In 1929, Ward Jackson headmaster Mr Wilson Clark wanted disadvantaged town children to have a country holiday which would otherwise have been impossible. at first he rented land at Pinchinthorpe in the Cleveland Hills and took boys camping. Gradually others raised money and a field was bought in Carlton in Cleveland and then using money given by the citizens of West Hartlepool, a permanent building was erected in 1935.
The Log books show that the camp was closed during the Second World War and reopened in 1950. Log books from 1950 on are long and very comprehensive noting all activities, meals served in detail, hymns sung, all schools and teachers named and details of any illnesses and injuries naming children concerned. In addition repairs to the centre, purchases and in some cases altercations with staff members are logged! The difficulties faced in the early 1950s are interesting to read and some are noted in these pages.
Now called Carlton Adventure, it is still permanently leased to Hartlepool Borough Council by the Trustees set up in the 1930s and visiting continues to remain a memorable highlight for Hartlepool schoolchildren today. Although the main building built in 1935 remains as the dining room, the rest of the centre is very much an activity centre of the new millenium and can be seen on the Facebook page and at
https://www.carltonadventure.co.uk/
At Carlton Goldren Jubilee. THe teacher on the left is Ken Watson who was headteacher of Jesmond Road.
More detail »The view shows the main building and playground at the front and to the right of the tower, the girls' dormitory and to the left the boys' dormitory were built in 1958. These were replaced by a new double story building in about 2006.
More detail »In the main dining room at Carlton, the girls are obviously studying some sort of rocks or leaves ? There appear to also be boys on the image? It is customary for two schools to share the accommodation at Carlton so this could be the reason.
More detail »Unclear when this was taken, but possibly not long after the 'camp' was opened as the ground is still quite uneven.
More detail »This image appears to be as the main building was under construction as there seems to be building equipment strewn around the ground in front of it. One the left hand side of the building and just above ground level, the foundation stone can be seen. It would possibly be around 1935.
The tree in the background is still there today.
More detail »This appears to be the main building of Carlton Outdoor Centre under construction judging from the assortment of building materials on the ground and the fact that all doors are open. There are now other buildings behind this and have been for many years, suggesting that the image was taken around 1935. A curious feature however are the hanging baskets perhaps indicating that the building was officially opened before completion ?
More detail »Grange children at Carlton in the original dormitory (possibly now the room known as the Barn ?) Note the very substantial rubber sheets on the beds !
More detail »Carlton 1950 -55
The second log book began on Friday July 7th 1950 when the camp reopened after World War 2 when boys from Park Road and St Aidan’s were the first visitors.
No cook till the Monday and water supply very ‘weak’. Plumbers investigating.
Miss Rae appointed camp commandant…
11th July dinner late electric supply failed.
Following entries are of activities done by children , walking, exploring, drawing, fossil hunting, sing songs, country dancing,visits to market and round the village etc. In addition, children had to make their own beds and clean own area ready for inspection which still happens to this day.
Many references to children falling ill or having accidents by name (100 year rule prevents naming them)
Sat 15th July 1950 ‘ Children returned to the village in time to see the wedding procession of the daughter of the Manor.’
Heavy rain, dormitory roof leaking so groundsheets put on top bunks to keep children dry. After midnight when staff went to bed. No electricity.
Unrest amongst domestic staff- eventually resolved.
Monday 17th Delivery van out of order Miss Rae had to go to Stokesley for potatoes.
Discovered egg allocation had not arrived. Miss Rae cut bacon for 80 for breakfast.
Miss Rae spent over an hour mending wires under children’s beds.
Over next days various school staff help with cooking.
Tues 20th July Mr Harrold HMI visted and feels with all its difficulties that camp has proved to be a satisfactory experiment.
MANY ACCOLADES FOLLOW IN THE LOG BOOK e.g.
June 1953 The staff and girls of West Hartlepool High School for Girls have enjoyed every minute of their week’s stay at Carlton. The facilities are excellent. The choice of food and cooking are exceptional and our thanks to the permanent staff. We are also grateful for the way the people of Carlton have received us.
