The Norton water mill was situated on the edge of Billingham Bottoms approximately half-way between Norton and Billingham parish churches. The footpath over the A19 now occupies the site of Norton Mill. The photographs show the excavactions undertaken in 1978 they uncovered the layout of the mill as last rebuilt in the 18th century. The upper mill-stone, probably came from the quarries at Heworth near Gateshead. The cross may be a masons mark, and is possibly a reminder that the quarries once belonged to the Bishop of Durham.
Was the riding stables you are taking about the wolviston mill stables? And if it was why did it move? I”ve got the chance to put an offer in for some land there and just wanted to find out the background. My mother was a Kennedy and I used to play in the area as a child and it is a special place to me. Would like to go back so to speak.
Where has she Gone. Brian Parker. Hi Brian, well in a bit of a dilemma here, I was in the same class as Pat Cutler at school and if they did not go to Australia, I don’t know why we had a service at school to say goodbye to them. A rather elaborate way to do a moon light flit, don’t you think, I have put the feelers out on Friendsreunited to my year and all who knew her, will let you know of the outcome, cheers. Roy.
Roy Parkin: It wasn”t the Cutlers that emigrated to Australia from 5 Rathnew Ave it was the Charltons who lived next door to them at number 3. They stayed in Oz for a few years then returned to Stockton. Unfortunately Tommy, the only son among 5 kids was killed in a motor accident on the A19 a number of years ago. I think the Cutlers moved to Norton.
Kev Cutler. Hi Kev are you any relation to the Cutlers from Rathnew Ave, Roseworth, who emigrated to Australia late 1950’s early 1960’s, two daughters Cathleen and Pat Roy.
To Jane Chivers – Hi, great memories of Elvia”s riding school. My mother, Kathleen Brookes, and Susan Wilson”s mum, Marie, were very good friends until Marie”s sad death last year. They had been friends for a lot of years, since they both lived at Roseworth in the 50″s. I was sure Gypsy had been a grey – but it was a long long time ago!
Jane. Remembering the Farm at Durham Road, Wolviston. It belonged to my Mothers Cousin, George Stainthorp. I”m going back to when I was a boy and visiting the Farm. Outside the back and to the left was an orchard over a small wall. There was a byre to your right as you went through the gate(front side of house) and also one down to the left after the house. At the end at the back was an open barn and then you turned right at at the very end and to your right was the 2nd gate which took you back onto Durham Road. Opposite this gate on Durham Road was a Bungalow in which his Mother lived. She previously had the Farm and handed it down to her son. I would say that they farmed from this house from the early 1900″s
Hi to all who rode with Elvia Fawcett/Wren/Thompson. I also started riding early 60″s at Calf Fallw Farm, Lynda as I recall Gypsy was a Piabald Mare, the only grey mare from around that time was Shammrock. When Elvia moved to Wolviston I went with her along with Sue Wilson (who is still a very good friend of mine) Sue Coates and Pauline Reed who was my cousin. You are correct about Roulette she was Elvia”s first horse and she bred two foals with her, the first one was born at Wolviston (Chemin d”Feur) can”t remember the name of her second foal. I used to help teach at Wolviston but after many years and just as many broken bones I moved to South Africa and have been here ever since, in fact 30 years today since I landed. Elvia moved from Wolviston to Eston about the same time and is still running her riding school. Even though I can”t put faces to names it”s great to hear so many people learnt to ride with Elvia.
I started riding at Elvia Fawcett”s in the early 60″s before she moved to Calf Fallow at the bottom of Station Road. I rode an old grey mare called Gypsy. After the move to Calf Fallow, where I remember Elvia riding Roulette, I rode Swank or Tony. We frequently rode over the fields and farms to Blakeston Lane and back down Junction Road – much less traffic around those days!
I remember the riding school very well, used to ride as often as I could from the early 60″s til mid 70″s with Elvea and Sue Wilson. My mam (Kathleen Brookes)and Sue”s mam (Marie Wilson)were very close friends. Sadly Marie died recently but my mam is still going strong. Sue”s mam and dad lived somewhere at the bottom of Derwent Street. My mam lives on Mount Pleasant Road.
