Elton Hall, Elton is about 5 miles west of Stockton. We believe the house to have been demolished c1910 and rebuilt on the same site between 1913-1914. It is reported that the poet, William Wordsworth visited Elton Hall, or more specifically the summer house whilst courting!
Photograph taken August 1985.
I used to work there, my first real job for Crossley Builders Merchants (1987/8?). Moved out into Riverside House at end of Bridge Road Stockton after a couple of months.
Elton Hall was built by my grandfather Stanley Appleby. His first wife is buried in Elton Churchyard. Stanley subsequently remarried and moved to Cambridgeshire and remained there until his death. There are pictures of the interior of the house in the County Record office.
I worked for the Crossley Group at Elton Hall from 1978 to 1983. The Hall acted as the headquarters for group management activities for the brickworks and the merchant side of the group. In 1983 the Brickworks side of the business was sold off and relocated to the MTE building on Durham Lane. Not sure when the merchants business moved out of the Hall. Chris Stoddart
My grandfather Stanley Appleby built Elton Hall I believe at the turn of the 20th century. He lived there for a number of years before moving to a village called Little Gransden in Cambridgeshire. There are pictures of the inside of the house and some gardens in the local record office. Hope this is of interest for you.
Hugh Appleby
I remember about 40 years ago down in the woods behind Elton hall and there were the graves of family pets all in a row about a dozen or more some with metal fencing around them.
I was interested in the previous comments about 2 fishponds made from bomb craters. Are these further out from Elton village, several hundred yards to the south at what is now Drovers Way caravan park? As I alluded to below, the woods to the south of the village (Rookery Plantation) belong to me and have a pond that appears on maps, but has dried out and been overgrown for 30 years. A small wear used to provide the water to it.
I spent many happy days and hours in the woods located at the very top of Sutton Stob Lane, Elton, before you got to this small wood there was a bridge over a stream, and the entrance gate to this field was on the left, directly over the road from the chicken farm owners old bungalow (now demolished) I know this stream quite well, if its where the alleged 2-fishponds were. I can state there was no fishponds that I knew off, created by bombs. About 100 yards into this field was a wider stretch of water, a natural occurrence, There was never ever any fish in this stream, or minnows or frogs, It might have had some thing to do with the fact that it was used as a sewer and drains for the nearby farms and polluted. With regards to the woods one middle section contained a lot of very high trees containing a large number of crows nests, and around the outer fringes of this wood, the smaller Hawthorn trees contained a large number of wood pigeons nests, it appeared to me that wood pigeons never nested more than 12′ foot above the ground, and always nest in Hawthorn Trees. Their was a few small rabbit warrens in these woods, on the far side was quite a number of long deserted badger holes and tunnels. I suspect someone may have shot them? Just 20 yards from the Badger holes was a unofficial tip used by the local tenant farmers who lived up the way. There was a Planning Application to bulldoze the woods, and to use this land and the adjoining valley as a tip, but the Application was refused, This information relates to the 1945-1960 period, and is no doubt long out of date.
My family own a dining room table and 8 chairs from Elton Hall which were purchased by my parents presumably about 1940. I assume there was a sale of contents at the time – does this date coincide with a change of ownership?
This thread is so interesting to read. My father is currently on respite care in Elton Hall in their Dementure suite. It was obviously a very grand building and I was interested in finding out more about its history. We have a family friend who works in the records department who managed to find out some interesting information about Elton Hall for me which I have attached below. It was the S S on each tower that also drew my attention and I wanted to know what they stood for. Hope you enjoy the information my friend sent to me it’s fascinating. Thanks Pamela.
Laurence was the son of Laurence the son of William the son of John Gower of Elton and Agnes his wife.He had two sons Thomas and Edward. The former left a son and heir Ralph, who was dead in 1546, when it was found that his heir was Edward’s grandson, Laurence Tregos alias Thorowgood or Strodar, son of Anne the daughter of Edward. The inheritance comprised a moiety of the manor of Elton, with 12 messuages and 460 acres of land and lands in Little Stainton.
