A view taken at Port Clarence, near the Northern end of the Transporter Bridge. A rag and bone man talks with the housewives of Crosby Terrace, in the foreground, and one lady is seen scrubbing her doorstep. The Clarence Station Hotel can be seen on the extreme right. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Perhaps, a more famous resident of Port Clarence should be commemorated in the form of singer Claire Hamill (b.1954), a girl who’s voice was favourably compared in quality to Canadian born singer Joni Mitchell. Claire’s career was initially handled by the iconic John McCoy from the Kirklevington Country Club (who also later managed singer Chris Rea) and he achieved her a record-deal with Ray Davis of ‘The Kinks’, on his then new recording-label ‘Konk’.
The large scale housing clearance of Port Clarence in the early 1970’s, was in fact the inspiration for the title of Claire’s 1st-album, ‘One house left standing’. Claire toured extensively in her early career, though never really achieved the success that she deserved. She is still performing, as a much respected solo-artiste and currently lives in Hastings on the south-coast.
Does anyone remember Redvers Buller Fisher, they lived in Samphire Street in 1911. Also his sons Ted and Ray they both lived in Port until there deaths, Ray middle 80’s and Ted early Ninties. Buller was my Great Grandfather.
Just had a 1911 Census sent to me – Mrs Ann Gartland born Haverton Hill, just wondered if this woman would have been related to the Gartlands who lived in Danby & Swainby rd many many years ago? In the 1911 Census it shows Mrs Ann Gartland head 63yrs, John Gartland, son 24 Steel worker, Elizabeth Gartland, daughter single 20 yrs, James Casey nephew 18 visitor. It is this last person, James Casey the nephew, I’m interested in. Anyone out there doing Gartland or Casey family tree – would be interested in learning how James Casey became related to the Gartland family. A long shot I know. My Caseys all came from Snowdons yard & Housewife lane area
(at the time of the 1911 Census Gartlands lived at 5 Lumly st).
Please ask picturestockton for my e-mail if you can help.
Yes Derek this is the am Gartland family from Danby Road I am doing the Gartland tree will try to find out for you.
Hi June, I am writing from Toronto Canada. (I’m originally from Billingham). I’m working on a family tree for my friend whose grandmother was Agnes Gartland, born 1876. In the 1901 and 1911 census records it says she was born in Port Clarence. Do you have any info that might help me find out who her parents were? If you contact pictures@stockton.gov.uk they can give you my email address. Thanks, Fran
My memories are of Haverton Hill leading down to Port Clarence to the Transporter, which on occasion my family crossed to go to stockton on market day. My mams name was Florence Selina Harbron, wondered if Bob Harbron might be a distant relative? My mam was Mary Rayner and later married Johnnie May, Thomas Henry Rayners daughter.
My grandad, Tommy Walker a boxer, had two sons, Ronnie Walker who was taken prisoner of war, and Tommy Walker.
This doesn’t as such relate to the photo, but to Robyn Wiggins… if you are still out there I am directly related to Jane Crosby, she was my g-g-g-grandmother. I still live in the area and have managed to trace our family back to the 1600’s in the Robin Hoods Bay area. Please get in touch.
Please has anyone any information on Elizabeth Ann Peacock (deceased). She lived at 3 Cosby Terrace in 1934 and was about 15 years old. We would really like to hear from you.
My mother was reared in No 2 Crosby terrace. I’m told the terrace was known as Pope’s Corner due to the number of catholic families living there. My grandfather Thos Conlon was evacuated from there in 1953 when the house suffered serious flooding during the North Sea storms that year.
Laura, I remember your Mam & Norman very well! I used to stay overnight at the Station with Jolene and I also remember you and Stephen.
I lived in port clarence for 29 years, Mum and dad still live there in Samphire Street. I remember Jack, I was in the pub the night Jack passed away – he was a great bloke.
This is really interesting as I am writing the story of Brass Crosby. I am particularly wanting to find out more about Susannah Crosby, his sister, but cannot find when or where she was born. Information on any of his siblings would be useful though. Sorry this does not relate directly to the picture – but there isn’t a picture of anything related to Brass Crosby (yet!) in Stockton, just London.