Hi Bob Irwin. My brother came across this website, sent me the link and I read with interest that you knew my father many years ago. I am the daughter of the Ray Brisby that you mentioned in your comments of Mar 5, 2007. He along with his brother Willy, sister Elsie and mother Sarah emigrated to Canada in 1956. He only returned twice to England after his emmigration to Canada and sadly passed away in Canada 1982. He used to love to tell my brother and I all the stories of his youth so as I read some of the comments here, I recognise place names and it brings back wonderful memories. If anyone has a story about my Dad they would like to share with me I can be contacted at: dbrisby@tiscali.de. Thank you so much!
The evocative memories of Crooksbarn Farm ,also bring back smells and sounds of that period. The almost vanilla smell of hedge row blossom, onion smell of water-weed , smoke and steam of a passing loco. the smell of the Blacksmiths of coal and hooves, brittle and creamy smell of new straw and hay. The raucous cawing and wheeling of Rooks in Norton Church yard , against the rining of the bell, a sky-lark trilling its way into the blue, the click and chatter of curlew in the sand-pits , joining the squeak of darting sand-martins , hum and rattle of a tractor ploughing , follwed by a whirling “scarf” of white seagulls, the plaintive whistle of a train or the thudding of steam, as a train climbs Stockton Bank. All sounds now gone but very fondly remembered
For those of you who like to look at aerial photos try http://www.googlearth.com you might even see yourself in the back garden. Good way to find a street you cant remember the name of.
What a great collection of people”s memories of Norton. I lived in the new part of Crooksbarn from 1984 until 1998 so can”t share the memories of most of you. I was a cub scout leader with 1st Norton for 8 years. During my time with 1st Norton I copied Norman Huckles notes onto a web site with a large number of photo”s. These can be seen at my new scout groups web site. You might even be on some of the photo”s. I have kept the photo”s small on the site but I still have the original scanned photo”s on my computer if anyone would like to see them. John Trotter, dosen”t Maurice still have all the history at his home?
Hi, Marion. I”ve only just caught up with your messages – and the others! I remember the big grey horse. My dad used to call him “the Camel” because he had an extremely long neck that he stretched over our fence to eat the cabbages! I also remember the flock of geese which guarded your place from all comers – they terrified me! Again my dad used to say that your mother would smack the gander over the head with a shovel before she fed them – and then run! I was very sad when we moved but my dad was getting too ill to look after the garden and then I went away to college so changes had to be made.
Hi Marion. You set me thinking of the names. It started with 2 extra and then I kept thinking of more. Here is the rest of the list:- Ray Garbutt (lived in cottages next to Curry”s butchers in High Street), John Mills, Gerry Mineham, Alan (Jacko) Walker,not Tommy (Jackson Walker”s Grandson, same as me, Market Gardener), Ray Brisby, (courting Joan Sanderson, emigrated to Canada), Gordon Sanderson(brother of Joan), John (Spud) Goode and ?? Turton ( who was courting a girl from Roseberry Road. Sadly some are not with us now. Tommy Walker, Ray Garbutt, Alan Walker and Alan Darley.
HI i”ve enjoyed reading everyones comments and reading the funny stories. Just to clarify I was Dick and Mary”s youngest out of 3 Marjorie was the eldest and Les. I can remember Janice Carruthers very well i lived next door to you for many years. The JP you remember from the big house was called Mrs Phillips. I cant place Bob Irwin but the woman with the cockney accent was my cousin Margaret, Carrie was her mum. I can remember Ray Buck did you work at Pickering lifts? Toby seems to remember you working there. Any bloke that dug up the bike track was a very brave man. I spent many happy hours sledging in the showfield with Alan Walker (tommy), Alan Darley and Dave Hartley are just some of the gang i can remember can anyone else add to this? I am adding the photo to the website of dad and Les working the land at Crooksbarn farm. I”m looking forward to hearing your replies.
