There is a picture of Guthries on this site which I am unable to find, however there is an amazing picture of the building which Guthries used only in a much earlier time [T240], try finding them both and comparing them.
Ref Anon, thanks, yes Guthries was situated where you said, we all parked on Alma St.
I also recall them purchasing the first Black London Hackney cab in Stockton which was quite a novelty for a long time. I got my rostered turn at driving it and was very pleased when parked outside The Fiesta that people were bypassing the conventional Minicab to try out the ‘London Cab’. I presume Guthries are no longer in business?
Thank you ‘Anon’ and all who contributed to my original enquiry. I think Colin Walker is correct about the ‘Black leather glove’ I seem to recall it looking very tight and shiny.
I feel I should explain the difference between Mr Beaton, who was a Registered Dentist, and a qualified dentist. He was one of those who was practicing Dentistry before 1921. He therefore became a Registered Dentist, a qualified Dental Surgeon meant having a University Degree in Dentistry which was a Licence to practice, ie LDSRCS. This was a basic qualification.
Guthries was on the corner of Alma Street. I believe I was the first to name the dentist Mr Beaton, maybe you thought of Robinson with the store being next door.
I was a part time cab driver for a family run business on Bishopton Lane called Guthries. They were situated on the opposite side of the road than Moffats and just along from the newsagents called Fords?
Guthries also had a static line telephone in the station entrance for arriving passengers but where possible a car would be positioned there.
My car was a 1600 Ford Cortina.
I never imagined that when I asked if anyone remembered the one armed dentist that it would generate such a response. Sad to read Harry Rhodes experience and JN Kidd’ comments about Mr Beaton being unqualified might explain a lot.
There seems to be a great deal of interest in whether or not there was a one armed Dentist operating in Stockton. There was, and his name was Beaton. His left forearm was missing and although it makes a good story, there was no hook. His premises and torture chamber were located to the left of the Globe Theatre, and were approached down a dark, unlit tunnel that could have passed as a film set for a Castle Grim Movie. Up a narrow stairway and ‘Help’. The mode of operation did not include placing a foot upon the patient’s chest but by locking his upper arm across the victim’s upper body or even neck. I know this from first hand experience as when I was fourteen I had four teeth extracted by this gentleman and was left with a fear of Dentists that has stayed with me until my eightieth year. Every tooth was splintered and I was picking out bits of tooth from my gums for months afterwards. Mr Beaton liked a beer and his favourite hostelry was the North Eastern Hotel where he could be found with his friend ‘Billy’ Lofthouse the Bookie, to whom I was related by marriage. Characters from Old Stockton, now gone.
I remember the dentist who had rooms above the sweet shop next to the globe. When I was about 11 years old, 1931, I did have a tooth extracted by him. He did indeed have one arm which I seem to remember was his right arm, the left arm was just a stump wich was used to hold you still in the chair while he extracted the tooth, the name was Bond Beeton. He was a good Dentist no different to any other dentist, all extractions were done after the needle with cocaine was injected into the gum wich was a frightening experience.
Mr Beaton was the one armed dentist referred to. He took some milk teeth out for me as a child and I had no complaints. It was unusual to have a one armed dentist. Mr Beaton, at that time, was not a qualified registered Dentist. He must have been engaged in Dentistry before the Dentists Act of 1921. After this time the books closed and you were not allowed to practice.
Many dental mechanics had been engaged in mechanical dentistry prior to 1921 and they were accepted as dentists within the act.
I worked for C.V. Armitage LDSRCS, FDSRCS in their Norton Rd Practice
it was known throughout the area at that time as a very high class group of Dentists of which three, Mr Armitage,Mr Athol Sholto Douglas, and Mr J.Rideal did the work for ICI staff, including all the laboratory work. That was all done in house to a high standard.
Only the best was good enough for C V Armitage who ran Jaguars before the 1939 war. I believe his son John took over the practice at some point. I have not seen John since 1939 when we played together as children with his sisters Jean, Audrey, and their younger brother Anthony who was just a baby then. Regards to all.
Norman Kidd.
