Mr Irwin, it may have been you who was called to Elcoate farm. Me and my friend did have whippets and we were regulars all around that farmland. I caught my first brown trout from a part of The Wash we knew as Kennedys point. That fish is responsible for my love of fishing. Jack Kennedy allowed us to fish on his land. We didn’t dare go past the ‘no fishing’ sign at Farmer Elcoates. Only today I actually talked to my friends mother and she remembers the time when me and her son Ross Shepherd nearly drowned in a dingy accident. Mrs Shepherd always had a rabbit on the boil and she told me this morning she had one on the pan. She seemed really pleased to see me because we hadn’t talked since I was a schoolboy and now I am 54. My other friend at school had an uncle who farmed at Bottle Hill Farm near the Golden Gates to Wynard Park, home of Lord Londonderry at the time.
I WORKED FOR IDEAL BUILDERS ON THE SITE OF WASHINGTON, JOHNSON AND KENNEDY GROVES, I DIDN’T REALISE IT WAS 1964, I THOUGHT IT WAS LATER THAN THAT. I REMEMBER A FUNNY STORY, I WAS A DUMPER DRIVER AND MY MATE TERRY DEGNAN WOULD MIX THE CEMENT AND LOAD ME UP TO TAKE THE CEMENT TO THE BRICKLAYERS. ONE MORNING WE DECIDED TO GO HOME FOR OUR 10 0’CLOCK TEA BREAK ON THE DUMPER, WE GOT A RIGHT TICKING OFF FROM THE GAFFER. WHEN WE GOT BACK, HE READ US THE RIOT ACT FOR GOING ON A PUBLIC ROAD WHEN NEITHER OF US HAD A LICENCE!
The estate which was next to the Ragworth Hotel is called the Clarence House Estate,
which consist of Johnson, Kennedy & Washington Groves and the houses were built by Ideal Builders in 1964.
The Elcoate who has the farm on Blakestone Lane, moved there when his market garden on Darlington Lane near to the Frederick Nattrass School was sold for building land. The estate next to what was the Ragworth Hotel was built on his land. As a Policeman I was often called to his farm on Blakeston Lane because of tresspassers and poachers mainly youths from the Hardwick and Roseworth Estates. To combat this he allowed the Police Fishing Club to fish in the stream at the bottom of his land. This stream flowed into the Wash and onto the Billingham Bottoms. At one time the Coalboard would put fish into these waters as they used it for draining water from the mines into it.
Didn’t the Elcoate family have a farm on Blakestone Lane. My father, Robert Boiston, went to school with the farmer called Elcoate when my father lived at mill lane on the green. Farmer Elcoate reported me and my friend to the police when we were caught on his farmland when I was a schoolboy.
When I told Mr Elcoate my name was Peter Boiston he told the police to drop any charges because he went to school with my father. We were lucky not to be shot, he threatened to shoot the dogs we had.
Forty years later I now have the landowners permission to fish on his land.
Next time you’re in Norton High Street at this spot look at the wall to the right. 4 doors to the left was Elcoate sweet shop, now a private house. Built in the 1600, (A Cromwellian coin was found in the lintel during restoration work early. The roof-line and peak, again of that period (A pine tree-trunk roof beam found during roof restoration of Elcote’s 1984) is carried in a ‘Shadow’ -outline on the brickwork of the house right in picture. When the Georgian building to the left, 1770, was built, a number of cottage were demolished, with one cottage left for coach-man or domestic staff, the ground floor removed to allow an arched acces to the rear, later to a carriage-house and stabling. A garage took over and the upper floor and roof removed leaving a 300 year old ‘Shadow’. Today the brilliant sunshine gleams on a beautiful leaf tree between these buildings a dazzling spray of silver and gold in the sunlight.
Karen, I was born in 6 Napier St 1947, my mam & dad were living with dads sister Lizzy Evens. I’m about to turn 63 and still remember how horrible those little dark houses were to this day. I can’t remember too many peoples names but the Hopes lived at the top Bollsover Rd and Douglases the corner of Napier St.
Derek, I too was born in Napier Street (1956). Dreadful little house, don’t know how my mam coped. We were eventually rehoused at Hardwick – the Watsons.