Nicola I bet it is that little grey Fergie that they had, started it in petrol and changed over to TVO, we ploughed in the dark, you could hear it and see the red glow from the exhaust manifold, I don”t remember if I have mentioned it, I was the one who unwittingly ploughed up Dick”s cycle track along the field edge which he would take, leaving the bike behind the signal box, for a couple of pints in the Station Tavern just before last orders most nights, you can imagine the expletives that night when he got to the pub having fallen off the bike, we all made a hasty retreat
Nicola. No I can”t ever remember Marjorie. It surprised me that Marion was Les”s sister. I always thought that Les was a bit older and that Marion was his sister. Re. Ken Sowerby, I also remember him having another brother he looked similar to his sister. The brother Billy I knew very well. He married Elsie Horton( she lived in Norton High Street behind Johnsons Toy Shop). They originally owned a wool shop there. Billy and Elsie lived near me in Derwent Street before moving to 12 The Green. Elsie and her mother did knitting for the shop and she also knitted for friends and neighbours in the area. Did you know them Nicola?
Hi Bob that sounds like the Ken I know. We have told him about the website and he is going to log on and add his thoughts and memories. Marion hopes to get on line this weekend too. Marion thinks it is her cousin Carrie you can remember with the cockney accent as she can recall taking her to the green to meet everyone. Can you or anyone else remember Dick and Mary Barker”s oldest daughter Marjorie. She married a farmer, Eric Davison. Even today at the very young age of 80 something she is still climbing over farm gates in her wellies, feeding cows and chasing after horses. They don”t make them like that anymore! I have a photo of Dick & Les on a tractor working the Crooks Barn Farm land many moons ago I will aim to down load it ASAP to see if it evokes any further memories.
Nicola. I remember Ken Sowerby. Maybe a year older than me. He lived in the cottage on the Green just round the corner from the High Street. It was in between the Butchers Shop(Billy Toulson) now Blackwells and Norton Hall. I never saw his mother and I think that his elder sister brought him up. He had an elder brother Billy and I can remember his father working as a Crane Driver at Head Wrightsons Forge, Tilery. I believe he worked there into his late 70″s. Nicola are you the girl that came onto the Green with Marion and met up with the boys. I was one of that gang. I believe that Marion would come down with a girl who had maybe a London accent, was that you?
Hello Bob Irwin, It is lovely to hear all the news from Crooks Barn Farm all those years ago. Marion and I are cousins, and yes, it is me as you call ‘a London accent’ namely Margaret. Actually I was born at Crooks Barn Farm June 1939. My Mum Carrie is the sister of Mary Barker (not the girl Nicola says that went to the green with Marion, far too old to meet the gang!). The last three years my husband and I have visited Stokesley and the Show that is on in September, we also visited the Crooks Barn area and it saddens me to see all the houses and roads that have developed. My brother Gordon worked on the farm for a few years and just loved it. Les was a gem and we all miss him so much, full of fun and we had so many laughs and played tricks on one another – priceless. My brother Gordon married a girl from Billingham called Joyce and I believe she knows a guy called ‘Spud’ who apparently knows me?
Margaret the one called Spud would have John Goode. He died about 3 years ago. You will see that Norton Village is the same with the exception of all the cars that are parked there each day. Above the Green has been spoiled completely by 2 large housing estates, Crooks Barn and The Glebe. At one time when leaving the Green area you were into the countryside.
I have read the comments on this site with great intrest. You see Les Barker was my uncle and Dick and Mary Barker my grand parents. I am able to confirm yes Marion did marry Toby (Brian) gregson who worked for Thompsons “mousemen”. We also have very fond memorys of collecting eggs and selling them to people on the door step. As well as the hay loft challenge. Can anyone remember Ken sowerby a good friend of Les Barkers and who got up to lots of mischieve together. If you have any messages to pass on to Marion, Toby or Ken E mail us they would love to hear from old friends.