Colin Walker thank you for putting that one to bed, Mr Beaton it is. Can you confirm Alice Gardners’s comments about the hook?… I recall seeing it but it’s nice to have it confirmed. Don’t know why I thought his name was Robinson.
Where the fish and chip shop is on 4th photo, taking a closer, it reads “Crish & Tips, was the beer that strong. Also my Dentist who was Mr Thompson was also located on this site before the fish and chip shop, he moved over to the big house over the road next door to the Board Inn and after that to Yarm.
I don’t remember the one armed dentist but I know for a fact that my mother was a patient of his. Instead of an arm he had a hook!! AAGGHH!!
Evidently though he was a very good dentist and his disability did not hinder him working. He must have received his injury in the 1st world war but I am not sure about that, but I do know he existed.
Well I dont know what to think, are people so sure about the one armed dentist? It seems such a far fetched story -are you all taking the mick? Iam a Stocktonion born and bred and never heard of him.
Armitage, Beaton, Robinson…so who was the one armed dentist? At least we are in agreement that he did exist as so many of my old Stocktonian friends don’t recall him.
Dean’s shop in Bishopton Lane. I think you are right about daughter being called Barbara, Lynne. Son was Tony, who has lived and worked abroad for a number of years. I believe Mrs Dean died just a year or so ago.
Remember Deans shop in Mill Lane Billingham, got my first ever pair of football boots there just after the war (2nd world war),for the grand sum of 9/6p. Leather boots with studs in which you kept replacing by nailing them in, sat for hours rubbing dubbin in. I wonder where my dad got the money from in those days just after the war, didn’t care really, I had my boots.
Re Moffats the dentists on Bishopton Lane, they were our family dentist for years but how many people recall the dentist who only had one arm with his practice upstairs adjacent to the Globe. The running joke was you could always spot his patients… they left with a footprint on their chest! If I was reluctant to attend Moffats my mother would threaten to take me to the one armed dentist… Mr Robinson.
There would of been a cycle-shop in Yarm Lane called Matt Newton’s, who were located at no: 9 Yarm Lane.
There was another bike shop in Bishop Street called Hyam’s and was known as Hyam’s Corner.
Bill Beattie was also located at 54 Church Road before moving to Norton Road.
On the subject of Upton’s, there had shops in Linthorpe Road, Middlesborough. Railway Crossing, North Ormesby. 39 Bishopton Lane. 15 Yarm Lane. Nelson Street, South Bank. High Street, Redcar. 40-42 Staion Road, Billingham and Skinnergate, Darlington.
I remember Bishopton road quite well as my mam worked in Uptons on Saturdays and I would go there regularly. I got my first bike from Robinsons and went to Deans for spare parts for the bike. Deans also sold model railway equipment and possibly other toys.
There was also a Deans in Mill Lane at Billingham, was this shop run by the son, Tony?? or some other relative.
I remember both shops were rather untidy but extremely helpful in overcoming any problem you may have with your bike.
The dentists on this block was Moffats. There were at one time about three dentist’s premisies in Bishopton Lane with Fletcher’s on the same side and another one across the road from Moffats. Mr Dean was a very handy chap, who as well as bikes, radios, televisions and record players sold and repaired Hornby Dublo electric trainsets and other models.
The son of the Deans was called Tony & he was born in the early forties, Keith Roberts will verify this because he knocked about with us as youngsters. I think Tony had a younger sister.
Ken and Margaret Dean had a son named Tony who was an excellent swimmer. He worked in the shop in his teenage years and was in charge of record sales. He had an excellent record player and used to play all the latest hits at a loud volume much to the disconcern of his parents who were trying to assist other shoppers.
Bill Beatties bike shop was in Norton Road, the shop in Yarm Lane was probably Tillstons, moved from Thornaby and still there as far as I know, but
now a motorcycle shop
When my family moved to Fairfield around 1956/7 I found it necessary to buy a bicycle to get to and from work, I purchased it from Deans shop in Bishopton Lane. The same shop also sold gramophone records, one of the first LP’s I bought was from there. The LP was the first released in this country by the wild man of rock ‘n’ roll Jerry Lee Lewis, it cost me 33 shilling.
