Rimswell in Fairfield,
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Rimswell in Fairfield, Stockton on Tees. Photograph courtesy of Brian Swales
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Posted comments/stories
Brian Swales
This is a photograph of Rimswell a large Victorian built property standing in 62 acres of land in Fairfield. It was the home of William Anderson J.P. I have no idea when the property was built or when it was demolished but the large Rimswell housing estate was built on the site in the 1950's and 1960's. A gatehouse for the property can still be seen on Bishopton Road West. The Rimswell pub took it's name from this fine property.
Posted on: 05/04/2007 11:23:49
Jackie Henderson
Hello Brian, This is a great photo, we often wondered about the name Rimswell. This gatehouse you mentioned, is it the little building on the corner of Manor Place? I was told there was also a farm in this area, i believe they were my distant relations (The Seatons)Would you know if this were true?
Posted on: 10/04/2007 07:49:25
Brian Swales
Yes, the gatehouse is on the corner of Manor Place. I don't know anything about any farm that might have been in the area, no doubt there was. Old O/S maps in Stockton Reference library will help.
Posted on: 10/04/2007 14:43:46
Mary Scott nee Graham
There was a farm to the right and behind St Marks, it was called Guy's Farm. There was a huge open barn as you approached the "cut" to the left of the farm, leading to Wellesdale close I think.We used to make "dens" in the haystacks in the barn. Does anyone know if the farm is still there?
Posted on: 11/04/2007 08:28:42
Geoffrey Eggett
Way back in the late 1940s the elderly couple Mr & Mrs Potts who lived in the gatehouse cottage collected their graceries and pensions from Jewits Post Office on Bishopton Lane. Rimswell had been used during the war as offices (I think by ICI) and the gardens had been left to nature. My Aunt worked at Jewits and occasionally Mr & Mrs Potts allowed Miss Jewit (the post mistress to bring fiends and their children for a picnic in the grounds. When I went aged about 10 I had no idea where I was. In those days Fairfield was "miles away" in the country. I recall the thrill of the old house and the "jungle" of a garden. This all provided an opportunity for living a real life adventure generally only conjured up in one's mind when reading Enid Blyton's adventure stories. I also recall the nearby farm. On one occasion the Stockton Methodist Circuit held their Sports day there. This event was normally held in the field at the junction of Bishopton Road West and Grangefield Avenue (The current site of Sainsbury's Superstore. The land was part of White House Farm. The White House still stands at the top of Whitehouse Drive. Originally it was the home of Aldermman Ralph Spark (Founder of the Daylight Bakery and associated outlet shops) Both he and his son Alderman John Spark and their families were Methodists
Posted on: 04/07/2007 11:19:49
Anon
I well remember the post office referred to on Bishopton Lane. Mainly this was because the painted sign above the window in the late 1950s early 1960s read something like ' T & D Sproates successor to J? Jewit' which struck me as rather unusual.
Posted on: 04/07/2007 16:11:23
Brian Swales
Regarding the Post Office on Bishopton Lane with the name T & D Sproates above the door. I'm sure the "D" referred to Daisy Sproates, she was a teacher at Newham Grange school. In fact she was my first form teacher when I started there in 1956
Posted on: 05/07/2007 08:38:15
J.Norman Kidd
Geoffery Egget. Your mention of Stockton Methodists reminded me of my Uncle Fred Kidd he used to be Circuit Steward for Stockton Methodists for many years. It was his job to arrange the speakers and in some cases host them. One was Sandy Machpherson the Organist of the BBC. I often ask on this site if people remember the Firm of F.Kidd & Son Engineers of Church Road without much success. This is a pity because it was one of the first cases I recall of a member of staff taking over a firm that had gone out of buisiness. Fred took over Rogers & Sons of Stockton in the 1920's in the Engineering depression. He built a new factory which provided employment for a good few Teesiders untill about 1970 when his Son Thom decided enough was enough. Another part of Stocktons History bit the dust. The family were good honest respectable folk who contributed much to Methodism and provided engineering work for others in the area. It should be born in mind the Company had to compete with the big boys of industry like ICI, Ashore Bensons, South Durham Steel & Iron many who could provide scholarships for there staff with good pensions. A pretty hard act to follow but worthy of record.
Posted on: 05/07/2007 10:00:29
Alastair Smith
I remember the factory of F Kidd and Sons. Whenever I visited Jack Taylors to drool over the display of cycles in the reception I noticed the factory at the end of the same road. Also I lived next door to the Kidds when they lived on Oxbridge Lane between my family house and Stonyroyd. When the Kidds moved to Worsal, in about 1969, I helped with the move by transporting various alluminium castings in a trailer to their new home. The day they moved the Tees broke it's banks and Yarm High Street was flooded to a depth of about 12 inches.They will have been the product of the Church Road factory. Winifred Kidd was an accomplished artist and my Mother still has some of her paintings of Cornwall.