To everyone who remembers Crooks Barn Farm, Norton,especially Janice,Christine,the 2 Bobs, Ray, Mick and June. Thanks so much for bringing back good memories. If you would like to keep in touch with me I can be contacted at ALBarkerHD@aol.com. I would love to hear or exchange more news and photos too.
Hi Angela I found this site about 6 months ago and really enjoy logging on. What a surprise when I saw you had stumbled on it. Brought back great memories when Crooksbarn Farm and your family were first mentioned on it. Don”t know if you”ll remember me but I also rode at Elvia”s (she is now Mrs. Thompson) and moved the riding school from Wolviston to Eston about 25 years ago and it”s still going strong. Do you remember Sue Coates, Sue Wilson (her horse was Midnight,) Linda Clark (she had a big grey) and Sue Reed, Linda and Sue were the granddaughters of Harry Lane the builder and their parents owned the Electrical and Hardware shops in Norton High Street, and Howard Crookes (his family have also been mentioned on this site they had a carpet business in Stockton). I”m sure we must have drove your poor Dad and Granddad mad, although I think they liked having all us youngsters around. I remember being terrified to walk through the paddock because the geese used to chase us but when your Dad was with us they used to run the other way. Remember tatty picking for your dad one year, think we got 2/6d for the day, could hardly walk the next day. When Lady (the sheepdog) had puppies I begged my mum to let me have one, I remember Elvia also took a little bitch, she called hers Sheba and I called mine Shep, that must have been about 1965. Loved reading your comments.
Angela – I have been reading with interest at the stories about Garth End Farm Norton High Street. My Brother bought the farm I think in the late 70s I wondered if it was from you Angela. He developed the barns into a House and then some years later sold both the properties.I think the roses are still there. It has been nice to here about the history of the farm.
Hi Angela I remember you very well, John Whitehead. John Laverick and I plus a few others whose names escape me spent a lot of time in 1962/4 with Les, quite a bit in the Talbot in Bishopton, we were all keen on playing darts at the time, I didn’t see Les much after he left Crooks barn as I married and subsequently moved to Bristol for a period I remember Marion was she Les’s sister ?; I believe she married Toby, who was working for mousy Thompson, at Kilburn, The horse Was it the big grey?, I well remember a fall off the grey, I’m not sure who it belonged to, we were harvesting when the tea break came, Les asked for a cigarette, sorry Les I have none left, Another friend also helping (John Laverick) was also out of cigarettes, who would go to the shop ! No volunteers, so I was persuaded to go on the horse (Never ridden before), I was helped up on the back of this large animal and instructed to grip with my knees all was well for the first 20 yards or so. and being cheered on by the watching crowd , as I disappeared behind the haystack, I could feel myself slipping to one side , the horse came back into view less me the rider, I had come to earth with a bump , I forgot to mention there was no saddle,
Hello Angela. I remember the Farm very well.Were you known as Marion or is she your sister because I can”t ever remember the name Angela. A friend of mine Tommy(Alan) Walker from Beaconsfield Road worked on the Farm in his spare time. He was courting Marion at that time. Does that bring back memories? I helped out at my uncles Butchers Shop (Curries) which later became Londons. I believe on one occasion we killed a pig and cut it up at the Farm.
Hi Angela, I remember you and your dad Les very well, that man liked fun !! I still have a photograph of the Highland Lad “Back Room” crowd at a party you and your dad had in Garth End, great fun. My wife June and I took you and your friend to the Middlesbrough Speedway quite a few times, remember at all ? I also have magic memories pre new road times, the Show Field itself being a little gem, I did also try the horse riding at Fawcett”s, five bob a lesson I seem to remember.
