Exterior and interior views of the Unitarian Church in 1950.
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Exterior and interior views of the Unitarian Church in 1950.
Picture Stockton Archive 
The photographs of Stockton Unitarian Church said to be taken in 1950 is incorrect. As Alan Wealleans said the railings were removed during the war for scrap metal. Also the one of the interior predates 1935 as in that year two vestries were built on either side of the chancel.
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When we couldn’t afford the chippy there was always the dripping bread.
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RITANOS was directly opposite the art college on Nelson Terrace – building still there but pizzas win again, shame. I always remember the ADELPHI near Parish Church was a good chippy as well!
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Sadly Ritano’s is no more. Shame as it was a lovely fish shop.
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When I used to go to Mill Street West fish shop, there were two very nice ladies serving. They must have had a soft spot for me as I always got a large portion. The fish and chips were excellent. This must have been in the early seventies after the closure of Vane Street. The chippie in Wellington Street was only used as a last resort. After these chippies came Ritano’s, which started on the end of Sidney Street, this must have been the mid seventies. Ritano moved to his present spot on the main road, I think Prince Regent Street.
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My uncle and aunty bought that fish shop on Vane Street – Ray and Francis! Also the fish shop in Mill St West sold the best fish for 8d and the lady didn’t scare me!
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Another bit of my past too. I used to play around there a lot as I lived in Milbank Street. I always looked forward to the snow coming as Vane Street had a bit of a slope so we used it for sliding when it froze over.
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I used to attend the Youth Club at the Unitarian Church in the late 50s, learned to dance and play table tennis etc. Didn’t hang around the streets and get into bother in those days, always found something to do. If it has been demolished that’s another bit of my past gone – scary isn’t it?
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The fish shop in Vane Sreet was run at one time by a couple called Raper (late forties). He did the frying and it was the only fish shop that I was aware of that stood the fish on edge to make for better draining of the frying fat (healthy eating??). The shop opposite was owned by someone called D. Bridge. A pop song at the time was ‘cross over the bridge’ – a very witty friend of mine ‘Talla’ Taylor of Trinity School and Richard Hind Schools would sing to his current girlfriend, who lived near the shop ‘cross over d bridge’ etc…
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I remember the Fish & Chip shop well. It was nearly as good as Esters in Sydney Street.
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There used to be a great fish and chip shop in Vane Street. I always remember there was a shop opposite and a narrow alley next to it. The chip shop in Wellington Street had an old white haired lady serving and to my recollection was not very friendly. The Unitarian Church in the late 60’s used to have Jumble Sales on a regular basis, I assume to raise funds.
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Thanks Pat and Paul. I should have known them myself having lived in Milbank Street just before it was demolished. I have great memories of Vane Street and the surrounding street’s you mentioned.
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Thanks for the prompt Pat! Vane street ran from Sydney street, north across Wellington Street and finished at Mill Street. West of Vane street were, Howden Street, Derby Street and then Stanley Street. The latter being in line with but to the north of Bute street. After that was Dixon Street. What a memory! helped by my 1970 seven shilling street map of Teesside and a magnifying glass. The map I bought to help me when I had a summer job driving the fruit and veg van for the Co-op, which was based in their building on the corner of Dixon and Dovecot street.
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Streets which ran on from Vane Street on my 1923 map are – Howden, then one I can’t read on the map (must get some new glasses), then Stanley which ran along to Bute, then Hutchinson which ran into Dixon Street. Sydney Street ran along the length of these streets and if Paul Butler is on the site he will probably be able to put the missing street in.
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Can anyone remember the names of the streets that were next to Vane street and carried on through to Dixon street.
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I recall going inside this church building in the mid-1980s. I lived nearby in Carlton Close at the time and had a friend who was a regular there – Mrs Dorothy Price (a twin I think). I recall standing just inside the entrance where, immediately to the right, was placed a very interesting painting/drawing. It was signed Thomas Sheraton which, I presume, was the furniture maker. I wish I had the piece and often wonder what happened to it!
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The church has now been demolished and a new building is due to be opened round about christmas time. My parents & grandparents were and are lifelong members with my mother (Molly) still attending.The fishshop on the corner of Wellington St and Howden St was owned and run by Mrs Harrison (known as Nellies). On the corner down from the fish shop (Howden St / Mill St West) was an off licence called Camerons also run by Mrs Cameron. I remember buying sweeties there and then cigarettes in 1″s and 2″s before I was legally allowed to smoke, not to mention the odd bottle of beer or two. It had a wooden floor and as I remember it a large wooden counter. Just along from the off licence was a barbers shop run by Bill Hartson where I got my short back and sides.
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with egard to the comment I made about the Unitarian church in Wellington Street coming down, a planning application has been applied to Stockton Borough Council for a smaller church and a residential development on the remaining land
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The photograph seems to be pre- war as during the war, railings were cut down to provide scrap metal in the search for raw materials to build yet more ships,tanks etc. I was born and lived in Hutchinson Street three blocks further along Wellington Street from the Church. In those days (1930″s to 1950″s) the fish shop was owned and run by a lady called Nellie. To the left of the door was a low platform that allowed us small children to stand and watch our fish and chips being cooked. Happy days.
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With regard to my recent comment about the fish shop in Wellington Street, I don”t know how long it was open but I recall it to be there in the sixties and seventies, then was knocked down and new houses built on the site.
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on the second picture of the church, at the rear end, on the opposite corner, the building just showing i am sure used to be a fish shop run by two old ladies?
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This church in wellington street is rumoured to be getting knocked down in the near future and replaced with a smaller modern church, we have used the church for many family christenings
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