I am interested in any information about, or photos of, the McCrie family who lived in Redcar from around 1900 to around 1960

My grandma lived in Stovin Street and I attended Westbourne Grove Methodist Church from about 1948 until 1956ish. I remember the hospital and the wonderful markets where we used to buy a penny bag of winkles. I also remember the Gem cinema (local flee pit but fabulous). Above the Gem was Central Mission, a very happy religious place, I don't know what denomination but it was great fun (no sermon). St Alphonsus church was at the top end of Kings Road where my parents had a grocery business. I used to serve in the shop and women used to come in and buy refreshers (sweets) to use as counters for the bingo at the church. Next to the police station again on Kings Road was the library where we used to borrow Enid Blyton books. Lynas Brothers used to have a funeral business in the same road. What excitment when the Magestic cinema opened on the Trunk Road. Oh I could ramble on forever about the REALLY GOOD OLD DAYS
Hope this message rings bells and brings some happy memories.
Regards,

My memory bank has been activated by the contributed items about Hugh Bell Central School, though my recollections of Hugh Bell are older than those published on this website. My years at Hugh Bell were 1938 to 1942 and so my memories have had many years to fade and I’ve been living on the far side of Canada in the beautiful Okanagan Valley since 1948.

Most of the teacher’s names have passed into oblivion, but who could forget the irascible Arthur E. Evans. I remember all too well the day I was speeding to get to school in time. It was raining hard as I sped along, I think, Borough Rd. and turned hard on to (could it be) Albert Rd.? A High School girl was riding hard in the opposite direction. We each leaned hard in a vain attempt to avoid the other idiot, but our front wheels touched and we both went flying, she one way, me the other. Not only did the crash break my front mudguard into three pieces (was it a Bluemel made of celluloid?) but it made me late for the third time, and I had to hold out my hand for four of the best from Taffy.

It would be great to see more dates added to our library such an integral part of our past

Hi I was born in 1940 at 98 Dundas Street, I attended newtown primary school and then newham grange until 1955. I remember working at number of firms before going to sea in the merchant navy I married had two children we lived in Ragworth until 1986.I have such good memory of Jack Marwood and his band at the dance in Stocton. I still have family and friends in the area but as I now live in Lancashire and have remarried .I would love to hear from any one who knows me to please get in touch .

I remember my time at Hugh Bell Grammer School, it was a great school, I well remember the typing teacher he was ex Airforce and had a handlebar moustache. If anyone spoke during his lessons a blackboard rubber would come flying down the classroom. Another teacher we had used to dye her hair the same colour as the clothes she was wearing. The school was just down the road from Old Mans Park which I believe has had a revamp since then and Hugh Bell has been rebuilt, such a shame. I lived in South Africa from 1975 to 2001 and now live in Hampshire so it is great to read other stories on our past at Hugh Bell.

I came to live in Boro with my parents, George & Mary Smith, and my young sister Karen, from Wingate, Co. Durham. My Dad was to take over as the first caretaker of the new Longlands College, which was still being constructed. We lived on the college grounds in what we thought was the best bungalow we'd ever seen!
I was 9 years old, football mad, and the college had, what was to become MY football pitch. I had come from a little junior school in Wingate to what I imagined was the biggest college in the world! Thats how it seemed when you're only 9.
I made many friends during my time living there, who else had a football pitch in their back garden ?? My dad continued as a very popular caretaker until he reluctantly had to retire in 1985. He only had one arm (lost the left one in WW2) but it never ever held him back, and over many years at the college he always had a really good football team. Many guys over the years remember him knocking on many a classroom door and enquiring, 'anybody interested in soccer training tonight ???. Longlands College, I know, held many fond memories for a lot of people and it was a crying shame to see it demolished for housing.

Dad used to take us in a rowing boat on the lake at Albert park. We had to take turns rowing and we were only 4, 5 and 6 years of age. Not sure health and safety would approve now!!! I remember being called in eg "number 2 your time is up". Great memories.

I lived in Middlesbrough, until the age of thirteen, when in 1972, my family migrated to Perth, Western Australia. We lived in Pallister Park until 1968, when we moved into my deceased grandmothers home, in Percy St (off Princes rd). I loved living, in this part of Middlesbrough and have so many fond memories. There was a great community spirit, with neighbours looking out for one another and it was a common occurrence, for folks to gather around a doorstep, for a good old natter, as the kids played hopscotch, on the pavement.....those were the days! Our very small back yard, ran into a back alley and I often wondered why we had double doors, when we never even owned a car and neither had my grandparents. I discovered, however, that my late grandfather, Guiseppi Tortolano, made his own ice cream and used to walk through the streets, with a big ice cream cart. I am wondering if anyone remembers him? He and my my grandmother, were Italian immigrants, who embraced England and raised a family of seven children, after settling in Middlesbrough. Sadly, in 1940, my grandfather was taken as a prisoner of war and was put aboard the S.S."Arandora Star", which was torpedoed, resulting in his death; ironically, at the time of his internment, three of his sons, were fighting, in the British Army! A very sad story and one, which has often been surrounded with much controversy. I am very much into nostalgia and I would love to hear from anyone who knew of my grandparents. It would warm my heart, to know that their memories still live on; two humble Italian migrants, delighting children, with their home made ice cream!