Angela, every Saturday morning I would go to the Garth-End Farm for eggs and was always welcomed into the house, which had the warmth of a blazing coal fire and pleasant smell of fried bacon. I helped Mrs Barker plant a number of climbing rose bushes on the blank south wall (still in bloom). The barns in the rear yard were packed with all types of farming equipment (and hens) Les said, “This is from Crooks Barn, we”re slowly selling it ” The pigs had a free run in a small orchard and large grass field to the rear, which was originally “Priory” land now Anchor-Housing “Priory-Court” and housing on site. The farm and barns (up-market houses) are also in place
This is particularly for Bob Harbron and Ray Buck who have had so many good things to say on this site about my Dad, Les Barker, from Crooks Barn Farm, Norton, but also for all the others who fondly remember him. I have coincidentally and happily stumbled over this website (in my office in Germany) on this day, the 21st Dec 2006, exactly the day my Dad died 28 years ago (1978), at the age of 48.I often think of my wonderful childhood on Crooks Barn Farm, the happy times with my horse, Red Pepper, helping out on Elvia Fawcett´s (later Wren) riding school which she had at the farm at that time, how we had gymkhanas in the back paddock in summer and also where they trained the local police horses. Yes, I also remember ´risking my life too, jumping out of the loft window onto the muckheap. What innocent fun!! Sitting on the ´tip´in an old scrap car full of hen feathers with my Dad, watching the lightening strikes across the sky during a storm. I remember crying after the men had finished building the road between Norton and Billingham thinking that that was just the beginning of the end. For us, the Barker family, it was. Soon after that the farm was demolished and the land was used for housing. Nana (Mary, Granda (Dick) and my Dad (Les) moved to Garth End Farm in Norton High Street. Dad started to work for Economac, local oil distribution as a driver. My Mum, Audrey, had her hairdresser’s salon in Leven Road at that time. I would be so grateful for more information/news from people who knew the family and have shared good or bad times with them.
Bob I would like to add to the memories of Crooks Barn Farm, I was also a friend of Les on the social drinking side of course, but would help out, when help was needed. One memorable time was close to the Christmas when the Turkeys were almost fat to perfection, help was needed to pluck them ready for Ma & Pop to dress ready for the table, we agreed to help provided we didn’t have to “Neck” them, fine, we were all in a small out building Les would bring in the turkeys and hang them from a beam and we would pluck away, knee deep in white feathers, while merrily pulling out feathers all was going well, like a conveyor belt, part way stripping the next bird, it turned it head Oh **&&^% one Les had missed. Harvest time was also a time we were able to help, either “Stooking” whilst Pop cut the corn or driving the little grey “Fergie “ leading to the stack, or on the end of the threshing machine. This was the last time I ever saw a steam engine driving a Threshing machine before the combine to over , Les was as strong as an ox he would carry a Railway sack on his back up the granary steps, a no mean feat as the weighted 2CWT After all the hard work Ma used to feed us belly pork done for hours in the Aga, Later Pop would buy us a pint in the Station
Mill Norton I have pleasant memories of Crooksbarn Farm , I knew Leslie Barker and would take my daughters on a visit to see the animals, they loved playing in the hay-barn where it was possible to slide down the bailed hay on an I.C.I blue plastic bag. Eggs, milk and meat were available from the farmhouse. When the farm ended the family moved to Garth End Farm, next to The Priory, in Norton High Street. For many years, you could buy fresh eggs pork and vegatables, as Mr Barker ran a pig-sty and had a field of potatoe,carrots and cabbage to the rear, now housing.
Re. 1st Norton Scout Masters. In the hut opposite the FN school gates was a man called Bill Summers. After the War it was Norman Huckle. He was the one who negotiated the Scout Hut at the Old Mill. Before that the HQ were in the Tannery on Norton Green. We had to leave there because the upper floors in the building were collapsing all the time. Before the Tannery the Scout District HQ”s at Finkle Street were used by the 1st Norton. You realise that we had no permanent HQ”s between Darlington Lane and the Old Mill. The Souts and Cubs were the people used to clean the old bricks that were used to build the new Scout Hut. The Bricklayer was a Senior Scout called Goff Simpson. I can”t think now who officially opened the Building. Maybe someone out there can help. I would think that it was built in 1948-49.
