15 thoughts on “High Street near Church Road, Stockton”
Hello Nigel Harbron. It”s nice to hear from relatives of Lance. As in previous messages you can see that my brother in Law and sister (Horace and Margaret Bishop)were best friends of Lance and I will mention to them that you have visited this site. As you have seen a couple of his bikes could you tell me if the logo was a “Bell with a Lance”across it? When Lance finished making bikes himself my sister said he continued for a while making them for Bill Beattie and were “Lanciers.” He must have finished at Beatties to go to Dorman Longs and then Scotland. Do you have any of his talents?
Lance Bell was my uncle, being my mother (Vi Harbron, nee Bell)”s younger brother. He was born at Brusselton near Shildon, moving to 32 Park Avenue in Thornaby when he was still at school. His father, also a Lancelot, could do anything with wood, and it was a source of real tension in the family when Lance, junior, chose to work almost exclusively with the “new” medium of metal. Like many of his generation, he was a keen cyclist, and thought nothing of cycling over to Cumberland after work on Friday, to spend the weekend with relatives there. He worked for the Taylor Brothers for a while, before branching out on his own (I think it was in that order),and he most have produced a good number of bikes as I have seen two of his on my travels in the UK. For whatever reason, he gave up the business and went to work at Dorman Long”s until he decided to throw in his lot with John Ridgway at the latter”s new adventure centre in the far north-west of Scotland, where his creative and practical skills were in great demand. Sadly, he is no more, having had a series of strokes, and dying about ten years ago.
To Anon. That is the same Lance Bell. It was Ridgeways Adventure School. Ridgeway was a tough man and he treated all of his students the same way. Lance Bell was the Handyman and even he had to live the same way. He was very good at being able to invent things. To Les Crosby. Keep hold of that bike, it should be worth a “bob or two.”
I seem to remember a Lance Bell from Teesside appearing on television once. It was at Ardmore on the west coast of Scotland and had to do with adventure training courses. He was involved with John Ridgeway,the Centre”s owner, who with Chay Blyth -both were then in the army – rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in 1966. After this John Rdigewy set up his adventure school and Lance Bell was the practical guy who ensured things worked and ran smoothly at the centre.
Lance Bell had his shop on Norton Road. You will see by my earlier comments. My sister and her husband who was Lance Bells best friend spent a few holidays on this Island off the Coast of Scotland.
Its often said Old Stockton still exsists above eye-level. This is the case in this picture of over 60 years ago. Starting left is “The Cattle-Market” (Hop-Merchant) followed by magnificent Georgian block of housing, part of the Gentry end of 1700-1800 Stockton and still with its ornate pillared doors and carving at the time of the photo Stockton Police Station (Stockton Housing Dept). A series of shops including Bed and furniture (Second-hand) Butchers and Hairdressers led to the “Half-Moon” on the corner of Bath lane now “Splash”. The large brick frontage overlooking the drill-yard of the H.Q of D L I. T.A was the end of the “Trevlyan Hotel”, favoured by Agricultural Commercial travellers as opposed to the “Queens” in Bishopton Lane which favoured the Business Traveller. Again a row of Georgian housing above street-level this row contiued to include The Methodist Chapel on what was originally called Paradise-Row. Background the chimney stacks ot “The Malleable” Steel-works. To the left of the tree in the Parish Church ground is the roof and frontage of St Thomas”s C- o-E school in The Square , which included the Quay-side Mission and most remembered of all the Cattle-Market, with its pens and auction-sheds (Council Offices and Library)
Bill Beatties shop was opposite the Gas Show Room on Norton Road. Before it was Beatties it was owned by Lance Bell who made racing cycles. He sold the shop to Bill Beattie and made his living as a handyman on an Island off the West Coast of Scotland. This Island was similar to having outwardbound training and you had to rough it by living and sleeping under the stars. I have to say that Lance Bell although in competition to Jack Taylor cycles was also a good friend of the Taylor brothers.
