Memories of Middlesbrough's historic and lost pubs wanted as Teesside University student’s heritage collaboration rediscovers lost and historic pubs

The Captain Cook pub, 1970s (Teesside Archives, Les Bulman Collection)

Middlesbrough has long been associated with a vibrant pub culture from the modern town’s early development through to recent decades. Recently, the extensive research and photographic collection of the late Les Bulman, who spent decades researching and capturing snapshots of Middlesbrough’s pubs, clubs and nightclubs, has been gifted to Teesside Archives. A recent collaboration between Heritage Unlocked, Teesside Archives and Teesside University’s Katy Parsons has now helped digitise and explore some hidden gems in the collection that provides a fascinating insight into Middlesbrough pub and club life in years gone by. Here, the Teesside University History student shares some of her discoveries…

“Over the course of six weeks in early 2023 I was given the opportunity to work with Heritage Unlocked and Teesside Archives via an Employability module at Teesside University. This was to assist in building my skills in the heritage sector that I am interested in pursuing as a career following on from my studies.

Boro fans pictured outside The Yellow Rose ahead of Boro’s last league match at Ayresome Park, 1995 (Teesside Archives, Les Bulman Collection)

My placement involved working with Teesside Archives, custodians of some of Teesside’s most historic fascinating records. These include the recent addition of the Les Bulman Collection which contains some incredible snapshots and research on community and leisure life in Middlesbrough. My part in the project consisted of working through the hundreds of original photographs, cataloguing and digitising a selection of the collection. By digitising this material other researchers and visitors to Teesside Archives will now be able to access this unique material that provides a unique insight into the town’s built history and leisure time in the past. The selective digitisation of the material is beneficial and important to the future of the archive as this provides an efficient and sustainable form of preservation as digital access removes the need to access to the original photographs. In the coming months, a selection of digitised material will feature in a collaborative exhibition with Navigator North at The Masham and a book featuring some of the best photographs and memories people have shared will follow.

Les Bulman with his trusty camera (Bulman Family)

Discussing the work on the pubs and clubs of Middlesbrough has prompted almost everyone I have spoken to about them to share their memories. Clearly, British pub culture has a significant heritage in local communities and many people enjoy discussing the subject and Les Bulman’s photos have helped to capture cultural practices that connected communities. The photos of most interest to me were those that that captured special moments in time, such as the New Year’s Eve celebrations, karaoke nights and the crowded pubs ahead of the last match at Ayresome Park. These are snapshots into the past that invoke memory in a way only photos capturing details such as décor and the different drinks on offer can. They reveal stories of lost or much changed buildings and communities that were once a rich part of everyday life in Middlesbrough.

Of those buildings that do remain, we are provided a glimpse of the former uses of these buildings before they underwent reinvention as retail outlets, were transformed into modern venues or are left stood empty as the high street faces unprecedented challenges as it attempts to draw once again on leisure as a way to attract people to the town centre. Whereas today we have go-carting and crazy golf, the photographs reveal snooker and dart completions entertaining custodians and customers alike.

The placement delving into the collections of Teesside Archives through working with Heritage Unlocked has provided an eye opening insight to public history and the important role of Teesside Archives plays in ensuring the survival and accessibility of this material. Now, we are planning to develop an exhibition in one of the town’s historic pub buildings – The Masham – reinvented as a cultural space where people can embrace the town’s history and share their memories.”

Youngsters pictured outside The Gosford Arms (Teesside Archives, Les Bulman Collection)

Katy Parsons

Read more on Middlesbrough’s historic and lost pubs, including details on getting involved in a forthcoming exhibition and book collaboration between Heritage Unlocked, Navigator North and Teesside Archives at www.heritageunlocked.com/features and www.navigatornorth.com. Interested in sharing your photographs and memories? Get in touch at info@heritageunlocked.com, visiting www.heritageunlocked.com/contact or by completing the form at the top of the page.