My parent, Mr & Mrs Tough and my brother Ian and sister Jean. squatted at the Anti-Aircraft Site at Portrack in 1945 to 1946 or thereabouts They occupied hut 24. Jean died when they lived at the site and it would seem from her death certificate that conditions must have been pretty grim. Anyone got any photos of the camp?
i remember this site, it is where Wicks store is now. I was a schoolboy who had a friend who lived there he took me home to his hut. His family shared a large nissan hut with another family divided only by a few hanging army blankets. I lived in 29 Elliott Street, Portrack and it was very poor but I was shocked at the conditions that he had to endure. Each time I pass this place it reminds me, I have told my grandchildren about the pom pom site that was there. Keith Kerr
My parents, Mary and Harry Barker, were squatters after the war, at what was the anti aircraft installation, they referred to it in later years as the Portrack gun site. I was born in what had been the officers mess, which they occupied. They considered themselves lucky because many were housed in tents at that time. March 1947 was apparently part of a bad winter, the snow was deep and the doctor had just left, declaring that it was false labour. Moments later my mother gave birth to me with only my father to assist the delivery. We moved to Malden Rd, Middlesbrough when I was one year old, so I have no actual memory of this.
Derek we are second cousins, your dad and my mam were cousins. I use to knock around with you and Len, sorry to hear about your loss. I used to see him when he worked at I.C.I. We had the same great grandparents.
Hello John Edward Oliver, I remember your parents when they lived on Regworth estate, in fact we are related but not sure how. My aunt lizzy lived at 56 Doncaster Cresent and I used to visit her as a child and remember a few times going into you parents house. I seem to remember Brian the most, if you know how our Casey lines are crossed please get in touch. I have been doing my Casey family history since losing my younger brother Len almost 2 years ago, trying to collect old photos of the Caseys. Please get in touch through picturestockton team, all the best.
My mam & dad lived at the camp with me and my brother, Brian, and sister, Sandra. My parents were John and Olga nee Casey. We moved to Ragworth in the early fifties.
This picture would have been taken in the early fifties. I think that the Coop garage used to be to be where Maryport Rd, in Portrack, is now. I believe that the garage also handled meat products, paticularly tripe(the inside of a cow’s stomach). Apparently it was kept in pretty bad conditions, I think my mother said she saw blackclocks crawling over the tripe. The picture must have been taken from the north side of a huge chicken farm, on which the Portrack estate now stands. Judging from old maps, the chicken farm was bounded on the east and west by Walton Street and Cambridge Street and on the north and south by what is now Devonport Rd (in those days a cinder track)and Portrack Lane. Again, going by old maps, it used to be caled Black Farm, but I never heard that name myself.
Re Bob Harbron”s 03/11/2005 15:28:05 comment about the ” Z-Batteries” anti-aircraft of 4″ Rockets (12 stands of 4 rockets), this was also near the bridge and river on the present trading-estate The local Home Guard took over in 1942 and in 1943. An ICI unit of the Home Guard manned the rocket AA unit. My father, an ICI plant manager, was in this unit. Back to artillery after serving 4 years in the Royal Horse Artillery in France in WW1. Then a driver – of horse drawn supply wagons.
Many years ago before moving to the Roseworth Estate, my sister and brother in law Dolly and Jack Wilkinson lived on Portrack Camp. I have a copy of an old Stockton polling register, I am uncertain of the years it covers. The names on the register for Portrack Camp are 3, John Heaney, 15, Robert B Buttery, 39, Cicelia Vickers, 40, James Wharton, 41,Henry Reid, Henry Green, Mary White, 41a David White, 42,George E Carter, 42a Donald G Jeffels. My sister and brother in law are missing from the list, so I can only assume they had left the camp and moved to Roseworth or perhaps the list is simply incomplete.
My parents Hugh & Janet , my brother Donald & myself lived there from 1948 until we moved to Roseworth estate.My aunt Isa & uncle Jack and cousin Janet also lived there until they moved to Portrack I recognize some of those on Johns list. Our families had moved down from Scotland .I remember having to wait for the Newport bridge to rise and lower for shipping to travel to and from Stockton
There was a set of concrete prefabricated barracks on the west side of road leading to the Newport Bridge.This would have been an army barracks. My Uncle Hughie Mcglade lived there as a squatter with his wife Madge after he left the army. The date he was there was around 1949-50. I know this because this was my first long cycle ride on my own when eight years old. The road down was almost deserted.A small lorry ovetook me just after I passed over the railway bridge ( which no longer exists).This was the only vehicle! If you want more information you should contact Kevin Mcglade who has contributed to this website.
Born at Portrack Camp, Stockton-on-Tees 1950. moved away 1955. Very interested in any information and pictures. Please email to alec.vickers@btconnect.com
There was a balloon site alongside Newport Bridge and from 1941 the army had one of the first ” Z-Batteries” anti-aircraft of 4″ Rockets (12 stands of 4 rockets), this was also near the bridge and river on the present trading-estate The local Home Guard took over in 1942 and in 1943, 3 of the Home Guard were killed by a “Hang-Fire”
Is there anybody out there with information about the army camp at Portrack? Was it there to train troops before embarking to Europe? I have been trying to find information about this particular site for quite awhile but to no avail. If anybody has any info concerning this particular camp I would be ever so grateful.
My parents Jim and Agnes Morris lived at 25 Portrack bungalows in August 1946. If anyone has memories of them or the area, please get in touch.
