In 1974, the county borough of Stockton-on-Tees was ceated in 1974 from the Stockton part of the Teesside county borough, along with part of Stockton Rural District in County Durham and part of Stokesley Rural District from the North Riding of Yorkshire. It took over the running of existing children's homes at Hartington Road, Stockton, and on the Attlee Estate, Tow Law.