A front and a rear view of a completed semi-detached dutch barn style house, Stockton.
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
A front and a rear view of a completed semi-detached dutch barn style house, Stockton.
Percy”s call was “ANYYYYYYYYYY FIIIIIIIIIIISH?”
I too recall Percy. I think the three-wheeler was eventually sold and a green four-wheeler acuired (was it a Hillman?) I didn”t know that he had an artificial leg though this makes sense as I do remember he walked with a pronounced limp. He used to drive his van around the quiet residential streets of Hartburn, often on the wrong side of the road, holding the driver”s side door open and hollering something quite indistinct which grown-ups assured me was something to do with the fact that he was selling fish! (Though the smell coming from the van was a bit of a giveaway!) He always had a cheery word for me. Definitely a character of the town. Does anyone recall a Mr Kelsey who sold eggs from a van in much the same way and always had a Border Collie with him?
I remember Percy the fish man. He came round Stillington too. Mam used to send me out with a plate to buy what she called “finney haddock”. If I remember correctly it was yellow.
I remember the man who sold fish from a three wheeler. He used to drive the van with his stiff leg sticking out of the van. Can you imagine the police allowing him to drive like that today? Another wonderful Stockton character.
Sorry about my misprint on the earlier comment – 1668 should read 1968. Can people remember Percy the fish man who came round Bishopton Court in a three wheel motor car/van selling a selection of fish etc? I think he had false leg as he had lost one in WW2.
I lived in 98 Brookfield Road from 1956 my sister Valerie was born their and christened at the baptist church in the avenue we loved Fairfield and the dutch houses where always fondly named the mushroom houses by us kids. I am 58 on the 1st january and I remember leaving Oxbridge infants to attended the newly opened Fairfield infants school. Bobby Barrow was an icon amongst us kids, we could talk to him and yes, he would clip us if we did anything wrong, but we all loved him -there should be more bobby”s like him today, our kids and grandkids would be the better for knowing him.
This photo certainly brings back some happy memories. I worked at the Co-op in the early 50″s, on the travelling shop with Robert (manager) and Terry. Our round, among others, was Fairfield serving the very nice people who lived in these houses. We had some very happy times and some good fun having a laugh with the customers. If anybody remembers the travelling co-op shop, thank you for being nice people. I left the co-op in 1955 to do my National Service in the Army and never got back to Thornaby and I have now lived in Australia since 1965. Thank you Picture Stockton Team for the wonderful site, keep up the good work.
I used to live at no 44 Bishopton Court, I remember camping out on the field, British bulldogs and kickitin. Does anybody else remember all this? I also remember Glen Shepherd, Jackie Till, Christine Grainger and Maggie Poole.
The comment aunty murial /uncle fred. I think must be my cousin John Blyth. He emigrated to south australia 1966. Murial/ Fred are my late parents, I also emigrated to south australia 1967 and met up with John in Wyalla. I returnd to Teesside 1668. My brother graham also lives in Perth, Australia.
The Alderdice”s, Gorges, and Skerrets did not live in Bishopton court but in Fairfield Close in numbers 9,8 and 3 respectively. Our family lived on the corner of fairfield close at number 14
I have lots of wonderful memories of Fairfield Road, I have lived there for 53 years, with my husband Len before he died in 1989. My early neighbours were Marion & John Poole, The Evans family, The Masons, The Charltons, Mr & Mrs Gill, Mr & Mrs Whitmarsh who still live there. I used to work at Rimswell House as a chamber maid in the mid 50″s, it was an ICI guest house when I worked there, it was demolished in 1958 and the Rimswell Pub is built on the land, the Lodge of Rimswell House is at the entrance of Manor Place. I remember lots of people who have added their memories HAPPY DAYS!!!
