The first two photographs show Parkfield Foundry c1965. Courtesy of Cliff Thornton. The third photograph of the Foundry was taken in 1985 and was sent to us by Kevin McGowan. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
The first two photographs show Parkfield Foundry c1965. Courtesy of Cliff Thornton. The third photograph of the Foundry was taken in 1985 and was sent to us by Kevin McGowan.
My dad (Alan Kell) who was an electrician used to take me and my brother down the foundry as kids in the late 60s early 70s during the holiday shutdown, to feed the cats.
Loved the overhead cranes. Health and Safety Officers would have kittens today.
My husband Peter Hamill worked here from an apprenticeship to when he got made redundant in the 1980s he loved his job and the guys who worked there but I didn’t like the dirt he brought home
My husband Peter Hamill worked here as a moulder core maker until all staff lost jobs in the 1980s he then went to Stockton castings in Portrack and then worked in Germany it was hard dirty work but he loved it
My Dad Jimmy McKnight worked at Parkfield along with my Grandad Derek Chesworth until the early 80’s I think. They then moved onto Stockton Castings on Ross Road shortly after where my Dad still works. My Dad use to say that on their lunch break they sometimes use to run over to the Bowesfield Pub for a few. Imagine doing that now.
I worked at Parkfield Ashmores from 1956 to 1996. I knew Boby Newbold well, he worked in the fetling shop as a casting inspector. George Chambers was the shop steward. Mell and Barry also worked there.
My grandad used to work in the foundries, not sure what dates, but his name was Robert Newbold. Does anyone remember him?
I have read with interest the stories about N. DOWNING AND SONS IRON FOUNDERS of RAILWAY ST Stockton where I served my time as a coremaker from 1965 until 1979 but I have yet to hear any stories or information about Nicholas Downing. Nick as he was known wasn”t just one of the managers but a very talented hobbiest who used to make large scale models of steam locomotives/ engines some he used to sell and I believe some went on display at Preston Hall Museum. The wheels of the steam locomotives/engines were all made/cast in alluminium by the lads in the foundry in their spare time, Nick had a way of getting round you to do these little jobs for him but nobody refused he was such a great chap and sadly missed. More information/stories about Nick would be greatly appreciated.
I worked at N. Downing & Sons as a coremaker from 1965 until November 1979 when we were all made redundent, I remember Joe Geldart very well indeed he used to have an office or should I say a 8″x6″shed in the yard next to the fettling shop, a great bloke I have very fond memories of him. If I remember correctly he had or used to have a big interest in greyhounds at the time and so did I. I used to race my two dogs at BELLVUE STADIUM near the BROWN JUG PUB on Norton Road Stockton. When Joe found out that I had an interest in Greyhounds he gave me 2 hardback Greyhound year books/stud books fortunately I have still got one of them to this day, unfortunately the second one was destroyed by water damage a lot of years ago. A great chap and will always be remembered by everyone that worked at N.DOWNING & SONS lTD. There was another chap that worked there who was a chemist and a good friend of David Downing his name was Peter Henry,I think he was brought in to oversee the running of the new electric furnace and improve the quality of the molten metal and the finished castings. There was also another manager brought in his name was Philip Cook he came to Downings from Croydon (not sure) I believe he worked for a company called APV PARAMOUNT down south.
I worked at Parkfield in the 70s – I worked with Mel Chambers as a chipper, it was a dirty job
I remember a Barry Chambers who worked at Parkfield in the 70s. I can”t remember what he did, other than he worked in the Heavy Foundry, and was involved with the union. In fact he and the shop steward – Joe, were instrumental in me not being fired after I incurred the company”s displeasure on one occasion. He”d be about 60 now, so I guess it”s the same person. Tell your dad “Kevo” says hello.
hello my name is julie chambers my dad worked for parkfield foundry early 60,s his name is barry chambers please get in touch if anyone has any old photos i could copy. thanks julie
My husband, David Booth, was a pattern maker in the Parkfield patternshop. We left in 1975 to live in Canada but he remembers everyone from back then esp “the Vicar”.
My father was Richard Drummond aka Dickie coremaker moulder also my brother Col Drummond core maker until it shut
I worked at Davey united when your dad had a accident and badly hurt his back. We later ended up at Parkfield foundry, your dad wore strapping to support his back. But he never lost his sense of humour. Col was also my apprentice a great lad and my second son. I later ended up at Parraloy Billingham with Col and was his apprentice.
My dad Arthur Pryke worked in the heavy shop as a fettler for 20 years approx right up to the close. My hubby Paul was on the furnaces as chargehand in the mid 80″s
i have some old monthly magazines called concord they date from 1951 they include 2 golden jubilee editions one is an historical edition the other is a commemoration issue, another one is a loyal greetings to HRH queen elizabeth on her coronation may/june issue 1953. there are 39 issues in total and contain lots of information about the parkfield foundry its employees and managers,weddings too with lots of photographs there is also an issue dedicated to the death of King George V11. they make very nostalgic reading.