I was delivered by Dr Manning and remember the surgery on Norton Road very well. Collect a disc – work out how long before your turn then run home to take the disc to Mum for her ‘appointment’. Remember the leather seats around the room and the stairs up to Norton Road where all the smokers hung out. Doctors included Drs Zimmerman, Ashton, Manning, McKenzie, Bergman, Zagoo. Dr Zimmerman lived on the corner of Bishopton Rd West near Newham Grange Estate. I believe he passed away under tragic circumstances many years ago.
Yes, it was Dr Clouston, but he had a partner as well. Looking at the picture the white house is 56 and next door as I knew it was the coal merchant called Fred Skipp at 54. I worked for Curry’s from being 13 years old to 16 which was 1950 -53. The door numbers were as they are today. The changes must have been just before I started at Curry’s. Dr McGonigle lived next door to the Tram Sheds and opposite the George and Dragon pub at number 92 I think. Was the house called ‘Sheridan House?
Dr Paddy Clouston was the partner of Dr Woodward who retired in around 1960, his place was then taken by Dr. Lockey. As well as Norton and Billingham? they had a surgery at Hardwick Health Centre in the 1960s and also in the row of houses by the subway on Norton Road near to St Mary’s Church. Dr Clouston later lived in the village at Wolviston and on retirement C1980 went , I was told, to live in the Orkney Islands.
Don’t forget Dr Sagoo always wore his white turban, he was with the surgery with Dr Bergman , Dr manning, Dr McKenzie and others Dr Sagoo was great when my daughter was very ill after being born in 1967
Dr and Mrs Clouston lived in the house shown in the picture, this was not used as a surgery. The surgery was at the house to the right of the picture. The Rowbotham family lived there , and their 2 front rooms were used as the surgery. Regarding the house number’s these were changed app 1950. My family lived at 64 High Street and I remember it being changed to 70 High Street, I think this was due to a property being demolished along by the Pickering cottages.
DEREK CASEY- I THINK SWAINBY ROAD WILL BE THE LAST OF ITS KIND WHEN IT GETS DEMOLISHED, WE DIDN’T BELONG TO TILERY OR NORTON, WE WERE
SWAINBY ROAD BORN AND BRED, ALL OUR BEST FRIENDS WERE BORN IN SWAINBY ROAD, WE GREW UP, WENT TO SCHOOL, AND WENT TO WORK WITH THEM, WE ENJOYED OUR SATURDAY NIGHTS OUT AT THE JUBILEE HALL, A FEW SNEAKY PINTS IN THE STATION OR THE AMERICAN TAVERN BEFORE WE WERE OLD ENOUGH TO DRINK, THEN ALL WALKED HOME TOGETHER AFTER THE DANCE, WHOOPS FORGOT TO MENTION THAT WE PROBABLY HAD A FEW FIGHTS IN BETWEEN ALL THIS DRESSED IN OUR ICE BLUE JEANS AND WHITE SHIRTS. PICTURES STOCKTON WILL GIVE YOU MY EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU WANT TO GET IN TOUCH DEREK.
I REMEMBER THE NUMBERED DISCS
AT THE DOCTORS SURGERY ON NORTON ROAD, I WONDER IF ANYONE CAN NAME THE OTHER DOCTORS BESIDES DR MCKENZIE AND DR MANNING,THE SURGERY ALSO HAD A SMALL WINDOW HALF WAY UP THE WALL WERE YOU MADE YOUR APPOINTMENTS,
ANOTHER DOCTOR THERE WAS DR BERGMAN.
To J.Norman Kidd, Dr McGonagle played a big part in having the old parts of Stockton demolished, Housewife Lane, Cherry Lane, and other parts, I have a good idea of the conditions of these areas as I was born in Napier St. This street was at the bottom of Bolsover St,outside toilet,tin bath hung up on outside wall> After the 2nd world war my dad Robert Casey had left the merchant navy and married mam, she was Norah Tippey, housing was in very short supply and young married couples lived with one or the other of the parents, dad & mam had to live with dads sister Lizzy { Casey } Evens,before getting a flat in Swainby Rd, dad was no stranger to Swainby as his parents Robert Casey & Beatrice Warhurst { Kirk } Casey had live in 127 Swainby Rd after moving from Housewife Lane & Snowdons yard. The conditions in the old part of Stockton before Dr McGonagle recomended they be pulled down must have been simply awful, now all these years later I hear Swainby Rd is to be pulled down, a road I grew up in with all my mates and I can say some wonderful memorries of both Danby & Swainby Rd, please ask Picture Stockton for my email address if you can relate to any of this all the best Derek
Dr McGonagle was also I believe a resident of Norton and Medical Officer of Health. It is a name I remember along with Major Bansil of ICI and Captain Cowap who wore a revolver in the second world war in its holster, and wore a pair of shorts like the boy scouts.
