Stockton Grange Farm, Bishopton Road, Winter 1969-70. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton Grange Farm, Bishopton Road, Winter 1969-70.
The 3 farmhouse photos are indeed of Stockton Grange Farm, off Bishopton Road, Stockton. I recall it being referred to as Guys Farm. I should know what they are. I took them.
William Pearson
Hi William, that’s a nice way to put an end to the various theories on what and where this building was 🙂
Stockton Grange farm, and the cottages mentioned in some of the comments, are all visible on this 1949 photo:
https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW023515
Re Merrydale Avenue – My gt grandmother lived at 104 Dundas St from about 1912 and always insisted on calling it Merrydale Avenue although I never knew why but post used to arrive safely… She died in 1954 – Mrs Jane Newton (formerly Robinson) nee Elgie. This is the first info I’ve ever had which confirmed I was right – it DID exist! Thanks to all.
I have a 1911 death certificate of my get Grandfather John Hatton which states he died at Grange Farm, Eaglescliffe, Stockton. Is this the same area?
I’ve just been looking at the census records and have found Matthew Sanderson, a farmer employing servants and labourers, living at Stockton Grange with his family on the 1891, 1901, 1911 census’. I was wondering if this would be the same building. I’m not sure if the Sandersons owned the land or just farmed it but since they employed people I’m thinking they owned it.
Bob the road opposite is Barlborough Avenue, I lived at number 39 for many years before I moved South and was in the first intake to the 6th form College when it first opened, nice short journey each day
My sister attended Richard Hind from 1944 to 1949 and she was a school friend of a Muriel Guy. June, would this be the same Muriel Guy? If so there is a class photo of them dated 1948 on this site.
The Farm was indeed Stockton Grange Farm, Mr Willie Guy and Wife Doris lived there. They had a son Leslie, who was in the RAF and was killed in the war, and two daughters, Muriel and Betty. Willie’s brother was James Guy who lived on Elm Tree Farm, Bishopton Rd. West. This was demolished to make way for Elm Tree School. I married James’s middle son Alan and lived at Elm Tree farm for a few years till it was knocked down.
This farm was opposite Whitehouse Farm Estate on Bishopton Road West & now has the Stockton Sixth Form College & a big new building which is Stockton Town Football Club Headquarters which was opened by Sir Geoff Hurst. The clubhouse consists of a social area(bar), dance
studio, classroom & changing rooms. They have teams from 7 years old to 18 years old & also a Teesside League team in their first season & doing well.
I believe my great grandfather worked this farm up until about 1950″s. he was Thomas William Farrow and his son was John (Jack) Farrow. I would love to hear from anyone who can confirm these details are correct! They are also on the electoral roll as 3 Bishopton Road, (devondene)
Jack Farrow lived in one of a pair of semi-detatched houses near Bishopton Road Crossroads and not at Stockton Grange Farm. He had hen houses at the back of his house, was a very accomplished joiner and at one time produced inter-woven fence panels from used packing cases which he bought from Middlesborough Docks. He wrote in “Copper Plate” handwriting and used to write invitations for me. Thanks for the memories!
Hi Gordon Robson, you are correct, on the electoral register he was listed at 3 Bishopton Road, but his neice and nephews remember visiting him at the farm where the sixth form now stands.
I would love to hear more from you about my great uncle Jack!
This is stockton Grange farm which was once on the site of Stockton 6th form college.This was farmed by my father in law”s brother and wife and family (my father in law being James Guy of ElmTree farm – demolished to make way for St Marks school) He was called Willie Guy and his wife was doris,they had 2 daughters and one son who was in the R.A.F.
Ken Sawyer. Yes that would be correct Ken I was going by memory and did not check with the school photo, but the name rang a bell straight away. I think the system must have seperated out the A-B steams. It was not a particularly happy time for me. On 3rd September 1939 my Father being a member of the TA, was mobilised for war, and I only saw him for forty eight hour passes untill 1942 when I am pleased to say he was demobed having served at Ryhope Sunderland on the Ack Ack site for his second world war. His job was supplies. I did get back to Trinity for a short spell about 1943 in Cocky Salmons class. Oh Joy – and that slipper. Despite Trinity and the mess up with education caused by the war, plus a lot of ill health I managed to find a niche in Dentistry and enjoyed each day in Maxillo-Facial Restoration at Leeds Dental School and Hospital. I hope life has treated you well Ken and that you have had a happy and interesting life. J.Norman Kidd
Hello J Norman Kidd. You may remember me from being in Miss Allen”s class but not in Tom Sowler”s. I travelled the route of Miss Allen > Miss Watson > Pop Andrew > Daddy Burdon for 2 years.
