Stockton-on-Tees
Stockton began as an Anglo-Saxon settlement perched on high ground close to the northern bank of the River Tees. In later centuries this territory became the site of a Norman Castle belonging to the Prince-Bishops of Durham. Dating from at least the 12 th century this castle was originally a hall belonging to Hugh Pudsey, a famous Bishop of Durham. The hall must have been fortified in the early 14 th century for it is referred to as a castle in 1376. During the English Civil War (1642-9) Stockton Castle was a Royalist stronghold. Scottish forces fighting with the Protestant cause finally captured the castle in 1644 and garrisoned it until 1646. At the end of the war the castle was destroyed by order of Oliver Cromwell and only the castle barn was left standing - this too was demolished in the 19 th century. All that remains of this once mighty stronghold is some stonework incorporated into Stockton's Green Dragon Yard off the High Street.
By the 17 th century Stockton was beginning to usurp Yarm's role as the major port on the River Tees, and was developing an important Baltic trade. Very soon Stockton became the main port serving North Yorkshire, Westmoreland and South Durham. However, it was still a largely agricultural district with much farmland. The main goods exported from Stockton were local agricultural produce and lead from the dales of Durham and Yorkshire.
The opening of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1825 brought about further significant increases in the trade and population of Stockton. In the town the railway ran along the course of the quayside by the Tees and linked-up with four sets of coal staithes, which were jetties from which coal could be loaded into the ships; staithe is a Viking word meaning ‘landing stage'. Ironically, the railway, which brought about such a rapid increase in the development of Stockton, was ultimately to ring the death knell for the port. With the extension of the Stockton & Darlington line to Middlesbrough in 1830 this ‘new town' was 6-miles nearer to the sea and had many advantages over the old heart of Teesside.
A number of major industries were associated with Stockton's rise to prominence in the early 19 th century. Rope making was particularly significant, centred round Ropery Street. Cotton was manufactured from a Cotton Mill established in 1839, while an earlier industry, sugar refining, was located close to the river. The Stockton Sugar Refinery was situated at ‘Sugar House Open' dated from 1780. Brick making was a prominent and much-needed industry in the rapidly expanding towns of 19 th century Teesside. Clay from the brickworks proved a useful material for the local Pottery Industry - in 1825 the ‘Stafford Pottery at South Stockton' was opened.
For many centuries Stockton remained the most important settlement in the north Teesside area, but in more ancient times two of the town's suburbs were significant sites in their own rights. Norton, now a part of Stockton's north east suburbia, may well have been one of the earliest parts of north east England to be settled by the Anglo-Saxons. It became an important site during this period and still retains its Anglo-Saxon church. Significantly, excavations at Norton's Mill Lane in 1984 revealed a large Anglo-Saxon pagan cemetery - more than one hundred burials were discovered at the site. An assortment of artefacts were revealed including shields, spears, combs, broaches, belt buckles, beads, keys and pots; most interesting of all perhaps was a Frankish style silver plated buckle discovered in the grave of a female. All objects found date to the early 6 th century, predating both Viking and Christian influences.
Beyond Norton is Billingham, an outer suburb of Stockton whose church has an Anglo-Saxon tower dating from about AD1000. Billingham's name is Anglo-Saxon meaning ‘the homestead of Billa's people', and in the late Anglo-Saxon period the settlement belonged to followers of St Cuthbert until the Irish-Norse King Ragnald captured the township in the 10 th century. Ragnald gave Billingham to one of his lieutenants, an Irish-Viking warrior called Scula or Scule. There are a small number of Viking place names in the Billingham district, notably those beginning with ‘Thorpe', such as Thorpe Thewles meaning the ‘farm of the immoral'.