A general view of Blairs marine engine works on Norton Road, Stockton. The premises were originally J.Wallers flour and saw mill, but were taken over in 1839 by Fossick and Hackworth for the production of locomotive and stationary engines. In 1853 the premises were enlarged for the production of marine engines. The companies name changed to Fossick, Blair & Co. in 1864, to Blair & Co. in 1867 and finally ro Blair & Co. in 1926. The factory closed in 1933 and is now occupied by F.Hills & Sons joiners.c1900 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
The Tilery/Norton Road location, on the North Shore Branch Line of the Clarence Railway, would have been perfect for Timothy Hackworth to start a new engine works, closer to the growing town of Stockton. The new works complimented his original site at Shildon, which was, in effect, at the western end of the Clarence Railway. Timothy Hackworth was George Stephenson’s main rival, and some railway experts consider Hackwoth to have been a better engine constructor and designer. Apparently Hackworth had to modify Srephenson’s Locomotion No 1, for it to become reasonably reliable, although it was always a poor steamer.
Fred,
It was Timothy’s brother Thomas who set up the engine works on Norton Road. A new biography of Thomas was published recently with a lot of information about the two Norton Road sites, some of which has been aired on here in the past..
Thanks I would appreciate the full title. I am sure that Picture Stockton is doing a grand if unsung job in bringing back local history.
The book is called ‘Thomas Hackworth, Locomotive Engineer’ by George Turner Smith; ISBN 978-1-78155-464-7. It is published by Fonthill Media (www.fonthillmedia.com). I bought my copy at Locomotion at Shildon but it will be widely available.