You are here:
Cranford
Cranford maps
Historic maps of Cranford and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Cranford maps
Cranford photos
We have no photos of Cranford, although we do have photos of these nearby places:
Barton Seagrave| Burton Latimer| Warkton| Lowick| Finedon| Isham| Islip| Kettering| Denford| Geddington| Irthlingborough| Thrapston| Stanwick| Raunds| Little Oakley| Higham Ferrers| Stanion| Wellingborough| Rushton
Cranford area books
Displaying 1 of 8 books about Cranford and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Cranford
No memories of Cranford have been shared yet - be the first!
Add your memory of Cranford
or of a photo of Cranford.
Northamptonshire memories
Smithy
Ref: the smithy to the left of the thatched cottages.
I was evacuated at the age of 11, birthday the day before, to Miss Scott's cottage (which was sited opposite the smithy). On my first day in Barton (1/9/39) I was given a bedroom in the attic that had a small window where I used to watch the smith at work. It was my favourite place to sketch.
I enjoyed my life in the village, the kids accepted us, and we roamed the fields and trespassed in the spinney. Whatever happened to Pat Weston from the sweetshop?
My sisters initially went to the Hall then to Mr and Mrs Henson's on Barton Road.
My best wishes go to all those who made us welcome in those dark days.
Tom Andrews, London.
PS. Ms Scott used to look after the church and one of my sisters got married there.
The Old Red Lion
I was born in the above pub in 1940. My grandmother Mary Jane Abbot used to run it and there was an old skittle alley in the bar. I was born in the room above it. The pub used to have an old rose garden, an orchard and a small car park, a pet pig [Sally] and I used to help pull the pints aged 3 in the bar. There was an old boy called "Champ" who used to tease me all the time, telling me "You've got your Mam's ribbon on" or some such nonsense. Another esteemed customer was a Mr Fort. My uncle Colin was a fine jazz piano player and played in the pub [where he lived with Mary Jane] until he married in about 1950. The rose garden and the skittle alley have gone now. I used to play in the fields of corn, and we spent Christmas there most years when I was a child. I adored it all and still miss it. A lady... Read more
The Red Lion Isham
We bought our house in 1968, it is almost opposite the Red Lion. The landlord at the time was Mr. Fred Nobles who was my wife's uncle, and we believe he had been landlord from about 1955. The pub still had an orchard at that time with Gents toilets "up the yard". One of the most talked about clients was the Lion from Wellingborough Zoo who visted the pub and stood with his front paws on the bar while partaking of some liquid refreshment. Fred continued as landlord until I think 1978, when the pub was taken over by Mr. P. Stanbrook.
Mrs. Hilda Cheney was still living with her husband Jack in Langton Place, and every washday would walk across the A 509 and hang her washing out on a line on the Motar Pits which was common land.
Islip in The Early 60's
Greetings, My name is Diane and I am an American who lived in the Grange on High Street in Islip in the early 60's. My father was in the USAF stationed at Alconberry. I have fond memories of Islip. I remember going to the fair in the churchyard, walking to Thrapston for fish and chips and, much to the dismay of one of the local farmers, I remember chasing some cows around a pasture. I attended a one room school in Islip with the other children from town. A few years ago, I received a letter and some photos from a very kind gentlemen, Mr. T.C. Horrel (I think this was his name). He placed a temporary web page up of the village with some wonderful pictures of the village. If anyone remembers me, please feel free to contact me.
Working in Kettering Careers Office
I spent an enjoyable month in Spring 1988 working for Kettering Careers Office as part of my training during a post grad year for my Careers Guidance Diploma.
I remember Tresham College, lovely shops, friendly people, a comfortable bed and breakfast for the month arranged for me by the college, and my journey each Sunday and Friday evening by train from my Watford home to Kettering via Bletchley and Bedford. Although it was only March I remember cherry trees in blossom along the roadside!
I met some fascinating people in the most unusual jobs such as as fletcher and a jigsaw maker and a factory making bubble wrap!
The Bus Station
I have put 1970 as my year of recollection, but I was catching the 259 service from bay 5 at about the time this photograph was taken.
In 1970 I was working on the buses as a conductor and by 1974 as a driver.
You will see in the photo that buses reversed onto the bays, this changed in the mid 1970s, with the introduction of more fromt entry buses, from then we drove onto the bay and reversed off.
At the far end was a cafe (near bays 1 and 2) and at this end a waiting room and a boking office.
A block of flats now stands on this site, but the bus garage is still there, just to the left of the photo.
Bakehouse Hill
The bakehouse was a regular visit for us on Saturday mornings - when we used to go to the morning picture shows - and we would call in to buy freshly baked crusty rolls to eat during the film, but were usually consumed long before we got to our seats.
The picture still shows the roading with its cobbles still in place.
