Despite this early activity around the Teesside area, at the beginning of the 19th<\/sup> century, Middlesbrough itself was still only a small agricultural settlement of about 25 people.<\/p>\n In 1829, a group of Quaker businessmen headed by Joseph Pease of Darlington, purchased the 527 acres Middlesbrough farmstead and associated estate, with a vision to develop a port and new town. The town was to be built on the banks of the River Tees, just to the west of the new port complex, and in the original plan was to be named `Port Darlington\u2019.<\/p>\n Forming part of Pease\u2019s proposal, the New Town was to house the large influx of manual workers that would be required for the operation of the new coal port. By 1830, the celebrated Stockton to Darlington railway, which had largely been the vision of Pease\u2019s father, Edward, was extended to Middlesbrough. This was a catalyst for the expansion of the new town and port.<\/p>\n Under Joseph Pease\u2019s blueprint, North Street, South Street, West Street, East Street, Commercial Street, Stockton Street, Cleveland Street, Durham Street, Richmond Street, Gosford Street, Dacre Street, Feversham Street and Suffield Street, were laid out in a grid pattern, centred around a market square. Business, industry and traders quickly bought up the available premises and land in the town.<\/p>\n The success of the port meant it was soon overwhelmed by the volume of imports and exports. Thus, in 1839, construction began on Middlesbrough\u2019s dock. Opening in 1842, the docks were immediately bought up by the Stockton & Darlington Railway Company, which had Joseph Pease as its main shareholder.<\/p>\n In 1841, industrialists Henry Bolckow and John Vaughan partnered up and started an iron foundry at the town\u2019s Vulcan Street. In 1850, it was Vaughan who discovered large local ironstone deposits at Eston Hills. By 1851, following the great influx of migratory workers, the population of Middlesbrough had grown to around 7,600, an increase of almost two hundred-fold from the populace of about 40 in 1829. Middlesbrough\u2019s was now well on the way to replacing Stockton as the main port on the Tees.<\/p>\n In 1853, Middlesbrough received its Royal Charter, and Henry Bolckow took up office as the town\u2019s first mayor. \u00a0Between 1851 and 1856, the production of pig iron in the town rose by 1000%. By the mid-1870s, Middlesbrough was responsible for producing a third of the country\u2019s entire pig iron output. In 1875, Bolckow, Vaughan & Co. opened the Cleveland Steelworks in the town, beginning the transition from iron to steel production.<\/p>\n By 1900, Bolckow, Vaughan & Co. had become the largest steel producer in the country, and Teesside as a whole, one of the major steel centres in the world. By this time, the population of Middlesbrough had reached some 90,000.<\/p>\n In 1929, Dorman Long, another major Middlesbrough based steelmaker (est. 1875), took over Bolckow, Vaughan & Co., becoming the dominant steel producer on Teesside. The company were also synonymous with building long-span bridges, having engineered and fabricated the steel components of Newcastle\u2019s Tyne Bridge, the contract was completed in 1928. Dorman Long went on to build significant bridges around the world, but perhaps the most prestigious was the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which was completed in 1932.<\/p>\n During WW2, Middlesbrough became an obvious industrial target for the Luftwaffe. In 1940, it became the first major British town to be bombed, when a lone enemy plane dropped 13 bombs. By the end of the war, more than 200 buildings had been destroyed in and around Middlesbrough. Almost immediately, areas of Victorian housing were demolished and redevelopment of much of the centre of Middlesbrough began. The opportunity was also taken to relocate heavy industry to more suitable locations on the outskirts of the town. By the 1950s, Middlesbrough had begun to take on a different look from its former self.<\/p>\n In 1968 Middlesbrough became part of the County Borough of Teesside. In 1974, during local government reorganisation, it became part of the non-metropolitan county of Cleveland. In 1996, further reorganisation saw the county abolished, and Middlesbrough became a unitary authority.<\/p>\n Once dominated by steelmaking, shipbuilding and chemical production, the industrial face of Middlesbrough has changed significantly since its boomtown days of the late 19th<\/sup> and early 20th<\/sup> century. Since the demise of most of the old heavy industry in the area, new technologies have begun to emerge to take their place, such as the digital sector. This sector is in particular served by Middlesbrough University, which has a growing reputation for developing digital businesses, especially in the field of digital animation.<\/p>\n However, Middlesbrough and the Tees Valley, in general, is still home to a large manufacturing and engineering businesses base. These industries range from aerospace and automotive to renewable energy and chemicals. The strength of manufacturing in the Middlesbrough area is largely due to the thriving process, offshore, and energy sectors, which form its industrial economic base.<\/p>\n The port of Teesport, owned by PD Ports, a UK headquartered port, shipping and logistics company, is a major contributor to the local economy of Middlesbrough. Teesport stands on the Tees estuary, about a mile from the North Sea and 4 miles east of Middlesbrough. The port estate covers almost 800 acres, currently handles some 4,350 vessels and around 27 million tonnes of freight per year.<\/p>\n Middlesbrough also has a strong retail sector which is mostly served by the town centre, which consists of four shopping centres, the largest of being the Cleveland Centre.<\/p>\n The town is currently twinned with Middlesboro, Kentucky, USA; Masvingo, Zimbabwe; Oberhausen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and Nord, Hauts-de-France, France.<\/p>\n At the 2011 UK Census, Middlesbrough had a population of 138,400.<\/p>\n In 1728, James Cook was born in Marton-in-Cleveland, a suburb of today\u2019s Middlesbrough. Cook, perhaps Middlesbrough\u2019s most famous son, went on to become one of Britain\u2019s most renowned Royal Navy officers and explorers.<\/p>\n The Transporter Bridge, built-in 1911, spans the River Tees between Middlesbrough and Port Clarence. At 260 m long and 69 m high, it has claims on being the biggest of the kind in the world, and one of only two left in Britain that\u2019s still in working order. The bridge, a Grade II listed structure, remains in daily use. There\u2019s a guided tour of the bridge\u2019s upper walkway, via a glass lift or in a glass gondola over the river. You can also opt to walk or bike the length of the bridge.<\/p>\n Located in Middlesbrough\u2019s Albert Park is the Dorman Museum, which largely houses social history exhibitions. It opened in 1904, and since then, its teal dome has become one of the town\u2019s most iconic landmarks. Opening Hours are: Tuesday – Sunday 10:30am – 3:30pm<\/p>\n In the centre of town, you will find the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art. Art exhibitions and displays range from sculptures, prints and photographs. After your tour, it obviously has its own Caf\u00e9 where you can chill for a bit. Opening times are: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday, 10am – 4:30pm; Thursday 10am – 7pm; Sunday 12pm – 4pm<\/p>\nMiddlesborough Begins To Grow<\/h3>\n
Royal Charter<\/h3>\n
WWII Middlesborough<\/h3>\n
The Modern Era<\/h2>\n
A Few Quick Facts<\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n
Places to see!<\/h2>\n
Transporter Bridge<\/h3>\n
Dorman Museum<\/h3>\n
Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art<\/h3>\n
The Temenos sculpture<\/h2>\n
![\"Middlesbrough\"](\"http:\/\/www.fiveminutesspare.com\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2019\/05\/Middlesborough-300x153.jpg\")