The ruins of Stockton Castle I believe stood on land behind were the present Swallow Hotel is. The castle dates from the 1370s having been a Manor House earlier. It was demolished in the 1650s with the exception of the Barn which it was demolished in the 1860s.
Photograph and details courtesy of Derek Buttle
My cousin use to work in the Picture House that was over the old entrance to the dungeons and they used to let some go down there. Rooney told me that the steps were very steep and slippy and you could only go so far due to safety issues, lots of rats and cockroaches down there.
In the mid 1960’s, there was an archaeological dig on the site of Stockton Castle, before the Swallow Hotel and High Street were re-developed. I was a volunteer. The only major find that I recollect was a large stone drain. And a lot of mud.
Chris, there is a photo of the dig (and the drain!) on this website, go to
http://picturestocktonarchive.files.wordpress.com/2006/02/t9687.jpg
Cliff, many thanks. It was longer than I remember. I don’t recognise either archaeologist. Fancy trowelling wearing a tie!
In Robert Woodhouse’s book, Stockton on Tees, this building is described as a barn which was converted into 2 castellated cowhouses in 1800. It was the last surviving building of the castle
I remember that there was a picture house where the swallow hotel is ,and where the old castle used to be. When I was a young girl me and a friend used to go to see films there and it cost 3d to get in. The street around there which is now the entrance to the car park I think is called Moat Street as that’s where the moat used to be around the castle.
Susan, That reminds me of a time as seven yr olds our gas house gang, five of us walking around the town early on a Sunday morning without our parents knowledge. Near the picture house there was a shop that sold for the out door horse type including shotguns. As we walked past the shop we noticed the door window broken and decided to look in. Well we thought it was aladins cave. I can just remember all of us starting to walk down to bridge road with shotguns over out shoulders when the police stopped us. We even took cartridges. Looking back what a good thing the police came. We told them what happened and how we found the door open. Yes they took us home and my dad gave me a right wallop!!
Phew! That’s some story!!
A plan of Stockton, dated 1826, shows that this building was situated alongside a track that was later to be known as Bridge Road.
I can’t believe there was anything of it left late enough to photograph!