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.
No photos sorry but remember shopping there regular with my mum,
Happy days
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Do you have any photos of Paiges ladies fashion shop – used to be Norton Road end of Stockton-on-Tees High Street?
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I have a drawing of the old Catholic Chapel in Playhouse Yard (from an unpublished history). Do you know where this yard was, I’ve not been able to find it on any maps. Many thanks!
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Hi Bob. Just googled and found an article saying this was Green DragoN Yard. Here is the link in n case you want more information. https://www.flickr.com/photos/bolckow/5041551491
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Hi Alison, that is great. Interesting article!
Here is a link to the image of the chapel (blurred – but will get a better one next time I’m in Stockton!) https://scotfot.smugmug.com/Other/Catholic-Chapel-Stockton-on-Tees/n-z4F4G9/i-BCJCVXw
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Using the name search facility on Old Maps on line, there appear to be only two such places as far back as 1850. One in Sleaford, Lincoln and the other in the City of London. Not sure if this helps but….
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Hello, when did the St Marys RC school next to the Church in Stockton-on-Tees close??
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Not sure, but plans for conversion into flats were submitted in 2009.
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Does anyone have any pictures or know the history of 3 Whittle’s Yard, Garbutt Street around 1900-1920? I am looking into my family history and my grandmother, Barbara Jones, lived there. One of her brother’s, Frank Jones, died on 19 April 1917 aged 15 when the SS Sowwell was sunk in the North Atlantic by U35. SS Sowell was built in West Hartlepool.
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Trying to find where Buxton Street, Stockton-on-Tees used to be. Can anyone help?
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It was off Emanuel St. which ran between Garbutt St. & Major St.
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=54.57009&lon=-1.30789&layers=168&b=1
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Richard Hind School, Stockton-on-Tees 1973 /1976 any pictures would be great .
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Does anyone have any information/pictures of the wallpaper shop in Parliament Street, Stockton-on-Tees C1964?
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Hi would like pictures for kirklevington County club 1980/1986. Silver fork award. Form executive magazine. Thanks
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Hello, My ancestors ( ONeils ) were from Stockton, Can anyone tell me if Acklam Street Portrack and Tibbersley Farm Billingham are still around please ? I’m trying to find if her Husband,Cornelius O’Neil ever got married again – they had lots of children and her death certificate says she died of malnutrition & exhaustion. Thank you x
NORTHERN DAILY MAIL. MONDAY. MAY 84. 1909. DISTRICT NEWS. BILLINGHAM. A verdict of death from heart failure was returned at an inquest held on Saturdav night at Tibbersley Farm. Billingham on the body of a married women named Margaret’oNeil, aged 48 years, of No.5 Acklam Street Portrack Stockton Deceased was employed on the farm potato planting. On Saturday morning she was seized with illness, and was removed in a cart to the house, where she died before medical aid arrived.
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Julie, neither Acklam Street nor Tibbersley Farm are still standing, having been overtaken by more recent developments. But they can easily be found on old maps, if you want their locations please let me know.
As for Cornelius O’Neil, there is no sign of him formally marrying again after his wife died in 1909. I guess you have found him in the 1911 Census in Lumley Street (not far from Acklam Street) living with 6 of his children? He was aged 50 then, and I suspect that his children looked after him as he approached old age.
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Tibbersley Farm was swallowed up by the sprawling ICI site. Surprisingly Tibbersley and Billingham Grange Farm buildings both survived the early phases of construction. Probably not the rural image of the farm you were after, but they can both be seen, surrounded by the chemical works, on this photo:
https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW032227
(if you register for free, you can see the pins that locate items and you can zoom in.)
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Tibbersley is also mentioned in this post:
https://picturestocktonarchive.com/2018/12/06/second-stockton-race-course/
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Yes Nettl was in the typ right hand corner, where JD Sports are now
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Hi, does anyone know of a dairy farm, Melrose House Yarm Road? Possibly ran by Hodgson Crowther
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Andrew, here is a link to a map of Stockton published in 1947. At the bottom of the map you will see Preston Park. Follow the old A19 road, north from the park towards Stockton. You will come across three properties situated on the western side of the road, Potatoe Hall, Melrose House and then Melrose Terrace. The middle one was the home of Mr Crowther.
https://maps.nls.uk/view/100941551
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Can anyone help me find where Cleveland Terrace was in Thornaby, around 1900?