In 1552 Richard Stoughton and Margaret his wife conveyed to Henry Wethereld 5 messuages and 340 acres of land in Elton and Little Stainton. Later conveyances must have put Wethereld in possession of the whole estate of the Gowers, of which he died seised in 1559. His son and heir was Roger, who appears to have sold this part of the manor to Thomas Errington. In 1595 Thomas Errington died in possession, leaving a son and heir John, then nine years old.
John Errington, being a recusant, took sides with the king in the Civil War, and was a colonel. His son, John Errington the younger, also served with the royal forces, and in 1644 their estates were sequestered by the Parliament. A fifth was allowed to Mary, wife of the elder John
Finally the estates were confiscated under the third act of 1652, and sold. They were recovered at the Restoration, and in 1664 John Errington and Anne his wife, with his son John, conveyed the manor to Henry Lambton. John Errington was probably unable to retrieve his losses occasioned by the war, and in 1682 he sold his lands to Sir Robert Shafto, whose descendant John Shafto of Whitworth (q.v.) made a settlement in 1798. He sold it before 1802, the date of his death, to Thomas Wade. It descended to his son, the Rev. Albany Wade, rector of Elton from 1840 to 1855, and was sold by his trustees to Mr. John Stapylton Sutton, who afterwards sold his estate here to the late Thomas Appleby of Hartlepool. The ‘new’ hall was rebuilt by Thomas Appleby a shipowner from Hartlepool, who had been in partnership with Robert Ropner until 1875 when their company was dissolved by mutual consent, after which they traded separately in the same town.
After the death of Thomas in 1909, his son Mr. John Stanley Appleby, between 1914 and 1926 sold all his lands except one farm mostly to the tenants. In 1924 he sold the hall to Robert Ropner the son of his father’s former partner.
The following list shows the occupation of the hall until recent times:
1841 census – George Sutton, 39 independent means, wife Olivia aged 48, 4 children, servants etc., resided there
1851 census – George William Sutton aged 49 b. 1802 Norton , wife Olivia aged 59 b.1794 Hookton, Durham Norton,
1861 census Olivia Sutton, widow aged 68 living with daughter her family and servants. John Stapylton Sutton aged 28 , wife Sarah Jefferson Sutton aged 25, 2 daughters and servants
1868 poll book. John Stapylton Sutton
1871 census John S.Sutton aged 38, mother Olivia aged 78, with servants
1881 census John S.Sutton aged 48, wife Sarah aged 45, mother Olivia aged 88 and family and servants
1891 census – only two cottages occupied in Elton village – hall being rebuilt?
1901 census – no residents at the hall (if it was built?)
1911 census Robert Ropner aged 48 wife Jane aged 35 son and servants (must have rented it until sale in 1924)
WWII Elton Hall was the Officers Mess for RCAF officers presumably based at RAF Goosepool, later Middleton St George.
Elton Hall was then owned by Crossleys the builders, for offices: they sold it to John Wilson, dairy producer from nearby Longnewton (well-known by John) in the late 80s. He supplied the milk for Frank Dee’s when it was down in the precinct shops. He saw an opportunity and turned the Hall into a successful nursing home.
My great Grandfather was Thomas Appleby. I have a series of photographs of the interior of Elton Hall fully furnished, copies of which I sent, a number of years ago, to the Durham County Record Office.
Hi I work at Elton Hall currently and would be much appreciated if we could see any of these photos. If you contact the Picture Stockton team (pictures@stockton.gov.uk) will forward on my email address
Hi, I live at Elton Manor, which was the smaller Manor House to the Hall. My deeds show that mine did indeed belong to the Ropners, so it would make sense that the larger Elton Hall did too. The woodwork in my house is very similar to that of Elton Hall. I also have a picture of my house during WW2 and a sign showing opening hours, as my house was a NAAFI, serving refreshments. Elton Hall was the Officers Mess presumably for RCAF officers based at RAF Goosepool, later Middleton St George.
