The David McLaren Diaries of Thorpe Thewles

Posted on May 8, 2026 by Picture Stockton Team

The photograph below is of the McLaren family. It was taken on Boxing Day of 1911 at their home, Manor Farm, Thorpe Thewles.

The location of this family group photograph was in the front garden of their farmhouse, a contemporary view of which is separately pictured below.

The family comprised parents William and Hannah (seated in the centre of the picture) and their three children. The oldest of these was David (standing top right), followed by Peter (standing top left) with the youngest being Janet (seated bottom right). Both David and Peter are shown wearing their school (Stockton Grammar School) uniforms.

The teenage David McLaren kept diaries in 1911, 1912 and 1913. These record both his life on the farm, at school and in the village, as well as national and international events as the shadows of war lengthened over Europe.

In 2010 David’s diaries were discovered at a car boot sale in Hull and thereafter were secured by Thorpe Thewles History Group (TTHG) who fully transcribed and researched them. As part of a recent National Heritage Lottery funded project TTHG have made David’s diaries fully available to all as a downloadable book. A limited edition of printed copies of the diaries are also to be produced as part of this project and will shortly be donated to selected local and national libraries.

As part of this project TTHG also partnered with Lonely Tower Film and Media to produce an 83-minute duration documentary film about the life of the diarist and the fascinating content of his teenage journals.

To learn more about the above project, as well as watch and/or download a free copy of the David McLaren diaries, go to the link below on TTHG’s website.

The David McLaren Diaries Project

Fred Dinsdale’s vehicle recovery transport

Posted on May 5, 2026 by Picture Stockton Team

A photo of Fred Dinsdale’s vehicle recovery transport, c. 1940s. He operated his business from Yarm Lane.

Photograph and details courtesy of Pam Painter (Dinsdale).

Aladdin at the Globe Theatre, 1959

Posted on April 23, 2026 by Picture Stockton Team

A pantomime outing to see Lonnie Donegan in Aladdin at the Globe Theatre for Davy United Roll Foundry workers and their families.

The show also included the Marie De Vere Dancers.

Photos and details courtesy of Barry Jones and Madge Fagan.

Stockton & Thornaby IMPS A.F.C.

Posted on April 20, 2026 by Picture Stockton Team

A photo showing the 1924-5 Stockton & Thornaby IMPS A.F.C. team.

Photograph courtesy of Andrew Benzies.

St. Thomas à Becket Church, Grindon

Posted on March 23, 2026 by Picture Stockton Team

Over recent years Thorpe Thewles History Group (TTHG) have become increasingly aware, through social media and heritage forum posts, of increased public interest in the Grade I listed ruins of St. Thomas à Becket Church at Grindon near Stockton-on-Tees. This former parish church was abandoned in 1848 when a replacement one was opened in nearby Thorpe Thewles. For a short period of time, in the 1980s, the site and ruins of Grindon church were open to the public and maintained by Cleveland County Council before reverting once again into private ownership.

In response to the noted public interest in this scheduled monument, between 2024 and 2026, TTHG undertook an aerial image survey of it with grant funding provided by ‘The National Heritage Lottery Fund’ and ‘Point North’. Amongst the aims of this project was not only to provide a ‘bench marking’ condition survey of the site but to generate a series of educational outputs which would help further engage the public with information related to its fascinating history. The poor condition of the site’s walls and uneven floors makes it unsafe for public access, so one of the project’s key outputs was to create an interactive virtual 3D model of it.

This, along with a ‘fly-through’ video of the model, with historic commentary, will allow the public to safely explore the site from the comfort of their own homes. These, along with the project’s additional outputs, will also help those already familiar with the site to safely re-engage with it while allowing others to discover its history for the first time.

Please find below direct links to the individual project outputs from TTHG’s 2024 Aerial Survey of Grindon Church:

• Grindon Church Aerial Image Survey

• Interactive 3D model with annotations

• Interpretive video presentation

• Basic aerial views video presentation

The results from this project have been presented to Tees Archaeology for inclusion in the local ‘Historic Environment Record’ which they curate. These public records will also be available to ‘Historic England’.