Barry is bang on, going back to the old days there was a surgery on Norton rd, it became a Taxi place at one time but going back to when I was a little lad 2 doctors ran the practice Dr Mannon & Dr Makenzie. You went down a couple of steps to enter, in those days you picked a disc with a number on, and I remember, to the left i think, you went up steps to Dickens diy, i have been a patient at the practice all my life but its come a long way since then. All the best Derek
I remember the surgery just past Crake and Mallon, you accessed it down some steps and straight into the waiting area,you were issued with a numbered disc by a receptionist from a sliding hole in the wall door. Other doctors that practiced from the two rooms in this surgery are if my memory serves me right were Bergman,Zimmerman,Chambers??,I remember Dr McKenzie telling me that working at the 5 min car wash was bad for my health
REFERENCE DR MCKENZIE, I BELIEVE IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT THAT HE WAS IN THE SURGERY ON NORTON ROAD JUST PAST CRAKE & MALLON GOING TOWARDS THE TOWN CENTRE.
This house is directly opposite ‘The Priory’ house. Next to No 56 lived the coal merchant Fred Skipp at No 54. There was a little lady who lived there who was the housekeeper. I think she went by the name of ‘Hettie’ ‘Ettie’or maybe it was ‘Hattie’. I worked at Curries as a ‘Butchers Boy’ or delivery boy. Skipps always had to have the largest turkey from us at Christmas.
Who was the gaffer who read the riot act to you Barry? Was it Jack Longley or Pearson & who was the forman bricklayer on the site.
Mr Irwin, it may have been you who was called to Elcoate farm. Me and my friend did have whippets and we were regulars all around that farmland. I caught my first brown trout from a part of The Wash we knew as Kennedys point. That fish is responsible for my love of fishing. Jack Kennedy allowed us to fish on his land. We didn’t dare go past the ‘no fishing’ sign at Farmer Elcoates. Only today I actually talked to my friends mother and she remembers the time when me and her son Ross Shepherd nearly drowned in a dingy accident. Mrs Shepherd always had a rabbit on the boil and she told me this morning she had one on the pan. She seemed really pleased to see me because we hadn’t talked since I was a schoolboy and now I am 54. My other friend at school had an uncle who farmed at Bottle Hill Farm near the Golden Gates to Wynard Park, home of Lord Londonderry at the time.
I WORKED FOR IDEAL BUILDERS ON THE SITE OF WASHINGTON, JOHNSON AND KENNEDY GROVES, I DIDN’T REALISE IT WAS 1964, I THOUGHT IT WAS LATER THAN THAT. I REMEMBER A FUNNY STORY, I WAS A DUMPER DRIVER AND MY MATE TERRY DEGNAN WOULD MIX THE CEMENT AND LOAD ME UP TO TAKE THE CEMENT TO THE BRICKLAYERS. ONE MORNING WE DECIDED TO GO HOME FOR OUR 10 0’CLOCK TEA BREAK ON THE DUMPER, WE GOT A RIGHT TICKING OFF FROM THE GAFFER. WHEN WE GOT BACK, HE READ US THE RIOT ACT FOR GOING ON A PUBLIC ROAD WHEN NEITHER OF US HAD A LICENCE!
The estate which was next to the Ragworth Hotel is called the Clarence House Estate,
which consist of Johnson, Kennedy & Washington Groves and the houses were built by Ideal Builders in 1964.
The Elcoate who has the farm on Blakestone Lane, moved there when his market garden on Darlington Lane near to the Frederick Nattrass School was sold for building land. The estate next to what was the Ragworth Hotel was built on his land. As a Policeman I was often called to his farm on Blakeston Lane because of tresspassers and poachers mainly youths from the Hardwick and Roseworth Estates. To combat this he allowed the Police Fishing Club to fish in the stream at the bottom of his land. This stream flowed into the Wash and onto the Billingham Bottoms. At one time the Coalboard would put fish into these waters as they used it for draining water from the mines into it.