I’m particularly interested, too, if anyone has any information, or even photos, on a confectioners & tobacconists shop there, run by a John T Fox.
Thanks so much for any help.
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Kaye, Cleveland Terrace, Thornaby can be found in the 1881 Census, it is in Enumeration District 3. It lay in the triangle formed by Thornaby Railway Station to the North, Mandale Road to the west and the Bon Lea Foundry to the East. It cut across Frederick Street, Robert Street and Stephenson Street. The area appears to heve been redeveloped in the 1880-1890s as there is no mention of Cleveland Terrace in the 1901 census.
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Does anyone know where Bay Street is/was in Stockton on Tees. My mother’s birth Certificate states born 2 Bay Street. Thank you.
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Christine, here is a link to map of Stockton from about 1940, which shows Bay Street – https://maps.nls.uk/view/101100482
You can zoom in on this map for better detail.
Go North up the High Street, until you get to the Parish Church.
Turn right into Church Row, and proceed along that road to Paradise Row.
Look north above Paradise Row and you will see Bath Street running parallel.
Bay Street lies half way between Paradise Row and Bath Street, but it is only a very short street. Bay Street is no longer standing as the area was redeveloped about 2000.
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Where was Ewbank Street in Stockton. It appears in the 1911 census records but I assume its not there any more? I can see Ewbank Drive but these are more modern.
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Angela, here is a link to a map of Stockton available on-line at
https://maps.nls.uk/view/100941551 This map was published in 1947, and you can see Ewbank Street at the top of the page. Find the number 44 in red on the top margin, and look below it. Ewbank Street runs North-South. It was still standing until the area was redeveloped with modern housing about 30 years ago.
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Hi, I current live on Trent street TS20 2DP and really interested about the history of this estate.
I was informed that it use to be all farm land from hill house before it became clay quarry. Is this correct please?
Kind regards
Nev
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Hiya. I was a Chippendale and toured the UK with them in 1994. Whilst in Stockton-on-Tees, everyone went to do a tv advertisement, and Bernie Tavis and I (Kirt strasburg) went out and chopped a tree down for a local newspaper. Would there be any formal record of this, or perhaps photographs? Please let me know. I live here in the south (UK) and always wondered. Thank you in advance.
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Hi. The local paper will have been the Evening Gazette, based in Middlesbrough. They have a Facebook site with hundreds of pics – Evening Gazette Remember When – that you could try, or you might want to contact the Gazette to see if there’s a way to search their archives.
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Hi I think my dad worked at JD Whites in Thornaby as a crane driver would you have any history of this company please think he was there around 1977
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Do you know when 12 The Glebe Norton was built? I know the estate started to get built in 1967 but I feel these were built after the original estate?
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Hello Ruth, the first entry that I have for 12 The Glebe in Norton is in the 1980-81 electoral register. I hope that this helps.
Kind regards,
Hannah
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Hello,
I am doing family research and my great grandmother lived 15, Beaumont, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, England. Is it still there? Do you have any information?
Kind regards
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It sort of exists, it was off Station Street, one side was residential, the other was the offices of the Globe Elevator Works.
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=54.57101&lon=-1.30972&layers=168&b=1
It was a one sided street, with No 1 at the southern end, so count 15 along to find No.15 (3rd in from the other end).
Beaumont Street is just visible on this 1949 image:
https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW024107
(if you register you can zoom in, look for the elevator works offices which are next to the railway line in the centre of the image)
It’s no longer residential, it looks like the houses were demolished and the street was incorporated into the works. The Globe Elevator Works offices are still there, you can see them at the end of Station St. here:
https://goo.gl/maps/6udgv49UVdXBB3z4A
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Hello Vicki, I have sent you a map showing where Beaumont Street used to be located in Stockton.
Kind regards,
Hannah
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Was there once a Netto in Teesside park?
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I can’t remember there being one there, there was one at Chandler’s Wharf, where the Casino/Bingo is down by the river, near to Victoria Bridge.
