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Alliance Street and The Stockton Test

In 1953 a ground-breaking test took place in Stockton in which four houses were updated to modern standards after decades of being left behind.

Black and white street scene, with terrace houses. A woman appears to be outside one of the terraces, facing the building.

Alliance Street in Stockton, 1953. Image courtesy of Preston Park Museum and Grounds.

In the 1950s Britain was on the up. The Second World War was over and rationing, while still in effect, was almost ending. New housing was being built across the country, including some new estates on the outskirts of Stockton. These houses were made with all the mod-cons of the time, including main fires and boilers for hot water and heating.

However, there were about 8 million houses which had been built before the 1910s and were not up to modern standards. It was believed that it would be very costly to pull down these houses and have them rebuilt, and it was not in the interests of landlords who were told that these houses had around 20 to 30 years left in them.

There was a feeling that, as most of the country was moving forward, some areas were being left behind. These 8 million houses became known as ‘The Forgotten Homes of Britain’.

Among these ‘Forgotten Homes’ was Alliance Street in Stockton. Alliance Street had no access to hot water, with hot water only accessible through boiling water with gas fires, outside toilets and a separate galvanised tin bath. Most of the people who lived there did not want to leave for various reasons, the main one being that they could not afford the rent of the new housing, but also that they and most of their families had lived in the same place for years.

A group of four women standing outside a house in the street. A long-haired black dog with a white collar, is sat with its paw up. Three of the women appear to be looking at an item held by one of them, whilst the fourth women is talking to the dog.

A group of women who lived on Alliance Street. Image courtesy of Preston Park Museum and Grounds.

Allied Ironfounders, a conglomerate of iron builders founded in the country, decided to launch what they called ‘The Stockton Test’ in 1953. They acquired four houses in Alliance Street, Numbers 38, 40, 42 and 44, and carried out renovations. This included fitting new water pipes, a new combination grate in the kitchen for both heating water and cooking and building a new extension in the yard space for a bathroom. The renovations also included new sinks and baths made of enamel to replace old wash sinks and the tin baths.

A kitchen with a sink, boiler and stove. The stove has a kettle on it, and there is a shelf with pans on top.

The kitchen before. Image courtesy of Preston Park Museum and Grounds.

A kitchen with a sink, units and a kettle.

The kitchen after, with access to the new bathroom through the door. Image courtesy of Preston Park Museum and Grounds.

A person rinsing laundry over a basin in a sink.

The wash sink before. Image courtesy of Preston Park Museum and Grounds.

The wash sink after. Image courtesy of Preston Park Museum and Grounds.

A brick outhouse with a toilet, utility room with sweeping brushes and a bin. Another door is open.

The yard before, with the outside toilet and coal cupboard. Image courtesy of Preston Park Museum and Grounds.

The yard after, the outside of the new bathroom extension. Image courtesy of Preston Park Museum and Grounds.

The work started on the first house on 19^th March and completed on 10^th April, with the other three houses following suit. The changes made were almost instant – the combination grate heated water at a much quicker rate, leaving more leisure time for the residents. The toilet was now located inside in the new bathroom extension, and being able to use an enamel bath meant that many tin baths were sent to the scrap yard.

For these new houses the rent had increased, by about 4 shillings more, but this was still not to the same extent at the new housing which commanded about 22 shillings in rent and were so far away from Stockton High Street that additional costs in transport were needed.

These houses were the envy of their neighbours who wished that their landlord would carry out the same work. Many even claimed that they would be happy with the rent increase so long as they could enjoy the same modern amenities.

A woman adjusting a clock on top of a stove.

Mrs Dawson of No. 44 with her new combination grate, heating water for the bath and cooking a meal at the same time. Image courtesy of Preston Park Museum and Grounds.

For these new houses the rent had increased, by about 4 shillings more, but this was still not to the same extent as the new housing which commanded about 22 shillings in rent and were so far away from Stockton High Street that additional costs in transport were needed.

The cost of renovating these houses eventually came down to around £350 each (almost £11,000 today). After the Stockton Test there was encouragement for other Alliance Street landlords to renovate housing, although many were unwilling to spend so much money. There were government grants available but only a few applications were submitted.

The Allied Ironfounders nevertheless made an impassioned plea for the renovation of existing housing, that it made a difference to the lives of those who lived in the Forgotten Homes of Britain. The Stockton Test also attracted national attention from local authorities across the country and even the BBC made a documentary about the renovations.

Alliance Street lasted many more years in Stockton until it was demolished in 2012.

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Alliance Street and The Stockton Test

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