Roseworth housing estate, Stockton. The rent in 1957 was:
- Bungalows – 17s 6p per week
- Two-bedroom houses – 23s 0d per week
- Three-bedroom houses – 24s 6d per week
- Four bedroom houses – 27s 0d per week
Roseworth Estate, Stockton. c1957
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
To Jeff Smith Jeff if we were to put down every variation of offerings on New Years Eve I am sure we could write a book, I am sure that the jam on cheese was delightful. Roy.
Ron Parkin – Don”t forget the piece of cheese which was usually put on top of the Christmas cake. My Uncle John, who lived in Ragpath Lane, used to add a little jam on his cheese! I must ask him if he still does this!
First Footing and Shot Glasses. Many years ago when money was tight and even tighter with a house full of kids one week after Christmas Day. The rule was on New Years Eve, a skin full at the pub/club, 10.30 out you got and home did trot, saw to the baby sitter settled the kids down and waited for midnight. A couple of minutes before midnight the person that was first footing, usually the man of the house were turfed out in to the street. Invariably freezing with snow on the ground, the whole street was full of men, gathered in to groups huddling around clouds of cigarette smoke, all waiting for the church bell to chime to say it was time to knock on your own door to be let in as the first foot for that New Year. Can’t remember which church it was to say one rather than the other will invariably get me corrected it was either St Chad’s or St Peter and Paul’s on Roseworth. Then came in to play the shorter than short shot glasses, the youth of today think that shot glasses are something new or imported from Germany, well they are not, cant ever remember a set or even two of these glasses resembling each other. From the size of a thimble to may be twice the size, covered in an assortment of pretty patterns and dimples, which today would be mistaken for an antique eye bath, that was all you got, every one had a bottle of QC Sherry and QC Port, (well you did have a choice), if there were any other spirits such as Whisky or the like, they were never on show. One of these glasses a piece of Christmas cake on a tea plate you were presented with in each and every house you went to and most put on a finger buffet of some sort to peruse and partake. A Lot of hand shakes, kissing and cuddling and invariably a few tears were shed, but that was my New Years of yesteryear how I remember them. Roy.
ive lived in portrack all my life, my nan lived here for 50 years, she sadly passed away april of this year. just wondered if anyone had any memories of her? her name was Dot Cann.
Green Green Grass of Home It must have been pure luxury to go to Kiora Hall to buy grass seed and plants, also rather dull. Getting fit and filling your lungs with fresh air is what made our garden at 25 Repton Ave bloom. One of the family’s favourite past times was walking mainly up Blakeston Lane and at the right time of year, each with a brown paper bag to collect wild grass seeds. Finding out were previous homesteads were but now demolished was easy, just look for the flowers growing and either take a cutting or remove the plant in its entirety, either way it was free. Roy.
I noticed Trevor Ayre (24/9/07) you lived at number 9 Lucy Street, did you know anyone of the surname Wells living at number 7 as that is where my grandad used to live?
I”m Gareth Hill”s mam. We lived at 8 Rostrevor avenue. The highlight of the week as we came out of Redbrook school was when the penny-a-ride man was there. I can still feel the excitement now, and feel a warm glow when I think about it. The best bit was if you were on the last ride of the day, as you got an extra long ride round past kiora hall, then we ran all the way home. I was at Redbrook School between about 1959-1965, so it was between this time when we used to go on the penny-a ride. We were the first family in our house in about 1954, and I was born there not long after we moved in. Kiora Hall also brings back a lot of memories, that lovely orange juice for babies/young children in a sort of small milk bottle, sunday school, youth club, the ghost of the grey lady. Then it later playgroup for my son. Lots of good memories.
My mothers family lived on Roseworth from 1950 when they moved into a brand new house corner house on Rostrevor Avenue, they stayed there until they moved to another brand new corner house on Tithebarn Road, Hardwick in 1970 which is where I lived as new born baby with my parents, grandparents and two aunties until my parents moved back to Roseworth in 1974 to Radnor Close we we stayed until 1978. My memory is the Chippy on the corner of Ryde Road and Radnor Close, which also used to stock huge range of sweets as well which was quite unusual for Chip Shops. We also used to sledge down the hill outside. Drove past there a few months ago the chippy is now a house and the hill doesn”t seem quite so big!
