Nostalgic memories of Bradley's local history
Share your own memories of Bradley and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying Memories 1 - 10 of 11 in total
Over the road from the pub was were we used to have to go to mrs loaches .It was a tiny little shop,
Could my mum have a quarter of boiled ham.the reply would be no but I've got some nice cheese.or tell your mother we've got some nice bananas.it was such a funny little shop .Hilda came the shrill voice get worseys kid some nice boiled ham.mrs loach writ on her strange counter made of white tin,I used to ...see more
We where often told not to go there,as it was too big and we would get lost.Of course on a lovely day what a nice place to go exploring.Running up the hill and rolling back down. At the bottom of the hill you could see Bradley park,we didn't dare go.Over the years they built a library which when it opened we used to que to get books out,the lady used to stamp your card and you could go and choose ...see more
The new year didn't mean allot to us kids.The local pubs where full and busy there was singing in the streets.The Bird in Hand is where my dad little Ernie Worsey would sing.My older sisters and their boyfriends would be out celebrating with dad,and us kids would be in with mum,playing offices or hairdressers or doctors and nurses where we would bandage mum up,and use big sisters lipstick as blood.We ...see more
Christmas Eve when your little its the best time of the year.Mum has gone to Bilston market to pick up a few things like extra plates just in case,she will call in to Melias to get her fresh ham,then she will call in to Heaths for all the fruit tangerines,nuts,and monkey nuts.Mum will catch the green bus home the 24.As she gets off the bus we get all excited,she smiles with her arms full of shopping ...see more
The hairdressers was on the same road as the pub, it was a local girl who ran it. There was a butchers and some more shops and you could get to the big hilly across the road. As kids we where told not to go too far down the banks as we would get lost. The gypsies had a camp next to the factory, I think it was the Star foundry - not sure. Once a year the fair would come and would camp up on the ...see more
I can remember waiting for my mum to come home from shopping.At the bottom of our road we could see the bus stop,it was only a short walk and my mum always kept good time.The no 23 or 24.Saturday was always shopping day,fish and chips for dinner,home made of course.The buses where always on time there was never a problem.The 23 stopped by us but the 24 went further along up the road to Batmans Hill.Sounds funny now.
The local pub was the Bird in Hand. For the workers it was a meeting place. There was The Bush on the bridge, they were always busy.The lights always bright, lots of talking ,shouting and sometimes men were thrown out on to the pavement outside. Not many women went to the pubs, accept on a weekend when they could take the kids in the children's rooms. My mum would never join dad, she said he could ...see more
My dad worked at Mathews the iron founders, little Ernie Worsey. He was a shift worker, always dirty covered in black sand from head to foot. My dad used to cobble his own boots, and big boots they were. It was hard work and very dirty, but it was work. We had several factories along the main road, but as years went by there was no need for iron, so one by one they closed. When you look back and remember how much work we had locally, it was amazing. It's a lot cleaner now, but alas no jobs.
When the pool froze over and we would become great ice skaters or ballerinas. We would go sledging on anything we could find on those banks, they seemed like snow covered mountains. We would climb and slide down so quickly. We loved every inch of the banks and the winter snow; wearing socks on our hands we never did feel the cold.
Daisy Bank, with the lollipop lady always there and ready to tell you off if you were not concentrating on crossing the road. Playing tick and kiss chase in the playground. Looking after my little sister when she started school, she hated it. Miss Newman, I think she was my first teacher, "now children paint a picture to take home", you were given a piece of newspaper and told to paint it. ...see more