My parents still live in Fairfield Road 2 doors from the burned out house. The pub built on the site of Seatons Farm is the Rimswell built by the firm my uncles worked for. I was the first kid in the area to drink in the cellar, no roof. I also drove the van for Patchwork 1967-8 until I had an accident in Drapers van whilst the band were playing in Redcar Bowling Alley. The photo is of the type build in Fairfield, more likely the show houses on Durham Road. There are a few signficant differences, there is no brickwork showing on any in Fairfield and the wash house is attached with the door on the wall opposite the house. I remember Bobby Barrow from the few clips around the ear for misdeeds, not allowed now.
i was born in 143 fairfield rd and was raised in 26 bishopton ct i now live in glasgow
I am Sue Allcock, I lived in 27 Bishopton Court. I know you from Hurworth Close. Sue Dinsdale
Following my brother Peters post 6/4/2008. My parents Len & Helen(Nellie)Dobson moved to Fairfield Road from Faifield Close, with my older sister Jean, before I was born, I lived there “till I got married,and my mum still lives there at the age of 92! This was the old Police House as mentioned in Dave Barrow”s post, my brother remembers the local policeman “Bobby” Barrow who,lived there before us.
Is your sister Jean Dobson the same Jean Dobson that used to go out with Bob Davis?
i was born in 143 fairfield rd and was brought up in bishopton ct
In the early 90s when I was learning to drive in Darlington, my driving instructor took me down a road near Haughton, and there were a few houses in the very same style, apart from these never seen this design anywhere else.
Fairfield Road was where my family lived. It was the Police House with the Durham Constabulary badge on the wall (in fact you can STILL see the holes where this badge was situated). We then moved into the new Police houses that were built in Bishopton Court. My father Albert Barrow was the local “bobby” for years.
ALAN AMBLER WAS THE DRUMMER WITH PATCHWORK, THEY PRACTISED IN A GARAGE ACROSS THE ROAD FROM BISHOPTON COURT ON FAIRFIELD ROAD, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP WERE ROB MCKENZIE (VOCALS & GUITAR) GOFF PRAGNALL (LEAD GUITAR) RONNIE PATTERSON (VOCALS & BASS GUITAR) AND STEVE BONNAR (GUITAR). I TRAVELLED WITH THE GROUP ON MOST OF THEIR EARLY GIGGS, HELPING TO SET UP BEFORE THE GIG. I REMEMBER THE HAVERTON HOP, STILLINGTON WMC AS TWO OF THE MANY VENUES. THEY WERE GREAT TIMES IN THE EARLY SIXTIES.
My family moved into 145 Fairfield Road in 1957. Drummer Alan Ambler who played in Rob McKenzie”s band was the younger brother of Morris Ambler, Morris was the lead guitar and singer in the “Down Beat Skiffle Group”. Derek Middleton played guitar, Barry Stephenson – drums, Peter Shorrocks – double bass and I Peter Dobson played the washboard. This group came 2nd in the North of England Skiffle Contest, sponsored by the BBC TV programe of the time “65 Special”. I later played the trumpet in several dance bands on Teeside.
The Dobson family lived over our back garden . I was a friend of Peter Dobson for a few years as teenagers The last time i saw him was at Scarbrough. He had moved to Leeds or Sheffield
I remember visiting my Aunty Murial and uncle Fred in number 30 Bishopton Court when i lived in England I emigrated to Australia in 1966
Anne Butler is my Aunt and she used to live at number 29 with her sisters Jean and Barbara and brother Ken.
I remember visiting a family by the name of Dobson who lived in these dutch style houses in fairfield. Maybe it was Peter Dobson mentioned in one of the other comments. I believe they are related to me in the past. We visited in about 1955. Can anyone tell me more about the Dobsons? One of the girls sang opera.
I lived in the “Court” from “48 to “63. The official name for the houses was not Dutch Barn but Llamella. Also the pub on Seatons” farmland is The Rimswell, not the Fairfield. I grew up with Brian Codd and would like to add some other names of boys and girls of that time. Peter Moore, Brian Jones, Gordon Mckenzie, Peter Dobson, Barry Stephenson, Barbara Jobson, Joan Mallaby, Mary Campbell. Morris Ambler Anne Butler.