Norton Mill 1987 – In 1st Norton Scouts in the 1930s a few memories – The scout hut an ex-army hut stood in a field in Darlington Back Lane opposite the west entrance of Frederick Nattrass School. The hut had no glass windows just wooden shutters, great in summer, freezing in winter. We did”nt seem to notice the cold as we were kept busy with games and drill which included a lot of outdoor activities the most popular Wide-Game , when a patrol was sent to return without capture. The Patrols were Owl /Peewit/Cuckoo, all birds common to the fields around the H.q. Our camp-site was Hawes-Wood off Blakiston Lane, the troop taking tents and gear by a two wheel “Trek-Cart”, for either week-end or full week camp (The wood now gone is part of Norton Golf-Club, nr Harpers ) Due to the “Depression” camps were local but looked forward with great excitment by all we went in August 1939 to Winston,nr Gainford. One of the memories of this camp was the smell of paint, as orders came from Scout National Headquarters that all white tents were to be camouflaged, our leader setting us to work with green paint on the erected tents on the site ! Two Scout-Masters. Dave Bright. Eric Robinson
hi all just to let you know 1st Norton Scouts still have one part of the original mill stone at their headquaters in the main hall, from when we had to move from the old mill, if anyone has any old pictures or memories from there scouting days we would be pleased to hear from you, so as to pass more of our history on to younger members of our group, and add to 1st Norton scouts history
Hi, Bob. I scored for the home games for the Tykes from about 1948 to 1956 when we moved to another part of Norton. Terry O”Neill was a cunning spin bowler, Peter was a fine batsman and the wicketkeeper was Jimmy Boag. There was a fast bowler in the last couple of years called Chris Wigglesworth but he left about the same time I did to go to university. I remember the short boundary and the occasional consternation when the herd of cows had to be brought back from the Showground to the farm for milking. They had to be discouraged from wandering on to a good length!
Janice. As a scorer at the Tykes you would also remember Tom Webster who eventually went to live and work In Jersey. A Batsman, he would lose more balls by scoring 6″s over the short boundary opposite the pavilion. Also Ronnie Lee the opening bowler. He had his own business as a Property Repairer in Norton. His workshop was in Ragworth Place next to the Shop. Also George Malloy. A few Norton players also played there. I remember the O”Neill brothers. I believe it was Terry who was the Wicket Keeper. They both lived on the corner house of Darlington Lane/Leven Road. For years you would see Peter walking his Boxer Dog around Norton. Terry was a good Wine maker. Regarding Marion Barker her boy friend was a friend of mine. Tommy(Alan) Walker, lived in Beaconsfield Road. It is possible we know each other but I can”t remember you.
As I lived next to Barker”s farm when I was a child, I sometimes spent some of the summer holidays risking life and limb with the Barkers” daughter, Marian, jumping out of the hayloft – for fun! I was also the Tykes scorer for several seasons. The club was, I think, founded by the O”Neill brothers, two of whom, Peter and Terry, were regular players. I met Terry again a few years ago but he has died since, I believe. There was a house further along past the farm, belonging to a grand lady whose name I have forgotten but she was a JP!
The aerial photo of Crooksbarn was taken before the Crooksbarn Estate was built. The farm just below the yellow writing is Crooksbarn Farm and the person who last farmed there was Dick Barker. The Farm and land was taken over for the building of houses and the Barkers moved into the Farmhouse between the Priory and Almshouses in Norton High Street. To get to Crooksbarn Farm you left Fieldfare Lane turning left into Crooksbarn Lane and it was at the end on the right. Opposite you will see a small square plot of land. This was where the Tykes played cricket.
The Old Mill was taken over by the 1st Norton Scouts in the late 40″s. I was then a young Scout and it was my responsibility together with other young Scouts to collect clean the bricks for a Senior Scout called Goff Simpson who was a Bricklayer. He was responsible for building the 1st Scout Hut on that site. The Scout Master was Norman Huckle and his wife was the Cub Leader (Akala). Before we moved to the Old Mill we had meetings in the old Tan Yard building on the Green. I together with Ronald Huckle were the 1st Cubs in the Pack after the war. Our previous meeting places were at a Scout Group in Fairfield and the Scout HQ in Finkle Street, Stockton.
