Is there anything you would like to know about the Borough of Stockton, its history, its industries, its buildings or its people? Just add a comment with your query to this page and we will endeavour to answer it. If we don’t know the answer it may well be that some of our site visitors do…
NOTE – Please use the ‘Reply‘ option when answering a query.
Picture Stockton Archive 
I am doing a project with my grandson from 1950 – 1960 I wanted to let him see what kind of house I lived in Herring Street
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Sheila, was Herring Street in Stockton-on-Tees, as I cannot find it on an old map of the town?
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I have a photograph of my ancestors at school and I think that it is Gilbert Street South Shields. I do know that their parents lived in South Palmerston Street in 1901. Any information or photos of this area would be helpful
Many thanks
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When I left school Christmas 1962 I started work at Head Wrightsons, Eaglescliffe as an apprentice moulder, the whole foundry was making segments, type you see in under ground tunnels etc.
Labourers would make the drag (bottom mould) others the top for the drag, moulders would put the cores in, moulds put together then molten iron poured into mould, this would go on all day, squads of labourers & moulders turning out segments. I worked along side one group making key segments, one of the labourers was a man called Jobson, I was 15 years old and he said to me when he found out I was a Casey, I think you and I are related, I was to young to ask questions then, but all these years later I think this Jobsen was the son of Hannah & William Jobson, Hannah Lyons Casey, she my great aunt, if this Jobson who worked as a rammer on drags is still alive he would be I think mid 80s, just wondered if any Jobson’s can relate to this, I think he lived in Thornaby. If you can relate to this please get in touch please, I’m sure the Picture Stockton team would pass on my email or just reply here.
All the very best.
Derek Casey.
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Tilery boys school, hi all, I left school Christmas 1962, I’d like to ask if any lads who were at Tilery boys at this time remember in the assembly (music) hall a large charcoal drawing of Sir Francis Drakes ship, it hung up on the music sheets that were on pulley’s, its been a very long time since those days and I wondered if any one else can remember the drawing, it was drawn by my late (younger) brother Leonard Casey, I would love to know after all this time some one else remembers it.
All the very best to all.
Derek Casey (Decca)
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Does anyone remember a retail shop just past Maxwell’s Corner going towards Norton Road called Midorca House? My mother – Nora Owles – worked there in the early 1960’s
I seem to remember it stocked a bit of everything. My sister and I would go there to meet mam and have a look around the toy department and I’m sure we were in a fashion show there once. It would be nice to see if anyone has memories of it.
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Is anything known about the old tree that stands on its own in the small enclosed park on the south side of Bradbury Road, near Talgarth Road?
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That Tree is on a Plague Pit. When Kendrew Built Bradbury Road in the 1930’s they had to leave the area of the pit so grassed it and left it.
The old wall at the South side of the area is the original wall to the orchard of Norton House which was pulled down in 1935 and the four houses facing the green built. Before Talgarth Road was built my Father had permission to take fruit from the orchard which he did until the trees were taken out for the houses to be built.
As a small boy I saw Norton House (not to be mistaken for Norton Hall still standing) torn down they used a Steam Engine with a winch running a wire rope through windows then pulling, quite a spectacle for us nosy kids. The rubble was used as foundation for the house built on the site
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My father (born 1919) lived in Park Road, Stockton around 1932/33. He would be about 13/14 and went to Trinity School. The school seem to have plenty group photos from about that time, but I cant find one for ’32/’33. Can you help? I live in Scarborough. He was Thomas Somerville.
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Hello,
Does anyone remember an iron house which was built on Eamont Road, Norton? It would have been at the beginning of or near the beginning of the road as you turned in from Norton Avenue. Any information would be greatly received.
Thanks,
Hannah
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I am trying to find out about the place my aunt worked in 1921, it was called A.W Scarr & son, Empire Bazaar, Dovecot Street, Stockton. She was actually a florist but it could have been anything. I can find no mention anywhere, can you help?
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A 1914 trade directory shows it as:
Scarr A. W. & Sons Ltd. bazaar, 11 Dovecot Street
No.11 Dovecot St. is unfortunately on the less photographed, side of Dovecot St. With the Lit & Phil & various pubs on the other side taking all the attention.
