I have some photographs taken of my family with Stockton as a backdrop. I believe they were taken either late 1962 or possibly early 1963 as I was the baby in arms and I was born November 1961. The others are my parents and my older sister. My name then was Julie Marshall and my sister was Christine Marshall.
Photographs and details courtesy of Julie Gale.
Picture Stockton Archive 
Great photos, I remember as a child going to Doggarts twice a year for new cloths 1955. Mam also had a ticket from the provident lady, and payed weekly. I also seem to remember the Carlton, being used as a roller skating class on a Saturday mornings, I went with my friend Joyce, have not seen her since we when to St Cuthberts school from 1950 1960.
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That looks like Doggarts shop which was between Charles Clinckard and a little haberdashery further up towards the Empire which I think was called Lucks but not sure, they sold beautiful Stockings, Gloves, Handkerchiefs, Scarfs, slips, night dresses, very expensive “Ladies” shop, I thought in 1958/9 ish. My mum used to buy all of our clothes at Doggarts, she used to get a “Ticket” from a lady called Mrs Bullmer. She used to spend a lot of time drinking tea & eating home made cake at our house. Mum used to pay on tick, I was one of five. Those were the days!!
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Lovely set of family pictures. Also showing Stockton as it was. Busy with lots of shoppers, I know people will say it’s progress – looked far better to me then than it does now. Look how much slimmer people were as well.
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Hi Julie, my sister Susan was a good friend of your sister Christine before you emigrated and she has been looking for her for quite a few years, as she would love to explain why they lost touch. She would really like it if you could give me her email address so I can pass it on. If you contact Picture Stockton I am sure they will give you my address. Thanks in advance.
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Sorry Ian, I think you must be mistaken, I have asked my sister and she does not know anyone of that name. I don’t suppose she was known by another name?
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No other name. Did you emigrate to Australia? If you did, would you ask Picture Stockton for my email address and we can sort this out.
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No I never emigrated to Australia, but I know there was another Julie Marshall with a sister Barbara Marshall living not too far away. Could it be them?
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Anyone out there remembers the Palais de Danse, the Carlton at Norton, the Jubilee ballroom?. I danced there in 1949 to 1951. Also the fights with the Cannon Street gang led by Barney Fitzgerald (a real tough fighter).
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Alan remember them all with happy memories, they were my move up from dancing in School and Church halls.
The Carlton was a Billiard Hall next to the Avenue Fish Shop converted into a dance hall in the late years of the war, it was mainly what we called Old Fashioned Dancing but they put modern dance records on in the interval. I went to Dance lessons at Cochran’s Stockton so got up for both modes. Always more girls than boys when they saw you could dance modern they queued up for a dance, great times.
Left School started work just before I was sixteen and the big lads took me to the Palais De Dance which became my stamping ground until I went in the army. Met my wife in the Maison on leave after returning from overseas, because I walked out of the Palais after finding my then girl friend had another boy for when I was away, “never arrive anywhere unexpectedly is the lesson there”. My new girlfriend later my wife and I started to go to the Jubilee as a more sedate place.
Live Music at them all, Jack O Boyle at the Palais thought he was Benny Goodman, dressed to the heights he stood directing the orchestra and winking at all the girls.
There were many hard lads in Stockton and I saw quite a few of them get their comeuppance one took a punch at me I ducked and he broke his hand on the wall behind me, I gave him a few back before realising he was hurt.
Stockton was a lively place with plenty for us young people to do. Now after years of dancing round handbags and rowing boats on the floor my family are learning dancing as I and my Late Wife did them, my Grandchildren also take dance lessons. What goes round comes around is an old saw but so true.
Been many places but Stockton was always home. I have watched the changes think them all for the better and the Council bringing shows and fun back to the High Street and River Side are what the youngsters want.
Watching the dancing now as not very mobile but the Charleston on Saturday Strictly brought back memories of Mother doing that and the Black Bottom round the kitchen with me a wee lad trying to copy her we fell about laughing and it started my love of dance.
Frank.
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Hi Julie, thanks for sharing these photos. Its a reminder to us all to have a good look through our family photo collections for any that have interesting local locations and get them posted on Picture Stockton.
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Excellent photos going back to a time when the High Street was not full of charity shops and had a real buzz about it. I was born in November 59 and can remember in about 69 or 70 ish when they demolished one side of the High Street to create the horrible Castlegate Centre!!!
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Your photographs hark back to a time where people dressed for a day out, with a lovely elegance that we seem to have lost, and the High Street was a desirable place to be. Lovely photographs, thank you for sharing.
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I’ve been badgering Julie to add these fantastic pics for a number of years, so glad she’s decided to send them. Unbelievable images
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You have Peter, but badgered in a nice way lol!
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I moved away from Stockton in July 1961 so these photographers are very contemporaneous to my time. What comes across strongly in the pictures is the feeling of atmosphere. I was young at the time therefore no doubt took things for granted but it seems to me that Stockton had considerable character and charm which went unnoticed. I certainly under-valued the town where I was brought up (I am originally from Falkirk in Scotland) but I would say to all Stocktonians, be proud of your home town. it is not a bad place at all.
Thank you to Julie for making these images available. They put a smile on my face on a grey December day in Epsom.
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They are lovely photos and as they were from slides and dad was a keen photographer, the quality of them is very good. I loved the old town (to the detriment of those who like the new changes) and I am so sad that they knocked down so many lovely buildings. These photos (and all the others I have) are our history and should be looked after and shared for posterity.
I’m glad they made you smile 😀
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I remember me and Geoff Newton half inching from those shops. great days.
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Gosh, those photos bring back so many memories of the High Street, both sides too, a bonus!
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Hi Julie
The winter of 1962/63 was very, very cold and snowy and you’re in a short-sleeved dress so is it more likely it was taken in the spring of 1963? On the other hand you don’t look more than a year old.
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Yes, that’s why I’m not sure of the exact date. It could be Autumn 1962 and I could be a big baby lol!
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Great photo of when Stockton had shops open
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