Albert Road, Middlesbrough 1970 v 2018
The pleasing view from the spring of 1970 shows an ex Middlebrough Corporation, Guy motorbus heading out of town on the ‘M’ service for Lodore Grove at Acklam. The bus wears the turquoise livery of Teesside Municipal Transport (TMT). The County Borough had amalgamated the operations of Middlesbrough Corporation. Stockton Corporation and the Teesside Railless Traction Board as the newly created Teesside Municipal Transport Board from the 1st April 1968.
The 1956 built Northern Counties (low-bridge) bodied Guy Arab IV was nearing the end of its life when this picture was taken. It was officially withdrawn from service on New Years day 1972, and sold to scrap dealer David Rollinson of Barnsley for breaking on 28th March 1972.
A wonderful variety of period townscape architecture is seen amongst the parade of shops that faced the town hall opposite, the town hall being out of view to the right of picture. Along the length of the street, independent businesses offering goods and services from many trades would have been a delight to peruse. Nearest, two building society branches are conveniently situated next to the Tees-side Estate Agent’s, or was it the other way around?
The large redbrick building with the soot-stained stone façade; marked by the red ‘United’ Bristol Lodekka bus was the Corporation Hotel. This was a popular public house in the town centre that during the war years had been run by the parent’s of actress to be, Wendy Richards. I understand that the Corporation Hotel closed around 1970, but I stand to be corrected.
How sad that this wonderfully nostalgic view has been lost to another characterless modern redevelopment. Today, the Lego-style Holiday Inn Express hotel with retail units below occupies much of the land seen in the 1970 view.
Middlesbrough has lost many historic buildings over the decades, but the demolition of the 1868 built Royal Exchange in 1985 was probably the town's greatest loss, sacrificed by Cleveland County Council for the brutalist A66 concrete flyover that runs close the heart of the town.
Images: 27th May 1970 / July 2018.
Scanned from the original 35mm slide taken by the late Mr R Copson and now held in my archive.
Albert Road, Middlesbrough 1970 v 2018
The pleasing view from the spring of 1970 shows an ex Middlebrough Corporation, Guy motorbus heading out of town on the ‘M’ service for Lodore Grove at Acklam. The bus wears the turquoise livery of Teesside Municipal Transport (TMT). The County Borough had amalgamated the operations of Middlesbrough Corporation. Stockton Corporation and the Teesside Railless Traction Board as the newly created Teesside Municipal Transport Board from the 1st April 1968.
The 1956 built Northern Counties (low-bridge) bodied Guy Arab IV was nearing the end of its life when this picture was taken. It was officially withdrawn from service on New Years day 1972, and sold to scrap dealer David Rollinson of Barnsley for breaking on 28th March 1972.
A wonderful variety of period townscape architecture is seen amongst the parade of shops that faced the town hall opposite, the town hall being out of view to the right of picture. Along the length of the street, independent businesses offering goods and services from many trades would have been a delight to peruse. Nearest, two building society branches are conveniently situated next to the Tees-side Estate Agent’s, or was it the other way around?
The large redbrick building with the soot-stained stone façade; marked by the red ‘United’ Bristol Lodekka bus was the Corporation Hotel. This was a popular public house in the town centre that during the war years had been run by the parent’s of actress to be, Wendy Richards. I understand that the Corporation Hotel closed around 1970, but I stand to be corrected.
How sad that this wonderfully nostalgic view has been lost to another characterless modern redevelopment. Today, the Lego-style Holiday Inn Express hotel with retail units below occupies much of the land seen in the 1970 view.
Middlesbrough has lost many historic buildings over the decades, but the demolition of the 1868 built Royal Exchange in 1985 was probably the town's greatest loss, sacrificed by Cleveland County Council for the brutalist A66 concrete flyover that runs close the heart of the town.
Images: 27th May 1970 / July 2018.
Scanned from the original 35mm slide taken by the late Mr R Copson and now held in my archive.