The Times reported (on 30th January 1883) the terrible floods that washed away the top part of the village of Brompton-on-Swale ... Other "rainfall" observers around the North had reported deluges with snow already on the ground melting combined with heavy downpours during the days before. 26th January 1883 "... after a rapid thaw and heavy rain, parts of Isles, Gunnerside [built 1835] and other bridges were washed down..." 27th January 1883 - a rainfall observer at East Layton, west of Darlington, noted "... a gale, with heavy rain, occurred on the 27th, followed by destructive floods". 29th January 1883 - a rainfall observer at Skipton noted "By far the most severe flood during the year; the river was so swollen that Burnsall Bridge, which had withstood all floods for more than 200 years, was swept away; the flood water was higher than many fences, and farmers had their sheep carried over the hedges, walls etc" The same day January 29, another rainfall observer at Bedale noted "An inch of rain falling on the deep snow on the ground produced the greatest flood since 1822; much stock was destroyed." There was widespread flooding across the North of England ... as reported in the Derbyshire Advertiser on 2nd Feb 1883. The "rainfall observers" mentioned were part of the British Rainfall Organisation founded 160 years ago in 1860 by George James Symons to coordinate rainfall observations by volunteers “of both sexes, all ages, and all classes”.  Every morning at 9am, hundreds of observers across the country (by 1900 there were 3,408 stations in Symons’s network) scurried into their back garden to inspect their rain gauges. They sent their results back to Symons, who analysed them and published them in British Rainfall magazine.  In 1919 the BRO was taken over by the Met Office (who now make some of their rainfall data available online). However, ‘amateur’ observers still make important contributions to meteorology today.

This is the start of a list of landlords and innkeepers of the village based on memories of village residents and from some documents (where noted). I need your memories to help with a more complete list - who else can you remember? Brompton-on-Swale - Innkeepers, Landlords and Landladys This is a list based on memories of village residents and that of older documents (where noted). Each list is ordered with most recent at the top. The Crown Joe & Morag Mozer Morris & Linda Pastorella 1990s Paul Miller ? Peter and Eileen Fishburn 1970-80s Alan and Joan Chipchase 1970s Jim and Doreen Fryer Chris Yarker 1950s Arthur Robson Bob & Gertrude Alderson 1940/50s? Ben Meynell Robert Fryer 1909 Kelly’s Directory John Mansfield 1893 Kelly’s Directory John Fryer 1889 Kelly’s Directory John Fryer 1872 Kelly’s Directory William Johnson 1855 Slater’s Directory Thomas Leadley 1823 Baine’s Directory King William IV Barry & Sam Dawson Graham & Debi Vickers Gary & Ann Forrester Dennis & Ann Parkinson Unknown Unknown “young couple” Ken & Judy Cochrane Les & Monica Ellerby Olive and Edward Fryer 1950s Tom Tubman Charlie Fear Harold Mason Mr Keenlyside Henry Street 1909 Kelly’s Directory Mrs Edmund Metcalf 1889 Kelly’s Directory John Wilson 1872 Kelly’s Directory George Harker 1855 Slater’s Directory The Farmer’s Arms Ray & Janice Wilkinson 1988-1998 Peter & Mary Evans 1987 Joan & Jim Cave 1950s ? - c1980s John Lincoln 1909 Kelly’s Directory James Hutchinson 1905 Kelly’s Directory John Lincoln 1889 Kelly’s Directory Charles Frankland 1872 Kelly’s Directory George Firth 1855 Slater’s Directory George Huntingdon 1823 Baine’s Directory Bridge House Hotel Serena Froggett c2000s Andrew and Jennifer Ridgeway c1970-c1990 Brian and Alice Little 1969-1971 Mr Clubley ? - 1969 Mr & Mrs Matthews 1950s Tudor House Hotel Marie & Sean ? Vicky & Mike Askey 1999 Ken & Marrian Potts 1980s - 1990 The Buck Christopher Haw 1823 Baine’s Directory The Bay Horse John Thomson 1823 Baine’s Directory The Phoenix John Carter 1893 Kelly’s Directory John Carter 1889 Kelly’s Directory William Carter 1872 Kelly’s Directory William Carter 1855 Slater’s Directory Black Bull Inn/Farm William Trotter 1893 Kelly’s Directory James Dent 1872 Kelly’s Directory Railway Hotel Mabel Cockerill ? - 1944 Robert Haggie 1916-1932 Thomas Hunter 1909 Kelly’s Directory Thomas Hunter 1905 Kelly’s Directory Thomas Hunter 1893 Kelly’s Directory Thomas Hunter 1889 Kelly’s Directory Thomas Hunter 1872 Kelly’s Directory

This picture was provided by Michelle Clark and it shows what is believed to be the unveiling of the village war memorial in the 1920s. Very little is known about how funds were raised and how the design was settled upon. At the moment I am not aware of any records being held in the County archives in Northallerton. and here is a more modern photograph