Janice. The field you sledged on was called the Show Field. This was directly behind the Red House School (who took the field over in later years.) and was also to the left of Chesterfield House. You could enter the Showfield by Mill Lane or Hermitage Place an entrance opposite the Church. There was also another entrance approx 200 yards towards Junction Road. Where the Roundabout is now on the Ring Road. There were steep banks in the field and there was a place there called the “Devils Dip” On the top field were 2 football pitches and as you say in the far right hand corner was the Tykes Cricket Pitch. In my Mothers days she used to tell me that it was a proper Show Field and that the real Buffalo Bill visited there with his Circus. In my times in the 40″s I used to sledge on this field.
During the early 1950″s I can remember helping to move the lower mill stone along with my father and members of the 1st Norton Scouts. I think their intention was to use it as a hearth for a camp fire on the site.
I was raised in Norton and attended “cubs” and “scouts” (1st Norton) at “The Old Mill” from 1969 till 1975 or thereabouts. The Mill was located at the bottom end of (what everyone referred to as) “The Top Field”(presumably as it was at the top of Roseberry Road). The Top Field was indeed where everyone went sledging. The Mill could be reached by a small muddy lane running from Mill Lane, by trudging across The Top Field from Roseberry Road or by steep steps from the (at the time) newly built Norton By-Pass. There was no power supply to The Mill so evening meetings were held by gas lanterns and candles!. The mill stones in the photos were discarded in the thick undergrowth between the Mill and the By-pass and the remnants of the watermill could also be found there if you were intrepid (stupid?) enough to battle through the brambles. Curiously, the field at the bottom of Roseberry Road (gone now)was known as “The Bottom Field”. We liked to keep things simple!!. The aerial photo also shows a couple of farms on Crooksbard estate (roughly where Shearwater Lane is now). The last tenant of one of them (Mr Harrison) retired to Beaconsfied Rd in the late “60”s. Does anyone have a better quality copy of the aerial photo?.
Bob, you ought to be designated as a National Treasure! I found the website you suggested although it is now called the Tees Archeology Unit ( http://www.teesarchaeology.com ) and it is a fund of information, not only about this project but also many other digs in the area. I can recommend it to anybody interested in the history of the area. Thank you!
Norton Mill in 1987 – Janice. the area you point out for your sledging was in the 1980s found to be one of the largest Anglo-Saxon burial grounds in the North of England, with 120 remains and a host of grave goods The actual site to the right of the curving tree-line. (right of centre) is now a SAS (Special Archaeological Site). For information on this “Dig” see Cleveland Archaeological Dept web-site
Regarding the aerial view of the excavations, this may be a question for Bob Harbron. From 1947 I lived in the first house in Crooksbarn Lane (just by the bottom curve of the 5 on the yellow date on the enlarged picture.) I lived here for 10 years and I am very interested in the field where we used to sledge in winter.It is the large field in the centre with what seem to be obvious markings. Has any excavation been done here and if so, where can I read the findings? The square field at the top left corner of that field used to be the Norton Tykes cricket club.
The aerial view “Excavations Norton Water Mill 1978” must be wrongly dated for by this date the Crooksbarn Estate had been started if not finished cartainly the “Ring Road” had been put through between Mill Lane and the Crooksbarn site.Perhaps it was early 70″s or late 60″s?
When we were kid’s before WW2 We would get a tram from Stockton Town Hall, to Norton Green. We would go down Station Rd. through the Barrack’s and go looking for Mushrooms. We would go through the Winn’s collect some cooking apples ,then on our way back, we would go to the Mill Stream, and get a carrier bag full of Water Cress. The Winns, were burned down during the war,as they were a danger to I.C.I. if they had been set on fire during an Air Raid. I am refferring to the 30s when I speak of getting a Tram.