The Old Moor Pub was situated on Light Pipe Hall Road, Oxbridge. I lived about 20 yards from here at 90 Light Pipe Hall Road when I was a kid in the 1960s. It was my dad’s local and a very bustling place then. I believe the landlord’s name was Eric. It is sad to see it in such a state of disrepair…
Photographs and details courtesy of Steve Thompson.
Good grief – I just discovered my Great Grandfather’s family lived at No.90 in the 1890s!
If anyone knows who owns/owned the building, can you get in touch with me – Picture Stockton will supply my email address
I heard it was bought at auction some time ago, you could probably contact the Land Registry and for a small fee [about three pound] apply to find the owners details.
I know the owner(s) of the property. I put the roller shutters on the downstairs windows and the CCTV brackets up.
Me and my husband Peter Thompson were regulars in the moor , loved the blue room. Some of the regulars: Butch Fletcher , Jack, Una and Mick Farington. Brian and Ginger Joan Broadbent, Ronnie and Walter Alderson and Ronnie Walker… We lived in new wren street , happy memories.
Remember snatch the glass collector?
I remember this pub as Foxes.It was opened by a mate of mine,Jim Fox.We worked together at a Dickens,Portrack Lane as did Brian Goodhall who did the conversion work.
Hi I am Brian Goodhalls daughter I can remember him working in Dickens when I was about 6 or 7 in the early 80s
Hey Helen. David Kimmins here, I worked for your dad when we redid the old moor. How’s your dad doing?
My parents, Eric and Freda Foggin were the landlords of The Moor from 1961-1967. I was born in one of those upstairs rooms! Back then it was a bustling pub frequented by the steelyard and neighbouring businesses on Bishopton Road. My dad bought the first juke box in the area. People would come long distances just to listen to it! My father passed away three years ago. I know it would have made him happy to see these comments and fond memories had of their time there. FYI after The Moor, we moved up the street to The Clarendon Pub on Dovecot Street. And Yes, the address you have is right.
Sorry to hear your dad has passed away Kathryn, yes it was a very busy pub, in fact it was the hub of the community, I also remember the shop next to your dad’s pub which was run by old Mrs Butler. I was only a kid at the time but I think she was robbed of her takings one time. I enjoyed my childhood round Oxbridge, I sometimes drive through now and stop, it brings back a lot of memories.
Steve, Mrs.Butler’s only son was Fred Butler,who lived in Wren St., no. 13, his only son was Barry Butler, who played for Sheffield Wed.and Norwich City. Barry died tragically in 1966 aged 32. He and I started school at Oxbridge in Sept 1939.
Mrs. Butler left a small legacy to Barry’s two sons who are now living in the South. During the war the Moor car park was a good spot for the local kids to play football with a battered Tennissy (tennis ball). I think Terry Oates played the drums there in later years, Terry started school with us..
I see that Peter Franks has sadly passed on, he lived in New Wren St. in those days
My brother Fred was a mate of Barry Butler’s. Anyone remember the “disco” there, black lighting etc. I went with my mates who lived up the street, “Packy & Seamus” Dunne & Tony Escritt – late 60’s I guess.
Is this the Fred Dunning who lived in Buckingham Road & was married to Marlene Morris, they emigrated to Canada & they have a daughter Tracy who is back in the U.K., both have passed away.
Sounds to me like it is Fred Dunning who was in the same class as Barry and I at Oxbridge Lane school until we were eleven and then went to different schools via the eleven plus. The Dunning family did live in Buckingham Road and I think Fred had an elder brother, I am talking 1945.
Yes that is correct. He died in 1980 & our older brother, Les, died in 2014 in Florida.
We miss Eric too Kathryn, we spent many times with them either at Norton Winemakers (where I was sawn in half by him would you believe!!) or when they moved to Hebden. Happy days!
Thats interesting Mrs Cooper… I didn’t know about her grandson being a footballer. Was Peter Frank’s mother an agent for the Provident? I vaguely remember my mother getting vouchers from her.
Steve,
I have to reply as I am not a Mrs.!!! Gran. is short for Granville, which was not used too much in reference to myself. You can find out about Barry on Google if interested. He went to Richard Hind from Oxbridge, then ICI as an apprentice electrician. Peter Franks had a younger brother called Tony, but thats all I remember.
Barry also played cricket for Stockton, and others from Oxbridge area who played were Thurlow, Beaumont, Hand, and Ward
Yes Lol Ward’s grandson James (Jimmy) plays cricket for Stockton first team & like Lol is a good footballer playing for Stockton Town who are in the Northern League First Division & in the last sixteen of the F.A. Vase, also Hardwick Social who won the F.A. Sunday Cup & the Durham F.A.Sunday Cup last season.
Thanks Karen! Yes I remember you 🙂 Mum & Dad had so much fun at the winemakers.
Hi Kathryn,
My memory is not that good but I am sure my parents Alvie and Jim Young had the Moor in the early sixties.
I served my apprenticeship at Ashmore Benson and Pease as a fitter and turner and left to go to sea in 1964.
I used to knock around with Norman Callender, Lol Parker and Geoff Proctor when we all had motorbikes, unfortunately Geoff was killed racing at the Isle of Man and I believe that Lol Parker also died but I haven’t heard anything about Norman Callender perhaps someone reading this will know ?
We used to have some great weekends in the music room with Terry Oates and Alan Parker on the piano Great memories.
