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The area remained little changed so far despite the continual encroachment of the town. This resulted in a great need for land for housing due to the rapid population growth in North Ormesby and other areas. It was not until the 1920s that it was decided to build a housing estate “in the country with room to expand” (3). Brambles Farm house land was an ideal site for the council to build. They decided not unnaturally to name this new housing area the Brambles Farm Estate.

 

One resident remembers Saturday mornings in the 1920s when he would “walk from North Ormesby through the fields where Brambles Farm is now and through Normanby to Eston and play on the hills nearby.” (4). This was about to change, in 1926 surplus land had been acquired under the assisted housing scheme of 1919. The council then had to decide what to do with 113 acres of the Brambles Farm Estate currently under cultivation, and the redemption of the tithe for the site.

 

It was decided that Mister R. Tyerman would take over the let of the estate. In 1928 Tyerman vacated the farm leaving the Town Clerk wondering what to do with it next. Mr. Robinson of James Street, North Ormesby applied for the loan of a small field. 

 

The area was probably in a poor state despite being still separated from the crowded and sprawling town of Middlesbrough. The District Valuer in June 1928 suggested the land around the Brambles Farm should be cleaned up and sown with grass. A survey had noted “the very neglected condition of the land” (5). It is probable that being on the frontier of the rapidly town was harming the environment. Later both Tyremand and Robinson applied for permission to graze the field known as the "Tip".

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Planning the state took time and it was 1928 when the Street Committee began planning for the actual construction stage. Three acres, two roods and 20 poles of land were bought for £242 for the first stage of the development. In February 1929 the Borough Engineer produced plans for a portion of the Brambles Farm Estate consisting of 100 to 300 houses with appropriate drainage. This project was later expanded to 358 houses and eight shop houses. 

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During this period Mr Beevis had taken over the Brambles Farm tenancy, minus two fields which were used for the Trunk Road extension. The Trunk Road was been extended as part of an unemployment relief scheme. The aim was to provide a much more direct route to Redcar than the old route via Ladgate Lane and Eston. One resident remembers ex-war lorries with solid wheels and backs that didn't tip, all parked a in line while two men shovelled slag off the new road. 

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The area was coming under rapidly increasing pressure not only from new housing project but by people trespassing on the fields. Mr Ware tenant of Thorntree Farm complained about poor fencing allowing trespassers to damage crops. Repairs were made in early 1929 but it was becoming obvious that the nature of the surrounding countryside was coming to an end. 

So began a period of rapid house building on the Brambles Farm estate as part of a 5-year building plan. The layout was typical of a “garden city,” working class housing estate with houses which were well spread out but no bigger than 50 years ago. 

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The Middlesbrough, Urban District Council authorised tenders for 100, A3 type houses in Brambles Farm Estate. These houses would be along what would be called Pallister Avenue. Total cost of the houses would be £35,000 plus £11,650 for drainage and 12,850 pounds for roads and fences. Tenants would be given preference for housing if they lived or worked in nearby North Ormesby. Rent was fixed at 8 shillings and 11 pence per week. 598 applicants applied for tenancies. By mid 1929, 358 non parlour, 3-bedroom type houses plus 8 shops were nearing completion. The council was anxious to see these built quickly to satisfy the requirements of this particular borough.  

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These new houses were considered to be “out in the country”, (6) as there was still fields and allotments between Brambles Farm and North Ormesby. The early Brambles Farm Estate ended at 85 Pallister Avenue beyond which were more field. When the first residents moved in the roads and pavements were unfinished and the back gardens were not fenced in. There was a path which went past the end of the gardens which was called the “Sailors Trod” and legend had it that the path had been used by smugglers. Beyond the path was a large field used as a cornfield, then for turnips and then grass. In the summer gypsies used to camp on it. A ground plan made around this time shows a newly built parlour house with its vitae glass windows, apple trees and railed fences. 

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One resident described her house in Pallister Avenue as having three bedrooms, bathroom, living room, kitchen, staircase and lobby “papered with wallpaper at one and sixpence per roll”. The kitchen was big with a smooth concrete floor covered with a coconut mat. There was a huge back garden and a front garden with separate wash house. 

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A short while later the first mention is made in council records of a plan to build a cemetery in the Thorntree Farm area. The actual site of the cemetery was for a long time dependent on where an aerodrome was going to be built by the Ministry of Defence which was keen to build a small airport on the Thorntree Farm Estate. Negotiations dragged on and the council decided at the end of the year to allot 52,079 acres of Thorntree Farm land for the cemetery. 

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The council continued to be favourable to the idea of an aerodrome next to the cemetery even if it proved temporary. The Air Ministry wanted the council to modify their plans but the council becoming impatient refused. Though the aerodrome was never built the council was still considering plans for one as late as 1938. There was even an air show on the planned site at Thorntree Farm in 1932. The council remembered the show mainly because the large crowd caused damage to the building site at Brambles Farm Estate. Brickwork was pulled down, frames uprooted and materials damaged by the spectators. 