My mam and step dad ran this pub in the late 80s, early 90s I loved living here. They were Ann and Norman if anyone remembers them.
I am not sure that New Cottages actually fronted onto the Clarence Road (the main road to Haverton Hill from the Transporter). They may have been one road back (to the north) although a later map shows this terrace as Bell Street, so may be you are right. The 1911 Census allows street look ups as well as people’s names.
Thankyou Anon.
I see they were called Clarence New Cottages – would I be correct in thinking these cottages were next to the road roughly halfway between Haverton Hill & Port Clarence? The cottage I have on the 1936 marriage certificate was number 68. You say only numbers 22-69 remained in 1911. I have used the 1911 census, is it easy to locate a particular address on this census?
Brian Swales – if you go to the Durham County Council GIS web site and select Port Clarence at a scale of 1:2500 for the years 1894-1899 you will see a row of terraced houses called New Cottages. In the 1911 Census only numbers 22 to 69 remained.
I also have certificates with New Cottages on them. My father John William Robinson was born at No. 30 in 1910 and married from there in 1935.
Hi Ron, are you able to get in touch please? I don’t think we have ever met but we are related. Thanks.
Hi Andrew, What can I help you with? I think Clare said you are researching your family history.
Does anyone know where New Cottages, Port Clarence was. It appears as an address on a 1936 marriage certificate I have.
I have the names of both parents of Brass Crosby;
Father was Hercules Crosby and Mother was Mary Brass
As far as I have been able to find out he had a sister, Susannah Crosby, who married my relation Cuthbert Sharp, and a Brother William Crosby who died in New York.
Susannah Crosby married Cuthbert Sharp and had 3 children
Mary/Elizabeth Sharp, Sir Cuthbert Sharp and Hercules Sharp.
It is through Mary/Elizabeth that I’m related. Cuthbert became a prominent figure in Hartlepool, while his brother Hercules married into Irish nobility.
Thanks Richard, for the info on the Crosby family. On my great grandparents marriage certificate, (George Wright and Jane Crosby married 13/9/1885) Jane”s place of residence is recorded as Haverton Hill. Robyn Wiggins
Robyn Wiggins. I”m related to the Crosby”s of Haverton Hill. My link came from Robin Hood”s Bay.
Robyn, the Crosby family of both Norton and Stockton were in the legal profession , mainly land grant and ownership from the early 1700s The most famous being Brass Crosby , born in Norton 1725 , he became in 1771 Lord Mayor of London and through his life “Championed the People Cause ” forcing Parliament to be more open and publish in its debate, Opposing both Slavery and the Press-Gang and was buried “With Considerable Pomp including Royalty” Feb 1793 in Chelmsfield Church London A statue and Plaque adorn London , but nothing in Stockton , until Councillors suggested naming the new foot-bridge from Durham University (Stockton-Campus) across the Tees to the new North-Stockton Development “The Brass-Crosby Bridge” (“Northern Echo” 29th August 2007 )in honour of this almost forgotten but worthy Stocktonian
I live in Sydney Australia and have just found out that I am a descendant of the Crosby family who ran the Station Hotel in the late 1800″s. My great grandmother was Jane Crosby who was born at this hotel as were her 10 brothers and sisters. Her father Thomas was the publican. Jane married George Wright and they went on to run the Lambton Castle Hotel in Stockton where my grandfather, Thomas, was born. I”m planning to visit Stockton to have a drink in these 2 pubs. Was Crosby Terrace mentioned above named after this family ?
I lived in number 5 Saltholme Terracece, just in the picture at the front till we moved up the road to the old police house just past Eton Terrace, our next door neighbours were the Reynolds, Mc Glades, Flemings.
Just behind the Houses is the old Saltworks. This is now the Calor Gas Plant. My relatives lived in the house depicted. The pub at the end of the terrace was known as “Morley”s even though it was and still is the Station Hotel. It was named after Jack Morley the licensee at that time. I had my first pint of beer there at the tender age of 15 years old. My Uncle Frank used to “run the Book” taking bets in the Pub, for many a year.