Uptons on Yarm Lane has a special place in my memory. Firstly, I used to pass it daily on my way to Trinity School. Secondly, they were very advanced with their own large radio repair shop and, thirdly, my twenty first birthday present of an Ultra bakelite three wave radio came from them. I had it for years until something beyond my caperbilities required a professional to look at it. It went to a radio shop in Headingley Leeds for repair and somehow managed fob me off and lost it! then closed down, never seen again.
Can any old Stocktonians remember Mr Parker the bespoke tailor? His premises were behind Mathias Robinsons, on one of the old streets before they were knocked down for new roads. Mr Parker was a Scot from the Tweed area. He lived opposite Sparks bakery in the pleasant 1939 modern houses. My Father and I were customers of his for many years and a fine tailor he was. Does anyone else remember his business?
I got my new bike from Robinson’s as did my twin brother – but when we wanted to ‘customize’ them into chopper bikes with ‘cowhorn’ handlebars and other accessories we went to Deans! Didn’t they also sell some toys – or did I imagine that?
I can confirm that Ken & Margaret Dean did in fact have a shop in Bishopton Lane. Uptons moved there in the 1950’s in opposition. Ken had quite a large customer base. One advantage he had was that he did radio & bike repairs on the premises. As a racing cyclist he built all my wheels & obtained & sold me most of my cycling equipment, which included my Holdsworth frame, at a reasonable cost. They lived above the shop. I remember Margaret Dean having their only child during the 1950’s. Gave birth in the morning & was back in the shop before the end of the afternoon, quite an amazing lady! I have no idea when they ceased trading.
On the block From the Station Hotel to the Leeds Hotel there was a dentist, a grocers shop either called Gallons or The Home and Colonial, I can`t remember which. Next came Sparks, Waltons the butchers, Fewsters greengrocers, Deans and Uptons. I`m not sure I got the last two in the right order.
I’ve just spoken to my mother who has confirmed, as previously mentioned, that Uptons did have a store on Bishopton Lane which was close to the Leeds Hotel. Deans were also trading at the same time. This Uptons store existed alongside the other store they had in Yarm Lane.
I bought a Silver Cross pram from the pram shop on Bishopton Lane in 1967, it was called the Burley model, and was coffee and cream, with matching sunshade, and cost 40 guineas. I sold it in 1975 – it had been used for 4 babies by then, two of mine and two relatives, and I got £40 for it! It was an absolute delight to push, being coach built on springs. How I wish my grandchildren’s prams were as bouncy. I noticed a lady in Fairfield pushing one lately, had to go and have a chat with her about it, think she said she got it on ebay! Of course they did not fold up to put into cars which seems to be the prime consideration today – although we had a car at the time I had mine, and did not think about putting the pram into it, we used to put the baby on the back seat in a carry cot – no seat belts then!!
I too got my first new bike from Uptons in Bishy Lane. If memory serves correct, it was the three story building still standing near the Leeds hotel. The bikes were on the second floor.
Uptons Store was on Yarm Lane I don’t remember them having a branch on Bishopton Lane. Bill Beatties bike shop was also on Yarm Lane, that might be where your bike came from John.
I’m not sure if my memory serves me well, but my very first NEW bicycle came from an Uptons store on Bishopton Lane. Can anyone confirm as to whether Uptons had a store there [before the High St shop] and where exactly it was situated.
in the 1970 s this newsagents was owned by the late john moran,john also ran a plumbing business in the town,which is still run by john”s son also named john
There is a picture of Guthries on this site which I am unable to find, however there is an amazing picture of the building which Guthries used only in a much earlier time [T240], try finding them both and comparing them.
Ref Anon, thanks, yes Guthries was situated where you said, we all parked on Alma St.
I also recall them purchasing the first Black London Hackney cab in Stockton which was quite a novelty for a long time. I got my rostered turn at driving it and was very pleased when parked outside The Fiesta that people were bypassing the conventional Minicab to try out the ‘London Cab’. I presume Guthries are no longer in business?
Thank you ‘Anon’ and all who contributed to my original enquiry. I think Colin Walker is correct about the ‘Black leather glove’ I seem to recall it looking very tight and shiny.
