Bowesfield Lane School. Photograph courtesy of Mr Ken Heslop, Toronto,Canada. Formerly of Stockton-on-Tees 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Bowesfield Lane School. Photograph courtesy of Mr Ken Heslop, Toronto,Canada. Formerly of Stockton-on-Tees
Picture Stockton Archive 
to Malcolm Corner : my wife was born and brought up at 10 Selwyn Street. The family name was Tatterton. When the Parkfield refurbishment/alteration happened, the family were moved to Portrack but the point being she and myself went to Bowefield Lane School. It’s strange but there doesn’t seem to be any school photos about or if there are nobody is putting them on this site. 10/02/2012 16:47:44
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I also went to Bowesfield Lane school from 1942 to 1950 – I still see Les Stanley the milk monitor, always late if I remember right. I was born in 10 Lawrence Street, also my sister who went to b.l.s., we then lived in Selwyn Street. 09/02/2012 20:54:53
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Melanie Jones, I was in the same class as your dad – haven’t seen him since the day he left Bowesfield. Here are a few names from our class see if he remembers them – Derek Clamp, Dennis Baverstock, Professor Robson, Peter Roads, David Flowers, Graham Wild. We will all be 60 in the next few month, hope they are all still around.23/11/2011 19:35:16
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Hi Keith,
My name is John Jones,47 Pearson Street.
I remember David Flowers (still has the fish business!), Dennis Baverstock,.
I went on to Stockton Grammar School.
Am now 61 years old and still live in Stockton!
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I remember you John very well, you passed the 11+. Do you remember me and what are you up to now? I am a Safety Officer on pipe laying ships, I work all over the world presently in Australia.
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I was born in 1935 at 71 Bickersteth Street. Went to Bowesfield Lane school. I agree, Matty Mathias was one hell of a teacher! I have enjoyed reading through this site and remember some of the names of folk mentioned on here.23/11/2011 15:35:44
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I just recently found this site. My Dad was born in 1936, grew up on Bickersteth Street and attended Bowesfield School. His name is Peter Barker and there were 8 children in the family. Did you know any of them? Dad is still living here in Canada.
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Yes, I remember yor Dad, Peter Barker. When we were in our early teens we hung about together for many years. Ronnie Waites, who sadly died last year lived two doors down from Peter. I still have a paper cutting of Peter’s Wedding which has Bill Maynard and Frankie Vaughan on. I know my reply is a bit late, but please pass on my best wishes to your Dad.
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Matty Mathias lived in Craigwell Crescent, off Durham Road opposite the childrens nursery at Newtown Rec.
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I was just wondering if anyone knew Ernest Jones (Ernie)- he may have gone to this school between 1925-1934. He was my grandad and he died a few yrs back. My dad also went to this school in 1957 then went on to Primrose Hill on Durham Road. His name was David Jones, he lived at no 1 Bickersteth Street and later moved to 97 Tithebarn Road, Hardwick estate. 25/09/2011 14:56:43
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Hi Lee, Yes I do remember running around the playground. Is there any ex pupils that were at infants in mid 70’s ?? It would be great to here what happened to everyone 25/09/2011 13:27:23
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Geoffrey Mooney – my dad, Terry Peacock, was born in 1934 and went to St Cuthberts school, you may have been in the same class – he lived in Waverly Street.
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I was born in Number 58, Cecil Street Jan 1935. Went to Bowsfield Lane School at the tender age of 5yrs, there till I was 7yr old and then went to St Cuthberts School, as we had moved to Moses Street and my Mother had Married Michael Mooney. Had very good friendship with Joe Butterfield and family living in Pearson Street. Have some wonderful but short memories of that era.
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Hi Geoffrey, I dont know you, but I lived in 57 Cecil street from 1957-1967 when they did the renovations of the area and we moved up to Hardwick with a lot of the others. I had relations who lived in Peason Street…The Clamps. My Uncle Albert and his family lived in 58 Cecil Street for years, moving to Hardwick before the big evacuation. Small world.