Bill Beaties bike shop stood on Norton Road opposite Tennent St. It then became Bill Gates Sports shop prior to Willie Maddrens. The floor once collapsed when the Liverpool Football team were in the shop signing autographs. They all ended up in the cellar. Willie was well insured although no-one was seriously hurt. In the fifties this shop was owned by Ellis the green grocers and was next door to the old Walter Wilson”s store run by Mr Mellaney and his wife.
I have no memory of Bill Beattie”s cycle shop being in Church Road but in the fifties he was definitely opposite Maxwells Corner as I bought my first bike frame from him once I started work and saved the money. It was a Dawes frame and as I saved more money I added all the bits and pieces until I had a complete bike. No brand new bike under the Christmas tree in those days, you worked and saved until you could afford it. Once I had the bike I spent many happy times on the road with “Billingham Wheelers”.
I don’t remember Bill Beattie’s being in Church Road. That may have been so before he established his shop in Norton Road which was about opposite the Gas Board showroom. I remember it well as on some occasion the floor collapsed I think it was when a footballer was signing autographs !! R B Skelton may be thinking of Jack Taylor cycles which was a lot further down Church Road, the other side of the bridge (now removed) on the right hand side just before what was the British Road Service Depot Matt Newton’s cycle shop was in Yarm Lane next to the Masion. I remember there was a time trial racer who’s name escapes me with only one leg and raced with a fixed wheel, that would be in the early 50’s when I was at Trinity school. Can anyone remember the repair cycle shop on the corner of Norton Road and I think it was Gas street almost opposite St Mary’s Church, he could repair anything
I note R B Skelton”s comment I think you may be wrong about Bill Beatie”s. I remember it being opposite Maxwells Corner. I think it was next to the Gas Board Shop. That was in the 50s. Is anybody able to shed more light on this?
On the left hand side of Church Road, just at the bend was Bill Beattie”s custom cycle shop. Behind his shop was a workshop classroom for the newly created Stockton Technical School. Across the road from Beattie”s was the Cattle Market.
Picture Stockton Archive 
Hello Nigel Harbron. It”s nice to hear from relatives of Lance. As in previous messages you can see that my brother in Law and sister (Horace and Margaret Bishop)were best friends of Lance and I will mention to them that you have visited this site. As you have seen a couple of his bikes could you tell me if the logo was a “Bell with a Lance”across it? When Lance finished making bikes himself my sister said he continued for a while making them for Bill Beattie and were “Lanciers.” He must have finished at Beatties to go to Dorman Longs and then Scotland. Do you have any of his talents?
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Lance Bell was my uncle, being my mother (Vi Harbron, nee Bell)”s younger brother. He was born at Brusselton near Shildon, moving to 32 Park Avenue in Thornaby when he was still at school. His father, also a Lancelot, could do anything with wood, and it was a source of real tension in the family when Lance, junior, chose to work almost exclusively with the “new” medium of metal. Like many of his generation, he was a keen cyclist, and thought nothing of cycling over to Cumberland after work on Friday, to spend the weekend with relatives there. He worked for the Taylor Brothers for a while, before branching out on his own (I think it was in that order),and he most have produced a good number of bikes as I have seen two of his on my travels in the UK. For whatever reason, he gave up the business and went to work at Dorman Long”s until he decided to throw in his lot with John Ridgway at the latter”s new adventure centre in the far north-west of Scotland, where his creative and practical skills were in great demand. Sadly, he is no more, having had a series of strokes, and dying about ten years ago.
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thanks to bob irwin and anon for comments about lance bell cheers les crosby
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To Anon. That is the same Lance Bell. It was Ridgeways Adventure School. Ridgeway was a tough man and he treated all of his students the same way. Lance Bell was the Handyman and even he had to live the same way. He was very good at being able to invent things. To Les Crosby. Keep hold of that bike, it should be worth a “bob or two.”
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I seem to remember a Lance Bell from Teesside appearing on television once. It was at Ardmore on the west coast of Scotland and had to do with adventure training courses. He was involved with John Ridgeway,the Centre”s owner, who with Chay Blyth -both were then in the army – rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in 1966. After this John Rdigewy set up his adventure school and Lance Bell was the practical guy who ensured things worked and ran smoothly at the centre.