Ken Sawyer. If I am correct Ken I remember you in Tom Sowlers class 4b in 1938-39. I still have the photograph of the class taken with Miss Allen and Billy Hewitt at each side. Long time ago and a lot of water since those days. J.Norman Kidd
Just to confuse things further The pictures above I believe are of Grange farm which was situated on Yarm back lane. It belonged to a farmer by the name of John Hall. the land runs along the back of surburton road and if you google earth ts21 1au you can still see the base. It was demolished in the 80s the gate fetured in the 3rd picture was the track that lead to yarm back lane. ANY one else remember this farm. You”ll find there is also a grange croft and grange field on this road.
I wonder if Rachel’s comment was referring to Hartburn Grange? (rather than Stockton Grange shown in these photos). Hence there being a Grange Croft & Grange field nearby. I’ve not seen a picture of Hartburn Grange? yet!
Very interesting comments here as this was all familiar territory when I was young. We lived in Aysgarth Road (Grangefield Estate) from when I was born in 1927 to 1936. I went to Newtown for 2 years before going on to Trinity for 4 years. I believe that Margaret Blyth Nee Peacock was in the Parish Church Youth Club at a time when I was involved with it up to 1957! I/we emigrated to Rugby in Warwickshire then for 10 years.
I was at Newtown school 1946-1952 and then Newham Grange. I was also in the Parish Church youth club. From 1956- 1961 I worked at Rembrandt Dress Factory Which i believe has been pulled down. I Remember my Grandma`s House . And my Uncle Walter lived opposite But every thing else is vague after living in Australia for 42 years and never being back to England there are a lot of things i dont remember
Hi Margaret Blythe. I lived next door to the Lamberts. Have a look at c1947. There are a few comments about Ken there. Interestingly you took the same course as me, only we emigrated Sydney in 1962. What years were you at Newham Grange?
After reading your comments i was interested in Londondery Road as my Grandparents lived there untill the mid 1960`s Their name was Lambert My Uncle Ken ( butch)worked at spark`s bakery does any one remember them I lived in Hazel road Primrose Hill and emigrated to Australia in 1966 with my husband and children i also attended Newtown School and Newham Grange
Hiya Louise Grangefield Farmhouse was located on land where Askrigg Road now stands and in it”s last years at the end of the 19th century abutted the South East corner of the cricket ground. I would imagine that this farm had land stretching as far as the railway line to the West and included what is now Ash Tree Farm, which was plain Ashtree House at the time. The detached houses you mention on Oxbridge Lane were built, as you rightly comment, in the 1860″s with Sunningdale House, ex Burwyn House, being the only one with an non Oxbridge Lane address, 2 Raby Road. This house, I was informed when I lived there in the 50s and 60s, was built on the orders of a yeast manufacturer on agricultural land. In fact it was built on the site of a pond. I have no information on the origin of the gateposts you mention.
We live on land that was once part of Grangefield Farm. We think that Grangefield Farm was approximately on the site of the current allotments on Oxbridge Lane. We don”t know whether Grangefield Farm relates to Stockton Grange or Newham Grange, but it”s more likely to be linked to the latter because the houses were built at the farm”s south west perimeter. Grangefield Farm, in 1866, comprised 64 acres, 2 roods 12 perches. The 5 large detached houses on Oxbridge Lane (right hand side when heading towards Fairfield) were built at the farmlands” south west perimeter from approx 1865 onwards. Malcolm Cottage was first to be built, then ours and a few more until eventually the Stoneyroyd Hotel (as it was called until recently)which first appears on the 1901 census. So, if anybody”s good at converting old measures that will give you an idea of the extent of Grangefield Farm land. Also, our gate posts are carved “Grangefield House”, but the house was originally called Tregothnan cottage (on 1881 census) so we”ve always imagined that the gateposts came when the farm house was demolished. Any clues please?
Grangefield Farm was at one time owned by Captain William Christopher (the Hudsons Bay Company captain). I believe his son George sold it in 1813. At about this time a large house overlooking the Cleveland Hills was demolished (by George I think); the “Grangefield House” gate posts may be from this large house.