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Yes there was a Netto at Teesside Park many years ago. It was situated in a corner, possibly where Sports Direct is now.
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Hi
I used to live in the old Police Station 168 Belasis Ave about 1968 went to Billingham South. I remember a lot of pupils from that school. I have lovely memories from the few years I lived there. Would love to hear from anyone. I would also love to know any history of that grand house. It was a glorious house and I had the privilege to live in it. My name Deborah Peel my twin brother David.
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Hello Debbi, I have a map which shows that what is now Ashwood Lodge Care Home was a police station in 1947, and in 1939 168 Belasis Avenue was a bank.
Just wondering if there has been a number change as I am assuming you mean you lived in the Ashwood Lodge building?
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Sometime in the late 50’s or early 60’s Belasis Lane became Belasis Avenue? Maybe the numbers were altered as well?
This 1962-76 map still shows No.168 as part of the Police station.
https://www.old-maps.co.uk/index.html#/Map/446164/522506/13/100765
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Hi Debbi, I was in yours and David’s class (class 2) and can remember you both very well. In fact I was friends with David. You both sat at the front next to each other and at the window overlooking the playground and canteens. It was also in front of Mr. Swift’s desk. Long time ago so I hope you can recall me. Others who come to mind – Gillian Lloyd, Julie O’Brien, Tania Smith, Robert Smith, Mark Johns, David Hughes, Stuart & Pamela Hodgekiss, John Wilson. Some of those I can remember I’m not sure whether they were in our class or from when I was in Class 1 with Miss Morgan. I was aware of you working in Sainsbury’s from FB and our friends daughter who worked there. Hope both you and David are well. Take care.
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Just to add that I met Stuart Hodgekiss quite a few years ago at Yarm Methodist Church. He was doing ok then and was a milkman in and around Yarm.
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Hello. I used to live on Ragpath Lane in the late 1950s-1966 and went to Roseworth School where there was a Miss Morgan. Could it be the same teacher? Diane Daubney
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I’m moving into the old picture house in Norton soon and wondered what the original old picture house may have looked like?
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Hi Dee, if you are talking about the Old Picture House Court flats on Norton Avenue I have attached a photograph of the cinema that stood there.
http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/45896
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My Great Grandparents on my maternal side, Arthur Russell Wilson and Alice Wilson, ran a tobacconists shop in St Cuthbert in 1871, they also ran the Red Lion Inn at Norton (1901) and the Grand Hotel at Bishop Aukland (1911) and later the Fleece Inn at Yarm (1915), if anyone has any old photographs it would be lovely to see them. Their son Arthur Lennard is my Grandad and he married Florence Leah Jennings and the family lived in Howden Street. I know that my great uncle was a clock maker and one of his clocks is in the town hall but I very little else. If anyone has any information on either my family or the places that they lived/ran I would love to hear more about them. Thank you
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Hello,
I am a teacher in y5 at Hartburn primary school and we are looking at carrying out a local study. Do you know where we might be able to find some maps from 1960 onwards of Stockton? Thank you so much in advance.
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Hello Megan, the Reference Library holds several maps of Stockton at that time but unfortunately we are closed to the public at the moment. If you can email us at reference.library@stockton.gov.uk and let us know exactly what you need we will try to help.
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Hi Megan,
Julie will probably turn up some better ideas, but just in case. Presuming that you can take them from the net, try:-
National Library of Scotland
Old maps on Line
Google Maps, Historical Maps.
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My Mother, Margaret White was the daughter of Frederick & North White and was born in 1925 at Port Clarence and lived in Church Street. My question is “Where was/is Church Street”.
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Norman, I do not think that you will find Church Street on a map. I believe that it was one of a number of terraces built within the Clarence Steel Works. You can see these houses marked on a 1923 map, Go to
https://maps.nls.uk/view/102341743
You will find Port Clarence on the north bank of the River Tees. Once you have found the main housing area, go further east until you are at the Clarence Steel Works. There are several short terraces running north-south, and are named on the map “Clarence Old Cottages”. There is a photo on this website of these houses, go to https://picturestocktonarchive.com/2013/03/08/bells-iron-works-c1920s/
But I cannot tell you which road was Church Street. But read some of the comments left beneath that photo and you will see Church Street mentioned.
