This is a view of Cleveland School in Eaglescliffe. It is the original school building, Woodside Hall. Courtesy of Heather Schofield (nee Marshall). 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
This is a view of Cleveland School in Eaglescliffe. It is the original school building, Woodside Hall. Courtesy of Heather Schofield (nee Marshall).
Hi . My name Cecilia Bailes known as Cecil. I attended Cleveland high school in 1964 . Have very fond memories of my time there
My Great Great Grandfather built this mansion with profits from his milling business. I have only just started looking into it. We have the brochure for when it was sold in the early 1900’s I think. Very interesting to read the comments above.
I am the current Facilities Manager at Teesside High School which replaced the grand mansion ‘Woodside Hall’. I am very keen to learn more about the old mansion especially to view photographs of the old clock tower, stables and the original boathouse.
The brochure of the hall when it was sold sounds really interesting would it be available to be shared at all.
Hello.
Apologies that it’s taken me 5 years to reply but this is the first time I have looked at this site since 2014.
I am happy to photo/scan the brochure and email to you.
John
Hello John
This is a long shot as you posted in 2014 but I’m researching our family tree and Richard Henry Appleton’s daughter, Martha Amelia, married my husband’s 2nd great uncle, Alfred Laycock.
I discovered Woodside Hall from the 1891 census, when RH was mayor of Stockton, which led me to you.
It would be interesting to know how you fit into the family and lovely if you could reply,
Kind regards
Ann
Hello, slight delay, apologies.
my Great Grandmother, Esmee Trechmann’s maternal grandfather was Richard Appleton, who built the hall. Could Esmee be Martha and Alfreds daughter??
Hello John, is there a way to contact you as we are family and we also have the brochure for Woodside. Thank you
I was at Cleveland School from 1961 to 1964 and have very similar memories to the others contributors. Regrettably I knew nothing of the reunions but would be very interested in any future get togethers. I made a recent trip to The Avenue but sadly all I recognised were the two lions at the entrance and a couple of statues in the grounds.
Hi,
We (The Teesside High Former Student Association) are trying to trace former member of either Queen Victoria High School, Cleveland School and Teesside High. We would love to hear about your time at school and welcome you to join the association. We can be contacted at teessidehighFSA@gmail.com
Thank you
Lotti Puryer (Teesside High Class of 2011)
I attended Cleveland school from 1953 until 1964 when I went to teacher training college. I am still in touch with many of my classmates and last October we had a reunion at Crathorne. June (Williams) was there and was able to give us news of her lovely Mum (now aged 91) who was our domestic science teacher. There was a very big reunion at Teesside High school in 1999 and Mrs.Williams was able to be there. It was sad to see the lovely fountain from the grounds was just a mass of weeds. Many of us still get a Christmas card from Miss Hawes who now lives in Devon. Miss Jopling moved down south a few years ago to be near her family. I don’t know about any other members of the teaching staff. I did read that Miss Fitsimmons,who taught in the junior school for many years, died only a couple of years ago.
There are some kind comments below from Glenice Ainscough, Susan Pickard and Joan Chambers about my Aunt Grace Hawes.
For those who kept in touch with her even if it was only once a year via a Christmas card I thought you may wish to know of her passing.
Approximately five years ago she had a severe stroke which left her pretty well totally disabled and incoherent although still mentally alert.
She finally found peace on the 19th June this year.
Hi,
We (The Teesside High Former Student Association) are trying to trace former member of either Queen Victoria High School, Cleveland School and Teesside High. We would love to hear about your time at school and welcome you to join the association. We can be contacted at teessidehighFSA@gmail.com
Thank you
Lotti Puryer (Teesside High Class of 2011)
Hello Catherine my name is Diana Elsley nee Sibley I attended Cleveland school 1963 – 1971. I have just received an arial photo of Woodside hall from an old girl. Then came across this site. Please contact pictures@stockton.gov.uk and they will forward on my email address if you would like news of reunions. I have such fond memories of my time there. Miss Hawes and Mrs Williams were my teachers too.
Best wishes Diana.
Diane, I would love to hear from you as you were in my class at Cleveland. My name is Janette West nee Smith.
The building was demolished and rebuilt. The set of stairs leading down to the lawn are still there along with the original cast iron planters on the top of the wall either side. I have carried out electrical work at the school for the last 42 years.