I lived in Eden road grovehill from 1967-68 till 1972. We were a family of 10, i remember albert park and still go there. The park as changed alot though. Cried when we were took out of marton grove school and told we were moving.
Best friends were Jane peirce and Janet station.
Last year we lost our brother Brian Gunn at age 56. Great childhood memories from Eden road

I was born in 1941 in Clifton Place just round the corner from the Brewery, Paddy Row Beck - within sight of the old Mill and within hearing distance of the Convent Bells.
Normanby was a lovely village to grow up in during those austere post-war years when rationing dominated everyones lives. Families united to help each other through difficult times. We had a large garden so the Anderson shelter became a hen-house and with a large fruit and veg plot we simply lived off the land. My father laid rabbit traps on the warren near Maurice Kells farm - rabbit pie was delicious.
In those days there was no need to lock the door when you went out, it was safe to play out - Eston Hills was our playground.
Other favourite haunts were the bus-shelter in Hewley St and the reservoir at the top end of Hewley St as well going to the orchard next to the Chapel at the T-junction of Church Lane and the High Street to steal apples and pears.
Memories of Normanby Primary School remain clear: ritualistic chanting of times tables; lessons in Country Dancing; being taught to knit at the age of 5 years - then moving on to embroidery. Dreading Nitty Norahs visits - likewise the school dentist and doctor. I never felt the wrath of Pop Hugill's cane - but many did.
The village policeman was Bobby Bartram who lived in Clive Rd, first house on the right. If you were cheeky to him you got a clip round the ear. He used to stand like a sentinel at Normanby Top. He was a good man and gave out sound advice.
Regarding the Chapel at the T-junction of Church Lane and the High Street: when I was about four years old my mother would take me on a Saturday to the basement where lantern-slide shows were given by a lady called Edith Driver. She lived at 22 Church Lane, Eston and was my mother's friend. She married Doug Muxlow and they moved to Ormesby before emigrating to Melbourne as £10-Poms. Her letters to my late mother ceased to arrive in about 2004.
There was a farmer on Flatts Lane who used to deliver our milk fresh every day. It came by horse and cart and was ladled out of the churn into customers jugs. Rington's Tea was delivered to the door and the butcher would deliver your order. Fresh bread came from a tiny shop opposite the brewery and the Co-op would cut your butter and lard from a big slab. We didn't need a supermarket.
Then along came the planners and ripped the heart out of the village - but not out of its people.
When we went to the Forum we always sat near the back so we could dash out before the National Anthem was played and get to the chip-shop first.
Next year I will try to get to the Annual Exhibition - there are plenty more memories to share.

Does anyone know about the amazing spooky looking house on Thornaby road????. Saw it as I drove past, looks fascinating.I think its number 371

A mate of mine emailed me a link to these the other day and it brought back lots of memories to me as a child in the 1960s and 70s as I spent lots of time in this area with family who lived in the flats in East Street.
Its amazing when you look at these photos how much there was over there in the way of pubs, market Halls and loads of individually built houses .I often wonder what this area could have been like if it hadnt been pulled down, but restored,and marketed as the old historic part of Middlesbrough. It brings tears to my eyes

I am looking through several books I have about old Middlesbrough to find any shops or any high street photos. Only about a quarter of old photos of the town are on the internet. Head for libraries if you get desperate. It's one of the few instances of the internet being outplayed by literature.
I have a few more photos of the Exchange

Thank you very much for your research it is really appreciated.
I think I will re-visit my Father's very comprehensive diaries (from that era) and look for 'clues' along the lines you say! Also, I will try that GazetteLive Forum.
You know, I wonder if he did mean Stockton? We'll see! Also, I think that this thread is having a VERY good start, don't you think? With luck, it will gradually build up to become a "reference resource" for people researching into the area, as SSC often features very highly on Google (etc) searches, so the more historical topics we cover the better

I do not know the name of the street, but I have searched in a lot of books on 'old Middlesbrough' for one particular shop, completely without success. The reason for my search is that when she was a young-un my Mother worked in a shop in Middlesbrough called Home and Colonial, from about 1935 to 1939.
There were lots of them around the country at the time, they were like small General Stores/Grocers. My father's Diaries for those years (he was 'courting' my mother at the time!) frequently refers to him picking her up from there, or meeting her off the train from Middlesbrough (in Hartlepool) after work there . . . BUT, he never mentions the street or road the H & C was on in Middlesbrough!! I would LOVE to (one day) see a photo of that shop, and wonder if there may be one amongst your collection of old Middlesbrough photos (dare I hope!) Just as background, here are some images of Home and Colonial stuff, that I found around the Net, but nothing from Middlesbrough

Turners cinema and photography
Granada TVs
Electric board and gas showroom
Dewhursts butchers
Smiths dry cleaners
Broughs supermarket
Hepworth tailors
March the tailor
Roberts fresh fish
Pellechis ( sp)ice cream

Few I recall

The early Dickens DIY on Norton rd.
XL fish bar Norton rd
The Greek chippy mill lane billingham
Eric's fish bar stamp st and tilery
Stewarts clothiers high st
Status stores decorators high st
Timothy whites high st
Fawshaws tobacco shop
Green shield stamps Bishopton lane
Brentford nylons bishy lane
Deans toys bikes and fireworks bishy lane and mill lane

Maynards chocolate shop / newsagents (was the only place you could buy the Timeform Black Book) or is it still there ?

Blacketts of Stockton (or was that in the 60's

I left the Boro in March 1961, aged 20. I was brought up in Cannon Street, Fox Heads and Brambles Farm. I still support the Boro. It's great to find a site like yours where we can browse while our memories take us back through this great place with its lovely countryside and friendly folks.