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Geoff is my father-in-law, I lived in Ellicot Street number 20 and was also moved to Hardwick in 1966 when my parents were given a compulsary purchase order but I loved living in Parkfield
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My mother Dorothy was William’s youngest child, along with her twin brother Donald. The eldest was Billy, then Olive (known as Popsy), then Jean (legally Winifred), then the twins. I know nothing about the Hamiltons except I think William had a sister. Are you descended from her John Robert Hamilton? Would like to know more.
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So, does anybody know if Mrs Raine is still with us? I often wonder what became of her.
What a wonderful building the old school was. Full of character and the past etched deeply into every bit of stone and woodwork. Mind it was draughty though! I’ll never, ever forget the smell of the place – polished wood, old books and paper. I can smell it now just looking at the picture. When you look at the area now you wouldn’t even guess what once sttod there. It doesn’t even look big enough to have held that imposing building.
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Jane Denny – William Hamilton was my great uncle and I have been doing the family tree for 10 years.
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Alf Storr from Stockton Transport was my uncle, he was my mother’s older brother (born 1907) and lived at Thornaby, he married a lady called Margaret Purchase from Middlesbrough, and had two children, Jennifer and John.He ended up being an inspector. The Alf Storr mentioned in recent comments who lived in Craister Street was my mother’s cousin, they were a very big family the Storrs, having come to Stockton from Whitby in 1887/8, and I have researched a family tree going back to the eighteenth century. The Storrs from Craister Street were the grandmother and uncle of Beryl Clare,my second cousin, who often asks on this site for information about her grandmother’s family the Galloways.
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Pat-I didnt realise that you are part of the Storr family.Are you related to Alf Storr(yes-Cleveland Transit)i think he was one of the ‘knocker uppers’ who used to drive round the lonely streets at 5am, getting us tired clippies out of bed in the middle of the night after dancing away at the Fiesta or Tito’s!!
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My mother was born at 20 Cecil Street in 1921 and attended Bowesfield Lane school, possibly from 1926 to 1935. I notice Ken Heslop and Harry Iceton were also there at about that time, any memories gentlemen of her or her brothers? Their names were Edna May Storr, Arthur, William, Harold and Kenneth Storr. Only Kenneth is still alive now, but his memory has suffered with a stroke. Grandad William Storr was a tram driver at that time.
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I too used to swing on the metal fence outside Bowesfield Lane school on Cecil Street. One day I swung too much and landed on my head – the pal who was with me said my head bounced from the pavement to the gutter. Then it was off to Stockton and Thornaby hospital, just on the other side of Bowesfield Lane, to get stitched up. The shop Debra is referring to, I think, was Wilson’s, on the corner of Cecil and Pearson Streets. It was a typical corner shop that had a window full of sweets for the kids, but sold just about everything else as well.
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Aggie Smith’s was the corner shop top end of Mitre Street & she sold almost everything under the sun, just like Arkwrights on ‘Open all Hours’
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My mum’s family went to Bowsefield Lane School in the 1920’s. Their names were Ted, Maude, Marjorie, Violet and Dennis Gibbons. They lived at 10 Parliament Street and had a shop there which sold wool, cottons etc. They also stood markets in the surrounding areas. Does anyone remember them?
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I attended Bowesfield Lane School, I believe it was from 1964ish. I lived in Cecil Street, I think it was number 57/59 (I was also born in that house!). All I had to do was cross over the road to school! All I remember about the school is swinging on the old metal fencing outside and a very small playground. I remember the road was all cobbles and a shop at the top of the road (opposite the school), I believe it was a sweet shop or grocers.
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Hi Debra, You lived at 59 across the road from me…I lived at 57. You have sisters, Lyn and Jackie if I remember. There was a few of you. Your mum knew my mum, everyone knew everyone in those days.We had the Blacks,Clamps, Chesworths,Speeclys,Baverstocks and Blyths in our street, that I can remember.It was the good old days.Corner shops everywhere.
