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.
Hi anyone know the whereabouts of Kathleen Green from Stockton in the late 50s early 60s
Thanks
Margaret Clark nee Gilfoyle
Margaret, I do not know Kathleen Green, but I have looked her up in Stockton records and there was somebody of that name who married a James E Cox in 1962 at Stockton. I suspect that they were the same couple who had two children Susan Cox (b.1963) and Michael Andrew Cox (b.1966). I hope this helps you in your search.
Kath Greene sadly passed away aged 62 .She lived in Norton and had divorced Jimmy Cox and remarried. Her name was Tuck. She was a most bubbly fun lady and must be the person you remember if Kathleen Greene had a great sense of humour.
Hi Cherrill you related to Cliff ex J. Williamson driver not seen you for years if correct
Hello. Are there any photos of the row of Victorian houses on Bishopton Road, we live in number 9 and wondered if it had another house attached? The property has bad subsidence. Also are they built on a old coal mines? Thank you
Does anyone know of a guy called Frank Wilfred Dixon he’s passed away now but he was friends with John who owned Prince of Wales in Portrack? I’m his daughter trying to find photos of my dad
My dad told me that Portrack got it’s name because, before the river was cut in the early 19th century, the meander in the river was a port where ships would have to wait because they couldn’t navigate the route until the tide came in.
Once the tide came in the ships were safely guided by teams of men who stood on the shorelines and pulled the vessels round the river bend using ropes. This practice was known as ‘racking’ – hence the name ‘port rack’.
I can’t find any further information on this, is anyone able to verify if this is true or point me to any sources which make reference to it?
Jake, I also was told that is how Portrack got its name, but I cannot find any documentation to verify it. But the racking must have taken place many centuries ago. By 1704 it was common for large ships to stop at Portrack and transfer their cargo into smaller lighters which would then complete the journey upstream to Stockton. Or if the cargo was timber, the wood would be taken to Stockton from Portrack by road.
I have recently received a couple of pictures taken from very nearly the same location, one shows the Cleveland Flour Mill during its demolition and is dated 1970, the other is of a swimming competition in the river, it was organised by the Northern Echo, this is dated 1930, the building shown in this picture is not the concrete flour mill, it is brick and tile and has windows, this building does appear in a number of pictures from earlier times, does anybody know when the concrete mill was built.
Bruce, any chance of you putting the picture of the swimming competition on the site. My grandfather swam competitively in the Tees, whats the date of the Northern Echo it was in as I would like to read the article.
Hello Hazel
I don’t have an exact date for the swimming competition, 1930 is the date I have got.
The image is not too good but I will send it to Picture Stockton and they can either use it or forward a copy to you.
Do you have anything more concrete about your grandfather’s swimming. Any certificates or prizes?
What of the Monkey Table?
Hi. Did Northfield school, Billingham, have two blocks when it was built?
When I was younger my Grandma lived in Cornfield Road, Thornaby and she used to take me to an off licence/shop on Thornaby Road near to the Rec, does anyone know what it was called? It wasn’t the Mayfair shops.
Do you have any references to local table tennis 🏓 teams?
My husband Malcolm Corking is in the process of writing a book about Stockton Table Tennis League which was started in October 1933. Any information you can supply would be gratefully received.
Would love to contact my old school pal Adrian Postle who was at St Cuthberts with me in the mid 50s. He was the son of local business Postle and Brown. He lived on Hartburn Avenue.
Hi, I am a second-year Interior Design Student at Teesside University. I am researching into post-war buildings and trying to find some details on ‘K2 Nightclub or formerly known as La Ronde in Billingham’. I am aware the nightclub has now sadly been demolished.
However, I was hoping someone might have some information or interior images they wouldn’t mind sharing or even a memory they might have, any information would be helpful.
Thank you!
