Some more scoria brick on bath street, lining the gutter with the addition of a single yellow line…

Taken using a Minolta Vectis 20, which uses the now obsolete APS format film.

So I couldn’t ever cover all of the examples in just a post a day.

I’ve also had another walk about and found (thanks to some who’ve commented on my posts when shared on social media) some more alleyways of bricks.

Around the Montrose Street area the back lane between the terraced houses of Oxford and Montrose Street has an abundance of bricks, with the entrance paved in the double hexagonal pavers, and mainly eight division pavers, with a central gutter line of plain pavers.

The paving here is quite complete.

As said, this remarkably complete (albeit with a few sections patched) section of bricks last until the last through passageway with Oxford Street.

At this connecting passageway, not only does the direction of the scoria brick change but following the intersecting passage the bricks become a more conventional brown, with an unsightly section of tarmac patching.

If you walk from this intersection, crossing Montrose Street and following the trail of these blue grey bricks, you reach the ‘crossroads’ of the back lane between Montrose Street and Randolph Street, again paved with the almost ubiquitous in Saltburn eight division pavers – there was a surprise halfway along here. Of note the other feature of the street in this image, the iron drain cover, was cast in Stockton…

A type of paver I’ve only found here in Saltburn, these four division pavers are found in the middle of the Montrose Street and Randolph Street back lane.

Before turning to your left to walk toward Randolph Street you can look back toward Montrose Street and find an attractive vista with sagging pavers of the plain, single divide and eight division variety.

Between Lune Street and Avon Street there are examples of single divide sets which have been paved over with tarmac.

This obviously was an attempt of the past to provide a smoother surface underfoot / wheel. However now, in a heritage conservation area the powers that be are starting to notice the damage that has been done.

Moving further between Avon Street and Greta Street there’s further evidence of the covering of the scoria setts.

Areas of more water ingress or where access is needed to street furniture tend to betray the previous paving material.

It is, alas, blatantly evident that the short alleyway behind Greta Street once looked resplendent with downhill sections of scoria brick.

There’s a beauty, despite being less intricate. to the plain pavers aside from there colour too.

Especially where their placement has been made sympathetic with other street features, such as here on Greta Street where they form a graceful curve following the curb.

Sadly inconsistent patch repairs on the blocks of Greta Street are evident.

Though unsightly these patch repairs were deemed necessary to retain the integrity of the highway.

Again between Avon Street and Lune Street, this complete set of single divide blocks is existent.

From the previous passageway is another back alley, with the single divide pavers and no central gutter line of plain pavers.

Even with relatively modern buildings and features here the reflective blue grey brick retains a character.

Heading back towards the station square, just before reaching Tweed Street this delightful scene jumped out at me. I did wonder about the dots on the bricks of the wall in the background.

The scoria bricks this side of Windsor Road end at Leven Street, abruptly.

With that, so ends the series on scoria bricks found in Saltburn by the Sea.

As a final post for Sunday morning we look at a few other areas of scoria brick.

Randolph Street has some remaining scoria brick, however resurfacing is abundantly evident. These are the eight division pavers.

Just down from the second example published on the site are similar double hexagonal scoria bricks, in situ at the mouth of the Exeter Street, there was evidence that some plain pavers in the gutters may perhaps exist under the more modern black tar of the road.

For the penultimate post a few images from the back alley of Garnet Street, where some of the bricks remain. Single divided bricks here.

Again single divided bricks at the rear of one of the properties here!

I found this vignette quite charismatic and fun, with the grass coming up between the bricks.

Wet and reflective with recent rain, a considerable amount of plain pavers exist here.

Pavers with one divide get a look in too here, creating a fantastic path off into the distance.

The conditions here have resulted in this lovely tapestry of eight division paving bricks rising and falling like the ocean.

Here again plain pavers are used as a central gutter lining.

Another example of some quite complete sets of pavers in Saltburn.

The alleyway between Albion Terrace and Glenside has two stretches of scoria brick, with a variety of designs too.

There are numerous examples of the pavers with eight divisions, here with plain pavers forming a central gutter line.

The eight division paving bricks are not without their charms, but lack the art-y quality which I find the double hexagonal interlocking pavers have, a functional beauty.

The sheer variety in the colour of these bricks is enough, however, to create an interest in even the plainest of the bricks.

The above plain paver in the scene above intrigued me, an original feature or something added to fill a gap…?

The scoria paving, wet with rain ends as the path diverges to the left.
Here the plain pavers acting as a central gutter can be seen.

As you snake your way through the back lane, dodging puddles on your way, you reach the recommencement of the scoria brick paving. These are a mix of plain pavers and pavers with a single divider.

Scoria bricks become their most colourful when it’s rained, deep varied blues, contrasting with greys and with the moss, dirt and detritus in the gaps.

I’m hoping this little series might go some way to showing how what we walk upon can be just as special as a painting or building – I certainly love scoria brick, and I also hope perhaps you may pay more attention to what you’re walking on too!