Harry and Bob are both correct as to the location of Merrydale Avenue. Going from Durham Road the houses on the left-hand side were terraced houses whereas the houses on the right-hand side were detached or semi-detached and somewhat grander. Ray raises an interesting point in mentioning the flats built on what was the gardens belonging to the Merrydale Avenue terraced houses. I lived on the corner of Hamilton and Londonderry Roads until January 1966 and if my memory serves me right the flats were built just before that. As I remember, the flats were built for older people but the surprising thing is how quickly they were demolished. Does anybody know why they had such a short life?
Merrydale Avenue was a continuation of Dundas Street. The odd numbered houses were on the R/H side going from Durham Road. The gardens at the rear of the properties went down to the stream at the bottom which was Lustrom Beck. I remember a Mrs Hawes who lived in 69.
That’s right. My grandmother lived in number 61 for many years.
To David Lambert. Your question re. Merrydale Avenue. It was on the right side of what is now Dundas Street, Newtown. The gardens at the back of these houses ran down to the Lustrom Beck.
Merrydale avenue is still on the left hand side of Dundas street the last row of houses before Eastbourne estate and in the 40,s the last house was a small groceries shop owned by a woman called Nellie Tuck. At the back of Merrydale ave each house had a garden at the end of the garden was londonderry road primrose hill , Were I lived till I Got Married , A few years later a row of flats were built on the gardens which I understand have been demolished the ground is now vacant land . hope this helps
I came across your website while looking for a road in stockton which doesn”t seem to be there anymore the name is 77 MERRYDALE AVENUE STOCTON ON TEES i wonder if anyone can help me to find its location as it is now or when it was demolised etc any information would be much appreciated as i can”t seem to find anything relating to it regards david
Bob Irwin – Bob thanks for the information. Many years ago now I was working for Sparksound, a small electronics firm in the “Boro, run by the son of Ralph spark of bakery fame. We installed a sound system in Our Lady and St Bede”s school.As the place has expanded I can”t help but wonder if the new building is on this site – what”s your view? I can”t visualise the position of the school after all this time.
Mike Renwick. Whilst stationed at Stockton this was on my Manor. As in previous writings the entrance to this Farm would be approx 300 yards from the crossroads on the left. It was one of my duties to check on these premises. I was a Panda Patrol driver in the Fairfield area in 1970 and this building was still standing and the 6th Form College was still on the Drawings.
Bob Irwin – Bob I agree & the full title is: – Our Lady and St Bede”s Secondary (RC). The other, St Bede”s, is an RC infant”s on Green Lane. Must admit I don”t remember the buildings standing as late as 1969, but memory may be unreliable. Brian Bennison are you ex Grangefield? I recall that there was one “Wedge” Bennison in our year, is that you?
Is this building not standing now then? There are some cottage type houses on the site marker on the map but I am sure they are not these ones pictured?
Barbara has looked into this and, for all those out there who are curious as to the whereabouts of these buildings, she has marked the location on an old map of the area……see above
I thought Bob Irwin was right with his suggestion about this property being opposite Barlborough Avenue (the road that leads to Sainsbury”s), but I”m not so sure now. This building is still there and is situated only a few yards off the main road, Bishopton Road West. The pictures show a property with what appears to be a reasonable amount of land all around it. I did originally think it might have been Whitehouse Farm which stood roughly where the Thirsty Senator pub now stands. But that property was distinctly white. This farm was demolished and the Whitehouse estate (off Barlborough Avenue) was built.
I made a mistake naming the road opposite the farm track. I believe it is Barlbrough Road and the school in the background maybe St Bedes.
I think I know where this building was situated. Going from Stockton to Fairfield, just after the crossroads where Sainsbury”s is now and about 200 yards further on there was a farmtrack on the lefthand side of Bishopton Road which led to this farm. I would sat it is just past the entrance to the 6th Form College and opposite Whitehouse Road.
To Brian(1) and Brian(2), In plan view the whole farmhouse is a “T” shape. The guttering and downcomer carrying the rainwater down from the roof in the top picture can clearly be seen in the bottom picture. This indicates that the house has a section sticking out the back.(At right angles to the main body) This section cannot be seen in the top picture due to the camera angle.
