Greg – yes I can confirm this block was built in 1960/1. I remember the year because this was the first year of me being a bricklayer proper after completing my 5 year apprenticeship, and this was one of the first contracts I worked on.
I have been asked by the owners of McCormicks Opticians in Billingham Town centre (above where Burtons was) exactly when the shop was built. From bill Charltons comments it would seem Tarmacs were the bulders around 1960, can you confirm this Bill?
Ah, the town centre when you could spend ages over there – now its a quick nip over for something and back home! Loved the aviaries, and the pond has happy memories walking along parts of it! Even the covered areas outside what I call ‘miles’ newsagents and Burtons, which went round the corner to where kids would walk on the roof after climbing down from what is the Blockbusters shop now. Strange how the memory works. I recall the covered areas being there, yet can’t for the life of me remember them being taken down, yet I was probably over the town centre most days due to living in Grampian Road, wonder if there are photos of them being dismantled?(and when)
I remember the two large aviary’s, (shown in the 4th photo) there was Canaries and Budgies. I used to love watching them. There was a very large aviary in Preston Park, now sadly gone.
Derek Crouch did indeed build in the town centre but not all of it. Many builders contributed to the building work in the town centre over the years, myself working for some of them as a bricklayer, first for Tarmac Building who built the 2 storey block in the early sixties and Chas Tennant who built the building which I think was for the YMCA but later changed its name – this has now, I believe, been demolished. A company called Stephenson Builders also built the extension on the Billy Arms between the hotel and Asda. Tarmac Building also built Kennedy Gardens in Pentland Ave which I also worked on. If I am correct Crouch built the last part of the centre which includes Boyes and the pub The Astronaut – think that it’s name, might be wrong, been away from Billingham for many years now, the old brain cells not working like they use to. Walked through the centre about 2 years ago, could not believe how down and out it looked, and to think it was a showcase when it first opened way ahead of anywhere in the country.
I can remember the tunnel, it started at the begining of Boyes store and went all the way to near Rosebery Rd at the top of Pentland Ave. The name that was put up all over the tunnels was a company called Dereck Crouch, I think they were the building Co that did the town sq. That was in the winter of 1966 and, how I remember the year, was I lost my little man out of the James Bond car and spent two hours looking for him as didnt dare go home without it as my Mam paid 12 Bob for the car.
I had an Aunty living in Cotswold Cresent in Billingham. I can remember the Town centre being built. As a school child I remember the pedestrian tunnel that was part of the building site. I also remember the goldfish in the ponds. They wouldn’t last five minutes these days and it wouldnt be the Herons that would take the fish.
What furniture shop was where Bright House is now back in the 60’s and 70’s?
Greg – yes I can confirm this block was built in 1960/1. I remember the year because this was the first year of me being a bricklayer proper after completing my 5 year apprenticeship, and this was one of the first contracts I worked on.
I have been asked by the owners of McCormicks Opticians in Billingham Town centre (above where Burtons was) exactly when the shop was built. From bill Charltons comments it would seem Tarmacs were the bulders around 1960, can you confirm this Bill?
Ah, the town centre when you could spend ages over there – now its a quick nip over for something and back home! Loved the aviaries, and the pond has happy memories walking along parts of it! Even the covered areas outside what I call ‘miles’ newsagents and Burtons, which went round the corner to where kids would walk on the roof after climbing down from what is the Blockbusters shop now. Strange how the memory works. I recall the covered areas being there, yet can’t for the life of me remember them being taken down, yet I was probably over the town centre most days due to living in Grampian Road, wonder if there are photos of them being dismantled?(and when)
I remember the two large aviary’s, (shown in the 4th photo) there was Canaries and Budgies. I used to love watching them. There was a very large aviary in Preston Park, now sadly gone.
Derek Crouch did indeed build in the town centre but not all of it. Many builders contributed to the building work in the town centre over the years, myself working for some of them as a bricklayer, first for Tarmac Building who built the 2 storey block in the early sixties and Chas Tennant who built the building which I think was for the YMCA but later changed its name – this has now, I believe, been demolished. A company called Stephenson Builders also built the extension on the Billy Arms between the hotel and Asda. Tarmac Building also built Kennedy Gardens in Pentland Ave which I also worked on. If I am correct Crouch built the last part of the centre which includes Boyes and the pub The Astronaut – think that it’s name, might be wrong, been away from Billingham for many years now, the old brain cells not working like they use to. Walked through the centre about 2 years ago, could not believe how down and out it looked, and to think it was a showcase when it first opened way ahead of anywhere in the country.
I can remember the tunnel, it started at the begining of Boyes store and went all the way to near Rosebery Rd at the top of Pentland Ave. The name that was put up all over the tunnels was a company called Dereck Crouch, I think they were the building Co that did the town sq. That was in the winter of 1966 and, how I remember the year, was I lost my little man out of the James Bond car and spent two hours looking for him as didnt dare go home without it as my Mam paid 12 Bob for the car.
I had an Aunty living in Cotswold Cresent in Billingham. I can remember the Town centre being built. As a school child I remember the pedestrian tunnel that was part of the building site. I also remember the goldfish in the ponds. They wouldn’t last five minutes these days and it wouldnt be the Herons that would take the fish.