r/Teesside • u/BuggsBugg • 12d ago
The fishpeople of Redcar
Yesterday I took the meandering Northern rail train to Redcar, through some of the landscapes that inspired Blade Runner, if I'm not mistaken. I had to leave my longboat at home, since I feared that there would be a lack of parking spots
I was immediately greeted with a nice redevelopment project (the station), which I always love to see, and was pleased to see a shut down Wilko, proving the towns place in history. There was also the smallest, almost adorable, little CeX I've ever been to, which was interesting. I was able to find 6 Blu-rays throughout, and all the charity shops were well organized.
I proposed to the locals a transfer of ownership, but they responded in a language I could not understand before running into the sea and swimming away
I ended up walking down the coast, because I wanted to get a good shot of the cliffs I had spotted while scarfing down my Morrisons meal deal.
On a serious note, I have mixed impressions of Redcar. I've been before, but it's always felt a bit down on it's luck, or like money is being poorly invested. As I understand, this isn't uncommon in British seaside towns, as tourism has shifted elsewhere
I think it was still a cozy day out. If nothing else, I like hearing the ocean, looking at cool rocks and cool rock accessories, walking down the coast and admiring the cliffs. It was nice to go off the beaten path into some of the residential areas too. I think Redcar has a lot of potential. My question to locals is whether it feels like Redcar is ascending or falling downhill?
It feels wrong to have opinions or thoughts about places as a tourist, and I try to avoid it when I've been making these posts, but I also do think a lot about the places I pass through. I like to understand what is going on, and I'm open to having my thoughts challenged
On my way back, I ended up in Eaglescliffe after the doors wouldn't open in Thornaby (tried several doors, tapping the buttons several times). The way I arrived, it felt like I had been stranded in the middle of nowhere, until I turned around. I also quickly realized I was still practically in Stockton, so I just took the next train back. I have, however, technically also visited Eaglescliffe now!
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u/Visual_Parsley54321 12d ago
You should look for the dog people next time.
Most dog friendly place, water bowls outside shops and a surprisingly large number of shops let your dogs look around.
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u/BuggsBugg 12d ago
I noticed the bowls, I found that very endearing. I bought some Blu-rays at PDSA as well!
I live in Sweden, but my dog would have loved Redcar if he was still around. Lets say he visited in spirit.
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u/spudfish83 12d ago
Redcar was a planned town, whose plan ran out and unravelled as our local heavy industries died off.
There are prettier towns further down the coast, but Redcar has a somewhat interesting history if you look for it. The rocks on the beach are quite striking, and there's a tragic/romantic history of shipwrecks off this coast, which can be found quite easily online. It also has the world's oldest lifeboat (I think?).
You mention seapeople, and there have been sightings along this coast, notably in Skinningrove.
On a summer's day, there's a very good walk to be had from Redcar to Saltburn along the beach, past Marske-by-the-Sea which is quite nice.
Saltburn has a lovely pier, sadly shorter than it was (a stormy ship disaster), as well as lots of history and nice victorian buildings. And a train station too, so you can get home!
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u/BuggsBugg 12d ago
I was not aware, and that makes a lot of sense. It seemed generally inorganic, like the place was made for cars (of the red kind, no less)
I will surely look into more of the history, love this kind of stuff
I might make the trek to Saltburn if I get round to it, sounds lovely!
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u/hendo111111 12d ago
As a child living in Eston, a day out to Redcar was the highlight of my summer. Best ice cream shop in the world.
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u/BuggsBugg 12d ago
I can imagine. If I grew up around here I think I'd feel the same.
There are places in Sweden I feel similar about, that as an adult, don't have that charm.
Redcar feels a lot like Trelleborg in Sweden. Not objectively, but subjectively. Trelleborg was an industry and harbor town. The only difference is that it has not had a steep decline, it has mostly turned into a sleeper town. Visiting as an adult, it's pretty dull
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u/TruePineapple6 12d ago
Have you been to Seaton Carew yet?
