26 thoughts on “The Stork Hotel c1986”

  1. The building next door to the Robson Maternity home, became the Sea Scouts, prior to that it was called Glebe House. It had 3 flats, 2 downstairs and I upstairs. We lived in the upstairs flat, downstairs were occupied by families, Kennedy and Cleggs. We moved to Roseworth in 1953.

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  2. The Stork Hotel was converted into furnished bedsits in either 1996/1997. I was one of it’s first occupiers of the top right hand attic room. The house was managed by a man called Neil who occupied the downstairs front room. My room had a shower and sink but I had to share a toilet on the landing with 3 other people. My cooking facilities were a microwave and a kettle. I used my ironing board as a table. I lived there for 18 months and I can say there was some interesting times.

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    • Hi Sarah, The Stork Hotel, previously The Robson Maternity Home (hence it being named The Stork Hotel, I guess 🙂 ), was on Bowesfield Lane. This building still exists, but is now a private house. It is next-door to the mosque. I think the Lighthouse Centre is on Yarm Road.

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  4. My mums cousin Terry Anderson and his wife, Jean, took over the hotel in the late 60s to early 70s. I stayed with them and their two daughters in 1976. Terrys mum and sister lived in Norton.

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  5. I was was born at the Robson in Oct 1959 while my parents lived in Stockton. They moved to Durham not long after & then Darlington in the early ‘70s. I met my future wife at Darlington College of Technology in 1978. It wasn’t until just before our wedding in 1984, that our mothers compared notes and realised that my wife was born there as well in 1962!

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    • I was born at the Robson on 29th October 1944 to a mother evacuated from north London. My birth was registered on 17th November 1944 by Walter Salmon to Stanley Charles Houghton LAC1630662 RAF and Dorothy Houghton (Nee Lellow) of 5 Clyde Terrance. I wish I knew more.

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  7. I was born here in June 1944. I have tried to find the building and was informed that it was the Stalk Hotel in Bousfield Lane. Could anyone confirm this and its use today and location.
    Derek Redfearn.

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  8. I was born here in May 1966 but emigrated to Australia in 1968. It is wonderful to find a site where I can feel a connection with home. My mother told me the story of it being turned into the stork hotel. Her family was from the area. My mother’s name was Jenifer Murray.

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  9. Seems like all of Stockton were born at Robsons maternity home. I was born there 5/5/41 that night or next day during an air raid a bomb dropped round the corner on Yarm Lane .
    That period, the weather was cold and when I was very small I remember opening the door to see the snow but I could not see over the top, the snow was the shape as the door and about 5 ft up.

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  10. Ian Proctor, Middle name Stanley. Your relatives feature in my family tree. The connection is Nina Doreen Medd. She first married Stanley H Proctor, but he died early, she then married Ken Crookston, whose family feature strongly in my past.

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    • Hello Martin, I have just stumbled across your message whilst browsing the net on my break at work so I don’t have time. Please feel free to drop me a line and get in touch. Regards Ian Proctor

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  12. I was born at the Robson in 1948. With my family I moved to Canada in 1957. I would like to mark the spot on a map, but the closest I have come is that it was on Bowesfield Lane, and became the Stork hotel, which apparently no longer exists. Can anyone help me with this?

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  13. I wonder if any of the contributors who worked at Isaac Robson remember my Gran who worked there, I think in the late 1950’s early 1960’s, her name was Lily Simpson/Lily Higgins.

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  14. I was born in the Robson in 1950 it had a very busy production line!
    Graham Wright

    I was born in the Robson Maternity Home in 1935. My brother was born there in 1940 during an air raid and my mother told me the story that he was carried down to the Air raid section by Mrs Harold McMillen who later became Lady Stockton. My daughter Alison was also born there on January 15th 1962. It is interesting to note that it is now the Stork Hotel. It may be worth staying there on our next visit to Teesside.
    Benny Brown

    As said Mr Pole ran this establishment in the late 70’s then sold up and moved to the Mayo Hotel on Oxbridge lane. He is a good friend of my father. If anyone is interested, my father is called GORDON THOMAS SIMPSON and is originally from YARM.HE IS NOW 71 but looks 60!!!
    DM Robinson

    I was born in the Robson in June 1959
    Paul Francis Cuthbert

    John Pole and his wife Eleanor now live in Spain and I spoke to them this morning. They ran the Stork Hotel from October 1981 to January 1989. They think the Andersons still live in Hartburn. The Stork in Skinner Street was actually a pub called the Stork & Castle.
    Gloria McLaren

