Found in a Northallerton Charity shop outlet, a gentleman’s fine herringbone tweed jacket made by H&W Martin, tailors of 75 Norton Road, Stockton-on-Tees.
This Jacket, judging by it’s styling, must date from pre-WWII, or even earlier. The business is purported to have been in Stockton since 1878.
Photographs and details courtesy of Chris Bailey.
Picture Stockton Archive 
I had a suit made by Hunter Martin in the
seventies, it was grey with a blue pinstripe. He went through his stock of buttons and found some lovely buttons which he put on the suit. He was then at the Norton Road shop, it would have been 1976, I think. Also bought a DAKS suit from Ernest Winpenny which was my favourite, although I always wore the Hunter Martin suit for special occasions !
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A view including H & W Martin Tailors, 75 Norton Road, a “Breeches Specialist” no less!
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Hunter Martin used to call into the lounge of the Castle & Anchor pub on a regular basis when I drank in there back in the seventies, quite tall and always well dressed and as I recall he wore a bowler
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Hunter Martin came from a long line of tailors. His father was William Martin. The family did originate in Scotland and did at one time live in and work from Dovecot Street, I believe he was baptised Hunter… Terry being a familiar name, but not sure where that came from. In the early 1920s the Martin Family lived on Norton Road a few doors from the Dawson family. (Victoria Terrace?) Hunters brother Wallace married Lena Dawson. Lena was my fathers twin sister! I do remember my cousins’ ‘Aunt Jesse’ and ‘Uncle Terry’… both extremely smart. Sadly Wallace died at an early age leaving a widow and three daughters.
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His sister was Miss Martin who taught at Richard Hind junior school, from memory year 3. Miss Martin also took great care of her appearance and was very tall and regal looking.
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I remember Miss Martin, Jessie, from Richard Hind juniors and year 3 after Misses Robson and Simpson. You and I were in the same class at school. I remember that you lived in St Peter’s Road, I lived in the next street, Waverley.
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Was he born in Scotland or did he have any ties up there ?
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Hunter Martin (I believe actually christened Terence) was my maternal grandfather – it’s a pleasure to read these comments here. Sadly, he outlived both his children, so the history file is a little hazy – we never ask enough questions of our parents and grandparents. I do remember though that his dapper attire included a silk scarf with a gold pin through it, and he wore beautiful calf-hide ankle boots polished to perfection. His suits were usually very bold checks. All in all – he looked the part of a Gentleman Tailor!
Footnote: unlikely though it is, my paternal grandfather was ALSO called Hunter, and the name has been passed on in the family, the latest, who would have been Hunter’s great, great grandson, christened earlier this year!
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The shop I remember was in the High Street next to Wilsons. Mr.Martin was the best dressed man in Stockton. He usually wore brown including a brown bowler. He also made Hunting clothes. He had clients nationwide. I also remember the Pinkney sisters, tailoresses. The worked for Mr. Martin for a lifetime. Two lovely ladies and stalwarts of Brunswick Chapel.
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There was a Mr f Morton worked for Maxwells, very well dressed man. Both of them lived near each other in Victoria Ave Norton
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Often used to see him in the Castle and Anchor in the late 70’s, dapper old man always well turned out
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Does anyone remember that Hunter Martin until quite old age used to walk to his shop every day from his house in Norton
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He would toff his bowler when passing any lady.
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The shop is now a plant hire shop and still has its bow Windows, Hunter Martin lived off Norton Rd and used to walk to his shop every day. A real gentleman who always took his hat off when you spoke to him.
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Would 75 Norton Road printed on the label inside the jacket be the address he moved to after leaving the High Street in Stockton?
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Hi Bob, yes it would be. I remember the shop on Norton Road (my Mum worked in a Doctor’s surgery a bit further along on that side of the road). It always appeared to be quite an imposing shop front, large bow window, old style sign in copperplate script. (Too young to remember his High Street shop!)
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He lived over the road from me Ian.
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I can remember seeing him (although I was quite young at the time), always very well dressed – which of course you would expect, given the quality of the stock in his shop!
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Always wore a bowler hat. At the finish of his working day he would visit pubs in the Town, his favourite drink being a whiskey. He could well get tipsy but always found his way home, walking to Norton of course.
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We’ve got a tie press from H & W Martin, the address on the plaque is 51 High Street, Stockton, no idea how old it is
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Did the shop move due to the redevelopment of the south east side of the High St.? If so that would date the jacket (or at least the label) to no earlier than the late 60’s ?
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Jonathan, I wasn’t too sure as to whether Martin’s tailoring shop was originally on the High St, or Norton Rd (I believe Dovecot St was yet another site). Certainly the jacket was a robust item, not quite the more toned down, or refined, ’60’/70’s retro ‘coachman’ style, we perhaps both recall from that era.
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He was known as ‘Hunter’ Martin. Perhaps the jacket was a timeless design made for the hunting fraternity (to put it politely).
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Was the High Street shop next door to Wilsons?
If so it can be seen in a few pictures, but not very clear in most of them.
https://picturestocktonarchive.wordpress.com/2013/05/13/south-end-of-stockton-high-street-4/
https://picturestocktonarchive.wordpress.com/2013/03/14/stockton-high-street-c1950s-2/
https://picturestocktonarchive.wordpress.com/2002/09/06/stockton-high-street-c1957/
A 1914 trade directory shows William Martin, tailor, 20 Dovecot Street. Could this be the W in “H&W”? or related?
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