Green Man And Black's Head Royal Hotel 1886, Ashbourne
Green Man And Black's Head Royal Hotel 1886, Ashbourne Ref: 18577
Memories of Green Man And Black's Head Royal Hotel 1886, Ashbourne
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Ashbourne & local memories
Read and share memories of Ashbourne and Derbyshire inspired by Frith photos.
An Ashbourne Childhood
My family moved to Ashbourne in 1942 when I was 6. I went to school at what must have been the last of the old "Dame" schools run by an elderly lady called Ethel Hunter. The school was at the top of a big house in Church Street, owned by a dentist: Mr. Bligh. It was a small school, not more than a dozen children and we were all in the one classroom. We used to have Wednesday afternoons off school, Wednesday was half day closing day. This left us free to explore Ashbourne and the surrounding countryside. We walked everywhere and collected wild flowers which we pressed in books. I used to go home for lunch, running up Smith's yard and down again after lunch. One of the charms of Ashbourne - still there, I've been back - are the yards which connected the town with the upper roads - they are quite steep. At the top of Smith's yard... Read more
The 1950s
I was born at the maternity hospital in 1951, we lived at 3 St Oswalds Crescent and my granny and grandad lived close by on Park Road. I attended St Oswalds C of E School - I had a lady head teacher whose name escapes me before moving up to Parkside Juniors - Mr Lawton was Headmaster. We used to play Shrovetide at school but it was banned for beeing too exuberant. Joined the Church Choir - C Daly Atkinson - organist and choimaster. Open air swimming pool, school dinners. Joined the Cubs - was the first cub to get Leaping Wolf at New Scout Hut. We went to Butlins at Skegness in 1958 - first holiday I remember. Shrovetide - with boarded windows, Woolies and Boots next to it, the gingerbread shop, 2 cinemas - the Empire - saw the Incredible Shrinking Man, The Elite. Left in 1963 - going back Saturday with brother Mick to taste the nostalgia.