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I think I went to Bowesfield in 1948-51, then passed to go to Richard Hind. I lived on Westbourne St and on Lawrence St, but it is difficult to remember. Fantastic memories.
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My aunt attended this school in 1909. Her name was Olive Rubina Pearson. Amazing I came across this site.
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Nice to read your comments Sheila, yes I think we all went carol singing and played kicky tin and I am sure you had plent of chips – I did haha. I have been trying to trace a few school friends through Friends Reunited, perhaps you know some of these names – Veronica Oliver, Margaret Mustard, Beryl Stevenson, Joan body beth downing do you recognise anyone? I have posted a school photo of Miss Metcalfes class of 1950.
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I am sorry to correct you, Melvin, but Frank Showell was never the headmaster at Bowsy, he was head at Fairfield.
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I attended with my brother Andrew, the year between 1963 to 1967 ish. We lived in Parliament Street, at the bottom end, a Wall paper and paint shop. My memories are of the head master Mr Frank Showall, (please correct the spelling). Paul Surtees (Sinker) was a great lad, playing alleys in the yard, 3 and your firer!! Loved every minute, until we moved to Fairfield,evendently a new road was planned to come through.
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I went to Bowsie from 1955 till 1965. I remember all the teachers mentiond. Mr Maddison, boy could he give the cain. Mrs Rain, a name I would like to forget but I just cant. Mattie Mathius, a gentleman. Lads I remember from my years are Dennis Baverstock, Derick Clamp, Barry Jones, Walter Ingly, Buster Jones, Tony Brown… I could go on all day. My family lived in Camden Street which was demolished to accommodate the new Bowsie.
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Dereck Clamp is my cousin…I remember Dennis Baverstock…I was good friends with his sister Shirley. I also knew Barry Blythe, John Guilfoyle, Barry Jones and a lot of the Wilsons who came from Tarmac.
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Carol, the Baverstocks are my cousins.Glenda sadly died at a young age, Marian and Dennis both live in Norton, I do have some contact with them. I believe that Shirley lives in York.
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Hi keith, do you remember me, Sheila Gibson? I lived at 8 Lindsey Street and went to St Cuthberts, and then St Marys. Reading all this has brought back some happy memories Bondi night was good, going round to all the different fires. On election night I remember marching around the streets singing, ‘vote, vote, vote for Mr Rogers’, and I was always trying to keep out of your cousin Ians way as he always threw stones at me! I don’t know why as he was always getting into trouble for doing it… Ah happy days.
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I attended Bowesfield Lne School from 1952 to 1957 and remember Miss Hevisides very well although I dont recall any of the teachers names. I probably bought lots of chips from your parents shop on Bowesfield Lane, we used to go Carol Singing until we got enough money so that we could all have 2p worth of chips at the end of the night, the kids dont go Carol Singing these days as it is not safe for them to be out at night. We used to run around all over the place playing kicky tin and all sorts of other games until it got dark then home we would go. The area has much changed since then, I went to see my brother who still lives in the area a few weeks ago and the School has gone and the Hospital all those memories wiped out shame, its called progress?
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Did anyone go to Bowsfield Lane School in early 50s? I was there then and left in 1954. My family had the fish shop in Bowesfield Lane called The Royal. Miss Hevisides was Headmistress at the time, my teacher in last year was Miss Lee. It would be nice to hear from anyone as I am now in Australia.
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Geoff Noble hope you and your Keith are well its only when you get older that you miss the fun you had in school bless Bowesfield Lane Mr Maddison, Mr Mathias and Mrs Raine, if all teachers were like you today we”d have no yob”s on the streets. If any family of teachers above, be proud of them. Hard teachers but fair and honest
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I ATTENDED BOWESIELD LANE SCHOOL IN THE 50s I LIVED IN MITRE ST WITH MY BROTHER KEITH AND SISTERS PHYLLIS&DOREEN MY MATES WERE TERRY JONES BILLY CLAMP&COLIN BARNBROOK. THE HEADMASTER WAS MR MADDISON OUR TEACHERS WERE MR MATHIAS &MRS RAINE I LEFT AROUND 1961
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Billy Clamp is my cousin. He and all his bothers and sisters Linda, Gillian, David, Derek, Christine and Judith all did Bowsie Lane.
