This semi-detached town house was built on Stockton High Street in 1841. They are numbers 82 and 83. The ivy clad residence of number 82 was owned by Attorney at Law, Thomas Henry Faber and stayed in the family until 1904. The last person to occupy number 83 was a organist called Felix Cruse. The outbuildings were built using old castle stone and the gardens reached down to the river. Both houses were demolished in 1904 to make way for the Castle Theatre which opened on this site in 1908.
This was the splendid mansion of Alderman James Cooke, built in the 17th century, before it was converted into the two ivy covered cottages we see here.
Being at the junction of the High Street, Yarm Lane and Bridge Road, any estate-agent, or property developer would no doubt place a high value on this site. Yet it seems ‘cursed’ as having been occupied by a castle, an elegant residential site, shops, an elaborate entertainment venue and a multistory hotel, all of which have seemingly failed as to their purpose. What next awaits this corner plot I wonder?
What an excellent photo, who would have thought that somebody on the High Street had such a nice front garden. You can put this property into context by looking at the photo looking up the High Street from Bridge Road (search for s.249). In the lower right hand corner of that photo you can see part of the garden wall of nos. 82 and 83.