I stumbled across this place quite accidentally after seeing it while parking the car in Wellington Square.
Photograph and details courtesy of David Thompson.
This Grade II listed building is the last property standing on Smith Street.
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
I am researching John Thomas Matthews who resided at number 15 Smith Street in 1911 anybody have any information please?
Bit late, but only just found this site. My great great grand mother owned 3 of these properties in Smith Street. She died in number 13. The Rollin family. They were compulsory purchased but my family never did receive any money from the council at that time. In all the previous census’s she was described as property owner and yet in her will left next to nothing! I would just love to know what happened, if anyone can shed any light on this.
Are we to be left with no historical buildings whatsoever? How long before we, this great country, will have no buildings of merit left?
I too have family connections to Smith Street and had heard that it was about to be demolished. On further investigation with the heritage building department I found out the following:
The building suffered a sudden collapse to the rear and in order to make the building safe and prevent further collapse Stockton Borough Council had to remove part of the roof of the building to ensure there was no risk to public safety.
We have subsequently had specialist advise from a historic building engineer. We are in continued discussion with the owner of the building as to how to move the building forward and ensure it can be safeguarded.
The building is currently in a stable condition however will deteriorate if works to conserve the building are not carried out and responsibility for the building lies with the owner.
Should he consider demolition of the building then approval would need to be granted by the Secretary of State. Demolition of a listed building is only ever a very last resort once all other avenues have been explored and exhausted and is currently not a realistic option
This was the home of the Ayres Family, who were Tallow Chandlers. My husband is a descendent on this family and although it is a listed building, the building is to be demolished. Such as shame.
My maternal grandmother Lizzie Ann Doughty (nee Prest), born in 1884 and died in 1976, once told me that her grandfather had a Chandler’s in that property on Smith Street. I visited and photographed the building about ten years ago and was told that there was a campaign to save it from demolition, sad that it appears to have failed.