When was Teesside in its pomp?

[atypical_boro]

On the contrary, two nightclubs alone (Empire &Arena) used to attract people from across the north east every weekend.

Tall Trees too. Though some would argue it was in NY.

 

[atypical_boro]

I’m 41. Can’t say it’s ever felt like Teesside was somewhere tourists were flocking to in my lifetime, but in the mid-90s when Boro were on the up, ICI was still going and there was a fair few decent nightclubs in Stockton and Boro, it was an ok place to grow up. It always felt like the area was about to “take off” and around the time of us signing Ravanelli etc some of the press called Middlesbrough “the new Manchester” which sounds a bit bonkers now. Never really fulfilled its potential though Stockton will hopefully be much nicer in the near future.

 

[Wiseman_Vaughn]

1963 to 1974

Yes - thinking about this - from a Stockton perspective (although I can't remember it) - The High Street looked fantastic before the Castlegate Centre was built. If they had played their cards right it would have been a bigger version of Yarm

 

[atypical_boro]

Yes - thinking about this - from a Stockton perspective (although I can't remember it) - The High Street looked fantastic before the Castlegate Centre was built. If they had played their cards right it would have been a bigger version of Yarm

Wasn’t the idea at the time to block out the highly polluted river?

 

[Wiseman_Vaughn]

Stockton will hopefully be much nicer in the near future.

Whatever happens, at least they are trying something different. I hope it works out

 

[Wiseman_Vaughn]

Wasn’t the idea at the time to block out the highly polluted river?

Not sure mate - I heard that there was an air of corruption but that was the norm back then

 

[NYboro]

Air of corruption? Google John Poulson and Castlegate.

 

[NYboro]

Wasn’t the idea at the time to block out the highly polluted river?

As a kid, I used to love going down Silver Street to watch the boats loading and unloading on the docks.

 

[atypical_boro]

As a kid, I used to love going down Silver Street to watch the boats losing and unloading on the docks.

You must be older than me then. When I was a kid any boat in Stockton would have attracted arsonists like a moth to a flame.

 

[smoggs03]

You must be older than me then. When I was a kid any boat in Stockton would have attracted arsonists like a moth to a flame.

When I was a kid there were more Ford escorts and honda motorbikes on the river than boats

 

[NYboro]

You must be older than me then. When I was a kid any boat in Stockton would have attracted arsonists like a moth to a flame.

It was the only way my mum could get me into Clinkards on the corner. Well, that and the Xray machine where I could look at the bones in my feet.

 

[junos_boots]

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.

Especially strange as opposition for semi final was Thornaby - it was meant to be played at Darlington but they refused to host the pox ridden Teessiders

 

[Normanby top]

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. It's never been a prosperous area full of well paying jobs, or a destination for events, it's not well connected and it doesn't really have anything to see.

I'm from the area but I no longer live there and if it wasn't for family or football I would have no reason to visit. I know people that went to uni there and they've never been back after they graduated. I couldn't believe how much more there could be in a town/city/area until I moved away.

These are some of the things that I have heard about Teesside over the years, not all desirable:
> Stockton has the widest high street in the UK.
> Stockton has the most night clubs
> Yarm has the most pubs per mile of anywhere in the UK
> Middlesbrough is the worst place to live in the UK
> Teesside has the cheapest heroine in the country

I hate to put the place down because it is home but it sounds like it has got worse since I left which is just sad.

You sound like a proper nana

 

[Aztec chimera]

It started in the early 80s with Thatchers war on the working class. We had ship yards and industry that were the envy of the world prior to her coming to power

 

[Skiptonboro]

I was at the uni there from 91 to 94. Boro was a terrific place to be back then. Brilliant nightlife (pubs AND clubs) and the shopping was great too. Not just Psyche (the smaller version) but there were a few others too (Triads was one I think), and a couple around the bus station - and the customer service in these places was a strong memory - really helpful and knowledgeable. Loved those years there. And I proposed to my now wife in Central Park at Christmas 93.

 

[Funky_Chicken]

The town is fcuked, as is the rest of country to a lesser degree - same as most of Europe and America in fact. All part of the plan of course, they have to destroy everything first before they can sell you the solution - build back better and all that

 

[Anton_Berg]

1970-1976 sounds about right. I recall there was a survey quoted in the Gazette 'UK average weekly wage by county' or similar. Teesside came top with £101. There was a local boom in construction at the same time that the Midlands and SE had lengthening queues at the Jobcentre.

 

[the_dormouse]

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.

Was that 3 people shopping in Next,because there's hundreds in Primark.

 

[swordtrombonefish]

I was watching something about the Bronx recently on YouTube and it started feeding me horror stories about Kensington in Philly

It was shocking and very scary, like a drug zombie apolcalypse - this was the first of them:

 

[uncle_rico]

I was at the uni there from 91 to 94. Boro was a terrific place to be back then. Brilliant nightlife (pubs AND clubs) and the shopping was great too. Not just Psyche (the smaller version) but there were a few others too (Triads was one I think), and a couple around the bus station - and the customer service in these places was a strong memory - really helpful and knowledgeable. Loved those years there. And I proposed to my now wife in Central Park at Christmas 93.

Box in the bus station. Wasn’t it part owned by Gary Gill? I haven’t been down the town for ages, apart from a quick pint after the match, but Changes (behind Binns) was still there a year or so back. Couldn’t believe it was still open.