Posted on: 06/07/2007 08:14:26
Bob Harbron
Regarding Stocktons small engineering works Fred Kidd, Harkers, Fairless Engineering and Imeson & Finch produce excellent 'hands-on' apprentices to high grade crafts men. Unfortunatley they couldn't pay the full trades men wage to all who qualified. Many of these highly skilled men moved into the larger industrial plants on Teesside. During my time at ICI more than half of the skilled Fitters, Electricians and Plumbers had gone through these small company as apprentice's
Posted on: 06/07/2007 08:13:51
Anon
Apprentices moving on or having to move on when they completed their apprenticeship seems to have been very common, particularly in garages and other small businesses, where you half expected to be finished at twenty one. Some in the engineering trades, perhaps attracted by the travel, went to sea as junior engineers. I remember one neighbour who served his time as a fitter at I C I doing this and another who trained as a fitter at British Railway's Thornaby Depot who did the same in 1961.
Posted on: 06/07/2007 11:34:57
J.N.Kidd
Alsitair Smith and Bob Harbron, Thank you chaps honour is done. Firstly Aslitair, Tom and Winnie as you correcly say lived on Oxbridge Lane. Uncle Fred and Aunt Ethel on Harburn Avenue. I worked for them for a short time in the Time Office at Church Road factory, not my scene recording who was late, so I left. I must say I thought the Grandchildren would come into the business but non were interested. Tom and Winifred have both passed away and buried at Worsal. Winnies inscription records hear as "Artist" quite rightly. Thank you for helping Tom and your reply. I remember the Taylors opening there company when I was working for Uncle Fred and they were great bikes. Mine was a "Rudge Whitworth" not quite the same! Norman Kidd. Bob Harbron. Yes Bob they were Stocktons Industry of their time and worked hard for it. I remember the actions of some misguided individuals pouring oil on grindstones and letting cutter's run into chucks etc: It was no shame having to fight to defend your own patent against a firm like Fisher Ludlow who set up a factory of there own, to make and sell Flexiroll Kidd's invention, and then starve Stockton of Production. As Alistair mentions Tom and Winnifred went to live at Worsal and it was their house I wanted you to visit for its History as a Custom House and former Inn of Low Worsal. It was Tom that got "Time Team" to explopre the lost village of High Worsal some years ago. "Tempus Fugit" Norman.
Posted on: 10/07/2007 12:27:02
June Guy
Guy's farm was opposite to Bishopton Court I married Alan Guy (the middle son) in 1966 and lived at the farm for a few years until it was demolished to make way for St Marks school, we then moved to The Avenue. I still live there but sadly Alan died in 2000. The farm at the other side of the Rimswell was Seatons
Posted on: 01/09/2008 16:43:06
Colin Walker
I remember Guy's farm very well & Alan was in my class at Holy Trinity, so sorry to hear he'd passed away. As regards Rimswell House, I witnessed it being demolished in 1960/61 as I bought my first house in Fairwell Rd built by Fordy & the big house was to the right of my back garden.
Posted on: 02/09/2008 11:19:59
J.Norman Kidd
June Guy, I remember John Guy who was at Trinity in Tommy Sowlers class in 1938-39. He was well in with Tommy Sowler unlike me. I think Tommy had a grudge against Fred Kidd & Son as his father worked as a carter for Roger's who went bust. Uncle Fred would not be into that kind of horse power although it served Rogers well. If John is still ticking give him my regards.
Posted on: 02/09/2008 12:14:47
Brian Swales
I had often wondered when the house was demolished. As a young teenager I moved into Kenville Grove, Fairfield in 1958 but I can't remember ever seeing Rimswell house. The Rimswell pub must have been built in the early 1960's.
Posted on: 02/09/2008 17:55:27
Don Taylor
I was pleasantly surprised to read Norman Kidds comment about Fred Kidds. I served my time there from 1942 to 1945 when I joined the RAF.It was a great place to serve your time. I still meet up with one of my fellow apprentices every tuesday. In 1996 I organised a Fred Kidds re-union in the Red Lion at Norton,there were 15 turned up,we had a great time talking about the old days. I dont know how many are left now most have passed on but I would love to know how many are still alive.
Posted on: 03/09/2008 16:01:26
june guy
J.Normman Kidd Unfortunately john guy died some years ago, he lived in Bury St Edmunds,Eric is alive and well and living in Stockport,we keep in touch regularly.
Posted on: 04/09/2008 12:34:53
Kenneth Salmon
I was born in 1948 and used to wait for the bus outside what is now the Rimswell pub for my 2.5d return fare to St Peter and Pauls school Roseworth. The Seatons farm refered to was to the lhs and set back from where the pub now stands. I seem to recall it was painted white and there was a cart horse in the field which we used to stroke as we waited for the bus at 8.30am Ken Salmon
Posted on: 04/09/2008 15:13:30
June Guy
Norman Kidd, You asked about John Guy from Elmtree Farm, sadly he passed away many years ago. Eric the youngest of the three is alive and well and lliving in Stockport
Posted on: 07/09/2008 12:05:47
J.Norman Kidd
Thank you for the reply June and the information on John Guy passing away. There are not many of the old 1938-39 4b class at Trinity that reply.
