The Spence Arms and Armour Collection

Posted on May 10, 2021 by Picture Stockton Team

The Spence Bequest has some of the best examples of weaponry in the North of England, if not the country.

His collection spans from the Stone Age to the early 20th Century and includes hundreds of edged weapons and firearms. There are also a unique set of watercolours painted by Spence himself at the Front during the First World War.

Exhibition Officer Chris Young has spent a good degree of time researching and studying this collection and over the years new stories have come to light and are ready to be shared with the community Spence served and loved.

Join us ‘virtually’ on Wednesday 19 May from 1pm. For further details and free booking, click here!

Victorian Street, Preston Park Museum

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Picture Stockton Team

Experiencing what life was like in 1895… Visitors on the Victorian Street at Preston Park Museum & Grounds.

Manpower Services Commission team, Preston Hall c1985

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Picture Stockton Team

The Manpower Services Commission team at work, Preston Park Museum and Grounds c1985.

Photos from the Past

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Picture Stockton Team

These two photographs of the quayside demolition and construction work were taken between 30 January 1949 and 20 June 1950. The photographs were taken by David’s Portrait Studio based at Yarm Road, Stockton.

Stockton High Street

Posted on May 27, 2014 by Picture Stockton Team

A photograph from the Heavisides Collection possibly taken during Peace Day c1920.

Preston Hall c1900

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Picture Stockton Team

Preston Hall, the home of the Ropner Family, shown here in the early years of the 20th century. There looks to be an important event – probably a wedding – taking place. The building now houses a museum and is open to the public.

Portrait of Marshall Fowler

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Picture Stockton Team

A portrait of Marshall Fowler, who sold Preston Hall to Robert Ropner in 1882. Preston Hall was built in 1825 for David Burton Fowler, it was acquired by Stockton-on-Tees District Council in 1947 and opened as a museum in 1953.

Photos from the Past

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Picture Stockton Team

Dainty Morsels Relish was one of the products made at J.F. Smith & Co’s Confectionery Works in the Green Dragon Works, Stockton

Photos from the Past

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Picture Stockton Team

An advertisment for the Georgian Theatre, Stockton advertising the last night of engagements for Miss Foote, July 1826.

Men on the Market Cross

Posted on November 21, 2012 by Picture Stockton Team

This photograph and following extract is from Heaviside’s Almanack, dated 1906:

‘…The passerby in our High Street, who is at all observant, will have noticed during the summer months, a number of men sitting or reclining in all manner of forms on the steps under the Doric Column. I have noticed that they move around the column in degree as old Sol makes his daily round, for in the morning they will be facing east, whilst in the afternoon they will be found on the south and west sides. Nowadays, there are open-air sanatoriums in different parts of the country for the cure of certain diseases and possibly this may be some local economical attempt to put in to practice the sun cure. Whatever it is I remember the day the photograph was taken as the weather was lovely and the attendance a record…’