An aerial view of the north end of Stockton High Street at its junction with Church Road. c1930
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
An aerial view of the north end of Stockton High Street at its junction with Church Road. c1930
Alan B is quite right regarding the supposed picture of Thistle Green, as this superb aerial shot of Stockton shows. The ‘Thistle Green’ picture shows that trees planted alongside the cattle market were within the cattle market fence, and that the road covered with granite sets was Church Road. The Library/Town Hall now stands on the area where the cattle market stood.
Burton House once stood opposite the surviving Three Tuns public house by the far right L-shaped corner on the middle right, empty, area. It can be seen in photos t6993, s500 and s501. Constables Yard (Bulmers Yard) once stood by the tree line flush with the pub. In the cleared gap by the most visible face of the pub once stood 4 and 5 Thistle Green. The Housewife Lane Improvement Scheme Order of 1925 earmarked these dwellings and the yard for demolition. 1-3 Thistle Green between the pub and joining onto Bishop Street above survived the slum clearances of 1927. The empty grassed area denotes the main focus of the clearance scheme.
Fenny Street started at Frederick Street(The Gasworks)& run parallel to Thompson Street,having junctions with Allison St.,Byron St.,Milton St.,& finishing at Shakespeare Street.Richard Holmes the boy mentioned was the nephew of Sally Matthewson who had the fruit & veg shop on Norton Road at the corner of Bone Street.
Hi,My family was originally from Parkfield, Bowsfield Lane area. We moved to Danby road late 1949. I was 14yrs old. I continued going to St.Cuthberts school till I left at 15. It was then i joined the R.A.F.Boy Entrants. I know very litle of the area discussed, but my brothers n sister were raised there and will still remember that area.
Just found this site and discovered a bit about my relatives the kennedys. I used to go to the farm with my mam in the 60s but cant remember anyones names. But do remember having great fun up there.
Frank Bowron. I think the surname you are searching for is Arthur Akers. They had the shop at the corner of MowbrayRd/Ida Street. His allotments were on the left as you entered from Ida Street. On the opposite side of the path was Arthur Dalton. He took these gardens over when he left his gardens behind Norton Road. (Mouses Nest).
Aye, you”re right. The brain cells get confused after 45 years. The Norman I remember was another chap I knew who had an allotment next to ours, off the end of Ida Street; the fellow Ray and I used to push the barrow for was Arthur.
To Mr Frank Bowron, can I correct you on the name Dalton? Norman was very able bodied and married my fathers oldest sister, May (nee Wood). His brother was Arthur and he was very disabled because of polio and sold his vegetables from his cart around Norton. He also cared for stray dogs on his allotment at the rear of Mount Pleasant Road in Norton. I hope this information is usefull.
Peter, Bob. Mr. Dalton”s first name was Norman; he was crippled by polio in his youth. Raymond Addison and myself used to help him with a barrow on Saturday mornings as he went around the Mount Pleasant area and right round Hallifield Street and down Imperial Crescent back onto Norton Road. Norman would push one barrow while Ray and I pushed the other. He”d pay us half a crown each when we were done. He was a staunch member of the Malleable club and I had a few pints with him there when I was on home leave after returning from Singapore in 1971. I”ve never known him to whinge – they don”t make self-reliant hard grafters like him any more, more”s the pity.
A very belated “thank you” to Bob Harbron for the information about Atterbury Terrace. I lost track of this web-site address and only found it again by accident. Very kind of you to provide the information, and I”m sorry you have had to wait so long for an acknowledgement.
Peter Chisholm – Peter thanks for taking the trouble to quiz your folks anyway! Regards – Mike
Mike Renwick – sorry it looks like I have drawn a blank with Richard Holmes of Larkhall Square and the budgies breeder of Windmill Terrace. Both my parents cannot recall them. We moved to the corner of Larkhall Square in 1954 and left in 1970.
Mike Renwick – I remember Dave Pickney! He was in the Stockton ASA Swimming Club at the same time as me although he was a few years older than me – great swimmer and waterpolo player – and his Dad who coached. They used to live on Weston Crescent which was part of my paper round. I remember someone breeding and selling budgies around where I lived but I can”t remember the name. I will check with my parents to jog their memories. They are still going strong at 78 and now live in Hinckley.