Elton Hall was owned by Crossleys the builders, who had their offices there, then moved into a building in Stockton which is next to what is now Allegria Restaurant. Crossleys sold it to John Wilson in the late 80’s and I saw him turn it into a nursing home.
Strikes offices were next door. These were turned into houses, one of which was lived in by the late Sir Rex Hunt, who was Governor of the Falkland Islands when the Argentines invaded.
Back to Elton Hall and there was a farmhouse on the site before this, with the same name. They say the stonework in the gardens was laid out by Italian prisoners of war, but I’ve never been able to find out any more. It was told to me by my late neighbour, Jack Lamb who was the gardener and also lived in the village. He did tell me there were Italian POW’s in the village, but again I can find no evidence of this.
I would be interested to know more about the two ponds/small lakes that were supposedly bomb craters, as written above. One is on my land, but is now dried out and overgrown for over 30 years. There was a metal bridge to it, that was at the bottom of the stream, but that was removed a few years ago.
My house was the home to an England Cricketer called Charlie Townsend who was a contemporary of WG Grace and later a solicitor in Stockton (see Wisden almanac). Also Rose Cottage in the village was home to Boro players at different times: Jimmy Phillips and then Colin Cooper.
The main road through the village was the A67 to Darlington (not the A66) before the dual carriageway was built. Older neighbours told me in the past, that it would take ages to cross the road, such was the traffic.
Very interesting. My late wife was in the ATS {Women’s army} during WW2 and was stationed at Elton Hall, 1943 and 1944. The reference to Italian prisoners- of- war, strikes a chord of memory.
I worked at Elton Hall for Crossleys, it was their HQ in the early 80’s, happy days ! Happy memories- like the annual White Rose Walk
I do not know if this will help you in any way with your history search on Elton Hall but somehow my great great great grandfather lived in Elton Hall by the name of William Randolph Innes Hopkins who may have been involved with the Hopkins, Gilkes and Company Limited. I am talking of the years 1854 – 1864 plus. Unfortunately, I have only just started doing a My Hertiage search so any more information you could pass on to me would be greatly appreciated.
This is information I got from Yorkshire Gazette – Saturday 23 July 1864 which is a marriage notice: Hopkins – Hustler where it is mentioned William Randolph Innes Hopkins Esq., of Elton Hall in the county of Durham.
Hope this will help in some way and if I find out any more information I will let you know. I hope my information is correct.
Hi
I was really interested to read your comments as I’m distantly related to the Hopkins via Evereld Catherine Eliza Hustler (a 3rd cousin) who married William Randolph Innes Hopkins. I think that must make us related, as Evereld must be your 2x great grandmother. I have William recorded as living in Elton Hall at the time of their marriage but they seem to have moved to other residences at a later point.
I am attempting to write a brief history of Elton Hall and would welcome any information or photographs.
Was the Hall occupied at the same time that it was used as offices by Strikes/Crossleys/Harkers?
I have checked out information online and have found it to be extremely confusing and does not match census records for Elton Hall. I wonder if there was also a manor house, hence the confusion.
The Wilsons from Long Newton had Elton Hall when it was turned into a nursing home.
Crossleys/Harkers/Strikes did NOT have anything to do with the hall!
Strikes had a place near the phone box in Elton which is now two houses.
The SS on either side of the hall stands for Squire Sutton!
My father still lives in Elton and my grandparents lived and died in Elton, my family is the Chadfield family.
The pony in the gig in the photo was Marty, the older person was my grandfather and the person driving the gig is my dad
Must correct that statement, my Daughter worked for Harkers and they moved to Elton Hall with Mr Fred Harker, she worked there for two or three years with the wages department then moved back to Church Road. I know this because I took her in and picked her up on several occasions. I do believe Mr Fred Harker lived there until his death.
Elton Hall has always been a nursing home, I will have to find out the dates etc. ( I have always known it as a nursing home and I was born in 1978. As far as I know the Ropner family owned Elton Hall, Strikes had the property that has the weather vane on it.