I remember the Penny a Ride. It used to stop at the bottom of Rampside Avenue then go down Rostrevor Avenue towards Redbrook School, turning left into Roseneath Avenue and then back down Rampside Avenue to where it started. Us kids loved it – around 1956-7 I reckon.
i remember the penny a ride. I lived in Roseneath Avenue, we loved it. I went to Redbrook school, I remember Mr Brown the headmaster, what a lovely man. Then I went to Roseworth sec, brilliant memories.
I came across this site by accident but having lost my dad Norman Lightowler three years ago its comforting to still hear his name mentioned and also the rest of the family would love to hear any more stories from anyone who knew him or my family.
Hello Jane, I am your cousin Maureen. Your dad was my hero I loved him so much. I was with him at his bedside just before he died my mam loved him so much too. Joyce, I was with your mam when Norman came back from Service in Aden. We met him at Stockton railway station, he was so handsome all suntanned. I have lots of lovely memories of him and Olwyn. We often talk about him to this day. Much love to you.
I remember Ronnie Lightowler very well, he used to have the Penny long Ride,and a fruit and veg round. Ronnie lived with his father “Geordie” and his Sister Maggie in Number 9 Lucy Street, Tilery, they had a dog called Paddy and the horse was called “Alexander the Great”.
To all the people who have made comments about the penny a long ride, I would like to confirm that Joseph Lightowler was my father and it was not him but his uncle Geordie who used to frequent the streets of Norton with his Boat ride. Ronnie Lightowler was Geordie”s son – my father”s cousin and was not the father of Mavis. Joseph Raymond had nine children – Raymond, Joyce, Geoffrey, Winifred, Joan, Maurice, Norman, Dorothy and Mavis. Ronnie did not marry or have any children. I would be very intersted if anyone has any photographs of the penny a ride or of Joseph Raymond or his children. It is very endearing to know that so many people have good memories of our family.
I wish I had photos, it was beautiful. I live in Surrey now and was only talking about this to my husband a couple of days ago.
MOST OF MY FAMILY ARE FROM ROSEWORTH MY MAMS FAMILY LIVED IN ROTHBURY AVENUE UNTIL THEY MOVED TO GRANGEFIELD, ANNE AND JOHN REEVES. MY MAM STILL LIVES IN ROTHBURY AVE. MY DADS FAMILY LIVED ROUND THE CORNER IN REIVAULX CLOSE. ALEX AND VALERIE LEE. GRANDAD STILL DOES UNFORTUNATELY NANA PASSED AWAY. IF ANYONE KNOWS THEM LET ME KNOW PLEASE. ITS FASCINATING THAT ALL THESE COMMENTS CAME FROM A LITTLE PHOTO TAKEN SO MANY YEARS AGO. ITS NICE TO NO A BIT OF HISTORY ABOUT MY PAST. I LIVE ON PORTRACK NOW BUT ID LOVE TO BE BACK UP THERE IN ROTHBURY AVE WHERE I GREW UP AS A BABY. I REMEMBER MAVIS AND TERRY WELL AND MADGE CURRY WHO ID HAVE A LITTLE NATTER TO WHEN I WAS ABOUT 10TH MONTHS OLD SAT ON THE WALL OUTSIDE NANAS HOUSE. MY NANAS SISTER ELLEN SALTMARSH (HINDMARSH) STILL LIVES THERE AS WELL IN THE SAME HOUSE NEXT DOOR TO WHERE NANA AND GRANDAD LIVED. ITS FUNNY ALL THE MEMORIES A LITTLE PHOTO CAN BRING EVEN WHEN YOU WERENT AROUND TILL LONG AFTER THE PHOTO WAS TAKEN
For Dorothy Lightowler do you know the history of the Lightowler family? Are you a relative of Richard Lightowler? My grandmother (Richards 2nd eldest daughter) was named Dorothy Lightowler. It sounds like the majority of the family remained in the area.
Peter Goring was the ginger haired lad you remember Chris, he was born in 1951 & we were friends for many years – he is still in the area although I have not seen him for some years. His sister Pat was slightly older than Peter & tragically died in her late teens,early twenties. Well remember Pat taking Peter & myself to the Sinners at Billingham when we were young mods, happy days.
I remember all this very well l was born on Roseworth 1953 Reigate Close we backed on to Ragpath lane and the picture, bottom of it the 4 bed roomed house lived the Harrison”s they backed on to us. Malcolm Harrison l remember, and for the Gorrings there was a son and daughter the boy was ginger forgot his surname and the daughter was the same age as me near enough and she died very young trying to think of her name and its gone from me. l remember the penny a long ride but a used to run in the house and get 2d and ride on the front that’s what it cost 2d. Them were the days!