The property numbers are difficult to allocate to buildings in that area, but No.11 is currently allocated to the Market Jeweller shop (11-13) https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.5644718,-1.3139432,3a,75y,145.97h,78.24t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sf8pVUmAqCbBE7D0T3uIZ8w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en-GB
The building should be in the middle of this photo: https://picturestocktonarchive.com/2002/10/09/dovecot-street/
and maybe just on the right-hand edge of this 1924 image: https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW010267
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Hi, I’m a Building Surveying student at Northumbria University and I’m currently working on my dissertation. The topic is centred around homes built by ICI in Billingham during the 1930s. Do you know where I can find any information regarding materials, spec and construction techniques used?
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Did the Richard Hind School have a primary section in the 1920’s? My father made temporary visits to Tilery, Stockton to stay with relatives and he may have attended Tilery or the Richard Hind Primary school. My uncle said that he went to RH in he 1920’s.
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I attended Richard Hind school in the seventies, directly across the road on the junction of Richardson Road and Yarm Road there still stands what I always considered as Richard Hind Primary school although I am not sure if it actually went by that name. It is now some sort of local community hub
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Google Earth Street View shows that there is still the original plaque on a gable end of the school facing Richardson Road.
The plaque states that it is the Junior School – although I do not know whether that included Primary Classes. It certainly included Primary Classes when I attended in the 1950s.
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In 1939 was there a Cromwell Road in Haverton Hill?
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I have just checked an O.S. map of Haverton Hill in 1939 and can not find a Cromwell Road at that time.
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Hi, I was wondering if anyone knows where John Street used to be in Stockton and if there are any photos of the street out there? My 3rd Great Grandparents are there in the 1841 Census. Thanks in Advance.
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John Street still exists but there’s not much of it left, The Leeds Hotel has a John Street road sign on it.
https://goo.gl/maps/BkKvcuZzQjwnoALt6
It ran from Bishopton Lane, near the Leeds Hotel, south to Mill Street (towards Wellington Street).
https://picturestocktonarchive.com/2021/08/09/leeds-hotel-stockton/ (see John St Indoor Market in the background)
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=54.56740&lon=-1.31572&layers=168&b=1 (shown but not named)
https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW013852
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My name is Khadim Hussain and I’m researching the history of Indians in Teesside, can anyone help with this please?
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Khadim Hussain… Sorry the only advice I can suggest is trying the 1939 ‘register’ but if your family came to the UK later than that, sorry I can’t help. Many came to the UK just after the war when English people realised how tasty Indian food is (as well as Italians for ice-cream and pizza!) Good luck. You could always try the Birth, Marriage, and Death certificates… they usually give father’s name and place of birth
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There are Temples in Middlesbrough and Newcastle which may be able to help. Have you asked at the Stockton Reference Library; I would be surprised if they could not turn something up.
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Hello,
We have been asked in the Reference Library to post an appeal to see if anyone has any photos of Bishopton or if they know where some may be found. If anyone is able to help could you please email us at reference.library@stockton.gov.uk.
Many thanks,
Hannah
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I have an address for my great grandfather but I’m hitting a wall trying to find it. It is 19 The Furness, Norton-on-Tees. The year was 1909. Can anyone point me in the right direction please?
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Hello Vicki,
Looking at the 1911 Census records for Norton, it appears that Calf Fallow Lane (off Station Road), was also known as The Furnaces or The Furness.
Some of the households would write on the schedule that they lived at, for e.g., 19 The Furness but the enumerator would write their postal address as being 19 Calf Fallow Lane.
For this address in 1911, a Mr John Thomas Kirtley is recorded there, alongside his wife, Emily and children John, Robert, Ethel, Alice, Edith Annie and Elizabeth. Are these your ancestors?
I hope that this information is of some help to your research.
Kind regards,
Hannah
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Thank you so much. This is very helpful
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Yes they were. Thank you
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Vicki, the address that you found should have been written as “19 The Furnace”. The postal address would have been 19 Calf Fallow Lane. This lane is an exiension of Station Road, Norton. It starts immediately north of the railway line, and in the early 20th sentury there was a terrace of houses on the left hand side of the road..On the right hand side of the road was the site of the old Norton Iron Works. I suspect that the use of the word “Furnace” was a reminder of the blast-furnaces which used to stand nearby.
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Thank you so much. This is very helpful
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You can just make out this area on this photo from 1949 (follow the railway to Norton station)
https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW024090
the ironworks had gone…
https://picturestocktonarchive.com/2013/03/05/norton-iron-works/
…and the site was the Stockton Stone & Concrete company by this time.
https://picturestocktonarchive.com/2014/09/26/the-stockton-stone-and-concrete-company/
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Where was Mitre Street?