    In 1918 Mr Issac Robson presented “Esk-House” Bowesfield Lane to the Town of Stockton. It was opened as a 9 bed unit on Monday 18th August 1919 by the Marchioness of Londondonderry. The demand was such it became a 12 bed unit 1924 15 beds in 1935. By 1968 when maternity was taken over by North Tees it provided 26 units. There were plans to extend the Maternity unit in 1934 to Norton-Hall the Green Norton and Woodside-Hall Eaglescliffe but finance voided this and the home took over two adjoining houses alongside “Robson”. In the 1960s there was 90 to 95 births per month length of stay 8-10 days and no husband allowed beyond the waiting -room. The “Robson” closed in May 1968. An intriguing section,”Hardwick-Hall” followed a month later! Anybody remember Hardwick as a maternity unit?
    Bob Harbron

    Terry Anderson ran the STORK HOTEL in Bowesfield Lane in the eighties .He used to live on Darlington Road at the end of Birkdale Road and I believe Terry and his wife still live in Hartburn. Terry I believe had something to do with the running of the Sunday market at Redcar.
    Ken Rhodes

    My father knew Ted and John Pole. My mother Jennie worked for Ted in “the sherry” in the early 70″s
    John Rigg

    I was talking to John Pole a couple of months ago. He’s living in belamadia, Spain He’s looking really great. Both he and elloner came to see me in Benidorm
    John McAlees

    I was born in the Robson in June 1946 although I didn’t realise the connection with Isaac Robson this must be connected with the company of the same name that traded on Bridge Road as tool merchants & ironmongers also Henry Foster Morelands was a similar shop further down the road near where Foster Brothertons was does anyone remember them ?? in the early 60s I was just starting my Joinery apprenticeship & can recall looking in both of these places for joinery tools these were proper tool merchants the likes you don’t see these days
    Peter Nelson

    Hi Peter, I worked at Isaac Robson in the late sixties our oldest daughter was born in the Robson and even I didn’t know the connection until it appeared on this site. Well better late than never with that information. I also remember Foster Moreland it was just before the bridge it became the Suite Centre and don’t forget there was Henry Moat in was it Wharf Street opposite Isaac’s.
    Moira Murphy nee McInnes

    Peter Nelson. I started my Apprenticeship as a Joiner at Head Wrightsons Thornaby in 1953. As the youngest Apprentice it was my job to collect Ironmongary at Foster Moreland Isaac Robson across the road at Crossleys and The Woodworkers in the Town. We had to buy our own tools and I would get good discounts from the Shops with knowing me. I can remember getting a set of 6 chisels (Marples) at one of these shops. They were plastic handles and I think that I could have been one of the 1st to own plastic handled chisels. When I opened them up back in the Joiners Shop one of the Joiners played war with me stating that I could put woodworking out of business through this plastic. Little did he know how right he was. Today uPVC windows and doors plastic, gutters with uPVC soffits and facias plastic architrives and skirting boards. I could go on forever.
    Bob Irwin

    I was born at the Robson in 1947.
    Susan Chatterton nee Callender

    My brother David was born at the Robson 24th October 1954. I however was born at home Roseneath Avenue Roseworth in 1957.
    Lesley Booth

    To Lesley Booth if you were born in 1957 and I assume you went to Redbrook the same as your sister Lynda you must have been in the same class as my twin sisters Pamela and Patricia Moody. Pam lives in the newish houses at the bottom of Norton Avenue near were Fussick Bridge used to be and Pat lives near the Newland Pub. Mentioning Fussick Bridge has anyone got any old photos or memories of it. I believe it is still there but covered up by mounds of earth since the new bridge was built.
    David Moody

    I was born at the Robson Maternity Home Dec 20 1933. Freezing cold at that time!!!!
    Dr Bill Davies

    John Rigg: by any chance was your father Harry Rigg teacher at Mill Lane Boys????
    Dr Bill Davies

    Alas no I am not a direct relation to Harry though we have linked up in the 1800″s in our family history. He was my brothers head master at Tilery school. One day for some reason he had told my brother off and he came home crying anyway my mother went up the school as people did in those days and apparently Harry’s secretary told him “Mrs Rigg is outside and she’s angry” my mother went in he was white as a sheet he thought it was his wife. Well that’s a story my mam always told us.
    John Rigg

    I was born at the Robson Maternity Home in November of 1958. I was left there by my natural mother and went to foster home until at the age of around 2. My foster parents sought to adopt me yet my natural mother took me only to put me into foster care again in Canada. I would like to thank these people because although I do not remember them it was probably the only loving and secure home I had ever known. I am so grateful to these people their influence had an impact which led me eventually to a good and happy life. I often think of the mother I have never known but surely loved.
    Janet Elsegood

    To Lesley Booth – did you forget that your sister Lynda was also born in the Robson – 14th February 1950!
    Lynda Dickinson

    I was born in the Robson – October 1954.
    Dave Harker

    I too was born in the Robson Oct 1959 always wondered where it was. Lived in Thornaby till I joined the RAF and travelled the world and still enjoying it I think. Manage to get up home a couple of times a year it will always be home!!
    Ian Proctor

