Borough Hall was built on the site of the large mansion residence of Robert Dickson, a prominent draper in Stockton. The house stayed much the same apart from a new verandah. The main hall measured 80×36 feet and together with its balcony had seating for 700. It was eventually adapted by Mr Clephan after being purchased for the sum of £1500. The hall was originally to be demolished c1930, it was however demolished later and the Regal and the General Post Office erected.
My Grandmother used to Roller Skate in the Borough Hall,as a young woman. She could also juggle with clubs and supposedly did so,on the stage there.
The Georgian frontage of the Borough hall was just the facade of the original residence. The main body of the hall had been erected on the land at the rear of the property. Here is the description from Thomas Richmond’s “Local Records…”, dated 15 May 1852.
The Borough hall, which was opened this day, was built on the site of a large mansion in the High Street, the residence of the late Mr Rd. Dickson, and was adapted for its present purpose by Mr W. Clephan, architect. The hall, an elegant building, is at the back of the premises, 80 ft long, 36ft wide and 36 ft high. The front building admitted to easy conversion into a Council chamber, and other offices , which are now (1866) occupied as a Custom House, and offices for the Poor Law Guardians etc. The yard is covered with a ridged roof of glass and forms a pleasant, sheltered approach from the house to the hall and is about 72 ft long by 23 ft.
Obviously the requirement for a civic ‘gathering place’ in S’ton was greater than the need for good architecture when this private Georgian house was adapted for such a use. The addition of the double opening, stone-portico having destroyed the natural symmetry of the original facade.
I’m also puzzled as to how the single doors on either side functioned? These have been ‘roughly’ inserted to the former ground floor window openings, though they seem to be well above pavement level. Maybe temporary wooden stepways were placed in position whenever the hall was being used?
Like so many photographs of the original 18thC. Georgian properties in S’ton, taken during the 1940’s-50’s, it is obvious that by that time, they were teetering on the brink of their structural integrity. The late Victorian era had already ‘disposed’ of many of these properties on the High St as the town bourgeoned from a port and agricultural town into a major industrial manufacturing centre. The prosperity of the post WWII period, especially the early 1960’s, was to see a further ‘new brooms’ approach, the main Post Office (orig. in Dovecot St) claiming this, once elegant facade, as an unfortunate victim.
I found the photo I referred to by putting Regal Cinema in the search box top right. Enter in Google as Stockton High Street and the search will lead to many photos in the archives! My brain is still ticking in my 86th year!!!
There used to be boxing at this venue in the early 1900s & another Stockton boxing venue in the 1930s was the Albert Hall … where was this in Stockton?
There was a very good photo posted in October 2002. Text: Stockton High Street with cinema in view. Posted on October 1, 2002
Photo of South end of Stockton High Street, showing Regal Cinema and broad view of the High Street.
Surely the Regal cinema existed some years pre 1944. It had children’s matinees. I went from time to time and enjoyed them. Also an organ which rose up in all its glory at various interlude intervals. I can picture the entrance and foyer even now.
Martin’s Bank was near the Borough Hall.
It did my sister and myself attended in those days and sang with the white ball showing the words on the screen while the organ played the tunes. the last film showed a man diving into the sea with sharks never saw what happend to him the Regal closed the following week I think it had something to do with roof failure if my memory serves me right
This is the first photograph that I have seen showing the frontage of this building. Usually you can only catch a glipse of it on the side of the High Street. This was such an important venue for the town, and all visiting dignitaries ended up at the Borough Hall to make a speech, or enjoy a dinner. It looks a bit shabby in this photo and has seen its best days.