Ackworth, West Yorkshire

Featherstone

I was born in Featherstone in 1956 and lived there until 1962 when we moved to Hampshire. My dad was also born there. We lived at 46 Market Street and my grandparents lived at 64 Featherstone Lane, on the corner of Gordon Street. I believe my great-grandparents lived in Featherstone Lane too. My grandfather (Arthur Haigh) was a miner all his... [more]

Growing up in North Featherstone

I remember a happy childhood, playing in the streets with my best friends Joyce Dean, Linda Perry & Maureen Beaumont amongst many, we had quite a large gang,
playing rounders or sitting around telling ghost stories, we also used to take peoples babies for a walk and go to Pontefract Park.The school we attended was Gordon Street and my favourite teacher... [more]

You are dead right

It is Green lane but I remember this spot as Cressys Corner,my dad Bill Atkinson used to sit on the seat during the day Until the Green Lane Club opened ,Then after dark it was a favorate spot for us to gather,As IRecall lBill Major Colin Jaques Keith Bullock Carl Farington Pat Sutton to name but a few ,I live in... [more]

A Good Time To Be Living In Featherstone

I was 10 when Featherstone Rovers beat Wigan and Leigh in getting to the Wembley final.  We lived in the school house immediately opposite the entrance on Post Office Road.  What a wonderful period in history of the town.
I was born on Vicarage Lane and schooled at Regent Street and then George Street Junior School.  Eventually Normanton Grammer school.
I... [more]

before they were built

WHEN I WAS A KID THIS WAS THE SITE OF A FARM IN THE 1940s ( I think it belonged to farmer Copley).  THE BIG HOUSE IN THE BACKGROUND BELONGED TO DR MARJERY.  THE HOUSE IS STILL THERE BUT THE SURGERY WAS KNOCKED DOWN, AND WAS RESITED NEXT TO ST THOMAS' CHURCH.

Colliery Blacksmith

My granddad, Arthur Walker, was a miner at South Kirkby colliery until his retirement around 1960; and my dad, Richard Edwin Walker, known as Ted to his mates, was a blacksmith.
Dad started at the colliery when he left school aged 14, in 1936, as a blacksmith's striker, eventually becoming a blacksmith himself.  I visited the colliery many times with my... [more]

Sinking feeling

My grandad used to work at South Kirkby pit for many years, so growing up I was forever hearing stories of his days down the mine. Being a very inquisitive child I would spend hours exploring, even though my grandad used to tell me how dangerous it could be round the colliery. He used to also live on the Northfield estate,... [more]

Normanton High Street

The shop (bottom left, with pram outside) was Babyland, the town's toy shop since at least the 1920's. My father bought his first bicycle there when he began work at the age of 14 in 1928.