Welcome To The Marsh

Coatham to Warrenby

Coatham always appealed to me even as a child in the 1940s when travelling by bus on a visit to Redcar. Turning the roundabout at Coatham, and passing Barkers farm, Christ Church, and the large houses on Coatham road, the cricket field, and the large terraces, were all very impressive. I used to think what a lovely place to live and in walking distance to the promenade.

In 1963 I realised my dream when my husband and I brought our very young family to live at
1 Marina Avenue,Coatham.
Where we stayed for twenty one happy years.

Warrenby 1800s

Photograph courtesy of Bill & Patricia Bradley

Old Memories

I treasure sweet old memories as time goes swiftly by.
A few bring smiles of happiness, some tears to the eye.

They all are precious in their way, Reopening doors of old,
That have been shut these many years,what pictures they unfold!

These dear old, sweet old memories, they play their special part,
In bringing joy, and opening up The latch strings of the heart.

carice Williams

August 2003

October 2002 I made an uncertain attempt to record the Social History of Coatham and Warrenby,

Some excellent books have been written by local historians, which I have thoroughly enjoyed,the old photographs always intrigued me,


I knew there must be many local people like myself, in possession of photographs, and would find the internet an easy means of showing them.

This has proved to be true

Today 18 August 2003 the site registered 12,345 hits

The number itself brought its own message of recognition from local people, and also people living worldwide who have made lasting memories and recorded them here .
Kind Regards Sheila Barker

The Footsteps Of Childhood

The Footsteps Of Childhood
by Prim Petch

I would walk, if I could, in the footsteps of childhood,
with the song of the skylark sweet overhead,
down to the banks of that deep oily water,
that flowed through salt marshes,
a sullen dark thread.

No beauty this river, pouring through slag heaps,
past black tumbled boulders and down to the sea.
But vagabond water: unloved and unlovely.
Black faced and dirty, but it whispered to me.

For oh, there was peace there. River peace, gentle.
In the dragonflies spark, the splash of a stone.
And the rustle of reed beds in flat mirrored water
as the swan in the evening sailed home alone.

That bitter green water: swan graced and sulky:
still coils through the salt marsh and dives to the sea,
And the soft wind that whispers through teasel and clover,
still bears an echo of the child who was me.

Published in Redcar Writers anthology "Beachcombings"

contributed by Brian Morton Chairman Redcar writers
Courtesy of Primrose Petch a Warrenby lady.

Pick of the month November 2003

The Marsh has been chosen as Communigate Pick of the Month for November 2003. This means that the Marsh is now a listed site! and will be featured on the CommuniGate home page during November.

The Hall Of Fame November 2003

The Marsh has been placed in the Communigate Hall Of Fame! You may visit The Hall of Fame where we take Pride of Place

Communities website scoops award

Communities website scoops award

A WEBSITE dedicated to the history of two tiny communities has won a prize from The Northern Echo.

The site, at www.communigate.co.uk/ne/themarsh, is dedicated to Coatham and Warrenby, in east Cleveland, is run by Sheila Barker.

It has been chosen by our CommuniGate team as Pick of the Month for November.

Mrs Barker wins a pair of Long Shotz digital binoculars, provided by Sales and Marketing Services, of Darlington.

Karen Maughan, assistant community web editor, said: "Sheila completed our basic web page design course and has produced a really good website.

"She has made excellent use of pictures and has a well-organised site, which details a full history of these two tiny communities."

An article from

The Northern Echo dated 12 November 2003


Thank you to everyone who has contributed photographs and information to the Marsh, I always knew the site could only ever be as good as the contributors, who have been fantastic, and who's names appear in my thank you topic
Sincerely Sheila Barker

Darlington & Stockton Times

Nostalgic book from memoirs of a town

From the archive, first published Saturday 31st Dec 2005.

A LOCAL historian has brought to life nostalgic memoirs of an east Cleveland town in a book.

Sheila Barker, who has also created a website, at www. communigate.co.uk/ne/ themarsh, dedicated to the history of Coatham and Warrenby, is celebrating the launch of

"Around Redcar".

The book, which Mrs Barker describes as a family album for the town, includes photographs of grassroots life in Redcar.

Mrs Barker said: "I was brought up in Grangetown and visited Redcar maybe twice a year on holiday. I always wanted to live there and, when I was 15, I went to work in the town.

"It was in one of those seaside cafes which appealed so much. I was one of the waitresses who wore black with those lovely lace aprons and headdresses.

"We've all seen the postcards, but this is about the people who really live there."

It took Mrs Barker, who lives in Marske, a year to complete her book.

She said: "Coatham always appealed to me, even as a child in the 1940s when travelling to Redcar by bus. I used to think, what a lovely place to live.

"In 1963, I realised my dream when my husband and I brought our very young family to live at 1 Marina Avenue, Coatham, where we stayed for 21 happy years.

"My husband's ancestors had been just over the bridge, in Warrenby, since the 1800s.

"I first visited the village in 1952 and found it a friendly, homely place, with lots of organised events. There was a variety of shops, and a post office, a church and a chapel. There was the popular Warrenby Hotel.

"Although the village has long gone, I feel that there is still a strong bond between ex-Warrenby people, and I hope sharing pictures and information will bring back many happy memories."



(see topic Local Books)

Congratulations

Congratulations go to one of our very prolific site builders Sheila Barker.

Sheila has spent a great deal of time over the last few years building her website for Coatham to Warrenby, and has recently had a book published which contains many of the photographs she has collected over the years. You can see Sheila's website and find details of where you can buy the book at http://www.communigate.co.uk/ne/themarsh.

Karen Maughan CommuniGate Advisor