Discover Stockton on Tees | At The Heart of Teesside and the Tees Valley
  • Home
    • History >
      • Early History of Stockton on Tees
      • History of the Town Hall
      • Industrial History of Stockton on Tees
      • John Walker of Stockton-on-Tees - Inventor Of The Friction Match
      • Origins of the place name `Stockton`
      • Stockton and Darlington Railway
      • Stockton Castle
      • Tees Transporter Bridge
      • The Workhouse in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham
      • World War 2 and Stockton on Tees
    • Contact Us
    • Benefits Street - Stockton on Tees
    • Advertise With Us >
      • Advertising here
      • Add Your Event
    • Resources and Partners
    • Blog
  • Centre
    • Centre - Things To See and Do >
      • Georgian Theatre
      • HM Bark Endeavour
      • Ropner Park
      • The Tees Barrage
      • West Row Art Centre >
        • West Row Arts Centre2
        • West Row Arts Centre - A Century of Change
      • Wynyard Woodland Park
      • Seal Sands - Teesmouth National Nature Reserve
    • The ARC
    • The Stockton Weekender Music Festival >
      • Stockton Weekender - Sat and Sunday 26-27 July 2014
    • Theatres , Museums and Venues >
      • Forum Theatre , Billingham
      • Georgian Theatre
      • Green Dragon Studios
      • Preston Park Museum and Grounds
      • The ARC Venue
      • The Globe Theatre
    • Entertainment in Stockton >
      • Cinema in Stockton
      • Grosvenor Casino
      • Gyms in Stockton on Tees
      • truGym in Stockton on Tees
      • Xercise4less Gym Stockton North
      • Mecca Bingo
      • Teesside Park
    • Shopping in Stockton on Tees >
      • Castlegate Shopping Centre
      • Independent Shops
      • Portrack Lane Shopping in Stockton
      • Silver Street
      • Specialist Markets in Stockton >
        • Chic Vintique fairs in 2014 Stockton on Tees - hosted by BR Events
        • Stockton Farmers’ Market
      • Teesside Park Shopping Complex | Retail and Leisure Park
      • The Shambles Market Hall
      • Wellington Square Shopping Centre
    • Hotels & Accomodation
    • Restaurants >
      • Eating - Dominos
    • Stockton Libraries >
      • Thornaby Library | Riverbank Children’s Centre, Gilmour Street
    • TS18 - Oxbridge
    • TS18 - Portrack and Tilery
    • TS18 - Primrose Hill >
      • Teesside Pandas - Raising awareness for Postnatal Depression
  • What's On
  • Image Gallery
  • Tourist Information
    • Out and About Around Stockton
    • Preston Park Museum
    • Made in Teesside.com
    • Stockton Visitor Information Centre
    • What town is Stockton on Tees Twinned with ?
    • Where is Stockton on Tees
  • Stockton on Tees Books
  • Stockton on Tees Kindle eBooks
  • Stockton on Tees DVDs / TV
  • Hardwick TS19
    • Phoenix Car Services , Hardwick
    • What Women Auto - Know
    • Hardwick Community Centre >
      • Zumba with Simon Keay >
        • About Simon Keay
        • Reiki Healing
      • Street Dance Classes
    • Hardwick In Partnership >
      • Keeping Children Safe from the Bully
    • Hardwick Shops and Services >
      • Romarios Bistro in the Sheraton Pub
    • Hardwick Useful Tel Numbers >
      • North Tees Hospital . How to find Us
    • Hardwick Social Club >
      • Hardwick Youth Football
  • Ragworth TS19
    • Ragworth Neighbourhood Centre
  • Roseworth TS19
  • Fairfield TS19
  • Norton TS20
  • Billingham TS21, TS22 , TS23
  • Ingleby Barwick
  • Thornaby
  • Yarm
  • Local Information
    • 01642 Phone number >
      • 01642 Phone number - How it works
    • Alex Cunningham MP . Surgery dates and times
    • North Tees Hospital . How to find Us
    • Useful services from Stockton Borough Council
    • Wildcats of Killkenny
    • Stockton on Tees and Teesside Artists / Bands
    • Stockton News >
      • Flooding in Stockton on Tees 2014
      • Free Microchipping in Stockton on Tees - Dogs Trust
      • RSPCA , dogs die in hot cars. Save a dogs life today !!
      • Incidents on Teesside Facebook banned members list
    • DIVERSITY >
      • The Town That Danced Again | Diversity | Ashley Banjo
      • Diversity Links
      • Ashley Banjo Bio
      • Ashley Watch
    • 50 Ways to speak the Teesside slang
    • Free Blackberry Unlock Codes
    • Sales and Wanted
    • Word of the Day . New Daily Content
  • Archives
    • Valentines Day | Origins , Rumours , Traditions explained
    • 2014 Archives
    • 2013 Archives >
      • Stockton Fireworks Tue Nov 5
      • Stockton Sparkles | 28 Nov - 22 Dec >
        • Stockton Sparkles Christmas Market
      • How Many Days Till Christmas >
        • Where is The Coca Cola Truck this year?

