My 4x Great Grandfather was John Shout the person who erected the Doric column in Stockton. Would be very grateful for any more information about him or his children. Thanking you, Mary McKinlay Tasmania
The following is taken from “The local records of Stockton” by Thomas Richmond (1868). 1768 The covered cross in the market place was removed, and a column of the Doric order, 33 feet high, erected in its place by John Shout, at the cost of £45.
Quote from Stockton. A History Walk No 11 “The Market or Doric Cross was raised in 1768, as a rally-point for the Town and District, in time of War, Elections, Council and Royal Proclamations and Market-Law”. Such a point was a marker in many towns and villages; this established the right of both Councils and Folk to a “free-zone” and meeting place. An unusual point of Stockton’s Cross is the stone torch at the top, which suggests that this was a much early rally-point and at night was marked by flaming torches “Stockton: – A History walk ” leaflet is available in the Stockton Tourist Information Office, Church Road, Stockton -on-Tees
Yes, I believe that this is the spot for the hirings. I believe that this custom went on well into the early 20th Century, my dad used to reckon that he has stood there waiting to be hired. He was born in 1925 so it must have still been going on right up to the 1940s? Don”t know for sure though. On another matter, please excuse my ignorance but what does the Doric Column or, as we call it, the Town Hall Cross, signify? How old is it and why is it there in the first place? I appreciate it is probably common knowledge to everyone but me. Sorry. Regards Alice Gardner (nee Coles)
I remember my mother telling me the story of how her younger brother was hired out to a Farmer at the Stockton hirings, he was contracted out for one year at a salary of one shilling, he would receive all his accommodation, food. and clothes etc for working six days per week on the farm, then on Sunday he was allowed to borrow a farm cart and bring the produce from the farm to his mother. They were a Tilery family Tommy and Elizabeth Lakey. Does anyone remember the Leakey”s from Tilery, they were a big family of twelve children, My mother Hilda was the eldest and Rocka a very well known footballer was the youngest.
The picture of the Doric Column seems to confirm what I was told in my young days, 1942, that it was the central point for hiring labour. Mostly for farmers,some domestic, I believe the occasion was called the hustlings, or hirings. The people who told me were then in their 60s-70s, probably handed down by word of mouth from Fathers and so forth.
The banners and crowd could be associated with the “Reform-Movement” , which shook England in the Early 1800s almost to a Republican state. The same fervour was generated during Elections. I can remember the Mayor and Council at the Market Cross on Election Results and the booing and barracking of Candidates, not as lively as picture but Voting-Balls being swung with vigour ( “Voting Ball” , a tight ball of newspaper on a length of string , swung at your opponents.
My 4x Great Grandfather was John Shout the person who erected the Doric column in Stockton. Would be very grateful for any more information about him or his children. Thanking you, Mary McKinlay Tasmania
The following is taken from “The local records of Stockton” by Thomas Richmond (1868). 1768 The covered cross in the market place was removed, and a column of the Doric order, 33 feet high, erected in its place by John Shout, at the cost of £45.
Quote from Stockton. A History Walk No 11 “The Market or Doric Cross was raised in 1768, as a rally-point for the Town and District, in time of War, Elections, Council and Royal Proclamations and Market-Law”. Such a point was a marker in many towns and villages; this established the right of both Councils and Folk to a “free-zone” and meeting place. An unusual point of Stockton’s Cross is the stone torch at the top, which suggests that this was a much early rally-point and at night was marked by flaming torches “Stockton: – A History walk ” leaflet is available in the Stockton Tourist Information Office, Church Road, Stockton -on-Tees
Yes, I believe that this is the spot for the hirings. I believe that this custom went on well into the early 20th Century, my dad used to reckon that he has stood there waiting to be hired. He was born in 1925 so it must have still been going on right up to the 1940s? Don”t know for sure though. On another matter, please excuse my ignorance but what does the Doric Column or, as we call it, the Town Hall Cross, signify? How old is it and why is it there in the first place? I appreciate it is probably common knowledge to everyone but me. Sorry. Regards Alice Gardner (nee Coles)
I remember my mother telling me the story of how her younger brother was hired out to a Farmer at the Stockton hirings, he was contracted out for one year at a salary of one shilling, he would receive all his accommodation, food. and clothes etc for working six days per week on the farm, then on Sunday he was allowed to borrow a farm cart and bring the produce from the farm to his mother. They were a Tilery family Tommy and Elizabeth Lakey. Does anyone remember the Leakey”s from Tilery, they were a big family of twelve children, My mother Hilda was the eldest and Rocka a very well known footballer was the youngest.
The picture of the Doric Column seems to confirm what I was told in my young days, 1942, that it was the central point for hiring labour. Mostly for farmers,some domestic, I believe the occasion was called the hustlings, or hirings. The people who told me were then in their 60s-70s, probably handed down by word of mouth from Fathers and so forth.
The banners and crowd could be associated with the “Reform-Movement” , which shook England in the Early 1800s almost to a Republican state. The same fervour was generated during Elections. I can remember the Mayor and Council at the Market Cross on Election Results and the booing and barracking of Candidates, not as lively as picture but Voting-Balls being swung with vigour ( “Voting Ball” , a tight ball of newspaper on a length of string , swung at your opponents.
This looks as if it is the “Hirings”