I remember when Owton Manor didn't exist. i lived in Brierton Lane and it was a dirt track, there was a farm at the bottom, there was a German prisoner of war called Walter who worked at the farm. He stayed after the war. He used to give us kids rides on a horse and cart. Behind my house was all fields.

i used to live at 57 Brierton Lane. I remember it had an air raid shelter.

Elaine Mudd (nee Tudge) 2025

I remember playing rugby at West Hartlepool Grammar School for Boys, we played on the field behind the school. (where the 6th Form is now) Headteacher was E.N. Horton.

I saw Catcote Road getting built, from Park Road to Elwick Road was countryside.

Catcote Road was a busy road, the council built quite a few schools along this road. Many cars are owned by teachers and students now, when I was young neither had cars!

Cecil Yuill built Owton Manor Estate.

Mr.T. Raine (2025)

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)

Pauline Watson has fond memories of her time working in the local schools in the Owton Manor Estate. Pauline was secretary at Manor Secondary Modern School for 30 years. She started in 1968 and retired in 1997. During her time at the school, Alan Bradley and Alan Wright, were headteachers there.

Pauline also worked for short periods of time at Brierton Tech. She has fond memories of many of the teachers who worked at the schools, including Brian Cross, Joyce Marley, and Miss. Snowdon.

Pauline Watson. 2025