Didn’t the Elcoate family have a farm on Blakestone Lane. My father, Robert Boiston, went to school with the farmer called Elcoate when my father lived at mill lane on the green. Farmer Elcoate reported me and my friend to the police when we were caught on his farmland when I was a schoolboy.
When I told Mr Elcoate my name was Peter Boiston he told the police to drop any charges because he went to school with my father. We were lucky not to be shot, he threatened to shoot the dogs we had.
Forty years later I now have the landowners permission to fish on his land.
Next time you’re in Norton High Street at this spot look at the wall to the right. 4 doors to the left was Elcoate sweet shop, now a private house. Built in the 1600, (A Cromwellian coin was found in the lintel during restoration work early. The roof-line and peak, again of that period (A pine tree-trunk roof beam found during roof restoration of Elcote’s 1984) is carried in a ‘Shadow’ -outline on the brickwork of the house right in picture. When the Georgian building to the left, 1770, was built, a number of cottage were demolished, with one cottage left for coach-man or domestic staff, the ground floor removed to allow an arched acces to the rear, later to a carriage-house and stabling. A garage took over and the upper floor and roof removed leaving a 300 year old ‘Shadow’. Today the brilliant sunshine gleams on a beautiful leaf tree between these buildings a dazzling spray of silver and gold in the sunlight.
Karen, I was born in 6 Napier St 1947, my mam & dad were living with dads sister Lizzy Evens. I’m about to turn 63 and still remember how horrible those little dark houses were to this day. I can’t remember too many peoples names but the Hopes lived at the top Bollsover Rd and Douglases the corner of Napier St.
Derek, I too was born in Napier Street (1956). Dreadful little house, don’t know how my mam coped. We were eventually rehoused at Hardwick – the Watsons.
I was delivered by Dr Manning and remember the surgery on Norton Road very well. Collect a disc – work out how long before your turn then run home to take the disc to Mum for her ‘appointment’. Remember the leather seats around the room and the stairs up to Norton Road where all the smokers hung out. Doctors included Drs Zimmerman, Ashton, Manning, McKenzie, Bergman, Zagoo. Dr Zimmerman lived on the corner of Bishopton Rd West near Newham Grange Estate. I believe he passed away under tragic circumstances many years ago.
Regarding Norton High Street. I remember the house numbers being changed on the east side of the High Street appr. 1950.
Thank you to Sylvia and Anon. It completes my picture of this Surgery now – except for the question who was ‘Ettie?’
Yes, it was Dr Clouston, but he had a partner as well. Looking at the picture the white house is 56 and next door as I knew it was the coal merchant called Fred Skipp at 54. I worked for Curry’s from being 13 years old to 16 which was 1950 -53. The door numbers were as they are today. The changes must have been just before I started at Curry’s. Dr McGonigle lived next door to the Tram Sheds and opposite the George and Dragon pub at number 92 I think. Was the house called ‘Sheridan House?
Dr Paddy Clouston was the partner of Dr Woodward who retired in around 1960, his place was then taken by Dr. Lockey. As well as Norton and Billingham? they had a surgery at Hardwick Health Centre in the 1960s and also in the row of houses by the subway on Norton Road near to St Mary’s Church. Dr Clouston later lived in the village at Wolviston and on retirement C1980 went , I was told, to live in the Orkney Islands.
Don’t forget Dr Sagoo always wore his white turban, he was with the surgery with Dr Bergman , Dr manning, Dr McKenzie and others Dr Sagoo was great when my daughter was very ill after being born in 1967
Dr and Mrs Clouston lived in the house shown in the picture, this was not used as a surgery. The surgery was at the house to the right of the picture. The Rowbotham family lived there , and their 2 front rooms were used as the surgery. Regarding the house number’s these were changed app 1950. My family lived at 64 High Street and I remember it being changed to 70 High Street, I think this was due to a property being demolished along by the Pickering cottages.