The Chadfields bought the farm in Elton in 1926. To get correct information regarding Elton then people can either contact my father Stephen Chadfield, or Alan Flegg who owns the Sutton Arms pub in Elton.
My Grandparents were Joseph Henry Chadfield and Edna Chadfield.
It became a nursing home in 1985 but is now a residential home.
Fred Harker was living at Nunthorpe Village when he died.
My Sincere apologies to everybody, I grovel having got it badly wrong. After posting this item my neck hairs rose I had something wrong so spoke to my Daughter. She worked for Crossleys, it was they who worked at Elton Hall, she was there for two years before joining Harkers who never were at Elton Hall, the poster is quite correct in that statement. I always check before I post, this time I did not plus a couple of times before on this same subject so please ignore all references made by me to Fred Harker and Elton Hall.
It’s mentioned above the Wilson family of Long Newton had Elton Hall as a nursing home before selling it to a big nursing home business.
The gardens still look well as I am the gardener there . The hedge design I believe is Dutch. There is a large oak tree to the right in garden it must be at least one hundred and fifty years old. A lovely garden.
I am the gardener and yes the gardens do look well. And don’t recall you Bill…
MARY BENTON, THE OLD WOMAN OF ELTON, NEAR STOCKTON.
This woman, who was considered “the oldest woman in the world,” lived a great number of years in the small hamlet of Elton, about three miles from Stockton. Her maiden name was Lodge. She was born, it has been stated, on the 12th of February, 1731, at Baby Moor House, near Keverstone, but in the parish of Cockfield. Her father, Mr. Ralph Lodge, lived to the age of 105 years. In early life she resided with her grandmother, who kept an inn, at Piercebridge. Up to the period of her death, she had a vivid remembrance of the soldiers being quartered there during the rebellion of 1745.Her husband’s name was John Benton, a butcher, with ‘whom she resided some time at Longnewton ; but he being ” a
graceless and a spendthrift,” she separated herself from him shortly after their marriage. She was regarded with much interest in the neighbourhood, and her little cottage was frequently the resort of visitors, especially from Stockton, who were curious to see ” The Old Woman of Elton,” as she was called. The bounty that she received at these visits assisted in making her comfortable. Her form was bent ; but her conversation was free and lively ; her eye, though dimmed, was intelligent ; and she was able to dispense with the assistance of glasses to the last. She died on the 7th of January, 1853. The inscription on the coffin plate stated her age to be 117 ; but, if the above birth be correct, she must have been in her 122nd year. (from Heavisides Printers Book)
Not an Olympic size pool Bill, Fred Harker must have lived in part of the building and the pool probably a plunge pool as Fred also got in it, I will ask Janet when I see her. They all moved back to the main works and I had three daughters working there at one time, two in offices over the workshop and one in the main office.
As with many of the large houses in the area it had many owners and uses I would pick Janet up from there at times and wonder at what it must have once looked like in its day.
Some interesting comments regarding air raids and the threat of bombings in Elton.
My grandfather and his son (my uncle) had a hand in the early/mid 50’s? in making the two ponds at the rear of the big wood in Elton, suitable for Preston Park angling club’s coarse fishermen. The two ponds came to be there from bomb craters – so my grandtather told me…
It was a nursing home when my mother was in there in 2003, my mother had dementia and died there. Down stairs was very nice I remember as I looked into the dining room as I was going upstairs where the dementia patients where… downstairs the tables had white tablecloths on upstairs non. I didn’t like the place and wanted to take my mother home but was not allowed to, it holds such bad memories for me.
Chris Bailey is correct, the sale of the Hall to Wm Strikes was reported in the Evening Gazette around 1954 for the sum of £10.000.00 (ten thousand pounds) in later years it became a ‘nursing home’ and appeared to lose some of it’s former grandeur. This was Stockton number 1 private home in it’s day.