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Hello Sharon,
Mitre Street in Stockton used to be located just to the south of Holy Trinity Church, near to Bowesfield Lane.
If you copy and paste this link into your address bar (https://maps.nls.uk/view/101100488) and look to the area at the bottom right hand side of the map, hopefully you will be able to see Mitre Street in the area between Holy Trinity Church and Parkfield Works. If you have any problems please contact us at reference.library@stockton.gov.uk and we can email you a copy of the map.
I hope that this information is of some help to you.
Kind regards,
Hannah
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What were the streets opposite the middle of Parliament Street?
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Hello Sharon,
Looking at an 1899 edition of a map of Stockton, the streets opposite the middle of Parliament Street were Bickersteth Street, Chalk Street, Cecil Street, Percy Street, Mitre Street and Lindsay Street.
I hope that this information is of some help to you.
Kind regards,
Hannah
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Hello. I am trying to find a copy of a photo of numbers 9 and 11 Station Road, from the 1920s or 30s. I can send a photo of it which I took on my phone, if I could email it to you somehow?
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Hello Karen – Contributions can be emailed to pictures@stockton.gov.uk. Please write a few words about the image you are submitting.
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Hiya anyone know anything about bus route 33 Wolviston to Billingham? Like when it ran and when it was took off. Also what buses used to stop at the bus stops on Thames Road on the bus stops that say No public services as I know the 35 goes to some of them
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I’m wondering if you have any information about Broadbent & sons Sawmill in Maritime Road, it was owned by my mothers family, I believe it was started by her great grandfather, also do you know where I could get a copy of the photograph of my grandfather & Major Cooper VC taken at the unveiling of the Majors portrait in Stockton library. Thanking you in advance
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Anyone have anything on John Smith or Harry Smith and their connection to Portrack Shamrocks football club? Probably 1930 onwards.
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Does anyone remember my grandparents Thomas and Annie (Nancy) Gibson from 24 Laburnum Ave. Thornaby. The shop Lan Cakes?
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Hello!
I am a costume student up at Northern School of Art in Hartlepool.
Does anyone have any tidbits to do with our local traditional dress or craft? We seem to be the most under-served region in regards to recorded folk craft and history (as far as I have been able to investigate so far..)
Do we have any certain folklore specially for Teesside / North east here? Or traditional dress? I am at a loss but would really love to represent our area in my work.
Thank you for any help!
Abi
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Abi, sorry to see that you have had no responses to your appeal. Here are couple of suggestions for you to look into. Probably the most characteristic costume in the area were the bonnets worn by the ladies in the small fishing town of Staithes, just north of Whitby. The Staithes bonnet readily identified women from Staithes. Then you might like to look into fishermens jerseys, these often had knitting patterns that were unique to particular ports. So if you knew the different patterns you could identify where the fisherman came from. The local name nickname for a jumper was “gansey” derived from the Channel Island Guernsey, in the same way that other jumpers might be called a Jersey.
If you are studying in Hartlepool, you might have seen the statue of Andy Capp on the seafront. He was based upon the typical workman going to his local for a drink. The flat cap and the white scarf could be found throughout the North-East.
The white scarf might be related to the white scarf worn by many workman in foundries or other hot places where the conditions caused the workers to sweat a lot. Then there is the traditional craft of “proddy” mats, which have been taken up by modern artists to make a new art form. That is enough to keep you busy for a while 🙂
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BabyLou/Retro and Cliff Thornton Re the ‘Proddy Mat’… I remember my late gt grandma making these mats out of old bits of material.. she called them rag mats as they were literally made of out old bits of rag. Some also called them ‘hook mats’ as a big hook was used to poke the piece of rag through. Someone demonstrating them can be seen at Beamish Open Air Museum. Many people used a big wooden frame to keep it in place until it was finished. No one – and I mean NO ONE had fitted carpets in those days.
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Hello Abi
I don’t think there is any information on traditional Teesside dress available. Because of our history of heavy industry, after 1850 we were a mixture of people from the English midlands, Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Basic hard wearing clothes would have been the norm. I think you would have to go back before this period to find traditional clothing, Prior to this Stockton was an agricultural port so clothing would be a mixture of these styles.