Peter Chisholm – Peter I was at Tilery Road School with a lad called Richard Holmes, who at the age of eleven, wore a trilby type hat. Poor lad was as bald as a billiard ball, having suffered complete hair loss due to alopecia. He also lived, I believe, on Larkhall Square. On top of that there was a lad who used to breed & sell budgerigars in that area. I think he lived on Windmill Terrace, you might be able to supply a name.
Bob Irwin – Bob not I”m afraid apropos of your posting BUT your mention of Mount pleasant Road has sparked a memory. I had a primary school mate, Dave Pinkney, whose family lived either the top end of said road or just past Eder road on Weston Crescent. Their back garden overlooked the dog track, the roof of the shelter abutting the rear wall. Exploring one day we found a tripod mountable heavy machine gun on the roof (non operational). Dave”s father handed it over to the local constbulary for disposal, much to our chagrin. Nearby was a baby”s full insertion gas “mask” with the air bellows still working, this we were allowed to keep” it made a super space suit.
Bob. I most certainly do! My Mum used to buy her veg from him. He used to live on one of the side streets off Mount Pleasant Road. If you came off Norton Road onto Mount Pleasant Road there were two back alleys immediately left and right then at right angles to Mount Pleasant Road two paths left and right with about 10 houses in each. They had little gardens in front of them. Mr Dalton lived in the first corner house in the left hand path. I can”t remember the actual name of the paths: something like Mount Pleasant North and South rings a bell.
Peter. Can you remember the allotment behind Crisp Street. It was run by a chap called Dalton. He was very crippled. He used to sell his veg”s from a handcart at the end of Mount Pleasant Road. Did he take in stray dogs and keep them on the allotment? Where did he live?
Elizabeth, I used to live on Norton Road on the corner of Larkhall Square opposite the Brown Jug. In the 50″s early 60″s there was a street running parallel to Norton Road and at right angles to the houses in Larkhall Square. I think this was Crisp Street. It was demolished around 1960 and was left empty for years until they started the new houses in 60″s. We used to have our bonfires there on Nov 5th. I can”t remember anyone from that street, as I was under 10 myself at that time.
Re Atterbury Terrace. Victoria terrace block just as you enter Durham Road, from railway bridge, facing the Railway Station , the “Tower House” starts this Terrace
My mother was supposedly born in a house on Atterbury Terrace in Stockton, but it would seem that the street name must have been changed since 1919, as it does not appear in modern directories. Does anyone know where it was?
Sarah Bddiscombe. Viewly Hill was along Sandy Lane. The Farm belonging to the Kennedy”s overlooked the Station Fields at Norton. Kennedy Farm was named Viewly Hill Farm. As long as remember Bob Kennedy owned the Farm. In later years he had a house built just in front of the Farm called Rose Cottage. He lived in this house with his youngest daughter Dollie(she married John Cotterill). Walter Kennedy who worked with his father lived in the Farm House. A further bungalow was also built and another of his daughters lived there with her family. (she married Jack Wood). In all he had 10 children.
With regard to your comments on Talbot street, stockton. My GGgrandad ran a pawnshop from 3/4 Talbot street and his father also called William Watson owned 4 Providence Terr,2 Talbot st,1,2,3,4 and 5 Compton Street-9,10,11,12,13 Compton Street 3 North St,9 and 10 union square, 26 Tane st house and shop, at 6 Ware st another house and shopalso 5/6 talbot street and land at Fairfield!! I would love to see or hear any information anyone has about this area around 1900 to 1911 and any pictures of how it looked then. I visited a year ago and it obviously looks very different now. If anyone can help please email me at romawibiddy@xtra.co.nz. My grandmother grew up at Wolviston at Viewley hill again any info appreciated,happy to share anything I have. Kindest regards
Yes the Debenhams/Robinsons tower did house a massive water tank at the top which acted as the supply for the sprinkler system. Robinsons was i believe the first steel framed building in England and had all the “latest” technology when built. However, the sprinkler system had to be tested every month with the pressure relieved on the system to make sure the automatic fire alarm worked. The system then had to be pressurised with a hand pump and took about three hours – one of my jobs for a period of two years from 1965 to 1967 – still have memories of sore arms. The climb to the top of the tower is/was by wooden staircases – a dusty and eerie place at best of times though may have changed by now.
