St. Joseph’s RC School, April 1956

Posted on by
1

A photograph of Miss Lilley’s class at St. Joseph’s RC School taken in April 1956.

Back (L – R): Miss Wilkinson (Head Teacher), Brian Pitelen, Brian Stott, Brian Morton, Michael Lindsay, ?, Brendon Bethan, Michael Craig, Brian Mathew, David Humble, ?, Terry Fitzpatrick, ?.

Middle (L – R): Michael Ledger, Brian Harvey, Geoffrey Costello, Alan Waller, Pauline McMaster, Margaret Crawford, Maureen Chicken, Monica Baker, Pat Cooper, Pat Harvey, ?, Brendon Thornton, David Parker, Peter Armstrong, Miss Lilley (teacher).

Front (L – R): Ann Jenkinson, Mary Quinn, Catherine McQuillen, Kathleen Gilhooley, Sandra Buchanan, Pat O’Brien, Ann Hamilton, Joan Connelly, Barbara Johnson, Angela Harris, Sylvia Clucose?, Joyce Connelly, Joan Machin.

Photograph and details courtesy of Pauline McMaster.

Meadowbank Railway Bridge: Stockton should be proud!

Posted on by
16

Near my home in Meadowbank, New South Wales, there’s a magnificent old iron bridge that I often ride over on my bike and paddle under in my kayak. Originally a railway bridge, it was prefabricated in England and shipped here in 1886. Each pylon is inscribed with “Stockton Forge Company Makers, Stockton-on-Tees”.

Although the bridge no longer carries the railway it is a much loved pedestrian and cycle path across the Parramatta River and stands strong despite nearly 140 years in salt water.

I often think of the tremendous skill and hard work it took to make something like this, often for meagre wages and in harsh and dangerous conditions, and the sad loss of decline of heavy manufacturing in both Australia and the UK.

I think we should be very proud of this heritage, and you may want to let the people in your community know about it!

Photographs and details courtesy of Ian Elliott, Australia.

Witham Hall, Eaglescliffe (1968 – 1973)

Posted on by
12

Here are some photos of Witham Hall, Eaglescliffe, from the years 1968 – 73 when the property was under our care. The hall itself had three floors with a main staircase and a second for servants. During those years, I was told that Henry VIII slept there on his hunting trips to the north and monks resided there for many years.

In the mid-sixties, Witham Hall and its farm land became part of the new Eaglescliffe industrial estate owned and developed by builders, The Tennet Group (which was owned by my uncle, Mr Charles Tennet). The first construction was for the Tetley Tea factory, then other businesses followed.

Today I live in Canada but Witham Hall still remains in my thoughts with good and bad memories.

From my young age at Witham Hall, my pigs loved the open range inside its orchard and garden, along with their new pigsties housed in the original farm buildings within its enclosed courtyard.

It was believed that hidden treasure was contained on Witham Hall grounds. We searched relentlessly but found nothing!

Today I live in Canada but Witham Hall still remains in my thoughts with good and bad memories.

Photographs and details courtesy of Jeffrey Smith.

Yorkshire Colts ‘Sevens’ 1963 Winners

Posted on by
3

This team represented Stockton Rugby Club, in the Harrogate Colts, 1963 Sevens Competition. From what I recall, the competition was only open to Yorkshire teams. The Club got an invite to make the number of team entries even, so no team got a “bye” in the first round.

In the early “sixties” the colts had limited success playing in two Lormer Cup Finals, beaten both times. The teams were unfortunately weakened with players being called up for “county duty”. My name:- Stan Galloway, played second row in the 15-a-side team.

Back Row (L – R): A.J Walker, G. Winn, K. Pearson, M. Williamson. Front row (L – R): I. Fox, R. Clegg, I. Darling.

Image and details courtesy of Ron Watson.

Stockton and District Chamber of Trade Christmas window competition, 1959

Posted on by
5

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.

Staff at St. Mary’s School, early 1950s

Posted on by
5

On the back row is Jim Doherty (he became Headmaster at St. Peter and Paul’s) and the Headmaster, Harry Tompkinson. On the front row is Ray Smith (he became headmaster at St. Patrick’s). Winnie Holmes and Robert McIntosh who went on to St. Peter and Pauls and then headmaster at English Martyrs in Hardwick.

Harry Tomkinson was quite a character, kept pigs in the schoolyard during the war. At dinner times we would all trail across to Portrack for dinner, then when return we would have to stand on a gym bench and he would inspect our shoes to see if they were muddy and had gone across the rough ground!

Robert McIntosh is my father and he is still around – now 97 and still at home in Fairfield!

Photograph and details courtesy of Bob McIntosh.

Stillington War Memorial

Posted on by
2

Paid for and erected by public subscription of £250 (£12,000 in todays’ money) The Memorial was unveiled on 13 May 1922 Col Tomlinson, Managing Director of the Carlton Iron Works and dedicated by Bishop Welldon, Dean of Durham. The initial Memorial was inscribed with the names of the 36 local servicemen who did not return, although their names are not listed it also commemorates the 113 who were fortunate to return back to Stillington. Following the Second World War the names of the 7 service personnel from the village that laid down their lives was added.

The Memorial is situated in a small, landscaped, garden on the south side of Messines Lane, Stillington. It takes the form of a Latin Cross with an octagonal cross section, this sits on a moulded collar on top of an octagonal shaft. The shaft stands on a square pedestal which in turn is mounted on a two stepped square base.

The front face is inscribed with:

ERECTED TO THE GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR. “MAKE THEM TO BE NUMBERED WITH THY SAINTS IN GLORY EVERLASTING”.

The two flanking faces list the 36 servicemen who sadly did not return, whilst the fourth face reads:

AND TO COMMEMORATE THE RETURN OF 113 MEN.

The names of the Second World War fallen are listed at the base of the fourth face.

The Stillington War Memorial is a Grade II Historic England listed building; granted on 7 December 2016.

All of the above information extracted from the Imperial War Museums War Memorial Register and the Historic England Official Listing.

Photograph courtesy of Michael Thompson.

Norton Board School Class Photo 1957/58

Posted on by
13

I was at this school for only one year. We moved to Norton in August 1957 and I’d already passed the 11 plus in Stockport but was 4 weeks too young to go to Secondary School so I had an enjoyable year with a great class and a great teacher (Mr Thompson). I can put names on some of the faces but I don’t know how reliable my memory is after 67 years.

Photograph and details courtesy of Cedric Scott.

Mr Glasby, Silver Street, 1929

Posted on by
7

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.