Did you have two brothers, one called Michael and the other called Robert? We the Bells lived at no. 14 and I’m sure my brother Brian was a friend of Roberts.
Does anyone have a picture of the penny long ride? My dad is always going on about how great it was and I would love to see it and remind him of “the good ole days”
Does anyone know Jennette Bates who who went to St. Johns School from about 1954. She was the love of my live long before I knew what that meant.
Richard. I”m pleased you mentioned me to Val – give her my and my wife (Sue) our best regards also to Bill. My mam is currently staying with us for christmas (near Aberdeen) and she also sends on her regards. She used to see Val in Stockton High St often on saturdays but has missed these past couple of years or so.
My mother and father Kenneth and Jean (nee Hatton) Sheraton were one of the first families to occupy newly built houses on Ragpath Lane in the 1950″s. My mother was delighted with their first family home at 124 (in the distance on this photograph) Ragpath Lane, “until” she discovered that the houses that were built after theirs were much larger. 🙂 My mother recalled trudging through the mud that the builders left behind. My sister Kay was very young when they moved in. Greetings to anyone who remembers them.
Dave, My wife and myself are friends of Bill and Val Curbishley and I have passed your comments on, and even after all this time she is impressed with the flattering remarks!!.Mr McCartney still lives in Rockferry Close and Mrs McCartney is living in Elton Hall Care Home.
We moved into No 33 Rockferry Close in about 1954 after living with my Great Gran in Howden St No 14 which was next door to my Gran in No 12. We had the front room and front bedroom to live in and shared the kitchen and outside toilet. In Rockferry Close we lived next door to the McCartneys whose daughter Val I fancied. She went on and married Bill Curbushly and had a daughter Alison who ran for Great Britain in the Sydney Olympics. I believe Mr & Mrs McCartney still live in the same house now. I remember that when the Queen came to Stockton was it 1954 or 55? We kids from the junior school went and stood on Durham Rd about halfway between the milehouse and the Horse & Jockey to wave as she went by. Other families who lived in Rockferry Close were the Wards (Mr Ward worked at Sparks Bakery) / the Rapers / Lintons / McGraths / Pitts who had a son Trevor.
good to hear from dorothy we met dot, when we were about 13 or 14 ,i lived at grange road in norton and you went to william newton school ,you later worked at paton and baldwins in billingham with my now wife wendy strike,i used to knock about down the allotments at the back of your old house with a lad called derek christon and another called tommy nicholson,they were good days and i have many happy memories
Dorothy Lightowler: it was me who first spread the rumour that your dad was the penny-long-ride guy. I”ll blame my fuzzy memory for that! I do remember you though through my sister Joan who worked with you at Harrison”s the Printers, and Mavis from going to the dances etc.
For Dorothy Lightowler. Dorothy was it your Dad who used to come round our estate (Primrose Hill)on a friday night selling fruit & veg from a horse and cart. He used to have a big guy with him who I think was called Norman. I think Norman”s main job was to stop us kids hanging on the back of the cart to get a ride up the road! You could watch the seasons change by what was on the back of the cart I seem to remember! If that was your Dad I can still hear him calling out as he came round the corner – although for the life of me I never knew what it was he shouted!
Well I never thought I”d see my name on an internet site. I have some wonderful memories of my life in Norton but unfortunately would need a reminder from Gordon Armes as to when and where we met. You are all quite right. Joseph Lightowler was not the penny a ride provider but had a small holding at Norton. He had nine children with Mavis being the youngest and myself as the second youngest. Apart from myself, all his children remained in the Stockton area and from the nine there are four of us still alive and kicking, Ray, Winnie, myself and Mavis. Kind regards to all who knew us.
I remember living in Redruth Avenue, Roseworth and attending school in the black huts at Kiora Hall for about a year before junior school. I moved to Fairfield shortly afterwards so my memories are sketchy as it must of been about 1960 when we moved. I remember having a friend who lived in Ringwood Crescent called Barbara Redfern and our neighbours in Redruth Aveneue were Mr and Mrs Simmons. I think they had three children but can only remember the names of 2 of them – Terry and Sandra. I was a bridesmaid for Sandra. My most vivid memory is going to my friend Barbara”s house and getting lost on the way home even though it was only a few streets away and asking this man directions who was doing some gardening in his front garden and he pulled out his false teeth!! I ran like mad and managed to find my way home. He frightened the life out of me but looking at it now, the poor soul probably couldnt talk properly with his teeth in and was removing them to speak. Unless anyone else remembers a similar incident in which case maybe he had his fun scaring kids? I never went on my own to my friends house after that for quite some time and walked on the other side of the road to the scary man”s house!
