Thornaby in the 80s.
Photograph courtesy of Anthony Bonner
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Thornaby in the 80s.
Photograph courtesy of Anthony Bonner
Regarding the rag and bone yard – I definitely remember it being the middle to top end of Westbury and, I too, remember you could hardly see it which gave it the air of mystery! I remember there was a loud dog and huge gates. It probably wasnt as big as I remember it to be, when you are kids things look bigger and scarier. I remember Sweaty Bettys and also Cottles mens salon and Bennets DIY. I was given a beautiful brooch and dropped it as they were closing and had to wait till monday for my dad to go back and get it.
The local Rag and Bone man was Tommy Ayres who had a dog called Curly Ayres. My mam (Mary Wilson) used to put me on the back of his cart apparently in my carrycot when I was a baby to try and get me to sleep while Tommy did his rounds. Tommy inherited the round from his dad, Jacky. Last saw Tommy in the late 1970s and believe he has since died. I don”t remember the actual yard but it would have been somewhere around Mandale Road.
Can I ask, is anyone old enough out there to remember where abouts Primrose Terrace was in Thornaby, it was supposed to be off Westbury Street some where. Thanks
I can remember it being a rag and bone place when I was a kid in the 50s.It was also used as a storage place, in fact it seemed to be used for all sorts of things when I think back.It must have had stout doors as there weren”t to many places that were impregnable to us wee noisy kids of the time – No TV you see.
We (the Toulsons) used to live at 128 Westbury St, next door to sweaty Bettys paper shop. My Dad used to keep his car an Austin Cambridge in the lean to place you can see in the photograph, as did a lot of other people. I dont remember it being a rag and bone yard, Ill ask my Dad Norman.
Is that the old Rag and Bone place I remember. I would love to know more about that place. I remember it as a kid, he had a horse and then a truck, I used to “spy” at him through the fence. I thought it very interesting LOL 🙂 We used to live in Langley Ave so this is all my old hunting area
This is Westbury Street looking towards Lanehouse Road from Charles Street. Langley Avenue entry is centre right of picture.