This photograph shows me at the age of 2 1/2 in Arundel Road, June 1953. My parents became the first tenants of No .15 that same month. The council estate was built from Melrose Road back towards Wolviston Road. My parents always said when they moved in it was open fields and you could clearly see the Swan Hotel on Wolviston Road. The photograph is looking down Arundel Road towards Billingham Town Centre.
People who know the road will see that the bungalows on the other side are not even built yet. Also there is no sign of St Aidan’s church which was built a few years later. Arundel Road like its neighbours Skipton, Corfe, Ludlow and Peveril were all named after castles.
Photograph and details courtesy of Martin Birtle.
Brilliant photo, I used to live at number 13 in the 60’s. Great memories :):)
I can recall that your family moved in after the Winspears moved to Australia. We moved from Arundel in 1967 to live near the Swan.
If you’re the Martin Birtle I knew back at the dawn of time I always thought you were a year or few younger than me, but if you were 2 1/2 in 1953 then you’re actually older than me… I’ll have to start thinking of you as The Ancient of Days… 😉
Hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Are you the Dave Brown that lived in the Skipton Road area with lads like Baz Blackett? A lot of water under the bridge since those days.
Growing up in the 60’s, it is easy to forget what a fantastic place Billingham then was. I spent great days with friends around Low Grange and wasted as many in the Town Centre. The one street that was unfortunately named was Corfe Crescent as whenever you were asked where you lived you always replied “4 Corfe Crescent” or “1 Corfe Crescent”. I wonder if these numbers have been changed! By the way, it’s Melrose Avenue.
Martin
Good to hear this, also interested as we will be 2nd cousins, my grandmother Doris was Betty’s sister.
Duncan Barker
Duncan,
Good to hear from you. I remember Aunt Doris very well and of course your mum and dad.
Getting back to Arundel Road some of the names are coming back to me. Next door on one side were John and Maureen Winspear who in the early 1960s emigrated to Australia with their 3 sons. Our first neighbours on the other side were the Unthanks who moved to Middlesbrough.
Other names that come to mind are the Munts, Wilkinsons, Simpsons and Fullwoods. All there for years.