Hello Christine,
You were my bridesmaid when I married Ken Jones (Rochester Road Roseworth) who was in the Royal Air Force on 30th August 1965 – There were three Simmons children – me, the eldest, my sister Carol also a bridesmaid at my wedding, and my brother was Terry. Both are married and well. Ken and I went to Cyprus in 1965 – to RAF Pergamos – we lived in Famagusta.
I live in Bedfordshire now, Ken and I are retired and have two daughters and three grandsons.
Best wishes
Sandra Jones (nee Simmons)
PS There were five bridesmaids at our wedding two in green, two in peach (you) and one in lemon
It”s fascinating where these postings lead. Roseworth – leading to the Penny A Ride & the Lighthowler”s fruit stall outside the Avenue cinema. The memory of coming out of there and being bougt a paper bag full of cherrys. It was the first time I”d ever tried them – sheer bliss! Paul Cuthbert, don”t know what age you are but, one of my first girlfriends, Roz Thompson, lived in Ringwood Crescent – does the name ring any bells for you?
Raymond Lightowler was my Grandfather and Mavis and Dorothy are my Aunts. Ronnie was both my Granfathers cousin and I believe Richard who went to Australia was my other Grandfathers (Tommy Lightowler), brother. Sound complicated? Raymond and Tommy were second cousins and therefore had the same surname.Tommy had 2 sons Frank, my Father who died several years ago and John who still lives at Roseworth. It was Ronnie who ran the boat trips and Raymond the allotment, both had fruit and veg carts.
Bob Irwin can you please contact me regarding the Lightowler family history. I live in Australia my great grandfather Richard Lightowler emigrated to Australia 1910. Email corina3@bigpond.com.au
I live in Australia my great-grandfather Richard Lightowler emigrated from St Annes Hill Portrack Stockton in 1910. He was born at Whitton Town End Farm in 1892. Does anybody know this family history?
I lived in Repton Avenue, we moved there in about 1952. The doctors surgery was held in one of the bungalows over the way before the new one was built on Ragpath. I remember the penney a ride man, it was all great fun. I remember going to Sunday School in the tin hut before St. Chad”s was built and fun days at Kiora, fancy dress parades and egg and spoon races. I remember a street party for the Coronation and everyone joining in the fun and the visit by the Queen and we all got a day off school to wave our flags. There was a good atmosphere on the estate as everyone was making a fresh start after the war. I remember the travelling shop and the bread van because that was when we got an iced bun. The shops and school were not built when we moved there, they came later.
I lived in Redditch Avenue at no10 40 years ago. I remember the penny ride/bobs bus/jims bus from Ringwood Cresent.
Every street name on the Roseworth estate began with the letter “R”. Very confusing to strangers. I lived in Redditch Avenue until 1964 and remember the Penny Rides, I now work with another Mr. Lightowler (related) and he is a young engineer.
I remember the Lightowlers well. Ronnie used to always sell his fruit and veg outside of the Avenue picture house in Norton and Dorothy was an old childhood sweetheart of mine. I remember her well, I seem to remember that Mavis won some sort of beauty competition? Give my best wishes to Dot
Would that be the Gorings of Spanish descent. I went to school with Mario Goring and briefly went out with his sister Elaine. I think their mother or/or grandmother was from Spain.That was around 1979/1980 when I had just finished at The Grange School
The photograph shows Ragpath Lane – the white house in the centre is no 102, for many years the home of the Goring family. In the left background is Kiora Hall – while attending Roseworth Junior school in the late 50″s we used the Black Huts in the grounds of Kiora Hall as temporary classrooms – I believe these huts were previously used to house Italian P.O.W”s during & after World War 2.
This picture is Ragpath Lane, just before you get to St Chads Church at the corner of Redhill Road, you can see the trees of Kiora Hall in the background on the left hand side.
I have the records of the Lightowler family. I have a nephew who married into their family and there antecedents come into our family Ancestry. Dorothy is an older sister by 2 years.