Although we left Stockton in 1957 I remember these houses being built. When my parents moved from Oulston Road to Shannon Crescent we often saw those houses on our visits. Remember Guy”s Farm also en route to Stockton Grammar School playing fields (Ropner Fields).
.Elm tree farm opposite Bishopton Court was the home of my father in law James Bewick Guy who moved there about 1920 I married the middle of the 3 sons – Alan in 1966 and moved into the farm.The eldest brother was John and the youngest one was Eric. The farm was demolished in 1968/69 to make way for St Marks school to be built and we moved over the road into the Avenue, Alan died in 2000 but I still live in the Avenue.
I lived in 30 Bishopton court from 1950-56 mam dad. brothers Graham PETER Keith I was in Austrila when the fire happened. I remember Seatons farm near where the Fairfield pub is now .My memory of Bishopton Court is the cricket and football we played on the big green in the centre of court friends B Hoyle D Middleton Tom Oliver B Watson . Guys Farm i helped some times mucking out. Happy times
Christine Rees..I think we could be distantly related. Was your Grandma”s name Evelyn? Have you an aunty Ann sister to Barbara? If so,I think my grandmother(Elsie McNeill)and your gran were sister”s. Our mother”s would be cousins. My Mam”s name is Pat and she remembers a cousin of hers who moved to Australia…Jean??
I moved into bishopton court about 12 years ago. I know the butlers, and my daughter lives just opposite the rimswell pub. The butlers i know moved into a house behind the court – are they the same family?
CHRISTINE HARRIS- YOU ARE RIGHT, ROB MCKENZIE WAS IN A GROUP CALLED PATCHWORK AND THEY PRACTICED IN THE GARAGE, THE DRUMMER ALAN AMBLER, LIVED IN BISHOPTON COURT JUST ACROSS THE ROAD, OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP WERE RONNIE PATTERSON (BASS GUITAR) GOFF PRAGNALL (LEAD GUITAR) AND STEVE BONNAR, WE TRAVELLED WITH THEM TO MANY OF THEIR GIGGS AROUND THE STOCKTON AREA, A FRIEND OF MINE TERRY DANKS HAD A VAN IN WHICH WE TRANSPORTED ALL THE GEAR TO AND FROM THE VENUES WERE THEY PLAYED, WE HAD SOME GREAT TIMES THEN IN THE SIXTIES.
My grandparents owned one of these houses. No 29, my aunt Barbara still lives there. They were the Butlers. revisited about three years ago. Most have been updated and still look pretty good.
Fond memories of Fairfield Junior school, British bulldogs and dinner nannies. Mr Carr the headmaster telling you not to run everywhere. The Dutch house fire-an amazing spectacle when you”re 6 years old, eyes glued to the event whilst eating cinder toffee and in awe of the whole event. Wondering just how old did you have to be to gain membership to Welburn House or did you have to be invited? The innocence of childhood–how we all miss it at some point!
Oh me too! Although I was only there for less than 2 years. Do you remember drain-pipes and half-crowns Mr Carr said he kept finding? His name for straws and milk-bottle tops! 🙂 He also had a cane he called Ginger.
My late father in law, a joiner, always remembered working on the dutch style houses in Fairfield in the forties and would mention it whenever we passed. He also remembered that they had some tricky moments building them, putting this down to the unfamiliarity of all concerned with the design.
i was at fairfield infants and watched the fire burning as the church was obviously not there then
I believe she attended Bilingham South Modern in my era. I am turning 60..do you think that would fit. I seem to recall there were some health issues. Isn”t this a great site. You can reach me at msmartoony@shaw.ca
I remember the dutch barn houses in Fairfield. My Aunt, Uncle and cousin Geoffrey lived in one in Bishopton Road West, also my aunt Mabel used to work in the shop for Ken Lavery. My uncle only died approx 2 years ago, but the family had lived in there since new.
