The Empire Theatre can be seen in the distance on the left and the Odeon on the right, Stockton High Street c1950s.
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
The Empire Theatre can be seen in the distance on the left and the Odeon on the right, Stockton High Street c1950s.
Does anyone know the story of when rats ran down Stockton High Street when the old buildings were being demolished and the traffic was stopped, or is it a myth?
While the High Street before the Castle Centre is before my time, I can look at these pictures with rose tinted glasses (does that work for black and white pictures?) and think “what if”. But as it has been pointed out in the past both the attitude and the condition of the buildings at the time called for major regeneration in a modern style. The world has moved on and if Stockton hadn’t, then I dread to think what it would be like today. I personally like the mix of old and new (and regular change) in Stockton, we just have to make sure the balance is right and we protect the history that deserves to survive. If the public didn’t use/want the pound & charity shops, etc., they wouldn’t be there and then the High Street would already be dead.
Progress is always hit and miss, did we need Wellington Square? probably not, but I can see how it appeals to business, as the buildings are fit for the modern age. If we wanted to live in a museum then we would all be paying for the upkeep one way or another. The High Street was never going to compete with the likes of York, so it needs to be a practical, accessible and multi-use facility, pitched at the requirements of the local community.
I’m looking forward to the completion of the current improvements so we can have a High Street to be proud of, that is not stuck in the past yet respectful of it’s history.
Jonathan, I agree with all the above. Having seen and used the High Street pre-war during and after the war, seeing the dilapidation and lack of any maintenance and the gradual crumbling of the facades as the backs became broken down rat runs.
The attitude of most people was tear it down and have a new modern outlook, we did not know of the cost cutting or graft that would ensue ending in prison sentences.
That will always be the case it appears as it still happens today. Any Council is tied to planning permission and the money available and I believe most are honourable men and women who do their best for us the rate payers.
Times change habits change and even I at my age got this new laptop online, what chance do High Street shops have when we all want bargains at all times.
Again a stark contrast to the area we have now, I bet there’s no pound land shops, phone shops or charity shops, should never have knocked that lot down to build the Castlegate Centre
That’s the second photo this week, which shows Stockton at one end, and the other photo showing the other end – great photos. Like someone said it’s a shame they couldn’t leave it as it was. I guess thats progress for you.
I agree. I can remember going to see The Wizard of Oz film there in the late 50’s or early 60’s. I’m looking forward to seeing the changes in the High Street which I have not been too for 25 years.
I worked in what was Timothy Whites in 1971/72 and when the Empire was pulled down the workmen came in for some warfarin rat poison and bought tins weighing 12 pounds each and used quite a few but no particles were found and no rats were as they said they would have gone back to the river and died
The PLAZA had the nickname of ‘The laugh and scratch’ ….. I’ll leave the reason why !
I also heard it called The Flea pit..We always sat upstairs,because some of the arms were missing downstairs and also you had to sit with your feet up, because of the rats !!!
Isn’t hind sight a wonderful thing, had they left it as it was, the town would have been an absolute magnet for visitors ranking alongside York and Bath.
I fully agree with Maxspeed March 2014 comment about leaving Stockton as it was instead of demolishing it, I still don’t understand how they got away with it. I am fiercely passionate about Stocktons heritage and it broke my heart to see it all pulled down, not only in the High Street but all surrounding streets and houses etc, everything gone, character the lot, and I am totally honest when I say that I am ashamed of it. I now live in Cheltenham, a beautiful attractive town and like Max said we have the gorgeous Bath not far away and in the other direction Oxford. Stockton could have attracted many people if only they had kept it and had the foresight to smarten it all up, the market itself such a talking point one of the widest in England. So very sad.
Hello Sandra – As you mentioned your interest in Stockton’s Heritage perhaps you may be interested in our sister site http://www.heritage.stockton.gov.uk
We’d be interested to have some feedback.
Brilliant picture of the Stockton I remember growing up in the 50’s – full of hustle and bustle. My grandparents, Florence and Alfred Brookes, lived just a minute from the High Street in Starkey Street.
There was an old theatre converted to a cinema in either Bishop Street or Silver Street. Where was it and what was it called? If you sat at the back downstairs the front edge of the circle obscured the top half of the screen.
Plaza was in Bishop St.I remember it being next door to a pub called The Grand. My friend from school, Pam Blackmore, lived at The Grand for a while around the mid 60’s after her parents George and Sadie Blackmore ran The Malleable Club in Norton and before they moved to The Turks Head in Norton Road.
Brian I would think you are referring to the Turner Theatre.
Many thanks Bob and Lynda Dickinson for your replies. The Turner Theatre does not ring a bell but the Plaza does.
What a wonderful photo – so full of activity.
I don’t recall what looks like ‘Harry’s ‘ on the corner of Yarm Lane – does anyone remember what kind of business it was?
It was a bike shop called Barry’s I seem to remember.
It’s Barry’s shop, it used to be known as Barry’s corner, it was similar to Uptons.
Uptons bought it out. We had neighbours who worked there in the television repair shop, Arnold (father) and son Derek Brownlee… They then worked for Uptons.
Great photo of the High Street in its heyday.
Remember the Empire ,the old Odeon and one in the middle can’t remember what it was called but I remember going to see Summer Holiday there ,then there was the Hippodrome ,the Globe and lastly Turners flea pit.
It was called The Cinema then later The Essoldo
What about the Plaza?
The one in the middle was The Cinema then the Essoldo.Went there any times in the 50’s
it was cheaper than the Odeon !