To mark the occasion a stained glass window with the institution's emblem was unveiled in St Cuthbert's Church in Marton, Middlesbrough during a dedication service on 23 November 2014, led by the Very Reverend Paul Ferguson, Bishop of Whitby.

The Durham coalfield was a source of excellent coking coals and the railway provided affordable bulk transport; there was easy access to the sea for export of products and the port was developed; construction of the South Gare began in 1863.

Conditions were thus ideal for the rapid growth of a thriving engineering industry supported by relatively cheap, locally produced iron and steel.

It was in this period of rapid industrial development and municipal growth that the Cleveland Institution of Engineers was formed, on 15 September 1864, at a meeting of seven local industrialists at Thomas Whitwell's residence in Church Row, Stockton-on-Tees.

"They had studied together and when they later found themselves working in the Cleveland district, they were anxious to draw to themselves kindred spirits to discuss engineering problems as they presented themselves for solution."

Some 50 years later Head Wrightson merged with the Davy Corporation[14] which itself subsequently became part of Voest Alpine Industries, present today on Teesside as Primetals Technologies.