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A historic railway signal box, in Stockton, has been granted Grade II status by English Heritage as part of its Heritage Plan project. Norton East signal box dates back to the 19th century and is one of the last surviving examples of its kind. Located at Norton East junction in Stockton-on-Tees, the signal box is one of two in the Borough from 1870 – the other is located at Norton South.

The Grade II listing now recognises Norton East as having special architectural and historic interest. English Heritage, the Government's statutory adviser on the historic environment responsible for the allocation of listing grade, set out a range of reasons as to why the signal box now deserved listed status.

The signal box is a very rare surviving example of a typical form of signal box, with its gable wall facing the railway tracks. Although the signal box retains many of its original features, a projecting side extension was added as a characteristic building modification, of which the signal box is the last known example to survive.

Norton East Signal Box still has its original timber windows and has not been modernised internally, keeping its inside unchanged from the days of steam locomotives. With only the external timber steps replaced with steel, the signal box also has its original porch intact and is otherwise untouched. The listing means the signal box will now be protected and remain in place as a mark of the region’s railway heritage and to showcase its historical value.