Within Redcar and Cleveland, the South Bank ward had a population of 6,548 at the 2011 census.[1] It forms part of the Teesside built-up area's Middlesbrough subdivision. The area is part of Greater Eston.[3]
History
Formerly known as "Tees Tilery",[4] South Bank has a long history of steelmaking in the companies Bolckow Vaughan[5] and Dorman Long, and shipbuilding at Smiths Dock Company. The area was also known by the nickname of "Slaggy Island" as it was surrounded by slag heaps.[6]
South Bank was historically part of the township of Normanby in the ancient parish of Ormesby. A local government district covering the township was created in 1865, governed by a local board.[7] A town hall was built for the district in 1878.[8] Such districts were reconstituted as urban districts under the Local Government Act 1894. At the second meeting of the urban district council in January 1895 it voted to change the district's name from Normanby to "South Bank in Normanby", acknowledging that South Bank was the larger settlement within the district.[9] The change of name was confirmed by North Riding County Council in May 1895.[10]
South Bank in Normanby Urban District was abolished in 1915, being absorbed into the neighbouring Eston Urban District, which in turn was abolished in 1968 to become part of the County Borough of Teesside.[11]
South Bank's shipbuilding era came to an end on 15 October 1986, when the last ship was launched from Smith's Dock, the shipyard itself closing in February 1987.[18] The dock was re-used as Tees Offshore Base in 1988 and became home to offshore service industry companies including Tees Dockyard. Tees Dockyard was bought by Cammell Laird in 1998. On 15 April 2001, Cammell Laird closed the ship repair yard.
The original Catholic parish of St. Peter was formed in 1874, followed by St. Mary's, in nearby Grangetown, in 1886. Together they served the Irish and Lithuanian immigrants who worked in the smelting works by the River Tees. These days, South Bank's Catholic Church is part of a larger parish, which includes the churches of St. Anne's, Eston and St. Andrew's, Teesville. The joint parish is served from, and carries the name of, St. Andrew's Parish.[19]
The Anglican Communion is represented by the church of St. John the Evangelist. The foundation stone for the church was laid in 1893, and was completed two years later in 1895. It is part of the Deanery of Middlesbrough within the Diocese of York.
The South Bank Baptist Church also dates from the late 19th century and the 'non-aligned' South Bank Mission, although not in its original building, was founded in 1908.[20]
Other established places of worship include the Redcar and Cleveland Islamic and Quranic Cultural Association, which mostly serves the Bangladeshi community.