I was told sometime ago now, that the Water Tower at Robinsons/Debenhams, contained the Water for the Fire sprinkler system but thats all I know about it now.
Elizabeth, referring to your search for Crisp Street. This can be found on Durham Sheet 50.12 Stockton North 1899. You may not have this map and so I will try to set you in the right direction. Heading North along the right hand side of Norton Road, cross the Lustring (Lustrum) Beck, and begin to climb the Brown Jug bank until just before reaching Larkhall Square take the street (unnamed, though possibly called Windmill Terrace these days) running towards the Old Clay Pit, and at the end is Crisp Street.The area was called somewhat optimistically MOUNT PLEASANT, BELLE VUE GARDENS. Maybe things looked a little different then. There is also a reference to Crisp Street in the current Stockton on Tees A/Z Street Atlas. Good Luck with the Family History.
Crisp Street was a very short street which ran paralell to Norton Road, on the left-hand side travelling towards the town centre, somewhere between Brown Jug, (Larkhall Square) and Swainby road.It appears on a well indexed map in a 1950″s Stockton-on-Tees Official Guide.
Another map you may find interesting is Co. Durham Sheet 50.08, Norton 1896.
There are two very detailed reproduction maps of Stockton from the late 1890″s which are published by Alan Godfrey Maps, 57 Spoor Street, Dunston, Gateshead NE11 9BD, which I”ved used for my family history searches. They are “Durham Sheet 50.12” and “County Durham Sheet 50.16” and cost around £2 each. Areas of Stockton changed very little in layout from these maps until the times that are remembered on this website.
Mrs E.A.Law, Old ordnance survey maps of Stockton North ( Durham Sheet 50.12) which can be purchased from http://www.alangodfreymaps.co.uk show Fenny Street in north Stockton. Of Crisp Street I cannot find although I am sure some users of this site will know where itis.
Mrs Elizabeth A. Law Elizabeth see the information in a posting from Stan hilton under Tilery Road s1150. I used the information to buy three maps £2:20 each + 60p postage. Ordered them on an afternoon, they were here first post next day – super service! By way of this posting – thanks Stan.
Elizabeth, Maps are available on the Durham Council website, http://www.durham.gov.uk/durhamcc/usp.nsf/pws/gis+-+online+mapping The maps are layoured from 1856 upto the present day although the street names are not that clear on the older maps. Fenney St can be clearly seen on the 1919 map.
I”m researching my family, and looking for maps with Crisp Street and Fenney Street on, from about 1861 onwards. Can anyone help me? Thanks
Moira McInnes – Moira I was looking for something on the origins of Stockton station on Bishopton Lane & found this site: – http://www.durham.gov.uk/durhamcc It has an internal link which will take you to a modern map, but with a drop down to earlier maps. I”ll still be visiting the library but for your info & maybe the use of other interested parties it”s there.
Michael Higgins – Michael full explanation is in the comments “Wellington Street, Stockton. 1984” Alan Davis shares his memories with us!
Over to the left of this photo is Robinsons Tower a Stockton Land Mark, but what was its purpose ? Did it have a practical use ?
Moira McInnes – Moira thanks for the information -a number of things that I have found since I started using the site:- (1) There are a large number of people very knowledgeable about our hometown & its surrounds. (2) They are generous in sharing that knowledge especially with those of us who have not lived in the area for a fair while. (3) Their enthusiasm in keeping the memory of a changing town alive is marvellous. I extend that to the team from the library. Well done to all!
To see an ariel view of Stockton-on Tees go to Google earth and type in Stockton-on-Tees
Mike Renwick, when you go to Stockton Library the Tourist information office is directly in front of you as you go in and they stock Old Ordnance street maps of Stockton. They are only a couple of pounds each and a gem when it comes to looking for the streets where ancestors lived.
I was interested to see the reference to Talbot Street as my Wife and I lived in the house on the corner of Talbot and Norton Road in the late 50s. Our Dining room window looked out to St.James” Hall and the Fives Court was clearly visible by looking right towards the Rec”. That area was also the site of Bonfires on November 5th.
