This pub used to be run by one of my relations in the late 1950s whom I never met, but I have a couple of pint glasses, from I imagine from around 1900, that were used there. They are thick glass and not quite even, but lovely things. Up the lane that runs on the extreme right leads to the farm Sober Hall where my mother, Nancy Moore was brought up with her two brothers Willie and John. The two brothers farmed the land until it was sold and eventually built on. Only the mill remains from the farm at Raydale Beck on the housing estate. I used to spend my summers there in the 1950s. Billy the horseman (or cowman?} from the farm lived in one of the cottages just around the corner in the lane. Happy memories but sad to see the farm has gone which was mentioned in the Doomsday Book. Fantastic buildings that should have been preserved.
THE HALF MOON PUBLIC HOUSE WAS THERE BEFORE THE FOX COVERT. LEVEN BANK AND HUTS WERE DOWN THE LANE TO THE SIDE WHERE YOU CROSSED OVER A STILE TO ACCESS THE SITE.
Glad to hear that the Fox Covert is still going strong. I used to use it and other pubs for meals around the area. We always assumed 2 pints would keep you within driving limits but luckily never had to put it to the test!
Very Sorry if I gave the wrong impression Dave, the Fox Covert is still going although now also advertised as a Conference Centre.
I was thinking of the times we would drive out to a country pub have a meal and a couple of drinks now you dare not drink anything smelling of acohol.
Many of the Country pubs we once visited around the area are gone or only do meals at weekends. There are still some very busy places around which tend to get full for Sunday lunch, a couple we visit have well cooked food at reasonable prices although you can wait a while for a table. The Fox Covert still do meals I believe, years since I was there.
We do not seem to wander far now, cost of fuel, pubs no longer there or changed and the people we went with long gone.
I take it from Frank’s comment that the pub is no longer there, we used to drive out to it in the 70s also the Ship at Worsall and the Bluebell at Bishopton which were also very popular. I wonder if they are still going . I now live in Bucks but still have fond memories of Stockton.
These buildings are most certainly still there! Having passed the pub today I can vouch for the fact they are remarkably unchanged from when this picture was taken, just with updated signage. The Fox Covert always had a good reputation for great food and atmosphere, although I haven’t been for years, when I did go it was always nice.
At one time 40 odd years back this was a good eatery very popular indeed, we would motor out on light nights and enjoy a meal, well cooked well served and always busy. Convivial company would add to the enjoyment, what happened I wonder.
I must have drove past these once derelict buildings at least 3000 times or more and never once gave them a second glance. They appeared to be two abandoned co-joined terrace houses with no viable future use. About 350 yards away was an old fashioned petrol station which stayed open until 6pm, which in those days 1954-1966 was considered to be late hour closing time, after 6pm the only place you could get petrol in the Thornaby/Stockton area was on the old A19, in Station Road, Billingham, known as ‘Billy Bottoms’. The road shown in this photo was the main road to Yarm, Thirsk, Dishforth roundabout, the A1 Wetherby, Doncaster and the south. Behind this pub was an area called Berwick, which with the passage of time got changed to Ingleby Barwick, which if you were walking it dropped down to the River Tees and ‘Horse Shoe Bend’.
The Fox Covert Pub, Low Lane, High Leven, near Yarm.
This pub used to be run by one of my relations in the late 1950s whom I never met, but I have a couple of pint glasses, from I imagine from around 1900, that were used there. They are thick glass and not quite even, but lovely things. Up the lane that runs on the extreme right leads to the farm Sober Hall where my mother, Nancy Moore was brought up with her two brothers Willie and John. The two brothers farmed the land until it was sold and eventually built on. Only the mill remains from the farm at Raydale Beck on the housing estate. I used to spend my summers there in the 1950s. Billy the horseman (or cowman?} from the farm lived in one of the cottages just around the corner in the lane. Happy memories but sad to see the farm has gone which was mentioned in the Doomsday Book. Fantastic buildings that should have been preserved.
THE HALF MOON PUBLIC HOUSE WAS THERE BEFORE THE FOX COVERT. LEVEN BANK AND HUTS WERE DOWN THE LANE TO THE SIDE WHERE YOU CROSSED OVER A STILE TO ACCESS THE SITE.
Hi Terry must have been a different Dave as I don’t have a brother. I went to Richard Hind juniors then Grangefield.
Hi Dave, thanks for the reply. I went to Newham Grange. All the best.
Glad to hear that the Fox Covert is still going strong. I used to use it and other pubs for meals around the area. We always assumed 2 pints would keep you within driving limits but luckily never had to put it to the test!
It was still there last October because we had a meal there and very busy it was too.
Very Sorry if I gave the wrong impression Dave, the Fox Covert is still going although now also advertised as a Conference Centre.
I was thinking of the times we would drive out to a country pub have a meal and a couple of drinks now you dare not drink anything smelling of acohol.
Many of the Country pubs we once visited around the area are gone or only do meals at weekends. There are still some very busy places around which tend to get full for Sunday lunch, a couple we visit have well cooked food at reasonable prices although you can wait a while for a table. The Fox Covert still do meals I believe, years since I was there.
We do not seem to wander far now, cost of fuel, pubs no longer there or changed and the people we went with long gone.
I take it from Frank’s comment that the pub is no longer there, we used to drive out to it in the 70s also the Ship at Worsall and the Bluebell at Bishopton which were also very popular. I wonder if they are still going . I now live in Bucks but still have fond memories of Stockton.
Hi Dave, the ship, bluebell and fox covert are all still there. The fox covert looks pretty much the same as in the picture.
The pub is still there and I take my Mam for lunch most Tuesdays, she loves it and the food is ok too!
These buildings are most certainly still there! Having passed the pub today I can vouch for the fact they are remarkably unchanged from when this picture was taken, just with updated signage. The Fox Covert always had a good reputation for great food and atmosphere, although I haven’t been for years, when I did go it was always nice.
The Fox Covert is still there , I drove past it this morning.
There was also The Falcon at Hilton, the Staple’s pub at Picton and the Stainton pub.
Hi Dave not sure, but I went to school with a Dave Day, and a brother Brian.
At one time 40 odd years back this was a good eatery very popular indeed, we would motor out on light nights and enjoy a meal, well cooked well served and always busy. Convivial company would add to the enjoyment, what happened I wonder.
I must have drove past these once derelict buildings at least 3000 times or more and never once gave them a second glance. They appeared to be two abandoned co-joined terrace houses with no viable future use. About 350 yards away was an old fashioned petrol station which stayed open until 6pm, which in those days 1954-1966 was considered to be late hour closing time, after 6pm the only place you could get petrol in the Thornaby/Stockton area was on the old A19, in Station Road, Billingham, known as ‘Billy Bottoms’. The road shown in this photo was the main road to Yarm, Thirsk, Dishforth roundabout, the A1 Wetherby, Doncaster and the south. Behind this pub was an area called Berwick, which with the passage of time got changed to Ingleby Barwick, which if you were walking it dropped down to the River Tees and ‘Horse Shoe Bend’.