I believe these were two of the best coaching inns in the north. I can also see William Strikes the Florist. This side of the High Street had more character then than it has today, it’s a shame that it’s still not like this. I believe whole area was demolished in the 1970s.
Image and details courtesy of Derek Buttle.
It would appear that the reputation of the Black Lion around the period this photo was taken was at a low point. At the 1906 Brewster sessions the Mayor of Stockton, Mr Frank Brown drew attention to the condition of the hotel. He pointed out that it was the oldest commercial hotel in stockton, and had very much deteriorated and to justify its existence its character must be maintained. The house had not been conducted satisfactorily for some time. He added, ‘recently no respectable man would put his nose into the place’. Richard Murray of The North Eastern Breweries, who had only recently took over the Black Lion made an assurance that there would be an improvement.
William Strike had their head office at Acklam Road, Thornaby…opposite Harewood Garage… and when they moved to Elton Hall the Thornaby premises were purchased by F.W. Russell and Sons Ltd., and became Dennis Russell Motors. Strikes had branches in Stockton, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Durham, Sunderland, Northallerton, Thirsk, Ripon, Harrogate, Bradford and maybe one or two more….and a Nursery at Yarm.
I am sure that given modern techniques and the realisation that architectural heritage is important we would have had a high street that maintained the original facades with new build behind and being served by the present riverside road. Was it really the Stockton and Darlington railway? Really? so where are the celebrations of this world changing development? Where is the original station? Is there a heritage walk over the original line into the town? Do we actually have a functioning station? How are we showing the world that “railways” started here. Darlington has only a little more but it has MORE!
Sadly, the section of the High Street pictured, dating from the 18thC was ‘fronting’ a host of ancient dilapidated structures, i.e. stables, cottages, workshops and warehouses that lay between the High Street and the River Tees. These structures had suffered much as a result of pollution and acid-rain caused by the heavy-industry that gradually occupied the town in the 19thC, plus a lack of proper maintenance during frequent periods of economic depression. After WWII , like many other UK towns, the council were eager to enter a ‘new age’ of modernisation to benefit it’s population and as a result, these buildings were swept away during the 1960’s. In hindsight, with all the techniques, materials and processes for ‘restoration’ which then later became widely available to the construction industry, the story may have been different.
As to Derek Buttle’s caption-comment regarding ‘coaching-inns’, it’s amazing how the canopied entrance and ground-floor bay-windows of the Vane Arms Hotel are reminiscent of another famous 18thC coaching-inn, that of The Golden Fleece, which remains intact on Northallerton High Street.
Hi Chris got to say about the best (coaching inns) that was just my opinion also I agree the history of the High Street might of been different if these changes had happened in the 70s.
The people that made the decision to desecrate the High Street have a lot to answer for. I feel the old style and character would have had much more attraction today than the current view of the High Street.