Abi
Hi Abigail, I think you may be referring to ‘KD’ rather than K2 nightclub. This was situated on Station Rd, opposite Davisons pharmacy, now the Buffs club (I think). KD was supposed to be ‘Kave Dwellers’ at the peak of the Beatles fame (as The Cavern in Liverpool). This was the 60’s and very popular with teenagers. The inside had no windows and was meant to look like the inside of a cave! I hope this helps. 🙂
When I was about 5/6 years old (1961/62) I returned with my younger brother and Mum to meet our Nanny Rose Goodwin for what we thought was the first time. I was obviously too young to remember her any from any earlier. We travelled up by steam train from London to Thornaby. She lived in No 3? Anderson Street which at that end ran parallel with Mandale Road with The Bon Lea pub. It was a street typical of old Thornaby which was a very long row of terraced houses which ran in a sort of loose semi circle. There were buildings behind Anderson Street that must have overlooked Mandale Road. At the top end of the street lived a Doctor which I think must have been No 1. I have seen aerial images of Thornaby and I have been able to make out Anderson Street faintly in the distance but I have never seen any images of the street as it existed close up. It got knocked down with just about every other street when the A66 was built. It ran towards Heslop Street and Teesdale Terrace which are still standing. I also remember the shop at that end of the semi circle. To my question. Does anyone own any images of Anderson Street from the sixties? By the way I don’t mean Anderson Road.
I would be interested in knowing where Church Street was in Port Clarence. My MOTHER Margaret White was born there in 1925 at No. 12. If any photographs exist of the street I would be delighted to see them.
Norman, I have looked at several maps of Port Clarence. It is not a large place, and there is not a Church Street on any of the maps! So I doubt if there are any photographs available.
I may have a photograph of Anderson Street taken in 1974 . I will post on Picture Stockton soon
Hi Derek,
Thanks for posting that picture of Anderson Street, fascinating to see the Teesdale Street end of Anderson Street.
Hello Stephen – Derek Smith has kindly allowed us to add an image of Anderson Street, Thornaby c1975… https://picturestocktonarchive.com/2020/03/04/is-this-anderson-street-thornaby/
I have a very serious question about the area I live in as I’m experiencing some very strange activity in my house that I have just moved to. I live on Pottery Warf, Thornaby and I would really like to know how far this site dates back and what was here before all the houses were build and if this was a war site and if there is any photos of what was here before. Please help me to figure out why I’m having very bad nights from the strange activity going on. It’s really got me thinking if there has been death in the area. Thank you for reading this and I hope you can help me find out what was here in order for me to understand better what could be trying to communicate with me by waking me up with strange banging and noises I cant explain. Thank you kindly
Hello, thank you for your enquiry.
What is now Pottery Wharf was originally the site of a pottery, sometimes known as the Stafford Pottery, which began in 1825. There were some houses in Stafford Place, which ran from Thornaby Road to the pottery, but they were not quite on the site of Pottery Wharf, and unfortunately we do not know of any thing unusual that happened in that area, and could be causing the problems you are having. Sorry that we can not be of any further help.
I would imagine that somebody has died on most geographical spots in this country at some time in our vast history so who knows?
What sorts of things are happening to you?
My Partner and I would be willing to come and see if we can record some of the activity you may be experiencing and if we can get you some answers to some of the Paranormal Issues you are having. Please look at Harrogate Paranormal Society or Harrps.com. Please contact us on biltonparanormal@aol.com. We do not charge. 07432-154609 Susan Harker
Do you have any information on Granny Dunn’s shop in Bath Street, Stockton. She was my great gran
I have a death certificate for my late grandfather Herbert Young aged 68 yrs old and it states he fell down the stairs and broke his neck whilst in a Social Services home in Hunters Lane, Stockton-on-Tees in 1939… whereabouts was Hunters Lane?
Hi Sylvia,
Thank you for your enquiry.
I have emailed you a copy of a map which shows the location of Hunters Lane.
Kind regards,
Hannah
Sylvia, here is a link to a map of Stockton which shows Hunters Lane. The map is dated 1938. https://maps.nls.uk/view/101100482
If you zoom into the map and follow the River Tees just past Stockton and around to the right, you will see two places where a Ferry is marked operating across the river. Look on the north bank of the river and you will see Hunters Lane. It was in part of the oldest part of Stockton.
Complete long shot… I’m looking to trace a friend I met in around 1992 in Stockton-on-Tees. He will be approximately 46 now (in 2020). All I remember of him is his name, Chris (short for Christopher), he had blonde hair, loved the beatles Abby Road album, his best friend at the time was a baker. Chris himself worked at the time in some sort of chemical or processing plant. His ex girlfriend’s first name began, I think, with E. Not much to go one so this is a stab in the dark……!