Cliff is pointing you in the right direction as far as traditional clothing is concerned. I think you would be best to concentrate on smaller communities of the North East with regard to preserving traditional clothing. Type “Cullercoats shawl ” into your search engine as a start. This will give you an idea of traditional wear. The shawl was probably the only distinctive item of clothing most women could afford in Victorian times. It was practical but could be more elaborate than everyday clothing. Many were ornately embroidered and the tradition is still carried on today among the knitting community.
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Is there a book about the Green Dragon Yards history please?
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I used to work for the first landlord (Mr Smith) of The Griffin Public House in Bader Avenue, Thornaby. I worked mainly in the evenings and at weekends at The Griffin whilst at Catering College in Darlington between 1974 to 1976. Does anyone have any photos of Mr Smith? He was such a lovely man.
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Hello! I used to live on Northbourne Road in the 1990s but on looking on Google Maps it appears the side of the road I lived on has no houses! I’m wondering please if/when they were demolished, or if I’ve misremembered completely?
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Hi,
My property 23 Bentley Wynd just off the high street is around 200 years old. It’s layout at the back is really strange as the bathroom and half the property is in our neighbours garden and our kitchen is wrapped around the other neighbours with the staircase window looking onto our garden. Until recently, the property had an unusually large amount of land with it. I’d love to know what it was and how those decisions came to happen.
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Hi does anyone have any pictures of my Mum – Vivian Brown. She sang with the Jimmy Lipthorpe Band at the Fiesta and around the area. I would love any pictures, especially of her singing.
She came from Norton and has a brother Peter Brown. She married Normal Williams.
Thank you so much.
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How do I find a full list of bands that performed at the Dovecot Arts Centre in the 80/90s
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Hi.
can anybody help me please looking for the Family named HICKS in 1939 census they lived at Two Mile House farm Stockton-on-Tees,
Thomas Hicks,
Laura Hicks,
children are Susan Annie Hicks 1918 – 1939.
Fred Hicks 1921 – 2006 married a Stanley Lee Robson.
Ida M Hicks 1922.
Laura Hicks 1924 – 2015, married a Henry Hall.
Olive S Hicks 1925,
Thomas L Hicks 1930 married a Margaret Taylerson.
All born in Stockton-on-Tees any help just finding nothing on the family at all.
kind regards
Bev
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Bev, I am not sure if you are trying to trace the ancestors of Thomas and Laura, or their descendants. Here is some information on one of their children.
Freda Hicks married Stanley L Robson in 1945. They had three children; John W Robson born in 1946, Raymond born in 1949, and Kathleen L, Robson in 1954.
A Raymond Robson married Susan A Doyle in 1975 in Cleveland.
Kathleen L Robson married Andrew Philip Kidd in 1977 in Cleveland. I believe they are currently living in Middlesbrough.
Hope this helps.
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Cliff, Thank you for the information yes I am looking for information on the Descendants of Thomas and Laura to see if there is any left ,
Laura was my Gran’s sister, Thank you again
Bev
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Wondering if you could help me find photos of the 1967 Captain Webber Parade and of the “Casey At Bat” reenactment of 1967. Looking for pictures in particular of the actors who played in the “Big Valley” Thank-you.
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Is there a museum or anything regarding Furness Shipyard Haverton Hill shipbuilding, I have hand written ledgers and photos to offer
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Alan, Teesside Archives is the local repository for documents and photographs relating to local industries etc. I suspect that they would be delighted to provide a home for any documents relating to the Furness Yard. They can be contacted at teesside_archives@middlesbrough.gov.uk
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Teesside Archives hold the collection for Furness Shipyard. They may be interested in the material so would suggest contacting them via email: teesside_archives@middlesbrough.gov.uk
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Vera and Winifred MacIntyre married two Stocktonians, John Lenham and Arthur Lenham. Vera worked all the life for Hintons in Dovecot Street. Does anyone know anything about the MacIntyres and their connection with Hintons.
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Vera and Winifred were two of the children of Richard McIntyre and Mabel Todd who had married at Gateshead in 1909. The following children were born at Gateshead, Sidney (b.1915), Eva (b.1919), Winifred (b.1925) and Vera (b.1928).
The couple moved to Teesside where Edma was born in 1932. The 1939 Survey shows the family living at 81 Teesdale Avenue, Billingham. Richard died in 1943. I do not know anything about the family after that date, apart from Winifred marrying Arthur Lenham in 1948, and Vera marrying John Lenham in 1950.
