A film produced by Middlesbrough Borough Council Engineers showing the demolition of Marton Hall, in what is now Stewart Park in Middlesbrough during May 1960. Marton Hall at this time was dilapidated, and the council made the decision to demolish the hall. A huge fire broke out during the demolition and some of this film may have been taken prior to the fire. The film concentrates on workmen working on the roof salvaging metal sheet, probably lead and other valuable or salvageable building...

A film produced by Middlesbrough Borough Council Engineers showing the demolition of Marton Hall, in what is now Stewart Park in Middlesbrough during May 1960. Marton Hall at this time was dilapidated, and the council made the decision to demolish the hall. A huge fire broke out during the demolition and some of this film may have been taken prior to the fire. The film concentrates on workmen working on the roof salvaging metal sheet, probably lead and other valuable or salvageable building material. The film opens on a long shot of Marton Hall from its south side, showing the lack of windows in the sandstone frames and some material already stripped from the roof. The sandstone loggia, which today is the only remaining structure from the hall, stands to the right of the picture. The film cuts to a close shot of the south side, showing the structure of the hall around the loggia. On the roof a man can be seen stripping materials from the roof. There is a close up of the loggia and an upward panning shot shows the roof timbers and two workmen working on the roof. One of the workmen folds large sheets of metal, probably salvageable lead often used in roof construction. The camera pans right along the roof showing the progress of the demolition. The film cuts to another view of workmen stripping material off the roof. Smoke damage can be seen on the ornamental sandstone which decorates the roof line. The film cuts to views of the roof on the north side of the hall. A workman uses a crowbar to help remove metal sheet. In the distance on the horizon a shot of industrial Middlesbrough, showing steelworks in the Cargo Fleet and South Bank area. The camera pans right following the workers progress. Other workmen appear on the roof to assist in the work. One of the workmen goes down into the hall through a skylight. The workman with the crowbar attempts to shift a large lump of rolled metal. He then applies his crowbar to strip more metal from another section of the roof. The film cuts to two men working just along the edge of the roof, still on the north side, as they remove some guttering (?) which appears to be blackened by smoke. Another workman standing on the roof of a small dormer window which extends from the top floor of the north side of the hall. The film cuts to another workman who is pulling on a rope to keep it in tension as it goes around a chimney stack to the corner of the roof where a workman is standing The workman on the dormer window and this other workman are trying to release a metal ornament mounted on the corner of the roof near to the dormer window. They manage to free the ornament and the rope prevents it from falling as they place it on the main body of the roof. From this vantage point in the distance can be seen a small part of suburban Middlesbrough. The next shot shows workmen putting a matching ornament next to the first. A close up shows the two side by side, representing lion's heads. The film cuts to a viewpoint from the grounds on the south side. The shot shows the hall roof now completely stripped of its roof timbers and coverings. The central dome is also now stripped of metal. The impression is of the hall as an empty shell. The film cuts to a view further to the right, showing the loggia above which a small section of roof remains. The film cuts to the left showing more of the stripped roof and unglazed stone windows. A long shot shows more of the same. A closer view follows, which cuts right, showing the upper storey stone window frames, starkly outlined against the sky. A close up follows of the now skeletal dome. The camera pans right to the beginning of demolition of the walls and floors. Much of the main wall is stained by soot. A long shot follows of the north side of the hall showing the front with the dome perched on top. A pale blue Bedford lorry in the foreground collects debris from the demolition. A closer shot shows the bulldozer loading debris into the lorry. The camera pans right showing the soot stained wall again. The film cuts to work inside the hall, where two workers one using an oxy-acetylene torch, are dismantling what appears to be a metal door. Sparks can be seen flying off the torch as it makes the cut. Another workman attempts to knock the door down with a sledgehammer. There are further shots showing further progress on the door with the cutting torch. The film cuts to a long shot from the south side of the hall, which shows the complete demolition of the central part of the hall, now reduced to a pile of rubble and other debris. A closer shot shows the pile of rubble with some remaining walls to the left of the frame and the loggia to the right. The camera pans right showing more of the loggia as well as two people nearby sitting on a bench under a tree. Another close up shows more rubble of the main part of the hall and the loggia. The camera pans left showing more rubble of the demolished central section and, panning further left a remaining section of the main building as seen earlier. The film cuts to a remaining section of the hall. A pile of stone, sections of pillars, window frames, other decorations and mouldings lie in a separate pile on the ground. An Eddison bulldozer (Licence: MCT 107) drives into a pile of rubble. A workman stands on the roof of the pale blue lorry as the bulldozer deposits its load of debris into the lorry. The camera pans down to the pile of salvaged ornamental stone features from the hall. The film cuts to a riveted iron or steel beam on the ground, now cut into three sections. Another shot shows another pile of ornamental stone. A closed up shows some of the ornate carving on one of the stone blocks. Another pile shows the remains of pillars which maybe marble or granite. A piece of fine stone carving comes into shot, which might be a cap of perhaps a stone pillar carved with leaf like ornaments. The film cuts to a shot of an ornately moulded toilet, standing alone amongst the debris. The film ends with views of carved stone architectural features, one showing a skillfully carved gryphon or dragon.