I feel I should explain the difference between Mr Beaton, who was a Registered Dentist, and a qualified dentist. He was one of those who was practicing Dentistry before 1921. He therefore became a Registered Dentist, a qualified Dental Surgeon meant having a University Degree in Dentistry which was a Licence to practice, ie LDSRCS. This was a basic qualification.
Guthries was on the corner of Alma Street. I believe I was the first to name the dentist Mr Beaton, maybe you thought of Robinson with the store being next door.
Mr Beaton, as far as I can recall Jack, had a false hand & wore a black leather glove!
I was a part time cab driver for a family run business on Bishopton Lane called Guthries. They were situated on the opposite side of the road than Moffats and just along from the newsagents called Fords?
Guthries also had a static line telephone in the station entrance for arriving passengers but where possible a car would be positioned there.
My car was a 1600 Ford Cortina.
I never imagined that when I asked if anyone remembered the one armed dentist that it would generate such a response. Sad to read Harry Rhodes experience and JN Kidd’ comments about Mr Beaton being unqualified might explain a lot.
There seems to be a great deal of interest in whether or not there was a one armed Dentist operating in Stockton. There was, and his name was Beaton. His left forearm was missing and although it makes a good story, there was no hook. His premises and torture chamber were located to the left of the Globe Theatre, and were approached down a dark, unlit tunnel that could have passed as a film set for a Castle Grim Movie. Up a narrow stairway and ‘Help’. The mode of operation did not include placing a foot upon the patient’s chest but by locking his upper arm across the victim’s upper body or even neck. I know this from first hand experience as when I was fourteen I had four teeth extracted by this gentleman and was left with a fear of Dentists that has stayed with me until my eightieth year. Every tooth was splintered and I was picking out bits of tooth from my gums for months afterwards. Mr Beaton liked a beer and his favourite hostelry was the North Eastern Hotel where he could be found with his friend ‘Billy’ Lofthouse the Bookie, to whom I was related by marriage. Characters from Old Stockton, now gone.
I remember the dentist who had rooms above the sweet shop next to the globe. When I was about 11 years old, 1931, I did have a tooth extracted by him. He did indeed have one arm which I seem to remember was his right arm, the left arm was just a stump wich was used to hold you still in the chair while he extracted the tooth, the name was Bond Beeton. He was a good Dentist no different to any other dentist, all extractions were done after the needle with cocaine was injected into the gum wich was a frightening experience.
Does anyone remember if there was a family run taxi business near Moffats the dentists on Bishopton Lane? Cannot for the life of me remember the name.
Mr Beaton was the one armed dentist referred to. He took some milk teeth out for me as a child and I had no complaints. It was unusual to have a one armed dentist. Mr Beaton, at that time, was not a qualified registered Dentist. He must have been engaged in Dentistry before the Dentists Act of 1921. After this time the books closed and you were not allowed to practice.
Many dental mechanics had been engaged in mechanical dentistry prior to 1921 and they were accepted as dentists within the act.
I worked for C.V. Armitage LDSRCS, FDSRCS in their Norton Rd Practice
it was known throughout the area at that time as a very high class group of Dentists of which three, Mr Armitage,Mr Athol Sholto Douglas, and Mr J.Rideal did the work for ICI staff, including all the laboratory work. That was all done in house to a high standard.
Only the best was good enough for C V Armitage who ran Jaguars before the 1939 war. I believe his son John took over the practice at some point. I have not seen John since 1939 when we played together as children with his sisters Jean, Audrey, and their younger brother Anthony who was just a baby then. Regards to all.
Norman Kidd.
Colin Walker thank you for putting that one to bed, Mr Beaton it is. Can you confirm Alice Gardners’s comments about the hook?… I recall seeing it but it’s nice to have it confirmed. Don’t know why I thought his name was Robinson.
The fish shop was called ‘Chish & Fips’ – I remember it well.
Where the fish and chip shop is on 4th photo, taking a closer, it reads “Crish & Tips, was the beer that strong. Also my Dentist who was Mr Thompson was also located on this site before the fish and chip shop, he moved over to the big house over the road next door to the Board Inn and after that to Yarm.