However there are some niggles;
Park Road teachers commented that ‘ pillows either provided by camp or brought by boys would improve sleeping conditions.’
Dyke House Boys’ Staff said ‘Food an improvement on last year but bedsprings are in a much poorer state than last year and need replacing.’
Elwick Road staff suggested ‘feather pillows for staff and that children’s bunks be renewed when necessary as considerable time has been spent trying to patch them up.’
High School ‘our only complaint is the shortage of lightbulbs’
June 1954 Further comments from Jesmond Road and Lister Street ,’ sleeping conditions could be improved if pillows were supplied, boys bringing their own pillow slips.’
At least 4 comfortable chairs should be provided for staff and beds should be renovated.
1955
Bedding aired but wires on several beds missing. 11th July school staff spend time repairing eds.
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Still visible today is the foundation stone laid in 1935
More detail »As part of the Carlton Diamond Jubilee celebration, Clavering School Orchestra entertain guests. The conductor is teacher Michael Ward.
More detail »At Carlton Camp possibly in the late 1960s early 1970s the image shows children from Grange wringing out some clothes.
More detail »Children from Grange Junior School in the late 1960s early 1970s wringing out some clothes at Carlton Camp.
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This dormitory was possibly in the all purpose hall known as The Barn today. Nowadays there is accomodation on two floors for a total of about 60 children in bedrooms for 4 or 6 whereas from the opening to the late 1960s, children slept in long dormitories and it was customary for up to 120 children to stay there.
In the later 1960s, a boys' and a girls' dormitory were constructed but these were demolished when the new two story dormitories were built, although part of the boys' dormitory remains as a store room for waterproofs currently.
We have had some information from Mr Peter Hanlon who tells us that the boys are from Dyke House School c 1953/4.
He states that the chap telling the jokes before lights out was a Jimmy Seargent with himself (Peter Hanlon) behind on the right. Some of the others are John Dunning and Brian Hodgson.
More detail »Group of girls probably in late 1960s/ early 1970s on Carlton Bank.
More detail »Before a building was there in 1935, children from West Hartlepool slept under canvas at Carlton and this is why most people still refer to the Outdoor Centre as Carlton Camp. The site was opened in 1932 and the first boys to visit were from Oxford St, Church Square and Ward Jackson Schools.
More detail »First page taken from Log Book. See notes for information on further pages.
More detail »One of the first tents used in the original 'camp' of the late 1920s.
More detail »Foundation stone laid in April 1935 by Mrs Hogg the Mayoress of West Hartlepool at the time. This can still be seen today.
More detail »Fred Chapman was for many years warden at Carlton and was known for being fair but strict ! He retired in 1997. This picture was at the Diamond Jubilee in 1992.
More detail »The image shows Grange Juniors at Carlton in the late 1960s or early 1970s. The male teacher in the middle with sleeves rolled up is Bob Peacock. The front of the building dating from the 1930s is unchanged today.
More detail »Taken probably in the early 1970s, the photo is in front of the main building and the teacher standing is possibly Mr Kaylow. On the far right is Mr Peacock with a pipe and Miss Robinson next to him.
More detail »Children on the playground in front of the main building. This is now a car park although the field in the background is still in use.
More detail »Possibly retired teachers at Carlton Golden Jubilee 1982
More detail »Possibly retired teachers at Carlton Outdoor Centre Golden Jubilee 1982
More detail »The Mayoress of West Hartlepool, Mrs Hogg, laid the foundation stone on 6th April 1935 for the permanent building which is still used today. Before that, children had slept in tents.
More detail »At the Golden Jubilee of Carlton, there was dancing and music from Hartlepool schoolchildren for the invited guests.
More detail »Carlton celebrated its Diamond Jubilee in May 1992 and Ward Jackson children entertained guests with maypole dancing.
More detail »At the Diamond Jubilee of Carlton in 1992, Nan Wilson Clark, a teacher who was the daughter of the founder presented a bird hide to the camp and was presented with a bouquet of flowers.
