The first photograph shows number 23 Nelson Terrace originally built as the offices of the Board of Guardians in 1879 and the building site of Marks and Spencer.
The second photograph is a view of the Regent Hotel which we believe was known locally as the ‘Little Regent’..
Both photographs were taken in August 1975 by Len Toulson. Courtesy of Neal Toulson.
We would call in here after putting up some market stalls for Saturdays Market, had a good juke box, but the beer was terrible.
John Laing was my 3 x Great Grandfather. Had he not survived this, I would not be here!
Shields Daily Gazette – Monday 29th May 1876
FATAL ATTEMPT TO SWIM THE RIVER TEES – On Saturday afternoon, Mr James Dent, deputy coroner, held and inquest at the Jolly Farmers’ Inn, Thornaby, on the body of Thomas Birch, chairmaker, who was drowned in the Tees on the preceding evening, under the following circumstances:- About 7:30 that evening, deceased, John Laing, a builder and several others were drinking in the Regent Hotel, Regent Street, when, after some “chaff,” deceased said he was the best swimmer in the North of England. Laing replied that he also was a good swimmer, and would swim him for £2. This was accepted, and the company proceded to the Baths to carry out the wager, but found them closed. They then got a cab and were conveyed to Thornaby, where procuring a boat they crossed to the Durham side of the river opposite Thornaby, and undressed themselves, leaped from the boat and swam towards the Yorkshire shore. This Laing reached safely, but his companion was not so fortunate, for on getting within six feet, he suddenly sank and was drowned, never once rising to the surface. The tide was high at the time, and the body was not recovered until the following morning. During the enquiry it was stated that the whole of the parties were more or less affected with drink. The jury at the conclusion returned a verdict of “Accidentally drowned”
A sad photo as my grandmother always went in this pub to meet her friends in the little snug with the entrance in Regent Street. I also went in here for my first pint as it was at the bottom of my street which was Milbank St.
Beverleys Yorkshire beer was brewed in Wakefield. I liked it, did drink it in the Saltersgill Hotel where I was brought up in Middlesbrough. I emigrated to Stockton when I got married in 1969. Now live in the village of Norton, don’t think I will be moving back to the BORO. Linthorpe Rd looks like a war zone, shame really but that is progress. Too many takeaways etc.
I had my very first pint in a public house in the Regent, I was 14/15 years old I think it cost me 1/ 4d, 1 shilling and 4 pence, circa 1970/71
The Regent Hotel on Nelson was known as the Big Regent, The Little Regent was the Regent Inn which was situated on the Marks and Spencer site in the 1950s, it was a Camerons house run by Wilf and Margaret Owen my grandparents
Always get a seat in there. The beer was rubbish.
Must agree with that we only went in once, worst pint in the town.
Kenny ‘ Buck’ Jones & I used to nip in here for the odd pint. Beverley’s Yorkshire Bitter, or as the painted gable end has it ‘BYB’
I can remember the M&S site being fenced off, and Littlewoods being extended, but can’t remember the Regent Hotel, interesting to see it here!
I think this is the first photo I’ve seen of the Regent Hotel, shame it’s all but demolished to make way for the Liitlewoods store behind.
The M&S building site once contained the Regent Inn and a Sunday School amongst others.
You can see this area in it’s better days here:
http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/eaw013852