Yours hopefully
Jo
Any pics of the old Doncaster Crescent which was demolished?
Cath, my aunty Lizzie (Evans) lived at 56, Doncaster Crescent when Ragworth first built, she had one of the first TVs on the estate, no kid was ever turned away, children’s hour seems all the kids on estate went in, always house full.
All the best.
Derek
Does anyone know anything about a Market Garden in Fairfield, Stockton on Tees in the early 19th Century run by a family with the surname Vickers please?
Is it still in operation, and are the Vickers family involved with it now?
Thank you
Jennie Evans
Who was the person named GREEN that so many areas are named after in Stockton? E.g Green’s Lane , Green’s Beck, Green’s Beck Road etc?
I am a distant relative of people who owned and ran a market garden business in Fairfield, Stockton-on-Tees in the early 1900’s. Their surname was Vickers, but I don’t know the name of the business itself?
Does anyone out there know anything about this business and/or the Vickers’ family, and is the business still in existence please?
Did North End Boiler Co. exist in Maritime Road, Stockton in the 1800s and was it owned by Marmaduke Hay?
Hi Dave,
Thank you for your enquiry.
Looking at the 1914 Kelly’s Directory we have found an entry for a Marmaduke Hay of the North End boiler works in Major Street which is not far from Maritime Road. The earliest directory that we hold, that has an entry for Marmaduke, is an 1894 directory for Durham. The North End boiler works is listed as being at Major Street and also includes an entry for an Alexander Hay.
I hope that this information is of some assistance to you.
Kind regards,
Hannah
Trying to find pictures of old building on Bishtopton Road/St Pauls Street, Stockton-on-Tees
Hi I’m trying to locate any pictures or information on my grandads old bike shop in Portrack before it was demolished. Can anyone help?
Hi does anyone know of what happened to children’s cottages at 86 Thornaby Road, it was a foster home which my grandad was in in 1922
I lived at the bottom of the bank on Thornaby Road from 1963 to 1972 and the cottages were old aged pensioners bungalows. Eventually demolished
Hi all, my grandad Robert Casey was born 1895 Stockton, as a young lad living in housewife lane he joined the kings own Scottish border’s 1912 with best mate Pat Sullivan, at some time before great war broke out a photo was taken of the pair of them, this photo hung on the living room wall of Pats sister Biddy Hughs who married W Hughs and lived in Danby road, when Danby road was demolished I was hoping a relative would have saved the old photo, a very very long shot, if photo survived? could I please have a copy.
might be only chance I have to see what my grandad looked like.
all the best.
Derek
ps please ask Picture Stockton for my email.
Derek Casey – I’m been doing some research on the 1911 census to find out who lived in the Housewife Lane area at the time. The name Casey crops up, probably your ancestor or family member. I think there’ll be army photo of him. Try applying to the ‘Kings Own Scottish Borders regiment as I assume he served during WW1. The family’s address was ‘the Quayside’ (round the corner from Housewife Lane at the time. Good Luck
Hi, Mandy, applied years ago to K.O.S.B no joy, photos the have not named individuals or groups.
Thanks for reply.
Derek
Derek Casey – Sorry you had no luck with the KOSB – hopefully someone will spot your request 🙂
Hi. Is there any pictures of Kilburn Road/Crayke Road?
I am trying to recall all the staff and volunteers who worked at St Mary’s Day Centre on Major Street, Stockton-on-Tees, from 1984 – 1985, can anyone help.
Jackson’s the dress shop in Nelson Terrace how long was it in business?
Hello there. A departed friend of mine used to tell me about his times manning a rocket range near Cowpen Bewley. Does anyone have any information about it? Location etc.. Regards.
I wonder if your friend was describing the Spigot Mortar that was situated near Greatham Creek as part of WW II’s coastal defences against any invasion?
http://www.hidden-teesside.co.uk/category/wartime-relics/page/7/
What was fed into the mortar looked like a rocket, check out a couple of You Tube videos showing the mortar in use.
I am trying to track down the children of Thomas Harris and Mary Kemp. There were 11 of them including my mother, Margaret Lenham (nee Harris). I know two were killed in the war. George, Thomas D, Robert, Mary May, Alfred, Doris, Richard, Susan, Lawrence, Kenneth and Joan.
If anyone can help it would greatly increase my understanding of our family tree.
