These pictures were taken from the Teesside Princess on the River Tees by Norman Kidd in 2006. They both show the former site of Fred Kidd & Son Engineering. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
These pictures were taken from the Teesside Princess on the River Tees by Norman Kidd in 2006. They both show the former site of Fred Kidd & Son Engineering.
Wonder if Fred Kidd was a relation to the owner of ‘Kidd’s Advertising’ in Middlesbrough? I left there early 70’s, so not sure how long it had been there before I joined or how long it was there after I left.
I would like to appeal for anyone who worked in the Iron, Steel and Engineering industries in Stockton to contact me, I would be very grateful. Very little has been written about these industries and I am looking for any information, pictures, brochures etc on some of these companies eg Rogers, Fred Kidd, Downings, Harkers and many more that no longer exist. The Picture Stockton Team can pass you my contact details.
I worked at Fred Kidd’s factory when I left school in July 1955 others at the time we’re Roly Saunders, Alan Burnip, and good friend Harry Mills we used to go cycling together I lived in Stillington at the time and used to cycle to work each day I worked there for about a year then got a job at ICI in Billingham.
Mr Alan Betteney is doing a project on Stockton History and required details on Fred Kidd’s factory. Perhaps if he was able to speak to you, Don Taylor, you could help him with some background on the firm. I believe you and I worked there at the same time in the 1940’s. He could be contacted through Sarah at Pictures Stockton, if you would like to contact him.
Fred Kidd’s building is still there on Church Rd, I think the building now belongs to Pickersgills. I served my time with Fred Kidd from 1942.
My late mother worked a lathe at Fred Kidds during the war. She made fire hydrant fittings if my memory serves me.
Peter, Yes the company made many thousands of fire hydrant fitting during the war and many secret pieces of equipment for the Government. My other Uncle Alf Kidd did all the high pressure testing of each hydrant made. Uncle Alf was a motor Engineer who had his own garage in Thornaby. During the war Direction of Labour forced him to do war work so he joined his brother Fred to comply.
I also worked in the Time Office for a short period of my early life, not my cup of tea.
I can still hear the lathes screaming on the brass and the workers signing to “workers playtime” the lassies did a good job, I remember Jean Peak worked there also.
J.Norman Kidd.
As far as I know we are not related to Kidd’s Avertising Middlesbrough, my group of the Kidd family all come from Westgate in Weardale where they were farmers and lead miners. Most of the land was owned by the Church of England who closed lead mining down in late 1800’s
The family moved to Stockton in 1902. They first lived in Hind Street Stockton and Joe their son married a Nurse and they settled firstly in Milner Road, then Grantham Road until 1953.
I was born in 1928 and left Norton in 1951 to work in Leeds. I did contact Kidd’s Advertising who had a shop in Leeds but we could not establish any connection. Dads Brothers in Stockton were Thomas, Fred, Alf, with one Sister Sarah who married Tom Watson and they lived in Victoria Road Thornaby. I have lost touch with Betty and Joan and Rowland (nee Watson) and would like to meet up again.
J.Norman Kidd.
Thank you. Kind Regards, Fiona