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Many thanks Cliff for that information. The first attachment was fascinating to see the location of those houses actually within the works. The photograph in the second attachment showing the iron Church I found very interesting because my mother lived at 12 Church Street until aged 7 in 1933 when my grandfather died. From then on, the family relocated to Wallsend nearer to relatives. The description of the accommodation in those houses was very detailed but depressing for those living there by todays standards. All in all fascinating to read and thanks for the information you supplied. Regards, Norman Crosby
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Norman – are you by any chance the same Norman Crosby who went to Middleton St George teacher training college? If so drop me a note …gregld12@gmail.com
thanks Greg
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A question from Peter Sawyer:
Why was the High Street planned to be so wide ? Brewster says it was laid out wider than other similar places in the surrounding towns but doesn’t explain why. Perhaps a reader will know why.
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Yes, I know the reason. Technically it’s two streets laid side by side! One is called ‘Market Place’ and the other the High St! This is clearly marked on very old maps.
The River Tees was always a busy port in the past so a lot of trade would have gone on the the ‘Market Place’. There was a residential ‘Town House’ where the Town Hall now is. Also a ‘Toll Booth’ where travellers had to pay a fee. I suppose this was an early form of road tax! They would have divided the High St into two…Because it’s a smaller town, it’s not such a well known fact, but Northallerton was similar… My grandmother worked in service in a hotel in ‘market street’ but it was behind the high St there!
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Thank you Mandy for your very informative answer.
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You’re welcome Peter… I was brought up in Norton but used to go regularly with my mother into Stockton, especially market day… I am interested in local history and joined a free facebook site called ‘Memories of Stockton’. There are lots of interesting and informative photos on it, depending on what you are interested in, such as old pubs, trams, the river, schools or whatever. There’s a great one today showing the first known photo of the ‘Town House’ (i.e. Town Hall).
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A question from Maurice White:
Does anyone remember Ray and Isabel Hackney from Norton. Ray and I worked together in the late 60’s. His Mother in Law, a Mrs. Rasmussen, was the Personnel Manager in Woolies Stockton about the same time.
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Hi all I am enquiring with regards to any photos or pictures of Strathrye witham Avenue Eaglescliffe appreciate any information many thanks regards Vanessa
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Hi there everyone! I wonder if anyone can help me track down any kind of memorabilia or possible photos of a Stockton group from back in the 1960’s called “The Outcasts.” My dad, Stuart Patterson was the lead singer and harmonica player, and I would just love to be able to find anything at all about them. Thank you very much, Sophie
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Did your Dad go to Grangefield Grammar School?
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Hi there Stuart – yes he did! Thank you so much for your message and I’m so sorry for the delay – I didn’t get a notification of your reply! 😊
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Hi Sophie/ I was in the same year as Stuart at Grangefield. The bass player was Steve Clapham, also in our year. I;m afraid I can’t remember the other members.
I was there once when they were playing at a Grangefield school dance when there guitarist was taken ill and had to go home before their second set. I played in another group,The Cyclones, and they got me to stand in for the rest of the show. I also stood in for them on a couple of other occasions. I’m sorry I dont have any photos or other memorabilia.
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Hi there Pete! This is fascinating to hear, and I’m so sure that your name is familiar to me, I’m sure mum or dad must have mentioned you! Thank you so much for your message and I’m so sorry for the delay – I didn’t get a notification letting me know I had a reply. Not to worry about not having any memorabilia, I’ll keep on the hunt! Thank you so much again, Sophie
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The definitive book about Teesside groups playing between 1960-1970 is Chris Scott Wilson’s recently published “Boys in the Bands”. I cannot find any reference to “The Outcasts” in this book.
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Hi there Cliff, thanks so much for your reply – yes! I actually bought my dad that book for Xmas, which he loved and knew most of the groups from in fact playing alongside them. Perhaps I shall contact the author, that’s a good idea. Thanks again and all the best, Sophie
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Hi I was in the original line up of the Outcasts. I had to leave to revise for my O levels and Stuart replaced me in 1963. The other members were, Tom Cowley on drums, Adrian (Flush) Wilson, rhythm guitar and Steve Clapham Bass guitar and main vocals. Tom became a PE teacher, Adrian became a lawyer and I think Steve managed Dire Straits at one point.
