A general view of the south end of Stockton High Street looking north, including two electric trams. (postcard) c 1900. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
A general view of the south end of Stockton High Street looking north, including two electric trams. (postcard) c 1900.
Wonders never cease do they Maureen Walker, my daughter lived in Peaton Street when first married ten years ago and it was certainly a trip down memory lane for me visiting them. I passed through the market place and along what is left of Moses Street with Godstone house where my grandparents lived still there. I then discovered my grandparents marriage certificate and my grandmother was married out of 43 Peaton Street with grandad then living at 76 Smeaton Street. I knew both those places well as a lad after my run from Norton Green to North Ormesby by ‘0’ bus, the trams had gone by then. The flea pit cinema was our Saturday morning hang out with screaming kids falling off the benches in excitement as Pearl White escaped yet again from certain death. Simple fun but healthy at least we kids spent our time out of doors, maybe we should try some of those simple things again with todays kids.
Funnily enough Frank I used to get the ‘O’ bus to North Ormesby to visit my Grandfather who lived in Peaton St. My mother was born & brought up there, I remember going to a cinema called locally ‘the Pav’ which was a bit of a ‘flea pit’!!
Colin Walker says ‘I believe you knew my late brother, Jack, who went to Holy Trinity about the same time as you’. On this site there is a photo of class IVa in 1936-37 and we are sat next to each other, little tiddlers, on the front row. Photo is id=5286 and was obtained by Ken Rhodes.
Do not remember the trams although for some reason a picture comes to mind of me very young standing at the front of a bus looking out over the engine cover and seeing men taking up some of the lines and blocks in Norton High Street. Why that would stick in my mind all these years I have no idea. Going to London aged fifteen I went everywhere on trams and loved them. My wife and I always took a tram ride when in Blackpool, there was just something about those tall rattling monsters that stirred the blood. Dad always said one day they will come back and is being proved right as some Cities see it as an answer to gridlock. My trips to North Ormesby were the ‘0’ bus from Norton Green to the market place then a short walk down Moses Street to my Grandma’s house. Many years later my Daughter was living in Peaton Street North Ormesby directly across from the house my Grandmother was married from, small world. I went to look at Moses street knowing it had been demolished and was surprised to see that Godstone house was still there and lived in. Many memories came back including the day war was declared, we were all gathered there to hear the announcement, and a traumatic day that turned out to be.
Ken, I believe you knew my late brother, Jack, who went to Holy Trinity about the same time as you. We lived in Appleton Rd, I also attended Holy Trinity but not until 1940.
I can remember travelling on the tram from Stockton High Street to North Ormesby to visit friends of my Dad. I was probably 4 and some of our tram travel, including Stockton to Norton Green, may have been my Dad wanting me to have the tram travel experience before they finished.
I think that double deck buses replaced the trams on the route on New Year’s Day 1932. A tram enthusiast may be able to confirm the date.