William Kirk , born in 1848, went on to become chairman of North Eastern Breweries, retiring in 1906. He died in 1929, aged 80. Photograph courtesy of Michael Hewlett 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
William Kirk , born in 1848, went on to become chairman of North Eastern Breweries, retiring in 1906. He died in 1929, aged 80. Photograph courtesy of Michael Hewlett
What were the various uses of the Whitehouse before its conversion to house/apartments. Not much information but lots of history evident in this beautiful building.
William Kirk`s father, William Kilvington Kirk, started the kirk family brewing dynasty. William Kilvington Kirk was born Kirby Wiske, North Yorkshire c.1816. At some point prior to 1841 he moved to Stockton accompanied by his mother Jane, brother John and sister Ann. Together with brother John he set up as a grocer on the High Street. By 1851 they were Wine & spirit merchants at 72 High Street c1854, they took over an existing brewery in the Smithfield area of the town. In 1858 William Kilvington & John opened a brewery on Bridge Road, known as The Castle brewery, trading as Kirk Brothers. William Junior and his brother Thomas Lascelles Kirk took charge of the brewery c1876. They remained in charge until 1899 when The North Eastern Breweries, Sunderland purchased the business.
Re The Kirk family – The Kirk and Kirk -Lascelle family had several houses in Norton. The Grange on the present Norton Avenue/Norton Road corner (car show-room) was the home of Thomas Kirk-Lascelle. A second was “The Poplars” east side of the High street. A most substantial building was “The White-House” on The Green, built on the steading of 5 1804 “Bath-Cottages” in the 1880″s. This building still has the stained glass side lights in its porch carrying the Kirk crest and motto “FOR KIRK & KIRK.” A large art-nouveau stained-glass stair-head panel has this crest amidst wreaths and flowers. Regarding “Acting” Norton-Hall had a music-room, with carved arched and curtained stage, for the ‘Gentry’s’ amateur dramatics. (This feature is still in place in one the flats built in 2000)
This is my great grandfather William Kirk, Chairman of North Eastern Breweries; he lived on Norton High Street. He is pictured here in one of his “acting” guises.
Is this Kirk family connected with the Stillington Kirk’s?
Hi, did these Kirks have an Headingly, Yorkshire connection before 1800s.
Derek.