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The 1932 building map of Brambles Farm shows 8 acres marked out as being for a proposed school. South of College Road is a recreation ground. Just west of Burnham Avenue is a pool and old quarry, all that remained of the brick and tile works marked on the 1874 map. 

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Many houses had sprung up on the building site. The area south of Berwick Hills Avenue was still under construction. North of the Trunk Road, the Percy Hills and fields stretched to the marshes along the River Tees. 

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The early community had only one shop to serve them. This shop is called “Brough’s Hut” and was a short distance along Cargo Fleet Lane, the nearest other shops were at North Ormesby. Brough’s daughter, Philomena worked in the shop and her “mother always sent a bucket of cold to anyone who run short.” As the estate got bigger “Hintons sent a man on Mondays to the estate to take orders for goods which would then arrive on Friday” (7). 

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Milk was at first delivered by an old man with a milk churn on a contraption with two wheels. The Brambles Farm residents called him “Milky Joe”. (8). Later the Co-op took over deliveries. 

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One resident had a neighbour who was such a house fanatic that she used to put newspaper “over the floor and everywhere to keep it clean” (9). Another resident said that when the estate was built people called it “debtors retreat” (10), because anyone owing money used to go there to live because the debt collectors “wouldn't go up there because it was too far up the road”. The resident goes on to say that “the Brambles Farm estate was absolutely separate, no pubs or nowt up there then”. The Brambles Farm still continued its agricultural purpose despite its fields gradually disappearing under the bricks. 

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A resident had a tale about neighbours who were “bad payers” (11). When her sister Dorothy went to their house to play, “doors were locked and they were forbidden to answer if anyone should knock”. One day “Dorothy was told to hide in the gas cupboard till a visitor had given up knocking to get in”.  Later on, the family disappeared, apparently, they did a moonlight flit to Grove Hill. 

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It was soon decided by the Estates Planners that more shops would be needed for the growing population. Four shops were offered for tenders. 52 people applied and it was decided to allocate the shops which was situated in Marshall Avenue as follows: 

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Number 37: Grocer and General Stores, George Guymer.  

Number 39: was re-advertised then given to Henry Hurst as the General Drapery and Boots store. 

Number 41: Newsagent and Tobacconist, Miriam Taylor. 

Number 42: Fried Fish and Chip Potatoes, Mr W. T. Townshend.  

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Further plans were made for more houses as 1932 progressed. 100, A3 houses with wash houses were under construction. Sewers were built to allow for the future eastern part of the state which was at a lower level than the west. 

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An undated map probably from late 1934 to early 1935 shows McCauley Avenue and Chaucer Avenue South under construction. An area on earlier maps described as a recreation ground is now labelled for “proposed future development” of 420 houses. To the south and east of Brambles Farm are areas for “houses passed by the committee but not yet commenced.” 

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By 1934 and year 4 of the Brambles Farm Estate Building Scheme, the farm had lost most of its agricultural land. Final removal of grass from fields dedicated for non-agricultural use was under way. Mr O'Rourke was paid 2 pounds for removing the grass. Mr Beevis was allowed to take grass from the field designated for the cemetery.

 

The Thorntree Farm buildings were said to be in a very dilapidated condition at this time. Mr Tyreman was arranging a lease of for land for a tenants club in Brambles Farms Estate and 39 Marshall Avenue became a hair dressers. 

A further addition to the building plans at Brambles Farm Estate at this time was a tender for 24 cottages for “aged” persons and 10, A2 wash houses made of British or Empire timber. 

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The foundation stone for the Brambles Farm School had been laid in 1934. By 29. 4. 1935 the school was ready to be opened by Councillor Brown. The school was designed for 900 juniors and infants. Older children would go to the Lawson School in Cargo Fleet. The site chosen was supposed to be ideal for an industrial area with “an atmosphere of spaciousness, with an outlook on beautiful countryside and majestic hills”. The view towards the Cleveland hills was said to be “panoramic”. 

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 The main route to the school was along “a quiet by-road, Kedward Avenue to minimise risks to children” (12). The school had cost £21,000 to build with the aim of “Middlesbrough rapidly bringing up to date its schools and establishment of schools on corporation housing estates”.  

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The school itself was a one storey building built upon a quadrangular plan. A newspaper description gives the following features: main windows of hall face south; the quadrangular terrace was paved, with two grass lawns and an ornamental pond; walls and ceilings were of cement, some had a rough wood finish distempered in green and buff; assembly halls had stage illumination and electric clocks, lanterns and projector; playgrounds were of tarred macadam; space was left for gardens and shrubbery. 

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On the quadrangle’s east and west sides were five classrooms and on the Southside six classrooms. Two large rooms were for practicals, other rooms were for staff and cloakrooms. On the north-side were the assembly halls, head teachers' room, medical inspection suite and girls cloak room. Windows were a continuous series of openings giving adequate natural lighting. 

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Heating in the school was from low pressure hot water radiators and twin gas fired boilers. The school was particularly proud that it offered hot water and had electric lights. 1000 pounds worth of furniture was immediately provided by the council. 