I loved this school, the wonderful teachers – Madam who taught French, and kind Mrs Jones our class teacher. Miss Chalmers was the Head. I was there with my brother Paul in 1947, 48, 49, when I was aged 6, many years before the previous writers. I well remember the dens we made in the bushes, gathering moss and flowers for our carpets. We played on the sloping lawns and went to the river for Sports Day. I learned the names of many flowers and trees on our nature walks, and remember the fantastic Art Room, the beautiful entrance hall with the mezzanine walk around the upper storey. We sang and learned music in the gym as well as dancing and gymnastics. I too missed it all when we moved to Saltburn and I went to another school. I now live in Perth, Australia and am writing memoirs for my grandchildren, and your memories have revived mine, thankyou.
Hi,
We (The Teesside High Former Student Association) are trying to trace former member of either Queen Victoria High School, Cleveland School and Teesside High. We would love to hear about your time at school and welcome you to join the association. We can be contacted at teessidehighFSA@gmail.com
Thank you
Lotti Puryer (Teesside High Class of 2011)
Dear Susan ,
During the lock-down I have been wasting my time by looking up things on YouTube etc. Get a life I say.
I am went to Cleveland school in 1947 until about 1955 when I went to Mill Hill school in Middlesbrough. My brother, Peter joined me in about 1952. He went on to the Friends’ school in Great Ayton. I have happy memories of Cleveland. The walk down to school via the avenue, past the lions and the clock house. I do remember the dens made always along the side of the the hockey field.
We lived in Eaglescliffe then on Swinburne Rd.
I seem to remember that there were some old railway carriages on the left hand side of the avenue.
I remember going through the front door to the stairs, which no body was allowed to use – if you went there you were in big trouble!!
One of the main things I remember were the rhododendron bushes and the fountains. When I see them in a garden centres they take me back to Cleveland School.
When I was in the nursery there was the conservatory where there was a water play and sand play area.
You mentioned Madam; I am pleased to say that her ‘accent’ has stayed with me and when I go to France it holds me in good stead . I seem to remember that she was married to a Scotsman called Mr Mcinnley.
I am still friends with Susan Parsons Who was in the nursery school with me. She is in contact with Angela Reynolds, and Elizabeth Foxton.
I so remember Mrs Lewis and her assistant “Auntie Marjorie”. Happy days.
I have enjoyed a very happy career in Social Work. I have never married but enjoy a wonderful life. I live in Chesterfield in Derbyshire where I now work as a volunteer in our local hospice. I am happily retired
I see you are in Australia and I do hope that you and your family have a wonderful life. , I have friends in Brisbane and have been in here several times.
With all good wishes to you and your family
Lesley (Walton)
Cleveland School. 1947 – 1955 approx!!!
I attended this school also around 1963-1967 and remember Miss Hawes really well, she was so patient with me as Maths was my pet hate as a subject. I loved French and remember Miss Onions and Mrs Houghton and the music teacher Mrs Coates, she was a darling and and loved her subject. The art room I remember but the teacher I think during that time was foreign but I cannot remember where from. I remember Mrs Phillips the PE teacher, and her daughter Angela who was in my class. The grand staircase used to fascinate me but we were never allowed to go up that way except on xmas party night. The school secretary at that time was so kind as were all the other teachers. I really missed being there after the family moved to South Wales and I still have a class photograph and a picture of the building. The school fetes were adorable occasions and the beautiful lawns and summerhouse. I remember I was on my way to the science lab one day when we heard the news of the Aberfan disaster. Happy days.
Hi,
We (The Teesside High Former Student Association) are trying to trace former member of either Queen Victoria High School, Cleveland School and Teesside High. We would love to hear about your time at school and welcome you to join the association. We can be contacted at teessidehighFSA@gmail.com
Thank you
Lotti Puryer (Teesside High Class of 2011)
I attended Cleveland School from 1967 – 1971…..happy days, remember Miss Onions, Mrs Coates, Miss Dawes, Headmistress Miss Gosling.
Have many happy memories of the old place. Was there when they tore the beautiful building down, such a sad day! At least they kept the lions.
I live in Canada now , pre pandemic used to visit yearly
Would love to walk around the grounds again…anyone remember dead mans cave!
I was at Cleveland School from l956(?) to l959. Your description brought back very fond memories. I remember well Miss Hawes, Miss Pickering, Mrs Smith &, of course, Madame. I was very sad when revisiting the site of the school a few years later, to find it gone &, instead, a brick thing in its place. I thought it was a crime that that beautiful building had been razed to the ground. By the way, I think there is a typing error when quoting the school motto. I think the translation should read ‘Do what you are doing, well’.