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This is so amazing to hear, it’s so strange to think of my dad as being so young! 🙈 thank you so much for your message and I’m so sorry for the delay – I didn’t get a notification letting me know I had a reply. I don’t suppose you or any of the other lads have any kind of memorabilia from the band at all? Perhaps pictures? Thank you so much again, Sophie
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Can anyone help me with the history of the waste land (Billingham Beck) at the side of New Road and Imperial Road in Billingham. I’ve heard that it was a chemical storage are for ICI and wondered what chemical it was. Also the now owners (Scott Brothers) planned to build houses there a couple of years back but this seemed to come to an abrupt stop for what ever reason…Does anyone know the real reason?
Many thanks
Cliff
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Hi Cliff, i grew up in haverton hill, was born at sweethills and then later moved up to hill 60, there was 5 streets of houses all ownned by the ICI, my dad worked at ICI, my family left in 1966, and as far as i know the whole place was demolished in 1967-1968, i would imagine the ground there is very similar to Chernobyl.This is probably the reason why the building of houses decision was stopped.
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Chernoble!!!! I hope not but they obviously found something! I have this idear of a ‘community’ forest but I guess Scott Brothers would need to be up for that too…I doubt there would be much money in that….
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Maureen May – My late friend and neighbour Mary Shaw (a retired midwife) was also born in Sweethills and I have a few friends who grew up in Haverton and I’m told it was a lovely community BUT it was chemical factories emitting their rubbish into the air and the waterways which polluted it. It was the most polluted place in the world! The River Tees has been cleaned up beyond all recognition and salmon have returned. I remember cycling to work along the A19 and seeing dead fish floating in the beck (which flowed into the Tees), The water was bright orange! Yet I remember paddling in beck which I was a child… I used to walk from Norton.
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Hi Mandy, and thankyou for ur reply, yes the beck was full of all sorts of Chemical c
Colours when we used t paddle in it as young kids, i remember a huge explosion when i lived there, the sky was on fire (Acid Rain) of course we werent to know in those days what Acid Rain was?I came from a big Family of 7 siblings, and ive lost 3 sisters in the last 5 years all to Lung Cancers, both parents also passed away with Lung cancers, they werent heavy smokers, theres 4 of us siblings left now and we all have serious health issues, fair enuf we r in our 60’s but when u try to live a good healthy life and u end up with serious health issues u begin to wonder How has this happened? ive mentioned t lots of specialists over the years re the ICI Emitting Chemicals into the Air and Soil and Water when i was a kid, and all of the specialists ive seen agree that most of our health issues will be due to living so close to the ICI, we lived in Howard Crescent, there was just 5 streets, everyone knew everyone and we all looked out for each other, everyone worked at the ICI and lived in the ICI houses.The dead fish u saw does not surprise me atall.I agree it was the most Polluted place in the World, we left in 1966 and moved to Tyneside, my Mam used t be good friends with the Bateman family, Nancy Bateman, they lived down the village.we were born in Victoria St Sweethills, and then moved up the hill to Howard Crescent.I remember my Mam telling me that Paul Daniels the Magician was also brought up in Sweethills, she said he came from a very big family.
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Thanks Maureen – I recommend a book called ‘A Quiet Catastrophe’ by Franklin Medhurst. Covid permitting it can be borrowed from the library. It is mostly about corruption by councillors in the 60’s and the demolition of the East Side of Stockton High St BUT it mentions Haverton Hill being the most polluted place in the WORLD during the late 50’s and 60’s, because of chemicals being in the air and waterways… My husband was actually born and brought up in Monkseaton Drive in Billingham, and not Haverton. But both him and his brother have the same lung disease and neither worked for ICI but obviously breathed the air.. I was brought up in Norton, close to Billingham and often the air stunk. Mary Shaw told me that when she was a midwife cycling to ‘home births’ her nylons (tights) would literally melt on her legs. Frankly I thought she was exaggerating but she wasn’t! I’ve discovered the ‘orange’ pollutant was sulphur. Nowadays H & S wouldn’t get away with it. I know some Batemans but not whether they are related to Nancy Bateman. I’ll have to ask next time I see them but won’t be in the near future because of lockdown! My husbands lung disease isn’t cancer – it’s bronchi-ectasis (think that’s the correct spelling!) but it’s controlled by medication. We did know some who sadly died from emphysema after working for many years for ICI. It was awful seeing him struggling for breath while using an oxygen tank. I remember when a child in the 50’s I used to say to my mother ‘what’s that nasty smell’ and she used to say ‘it’s only ICI’ but she hadn’t known how serious it was.. I’d like see a lot of trees planted in the area to help oxygenate the air. xx
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Hi Mandy,
Many thanks for the info on the book, will deffo look it up, i remember that awful smell and the orange cloud in the sky,
So very Sorry t hear about ur Husbands condition, im sure it will be related t breathing those chemicals in?
