A photograph of Stockton High Street looking towards Norton Road. In the view is the Shambles and the Town Hall. To the right is the Yorkshire Penny Bank on the corner of Finkle Street c1950s/1960s
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
This poem was discovered in an 1815 book printed by Heaviside Printer, Stockton on Tees…
During the mayoralty of John Wilkinson, Esq. in 1825, the
present shambles were erected, which, at the south end, bear
his name. The old shambles were a disgrace to the town.
When the workmen commenced pulling them down, in 1821,
the remnant of the old Volunteer Band mustered on the
occasion and played ” The Downfall of Paris.”, and it was against the
wish of a large majority of the inhabitants that they were
re-built. The opposition to this measure was so great, that
the new building when being erected was twice levelled to the
ground. The street would have looked decidedly better
without any shambles. The then poet laureate of the town,
Thomas Webber alludes to the subject in this poem:
“The Shambles, as some people say, Demand my chief attention,
Since they have been on many a day a subject of contention ;
And sure it was humorous to see The war when hottest reigning,
And hear when in emergency Some gallant chief complaining ;
To see the Architect sublime, And with him many others,
With bricks and mortar, spades and lime, Like true Masonic brothers,
Prepare the Shambles to erect, And hear the opposition
Swear they would send the Architect And crew into perdition;
And if (lest angry critics lash) The truth must be indited,
The walls fell with a dreadful crash
This is a familiar scene to me. I wonder what it looks like now? Do you remember the public toilets down below ground in this area? A life-saver at times!
A great picture of the High Street. just as I always remember it.