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I lived in 13 Cecil Street. Billy clamp and the clan are my cousin’s too. My dad was Vince Chesworth.
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Hi Bob, Last time I saw Maurice & his wife Margaret, was at my father”s funeral in November 2007. He was looking pretty good for his age. I forgot to mention your name to him maybe next time when I see him I won”t forget.
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Thanks Dave. I realised when you mentioned 8 Edward Street that it was Maurice”s home and that you would be his nephew. Although I lived in Norton I used to walk with others including Maurice from Richard Hind. I would catch the bus at the bottom of Parliament Street leaving others on the way there.. and Maurice at Edward Street. Yes you will be right with his age, I am 70.
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Hi Bob, Maurice was my late father”s brother.
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Hey didnt anyone who went to Bowsie school, boys or girls, ever have their school photo taken. It would be interesting to see who I knew or can remember.
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Hi Jackie yes , I and my three brothers , Kevin,Keith & Graham all went to Bowesey Lane. We lived in Mitre Street up until December 1964 when we moved to Ragworth for 5 months. Kevin will be the one who was most probably in the same year as Elaine. We use to play in the back-street some times. I remember the Brinkleys especially Carol & Brenda OR BB as her Mam use to call her. My Grandparents I think moved from Edwards street sometime in the early 70″s & moved to Hardwick – neither are still alive. In the ealy 60″s my Aunt Betty Hawes use to run the corner shop on your side of the street & then she moved up to a shop in Bowesfield Lane.
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HELLO DAVE HARKER. Yes my eldest sister is Elaine and I have another sister Christine. We lived in No.5,next door to Mrs Sirs. Elaine and Chris started at Bowsey Lane in “61 and “63 respectively.(did you go there too?) They remember the name Hawker (graham or kevin maybe?)I was born “66, the youngest so dont remember as much as Elaine and Chris do. When i lived there it was a Mr & Mrs Neal who lived in No.8, i”ll of been too young to remember your grandparents maybe. I do remember a lot of the families from Edwards St, Jones, Brown, Thompson,Highfield, Rogan,Clamp, Bell. Did you by any chance live in Westbourne St? Next door to the Brinkleys? The Brinkley girls used to spend a lot of time at our house playing. I assume if you remember our Elaine, that you used to come and play round at your grandparents house?
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Dave Harker. Was your father called Maurice. Maurice Harker was in the same class throughout the senior years at Richard Hind. I know that he lived in this house in Edward Street.
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Hello Jackie Would your older sister happen to be called susan, or Elaine, possibly. I think your family used to live across the road from my grandparents – Joe & Bella Harker , No. 8 EDWARDS STREET. MR & MRS SIRS USED TO LIVE ON YOUR SIDE OF THE STREET.
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Just came across this site and wow did the memories flood back .I am 43 now and remember going to the school , playing british bulldogs and marbles in the yard . I remember Mrs Wilkinson and how strict she was and the way she used to place your hand on your chest and slap it .I also remember running out onto bowesfield lane at home time and getting run over by a bakers van and having to be taken to Stockton and Thornaby Hospital which was just down the road … But even after all that my memories of that school are happy ones .
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Ken Heslop, I went to Bowsefield Lane School at the age of 9 years in 1929 and left to go to Newtown school in 1931 or 1932 I was in PA Gills class. He also left Bowesfield Lane to teach at Newtown school. I remember the other teachers you mentioned and the headmaster Mr Hamilton also one of the lads called Heslop whose nickname was Cuddy I was wondering if that lad was you. I lived in Moses street at that time and I think the lad I knew lived in Arlington street. The couple of years I had at the school were good except for one instance when I and another lad can”t remember his name had a fight on the spare ground near the hotel cheered on by the lads out of our class. A lady came out of one of the houses and chased us away , next day we were called in to be punished by Mr Hamilton he didn”t use the cane, but had a different punishment wich I still remember to this day. I just wondered if you can remember what that punishment was.
