When was Teesside in its pomp?

Nano said:
I'm not as old as some people on here but I don't remember ever thinking Teesside had a pomp. Town centre's used to be busier, as they did around the country, but it has never been a destination anyone that wasn't from the area would visit for any real reason.
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On the contrary, two nightclubs alone (Empire &Arena) used to attract people from across the north east every weekend.
 
As the thread says Teesside I would say in the early 1970s - it looked quite good.

New Shopping Centre (Cleveland)
Lots of new housing estates and developments
Wilton/Teesport /Seal Sands expanding
Airport expanding
New Hotels
Swinging DIscos
Low unemployment
New muncipal facilities such as Billingham Forum, Berwick Hills and Eston Baths
A19 and A174 Parkway under contruction

People might say unemployment was starting to increase, shipyards were starting to struggle, Cargo Fleet furnaces were closed, Ironmasters was cleared and Cannon Street area was an eyesore, Middlesbrough Dock area was declining. Pollution was bad. Higher education hardly existed, theatres and cinemas were closing.

In relative times the great era was the mid Victorian era from around 1850 to 1873 the local iron industry absolutely boomed - demand was very high from the new railway industry, construction industry and iron clad ships. 100s of Ironstone mines opened up. A local chemcials industry began. People came in their tens of thousands from all over the British Isles for work and to serve the new workers. A relatively unpopulated area, suddenly became an urban area. It was the Qatar of its time.
 
The_Lizards_Jumpers said:
On the contrary, two nightclubs alone (Empire &Arena) used to attract people from across the north east every weekend.
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And beyond Lizards there were buses bringing people in every week. Even from Leeds and Yorkshire.
Also the Friday night at the Arena was massive for the indie/alternative crowd - again drawing people down from Tyneside and up from Leeds and all around. We were a hotbed for music in those final years of the last century.
 
In the early to mid 70's Teesside was the third most prosperous area in the country after London and Aberdeen.
Stockton Market was still massive
There were loads of nightclubs,
Middlesbrough had many independent clothes stores.
You could go for a night out in one of the town centres on a Tuesday or Wednesday night and the pubs were fairly busy.
The Greek restaurants along Linthorpe Rd were still open after the clubs kicked out.
BSC, ICI and RDL employed literally tens of thousands of well paid people, mostly tradesmen and process operators.
Seal Sands was still being developed and places like Laings Offshore were paying stupid wages building the first north sea platforms.
 
Redwurzel said:
As the thread says Teesside I would say in the early 1970s - it looked quite good.

New Shopping Centre (Cleveland)
Lots of new housing estates and developments
Wilton/Teesport /Seal Sands expanding
Airport expanding
New Hotels
Swinging DIscos
Low unemployment
New muncipal facilities such as Billingham Forum, Berwick Hills and Eston Baths
A19 and A174 Parkway under contruction

People might say unemployment was starting to increase, shipyards were starting to struggle, Cargo Fleet furnaces were closed, Ironmasters was cleared and Cannon Street area was an eyesore, Middlesbrough Dock area was declining. Pollution was bad. Higher education hardly existed, theatres and cinemas were closing.

In relative times the great era was the mid Victorian era from around 1850 to 1873 the local iron industry absolutely boomed - demand was very high from the new railway industry, construction industry and iron clad ships. 100s of Ironstone mines opened up. A local chemcials industry began. People came in their tens of thousands from all over the British Isles for work and to serve the new workers. A relatively unpopulated area, suddenly became an urban area. It was the Qatar of its time.
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19th century was boom time but maybe not if you were slaving away in heavy industry for low wages, little job security, terrible health and safety and until the close of the century scant little medical or hospital provision. Then as we moved towards the final decade of the century with regular small pox and bronchial outbreaks Tees-side was forced to have more than one isolation institution. In fact we couldn't even play an FA Amateur Cup semi final at home because it was not deemed safe for players or fans to come here.
 
fmttmadmin said:
And beyond Lizards there were buses bringing people in every week. Even from Leeds and Yorkshire.
Also the Friday night at the Arena was massive for the indie/alternative crowd - again drawing people down from Tyneside and up from Leeds and all around. We were a hotbed for music in those final years of the last century.
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The Arena was great, even though it was a bit of a dump. Seen so many good bands in there, although I am an indie kid and other bands are available 😀.
Remember seeing Oasis there before they were popular.
 
My first job out of college was at Queens Square (over the border) in 98. I use to get the bus to Middlesbrough and walk from the Bus Station. There is no doubt the Town Centre was much busier then. Captain Cook Square was built in the late 90's. Albert Road had a few independent shops and some good bars too. Cornerhouse was busy the place opposite was a pub. Whenever I headed into town for dinner the place was always busy.