DEREK CASEY- I THINK SWAINBY ROAD WILL BE THE LAST OF ITS KIND WHEN IT GETS DEMOLISHED, WE DIDN’T BELONG TO TILERY OR NORTON, WE WERE
SWAINBY ROAD BORN AND BRED, ALL OUR BEST FRIENDS WERE BORN IN SWAINBY ROAD, WE GREW UP, WENT TO SCHOOL, AND WENT TO WORK WITH THEM, WE ENJOYED OUR SATURDAY NIGHTS OUT AT THE JUBILEE HALL, A FEW SNEAKY PINTS IN THE STATION OR THE AMERICAN TAVERN BEFORE WE WERE OLD ENOUGH TO DRINK, THEN ALL WALKED HOME TOGETHER AFTER THE DANCE, WHOOPS FORGOT TO MENTION THAT WE PROBABLY HAD A FEW FIGHTS IN BETWEEN ALL THIS DRESSED IN OUR ICE BLUE JEANS AND WHITE SHIRTS. PICTURES STOCKTON WILL GIVE YOU MY EMAIL ADDRESS IF YOU WANT TO GET IN TOUCH DEREK.
Do you remember what the shop was classed at the top of the road? My family used to run it and trying to locate old pictures.
I REMEMBER THE NUMBERED DISCS
AT THE DOCTORS SURGERY ON NORTON ROAD, I WONDER IF ANYONE CAN NAME THE OTHER DOCTORS BESIDES DR MCKENZIE AND DR MANNING,THE SURGERY ALSO HAD A SMALL WINDOW HALF WAY UP THE WALL WERE YOU MADE YOUR APPOINTMENTS,
ANOTHER DOCTOR THERE WAS DR BERGMAN.
To J.Norman Kidd, Dr McGonagle played a big part in having the old parts of Stockton demolished, Housewife Lane, Cherry Lane, and other parts, I have a good idea of the conditions of these areas as I was born in Napier St. This street was at the bottom of Bolsover St,outside toilet,tin bath hung up on outside wall> After the 2nd world war my dad Robert Casey had left the merchant navy and married mam, she was Norah Tippey, housing was in very short supply and young married couples lived with one or the other of the parents, dad & mam had to live with dads sister Lizzy { Casey } Evens,before getting a flat in Swainby Rd, dad was no stranger to Swainby as his parents Robert Casey & Beatrice Warhurst { Kirk } Casey had live in 127 Swainby Rd after moving from Housewife Lane & Snowdons yard. The conditions in the old part of Stockton before Dr McGonagle recomended they be pulled down must have been simply awful, now all these years later I hear Swainby Rd is to be pulled down, a road I grew up in with all my mates and I can say some wonderful memorries of both Danby & Swainby Rd, please ask Picture Stockton for my email address if you can relate to any of this all the best Derek
Dr McGonagle was also I believe a resident of Norton and Medical Officer of Health. It is a name I remember along with Major Bansil of ICI and Captain Cowap who wore a revolver in the second world war in its holster, and wore a pair of shorts like the boy scouts.
Barry is bang on, going back to the old days there was a surgery on Norton rd, it became a Taxi place at one time but going back to when I was a little lad 2 doctors ran the practice Dr Mannon & Dr Makenzie. You went down a couple of steps to enter, in those days you picked a disc with a number on, and I remember, to the left i think, you went up steps to Dickens diy, i have been a patient at the practice all my life but its come a long way since then. All the best Derek
I remember the surgery just past Crake and Mallon, you accessed it down some steps and straight into the waiting area,you were issued with a numbered disc by a receptionist from a sliding hole in the wall door. Other doctors that practiced from the two rooms in this surgery are if my memory serves me right were Bergman,Zimmerman,Chambers??,I remember Dr McKenzie telling me that working at the 5 min car wash was bad for my health
These 2 Doctors also had a Surgery on Station Road, Billingham. Thinking again this Surgery may have been at No, 52 High Street Norton.
REFERENCE DR MCKENZIE, I BELIEVE IF MY MEMORY SERVES ME RIGHT THAT HE WAS IN THE SURGERY ON NORTON ROAD JUST PAST CRAKE & MALLON GOING TOWARDS THE TOWN CENTRE.
I remember this surgery. Our ” house ‘ doctor was from there, I can’t recall his name, but he was Scottish. McKenzie perhaps?
The front room at 54 High Street was used as a Doctors Surgery. Who knows who the two Doctors were?
This house is directly opposite ‘The Priory’ house. Next to No 56 lived the coal merchant Fred Skipp at No 54. There was a little lady who lived there who was the housekeeper. I think she went by the name of ‘Hettie’ ‘Ettie’or maybe it was ‘Hattie’. I worked at Curries as a ‘Butchers Boy’ or delivery boy. Skipps always had to have the largest turkey from us at Christmas.