Norton Vicarage, 1998. Photograph courtesy of Mr Robert Harbron. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Norton Vicarage, 1998. Photograph courtesy of Mr Robert Harbron.
Norton Vicarage. See photo for ” Tax Windows” and History
Norton Vicarage – built in the 1780s the incumbent vicar, Rev Christopher Anstey 1785-1820, used this building not only as his dwelling, but with his wife and friends started a day school for boys, later girls and adult education. He also woke a social need in the Village for better housing and care of the elderly. He became known as The “Vicar of The People”. The building shown has some interesting features The two second floor windows left , are not windows but “infills” to avoid the window-tax to raise tax for the recent American War of Independence. The bays down stairs were added in the 1850s, when “Bayswater-Windows” became popular with visitors to the Great Exhibition 1851, the original outline of the Georgian windows can still be seen alongside the bays. The bricks removed were built into the present porch as is the original flat-fronted Georgian door. A hidden history is to the S.E corner of the vicarage. A number of sandstone blocks are incorporated into the lower building structure of 1780 , they are same age as Norman stone of both Church and Hermitage opposite (1100s) and believed to be remains of a large Guest-Hall or “Domus”, for visitors to this important Mother Church as the Chapel in Stockton Castle would not have the capacity for Royal or Noble visitation. The Vicarage is now a private school.