More detail »A view of the first camp at Pinchinthorpe with Ward Jackson boys and teachers in May 1930. The middle teacher in the back row is Mr Wilson Clarke.
More detail »These images include pictures of the pre Carlton medical, life at Carlton and some of the staff of the centre.
More detail »Youngsters help prepare the food at Carlton Camp in 1951. The camp had just re-opened after World War 2 and everyone was expected to pitch in!
This was Rogation Sunday and names on the reverse are : R Waller,Ray Wilson, Kenneth Bruce,Cyril Mottram, Tony Harris and ? Wilkinson.
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A group of boys peeling potatoes under the watchful eye of a formidable looking lady !
More detail »Children and parents visiting Carlton Camp in 1950
More detail »Compiled by Margaret Hodgson
Carlton Camp was a great experience for the children. Mrs. Ursula Mary Craig (nee Knight), Richard Court, Hartlepool wrote this account for the Hartlepool Mail.
Memories of Carlton Camp: Straw from the farm for sleeping mats.
With reference to the letter in Memory Lane about Carlton Camp Outdoor Centre school visits (November 20), I was there in 1935, the second week after it opened. I was 13 years old, I am now 82 and I can remember nearly everything about it.
I was with St. Joseph’s School; St. Cuthbert’s School was there at the same time.
Usually the visit was Saturday to Saturday but as the two schools were Catholic we had to go to Mass on Sunday so we went Sunday to Saturday.
We were told to take two blankets, a pillowcase and pocket money of not more than three pence. I had one penny as I was from a big family and my dad was unemployed.
We set off at 11 o’clock and arrived for Sunday lunch. We ate lunch, moved the tables, washed up the dishes and then were given bags made of Hessian; they were long and about 36 inches wide.
We were told to take them down to the barn belonging to the farm and fill them with straw. These were what we were to sleep on, on the floor with our pillow cases on the pillows; they were all placed close to the walls stacked on top of each other.
We were then told we could go out to play, but ‘not outside the field.’
There were seesaws – and a rush to get to them. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing games, and then it was teatime. After tea we had to put our ‘mattresses’ on the floor in a line and put one blanket over it, then the other blanket was to cover over us, we all slept well.
When we awoke we went to the annex where there were six wash sinks and six toilets. The towels were provided – two roller towels for all of us – did the job. After breakfast we were given a small task each – housework – washing up and sweeping the floors.
After lunch Miss Anderson and Miss Corcoran, the teachers, took us all for a ramble up into the hills, they were beautiful.
On Tuesday after lunch we were given a sheet of writing paper and an envelope, we had to write a letter to our parents.
On Wednesday we walked to the village to post the letters. At that time a stamp was one penny, and that is all I had. All the other girls were buying sweets, I did not want to be left out so instead of sealing the letter I put the flap inside and bought a halfpenny stamp and then I got a halfpenny-worth of marzipan teacakes so I wasn’t left out. As we walked further into the village there was a stream in the middle of the road and we heard a clip-clop, out of a lane came a party of hunting men and women, they looked fantastic in their red and black outfits. We did a lot of walking at Carlton Camp. It did not cost our parents anything, perhaps some organisation paid, I don’t know. But we had a great time!
In 1937 Carlton camp was certainly eventful!! On the 26th of September 113 boys set off to camp with 4 teachers. Two days later Jas. Charlton is brought back and admitted to isolation hospital. Seven boys were taken out to the camp and a further two sent home, one with tonsillitis. Paul Knox stabbed William Myers in the eye with a pencil!’ Can you imagine a trip where 113 children are accompanied by only 4 teachers? I wonder if any of the boys on the eventful 1937 trip are in the Carlton Camp photos which were taken sometime in the 1930s.
More detail »Taken in the dining room area, these Grange School children in the 1960s are selecting items from the tuck shop. This is always a daily highlight at Carlton.
More detail »On Visitors' Day for Rossmere School late 1950s.
More detail »Parents of Rossmere children visit camp.
More detail »The original 'camp' at Pinchinthorpe in 1929. Mr Wilson Clarke is the teacher.
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