This picture shows Stockton High Street in Christmas 1961 with The Black Lion in the background. Courtesy of Peter Jordison. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
This picture shows Stockton High Street in Christmas 1961 with The Black Lion in the background. Courtesy of Peter Jordison.
Just to say well done to Steve and the team, fantastic site and understand the delays, we shall be patient. Also to Barbara (now down South), thanks again for all your work over the years since the start of Picture Stockton.
Thank you so much Sheila – we are always thrilled to hear that people gain so much pleasure from the site. Can we take this opportunity to thank all of our followers for your patience during our site maintenance – hopefully we will be adding pictures again soon. We would also like to wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas & New Year.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK PICTURE STOCKTON ON BEHALF OF ALL THOSE WHO FOLLOW THIS SITE WHO DO NOT RESIDE IN STOCKTON ANYMORE. IT IS A BRILLIANT WAY OF KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH YOUR PAST AND I AM SURE EVERYBODY AFFECTED WILL JOIN ME IN WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A PEACEFUL NEW YEAR.
I believe this car to be an Austin A40 or A50 Cambridge manufactured between 1954 and 1957. Both cars had identical bodies but the A50 had a larger engine than the A40 (1.5 litres compared with 1.2 litres). Both cars had the distinctive ‘turned under’ boot profile visible in the photograph. The Austin A55 successor to the A50 had a more streamlined shaped boot but was only manufactured between 1957 and 1959 before it too was replaced by the A55 Mark II ‘Farina’ model.
I would go for an Austin A55. They were also very popular in this colour.
Without a good view of the radiator grill, I think it could be any of the BMC models as they were all the same shape except for the grill, Morris, Austin, Riley or Wolseley, [Riley & Wolesley being the posher de luxe marques]
Looks like a Wolsey to me Peter.
I am suprised nobody has mentioned the car in this pic, would it be a Morris or an Austin or maybe a Wolsey?
I would put money on the car being an Austin – I used to have one.
I rembember this beautiful tree, they always used to put up when I worked at Doggarts department Store.
Fantastic photo, my first Christmas.
Memories of good old Stockton how it used to be. I also remember some of the buses used to have xmas lights and decorations inside.
Wow Pete good pic, I was only 3 months old so this was my first xmas.
As a child, I remember looking at the Christmas tree in Stockton High Street with awe and great excitement. It was always so beautiful. Was the tree presented by some Scandinavian country? Does Stockton still have a tree? I agree, this would make a lovely Christmas card.
As ever Peter, a great picture from your collection. To think I will have visited this scene when I was 5 years old.
What a good idea. I shall start using it straight away to wish all the PS staff and contributers to this site a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
Completely agree with the comment regarding a Christmas card, with the old buildings in the background, a very evocative scene of “old” Stockton. Any chance this might happen for next year?
This would make a brilliant xmas card.