I don’t remember the one armed dentist but I know for a fact that my mother was a patient of his. Instead of an arm he had a hook!! AAGGHH!!
Evidently though he was a very good dentist and his disability did not hinder him working. He must have received his injury in the 1st world war but I am not sure about that, but I do know he existed.
Well I dont know what to think, are people so sure about the one armed dentist? It seems such a far fetched story -are you all taking the mick? Iam a Stocktonion born and bred and never heard of him.
I was a patient with my parents of Mr Beaton who had one arm. His surgery was next to the Globe.
Armitage, Beaton, Robinson…so who was the one armed dentist? At least we are in agreement that he did exist as so many of my old Stocktonian friends don’t recall him.
Dean’s shop in Bishopton Lane. I think you are right about daughter being called Barbara, Lynne. Son was Tony, who has lived and worked abroad for a number of years. I believe Mrs Dean died just a year or so ago.
Remember Deans shop in Mill Lane Billingham, got my first ever pair of football boots there just after the war (2nd world war),for the grand sum of 9/6p. Leather boots with studs in which you kept replacing by nailing them in, sat for hours rubbing dubbin in. I wonder where my dad got the money from in those days just after the war, didn’t care really, I had my boots.
The one armed dentist you refer to was called Beaton he lived in a house at the corner of Bishopton Road & Bishopton Avenue.
Might be wrong Jack but think the one armed dentist was called Armitage.
Re Moffats the dentists on Bishopton Lane, they were our family dentist for years but how many people recall the dentist who only had one arm with his practice upstairs adjacent to the Globe. The running joke was you could always spot his patients… they left with a footprint on their chest! If I was reluctant to attend Moffats my mother would threaten to take me to the one armed dentist… Mr Robinson.
There would of been a cycle-shop in Yarm Lane called Matt Newton’s, who were located at no: 9 Yarm Lane.
There was another bike shop in Bishop Street called Hyam’s and was known as Hyam’s Corner.
Bill Beattie was also located at 54 Church Road before moving to Norton Road.
On the subject of Upton’s, there had shops in Linthorpe Road, Middlesborough. Railway Crossing, North Ormesby. 39 Bishopton Lane. 15 Yarm Lane. Nelson Street, South Bank. High Street, Redcar. 40-42 Staion Road, Billingham and Skinnergate, Darlington.
I’m sure the daughter of the Dean’s was called
Barbara.
She went to the Grangefield grammer with my older sister Jean.
I remember Bishopton road quite well as my mam worked in Uptons on Saturdays and I would go there regularly. I got my first bike from Robinsons and went to Deans for spare parts for the bike. Deans also sold model railway equipment and possibly other toys.
There was also a Deans in Mill Lane at Billingham, was this shop run by the son, Tony?? or some other relative.
I remember both shops were rather untidy but extremely helpful in overcoming any problem you may have with your bike.
The dentists on this block was Moffats. There were at one time about three dentist’s premisies in Bishopton Lane with Fletcher’s on the same side and another one across the road from Moffats. Mr Dean was a very handy chap, who as well as bikes, radios, televisions and record players sold and repaired Hornby Dublo electric trainsets and other models.
The son of the Deans was called Tony & he was born in the early forties, Keith Roberts will verify this because he knocked about with us as youngsters. I think Tony had a younger sister.
Ken and Margaret Dean had a son named Tony who was an excellent swimmer. He worked in the shop in his teenage years and was in charge of record sales. He had an excellent record player and used to play all the latest hits at a loud volume much to the disconcern of his parents who were trying to assist other shoppers.
Bill Beatties bike shop was in Norton Road, the shop in Yarm Lane was probably Tillstons, moved from Thornaby and still there as far as I know, but
now a motorcycle shop
When my family moved to Fairfield around 1956/7 I found it necessary to buy a bicycle to get to and from work, I purchased it from Deans shop in Bishopton Lane. The same shop also sold gramophone records, one of the first LP’s I bought was from there. The LP was the first released in this country by the wild man of rock ‘n’ roll Jerry Lee Lewis, it cost me 33 shilling.