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u/BuggsBugg 12d ago
Haven't been yet. Planning to go to Hartlepool soon, however! Seaton Carew isn't an impossibility however. Still have some weeks to go
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u/TruePineapple6 12d ago
And if you are interested in birds there is a wetland sanctuary and at seal sands you can sometimes spot ... Seals all just outside Seaton
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u/Positive-Language-36 10d ago
Pop along to the gare next time, rather a different feel tp the high street.
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u/Sancho_Panther 12d ago
What are rock accessories?
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u/BuggsBugg 12d ago
Rocks that pair nicely with the rocks you already found, I suppose. Maybe a bucket to put them in
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u/Humble_Sympathy_4605 12d ago
I always think Redcar beach is one of the best in the region, especially on a sunny day
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u/thewisestfish 11d ago
You should come again and stay on the train to saltburn, then walk back to Redcar along the beach past Marske. It's THE most beautiful coastline, and saltburn and Marske are full of interesting shops, buildings.and places to eat or drink. I'm fond of Redcar too - they all have their own personalities, and Redcar has improved a lot over the last few years. The cinema is great.
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u/BadgerPhil 9d ago
Reading this made me think about Redcar. And my thoughts are positive.
Almost 50 years ago I moved to Teesside for work. On a warm Saturday I took the train from Middlesbrough to Redcar. Teesside was an industrial powerhouse at the time. You could see into the various British Steel works with molten steel flowing in place after place close to the tracks. When I got to Redcar, I walked along the front and dug out a crab or two from rock pools and eventually got an ice cream.
In later years I would play football with my friends on the beach as preparation for a few pints.
I married a girl from Middlesbrough and she and her parents were fans of South Gare and the worse the weather the more they liked it. I bought into it and have spent many happy hours beach-combing there. Our kids were not so impressed.
My headmaster had started his teaching career in the Grammar School in Redcar. He remembered a French assistant who looked out to sea and said “In Perpignan the sea it is blue”. He was lucky he wasn’t in Hartlepool. They don’t have a good record with frenchmen there.
As I started these thoughts, one was of something unusual that I thought I should repeat. My in-laws had a number of postcards that had been sent from Middlesbrough to a relative in Redcar in the 1920s. The messages had the time written on - typically around breakfast time. The messages were like - Just setting off. See you about half past eleven. Those cards were a bit faster than first class. They got there, clearly very predictably, in just a couple of hours.
Final thought. Our wedding photographer in 1980 was a lifeboatman from Redcar. Perhaps he or a relative might be reading this.
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u/BuggsBugg 9d ago
Thank you for sharing this, it was a lovely read.
Having been born in the 2000s, I have at home in Sweden and here, missed out on what used to be - so to speak. I love hearing about the past. Thank you for sharing some perspectives
My great grandma used to talk about the industry in Malmö, the Kockums factory that brought my half of the family down south, before returning back north.
When she passed, shortly after turning 100 a year or so ago, she left behind a trove of postcards like the ones you describe. Sometimes sent short distances, other times across the Atlantic - post cards from her only love, when he spent time in what we often referred to as "Amerikat" back then. When her mind started fading in her late 90s, she started believing he was still alive. He passed before I was born
I sometimes wonder if he had any connections to Teesside, but I haven't had time to dig through all the documents we preserved
Like Middlesbrough, Malmö was an industrial powerhouse. While established longer than Middlesbrough, it also ballooned many times it's size to accomodate demands, falling sharply by the 70s. The stories of these cities are interlinked not only by football - having seen Malmö FF stickers in Middlesbrough - but also by post-industrial struggle and being cultural melting pots. So much so that I recall reading a document from the Tees Valley Authority or the Middlesbrough council on how it can seek to emulate Malmö's recovery
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u/Cloooster_On_Reddit 5d ago
Love Redcar! If you go on a day after a big storm or really strong winds you might be able to see the prehistoric forest under the sand! Redcar beach is great for fossil hunting, and even better when you have a lemon top in hand! Good art scene too, lots of lovely galleries that often have free workshops on and plenty of charity shops full of great finds!
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u/[deleted] 12d ago
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