A group outing to a pub called the Blackwell OX Inn, possibly at the turn of the century. Unfortunately we have no more information, can you help? 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
A group outing to a pub called the Blackwell OX Inn, possibly at the turn of the century. Unfortunately we have no more information, can you help?
Could be “P”(North Riding)Battery Royal Artillery, at practice. The Battery was a Heavy Battery. Formally a volunteer unit it became TA in 1908 Its Drill Hall was in THORNABY near Allens Foundry. It moved to Stockton Road Drll Hall in the 50″s
On Sunday 21 July 1895 a Cyclists Church Service was held at Carlton in Cleveland.
Riders from various clubs in the region congregated in Stokesley Market Place just before 2 o’clock. They then rode in procession to Carlton where the service was held.
After the service the riders adjourned to the Blackwell Ox Inn where tea was served.
This was one of many events that were held in Carlton in the late 1800s to raise money to rebuilt the parish church which had been destroyed by fire in 1881.
I wonder if this photo records the visit of the cyclists to the Blackwell Ox Inn?
If Matthew Wake was still the landlord when this photograph was taken he must have had quite a long tenure. There are two indicators in the image that help to date it. First the small oblong sign on the righthand side of the door advertises Bass Beer and the red triangle, which is part of it, is claimed by the brewery to be Britain”s first trade mark established in 1876. The circular sign above the door is actually the Winged Wheel of the Cyclists” Touring Club which was first devised for use on pubs and hotels etc in 1888. So it looks like the date on the original caption is about right. I don”t think that there”s any indication from the groups clothes that they were cyclists.
Re the rectangular sign above the Blackwell Ox sign, it must be quite old. According to Baines 1820 Directory, Matthew Wake was the landlord then. The sign would have been elderly when this photo was taken. I don”t suppose there”s any chance it”s still there?
What a fantastic picture ! If only we knew who they were and where they were going. They were sitting outside The Blackwell Ox, a pub that is still operates under its old name at Carlton in Cleveland. I think that the circular sign at the top of the wall over the main entrance is the symbol of the National Cycling Union, it can still be seen on the pub today if you visit the website. But I don`t think that all the gents in the picture arrived on two wheels !