    Industrial History of Stockton on Tees

Shipbuilding in Stockton, which had began in the 15th century, prospered in the 17th and 18th centuries. Smaller-scale industries began developing around this time, such as brick, sail and rope making, the latter reflected in road names such as Ropery Street in the town centre. Stockton became the major port for County Durham, the North Riding of Yorkshire and Westmorland during this period, exporting mainly rope made in the town, agricultural produce and lead from the Yorkshire Dales

The town grew rapidly as the Industrial Revolution progressed, with iron making and engineering beginning in the town in the 18th century. The town's population grew from 10,000 in 1851 to over 50,000 in 1901 as workers moved in. The discovery of iron ore in the Eston Hills resulted in blast furnaces lining the River Tees from Stockton to the river's mouth. In 1820 an Act set up the Commissioners, a body with responsibility for lighting and cleaning the streets. From 1822 Stockton-on-Tees was lit by gas.In 1822, Stockton witnessed an event which changed the face of the world forever and heralded the dawn of a new era in trade, industry and travel.
The first rail of George Stephenson's Stockton and Darlington Railway was laid near St. John's crossing on Bridge Road. Hauled by Locomotion No 1, the great engineer himself manned the engine on its first journey on 27 September 1825. Fellow engineer and friend, Timothy Hackworth acted as guard. This was the world's first passenger railway, connecting Stockton with Shildon. The opening of the railway greatly boosted Stockton, making it easier to bring coal to the factories; however the port declined as business had moved down river to Middlesbrough.
Stockton witnessed another discovery in 1827. Local chemist John Walker invented the friction match in his shop at 59 High Street. The first sale of the matches was recorded in his sales-book on 7 April 1827, to a Mr. Hixon, a solicitor in the town. Since he did not obtain a patent, Walker received neither fame nor wealth for his invention, but he was able to retire some years before his death. He died in 1859 at the age of 78 and is buried in the parish churchyard in Norton village.

The first bell for Big Ben was cast by John Warner and Sons in Norton on 6 August 1856, but became damaged beyond repair while being tested on site and had to be replaced by a foundry more local to Westminster.A hospital opened in Stockton in 1862 and a public library opened in 1877.

Steam trams began running in the streets in 1881 and were replaced by electric trams in 1897. Buses replaced the trams in 1931. In the 1930s slums were cleared and the first council houses were built. At this time, Stockton was still dominated by the engineering industry and there was also a chemicals industry in the town. However in the late 20th century the manufacturing industry severely declined, although the service industries grew, which today are the towns main employers
READ MORE : History of Stockton on Tees:

Origin of the place name `Stockton ` 
Early History
History of the Town Hall
Industrial History
Tees Transporter Bridge
John Walker : Inventor Of The Friction Match
The Workhouses in Stockton on Tees
stocktonshipbuilding history
stocktonshipbuilding history

  Author : Stu Walker  © 2013 - 2014 |  About Us | Contact | Privacy | Advertise | Site Map

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.