In my previous post I mentioned our family sleeping out in the fields due to the fear of bombing raids, we started off by sleeping in Darlington Back Lane, but you know what women are and my mother found a much better place for us all up Coatham Stob Lane, (first left after the Sutton Arms, on the Long Newton side of Elton) from the Sutton Arms it was a mile walk past the chicken farm, go over the bridge to the woods on the left and look out for the mini-woodland glade, we camped there, for milk we went to the farm 200 yards away who sold fresh milk which tasted liked melted ice-cream and took some getting used to, for eggs we went to the chicken farm whose owner lived in the bungalow overlooking the bridge, it was often no use knocking there so we went over to the chicken sheds calling him, I think eggs were about 1/- a dozen, these were the first eggs I’d ever seen that ‘were not clean’ and had a few feathers on them. Dealing with him was such a pleasure and being rather shy I now regret I was unable to lead the conversation and find out more about his life. His son now runs a caravan site almost opposite their former home in the 1940-1955 period.
I also recall that the Hall was also occupied as a head-office for a time by William Strikes Ltd, the local market-garden and flower suppliers. This company was formed in 1908 and currently has a large retail garden-centre near Stokesley, as well as others in York and on the Wirral.
The ‘new’ hall was actually rebuilt by Thomas Appleby a shipowner from Hartlepool, who had been in partnership with Robert Ropner until 1875 when their company was dissolved by mutual consent, after which they traded separately in the same town. After the death of Thomas in 1909, his son gradually sold off all their land in Elton to their tenants and then in 1924, sold the hall to to Robert Ropner the son of his father’s former partner. It is interesting to note that Elton, once formed part of the ownerships of the famous Shafto family of land-owning M.P.’s from Whitworth near Spennymoor in the 17th century, they of the iconic Tyneside-song ‘Bobby Shafto’ which was originally used as an electioneering ‘jingle’ on the hustings..
Without any exaggeration I was ‘in love’ with Elton Hall’, for over 65 years, in 1943 we were bombed out in an air raid, and after that incident fearing the worst my mother decided it would be safer to sleep in the fields which at that time many people especially in the London area were having to do. People on Teesside did so also. Intending to sleep out in Darlington back lane, she took the 21 bus from Thornaby to Elton, this became a regular thing and after alighting at the Sutton Arms Pub, we walked past this hall (a gaggle of 2 women accompanied with 4 children) and invariably stopped to see ‘How the rich lived’, you can imagine the conversation afterwards, we learnt the hall was owned by a ship owner, and suffice to say my admiration for his lovely home turned into a life long affair. (I am now unsure whether the hall was owned by the Ropner family as a www-search suggests otherwise)? We slept out in the fields quite often and it was a lovely experience, camping without tents, just a few blankets to cover ourselves.
www / Quote: Sir Emil Hugo Oscar Robert Ropner, 1st Baronet 1838-1924, was a British shipbuilder, shipowner, and Conservative Member of Parliament. He was known simply as Robert Ropner. He was born c1838 in Magdeburg, Prussia He emigrated to England and worked for a coal export concern before building up a fleet of colliers and founding in 1874 the Ropner Shipping Company in Hartlepool. In 1888 Robert Ropner acquired a shipyard at Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham. Ropner established a successful shipbuilding firm, which built many trunk deck ships. No longer limited to hauling coal, Ropner also established a company to operate tramp steamers.
Confusing reports suggest that Elton Hall was actually owned by the second son of the 1st baronet (both called Robert) and as the 2nd baronet died childless the title passed to Mr Robert Ropner’s son (1st baronet’s grandson) The Baronets lived at Preston Park.
Harkers Engineering of Stockton had offices in this building at one time, my daughter Janet worked there for quite a while. I am not sure whether Fred Harker owned the place but Janet said they had a lovely pool to swim in.
I don’t recall any pool in the hall?
Maybe the pool was filled in when it became an old peoples home,but it had beautiful gardens when the Wilson family from Long Newton had it in the eighties.