TTHG would like to thank the current owners of the site of Grindon church for allowing permission to undertake the above survey and for kindly supporting the project.

For further information about this project please feel free to contact TTHG.

Nurses at Stockton & Thornaby Hospital

Posted on March 20, 2026 by Picture Stockton Team

An undated photo of nurses from Stockton & Thornaby Hospital.

My mum, Catherine Macdonald Maclean worked as a nurse from approximately 1943 at Stockton & Thornaby Hospital. She is pictured on the right at the top of the stairs and had written names of some of the nurses on the photo. She absolutely loved her nursing time at the hospital.

Photograph and details courtesy of Angela Riddiford.

Pantomime Outings to the Globe

Posted on March 17, 2026 by Picture Stockton Team

These photos show pantomime outings to the Globe Theatre for Davy United Roll Foundry and ICI workers and their families.

The Davy Ashmore trips to the theatre were organised by my father-in-law, George Fagan, who also used to organise summer outings. Each child was given a bag of fruit and a drink. They all got ice cream in the interval. I think he knew someone backstage and so got permission for the photos.

Photos and details courtesy of Barry Jones and Madge Fagan.

Lustrum Beck

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Picture Stockton Team

This image of myself and my grandson, Tyler, was created by Georgia Rose Lucas who is the daughter of the late Sandy Denny. You can see Sandy, who was the lead vocalist of folk bank, Fairport Convention, watching us from the Norton Road bridge.

The pathway behind the academy, along side Lustrum Beck is one of my favourite places to walk.

Image and details courtesy of Paul Smith.

Stockton High Street. c1906

Posted on January 15, 2026 by Picture Stockton Team

A view of the High Street West side, Stockton, Heavisides Almanack 1906 page 29.

Yarm Town Hall c1959

Posted on December 10, 2025 by Picture Stockton Team

A view of the Town Hall, War Memorial and some of the buildings on the east side of Yarm High Street, including the George and Dragon, the Union Arms Hotel and many shops. c1959.

A view of the north end of Stockton High Street

Posted on December 1, 2025 by Picture Stockton Team

A view of the north end of Stockton High Street, included in the view are Armstrong Antique Dealers (1908-1915), D Hill Carter Co. Ltd., (1899-1937) and Cash Clothing Co.,(1896-1939)

Stockton Quayside, 1950s

Posted on November 10, 2025 by Picture Stockton Team

This photo of the quayside was taken by my father-in-law, John B. Haworth who was the Town Clerk in the 1950s (you can see him in a photo of Stockton Town Council 1953 on this site0.

The Quay Manager at the time was Mr F.P. Scott, the father of Sir Ridley Scott, who was knighted for services to the UK film industry (Alien, Blade Runner, etc.) and Tony Scott who sadly died in Los Angeles in 2012.

Photograph and details courtesy of Ian Black.

ICI Billingham Apprentices 1959/60

Posted on November 6, 2025 by Picture Stockton Team

A photograph of ICI apprentices for 1959/60.

Back row (L – R): Maurice Burns, ?, David Reeve, ?, Terry Callaghan, Dennis Duggan, ?.

Fourth row (L – R): Colin Smith, Bob Connell, Peter Clerk, ?, ?, ?, ? Downie, ?, George Hunter, ?, ?, Gordon Edwards, John Hobson, ?, ?.

Third row (L – R): ?, ?, ?, Jim Forsyth, Geoff Ferguson, ?, ?, Dave Holden, Dave Mineham, Dave Irving, Bernard Himsworth, Dave Fordy, ?, Ian Drury, ?, Peter Bowes.

Second row (L – R): Ralph (Barry) Clerk, John Teesdale, Keith Walker, Al Ried, Jim Galbraith, ?, Tom Creek, ? Oliver, Bill Stephenson, ?, Jim Fishburn, Alf Burns, ?, ?, Peter ?, Peter Evans.

Front row (L – R): Mel Fidgeon, ?, Peter Connors, Brian Jones, ?, Mick Keavney, ?, Eric Watson, Mick Meynall, ?, Bob Tucker, Ken Seaman, ?.

Photograph and details courtesy of Keith Walker.