REDCAR

On the way to Redcar, we reach Maersk-by-the-sea, where Captain Cook’s father was buried prior to the news of his son’s murder in Hawaii reaching England. On reaching The Teesside resort of Redcar, film buffs might find the beachfront slightly familiar. This is because the seafront in Redcar was used in the film of the Ian McEwan novel Atonement for harrowing scenes depicting wartime Dunkirk, with local people brought in to play the soldiers. The town’s use in the film caused much local excitement, prompting one local to comment “I wish we could put a price on what this is worth to the town”. Visitor numbers jumped by some 70% during the making of the film. Today’s Redcar is a seaside resort whose attractions include a popular racecourse. Redcar had a pier, but like the one at Saltburn it suffered a series of mishaps. Discussions are currently under way about the possibility of a 21st century “vertical” pier with a viewing platform, a studio, galleries and a cafe. It was reported just a few days ago that plans for the pier had been approved. Before tourism reached the town the main industries were steelworks, although Redcar keeps its fishing trade going with a fishing fleet catching lobster, crab and fish as well as offering day trips to tourists. The Zetland Lifeboat Museum on the esplanade houses the world’s oldest surviving lifeboat, built in 1802.

Live streaming webcam view of the Esplanade.   

Map of the area.

Redcar MMB 09. Photo by mattbuck, via Wikimedia Commons.