Hi,
We (The Teesside High Former Student Association) are trying to trace former member of either Queen Victoria High School, Cleveland School and Teesside High. We would love to hear about your time at school and welcome you to join the association. We can be contacted at teessidehighFSA@gmail.com
Thank you
Lotti Puryer (Teesside High Class of 2011)
This was a beautiful building with a grand entrance hall with tiled floor, and a magnificent staircase leading up to the first floor. The grounds were split into sections. Play areas were in the woodland where we made dens in the autumn with twigs and fallen leaves. If it snowed we had a grassy bank to sledge down and in front of the house there was a raised stone rectangular area that we used to ice up and make very slippery slides on. There were formal grounds with grass tennis courts to the side of the building, which were out of bounds except on sports day for the afternoon garden fete(delicious tea with Miss Hawes sumptuous strawberry tarts) or for lessons outside on a hot summer’s day. The art room was one of my favourite places full of creativity. It was situated at the top of the building and can be seen on the photograph behind the Dutch gable. We did drawing, painting and handicrafts. The smell of paint was wonderful as you entered the room. In this room I learnt how to prepare sheep’s wool for spinning, dying and weaving. We had different looms to make different articles. We also did basket making. We worked individually on painting and drawing and sometimes in groups to make very large pictures using painting and collage. At the back of the building there were a set of out buildings. They were converted into a hall with a balcony and stage. We had assemblies here, speech day, music and drama. We put on musical events and plays for the end of term and for public performances. The domestic science room was in a separate building behind the hall where we received a good grounding in cookery and nutrition. Down the hill from here towards the River Tees we had our playing fields for hockey and the tarmac tennis courts for tennis and netball. I have very fond memories of my school days here. I came to the school in 1957 and left in 1964 at the age of 16. Throughout my time at Cleveland School I was given the support and help I needed. It had the philosophy of treating everyone as an individual and helping them to reach their potential. It had a wonderful family atmosphere. You could learn in a supportive, friendly, safe environment where you were encouraged to do your best. It also helped me achieve the qualifications I needed to go to Art College and achieve much more than I ever dreamed of. The school motto was ‘AG QUOD AGIS’ which means ‘Do what your doing well’. My favourite subjects were Art/handicrafts, Music, English literature, Biology, Needlework, Cookery, Sports and Geography.
I attended this school between 1951 and 1957 and enjoyed the experience very much. I have fond memories of the staff, Miss Hawes, Mrs Williams, and my English teacher Mrs Slade, Madame and of course Miss Charlmers and her lovely dog Peter a red setter. We all wanted to to take him for a walk at playtime. We spent a week in Paris (£12) which was very enjoyable. I remember Pat Wilson slipped on the Metro and suffered a bad injury to her leg. Madame and her husband posed for us infront of the Eiffle Tower, and I still have the picture. I found it very hard to say goodbye to her when I left. We had school pictures and I have one taken in the library, a class photo, and tennis picture and also a hockey one. I also remember the staircase which we could only use on special occasions. I remember domestic science and still to this day cook some of the basic things I was taught. I rember also having to make our own apron before we could start. We had a lovely time in the snow and I think myself very honoured to have attended. I have lost touch with my classmates as I have travelled and ended up in Cheshire.
I was there at this time and remember all the teachers you refer to. Used to take the dog for walks and remember him chasing the geese. I played the lead in the school play Bonaventure. Remember sledging down grassy bank in the snow. Fond memories. Went on a school trip to Brussels and Amsterdam where we got up to all sorts of mischief…Went on to Billingham Technical College where I did a Secretarial course. Now live in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Thank you for your reply. Who was your form mistress, ours was Mrs Slade who was very strict but fair.
I took my children to show them the school and was very upset when I saw it had been replaced. The drive seemed a lot shorter but I suppose when you are running to be first in line for the bus to Stockton it was a long run.
On reflection Glenice, I started Cleveland School in 1955 as I was at Queen Vic before that and went to Cleveland at 11 years.
Hi,
We (The Teesside High Former Student Association) are trying to trace former member of either Queen Victoria High School, Cleveland School and Teesside High. We would love to hear about your time at school and welcome you to join the association. We can be contacted at teessidehighFSA@gmail.com
Thank you
Lotti Puryer (Teesside High Class of 2011)
Heather nee Marshall… I remember you, not from the school but as a child. My name is Marilyn nee Miller Wood. I also remember your lovely parents, Joan (nee Chapman) and Geoff, and two brothers – one was Bruce but sorry the other name escapes me. My parents were Peg and Roy Miller, from Norton – both passed away now. I also remember a lovely trip out one day to Mount Grace Priory. I was visiting North Tees Hospital a few years ago with my hubby. Your mother was working hard in the shop near the exit. She was understandably surprised but I recognised her voice straight away. It must be nice to have lovely memories of school. I hope you are well, sorry this post is so late but I’ve just noticed it.