All Saints Church Stranton. House in centre: Greenbank. West Hall at left. Windmill in centre. Brewery to right.

Brewing Vessels at Camerons Brewery 2014.

The image shows the back of the Gaumont cinema (later Fairworld Bingo) on the right and this is now demolished. Cameron's Brewery is clearly visible, as are the offices with the white bay windows. On the left is the Foster and Armstrong building which is now demolished. Currently much ofthis land is vacant although the Royal Mail office is now at the far right.

HHT&N 199

John William Cameron was born in 1841 in Kirkby Stephen, Lancashire, although his family was of Scottish origin.

Before he came to West Hartlepool as a young man he had served his apprenticeship in the Brewery trade in Barnard Castle. It was also during his time at Barnard Castle that he became interested in things military and before he came to West Hartlepool he had been 5 years in the Volunteer Rifle Corps there. This interest he was to develop a great deal further in his new home.

He moved to West Hartlepool in 1865, at the age of 24 years to become head brewer at the Lion Brewery. The Brewery had been set up in 1852 when William Waldon bought up the land to build on. He was a newcomer to West Hartlepool, as were all the important figures in the early days. Waldon was elected as a Town Improvement Commissioner to serve on the first Board running the new town but he died before its first meeting, on 5^th September 1854.

Waldon’s widow then ran the business until the eldest son was of age, in the period before Cameron’s arrival. William Waldon Junior does not seem to have been interested in the brewing business and he died young in 1872, after which Cameron agreed with the trustees to take over the business on a 21-year lease. He soon embarked on a 10-year programme of building and enlarging the premises, buying up more land near Stockton Street.

In 1893 he bought the brewery outright and made the business into a Limited Company. He then embarked on absorbing nearby competitors; he bought up Nixey, Coleclough & Baxter on the Headland and M. Rickinson & Company by 1895, so that he doubled his tied houses from 50 to 103.

His involvement in philanthropy and public works was extensive and his military activities also took much of his energy. He joined the Artillery Volunteers on coming to West Hartlepool and was a Sub-Lieutenant by 1871. By 1874 he had become Captain and in 1881 he became commander of the town’s Corps. In 1885 the Rifle & Artillery Volunteers amalgamated and he became Lieutenant Colonel. The 4^th Durham Volunteers had a good reputation due to their record in National Shooting competitions and their smart turn out at local civic occasions.

His political career led to his being prominent in the history of the new town. In 1873 he was elected a Town Commissioner and he was to be on the Board for 14 years. Although he only became the chairman in 1886 it was in this period that the Town gained its Charter of Incorporation, largely due to his efforts.

At the first Municipal Elections he came top of the poll and was elected an Alderman, he did not become Mayor until 1889, letting Alderman William Gray and George Pyman take precedence. His brewery’s attractive head office “Greenbank” was the site of Stranton’s celebrations in 1887, the year of Victoria’s Jubilee and West Hartlepool’s Charter.

His last civic act was to offer the statue of the town’s founder, Ralph Ward Jackson, to West Hartlepool, in 1895. He wished it to be unveiled at the top of Church Street, where it stands today, and that it be unveiled in 1897, the 50^th anniversary year of the opening of the West Dock. He himself died before the ceremony in 1896. Perhaps a more important monument to him was the Cameron Hospital, presented to the town by his family.

Picture of Camerons Brewery, Stockton Street, Hartlepool, taken in the 1980s

Camerons Brewery, Stockton Street, Hartlepool.

Camerons Brewery in the aptly named Brewery Street.

Another view of the brewery.

HHT&N 829

Camerons Brewery and the Blacksmiths Arms, Stockton Street, Hartlepool.

Taken in 1967 the image shows a busy brewery yard opening onto Stockton Street which at the time was a single carriageway. As shown on the tower, the building was erected in 1892.

HHT+N 976

Taken in November 1964, the Maltings were demolished in 1985 and new houses were built on the site. The small housing development is called 'The Maltings'. One side of the original Victorian Marske St remains.

HHT&N 209

Cameron's Wine and Spirit Merchants at 9 Church Street. Number 10 to the right on the picture was an India Rubber Manufacturer and is now Atkinson Print. The more imposing building at number 8 was in 1914 Rickinson and Sons Shipowners. The building still exists but all buildings to the east going towrds the sea were demolished and the Transport Office is there now.

A J.W. Cameron's steam lorry and trailer, date unknown.

This is a very rare Mann steam lorry with dual steering which was maufactured in Leeds.

Camerons delivery wagon seen at Helmsley Steam Show July 2015. Does anyone remember this driving around Hartlepool? It was registered in 1953.

Camerons brewery, photograph showing new brewhouse dated 1969/1970 showing the workers.

Interior of an off licence possibly in Church St - date unclear. However Skol lager was 11p a can and a 5 pint can of Camerons in the foreground was 65p. Sherry appears to be £1.03 a bottle according to the advert on the wall.

HHT+N 99

Completion of Coming-Out Ceremony for Apprentice Cooper Lesley Jacobs at Camerons Brewery.

Sir J.W. Cameron at extreme left.

This was taken around 1954 and appears to be a cooper's initiation ceremony.

The home of  Colonel J.W. Cameron. After it had been a private home for the Cameron family, it became brewery offices and later Housing Hartlepool offices.

HHT&N 129

This interesting photograph of Greenbank in 1984 shows the house in the background, the main feature being the pillars on either side of the closed gates.  

Greenbank, Stranton, Hartlepool

It had been a private home for the Cameron family, it became brewery offices and later Housing Hartlepool offices.

Greenbank. Strenton, Hartlepool

After it had been a private home for the Cameron family, it became brewery offices and later Housing Hartlepool offices.

Production line Camerons Light Ale

HHT&N 168

George Robinson's Safe Driving Diploma for the year 1959.

George Robinson's Safe Driving Diploma awarded for tyhe year 1960. The design of this diploma has changed from the previous year.

One of Cameron's Scammell three-wheeler vehicles, taken by George Robinson, one of the company's drivers.

The view taken from the end of Musgrave Street shows Cameron's Brewery, The Stranton ( Now the Brewery Visitor Centre) and Ben Cox fuel offices.

HHT&N 205

Stranton Bottling Store, Camerons Brewery, Hartlepool

The Brewery Tap, Stockton Street, Hartlepool. This used to be The Stranton public house but was taken over by Camerons brewery and is now used as part of their visitor centre.

The Lion Brewery, Stockton Street, Hartlepool. Part of Camerons Brewery.

Taken during demolition in 1985.

Taken during demolition 1985

Taken when the building was demolished in 1985

Old picture of the Stranton Hotel, later just called 'The Stranton', Stockton Street, Hartlepool. The building next to it was the Free Methodist Chapel which was bought by Camerons Brewery in 1898 and demolished in order to extend the brewery.

The Stranton public house, Stockton Street, Hartlepool