A photograph of Stockton Corporation Transport Department taken in 1934. My grandfather, Frank Bailey is 9th from the left on the second row. A family friend, William (Bill) Trattles is 5th from the left on the front row.
Details courtesy of Jan Hemblade. Photograph courtesy of Norman Trattles, son of Bill Trattles.
This is a school photo of class at Richard Hind School in Stockton taken during the late 1940s. I believe the teacher on front row is Sandy Dobing. Does anyone recognise themselves or each other?
Photograph and details courtesy of Simon Parkin.
The team was unbeaten all season, won the league including a play-off against Mandale Juniors who we beat in a replay. Graham Rutherford, Stephen Sharp, David Mellvin (Captain), ??, Bobby Bista, Russell Crawford, Graham Highfield, Geoff Stockburn, David Brown, Alan Jones, Jeff Green, Michael Beale (Goal Keeper) and George Hardwick, ex Middlesbrough, England and Great Britain footballer. I hope this photograph interests a few people!
Photograph and details courtesy of Alan Jones.
The Clevo Flour Mill stood on the South side of Victoria Bridge and took four days and 265 pounds of gelignite to bring down, with each attempt increasing the tilt until it finally fell on 17 June 1970. I took this photograph on 14 June 1970.
Photograph and details courtesy of Andy Wood.
A photograph of the Victoria Cycling Club taken in Helmsley c1933. The cyclist to the far right is my grandfather, Bobby Thompson from Fairfield in Stockton.
Photograph and details courtesy of Julian Rafferty.
Before the Castlegate redevelopment, this historic part of the High Street included the Unicorn pub, Doggarts department store, Henderson’s (jewellers) and Thomas Hunt, and based on photographs I made this diorama, which includes buses of Stockton and Middlesbrough Corporations. These buildings were demolished in 1970.
Photographs and details courtesy of Andy Wood.
This photograph was set up by my dad, Beldon Bensley who helped out on the Dixon’s farm. Dad is 4th from left with mug, bottom row. I think Leslie Dixon would be 2nd from right on bottom row. The photograph was taken circa 1949, possibly down by Billingham Beck and St. Aidans Crescent as the houses can be seen in the background.
Photograph and details courtesy of Bruce Bensley.
Cast members of The Billingham Players prior to their production of “Sleeping Beauty” at the Theatre Upstairs on Belasis Avenue, Billingham. The pantomime was to be staged on the 10th of December 1984. Does anybody recognise any of the three ladies, or know if they are still involved with the Billingham Players?
Photograph and details courtesy of Bruce Coleman.
This photograph shows a wedding party outside 16 Russell Street, Thornaby. Taken around 1906. My great-grandparents Edwin and Isabella CLARKE lived at No. 20 for many years. Edwin worked as a bricklayer in the steel works. He had travelled up north to find work in the 1870s from his home near Great Yarmouth, leaving behind an ancestry steeped in the corn milling business. He met Isabella HULL from St Helen Auckland and they married in 1876. Their first 3 children were born in Craddock Street, Bishop Auckland and their last 3 in Thornaby. In the photo, Edwin is standing in the middle at the back and Isabella is on the right in her fine hat! Their daughter-in-law Lucy is sitting front right with her young son.
When I was given the photo many years ago I was assured it was not a family wedding so I don’t know who the bride and groom are. I was told the lady in the middle on the left ran a local pub and the girls on either side of her were “gaiety girls” but who knows if that’s true! Seems unlikely to me. I wonder whether anyone with links to the area might know who they all are? Edwin died in 1937 and Isabella in 1932. They are buried at Thornaby Cemetery in an unmarked plot, which I visited many years ago while in the area.
Photograph and details courtesy of Diane Johansen.
This is an advert for the opening of Stewarts store at 106 High Street after it had been rebuilt. It is also known as “Tees House”. The advert was placed on 10th May 1912, so 110 years ago! It’s still an impressive building and still proudly bears the name of Stewarts Clothiers. It has had several uses over the years, most recently a “licenced gaming centre”, but has previously been home to various clothing chains. Hopefully it can be given a little TLC and put to good use in the near future!
Image and details courtesy of Jonathan May.
Stockton Corporation had a large fleet of Leyland PD2 buses in the 1950s and 1960s, including XUP 475, a 1958 example. Here are pictures of 1:24 scale models I have made, and also a black and white picture of the actual bus taken by Philip Battersby in 1964 at Low Grange, Billingham.
Middlesbrough Corporation had buses with similar Northern Counties bodies, on Guy Arab chassis – my model shows the Stockton bus in company with Middlesbrough’s GDC 295. The ‘O’ service was a joint operation between Middlesbrough and Stockton Corporations, running between Norton and North Ormesby. The 11 service, Stockton Town Hall to Middlesbrough Exchange, was also jointly run by the two corporations. The black and white shot of Middlesbrough’s GDC 295 was taken by RHG Simpson in the mid-1960s, in Bridge Road, Stockton.
Models and details courtesy of Andy Wood.
Construction of the spiral ramp giving access to the rooftop section of the Castlegate Shopping Centre car park.
Taken in August 1971 by Len Toulson. Courtesy of Neal Toulson.
Neal Toulson: Thornaby Cricket Club 1940’s – Hi attached are two photographs of Thornaby Cricket Club in the 1940’s. The first photograph I believe was taken when they won the league, they won again in 1945, it had a player called Norman Nevison who was something of a legend, he took 100 league wickets in 1945, in one match he took all 10 wickets. I don’t know any of the other players.
The second photograph features Dougie Merryweather on the very back row left. Doug played for a lot of years and his sons and grandsons also played for Thornaby over the years.
Photograph and details courtesy of Neal Toulson.
Here is a great picture of Witham Hall, Eaglescliffe. Not the best picture but does give a good idea of what the house looked like!
Photograph and details courtesy of James Hull.
Who remembers Robinsons? Robinsons department store (front and rear) early to mid 1960’s, as it officially became Debenhams in 1972.
Photographs and details courtesy of Peter Jordison.