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According to my researches, Winifred and Vera are daughters of John McIntyre and Phyllis Johnson Todd. Where have I gone awry?
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I am hoping someone can help me. I am researching former Sunderland AFC players and have seen in Wikipedia (on line) that one such player Kenneth Jones (who was born in Easington Colliery on 1 October 1936) is quoted as having passed away in Stockton-on-Tess in July 2018.
However, I can find no record of this in any other on-line searches. Can anyone send me details about the Kenneth Jones who died between July-September 2018 in Stockton aged 81 to see if this was the former Sunderland footballer. Sunderland AFC has no record of this player passing away and believes him to still be alive but don’t know where.
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William Laws of Norton saved a young child from drowning in 1937 is there any history of this please?
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Don Kinghorn – I can only suggest you look in the local press at the time for the name William Laws, starting with the Evening Gazette. It would be perhaps better to look at the Ref Library in person. If you know the child’s name it would obviously help – as would be place of the accident – say the Duck Pond or where-ever…
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Hello,. Wondering if anyone has any information relating to the building the the Whitehouse Farm estate, more specifically Whitehouse Drive. I am trying to find photographs of my house from when it was built along with the original plans. The house was designed and built by Marsh builders I believe and the first owners were a Mr and Mrs Hayes who moved in, upon completion, in 1957. Any help would be much appreciated.
Many thanks
Karl
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Try Stockton Planning Dept for detailed plans-doubtless they will charge. For the plot location try Land Registry.
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Hi Derek,
Sorry for the late reply. I tried the planning department but they don’t have any records of the house. (I find it strange but that was what I was told). I have the original deeds etc which is all I believe land registry will have (I may even have more information than they hold!)
I’m all out of avenues, I was hoping that someone would know previous owners and had photos etc.
Thanks for the reply.
Karl.
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I’m trying to locate a specific photo of a Stockton street scene showing children posing for the camera, c. 1915-18 – sorry this is so vague! But it was enlarged and printed onto a wall display at Preston Park Museum in the mid 1980s, and caused a lot of interest to my family since two little girls in the foreground were my Grandmother and her sister (my Gran recognised herself, and of course various family members all dutifully went to see it on display)
My Mum and I have made enquiries at Preston Park – the staff have been very helpful but say without better info about date, location etc of the photo it’s impossible to find it.
If anyone else can remember the photo and provide any sort of info, it would be much appreciated..
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Does anyone remember the Batemans? Port Clarence
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Hello everyone, my Nan Rose Goodwin nee O’Neill, who was teetotal, used to regale me with tales about owning/running a pub in the area ‘down the steps’ ‘over the bridge’, in other words where Thornaby town hall and the station looked over towards Head Wrightsons down by the river. Can anyone tell me please what would be the best way to find out which pub she ran? I’m sure someone will know all the pubs that used to be in the area. I now so wish I had asked her which pub along with a thousand other questions. Don’t we all?
I forgot to add that Rose was born in 1899 and she must have ran a pub anytime between 1930 and 1960. A wide timescale I know. If anyone can help then thank you.
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Stephen, your grandmother would have known the area “over the bridge” well, as she was born and brought up in those streets on the edge of the Head Wrightson works. The O’Neill family appear in the 1901 Census living in Railway Street, and in the 1911 Census living in Prince Street. After Rose’s marriage in 1922, she moved into a later part of Thornaby, residing in Teesdale Terrace (off Cobden Street) in 1939.
You will only find out which pub your Nan worked in IF she was the landlord, and had formally applied for the alcohol licence through a local court. I doubt that you will find any records of her if she worked for the landlord, even though some barmaids in small pubs virtually ran the place.
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Thank you Cliff, I have learn’t something completely new there. Much appreciated. My first memories of my Nan were in the early 60s when she lived in Anderson Street, then she moved to Heslop St, and then back to Teesdale Terrace, so it’s interesting to now know that she returned to her old street. Like I said, I so wish I’d paid more attention to what she told me way back! Thanks again. I understand she was the owner, but I wouldn’t know which pub or where to start.
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I’d like to order a list of churches in the west of the town by their locations – Fairfield, Hardwick, Hartburn, Newham Grange, Newtown, Oxbridge, Ragworth, Roseworth etc. Is there a reliable map or diagram, official or otherwise, that shows where one district ends and the neighbour begins?
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