If I venture into Middlesbrough centre now Albert Road in comparison is like a ghost town and there seems much less people.
 
Most of Teesside has been seen as undesirable to visit or unknown - since the Industrial Revolution.

But you can see from some of the fine old buldings there was some money about in the mid to late Victorian era in the area - New Middlesbrough Town Hall, stables at former Marton Hall/Stewarts Park, Hutton Hall, the hall/building next to the beach @ Marske, Guisborough Hall, Upsall Hall, former Zetland Hotel in Saltburn, Grey Towers in Nunthorpe. Even some of the houses at the bottom of Marton Road, near old Claireville Stadium.
 
All of the above posts are brilliant but typical of local people. We all would rather reminisce than look for a way forward.

Once again, Stockton is taking the lead and showing the other councils in the area what can be done. The waterfront will be brilliant when finished and will draw in visitors to the area. Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland can learn a lot from them.
 
italianjob said:
The Arena was great, even though it was a bit of a dump. Seen so many good bands in there, although I am an indie kid and other bands are available 😀.
Remember seeing Oasis there before they were popular.
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Oasis were booked after the release of their first single by venue programmer, Graham Ramsey. It was actually a joint headlining tour so Oasis went on second out of three bands on the night. It was an inspired booking because they had been on Top of the Pops and become a sensation by the time the tour reached Middlesbrough.
Sorry to deviate.
 
italianjob said:
The Arena was great, even though it was a bit of a dump. Seen so many good bands in there, although I am an indie kid and other bands are available 😀.
Remember seeing Oasis there before they were popular.
Click to expand...
In the 60's the Beatles, Rolling Stones, the Who, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones etc played here at the heights of their careers.

Billingham housed the highest concentration of graduates in the country (due to ICI).

Stockton was bouncing with regards to nightlife, Middlesbrough not so much but still very healthy. Norton had a nightclub to match most across the country, even Billingham had a successful nightclub. Redcar had the famous jazz club.

The end of casinos saw a lot of the nightclubs turn to discos as DJs replaced top quality live entertainment and the decline of the clubs started.

We've seen places like the Rock Garden, Arena, Empire etc come and go since but none attracted the sort of stars we saw in the 60's....unfortunately before my time for enjoying, though I was old enough for a few years of the Globe before it closed its doors (now reopened).

We're now in the fifth decade of a drive to bring down household earnings for a high number of Britain's residents When we look at the decline of our town and city centres this is the major reason. Centres are thriving in countries across Europe where computerisation and industrial decline and migration have also been experienced. We still choose to ignore it.
 
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Lottowyn said:
When I was a lad we had about 8 cinemas and 2 theatres.
Middlesbrough also had 2 top class secondary schools.
Yorkshire Cricket team visited at least once a year and we had 2 really good parks which were actually safe to visit in the evening.
Middlesbrough FC was generally regarded as a top class team, the captain of England was Boro’s captain and a little fair haired chap, unsurpassed in skill to this day, ruled the roost at Ayresome Park.
Not a bad time to come from Middlesbrough.
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I'm assuming you must be in your mid to late 80s now to be able to remember all of this:)
 
A lot of the decline described above can be found all over the UK. Including affluent areas.
In fact, even Oxford Street London is 'shrinking' and looking shabby..
 
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Redwurzel said:
As the thread says Teesside I would say in the early 1970s - it looked quite good.

New Shopping Centre (Cleveland)
Lots of new housing estates and developments
Wilton/Teesport /Seal Sands expanding
Airport expanding
New Hotels
Swinging DIscos
Low unemployment
New muncipal facilities such as Billingham Forum, Berwick Hills and Eston Baths
A19 and A174 Parkway under contruction

People might say unemployment was starting to increase, shipyards were starting to struggle, Cargo Fleet furnaces were closed, Ironmasters was cleared and Cannon Street area was an eyesore, Middlesbrough Dock area was declining. Pollution was bad. Higher education hardly existed, theatres and cinemas were closing.

In relative times the great era was the mid Victorian era from around 1850 to 1873 the local iron industry absolutely boomed - demand was very high from the new railway industry, construction industry and iron clad ships. 100s of Ironstone mines opened up. A local chemcials industry began. People came in their tens of thousands from all over the British Isles for work and to serve the new workers. A relatively unpopulated area, suddenly became an urban area. It was the Qatar of its time.
Click to expand...
Airport expanding. I didn't realise Ben. T was that old.
 
I was in Middlesbrough the other day and it was a truly tragic visit. I needed some white shirts so Next was the only option. Think I was one of only three people shopping.
HoF and Debenhams look so sad and there is no real reason to visit the centre for a ‘browse’ because there is nothing worth browsing.
 
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