Your Idea about planting Trees could be a great plan, to Oxygenate the Area and the Ground, although the ground may kill the Trees, only Time will Tell.
When i was a kid never noticed hardly any trees atall, there was a farm at the end of our street Howard Crescent, and also a Catholic School, i remember our next door neighbours were called Allborn, there was Erika Allborn and Norman Allborn and Kenny Allborn, and other side was Mr and Mrs Moore.
I attended Haverton Hill infants school and juniors until we left and moved to Tyneside, as did my Siblings, and my older siblings went t Billingham Campus school.
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Hi Mandy
The orange dust was Sulphur & Sulphur dioxide form Sulphuric Acid plant.
ICI used to discharge a lot of fumes, the main plumes were from the Nitric Acid plant,
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Haverton Hill always reminds me of that film “Erin Brokovitch” with Julia Roberts in it
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Yes, I agree with your comments but as far as I’m aware the pollution problems didn’t cause cancer but they certainly caused long term breathing problems such as COPD … this was due to the sulphur. I’ll keep a lookout for the film you mentioned. ICI were planting reed beds in the 90’s. They were expected to ‘soak up’ some of the contamination. I’m sure scientists would know which trees were most suitable for planting in the area… The BEST sign of clean water is the fish such as salmon returning to the Tees and it’s tributaries. I got a job as a ‘temping’ typist in the year 2001 and couldn’t believe it when I saw people fishing near the end of Finkle St, Stockton during their lunch hour. Lots of trees have also been planted along the area overlooking the A19 bypass but more needs to be done. Also good news is new ‘clean’ factories are now occupying premises off New Road – one being a new Covid vaccine called ‘Novo-vax manufactured by ‘Fuji’. Another will be a Quorn factory on Belasis Avenue…. So it’s not all bad news!
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Used to paddle in the Beck when we were kids, not knowing what was in the water at that time, i now know that the ICI used t dump a lot of waste in the Beck.
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Wow!!! A few years back I don’t think I would have gone anywhere near that beck…But recently I’ve noted how clear the water has been (before or well after any flooding) …Last weeks rain has certainly topped things up over there and I havent seen anything like it in the 15 years I’ve been walking, running and dog walking over there…
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So glad to hear the Beck is running Clean water these days Cliff, who knows what Chemicals are Lurking under the ground though?
Sadly i think the Ground will be Toxic from Spilled chemicals for the rest of Time.
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The land east of Imperial Rd was a storage tank site and to the west was a coal yard/waste dump with railway sidings.
See a map here: https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=54.58826&lon=-1.29063&layers=193&b=1
Storage site: https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW024033
The only feature to survive is the rectangular water reservoir.
Coal Yard: https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW024104
This was where the housing development was planned to be, that was later withdrawn (~2017). Maybe the ground wasn’t up to it? as the area had been used for dumping industrial waste.
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Thank you for those links….I think you may be correct with the land not being up to the housing development…Just wondering what that industrial waste is/was…Also wondering if it would prevent trees growing….Strange how the number of trees growing on that land is very limited, even after all this time… Thanks again
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The Scotts tip is becoming an eye saw how high is he going does the planning aplication state a limit
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Hi Cliff, there are reports of detailed surveys etc. in the planning application which you can see still online via the council planning site (16/0431/OUT).
