The Coastwatch station at Redcar occupies the top floor of the Zetland Lifeboat Museum. Until the mid-90s the station was part of the HM Coastguard network. However the nearest Coastguard Operational Centre is now Bridlington.
These images are from the coastwatch lookout before refurbishment.
Grade II listed in 1983 48 and 50 High Street West (formerly Coatham High Street) are dressed sandstone cottages built c.1698 (number 48 is dated as 1698).
These cottages were built when Coatham was in decline, the salt industry in the area had dried up (excuse the pun). They’ve seen wars, declines in other industries too both old and new, and still stand.
I can’t help but look at these cottages and the others on the street and imagine that they were, in the 1700’s and 1800’s, hives of activity for smuggling…
Behind South Terrace in Redcar, and the area known as Fisherman’s Square, there is a back lane, paved in the scoria blocks with waves emulating the sea. Lining one side of this lane are single story sheds, these were for many years bait-houses for the fishermen of the town.
Weathered and irregular pantile rooves, chimneys, colourful doors are a visual feast.
These buildings would’ve been used by the fishermen to store their gear, to bait hundreds of hooks on long lines and mend lobster pots and nets.
There’s something so charming about this “street” of bait-houses. The scoria setts, pantiles forming patterns like breakers on the shore.
I KNOW I AM HOME 