Ann Martin. Don”t know where she went to school, but it wasn”t local, ie Fairfield, so it could well be Billingham, why, did you know her?
Mary Scott — Is your Susan Gutteridge the same gal who went to school in Billingham? Interestly, my sister-in-law, Annette, also grew up in Bishopton Court. Have a great day, Ann.
Christine – did you know Susan Gutteridge, she lived in the house directly behind the stile and the alley way. I also remember Lavery”s, when I got married there was a shortage of sugar, and that was the only place I could get some for the wedding cake.
I remember Susan Gutteridge and of course Lavery’s shop.
Christine Harris (nee Holligon). Technically the dog Rex was the responsibility of Gordon, Rob”s brother. Gordon claims to this day that he only proposed marriage to his wife, Marge, because Rex died!
I remember the fire in the dutch barn house on Fairfield Road, my friend Ann Todd lived there at the time and it was caused by a painter burning off the old paint before repainting if my memory is right. I remember Lavery”s shop in Bishopton Court and buying the toffee cakes there – toffee in foil tart cases. My friends lived round the corner on Bishopton Road West – Sue Carr and Elizabeth Cooley. Sue”s nextdoor neighbours son was in a band, I think he was called Rob McKenzie and used to practice in the garage. We used to listen to them all the time, funny what you remember when you start thinking. He had an alsation dog called Rex. St Marks church was behind these houses and Guys farm to the right. I lived in Welldale Crescent and had to go over two stiles and through an alleyway to our house. There were often cattle or horses in the fields. I remember watching a young calf being born one day and was utterly amazed. Although I have horses now myself, I was a bit wary of them then as one of them bit my Mother quite badly on her arm one day when she patted it to get over the stile. I remember one morning my Dad running out to the back garden in his striped pyjamas to chase a cow out of the garden. We only had a hawthorne hedge between the field and our garden and the cow had managed to bulldoze its way in. Happy memories.
Christine Holligon, I remember you! I was Helen McDiarmid then and also knew Ann Todd. I lived round the corner on Bishopton Road West and I’m sure I remember seeing her house being on fire from school. Do you remember what year it was? There are lots of posts on Facebook saying about 1969 but I seem to think it must have been around 1964 as in 1965 I started going to William Newton in Norton.
I”m led to believe that these house roofing frames were bolted together and that it was an annual event for the Corporation Joiners to go into the lofts and tighten up the bolts
The shop at the entrance to Bishopton Court was owned by Ken Lavery. The farm, I seem to recall, belonged to Alan Guy.
My grandma lives there now. She has told me the story of when it burnt down, it was wierd, now she lives in a little flat instead of a dutch barnhouse.
YES I CAN REMEMBER THE FIRE, I WAS AT FAIRFIELD JUNIORS IN THE CLASS ROOM WHEN IT WAS ON FIRE, AND CAN REMEMBER GOING THERE AFTER SCHOOL AND THE FIRE BRIGADE WERE STILL THERE, AND MY FATHER WHO WAS A FIREMAN LETTING ALL THE KIDS HAVE A SIT IN THE FIRE ENGINE
The dutch barn fire was caused by a painter burning off the eaves.
These houses were known as dutch barn houses. Much cheaper to construct, but not without their problems. They had problems with water and somehow tar seeping through the walls. I remember a guy named Jack (surname avoids me) worked at Metro Vics as a slinger complaing about it and asking my father for advice to solve the problem.
It”s all a long time ago but I seem to remember that Hill”s produced the template former to produce the curved roof members.These would be delivered to the site ready to be accurately cut to length in situ.
Did F Hills & Sons have something to do with these houses being built?
There were similar houses on Fairfield Road, one of which burned down, watched by my fellow pupils at Fairfield Junior School, I think around 1967. Families I remember from Bishopton Court were the Alderdice, Skerret, Gorge & Wade families. There was a sweet shop in the Bishopton Road end of Bishopton Court, across from St. Marks Church, and a farm, which is now housing.