A view of J K Wells Central Paint Store on Norton Road in Stockton. Also shown are Mortons Opticians and Rendport – with the bus shelter outside. Photographed in 1985 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
A view of J K Wells Central Paint Store on Norton Road in Stockton. Also shown are Mortons Opticians and Rendport – with the bus shelter outside. Photographed in 1985
J.K. Wells were indeed an art supply shop in latter years, but formerly they were a painting, signwriting and decorating contractors. My uncle, Ernie Howells served his time there. This must have been some time back because he died a couple of years ago aged 95. I remember going into the shop for materials in my younger days. It was like an Aladdin’s cave.
I lived in Stockton during the 1980’s and as an architectural-designer would often use this shop to purchase certain graphic-art materials that I required, particularly when I could not get to the specialist drawing-office suppliers in M’bro. I always recall being served by a very well spoken and polite gentleman, who was most attentive to my requirements offering to order anything that he did not have in stock.. His manner of service seemed to belong to a bygone-age and even at that time, seemed quite refreshing. I never knew his name, but sometime later I called in and a new owner had apparently taken over the business, which later then moved to Prince Regent St. Sadly, I now see that too has closed.
If my memory serves me right,one of the proprietors was Mrs.Queenie Wells and her daughter, Joan, worked in the shop also.
I used to go to this shop every Saturday in the sixties to get paint and/or brushes. It was the best supplier for artists in the area, my fave shop in Stockton.
Yes it was a lady called Barbara? used to serve in there – they went over to Artmart? then sold it on..if this is the one i am thinking of.
As far as I can remember this shop was a supplier of artists materials.
Am I right in thinking J. K. Wells was an artist supplies shop, rather than for painters & decorators?(which is implied from the title) Also, note the bus stop in front of the shop. The 1950″s era concrete pole is located adjacent to the rear of the bus, from the time when all buses were rear loading. Whereas the 80″s style shelter would line up with the front of modern front loading buses.