This is a view of Mill Lane School on Dovecot Street, taken from Tarring Street. Courtesy of Peter Cooper. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
This is a view of Mill Lane School on Dovecot Street, taken from Tarring Street. Courtesy of Peter Cooper.
In the 1921 Census, my uncle (Leslie Hymer) attended this school, with my father (Roger Lee Hymer b1918) following when old enough. The family lived at 84 Tarring Street.
Hello Michael,
I was wondering if the census indicated the name of the Headmaster? I would be interested to know his name for the period 1906 – 1914. If it was Williams [possibly Arthur or Thomas], he is my great Uncle.
I used to live with bro and sister at Palmerston Street it was a great school with high roof
I also went to mill lane from 1956 – 1967 I lived opposite the main gates and the Paterson family lived opposite and I believe some of the family (Ronald) still live there now.
Allyson McCue (nee Downes)
Having gone to Mill Lane from 1958 to 1967, I got married and, after having 2 sons, I went back to Mill Lane to work as a dinner lady in 1981. I’m still there to this day and am as happy in that school now as I was 54 years ago. Sandra Laing
Pop Wilkie was my uncle Tom. He served in the navy during the second world war. He was on the Hood, but was transferred to another ship just days before it was hit by the Tirpitz. After leaving Mill Lane he went on to teach at Fairfield sec.
I remember your name. Did you have a brother called Ronnie?
I think you are right, that was the beginning of the boys department. I lived next door-but-one to the school and attended the girls part, I remember it well.
I think that was the door to my classroom which was ruled by Pop Wilkie.
I went to Mill Lane school as I lived in Petch Street from birth to 21 then into California Close with my family. Good days.
In response to Aline’s questions regarding the old Mill lane school log book. When making a rare visit to Stockton 3 years ago, on impulse I decided to pay a visit to Mill lane school now situated in Wellington street. A little apprehensive, I spoke with the school secretary and explained that I was a former pupil at the Dovecote street school and politely asked her if they had any past photographs and memorabilia of the old school. She made me most welcome and to to my pleasant suprise she handed me several photographs of the school, including school log books dating from the early 1900’s up to the 1960’s. The secretary was very helpful, including the teachers, even the dinner ladies were chatting and by chance I learnt from one of them that she is related to friends that I remembered from the school. The secretary then offered to print off some of the photo’s for me, which I gladly accepted. I spent over an hour going through the log books, reminiscing over the names of past school teachers and classmates. The log book entries were very informative and interesting and I could have spent hours browsing over them. I hope this information is of help to you Aline.
Hi. I went to Mill Lane from 1949 until 1955 when I was one of three who passed the 11+ and went to Grangefield Grammer. My mother also went here from 1929 to 1935 when she went on to Richard Hind school. We lived in Wellington Street. We moved away from Stockton in 1956 due to my father’s job and only went back occasionally up to 1965 to visit family. On a nostalgic visit in 1996 we were amazed to see the new Mill Lane had been built where our house had been in Wellington Street.
Jacky Turvey nee Cardwell
It could possibly be at the Teesside Archives in Middlesbrough. They are very helpful there and would tell you if you phoned.
How interesting Margaret to see the plaque. I do hope it has been saved and put on display for people to view. Linda wow! how I would have loved to have had the opportunity to go through that log book, I must say you are lucky. Where could it be today and how could we find out anything of its whereabouts even if it still exists, can anyone help.
Aline: The plaque had the date 1872 I think. Mill Lane was a County Board School and had managers rathers than governors. When I worked there it was fascinating to read the log book which had been written in every day since the beginning of the school. It was a special piece of social history but I don’t know what happened to it. It made reference to the wars, illness and death in the community, the introduction of electricity which replaced the gas lighting, the absence of children when the fair came to town.
Quite a few years ago, my husband and I, while visiting Preston Park Museum, had a sneaky look round the side, where there was lots of stuff, presumably waiting for sorting and future display. The plaque was there on a heap and I was very excited because it had been the location of my first job. I would guess they have used it for something by now.
As a 16 year old and over 6 feet tall, when leaving school. In my first year of night school I went to the Mill Lane School. Can you imagine me trying to sit comfortably and work at an infants desk. Not much thought put into the Higher Education system.
Living in Tarring street I remember this part of the school, it was the divide between boys and girls school. It looks a recent picture, not a cobble in sight, and road markings were not there when I went to Mill Lane. I cannot quite read the plaque on the wall, I remember it saying somthing about it being a Board school and some dates of when it opend has anyone any information of the Plaque?
Hello Aline,
Apart from my Aunt, you are the only person I have come across with the name Aline. My Aunt was Aline Williams, born in Stockton in 1905. I often wondered how the name came to be used, but never got round to asking her. She died in South Africa in 1989.
I’m also wondering if the Headmaster was her Uncle, and my great Uncle. Between about 1906 and 1914 was the Headmaster called Williams [possibly Arthur or Thomas]?