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Lance Bell had his shop on Norton Road. You will see by my earlier comments. My sister and her husband who was Lance Bells best friend spent a few holidays on this Island off the Coast of Scotland.
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I have just bought a Lancier bike made by Lance Bell. Could anybody give info about the bikes made in Stockton?
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Its often said Old Stockton still exsists above eye-level. This is the case in this picture of over 60 years ago. Starting left is “The Cattle-Market” (Hop-Merchant) followed by magnificent Georgian block of housing, part of the Gentry end of 1700-1800 Stockton and still with its ornate pillared doors and carving at the time of the photo Stockton Police Station (Stockton Housing Dept). A series of shops including Bed and furniture (Second-hand) Butchers and Hairdressers led to the “Half-Moon” on the corner of Bath lane now “Splash”. The large brick frontage overlooking the drill-yard of the H.Q of D L I. T.A was the end of the “Trevlyan Hotel”, favoured by Agricultural Commercial travellers as opposed to the “Queens” in Bishopton Lane which favoured the Business Traveller. Again a row of Georgian housing above street-level this row contiued to include The Methodist Chapel on what was originally called Paradise-Row. Background the chimney stacks ot “The Malleable” Steel-works. To the left of the tree in the Parish Church ground is the roof and frontage of St Thomas”s C- o-E school in The Square , which included the Quay-side Mission and most remembered of all the Cattle-Market, with its pens and auction-sheds (Council Offices and Library)
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Bill Beatties shop was opposite the Gas Show Room on Norton Road. Before it was Beatties it was owned by Lance Bell who made racing cycles. He sold the shop to Bill Beattie and made his living as a handyman on an Island off the West Coast of Scotland. This Island was similar to having outwardbound training and you had to rough it by living and sleeping under the stars. I have to say that Lance Bell although in competition to Jack Taylor cycles was also a good friend of the Taylor brothers.
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Bill Beaties bike shop stood on Norton Road opposite Tennent St. It then became Bill Gates Sports shop prior to Willie Maddrens. The floor once collapsed when the Liverpool Football team were in the shop signing autographs. They all ended up in the cellar. Willie was well insured although no-one was seriously hurt. In the fifties this shop was owned by Ellis the green grocers and was next door to the old Walter Wilson”s store run by Mr Mellaney and his wife.
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I have no memory of Bill Beattie”s cycle shop being in Church Road but in the fifties he was definitely opposite Maxwells Corner as I bought my first bike frame from him once I started work and saved the money. It was a Dawes frame and as I saved more money I added all the bits and pieces until I had a complete bike. No brand new bike under the Christmas tree in those days, you worked and saved until you could afford it. Once I had the bike I spent many happy times on the road with “Billingham Wheelers”.
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I don’t remember Bill Beattie’s being in Church Road. That may have been so before he established his shop in Norton Road which was about opposite the Gas Board showroom. I remember it well as on some occasion the floor collapsed I think it was when a footballer was signing autographs !! R B Skelton may be thinking of Jack Taylor cycles which was a lot further down Church Road, the other side of the bridge (now removed) on the right hand side just before what was the British Road Service Depot Matt Newton’s cycle shop was in Yarm Lane next to the Masion. I remember there was a time trial racer who’s name escapes me with only one leg and raced with a fixed wheel, that would be in the early 50’s when I was at Trinity school. Can anyone remember the repair cycle shop on the corner of Norton Road and I think it was Gas street almost opposite St Mary’s Church, he could repair anything
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I note R B Skelton”s comment I think you may be wrong about Bill Beatie”s. I remember it being opposite Maxwells Corner. I think it was next to the Gas Board Shop. That was in the 50s. Is anybody able to shed more light on this?
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On the left hand side of Church Road, just at the bend was Bill Beattie”s custom cycle shop. Behind his shop was a workshop classroom for the newly created Stockton Technical School. Across the road from Beattie”s was the Cattle Market.
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No, this is Church Road and the north side of the Parish Church, seen from an upper window of Debenham’s (Robinson’s) department store.
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