In 1850, iron was born. The discovery of the precious stone in the Eston hills sparked a transformation of the surrounding area that was as rapid as it was far-reaching. Eston grew from a village of a few small cottages to a thriving mining town at the epicentre of a countrywide migration that was likened to the California Gold Rush. The iron that was torn from the depths of the Eston hills was the basis of a Teesside iron and steel industry that became indelibly linked to the region’s identity for 150 years. Now, as the steel industry is lost to Teesside, Philip Buckingham discovers a new book telling the forgotten story of the community that was once at its heart

TWENTY years ago, Eston was in a bad way. “We were fed up and ashamed of the state of our town centre,” says Ann Higgins. “It had been left to run down, there were weeds big as triffids, and the apathy of the local authority was awful.

“If you had come through, you wouldn’t have known the heritage of the place.”

Ann and a group of fellow residents determined to promote this heritage themselves, setting up the Eston Residents’ Association (ERA), of which she is now chairperson.

The people quickly responded. “They sent us pictures, memories and stories – we collated them over a number of years and we didn’t want to lose them,” says Ann.

“We put them into an exhibition at the Heritage Gallery in Middlesbrough, which was a success, so for the 20th anniversary of ERA we decided to put it into book form.”

And so “Born of Iron, Made of Steel” took shape.

“We wanted to share the history of the area with as many people as possible – we wanted to tell everybody just what this area did for the country”, she says. “It’s been a wonderful labour of love. We’re not authors or historians, just ordinary people with a passion – I don’t think anybody could have put it together like we have.

“It’s been incredibly hard work but it’s been thoroughly worth it.”

But as the final draft of the book was being finished, the closure of the SSI steel works at Redcar was announced.

“I sent a copy of the book to David Cameron before Christmas, and to Anna Soubry (Minister of State for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise) with a letter,” says Ann. “I said ‘I hope you do get time to sit down and read this book and it helps you realise what this area has done for the country.’

“I also sent one to Greg Clark (Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who was born on Teesside), and he actually telephoned me saying how great the book was.

“I mentioned I’d sent a copy to the Prime Minister and he told me he’d give him a nudge in the next cabinet meeting and tell him to read it.”

Ann worked at Smiths Dock on South Bank for 12 years; her husband, Jim, and her father also worked there, so when the yard closed in 1986, her family was hit hard, as was the region.

“It was a massive blow, we felt it, and it was a death knell for the area,” adds Ann. “You had to go away to work, or you could stay and have no job. The recession kicked in and the town was in an awful way.

“I’m worried there will be a repeat of that, and it worries me that there will be a knock on effect on the rest of our economy.

“Who knows what will happen in the future. The people are hard working and talented, but we’re losing skills and it worries me if the area will ever pick up.

“I hope people pick up the book and realise how important this area used to be.”

Born of Iron, Made of Steel, is available for £9.99 in Eston, at the butcher’s, post office and Katie’s Cards, or online at eston-residents.org and click on the shop, or by calling 01642-440777.