The Demise Of Big Wesley

A Memory of Middlesbrough.

I can remember when Big Wesley was demolished to make way for the new "British Homestores", seems that things are turning full circle. It must have been in the late 1950`s when my pals and I used to play on the demolished masonry. We lived in Buxton St just opposite the Empire Theatre and enjoyed the new playground. This was of course before the Cleveland Centre and Dundas House were built, when Hintons reigned supreme as local grocers occupying pride of place on the corner of Albert Road and Corporation Road where the HSBC main branch is now. Pybus were also noteable at that time with many street corner branches in addition to their HQ on the corner of Princes Road and Linthorpe Road, just opposite the Gaumont cinema which of course started it`s life as the Grand Opera House. I worked for a time as a delivery boy for Pybus riding a bike with a basket on the front. I used to do this after school and on Saturday mornings to earn pocket money. Happy days before the distractions of i-pads, i-pods, xbox, smart phones and social media. Oh to be able to walk in the town without being bumped into by someone entranced by looking at the device in their hands !