While reading the very friendly article which appeared in the Northern Echo the other day, on the “season” at Redcar, the thought occurred to me, that if a public drying ground were provided for the inhabitants of the practice of drying clothes on the beach could easily be abolished; while at the same, a great boon would be conferred upon public. I see no other way by which the handling of calls between Esplanade and the sea could be entirely done away with without seriously inconveniencing many of the dwellers on the beach.

Chatterbox writes. The hoist at Saltburn is completed, and these at work daily. The Cage’s boarded round, and will hold 20 people comfortably. The lift, which is worked by hydraulic pressure, is 120 feet in height. The charge, I am told, is 1d from the beach to the top of the cliff, and 1 1/2d down.