The Chancellor of the Exchequer William Gladstone visited Middlesbrough and famously described it as a “remarkable place – the youngest child, as I may call it – of England’s enterprise… an Infant Hercules.”
During his visit to the area, Gladstone inspected a number of industries in the district around Eston Junction and then travelled on the Tees to Middlesbrough, where a procession was formed and preceded from Bolckow and Vaughan’s staith.
Did you know?
By 1874, Middlesbrough had become England’s biggest iron-producer. It produced one-third of the nation’s output (Source: PD Tees Dock 50th Anniversary publication)
Did you know?
Middlesbrough Football Club was formed in 1876 and played at Ayresome Park for 92 years, from 1903 to 1995, before moving to the Riverside Stadium, which is adjacent to the old Middlesbrough Dock.