David, I have managed to find a number of the people that you are looking for, and I regret to say that they were born so long ago that most have passed away by now.
Richard (b.1922) died at Keighley in 1987.
Susan (b.1924) died at Stockton in 1996.
Ernest died in infancy (b & d. 1925)
Lawrence (b.1926) died in 1989 in Cleveland.
Kenneth (b.1928) died at Stockton in 1997.
Joan (b.1930) died in County Durham in 1988.
Rose died in infancy (b. & d. 1939)
Hi Joan my aunt is still alive so don’t know who Joan is that died in Country Durham
Thank you do much Cliff.
Thomas Harris married Mary Kemp in 1907 and had –
Mary May ? 1912
Alfred 1918-1944
Doris ? 1920
Richard 1922-1987
Susan 1924-2000
Ernest ? 1925
Lawrence 1926-1989
Kenneth 1928-1997
Joan 1930
Rose? 1939-1939
Margaret 1935-2015
There seems to be some confusion over the exact number of children and the dates of death of some of the boys. This is probably because of the dates of their births being too recent to pick them up on the census and/or a lack of family records.
Interesting that you don’t mention Alfred who was KIA on 9th August 1944
Margaret Lenham never had a son by the name of David, who are you?
Researching my family tree and looking for information on Frank Livingstone (born around 1939). Any information gratefully received
Is there a photograph in the Town Hall of HMS Tees? It was presented to Mayor Dora Redican in 1995 by Albert Seymour
Hi, has anyone got any photos of Park Terrace in Stockton when it had terraced houses- preferably from the 40s/50s and 60s. Many thanks Sheila Lathan was Rowntree
Sheila, there are a couple of photos of Park Terrace on the Picture Stockton website. Use the Search box at the top of the page to look for them.
Hi, has anyone got any photos of Park Terrace in Stockton when it had terraced houses- preferably from the 40s/50s and 60s. Many thanks Sheila Lathan was Rowntree
Hi, has anyone got any photos of Park Terrace in Stockton when it had terraced houses – preferably from the 40s/50s and 60s. Many thanks Sheila Lathan was Rowntree
In 1978/1979/1980 I was pictured outside Salters Lane youth club petitioning for a new building to be built to replace our old wooden one. I am the one in the denim shirt next to my mate in the rugby shirt Paul Rigg. We got the new one built. Has any one got pictures of it and that time? thanks
Hi. There was some land and a large house which was demolished to build the Fairville Road estate in Fairfield. Do you have any photographs of it? It was derelict in the early 60’s and we used to play inside.
Thanks
Steve Brown
Hi. I used to live on Fairdene Avenue, at the bottom of Fairville Road. We moved into the new housing estate in 1964 when I was 7 years old. Our neighbour found a stone statue in his garden and I always wondered where it had come from but would suspect orignally the house was a villa, hence the name Fairville. Sorry, no more info from me. Did you receive any other replies?
I believe the house was called Holstone House. Have a look at this link which shows an old map with a current aerial view (use the blue slider) https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=54.56962&lon=-1.36553&layers=168&b=1
I am interested in Westbury Street primary school 1980 in Thornaby. Can anyone help?
Please can you tell me the Catholic Church my grandad played organ in Thornaby in 1970 to 1983 he was called Jack Bulmer
What pubs used to be on Wellington Street in Stockton in 1917?
Hello Craig,
According to the 1917-18 Ward’s Directory there were no pubs on Wellington Street at that time. It may interest you to know that there was a temperance hotel at No.29 run by a Mrs A.R. Flockton, and a beer retailer (Mrs S. Strathern) at No.95.
Kind regards,
Hannah
Was there ever a rag trade shop in thistle green in Stockton-on-Tees. And who owned it.?
Do you have any pictures of a shop called Van Allan I worked there in 1979
Can anyone remember Harriet – an old “fish-woman”, who in my memory regularly drove her pony-hauled 2-wheeled fish cart from I think West Hartlepool/Seaton Carew (the name painted on the tailboard of the trap) to Eaglescliffe throughout the 1950s and certainly into the 1960s. Seemed a very long journey for a small beast. Mam used to say, “Oh, it’s Harriet!”, then dash out to buy kippers, “yellow” (smoked) fish or whatever else on the cart that week. The fish would be laid out on plates or boxes(?) covered by tea-towels or possibly even greaseproof paper. All the fish we had was OK – never anything “going off”. Then living at Eaglescliffe, I last saw her on the increasingly busy A19 to Stockton in 1964, i.e. the year I got my new “racing” bike. Any photograph would be fantastic.
