A drawing of Stockton cattle market, included in a view of the Square and Church Road, Stockton in 1944 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
A drawing of Stockton cattle market, included in a view of the Square and Church Road, Stockton in 1944
Would I be right in thinking Housewife lane, Thistlegreen, Cherry lane would be in this area? My Casey family lived in Housewife lane & Thistlegreen before the area was demolished. My grandad, Robert Casey, served with the K.O.S.B 1912-18. When I set out to search for my grandad and learn more about him (he died 1939 from wounds recieved on the Somme 1916) at some time in my search I was told my grandad Robert had a mate who aslo served with the K.O.S.B and at some time a photo was taken of my grandad and his mate, this photo hung in Biddy Hughs house in Danby rd. My own father (another Robert) was a good friend of both Biddy’s sons Billy & Jacky. I never knew until recently that Biddy and her husband William were good friends of my grandad and granny Casey, they had all lived in the Housewife lane and Thistle green area before moving to Swainby & Danby rd. My grandad Robert’s mate who served with him in the K.O.S.B was Pat Sullivan, he was killed 1916 – if on the Somme then he and my grandad were together on the same battlefield. Pat Sullivans mother was Catherine Sullivan, at that time they lived at 5, Bolton House Yard, Stockton. Are their any relatives of Pat Sullivan around today and is it possible another photo of my grandad Robert & Pat Sullivan might exist? If you can help me in this please ask picturestockton team for my e-mail address.
There was two auction rings on the site, the one near the Half Moon pub was for the older cattle & the one nearest the Parish Church housed the calves.
I think it might be more accurate to describe this as a retouched photograph or a drawing based on a photograph. Certainly if the picture is darkened, and the contrast changed, more details emerge. The peculiar looking building with the twin towers in Church Road can be seen much more easily, and in the far backround the chimneys of the Malleable Works can then be discerned. The circular building in the top left of the picture was where cows and bulls would be brought for sale. It was like a small covered bull ring inside, with rows of planks for buyers to sit arranged around the ring. These were set at different heights so that the buyers could have a could good view. I have the feeling that that thre were two rings on this site. Can anyone confirm this?
One of the Saturday morning treats for “our gang” was a trip to the Odeon to the Minors film club. There we would be entertained with a serial,a few cartoons, sometimes a western such as Hopalong Cassidy or Gene Autry, and some news refences that would interest children. (Probably the John Cravens news round of it”s day.) Then it was to the cattle market to view the animals and watch the auctions. The highlight was to stick our hands through the bars of the enclosures that can be seen behind the trees in the picture. The calves ( no cows thank you) would suckle on our fingers.Frustrating for them but an unusual sensation for us! Happy days.