I have lived in New Zealand for over 40 years and a few years ago on a visit had a look around the old haunts and was saddened to see the changes with the pub boarded up and the foundry gone and even Ashmores not there anymore, such is progress I suppose .
I hope you read this as I see it was posted a couple of years ago.
Regards
Jim Young
Thank you Jim! I just read your reply. Yes, very sad to go back. I live in USA now and it’s been several years since I saw the boarded up “Old” Moor! I don’t suppose it’s even standing any longer. Hope you are well and happy in NZ 🙂
Yes…its still standing but in a boarded up state
Hi Jim, my mam & dad, Hilda & Norman Moore, were friends of Alvie & Jim. Mam was in the darts team. I remember them fondly. Alvie would always give us a pineapple juice when went into the pub. She & mam kept in touch even when she & Harry moved out to Acklam.
Kind Regards
Sheila (Moore)
Great to hear from you Sheila and I remember your mam and Dad very well and they were very good friends of my Mam and Dad and Harry for years after they left the Moor.
Do you still live in Stockton? The last time I was over for a visit I couldn’t believe how the place has changed.
Hope you and your family are all well.
Regards
Jim Young
My Nan and grandad had the Moor in the early 70s Bob and Gladys Brown, I used to go to Oxbridge school at the time. Used to walk up Sheraton street. Used to hang out with Paul and Fiona Walker, mam and dad were Vera and Jimmy.
Hello Jim, hope you’ll see this. I am Dylan Callender, Norman Callender’s grandson. Get in touch if you’ll see this.
Hi Dylan,
Thanks for your message, it’s great to hear from you and that you are Norman’s grandson.
I got Norman’s phone number from Colin White and have been meaning to call him for a while but you have jogged my memory so I must do it soon, bearing in mind that we are 11 hours ahead of the UK so would it be best to call in the morning or evening your time.
Thanks for getting in touch,
Cheers
Jim
Hi Jim, sorry for the late reply hadn’t seen this message until now.
sadly my grandad past away many years ago, we were best friends me and him. I have been trying for so long to know more about his life and his family up in Stockton before he came to Wales. I keep meaning to go up to Stockton and visit the places he would have lived (I know the houses would have been long gone by now).
thanks again for your reply,
Dylan.
Did you go to Newtown School ??
We used to enjoy underage drinking there in 1961
I used to get in there regularly around 1970-1973 with my old mate Steve (Micky) Rayner – even made the darts team. There was a whole bunch of us from around Grangefield/Browns Bridge and further afield used to use the back room as they had a good juke box! Was a stop off point on the way to the AFC and other venues. Haven’t been in for about 10 years – some great nights – shame to see the state of it now.
Hi,Neil,I’m sure the spotted cow was there a few days ago as I noticed the ‘for sale’ sign. Don’t tell me thats now been knocked down as well !! Is there nothing sacred anymore?
This was a very well used pub by the foundry workers of Head Wrightsons which had a foundry just over the road I remember my father would always use it for drinking and the story goes that when the foundry furnaces were on night melting during the winter a drink was always had at the back door in the yard at anytime of the night.
The same thing happened at the Iron Foundry, the Eaglescliffe pub was outside tbe gates and the nightshift furnace men would go in there while the iron was melting. They worked 6 – 6 shifts. I worked in the labs at the time and would sometimes pop in there with them.
I spent a lot of time and money in here in the late 80s.
The Pub was always full at the weekends and have a lot of great memories and a lot of
Loss of memories as well.
Used to drink with Loui, Mickey Gunn, Simon Scott, Nigel Carter, Gill Scott, Andy Smith and many others yourself included John.
They were indeed fantastic days and would do it all again given the chance.
Yes and don’t forget I still have the photos to prove it.
I was young and needed the money! Nice to hear from you John.
Regarding the Moor pub I talked to the present owners about three years ago and they told me that they bought it as an investment after hearing that the scrapyard would be sold in the future, and a maybe a housing estate would be built on there! How likely that was I don’t know but I fear the pub will just fall apart before then or maybe just pulled down just like the spotted cow has been these last couple of days.
Neil how are you? Long time no hear
Had some good nights in there in the 70’s, a few bottles of Newcastle brown, a game of darts in the back room, magic.
Pretty much all of our family,the Callenders,lived in Oxbridge in the 60s.I lived in number 3 Light Pipe Hall road,my nana and grandad lived in number 96 I think, which was about two doors from the moor pub and the rest of our family were in and around the streets nearby.All the family used the moor pub and it was the first pub I ever went in myself.I continued to use the pub pretty much until it closed down some years ago.I heard that someone was thinking of opening it up again but I should imagine it will need a lot spending on it now though,and the way pubs are closing down at the moment I cant really see it happening.
A pub in Norton High Street is to reopen on the 1st October. The Highland Laddie by Weatherspoons. Although I greet the reopening I think it should have its original name of Highland Lad. There was once a window of the lounge on the High Street side with the name Norton Hotel. Maybe Frank could put some light on this name.
Hi John, am I right in saying your family owned a corner shop in Carr Street and then a mobile shop ?
Yes thats us alright.
John – did you have a brother Colin who was killed on a motorbike New Year 1971 if so I knew him. I went to Oxbridge School and lived in Wren Street with my sister Freda, brother Malcolm and me Sylvia Dawson. My mam and dad Miriam and Harry.
My nanna lived in Light Pipe Hall Road, Minnie Broadbent.
I used to frequent the Moor in the mid 70s, it was a meeting place for a lot of bikers.