Here are a collection of photographs of the Catterick Bridge House Hotel. My Mother worked there for a while. Its in a sorry state at the moment. Here it is in better times ... About 1960 1939 1940s ? 1930s ... 1920s .. There are some more here: https://www.francisfrith.com/catterick/catterick-bridge-house-hotel-from-the-arch-1939_c50001 https://www.francisfrith.com/catterick/catterick-bridge-house-hotel-from-river-garden-1939_c50002 https://www.francisfrith.com/catterick/catterick-the-bridge-house-hotel-1939_c50003 https://www.francisfrith.com/catterick/catterick-the-bridge-house-hotel-c1939_c50004 https://www.francisfrith.com/catterick/catterick-the-bridge-house-hotel-1939_c50005 https://www.francisfrith.com/catterick/catterick-bridge-house-hotel-the-ball-room-1939_c50006 https://www.francisfrith.com/catterick/catterick-the-bridge-house-hotel-from-swale-bridge-1939_c50007 https://www.francisfrith.com/catterick/catterick-bridge-house-hotel-1939_c50008 https://www.francisfrith.com/catterick/catterick-bridge-house-hotel-the-dining-room-1939_c50012 This next one shows the Great North Road with Mickley House in the distance on the left. https://www.francisfrith.com/catterick/catterick-the-great-north-road-c1950_c50013 and before there was a hotel ... the old chapel which disappeared when the bridge was widened 18th Century Engravings and Pictures #BridgeHouseHotel #CatterickBridge

Thought we had it bad with Coronavirus? Seems the village was suffering back in 1888. From the Yorkshire Gazette 02-Jun-1888. #newspapers

Here are a couple of aerial photos from WW2. 26 June 1941 (Photograph taken on sortie number RAF4FUK653) Brompton-on-Swale is top right, Scorton lower left. You can see the extent of Scorton Airfield 18 September 1944 (Photograph taken by No. 18 Squadron, sortie number RAF106GDY18). This is higher altitude, probably from a Douglas Boston III. Scorton is lower left and you can see the airfield. Brompton-on-Swale is in the middle at the bottom. Catterick airfield is visible middle upper.

On a recent post on the Facebook page Brompton-on-Swale Banter Geoff Hodgson commented (about Broken Brea crossing) ... "I remember back in fifties i and my cousin John Peacock coming back from Reeth in his car late night and thick fog he turned sharp left on to the lines, he ran to Simpsons farm got tractor and pulled car off lines train was due ,he worked for them then". It seems someone else was also lucky based on this from the Sheffield Daily Telegraph, 13 July 1950 THIRTY-YEAR-OLD Jack Rogers, farm worker at Broken Brear, Brompton-on-Swale, near Richmond, was driving a tractor over a crossing yesterday when a train hit the machine. It sheared off the tractor engine and tore the steering wheel from his grasp. Rogers legs were no more than two feet from the side of the engine. When it passed he was sitting on the back half of the tractor. The rest was 100 years up the line where the train, slowing down, had stopped. Rogers was not even scratched. Photo of Broken Brea recently posted on Brompton on Swale Banter Facebook Page. Another photo of Broken Brea recently posted on Brompton on Swale Banter Facebook Page. Here is another view (March 1969 Photo by Alan Brown) The Railway crossing keeper's cottage is actually a listed building and was built in 1846 by G T Andrews for George Hudson's Great North of England railway. Photo from British Listed Buildings #BrokenBrea #Railway #Newspaper #ListedBuildings Does anyone know the origin of the name "Broken Brea" ?

Sorry its a bit late ... York Herald, 24 Nov 1883, p3 (courtesy Jack Hodgson).

Nottinghamshire Guardian, 09 May, 1896, p.4  (courtesy our dedicated researcher, Jack Hodgson)

In the booklet "A New Look around Old Brompton-on-Swale" there is a section by Joy Ellis about Inns, Alehouses and Taverns that mentions many of them. I'm wondering how many old or recent photos of them can be found? Here are a few ... are there any more out there? Farmers Arms Hotel King William IV Bridge House Hotel Railway Hotel Any old photos of The Crown anyone? #pubs

My great great grandfather William Hodgson (1853-1929) lived at Minto Grange before moving to Swiss Cottage around 1910. Minto Grange is now demolished (I think in the 1970s). Does anyone have any more information about it? I think the Chapman family lived there in the 60s. This map shows where it was (top right) This is the plaque that was attached to the door I believe. #MintoGrange #hodgson

Here I am ... 1964 ... aged a few months ... down by the River Swale. Bottom photo- with (left to right) my Grandma (Margaret Hodgson - nee Parkinson) my Grandma (Frances Hannah Warner - nee Paxton) and Grandad (John "Jack" Warner) PS: Use hashtags like these to help people search for relevant posts in our forums #hodgson #warner #paxton #parkinson #bromptongrange #people

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