My parent, Mr & Mrs Tough and my brother Ian and sister Jean. squatted at the Anti-Aircraft Site at Portrack in 1945 to 1946 or thereabouts They occupied hut 24. Jean died when they lived at the site and it would seem from her death certificate that conditions must have been pretty grim. Anyone got any photos of the camp?
i remember this site, it is where Wicks store is now. I was a schoolboy who had a friend who lived there he took me home to his hut. His family shared a large nissan hut with another family divided only by a few hanging army blankets. I lived in 29 Elliott Street, Portrack and it was very poor but I was shocked at the conditions that he had to endure. Each time I pass this place it reminds me, I have told my grandchildren about the pom pom site that was there. Keith Kerr
Not exactly a picture of the camp but you can see it on these images:
http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/eaw024114?quicktabs_image=0#comment-657623
http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/eaw024115?quicktabs_image=0#comment-657645
(if you register on the BFA web site (for free) you can zoom in to see a little more detail).
I think I might of pinned the old Co-op Garage here too?
http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw038901?quicktabs_image=0#comment-1356215
My parents, Mary and Harry Barker, were squatters after the war, at what was the anti aircraft installation, they referred to it in later years as the Portrack gun site. I was born in what had been the officers mess, which they occupied. They considered themselves lucky because many were housed in tents at that time. March 1947 was apparently part of a bad winter, the snow was deep and the doctor had just left, declaring that it was false labour. Moments later my mother gave birth to me with only my father to assist the delivery. We moved to Malden Rd, Middlesbrough when I was one year old, so I have no actual memory of this.
Derek we are second cousins, your dad and my mam were cousins. I use to knock around with you and Len, sorry to hear about your loss. I used to see him when he worked at I.C.I. We had the same great grandparents.
Hello John Edward Oliver, I remember your parents when they lived on Regworth estate, in fact we are related but not sure how. My aunt lizzy lived at 56 Doncaster Cresent and I used to visit her as a child and remember a few times going into you parents house. I seem to remember Brian the most, if you know how our Casey lines are crossed please get in touch. I have been doing my Casey family history since losing my younger brother Len almost 2 years ago, trying to collect old photos of the Caseys. Please get in touch through picturestockton team, all the best.
My mam & dad lived at the camp with me and my brother, Brian, and sister, Sandra. My parents were John and Olga nee Casey. We moved to Ragworth in the early fifties.
This picture would have been taken in the early fifties. I think that the Coop garage used to be to be where Maryport Rd, in Portrack, is now. I believe that the garage also handled meat products, paticularly tripe(the inside of a cow’s stomach). Apparently it was kept in pretty bad conditions, I think my mother said she saw blackclocks crawling over the tripe. The picture must have been taken from the north side of a huge chicken farm, on which the Portrack estate now stands. Judging from old maps, the chicken farm was bounded on the east and west by Walton Street and Cambridge Street and on the north and south by what is now Devonport Rd (in those days a cinder track)and Portrack Lane. Again, going by old maps, it used to be caled Black Farm, but I never heard that name myself.
Dr Fred Star is right we did live down there but Im sure it was an army barracks. I can only remember it being called the pre-fabs.
Re Bob Harbron”s 03/11/2005 15:28:05 comment about the ” Z-Batteries” anti-aircraft of 4″ Rockets (12 stands of 4 rockets), this was also near the bridge and river on the present trading-estate The local Home Guard took over in 1942 and in 1943. An ICI unit of the Home Guard manned the rocket AA unit. My father, an ICI plant manager, was in this unit. Back to artillery after serving 4 years in the Royal Horse Artillery in France in WW1. Then a driver – of horse drawn supply wagons.
Many years ago before moving to the Roseworth Estate, my sister and brother in law Dolly and Jack Wilkinson lived on Portrack Camp. I have a copy of an old Stockton polling register, I am uncertain of the years it covers. The names on the register for Portrack Camp are 3, John Heaney, 15, Robert B Buttery, 39, Cicelia Vickers, 40, James Wharton, 41,Henry Reid, Henry Green, Mary White, 41a David White, 42,George E Carter, 42a Donald G Jeffels. My sister and brother in law are missing from the list, so I can only assume they had left the camp and moved to Roseworth or perhaps the list is simply incomplete.
My parents Hugh & Janet , my brother Donald & myself lived there from 1948 until we moved to Roseworth estate.My aunt Isa & uncle Jack and cousin Janet also lived there until they moved to Portrack I recognize some of those on Johns list. Our families had moved down from Scotland .I remember having to wait for the Newport bridge to rise and lower for shipping to travel to and from Stockton
There was a set of concrete prefabricated barracks on the west side of road leading to the Newport Bridge.This would have been an army barracks. My Uncle Hughie Mcglade lived there as a squatter with his wife Madge after he left the army. The date he was there was around 1949-50. I know this because this was my first long cycle ride on my own when eight years old. The road down was almost deserted.A small lorry ovetook me just after I passed over the railway bridge ( which no longer exists).This was the only vehicle! If you want more information you should contact Kevin Mcglade who has contributed to this website.
Born at Portrack Camp, Stockton-on-Tees 1950. moved away 1955. Very interested in any information and pictures. Please email to alec.vickers@btconnect.com
There was a balloon site alongside Newport Bridge and from 1941 the army had one of the first ” Z-Batteries” anti-aircraft of 4″ Rockets (12 stands of 4 rockets), this was also near the bridge and river on the present trading-estate The local Home Guard took over in 1942 and in 1943, 3 of the Home Guard were killed by a “Hang-Fire”
Is there anybody out there with information about the army camp at Portrack? Was it there to train troops before embarking to Europe? I have been trying to find information about this particular site for quite awhile but to no avail. If anybody has any info concerning this particular camp I would be ever so grateful.