My dad Harry Emmerson was the manager of the shop for many years and is in one of the pictures. How times have changed. There were obviously a lot more meat eaters around in those years! The shop used to be heaving, especially on Saturdays. I remember that the tiled floor behind the counters was covered in sawdust. This would make them non-slip, but generally a health and safety officer would have a fit as your joint could be cut up in front of you by saw or knife and there were those hand powered bacon slicing machines. You could get your order delivered by a delivery boy with bike, some things haven’t changed!

Photographs and details courtesy of John Emmerson.

The loading bay of the West Precinct in Billingham Town Centre captured in December 2024.

Photograph and details courtesy of Isaac Shaw, Billingham Snaps.

Mr M Simpson: Silver Street, Stockton on Tees 1929 – This photograph is from my late mothers family history records showing the shop in Silver Street and the man himself from October 1929. Albert (Bert) Gilbert Glasby was my Great Uncle (by marriage) and took over the shop when his father, William Robert Glasby, died in 1939, as far as I’m aware.

Photograph and details courtesy of Mr Simpson.

A picture of the fish shop in Hume Street, Stockton. I think it was owed by the Johnston family but I believe my nanna and granddad Tommy and Hilda Hall lived and worked here.

Photograph and details courtesy of Jacqui Henderson.

A view of Billingham Town Centre c1960s.

Photograph and details courtesy of William Bennett.

Arthur L Thomas behind the counter at the tobacconists at 266 Norton Road, Stockton.

Photograph and details courtesy of David Thomas.

This image shows the Co-op on Norton Road next door to Chapmans garage, there is a sign on Chapmans pointing toward Bone Street where they had a garage workshop.

Photograph and details courtesy of Alec Moody.

A photograph showing the interior of Forhaws tobacconists on Stockton High Street. The lady featured is Miss Constance Johnson (my aunt) and I would guess the photograph was taken circa 1950 (or possibly before). Her ‘boss’ was a Miss/Mrs Middlemass. The advertising notices give an insight to post-war era where smoking was very popular.

Photograph and details courtesy of Ian Bruce.

My great-grandfather, a Londoner, was employed by W H Smith, and was appointed to open their branch at Stockton station in the 1800s. Later, he started his own business at 2 Central Buildings at the top end of Stockton High Street. For many years this was known as Wood’s Corner, later Maxwell’s Corner. My grandfather took over this shop, and in the mid-1930s sold it, and moved to new premises at 111 Lanehouse Road, Thornaby, from where he ran a tobacconist, lending library and stationers. He retired and sold this business in the early 1950s. The black-and-white picture (photographer unknown) shows 2 Central Buildings, while the colour shot of 111 Lanehouse Road was taken by my father c1947.

Photographs and details courtesy of Andy Wood.

These photographs of the White Hart on Dovecot Street were taken in the early 1980s for an an architectural survey.

Photographs and details courtesy of Chris Bailey.

My parents owned and ran this shop at 20 Brinkburn Road, Norton from 1963 to 1972 before moving on due to the shop next door taking away some of their trade when they began to open late nights.

Photographs and details courtesy of Glenn Atterton.

T. Short Saddlers who were located at 21 High Street, Stockton-on-Tees. The business was at this location between 1894 to 1918.

Photograph and details courtesy of Alex Moody.