Living In The Market Town Of Stockton On Tees

An old market town in the north east of England

, Stockton-on-Tees, is, as its name suggests, located on the banks of the River Tees but also within easy reach of the North Sea. It is the main town of the borough of Stockton-on-Tees which also includes the towns of Yarm, Billingham and Thornaby, although they are separate settlements to the town of Stockton itself.

There has been a settlement in the area since at least Anglo-Saxon times but the creation of the manor of Stockton came about in the late 1130s, with the Bishop of Durham buying the manor in 1189. Stockton was first officially referred to in the 12th century when the Bolden Buke, which was Durham's answer to the Domesday Book, specifically mentions the settlement, although its charter as a borough dates back to the reign of King John. A castle that once stood in the town also had close associations with King John, but Oliver Cromwell ordered it destroyed in 1652. In the 1300s the town was granted a charter as a market town and there is still a thriving market in Stockton to this day, found in and around High Street, which is noted as England's broadest High Street. High Street is also the home to the Town House whose Council Chamber is the place where Council Meetings are still held, a job it has done since the 1730s. Stockton Parish Church, built in the early years of the 18th century is at the northern end of High Street.

Industry came much more to the fore during the 19th century with the arrival of the railway. The world's first passenger train ran on 27th September 1825 from Etherley to Stockton, driven by no less than George Stephenson himself. The town's proximity to the River Tees ensured that Stockton was an important port from the 17th century onwards. During the 19th century it was one of the leading industrial towns in the north east. As with other towns in the area, the 20th century has seen a diminishing in the role of industry and the town relies on service industries, retail and local government to form the backbone of employment.

No overview of Stockton would be complete without talking about Thornaby, Billingham and Yarm. Thornaby is to the south and has been settled since around 800 AD. The town flourished during the industrial age with a plethora of industries based there, such as shipbuilding and heavy engineering. Billingham was a hamlet until the building of a nitrogen fixation factory during the First World War. The town then became an important place for the chemical industry with ICI building factories and housing estates making a new town centre. An international folk festival also takes place in the town, something started in the 1960s. Yarm also lies to the south and has done for over a thousand years. It is a pretty town with cobbled streets, historic architecture and interesting shops.

Stockton-on-Tees has all the facilities of a modern town with leisure and business amenities in addition to excellent transport connections both to other towns and cities in the area as well as further afield, including easy access to Durham Tees Valley Airport. It is a town that manages to be modern whilst also embracing its past.

by: Matt Fay

POST COMMENT

The Glamour Of Swarovski Crystal Rapid Capital Funding Is Special For Certain Reasons Do You Require A Polished Concretefloor? Descargar Sistema Comercial Delantero9 - Sistema Comercial Particularly Recommend The Snack Stall Why Buy Used Cars For Sale? Cambodia's Angkor The Skill Of Jewelry Making Sistema Binario Opciones De Comercio Delantero9 Versin Completa - Sistema Comercial Wmv To Quicktime Conversion Flea Facts That You Need To Be Aware Of Do You Need To Buy A Heated Dog Bed For Your Dog? Captivate Nephzats Add-ons