The Grays Road Institute off Bishopton Road, Stockton is another well known building that seems to have been there for ever c2007.
Photograph and details courtesy of John Robson.
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
The Grays Road Institute off Bishopton Road, Stockton is another well known building that seems to have been there for ever c2007.
Photograph and details courtesy of John Robson.
They use to hold a garden produce show in the centre, my in laws use to do well in the shows.
Both my daughters attended the play group there in he late 70’s. Aunty Kath and her staff were brilliant.
I used to go with my brother to watch films there on a Saturday.
I lived on Grays Road in the mid 1950s at number 40 which is about a 150 yards from the building in the photo. There used to be a film show on Saturday mornings which was fun. The house I lived in backed onto Lustrom Beck. Every year or so during periods of heavy rainfall the overflow from the beck turned the ten or so adjoining gardens into a lake.. I believe the watercourse in this location is now piped to as far as the Newtown School area.
My Grandad, Jack Haggie, used to play snooker here two or three times a week, and he often used to take me there on a Sunday morning in the late sixties to try and teach me the rudiments of the game.
I’m sure this is the buildings as a teenager in the sixties that me and my brother used to go to on Sundays, church, and the group was called the Covenanters. It was like a religious youth club, as they had evening quizzes , sports and even camping weekends. I also remember a lad that was the same age as my brother ( 2 years older than me ) that used to go there called Albert Dickens, the son of Dickens the wood and DIY shop in Church Road which eventually moved down Portrack Road. Funny the things you remember from days passed, but struggle with day to day things.
I have been going to this hall for over 40 years, to the Grangefield Ladies Club.We used to meet every 2 weeks, but now it is down to once a month.
We meet on the 1st Wednesday of every month. and we would welcome more members.
We meet at 7-30pm until 9-30pm.
We usually have a speaker or some sort of social event. and tea and biscuits. We go out for a Christmas meal and have a summer outing.
Please come along , you will be very welcome, and we are looking for more members.
I went to nursery there, once… and yes I mean once, and when I say went… only just… apparently I was to be found in the same spot where I was left, having not moved from just inside the door.
Apparently national and local musical acts appeared there over the years, including Stockton’s very own “The Cyclones” “World Tour” !! http://www.the-cyclones.com/index_files/Page931.htm funny 🙂 Before my memories start but I’m sure readers must be able to add to the list.
Seems a shame that for the sake of security etc. it’s “kerbside appeal” has gone downhill over the years. I think this group would be less than pleased about how it looks today but very pleased it is still serving the Grange community. http://picturestocktonarchive.wordpress.com/2014/02/14/grange-estate-institute-committee/
I remember a group called The Dooleys playing there in the 1970’s. It also used to run an old age pensioners club once a fortnight on a Friday evening. My mam and dad used to go there, Betty and Harry Adamson. Used to live in Newham Grange Ave