I noticed all the comments about this building and am about to put in my tuppence worth. I have absolutely NO idea where it is but I think if you study the three photos it is more likely to be that they are all of the same building. In the bottom picture the two small chimneys sticking out of the centre of the roof look exactly like the two on the right of the top picture. Also the first two photos are taken from a lower level, so think of the house as a T shape and not an L and the part you see on the left in the lower picture would not be visible in the top two. Well that”s my idea. Apart from that a woman with two small children would not fancy traipsing round more than one derelict property a day in winter time.
Brian..On the balance of the evidence I think we would have to conclude that (given the same three people appear on each) they are the same building. Otherwise, the trio would have to have come across two almost identical buildings in the same state of dereliction on the same winter”s walk. The middle chimney on one pic is a red herring: its just the opposite gable end”s pots with the stack obscured by the back elevation and camera angle. It could well be the tech alongside. Anyone with old maps could possibly suggest which farm it could be.
Having looked in the 2002 copy of AZ of Stockton on Tees Street Atlas. Stockton Grange is still named, while Stockton Sixth Form College is named therefore. South is the now demolished Stockton-Billingham College of Further Education. By a rough guess, I say the Stockton Grange Farm is on the site of the Sixth Form College.
Comparing the 3 photographs the house is the same. Looking at the chimney pots you will see that at the nearest gable, the left hand pot is smaller than the one next to it and the brickwork is stained with the heat from the fires. There is also a drainpipe on the gable end from the front gutter which shows in the 3 photos. If you look across the roof top on the 3rd photo you will see just the top of the the chimney pots which are similar in the other 2 photos. Seeing that this is called Stockton Grange Farm it does give a clue that there is a school building in the background. Could this be the new 6th Form College which was probably built around this time and the house is waiting to be demolished.
Brian . . . . don”t you think the gable end chimney (closest to the camera) on the bottom photograph is at right angles to the other one, but that is not the case on the top two photographs. You are probably right about the photographs been taken on the same day, but perhaps not at the same building, we”ll probably never know! I wonder if the modern building in the backgroung of the bottom picture is (the now demoloshed) Stockton & Billingham Technical College on Bishopton Avenue, having said that I don”t remember a farm nearby. It is intriguing!
Its intriguing. The same chimney breast on the gable end looks to be there in all photos. The two bottom pics are clearly taken at same time, same clothing etc.
The only clue is there is a building in the background of third photo down. Looks like where the Stockton & Billingham Tech was.
I do wonder if the bottom photograph is a different property to the top two. The bottom photograph shows (what looks like) two small chimneys coming from the centre of the roof, these do not appear on the other two photographs. The bottom property appears to be “L” shaped unlike the property in the top two. The gable-end chimneys in the top two photographs are facing each other, but they don”t in the bottom one . . . . or is this an optical illusion. Also, in the background of the bottom photograph, there is a modern building – does anyone recognise this? I have used Bishopton Road all my life and don”t remember this farm at all. I wonder what connection the lady and her two children have with this derelict farm.
Colin, I think Brian is correct in saying that this was not opposite the School. It certainly was not the old mill on the “hill” top. The mill was made up of the millers house adjoining the mill with a chimney at the end. Who is to say that the house in the picture was built on the site of Grange Road before the housing was built? The mill and house were very scary to us kids when making our weary home after a busy Saturday afternoon fishing for sticklebacks and redbreasts ( and avoiding the leeches in the beck.). Our pace quickened up when passing this building.
The description of these photographs say they are of Stockton Grange Farm, Bishopton Road and Benny Brown asks if it was opposite Newtown school. I lived in Londonderry Road, Newtown, and went to Newtown school from 1950 until 1956 and there was never a farm opposite Newtown school. As a child I used to play on the nearby waste land next to Lustrum Beck where Wrensfield council estate was built in the 1950″s, this had also been a Barrage Ballon site but I don”t remember a farm here also. The only farm I remember in the area was White House Farm which was further up Bishopton Road, a couple of hundred yards along from Sparks Bakery. It doesn”t look like this farm either. Where exactly was Stockton Grange farm, Bishopton Road.
Hi Benny, I think what you are referring to is the old mill. on the top of the hill. Matty Nightingale lived there, also I think his brother with Downes Syndrome or something. Matty was 1 or 2 classes ahead of us.
Is this the Farm opposite Newtown School. If it is the only pupil to pass the eleven plus Exam from a “C” class I mentioned previously lived in this Farmhouse I believe. Does any one remember this Girl, and what her name was and any other information on her. It was always a spooky house to us kids when we played on the old Barrage Balloon site and later in the Primrose Hill Sports Club Nissan huts.