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I know that there were four (I think) large storage tanks. I would guess 20 ft dia. and about the same height. They were maybe 40 yards south of New Road and I only ever saw them from the road. I do know that they were used during WW2 for aviation fuel (for Thornaby and Middleton). The fuel was made from coal using extreme pressure. The tanks had a brick skin (double I think) as bomb shrapnel protection. The fuel was made over new Rd in ICI. I vaguely recollect an assortment of single storey buildings and some pipe racks. I would not be surprised if the land was very contaminated and difficult to bring into housing use.
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Hi again. I am still trying to get a photo or some information on the timber yard near Victoria Bridge in 1953/4/5 (anything on Stockton at that time really). I remeber the smell of beer making as we walked to school! My abusive father was the caretaker there then (mum did most of the work). There was a fire with a lot of damgage, after which (and several beatings from my father) mum took us to live in Rosedale Head, Pickering. I am just finishing my memoir and desperately need (because my mentor has said I need more background information on this time) some more information and photos of this time.The Yard was near a hotel/pub, opposite a bus depot and next door to railway lines. Many thanks for any help you can give. Betty Williams.
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The area described is visible in this image from 1952:
https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW043770
(That site is undergoing maintenance till 1st Feb, after which you would be able to register for free, which gives the ability to zoom in.)
Once you are able to zoom in, you will be able to make out more detail on the all the various things you mentioned in your previous post, including a bus depot (not station), railway crossing, Victoria Bridge and some of the businesses like the Vaux brewery yard.
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Hello
A comment by Bob Wilson on this image:-
https://picturestocktonarchive.com/2019/08/13/st-johns-crossing-late-1960s/
Mentions J Smith Timber Yard,
I have an image of St John’s Crossing with a set of gates with “J B Smith” on them, this may be what you are looking for. It is not very good quality and the rest of the wording on the sign can’t be read, this is from the early 1950s.
I also have a photo of the same area showing Dove’s Building Suppliers in a building with tall metal folding doors, this is from the late 1960s.
I also have two images of maps of St John’s Crossing one from 1859, the other from 1895, both show the timber yard.
I have uploaded these images to this address:-
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Ajpj0BgkXQUQgzw9CkphA4CobzcQ?e=gXaf8H
If you would prefer me to email them I can be contacted here:-
billinghamlad@gmail.com
Imeson & Finch were mentioned, they were in the same area but they were an engineering firm, initially carrying out hydraulic work for the mining industry, later moving into machining.
They had an elevated section on their workshop with the name painted on it, it could be seen from a good distance, I have seen a photo, possibly on this site, of a building on Bridge Road with Imeson & Finch behind it.
The above images can be downloaded by anybody.
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I believe the timber yard was owned by a company called Foster Brothertons in Boathouse Lane. The pub you mentioned was the Alexander, managed in the 50’s by Bill Loadwick
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I recall a site “Britain from the Air” which I recollect has pictures of the area.
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Hello. I’m trying to locate a photograph of my Great grandfather Victor Harry Mason, Son of Annie Louisa Mason, born 11/3/1893 and died 23/10/1916 (aboard HMS Genista). I have his war record but cannot locate a photo. I’ve exhausted all avenues and hope that a relative from one of his daughters line may have some information or a photo they would be willing to share!
He married Olive Maud Rhodes and they had a son William Victor (my grandfather) in 1912, a daughter Gladis Gwendoline (Gwennie) in 1913 and another daughter Beatrice Anne (Annie) in 1916.
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My Mams Uncle, John Allen married Beatrice. I’ll ask if she knows any relatives still in Stockton.
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Mollies hole
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Joseph Rowntree Foundation did a report on the people of Thistle Green when it was demolished and they were moved into council houses. Could you tell me the date of the demolition so I can track down their report Thank You
Kathleen Carter
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Yours is a piece of old Stockton information that I too would be much interested in. Please can I ask you to pass it on (if and when)?
Derek Wade
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I assume you meant the slummy area around old properties such as the Cherry Lane and Housewife’s Lane area… The people were moved into properties in Swainby Road and Danby Rd Tilery. Many of the residents hadn’t even had basic things we all take for granted such as toilets (having to share with neighbours) and had to go to Stockton washhouse for a bath and obviously washing. This was 1927 and 1928. Hope that helps.
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