A Pint for Cricketers in Portrack!
Rather a cryptic title to which I suspect that few will see a connection. Someone, however may have a bit of information to help me to solve a riddle I discovered while researching a part of my family history in Portrack in Stockton. The Cricketers arms on Portrack Lane is now finished as a hostelry. It is Land Registered as number 2, but it has no number on any map pre-land registry to my knowledge. More interestingly is it’s name. After some research I understand that Portrack had an excellent cricket ground in the mid 1800’s; Yorkshire playing first class County matches there in 1858 and 1861. The pub certainly existed pre-1900 and probably around the time of Brown’s Iron Works. I know where the pub is but where oh where was the cricket field? The current Stockton Cricket Club was formed after WW2 and is therefore not connected. Does any one have any information that can help me or point me in the right direction to solving this riddle?
Derek, a map of Stockton for 1857 shows a cricket ground immediately to the north of Portrack Lane Iron Works. You can see it on this map at
https://maps.nls.uk/view/102341740 zoom in to see the detail. As I cannot see any other cricket ground in the borough, this must be where the annual Whitsuntide fair was held.
Hello Derek,
Thank you for your enquiry.
I have sent a copy of an 1857 map which shows the location of the cricket ground in the Portrack area to your email address.
Kind regards,
Hannah
Library & Information Assistant
Can any one help find me old pictures and story’s of 42 Sydney Street the old Sammy Smith “taddy ale” shop please?
Hi – My grandmother was Mary Eleanor Lovett (nee Kelley) (1894-1978) daughter of James Kelley (1863- 1929) of Stockton. I am researching my mothers (Greta) family tree and would like to make contact with any relatives of James and Eleanor Kelley. I believe James was the last ferryman of the Kelley family and any information on Kelley’s ferry’s would be helpful.
Hi Stockton Library Service – I’m looking for some images of the Tees Barrage being built. 1991-1995. I’ve found a couple on your site but wondered if any of the development authorities that undertook the work might have added them to your archive?
Hello Liz, the Reference Library has a folder on the Tees barrage with plans and proposals, however it only has a few photos of the plans etc. You’re more than welcome to have a look.
Kind regards
Adele
Reference Library
01642 528079 / reference.library@stockton.gov.uk
Have you any pictures of Percy Street or its residents late 19th century?
Hello I’m trying to find a old school picture of my father Kenneth Lewis. He went to Freddie Natt. He was born in 1943.
The Lewis Family lived in Southfield Crescent.
Family members Potts helped built some of the houses.
The Lewis family later moved to 12 Warfe Street.
Derek, Jean, Kenneth (my father), Edward, Geoffrey, Jane.
Parents were David and Vera.
I met my wife at a dance in the Jubilee Hall on Finkle Street, Stockton. Has anyone got a photo of that hall?
Picture Stockton has a good “search” engine, type Jubilee Hall in the box at the top right of the screen and hit return, and you will find a number of photos of the Hall.
Does anyone have any pictures of Yarm High Street in the 1980’s?
I have a parish church bazaar booklet from 1894. Is anyone aware of the existence of one of these and heard of it? 62 pages and has a picture of the marchioness of Londonderry and various maps of Stockton with aspects of what they were looking to do building the town. Can’t find anywhere on the internet any info on it.
Hi Ben,
Using our subscription to the British Newspaper Archive we have found several articles referring to the Parish Church’s bazaar which was held in October 1894. It appears that the bazaar was held to raise additional funds for the restoration of the Parish Church. I will email some of the newspaper articles that we found to you.
Kind regards,
Hannah
Good afternoon, I am curious to know if there was a Hunter’s lane in Stockton circa 1899? My great grandfather used to live on there….
Ben, Hunters Lane ran between the old Cattle Market and the North Shore Ship Yard. You can see it on this map of Stockton from the 1890s.
https://maps.nls.uk/view/101100488
Zoom in and look for the North Shore Ship Yard, which lay on the north bank of the River Tees. You will find Hunters Lane just to the left of the shipyard.