An interior view of J.F.Smith & Co. Nebo Confectionary works c1940. The works were in the Green Dragon Yard off Finkle Street, Stockton (1920-1972). The photograph shows several workers sorting and weighing sweets. The building started its life as a tithebarn built c1574, in 1766 it opened as a Georgian theatre which became known as the Theatre Royal. By 1958 it was the Oxford Music Hall, and next became the Salvation Army Headquarters. It then began it’s life as the sweet factory. It was later restored as a museum and is still owned by Stockton Council.
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Looking for Hales the printers it was down an alley from the High Street it looked over the River Tees. There were stables out the back but it was a work room were they did gold blocking on the books.
My nanna owned a sweet shop in Linthorpe village for 50 years and we used to sell all Nebo sweets. I remember the rep calling at the shop
Did you sell the nebo creams?
My Mother used to work for the Nebo sweet factory Dorothy Patterson (nee Thompson) I remember going there when I was only a youngster I can recall the old cobble streets, the huge cold water buts that were outside that she used to break the ice off in the winter to wash the sweet jars, the machines that were on the walls that the sweet mixture was stretched on, she used to cut it into sweet size with a pair of scissors, she used to wear a old black leather apron with arm length rubber gloves, I can remember how cold it was in the winter time and the rats were everywhere.
I worked at Nebo JF.Smith] co; when I Ieft school in 1960. My first job there was to count the empty sweet bottles in the cobbled yard near the sweet factory. Mr Brown was the foreman. I was then given the task of delivering the sweet orders along Dovecot street by handcart. I always thought that their Munchie Crunchie toffee was the best seller. The manager at the time used to hold the office door open with one leg to delay the sound of his appearance as he rushed into the warehouse to catch anyone slacking. During cold days the stove in the cellar had to be lit, but first a brick was thrown down the cellar steps to chase the rats away. We occasionally had a delivery of sacks of peanuts which were loaded onto our backs and carried across the yard to the factory.
My Grandad Thomas Mathews (Tommy) worked at Nebo from the age of 14 until 66. He went from being the back shop boy to head traveller. I remember visiting in the 60’s and going into the boiler house. Little boys dream.
I worked in the office when Tommy worked there…I was about 16 and typed the orders the reps brought in..thats 70 years ago !!! Sweets were still rationed & the chocolates were kept upstairs ..
I think I remember a girl called Enid, my mam worked in the Nebo office too, her name was Gladys McDonald.
I remember your grandfather Tommy Matthews. My uncle, Jack Davies, also worked for Nebo from 1920 ish to 1966 when he died. He was MD when I used to visit the factory as a child during the 1940s and 50s. My aunt, Jack’s sister Minnie, was in charge of the boiler room where most of the products were made. I have many happy memories of “working” in the boiler and “helping” to make the various sweets at the same time carrying out extensive quality assurance testing. I met your grandfather at the factory on many occasions when he was not out on the road obtaining fresh orders from retailers.
I used to drive the delivery van during my holidays from University in 1957 and 1958.
Great days.
Mike Watson
How wonderful to read of others missing Nebo Creams. I was just relating to my daughter-in-law this morning, how my sister, mother & I used to search our local town to find them. If anyone finds them, please shout it from the rooftops!!
I had worked at the Nebo works from 1962 till 1966 and the reason you will not get any of the Nebo similar sweets is that the sister of Jack Smith said the secrets will die with her. Robert
Christine, you can get Newbo Creams as they are called, from the Victorian Sweet maker in the Enterprise Centre in Stockton High Street, I got a box today, strawberry flavour, brought back good memories. Go get some.
Loved them, nobody can make them. I’ve searched all over north east.
Disappointed to find that Nebo Creams are not available from any source. Thought maybe someone might have had a crack at copying them now that old fashioned sweets are back on specialist market stalls. Last time I enjoyed them was in the early seventies in Whitby. That timeline suggests someone else had picked up the recipe and name. Wish someone else would!
We have cracked it! Our own version will be on sale shortly at Victorian Sweet Kitchen within the Enterprise Arcade on Stockton High Street. See you soon 😀
Remember visits on a Saturday in the late 60s to see my auntie and get a bag of whatever was on the production line! Can smell it now ( Aunt Gladys Taylor , happy memories)
My parents owned a small village shop in the late 50’s / early 60’s and Nebo Creams were my absolute favorites and what a bonus having an endless supply !
Yes, Nebo Creams. I still dream about finding some somwhere, never will of course! I dread to think how many bags of them I must have bought when I was young. I used to get them at Micky Fenton’s Newsagents in Roseworth.
I used to love Nebo Creams. They were my favourite sweets when I was young. All the lovely creamy fruity flavours.
I remember Nebo”s sherbert. It came in a long yellow paper roll with a “straw” made of liqorice to suck it up with. If you sucked too hard it would fizz in your nose and make your eyes water. There”s worse stuff to put up your nose though… …like snuff. Whatever happened to snuff?
This picture of the NEBO sweet works is actually in what is now called the Georgian Theatre after one of its past uses and run as a live music venue by SMAC whereas the Green Dragon Museum is the next door building on the other side of the alley from Theatre Yard to Green Dragon Yard. The museum buildings were also used by NEBO.