School Rules and Customs From Grangefield School in the 1950’s.

Posted on by
10

Following on from the recent post – ‘Ready for a new school’, Grangefield uniform, I have seen on this site the ‘boys’ rules but I think the girls rules are even more draconian. In Section One Rule H ‘No girl may ride a cycle in the school Grounds’ is bizarre but my favourite has to be Section 2 Line F ‘Girls may not eat in the street to and from school’.

Images and details courtesy of Anne Bellerby nee Watson.

Allen O’Neil School of Dance

Posted on by
3

We had many many happy years learning Ballroom and Latin American dancing here. The dancing school opened in March, 1960 in St. Joseph’s School Hall in Ragpath Lane, Norton. The teachers were Brian Allen, Veronica O’Neil, and Joyce Roberts. Colin Allen, Brian’s twin brother had a huge input also. It moved to Maritime Road and closed in July, 1985.

Details courtesy of Maureen Lonsdale (nee Boardman). Photo courtesy of Lorna (née Roberts).

Photograph taken at Thirlwells

Posted on by
1

This photograph was taken by Thirlwells photographers who had studios in Stockton, Darlington, Guisborough and Spennymoor. The wording Chirlwell on the photograph must mean Thirlwell… I have no idea who the people are or which studio it was taken in. When I copied it I put Watson on the file name. I do have a Watson Swales on my family tree, he was born in Glaisdale in 1826 and died in Whitby in 1891, but I have no idea if that’s Watson Swales or not. Can anyone show a light on the photograph?

Photograph and details courtesy of Brian Swales

E Maule Coachbuilder and Autobody Builder

Posted on by
1

I recently came across an old advert for a Stockton coach-buidiing business called “E Maule & Sons”, who are known to have built bodies on chassis provided by Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Vauxhall, Crossley, Bugatti, SAVA, Minerva and Dodge. The company was in business for over 100 years, with roots in building horse drawn carriages/coaches at Alnwick.

The E Maule & Sons works are shown as being at 22 Skinner Street in 1890 and 1914 trade directories, (which may have been opposite the junction with Albion Street). The 1881 census shows Edwin, his wife Mary and 6 children (and 1 servant) living in Stockton. In 1890 Edwin Davison Maule is listed as living just around the corner from his works at 13 Hartington Road.

The images show two examples of their work. For those interested, you can read a newsletter article on the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club website.

Images and details courtesy of Jonathan May.

‘Ready for a new school’, Grangefield Uniform

Posted on by
35

Does anyone, boys or girls, have memories to share of the strict school uniform at Grangefield? I remember, for the girls, having both indoor and outdoor shoes. Skirts had to touch the ground when kneeling down. Very different from the school uniform of today.

Details courtesy of Patricia Rendall nee Lyon. Photo kindly given by Mike Baker.

School Rules and Customs From Grangefield School in the 1950’s.

I have seen on this site the ‘boys’ rules but I think the girls rules are even more draconian. In Section One Rule H ‘No girl may ride a cycle in the school Grounds’ is bizarre but my favourite has to be Section 2 Line F ‘Girls may not eat in the street to and from school’.

Courtesy of Anne Bellerby nee Watson.

Billingham – My Home Town

Posted on by
22

I was born on the Cowpen Estate in Billingham just after the War, in January 1949 my parents and I moved to our new Council house on the Junction Estate, this was located just off the bottom of this image. I was too young to remember any of this but within a few years I was wandering around the area where most of the buildings are in this image. At that time the whole area from the Kennedy Garden flats at the bottom of the image to beyond the La Ronde near to the top and everything to the right of the image was open country.

In 1953 the first part of the new town centre was opened, prior to that the North End field was a huge playground, Billingham North End football team had their pitch there, the travelling fair pitched there every year in the 1950s.

Over the years the Town Centre grew until it looked as it does in this image by around 1970.

Some of the structures have since disappeared, the three level Kingsway car park that bridged the road, The La Ronde nightclub, the Stockton and Billingham Technical College, the Billingham Arms among them.

The Council Offices have been demolished and rebuilt and Dawson House has been built since this picture was taken.

The buildings include Kennedy Garden Flats, The Billingham Trade Union Club, The Forum, the Billingham Arms, the Stockton and Billingham Technical College, the Community Centre, the Bowling Alley, parts of Pentland Avenue and Malvern Road and the Causeway, also shown is the John Whitehead Park. Everything apart from Pentland Avenue and Malvern Road was built in my time in Billingham.

I left Billingham in 1976 and rarely visit the town but it is still a great part of me, it is where I made lifelong friends, received an excellent education and enjoyed the freedoms we had to roam wherever we wanted and stayed outdoors until the street lights came on, many people of my generation will remember doing all of these things with fondness.

Photograph and details courtesy of Bruce Coleman.

Blacketts Head Toy Buyer

Posted on by
2

This is a photograph of my Auntie Joan Carr (as she was then), she is on the far right in the dark suit. She was Head Toy Buyer at Blacketts store in Stockton. The photograph was probably taken late 1940’s to early 1950’s. Joan was born in 1925, married Maurice Mines in 1950 and they emigrated to Canada in 1952 where she died in 2013

It would be really nice if anyone recognises couple in the middle and the three children with them.

Photograph and details courtesy of Brian Swales.