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1935 marked the end of the five-year building plan leaving the Brambles Farm Estate much as it is now. Most of the former fields were now covered in houses. The end of the Brambles Farm appeared to be near. In 1936 Wm Younger's Limited took over the building and eventually it would be turned into the Brambles Farm Hotel as it remains today (the building was closed in 2015 and demolished in 2017).  

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At Thorntree Farm, Mr Beevis terminated his tenancy in 1937. The council considered having a replacement tenant despite the farms crumbling buildings. It was eventually decided to split the land into small holdings and allotments. The current crop of clover was disposed of. A plan was put forward to turn any spare land into football pitches. At one point 8 pitches were envisaged at Thorntree, though soon after the plan was rejected. Mr Huddleston was given permission to plough the Thorntree Farm Estate and erect an implement shed. 

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On the Brambles Farm Estate, a further 100 houses and two shops were constructed and the existing shops got a lick of council paint. Clearance of housing in Middlesbrough led to the new houses on College Road rapidly filling up. 

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In 1940 Brambles Farm Estate was still surrounded by countryside. The war extended the lives of the farms as the demand for home grown produce became a necessity. A 1940 Home Guard map shows Thorntree Farm buildings and fields still existing or having been converted to allotments. A rough grass hedge was all that separated College Road from the fields. The map clearly shows the thorn trees that gave the farm its name. An AA gun site is marked south of the Trunk Road near Cranfield Avenue. The army was using an area north of the Trunk Road opposite Cranfield Avenue for the headquarters of G. Company. The army houses are still there. Bomb shelters had been built on the Trunk Road behind Saint Thomas's Church. 

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Cargo Fleet Lane with its old name of Donkey Lane marked on the map ran through the fields to Ormesby. Near College Road it had a road block across it. Opposite the cemetery was a clubhouse complete with quoits pitch, playing field, tennis courts and bowling green. A rail fence ran along most of the road's length. 

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Further away the Town Farm Estate of 26 houses was situated at the corner of a large cornfield. Beyond the Protestant cemetery were fields of clover, meadow grass and ploughing. The site of the ancient tile and brickworks is still visible near Burnholme Avenue. 

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At the end of 1944 the council was already planning to extend the Brambles Farm Estate. The major new development was expected to be of open form with adequate light and air. The council was determined that the state will not become an “unregulated sprawl” 19. Housing would be in blocks of 4-6-8 with covered through passages. The centre main road would be a dual carriage way and all the roads would have the single function of providing access to housing. The new project would be called the Thorntree Estate. 1560 houses were planned over 203 acres. 

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Later plans stressed the desire not to restrict views of the Cleveland Hills or direct sunshine. Maximum use of open spaces and central greens combined with recreational facilities would characterise its form. Allotments and woodland walks would act as a buffer to buildings. Existing hedges and trees would be kept where possible. No house would be a 1/4 of a mile from a shop or chemist. 

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Brambles Farm Estate suffered from enemy action and in 1946 four war damaged houses were being rebuilt. 49 Marshall Avenue and 24 Thorntree Avenue had been rebuilt to cill height and 50-52 Pallister Avenue were having their foundations re-laid with attention being given to the adjacent bomb crater. Delays were occurring in completion due to a shortage of bricks.

 

At the end of 1946 building began in earnest. Temporary dwellings were springing up north of the cemetery. On the Thorntree Estate building was hampered by lack of bricks and asbestos cement roofs were in short supply, aluminium replacements were reluctantly accepted. Solid floors soon replaced the more expensive timber floors. 

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At Brambles Farm the military camp huts were partitioned off and WC’s and cooking ranges ordered to make them habitable. Squatters at the AA site were given priority for council rehousing. 

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Throughout 1947 Thorntree Estate was in various stages of construction. In 1948 clearing, levelling, and seeding of open spaces occurred. Trees and shrubs were planted along the Greenway and Barrington Crescent. Cargo Fleet Lane was widened. Houses 58 and 103 on the Greenway were designated for housing offices. 

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In 1950 most of the houses were completed and tenants were moving in. The schools at Spencerfield Crescent and the Greenway were complete. Building continued in places until 1953. A sub police station was completed near the recreation ground on the Greenway. Flooding at Shrewsbury Road was reduced by building a new drain. 

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In 1955 it was decided to develop the Pallister Avenue allotments area. The Thorntree area was now fully developed and not unlike its appearance today. Suitable direction boards were put up at the entrance to the estate and street signs were made more prominent and secure. 

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A census taken in 1971 found that 17,358 people lived in the parish in 5078 households. Unemployment was running at 8.4% compared to 4.2% for Middlesbrough as a whole. Of those employed only 17.9% owned a car as compared to 41.7% across Middlesbrough. Of those who lived in the estate only 0.6% were termed professionals, 35% were skilled, 27% semi-skilled and 23.6% unskilled. These figures show that the essential working-class nature of the parish had remained constant throughout its short history. 

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The Brambles Farm Hotel which included original buildings from the farm was closed in 2015 and demolished in 2017 to be replaced by a petrol garage after being considered as residential buildings, shops and a convenience store.. The locals did try unsucesfully to save the pub by crowdfunding

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