The second photograph in this folder shows the interior of the Heavy Foundry at Parkfield Foundries. It was taken from the same vantage point as t6378, but almost exactly 20 years later, during the traditional 2 week summer shutdown in August 1985. By now the wall crane had gone, but the 40 tonner is still there, although parked out of sight. It’s hook can be seen on the far right.
This photograph is of the “Heavy” foundry, and is taken from the top of the stairs leading to the main offices. The 40 ton capacity overhead crane can be seen, plus the rather unusual wall crane, which made a distinctive clanking noise as it ran up and down the shop. I worked in the “Light” foundry from 1973 to 1981. The firm closed in 1996, one of it”s last jobs being casting of tunnel segments for the Jubilee Line extension. I”d love to hear from any of my old colleagues from those days. kevin291@yahoo.com
Downings was bought by Sid Harker and used as a scrap yard and still has his skips and crane there. I can remember taking my grandads tea to him for his tea break when they lived at Tilery. My grandads father Moses also worked at Downings he could not read or write but could read the drawings better than a lot of the other workers. I intend to ask my uncle John for more info on Downings
joe is my grandad and has told me about j downings and son and i am glad to hear from you sid i will inform joe about this website the one who married shelia and also sid if you want to talk to me address middlesbroughlad@hotmail.co.uk cheers
When I served my time at J.Downing this was before new offices were built, I knew every inch of the old place, including the upstairs which was closed off for years. Me and my mate Allen Hymen used to explore all over the place during lunch breaks, we used to tip toe around as we would be up above foreman Tommy Scott’s office and some times owner of the foundry John Downing, if any one thought our methods of moulding was some thing from another age, they should have looked up stairs, very long cobwebs and the odd implements we never new what they were, like some thing out of Doctor Who. I served my time as a moulder at this great little foundry and enjoyed every moment I spent there, I can remember when the new offices were opened the owner John Downing threw a party for us, he put on a big barrel of beer on for us at the Commercial Hotel and we had a great night, I would have loved to get in touch with any one who worked there all through the 60s, or family members, all the best Derek Casey derek.casey3@ntlworld.com
Would that be Dennis “Spud” Jones, famous for his party trick in about 1950 ? Lived in Park Terrace.
I served my time as an apprentice moulder at downs iron foundry, i remeber Joe Geldart very well, every time he came into the foundry looking for patterns, he always sang ” any umbrellas ” and ” little dolly day dream ” Joe lived at Norton and biked to work every day regardless of the weather,a Gentle person and a privilege to have know him, photo at top looks nothing like inside of Downings foundry, Moulders who worked there Billy Wood / George Brett /Joe Hanley / Arthur Baily / Tommy Metcalf /Dennis Jones/ Jim Irish / Franky Wynn /Core makers. Billy Wheelehouse / Ciril Nesbitt /Albert Wrightson. On furnace Knoker Thompson / Gordon Wood. sand mixer Gunner Thompson. Drivers Billy Golidge / Billy Peacock.I started work there around 1963 Tommy Scott was foreman { good bloke }worked all through the 60s left around 1971, Hope this stirs some memories for some, most knew me as Decca. derek.casey3@ntlworld.com
No, the Joe who married Sheila is my brother.
Sydney Ozelton, Is your uncle Joe the same who married Shiela and lives in Acklam?
I remember Downings foundry as if it were yesterday but cannot remember names apart from Dave one of the the labourers, Peter one of the chemists. I remember the old offices at the top of railway Street with all the old files from the early 1900″s plus the newer offices were the Downings themselves operated from. I was a contract electrician and attended many call outs to the ageing machinery. The place was a disgrace for working conditions in the late 1970″s and was like something from Dickens era. They did install a new electric furnace in the mid 70″s and had a rather nasty accident when the water jacket burst and the molten metal flew out everywhere, luckily no one hurt. The outside DC crane was a relic and virtually collapsed prior to the closure of Downings – the good thing about the place was the group of people who worked there – salt of the earth!
My grandfather Joe Geldart worked at Downings for 55 years and all three of his sons, my uncles, Joe, Bill and John served their time there as moulders. I wondered if any one remembers them, Grandad cycled to work every day from Norton and home on his bike till he retired at almost 80 years of age.
This is very similar to N. Downing & Sons that used to be in Railway Street Stockton. Does anybody have any history or photos of Downings. You can still see evidence of their work – the drain covers for storm water carry their name in a few places around town.
Parkfield Foundry – inside the foundry during the work’s summer close down in 1965. This annual closure provided an opportunity for the cupola furnace to cool down and have its brick lining renewed. The workshop stands empty, with iron moulding boxes lying about on the floor awaiting the next wooden shape to come from the pattern shop and be moulded into the sand, into which the molten metal would then be poured.
My grandad James Whitfield was on the gate at parkfield foundries alongside him sat his faithful dog Laddie who one day escaped through the front door at home to follow him and was unfortunately killed on the road . His death was covered in the firms magazine along with a photo of him