Posted on: 08/09/2008 19:18:15
Don Taylor
J Norman Kidd, when did you work for Fred Kidd? I knew him well, he was a good man and employer. When I worked for him it was during the war and even though there was rationing and the blackout they were the happiest days of my life.
Posted on: 09/09/2008 10:31:56
J.Norman Kidd
I would say my time at Uncle Fred Kidd's would be about 1944-45, Don. I left school in July 1943 then did a course in some Technical Workshops of Stockton Technical School. These were near the top of Church Row down an alley. All the rest of the pupils were women learning to make munitions, Jean Peak was one of them. I enjoyed learning the correct use of the file, scraping, soldering and the introduction to lathe work. I still have the square I made by hand. It was from here that I joined F.Kidd and Son who kindly took me on in the Time Office. This occupied the right hand corner of the Office Section with a hand operated gate to admit late commers who it was my duty to record when wages would be docked depending on lateness. My other job was the canteen accounts for stoppages and payment. I recall one day an irate knocking on my sliding window and a chap called Alf Dixon demanded to know why I had deducted a 1p teacake from his wages! I said are you A.Dixon, yes he said, thats my daughter Annie and I am not paying for her Bl---- teacakes. We became good pals after that. Alf was actually a joiner for the firm and I used to nick out of the office into his hut and help him painting stoptap keys in black bitumen. Kidd's made a lot of brass hose connectors for the Fire Brigade and all had to be pressure tested by my Uncle Alf Kidd the Motor Engineer of Thornaby (Morris Agent) who was sent as re directed labour into essential war work. He was put into a job he did not enjoy when he already had his own business. The war touched everbody in some way. Charlie Lampton was the works forman and Carl Atkinson the Secretary of the Company. I can still hear "Music while you work" which was piped around the factory. They ran their own foundry seperate to the machine shop, which included a pattern shop and all the sand moulding and furnace's. Duraloy aluminium was a patent of theirs among many others. Kidd's spendid patent Flexiroll Conveyor saw the downfall of this company. It was fireproof and required NO lubrication with adjustable spring roller system. There is no question that it was good - but persuading the Ministry was another matter. Like most British inventions wasted by fools. The court case lasted over two years which did not help the financial side of life. It was eventually settled Out of Court. Talk about shot in the foot by friendly fire!!!
Posted on: 09/09/2008 23:44:18
Colin Booth
J.Norman Kidd mentions going to tech in Church Rd. That would have been for practical. I also attended that same workshop 1952. Cant remember the name of the teacher. He was an old gentleman who also had a nephew taught Fitting & Turning in the new college which I think opened in 1953?? The shop had a line shaft running its length, driving all the lathes. His story was that the premises originally housed a very large family before being changed to a machine shop. Hope this prompts a few memories.
Posted on: 15/09/2008 13:18:27
J.Norman Kidd
Colin, that sounds like the same workshop the Instructor wore a Grey/black warehouse coat and I think he had a damaged eye. He taught me how to set up a lathe and use it, they were all things that were useful to me in later life. The Stockton Engineers certainly new there job. The brass turners could be heard walking up Church Row path up the hill past the works. The cutters used to scream on the brass despite lubricants or sperm whale oil drips. Music to the ears coupled with the smell of the machine shop! It was a great country then. Kidd's bought me an errand bike like "Granvills In Open all Hours" I used this to pick up the canteen rations from Joshua Wilsons and cycling across to Imeson Finches with big metal drums like a garden roller. Were these experimental cases for the Bouncing Bomb? I think they were made of cast aluminium. I never knew what they were but thought about it afterwards.I also used to have to go across to Acklam for some specialy made pieces for bombs. All very hush ,hush then.
Posted on: 16/09/2008 14:53:02
Peter Weatherall
I also attended evening class at the tech worksop in Church Road 1947/49 it was well fitted out machine shop. The old gentleman refered to would have been Mr. Williamson, a first class practical teacher and engineer. He had been a sea-going engineer until he lost an eye in an accident. His brother had a garage and a fleet of lorries beside the Pheonix sidings.
Posted on: 16/09/2008 15:44:51
J.Norman Kidd
Bang on Peter it was Mr Williamson, I could not remember his name very nice chap and he taught a lot of people some good stuff.
Posted on: 16/09/2008 16:06:00
Andrew Wilson
An Ordnance Survey map dated 1858 shows that the site of the Rimswell was built on or nearby a smaller building called Mariners Cottage sometime between 1858 and 1899 (the next available map in Stockton-on-Tees reference library). Interestingly a place called Lyric Lodge appears on both maps just west of the Rimswell pub at the junction of Rimswell Road, Fairfield Road and Bishopton Road West. Any information on the lodge?
Posted on: 14/11/2008 16:53:46
Library Reference
Dewey Decimal: 999 Reference: t8499 - link available