Category Archives: Stockton

Stockton

The Flaming Stump and the Portrack Cut

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The Flaming Stump was an inn that stood on Portrack Lane, by the banks of the Tees. It was rumoured to be heavily involved in smuggling and featured the eloborate ‘Angel Room’ sculpted by a craftsman called Palini

The course of the Tees was shortened and straightened by the Tees Navigation Company and the Portrack Cut was completed in 1831, although the old course of the river is still very apparent on this 1899 map before the area was developed. This change lead to the inn closing and becoming Portrack Grange Farm also shown on the map below.

The buildings were still in existance as late at 1959 before being demolished, fortunately a photograph exists of the Angel Room in 1950

John Walkers Grave, Norton

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The inventor of the friction match in around 1827, died 1 May 1859 and was buried here.
John Walkers Grave, Norton
This is actually a replacement headstone from July 1972 and it says the original is in the Preston Park museum
John Walkers Grave, Norton
However the heavily weathered stone next to it also mentions John Walker which seems a bit too co-incidental, although its too worn to make out any dates.
John Walkers Grave, Norton

Dodshon’s Fountain, Stockton

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John Dodshon (1811 – 1875) was a local Quaker philanthropist and president of the Temperence Society. This fountain was erected by public subscription in 1878
Dodshons Fountain, Stockton
The fountain was moved to Ropner Park around 1892 because fish sellers were using it to clean and store fish
Dodshons Fountain, Stockton
It was restored in 1992 and then moved back to the High Street (in a slightly different location) in 1994

Holy Trinity Church, Stockton

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Consecrated on December 22th 1835 with a 200ft high steeple, the building ran into trouble in the late 1950s when its steeple was found to be unsafe and in need of £20,000 of repairs, so had to be dismantled.
Holy Trinity Church, Stockton
More financial troubles and falling congregations lead to the church finally closing in 1982
Holy Trinity Church, Stockton
The Greek Orthodox church took over in 1985 but the church was unfortunately plagued by vandalism, including the destruction of its valuable organ.

The final straw came on October 1 1991 when the building was destroyed by fire

Stockton & Darlington Railway Ticket Office

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St Johns Well (48 Bridge Road) is said to be the first railway ticket office in the world, although there are some doubts to the truth of this claim as passengers may have bought their tickets at inns, as they would have with a stagecoach.
First Railway Ticket Office, Stockton

The building carries a plaque which commemorates the laying of the first rail of the Stockton & Darlington railway by Thomas Meynell of 23rd May 1822
First Railway Ticket Office, Stockton