Instructor Eddie Peacock and apprentice moulder/coremakers at Head Wrightsons c1971. Photograph courtesy of Ken Rhodes
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Instructor Eddie Peacock and apprentice moulder/coremakers at Head Wrightsons c1971. Photograph courtesy of Ken Rhodes
I worked at Head Wrightsons from 1961 until 1967. As apprentices we went around all the factories until we chose our trade. I knew of the main Teesdale Site, the Machine Company in Middlesborough, Stockton Forge, Stockton Foundry, Eaglescliffe Foundry but I never came across a Billingham site. Can anybody tell me where it was ?
The Billingham site was most likely Davy United on the Haverton Hill Rd which merged with Heads around 1970.
I remember my dad getting free panto tickets for the Globe in the sixties.. saw quite a few big names.. Joe Brown, Dave Dee etc.
It was actually Mr Wolverson not Wolviston and his daughter-in-law, Jean, took over many moons ago after Mr Wolversons son also passed away. She subsequently married a man from the midlands Brian Killman and became Jean Killman. The two ran the company since the late 80’s and I believe it’s now been bought out by Teescraft.03/09/2011
I think HW & Davy’s merged around 1969/70 as I was working in the labs at Davy’s at the time and transferred to the Iron Foundry ay Eaglescliffe.
I remember when being there they made 1 million pound profit and we all thought that was great. Now 1 million and you are thinking, ‘liquidation’ is just around the corner.
I believe you are right Ken, it was about 1980 when Bob had long gone. I think the Mr Wolviston of Stockton Castings died young quite a few years ago and the part of the factory on the left hand side of Ross Road is now an engineering company owned by a well known Stockton Forge and Teasdale Machine Shop gaffer, Jeff Allen. His father was also the foreman at Teasdale Machine Shop.
Quite right, Bob, you left the same time as I did and I can’t remember anything about the Davy Foundry, but Management didn’t let you know much in those days…(nothing changes does it).
Yes Anon, Heads did have those four foundries and I think, Bob, but I’m not quite sure,that they became part of the group when Heads and Davys merged. Date not known. Anon, Stockton Casting was owned and run very well by Mr Wolviston and I belive its still running and probably the only foundry left anywere in the Stockton,Billingham or Thornaby area but again I’m out of touch now and will stand correcting. I certainly miss my time spent in the HW foundries, a wonderful set of chaps and I repeat myself when I consider moulders and core makers (sand rats) to be one of the most skilled craftsmen in the Engineering world and Eddie Peacock is one of them. I spoke to Eddie on Saturday and he looks no different to the above photo.
When did HW’s aquire the Davy Foundry? I left in 1962 and it wasn’t part of HW’s then.
HEAD WRIGHTSON’S HAD FOUR FOUNDRIES OF THEIR OWN – THORNABY, STOCKTON, EAGLESCLIFFE & DAVYS, BILLINGHAM. WAS STOCKTON CASTINGS ON ROSS ROAD & OWNED BY SOMEBODY CALLED WOLVISTON? EDDIE PEACOCK IN THE PHOTO WAS A FORMER PUPIL AT NEWTOWN SCHOOL & NEWHAM GRANGE.
brian Popple is fine and in england at present would like to hear from you again ken. hope you are all well. enid xx this is our colin”s email address.
Anyone remember Brian Popple, I think he was a dyecaster or dyesinker ?? and served his apprenticeship at Head Wrightson in the fiftees
MY FATHER JOHN HENRY THOMPSON WORKED AT THE EAGLESCLIFFE SITE DURING THE 1950s AND 60s. DOES ANYONE REMEMBER HIM?
For Phil Rambert. Yes one and the same, I seem to remember your dad made delicious ommelettes. I left a comment on a photo of Bishopton Lane, when you mentioned the decorators shop where your mam worked. I remember her well, happy days.
For Steve Smith Is that the same Steve Smith from Brown”s Bridge that wasted whole evenings and weekends in the late 60″s and early 70″s playing football in Durham Road Rec, Rudd”s Rec on Grangefield Avenue and in the fields of the Special School at Brown”s bridge?
Eddie Peacock was a time served moulder who worked at the Steel foundries belonging to the Head Wrightson group both at Stockton Steel Foundry and Teesdale Steel Foundry.Eddie looked after the young apprentices for anumber of years till HW closed the foundries down due to lack of work. It was said that HW made more profit over the next two to three years with the compensation recieved from the goverment and banks than they had made in the previous years. Eddie went on to finish his moulding career with another Stockten foundry based at Portrack called Stockton Castings who are I think, the only foundry left in the area from about seven or eight based in the Stockton area
Eddie Peacock is my brother in law. I”ve just showed him this photo today (1/7/07), he was amazed. I”m sure he will spend a lot of time on this site from now on.
So you must be Val & Billy’s brother.
Sorry just found this reply. Yes I am, I am sad to say that both of them are no longer with us,
Your Grandad Tooke was our next door neighbour in Byron Street, I knew them from when they visited him.
Hi
I vaguely remember visiting him when I was very young, before he moved. The corner shop is a memory that sticks out. I think that my Uncle Sid lived across the road too.
We moved in 1957 Sid didn’t live there then, Bill Taylor & Emily lived opposite in the back street in Federick Street.
I worked with you’re Bill and Ray, with Stockton Police. Bill and I were good school mates. My wife Brenda Mooney, lived in Stoker Street too. Val and Eddie were dear friends also, Steve.
Hi Keith
Apparently we moved from Stoker Street to Browns Bridge when I was 6 months old.
I knew your cousins Albert’s children Linda & Malcolm, also Emily’s kids Alan & Rita.
You come from good stock Steve. I knew Val, Bill, Ray all very well indeed. Treasured friends each and every one of them. God Bless em.
These were all Alice’s children.
Eddie Peacock was a keen footballer when he was at Newham Grange School.
Played in a good school team too.