    In the mid 60s I worked for Issac Robson’s & Son on Bridge Road they were a very traditional style of shop you had to clean the snow from the path in Bridge Road in the winter but early 60″s. I was in the Stockton Sea Cadets that had the building to the left of the Robson Maternity Home I have many fond memories of those times with the Cadets and made some great pals
    David Shearer

    David Shearer – I worked at Isaac Robson from 65 to 67 your name doesn’t ring any bells had you left by then? I have left a comment before on this picture about Isaac’s and the other similar shops in the area all gone now. Can anyone remember what the building on the next corner was?
    Moira Murphy nee McInnes

    I worked at Isaac Robsons for a brief spell driving for them, the foreman was a little man called Ernie. My father worked for Foster Brothertons for a while driving Wally Scott then he worked for North Tees driving the joiners van until he retired.
    Tony Scott

    To all those who mentioned they worked at Isaac Robsons do any of you remember my cousins Ray and Fred Costello they both worked there in the 60″s and 70″s. Ray died some time ago but Fred is still around lives in Stockton I believe
    Neal Toulson

    Like many others I was born there in 1963 moved all over the place but still in the UK. Did meet someone at work in Southampton who was born the same day but a year later. How spooky! Can not remember what it looked like when I was born hope it looks better now than the picture in 2006 any chance of it being updated? Well posted my thoughts bye bye for another 40 years or so.
    Geoff Potter

    Ernie was a character he was the transport manager and physically he was quite a small man I started on the dock with Ernie but eventually worked The Iron Yard Whitehall (as it was known) The Bolt Yard which was over the road behind BRS Yards and then eventually the Famous Front Counter. I’ not sure but the Front Shop Manager was a lad called Ray who lived in Oxbridge.
    Dave Shearer

    At the time I worked Isaac’s front counter the manager of the Front Shop was a lad called Terry.
    Dave Shearer

    Neil, I remember Ray Costello well he went fishing with my hubby a few times. When I was there Fred worked over at Henry Moat and if we were short of something someone would phone over to him. I had left by the time he came over to Isaac’s he married one of the girls who worked there was it Sue.

    Dave, can’t you remember second names? Was it Terry Morgan his wife worked there as well. The only other Ray apart from the above was Ray Alderson another fisherman
    Moira Murphy nee McInnes

    My son Geoffrey Hurst was born in the Robson Maternity Home in Febtuary 1964
    John Edward Hurst

    Moira Murphy nee McInnes, Yes, it was Terry Morgan I would still see him occasionally walking along Oxbridge Lane. Some great memories of working at Issaac Robsons. I didn’t realise the Robson Maternity Home was sponsored/started by the Issaac Robson family
    Dave Shearer

    My paternal family lived on Sheraton Street there name was Thompson circa 1934-50 ish a few of the children were born here also.I am also looking for any old employees of Robsons – I am currently in mid project as a gift to the current owners who are currently renovating and I am trying to compile the biggest picture of the history of this building.
    Angie

    I WORKED WITH A JOHN MACALEES ON STOCKTON COUNCIL BEFORE HE MOVED TO SPAIN TO LIVE. IS THIS THE SAME JOHN? HE LIVED IN NORTON
    Albert John Smith

    I was born in the Robson on the 30th May 1964. We (mum and I) didn’t stay long Granddad signed us out and we went home with him to Tailrig, Newtown un till Dad started his new job at ICI and we moved to Wilton. Mum passed away 8yrs ago. I currently live and work in Stockton
    Lorraine Burns

    I can’t believe the previous comment was from my old friend Lorraine. I had to confirm it was her by finding her wedding video and then watching it with tears in my eyes. I still miss my very best friend. The Robson was where all our children were born. Visiting was very strict in those days and most husbands were not allowed anywhere near until baby was born.
    Marge Todd nee Smith

    I was born at “the Robson” in 1965 my husband Keith was born at Hardwick Hall in 1945 when it was a maternity home for a while the birthing room is now the boardroom!
    Gillian Rattue nee Crawford

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    • Hi Moira, Remember us… Jean and Ted Dobson (nee Fish)? We were at Robsons the same time as you. We have great memories as it is where we met. We’ve been wed 45 years now, we were just saying it would be great to get a reunion of all the staff of Isaac Robsons together, we had great times a Jocker Browns… If you’d like to get in touch please ask for our email address from Picture Stockton.

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    • Peter Nelson – Are you related to William Nelson b1898 and Elizabeth Lang Tulip b1900. Elizabeth was the daughter of George William Tulip who was a director of Issac Robsons, Inronmongers on Bridge Road. They form part of my family history.

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      • Hi Martin, nearly four years too late but I have just come across this page. I am researching some local RAF pilots and would like to know more about William ‘Bill’ Nelson, William and Elizabeth’s son, are you able to help me any?
        Regards
        Brian

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