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Memories of Owton Manor area

In 1947 we moved from Milton Road to Caledonian Road and found ourselves with a big garden and living on the edge of the countryside. Walk west to Kingsley Avenue you were into fields, cart lanes, and Swinburne's farm with the dog in the cage outside frustratingly barking at every person who passed! They worked in the fields beyond and alongside, I remeber an elderly lady who worked as a servant describing going out to the workers with glass bottles of milk, stoppers in the bottles were rolled up papers.

Going further was an area of huts, bungalows, more tracks, with a stream alongside. Very rural. It was an ideal place for a stroll on an evening with a couple of lads racing up and down the lane on horses ( I had a go as well!) And on a Cubs trip out into the wilderness of Owton Manor/ Brierton Lane I often ended up falling into the stream.

Eventually building of new housing estate encroached and covered the whole area (late 1950's)

The same applied to the far end of Caledonian Road, with the open area and pathway to Seaton Carew and the shops/house that sold 1d cups of Lemonade to prepare you for the walk or refreshments afterwards.

Tony Hay (2025)

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