Bob Irwin, you may well be right. I was always of the impression that Mavis Lightowler was the daughter of the penny long ride guy, but it must have been a case of name association on my part, probably combined with the mists of time. Mavis was indeed from Norton and the youngest daughter in her family, having an older sister Dorothy, who worked with my sister at Harrison”s the Printers in Portrack, and a brother.
Mavis Lightowler was probably the youngest daughter of Joseph Raymond and Jessie Lightowler, living at either Ancaster or Alverston Road, Norton. Joseph Raymond had nothing at all to do with the Penny Ride. He worked a small holding on the Blue Hall Allotments in Norton
Ahoy there! More sightings of the horse drawn boat, this time in Swainby Road and around Oxbridge, both in the early 1950s. The “captain” would advertise his presence shouting out a hearty “Penny – Long – Ride”. Interesting to see that he still charged the same price after the war as before it – 1d. (Information courtesy of Jim Whiting and Irene Watson.)
Interesting some of the connections you can make through this superb site. The Penny-a-Ride, known as the Penny Long Ride in Parkfield, was owned and operated by Ronnie Lightowler. I mentioned that Luke Casey, still a Tyne Tees TV presenter from what has been said, married a Norton girl called Mavis Lightowler. Mavis is Ronnie Lightowler”s daughter.
I remember the “penney a ride”. It was owned by Ronnie Lighthowler who also used to come around Stockton with his fruit and veg cart.
Ragworth Estate Re Penny-a-Ride street carts In the late 1930s both a Mr Skipp and Mr Lightowler had street rides in Norton , one was a roundabout with 4 chairs, the power a large mangle wheel driving a belt under the cart, a strong push was needed to set it in motion, another was the “Queen-Mary” a small rowing boat, seating 8, also on a cart, painted the red and black of Cunard, it even had an anchor and port-holes painted on its side. The “voyage” around the streets lasted about 3/5 minutes.The fare was one penny or 3 clean jam-jars, which was “street currency” of the 1930s along with “ciggy-cards” and marbles.
Does anyone remember the Penny A Ride, it was a horse drawn cart with a boat attached to the cart with a door at the back. It was often seen going around Roseworth in the fifties. Also The co-op travelling shop with its doors in the middle and bobs travelling bus shop. I would love to see a photo of the Penny a Ride
I moved to Rochester road about 1953-4 and remember them, in fact I used to help out on Bobs van and shop in the early 60s, his shop was in Norton. He also opened a snack bar at Rosewoth shops were all us kids went. Good days, I did all my schooling at Roseworth then moved to Thornaby in 1968 when I got married.
I went to school at the huts for a time I was in Mr Crabs class with the Tye twins, Peter Hardy and Denny Buttle.I can still smell the school dinners ,they always smelt better than they tasted. I remember running round the huts hoping you didn’t fall because you knew you would be cut to bits by the gravel. I moved to Roseworth Sec. in 1960 till 1964
I moved to Rockall Avenue, Roseworth in 1953 and lived there util I married in 1959. The road in question in the photograph looks to me like Rosslare Road coming down towards the shops.
Ann do you have a brother called Peter?
We moved into 6 Reddich Ave in May 1951 from Elton army camp and left in 1962 for Australia. Hope to return for a visit next year. The houses towards Ragworth where mostly built when we moved in. I can still remember the big street party for the Coronation and still have a cup given as a memento.
I don”t recognize the street but that photo would be typical of the early days of Roseworth Estate. We moved into 44 Roseneath Avenue when I was six or seven and Dad had just left the navy. That would have been 1953 or 54. The houses were up but there were no footpaths and we had to walk on planks laid over the mud. We bought plants and grass seed from Kiaora Hall but had to dig all the rubble out of the ground first. The picture shows how it matured once the paths were laid and everyone had their lawns and plants going nicely.
I lived in 36 Roseneath Ave, you must have moved and the Wades must have moved in. Geoff Wade, we went to Redbrook school and the onto Roseworth sec.
I think I am right in stating that the estate was started shortly after WW2. I remember my parents taking me on a walk from our home in Hutchinson Street to Roseworth just to see what the houses were like. I would be around eleven at the time. Little did I know then that I would be seriously involved romantically with a girl from Roseworth and do the same walk many ,many times after missing the last no 3 bus back home. No wonder I coped so well with the basic training that I went through on conscription three years after!