The town of Redcar and the resort of Saltburn-by-the-Sea, with the
adjoining village of Marske-by-the-Sea, lie on an eight-mile stretch of
the coast in North East England. In this book author Colin Wilkinson
reveals the stories behind how these once small villages along a remote
coast grew into the present-day resorts. Centuries ago the beaches were
ideal for smugglers. The arrival of the railway in the 19th century
brought an influx of visitors and at the same time new industries
emerged following the discovery of iron ore in the local hills, bringing
in more people looking for work. In the twentieth century war left its
mark on the area. In the First World War lookout posts were set up on
the beaches, an early warning station was built to listen for Zeppelins
and at Marske an aerodrome was set up nearby to train pilots. Depression
in the 1930s and postwar industrial decline brought hardship to the area
but the holiday industry boomed in the first half of the twentieth
century and has seen a resurgence in recent years. Over the course of
the last century Redcar has seen the birth of Redcar racecourse, motor
racing along the beach, famous visitors such as Emily Pankhurst and Keir
Hardy and much more.With tales of remarkable characters, unusual events
and tucked away or disappeared historical buildings and locations,
Secret Redcar, Marske and Saltburn will appeal to all those with an
interest in the history of this corner of the coastline of North East
England.
