Taken in the 1950s, this is a view of what is reputed to be the oldest house in Stockton. It is still there today in it’s present guise of Briscoe’s Cafe on Finkle Street.
The stone used in its construction is said to have been taken from Stockton Castle.
Great café and great staff
I’ve never been in Briscoe’s Cafe. This is one of those streets that remained kind of Victorian. What with the cobbled paths, old windows, etc.
Hello Larry, the “drop” is where the road falls down towards what was “Corporation Quay”, the docks. On either side of this drop was a level narrow road with offices and shops. The photograph is taken from the South side of Finkle Street with the railings just in view on the bottom of the photograph. The South side, along with the old Custome House, was demolished in the 70s to make way for the controversial shopping centre. There are photographs on this site looking upwards from the docks towards the High Street which will give you a better impression of the road layout.
According to the Stockton historian Robert Woodhouse, No. 9 Finkle Street is RUMOURED to have been built with stone from Stockton Castle. However, in his book Stockton Past he also remarks that many of the houses in Finkle street have lower levels in which similar stone can be seen. Given that this house has a large proportion of coble stones, while in the pictures I have seen the Castle Barn and most likely the Castle were largely cut blocks; it would appear probable that the visible bits of this house were made of debri or offcut stone. The Green Dragon Yard is also rumoured to be of Castle stone.
Reading the above book it seems to me that the castle stone was largely buried in the demolition of 1647/8. Some castle buildings, however, survived until the mid 1860’s. The stone of which they were built keeps popping up every time some rebuilding work happens within the old town perimeter.
So as to who built what from what and when is a bit hazy unless your very lucky and find a written record.
Hello again,my friends in the north. I do so like the wandering ridge line, it puts something special to the view. Can anyone tell me,the railings,drop(?),and what looks like trackwork?,or is it another set of railings?But why the “drop”?,if it is such?
Any one able to throw light into my darkness?? Great photo. I will try to find it next year should I keep going that long! Keep up the good work, tis great works you do. The world would be a sad place without you. So glad I joined,even if it was an accident!!