Stan Hilton – Stan I can only guess that you lived in the area concerned, your knowledge is encyclopaedic! I”ll be visiting Stockton, in the not too distant future, and first thing will be a visit to library services to look at old maps, modern ones reflect what is existing now. Thanks very much for the info i”ll use it during the library visit to orient myself. Having lived in Trent Street I used to use the rec gate alongside Lustrum beck.
Mike Renwick, the street you refer to was Talbot Street which ran along the south side of the Rec. Haswell Street joined Talbot Street at one end and Ware Street at the other, running at right angles to Tilery Road. Walking along Ware Street from Norton Road and the Wild Ox it was between Compton Street and Christopher Street which joined Tilery Road.
Paul Dee & Stan Hilton, Hi guys thanks for your replies and the further information you have supplied. Paul I will certainly peruse the FORP website. Before I left the area in 1973 I lived on Coxwold Road, Fairfield. Through my back fence, which backed on to the green area off Hartburn Lane, I was within walking distance of Ropner Park. I spent many happy, sunny, hours there in the summers. Stan was Haswell Street the one parallel to Tilery Road which had the small “chapel”, later a nursery, on the corner?
If you are talking about the depression of the late 1920″s 30″s. I think there was a “ball wall” in Tilery Rec quite a while before that. It appears on a map of 1899 as the “fives courts” in the rec directly below Haswell Street where I remember it being in the 1940″s when I spent many happy hours playing there. They were very happy times in an area I still call home but on reflection not quite an “idyll”.
Mike Renwick – Hi Mike. I do remember that wall near the road on Tilery rec. I gather it was used for some form of handball although I never saw it used. There was some dire poverty in Stockton in the 1920″s and 1930″s. I can remember seeing adults up to the 1970″s with clear stigmata of childhood rickets. Dr McGonigle of Stockton-on-Tees is still referred to in the medical literature for his 1936 report on poverty in the town. For example a 2002 paper in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine referred to Dr McGonigle as one of the 20th Century heroes of Public Health. Perhaps we are in an era of J.K.Galbraith”s “Private affluence,Public squalor” Nevertheless people,in general, are vastly better off. Virtually nothing can be done about the High Street but I would refer you to the Friends of Ropner Park (FORP) website – a fine job is being done to restore the Park. A glimmer of hope perhaps.
Paul Dee – Hi Paul, yes you”re of course right, no “idyll” is ever completely free of problems. We only needed to view the original Green Dragon Yard & the alleys that led off it to Silver Street and the Green to realise what some of the housing must have been like. Tilery rec had the “ball wall”, which my father used to claim was built during the depression, so that the unemployed could gather together, and for a short time at least share and thus “halve” their problems. In line with the rest of the industrial north any downturn would hit first, hardest, & longest. BUT in our youth the people shared their misery AND the good times. Vandalism, for the sake of itself, was almost unknown or are my rose tints to strong? Community spirit certainly appeared to be stronger. I remember thinking that our neighbours were nosey but in the same breath I was safe playing in the area.
Mike Renwick – closing the cattle market was another of the incremental changes that led to the decline of Stockton. However it is not coming back as it was in spite of all the efforts to tart the place up. Perhaps we saw it in a golden era as a “proper” market town. It wasn”t always wonderful – a uncle of mine born in the 1890s remembered children in rags and barefoot even in winter before WW1. An aunt returned for a visit from the South during the Great Depression and was distressed by the sight of the unemployed on the High Street.
As a child I remember the “cattle” market before it moved to Yarm Road. Memories of livestock being driven up, or down, Church Road, usually, in memory at least, on beautiful summer days. That, of course, was when Stockton was still a “proper” market town. The Wednesday & Saturday markets with vegetable & fish stalls – the shambles with all sort of meat, including hanging rabbits. Last time I was in Stockton, some three years ago, what a difference! I was so disappointed – but I guess the changes are classed as progress. I read a comment the other day from a user, name unnoticed, my fault I”m afraid, that young”uns visit the site to see what Stockton, specifically the High Street, was like before.