Local History Videos

Old Images of Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees

by

Debbie Death
in ,
Old photo postcard of the ICI works at Billingham, County Durham, England

Enjoy a glimpse of history through old images of Billingham, in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, North East England.

ICI in the 1950s

Made by the former ICI Billingham Film Unit, this 1950s film, explains the creation of the UK’s first factory to make synethic fertiliser, and describes the growth of the Tees Valley’s chemicals complex in Billingham.

They start looking at Billingham about 6 minutes into the 21 minute film.

Harvest from the sky – ICI Billingham Film Unit 1950s – Dr Bart’s lecture courses on YouTube

Glimpses of Old Billingham

The first one minute of this three and a half minute video from the mid-twentieth centruy looks at Billingham, plus the ICI factory.

Then it moves on to Norton, Stockton Market, Stockton High Street,
Croft, Barnard Castle and Teesdale.

The Billingham Scene – Transfilm UK on YouTube

Forum Leisure Complex 1967

This highly entertaining footage from 1967 was made when the town was home to 35,000 people, and about 20-25,000 people a week were using the new Forum Leisure Complex.

While the 14 minute video focuses on the leisure centre, which was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on October 19th 1967, there are numerous introductory scenes of nearby residential streets, the town centre, a restaurant, and a nightclub.

The people who met the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh that day included:

  • Jeffrey Bott, the Director of the centre
  • Alan Warne, the Architect of the project
  • Mr Shepherd, Managing Director of the main contractors
  • Douglas Turnbull, Chair of the Council

The centre took twenty six months to build. It included

  • theatre (for 650 people)
  • ice rink (also used for professional tennis tournaments)
  • swimming pool (restained use of windows to cut glare)
  • sport centre (including squash courts, archery, golf, cricket, table tennis, judo, bowls, bar, creche)

The refreshment area has a coffee bar (where parents smoke), and on the other side a ‘first class’ restaurant (where people eat brown soup).

Billingham Forum Launch video – Stockton On Tees Borough Council on YouTube

Home Movie of ICI Landscape 1968

This is a 1968 home movie clip of views from the roof of the ICI Agricultural Division building, lasting just over one minute.

The final scene shows the backs of some houses.

ICI BILLINGHAM – Dave Honeyman on YouTube

The Post Office Directory of Durham and Northumberland

by Kelly and Company

Published in 1879

Billingham Pins

More about County Durham

More old images of County Durham
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