Uptons on Yarm Lane has a special place in my memory. Firstly, I used to pass it daily on my way to Trinity School. Secondly, they were very advanced with their own large radio repair shop and, thirdly, my twenty first birthday present of an Ultra bakelite three wave radio came from them. I had it for years until something beyond my caperbilities required a professional to look at it. It went to a radio shop in Headingley Leeds for repair and somehow managed fob me off and lost it! then closed down, never seen again.
Can any old Stocktonians remember Mr Parker the bespoke tailor? His premises were behind Mathias Robinsons, on one of the old streets before they were knocked down for new roads. Mr Parker was a Scot from the Tweed area. He lived opposite Sparks bakery in the pleasant 1939 modern houses. My Father and I were customers of his for many years and a fine tailor he was. Does anyone else remember his business?
Uptons certainly had a store in Bishopton Lane
as well as Yarm Lane as Bob Irwin said, before moving to the High Street.
I got my new bike from Robinson’s as did my twin brother – but when we wanted to ‘customize’ them into chopper bikes with ‘cowhorn’ handlebars and other accessories we went to Deans! Didn’t they also sell some toys – or did I imagine that?
I can confirm that Ken & Margaret Dean did in fact have a shop in Bishopton Lane. Uptons moved there in the 1950’s in opposition. Ken had quite a large customer base. One advantage he had was that he did radio & bike repairs on the premises. As a racing cyclist he built all my wheels & obtained & sold me most of my cycling equipment, which included my Holdsworth frame, at a reasonable cost. They lived above the shop. I remember Margaret Dean having their only child during the 1950’s. Gave birth in the morning & was back in the shop before the end of the afternoon, quite an amazing lady! I have no idea when they ceased trading.
Anyone remember Deans shop in Bishy Lane?
On the block From the Station Hotel to the Leeds Hotel there was a dentist, a grocers shop either called Gallons or The Home and Colonial, I can`t remember which. Next came Sparks, Waltons the butchers, Fewsters greengrocers, Deans and Uptons. I`m not sure I got the last two in the right order.
Deans on Bishopton Lane was a toy shop.
I’ve just spoken to my mother who has confirmed, as previously mentioned, that Uptons did have a store on Bishopton Lane which was close to the Leeds Hotel. Deans were also trading at the same time. This Uptons store existed alongside the other store they had in Yarm Lane.
There was a bike shop on Bishopton Lane but I’m sure it was called Dean’s.
In the late 50’s, where Sandra’s hairdressers is,
there was a clothes shop. Not sure if it just sold children’s clothes.
Uptons moved from Yarm Lane (It was next to Jockers Pub)to the High Street.
I bought a Silver Cross pram from the pram shop on Bishopton Lane in 1967, it was called the Burley model, and was coffee and cream, with matching sunshade, and cost 40 guineas. I sold it in 1975 – it had been used for 4 babies by then, two of mine and two relatives, and I got £40 for it! It was an absolute delight to push, being coach built on springs. How I wish my grandchildren’s prams were as bouncy. I noticed a lady in Fairfield pushing one lately, had to go and have a chat with her about it, think she said she got it on ebay! Of course they did not fold up to put into cars which seems to be the prime consideration today – although we had a car at the time I had mine, and did not think about putting the pram into it, we used to put the baby on the back seat in a carry cot – no seat belts then!!
I too got my first new bike from Uptons in Bishy Lane. If memory serves correct, it was the three story building still standing near the Leeds hotel. The bikes were on the second floor.
Uptons Store was on Yarm Lane I don’t remember them having a branch on Bishopton Lane. Bill Beatties bike shop was also on Yarm Lane, that might be where your bike came from John.
I’m not sure if my memory serves me well, but my very first NEW bicycle came from an Uptons store on Bishopton Lane. Can anyone confirm as to whether Uptons had a store there [before the High St shop] and where exactly it was situated.
In the early sixties the shop on the corner of Leeds street and Bishopton Lane was the Silver Cross pram shop.
in the 1970 s this newsagents was owned by the late john moran,john also ran a plumbing business in the town,which is still run by john”s son also named john