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Harry Iceton I just found this website so your post is now 10 years old so I hope you see this. We share the same family name me being Anthony (Tony) Iceton all though I can never remember hearing about you from my Mam (Mary) or dad Leonard (Lenny). I was born in 101 Arlington Street and lived there until I was 9 when we moved to Lightfoot Grove at the end of Bowesfield Lane, I went to St Cuthberts. Whereabouts in the family do you fit in?
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Anthony. I’ve just seen your comment. I am the Son of Harry and Edith Iceton nee Stokes who lived in 17 Moses street were I lived till 1930 then we moved to Primrose Hill Newtown. My Granddad was called John George, Grandma Mary. They lived in Grove street. They were part of the families that were blacksmiths in the town of Sedgefield. My dad had 2 brothers George and James and 2 sisters Hilda and Kate. I emigrated to Perth W. Australia in 1986. I hope this reply helps, sorry for the delay in answering.
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Alan Monaghan ! Theres a blast from the past ! We used to run around the playground together in the early 70″s ! I forgot you exsisted til I saw your name there Alan. Hope you are well.
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Hi Lee, I’m ok, I’m living in Redcar now. I remember running around the playground in the 1970’s. Strangley enough I now work just around the corner on Bowesfield crescent, Stockton. I hope you’re are well/ What heve you been doing since 1976 ?
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Glad to hear you are OK Alan. I guess this reply is years late but there you go.
I well remember 1976. Life was so much slower and quieter then.Simpler too.
My parents are long dead sadly. I miss them terribly. I have my own family. Two adult children and I am married almost 30 years now. I haven’t been lucky health wise.
Stockton has changed so much and not for the better.
Cheers Alan, be well mate.
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Hi, I attended the infants up till may 1976 when I moved to Billinghm. I remember the room full of stuffed animals, but why were they there? Also the rocking horse. If I remember correctly in the September of 1976 eveyone was getting ready to move to the “New School”
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Hi Bob, I have an uncle called Maurice,he”ll be about seventy now he could well be the person you attended Richard Hind with – I don”t see him that often but I”ll ask his brother George (my father) if he recognises your name.
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I attended the Richard Hind from 1949-53 and all through with me was a boy called Maurice Harker. He passed the scholarship from Bowsefield School. Would he be any relation to you Dave?
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I & my 3 younger brothers attended Bowesfield Lane School from 1959 – Christmas 1964 when we left due to moving to Ragworth. some of the teachers I remember , Headmistress – Mrs Laverick, HeadMaster – Mr. Maddison , boy was he strict, – Teachers ..Mrs Wilkinson , Mrs Wilson, Mrs Beaver, Mrs Durrant & Mrs Laverick other teachers I fail to recall.
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Same for me infants 1960 to 64 then moved to St Johns
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Jane Denny, I attended Bowesfield Lane School in the 1940″s and one of my favourite sites is Janet McNeilly”s school site on which there is a good deal of information about Stanley William Hamilton who was headmaster from 1927 until his death in 1935. I assume this is your grandfather.
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I found this site while doing some family history research. My grandfather was William Hamilton, who was the headmaster in the 1930s. Unfortunately I never knew him as he died long before I was born. If anyone knows any more about him or went to the school when he was there I would be interested to hear.
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I was recommended to have a look at this site by Jackie Henderson (hello Jackie) and I can”t stop smiling. I have seen so many things that have brought back memories. Looking at Bowesfield Lane School just brings shivers to my spine thinking of Mrs Raine and her leopard skin jumpers, skirts, coats and ankle boots!!!, and a warm tingly feeling when I think of Mrs Durrant. What a lovely teacher she was. I will never forget her tall slender frame with curly grey hair and the time she had for each and every one of us. Her classroom was always a sunny room even when it was raining whereas Mrs Raines was cold and dark with worksheets on her desk that we had to wade through until the lesson finished. How different two teachers can be. Does anyone remember Mrs White who used to make you put your hand on your chest while she hit it (the hand not the chest)? I was at Bowesfield from 1969 – 1975. Hello to anyone who knows me.
