A photograph of the Drum and Monkey on the corner of Bowesfield Lane and Adam Street, Stockton. Some may remember it as the Concord or at the time of closure, Charlies Bar.
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
A photograph of the Drum and Monkey on the corner of Bowesfield Lane and Adam Street, Stockton. Some may remember it as the Concord or at the time of closure, Charlies Bar.
My Great Great Grandmother was the licensee of the Tees Bridge Hotel in the 1890’s to 1903, her name was Dorothy Tyson. She must have been some formidable woman dealing with the red necks from the Iron Works who doubtless could be a difficult to handle. As I understand it, at the time it was the nearest place to get a drink.
We have to remember that the old open hearth furnaces of the iron works caused smoke dust and of course intense heat, the workers in what to me look much like hell would appear to have needed a lot of drink to keep Hydrated. Beer was a good source of moisture and boys were often employed running to local pubs with jugs and bringing back beer for the workers, strange in these days of H&S were it would never be allowed.
A friend of mine Steve Small spent his first years in the Bousefield Iron Works pushing barrow loads of sand up a single plank into a hopper for the moulds. he would be thirteen when he started and in those days you went straight into the job which was considered as boys work. He did tell me of sneaking the odd sip from the jugs when he was sent for the beer.
I suppose to modern workers this would seem to be untrue but when I started to serve my time I worked on machines with huge fly wheels which once started could not be stopped, unguarded machines were everywhere in the factory, I did see a young lad lose his fingers in a Crimping machine for wire mesh and a young girl scalped by an unguarded drilling machine. We did what was needed to aid the person hurt then just got on with the job, it was a hard world.
Drinking beer on the job in heavy industry was what was done at the time and a couple of pints after work was to let men relax after long hours of heat and dust.
I had a few drinks as a lad in the Drum and Monkey, it was a tough pub.
Frank.
Frank did they have special dispensation with the beer as pubs were regulated by opening hours? There was a pub actually in the works premises of HW’s at Thornaby. Heads had bought all the land around the pub. The Security Manager was always catching workmen coming out of the pub during working hours and they were dismissed on the spot.
Bob, all the Pubs had back doors, some even had jug and bottle Kiosks attached were it would seem a blind eye was turned.
I am talking about the Foundry’s Bob and it also happened in the rolling mills, my Granddad worked all his life in those Mills and got his beer on the job as well as enjoying a social pint. The men sweated oceans and needed moisture, my only short periods in a couple of those places made me realise what Hell on Earth was like, Foundry workers had my deep respect.
Frank.
My great-grandfather, John Christopher Tidyman, must have come directly after your great-great-grandmother. My nana remembered growing up in the pub but was born in 1900 so this likely came a bit later.
My great-grandfather, John Christopher Tidyman, must have come directly after your great-great-grandmother. My nana remembered growing up in the Tees Bridge Hotel but was born in 1900 so this likely came a bit later.
John Christopher Tidyman was my great-grandfather too, don’t remember my granddad talking of his time in Stockton, only become aware of this connection recently
Does anybody remember the Wilson family from Adam street or the Charlton family?
Yes,I am aware of the Wilson & Charlton family. I lived on Adam Street,my mother was Edie Burns, Dad John. We lived with my Grand parents David & Edith Connell. I attended Bowesfield Lane school. Mr Maddison was headmaster, Mrs Raine a teacher. Names I recall, Ann Dawson ,Tony Herd, Roy Gunn, Sharon Baverstock, Kay Longstaff. I remember Paula Bradshaw. A couple of girls from school that lived in Edward Street – Stephanie, Carol & Elaine, unfortunately I can’t recall their surnames at the moment. Sammy & Jessie Stokes were my Auntie & Uncle. I have wonderful memories & recall quite a few of the Family names of people that lived there.
my grandma was Edith Connell Jessie stokes my mams sister ..
Edith Burns and John your mam and dad were my aunt and uncle .Edith my mam’s sister. You are my cousin, I have nearly 40 cousins; my gran had Edie your mam, Ivy, Elsie, Phyllis my mam, Allan, Kingsley, Danny, Arthur who was killed in a Japanese pow camp. I am the eldest grandchild.
Did a famous boxer once open this pub some years back after a revamp of the pub?
Nigel Benn
Popular watering hole for the men who worked at Tinklers fabrications just round the corner. They only had 1/2 hour lunch break, so it was on the starting blocks at 12 oclock to get in first.
I remember Jim Danks had the pub for a while, not sure of the years!!
I went in there a couple of times in 1971, at lunchtime,when I think it would have been the Teesbridge; I was working at North Eastern Commercials a few doors away at the time.
It actually looks better on this photograph than I remember it – it was a very small room and very basic in furnishings – even for those days.
I always knew as the TEESBRIDGE but it went under the name of Mattys who was landlord at the time. He was teetotal.
My dad used to work at Crossleys brickworks on Bowesfield Lane 1950/60’s. I used to play in the quarry where they got the clay from to make the bricks. He worked with Jimmy Mack & Billy Nicks. Can anyone give me any information on the brickworks? Or the Brick Bat magazine.
I remember it when I was about 10 years old as my grandfather and grandmother lived in No 19 Adam Street.
What was its name previous to the Drum and Monkey?
Bob. I think it was originally called the Teesbridge Hotel.
That’s the name Phil, thanks.
I knew it as the Drum and Monkey. The last time I was in there was around 1982/3 . We were haveing a union meeting to try and get a pay rise from the plant hire firm I worked for.
Most people at the meeting were more intrested in getting as much drink down their necks rather than talk about how to get a pay rise!