A view of Nos. 72-87, Church Road, Stockton (pre 1937 Nos. 5-10, Church Row), showing Georgian terraced houses and Samuel Gratrix premises No.86, Church Road, built as Paradise Row Methodist Chapel. 1949
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Just visible to the left of the photograph attached to the first property (Gloucester House), there appears to be a glazed metal canopy-structure projecting over the pavement. Was this a former private townhouse that had been converted to an hotel? I wonder if the Picture Stockton team has a photograph of of this terrace showing this building in more detail?
The canopy structure you refer to belongs to what used to be the Trevelyan Hotel. For a better view, click on the link http://picturestocktonarchive.wordpress.com/2002/11/10/church-road-stockton-1944/
The Knights of St Columba Social Club vacated the elegant bay-windowed property shown, in the late 1980’s. A large concert-room had at some time been created to the rear, by simply removing the rear wall of the original house at ground floor level and building over what was presumably a large former garden, or yard. The first floor areas were used as a bar, with staff living accommodation to the top floor. I did some work to this property in 1991, when it was converted to form Harvey’s Club Café.
The building at that time (despite the massive alteration to the rear) was Grade II listed (starred). This higher-grade status, evidently being on account of an historically interesting 18th century fire-surround at first floor level. Unfortunately, after being left vacant for several years, vandals had entered the building and stolen this item, along with many other ‘scrap value’ fitments. Nevertheless, a good deal of time and money was spent restoring the facade including brickwork re-pointing, new timber window frames, railings and some very unusual 18th century style window-box containers, these hand-forged by Peter Oberon at Preston Park Museum. Later, the business passed into new ownership and eventually failed, the premises once more becoming vacant.
They have remained so for apprx. 10 years or more, and once again are seemingly approaching a new state of dereliction, due to little or no maintenance, by the landlords/current owners. In the current depleted economic climate, it is difficult to forsee that any prospective developer, or debt-burdened Local Authority, will be able to offer a ‘rescue-package’ for this type of property, despite it’s important historical significance. After perhaps over 200 years, it’s ‘time’ has therefore probably come.
The building behind the car with the two bay windows in the late 60″s was known as the Knights of St Columbia and I used to go there every Thursday night to the local dance. It was always packed and the in place in Stockton in those days. The resident band every week were The Bluecaps, with I think Mick Kemp on the drums. His mother always seemed to be there, I don”t know if she had anything to do with the running of the dance, worked at the place or just came to see Mick. Great memories.