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Hi Lee, Were you in my year then? Whats your Surname? Its good to know someone else from my era reads these sites too and has the same memories. Your right about Mrs Beaver, she was lovely. She often gave me a spare “free milk” out of the crate if someone hadnt turned up, rotten sour stuff but exciting all the same. This school has great memories for me, with all the gang from Parkfield and surrounding streets. I preferred this school to the new one in Northcote Street, it had a much more homely feel, even though it was freezing in there. And i loved it when Nitty Nora the head explorer came around and we all had to queue up to get our hair pulled to bits, i think i was the only one who actually enjoyed it. I remember miming instead of singing in the main hall in assembly and being shouted at and reduced to tears by Mrs Raine. She was very strict. I can remember hearing Mr Maddison giving some lad the cane in his office, i was rooted to the spot with terror. Seems like yesterday but it was 33 years ago..! Do you remember the old dinner hall (hut), it was situated where Bowesfield Lane met Parliament Street. We used to get a huge jug of hot chocolate on each table and only the prefects were allowed to pour it out. I cant remember if that was every dinner time though. I”d love to find photos of the school in the 70″s when we were there, but wouldnt know where to start looking, i cant ever remember having class photos taken, can you? Have you been on the site by Janet McNeilly dedicated to this school? It has records and photos from when it opened and you can put your memories on there too, its well worth a look. Even for anyone who didnt attend the school theres some facinating reading on there. Theres also a bit on there about the Northcote Street school too, and photos of the kids, you”re probably on there, im not.
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Hello Jackie ! I remember you from Bowesfield school .It”s good to read all your memories here -they are my memories too ! Especially the bit about the room full of stuffed animals …i remember Mrs Beaver (a lovely lady,wonder if she”s still alive?) showing us in there one day ,it was very exciting. It was a wonderful old school full of character. I remember the day Mr Maddison retired as if it was yesterday.Life was so much better back then and the whole area was spick and span and a lot quieter.
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We lived in Edwards Street and I went to this school from 1971 until they demolished it and we went to the new school in Northcote Street. My 2 older sisters went here too. I remember the headmaster Mr Maddison, and several of the teachers, Mrs Raine, Mrs Durrant, Mrs Beaver and Miss Woods. Old Parkfield must of still being demolished behind the school (or the new one being built) because we could hear all the machines and workmen. While we were in the yard we were all trying to climb the walls to see what was going on. There was one room in this school that was always out of bounds and on the one occasion i dared to sneak a look, i was terrified when i opened the door as it was full of huge stuffed animals on wheels.! We had a Tuck Shop at break time and a packet of Tudor crisps were only 2 and a half pence. Anyone who behaved well or did an errand for a teacher got a free go on a rocking horse or the slide that were permanent fixtures in the hall. Happy days..!
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Just found your site. My father went to the school around the time his name was Alfred Baker and I went in the early 50s I had the same teacher as my da I think his name was Mathius ? anyway a long time ago. Ian
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My three brothers and two sisters and I attended Bowesfield Lane in the 20″s and 30″s. I fondly remember the Headmaster of the Boys” Department, Mr. W. Hamilton, and teachers Mr. Carlin, Mr. Florence, Mr. Platts, Miss Short, and Mr. Harry Roberts who owned a travel Agency on Silver Street.
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My mum who is now 90 attended Bowesfield Lane School in the 1920’s and went on to Richard Hind. Her name was Violet Gibbons, she had older sisters Marjorie and Maude and two brothers Ted and Dennis. Dennis sadly died at the age of 12. I wonder if you can remember them Ken? They lived on Parliament Street and had a shop there.
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I was just surfing and came across this post. I’m sure he did, he spoke often of his early years and all the people. Sadly, he passed away in 2010. Not sure why he didn’t come back here, he would have lived to chat with everyone. Susan Heslop
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