Church Street c1960, Denton

Gatehouse.

As a child I spent many happy holidays in Denton. My Grandparents lived in the right-hand side of the gatehouse; their names were James and Jane Howell. He was a gardener at the Hall. I remember at the age of about five years old, rushing out to open the big gates for horses or vehicles to come through on their way to the Hall. When my Grandfather retired, they went to live in one of the houses that were set back from the road, halfway down the village street. Later Gran and one of her daughters lived in the almshouses in the park. At that time I had to stay with them for some weeks, owing to illness at home. I went to the village school, I think the headmaster's name was Mr Geeson. Mostly I remember the wonderful walk back home to Gran's, up the lane through a spinney of trees and into the park. There were wild strawberries in the grass, and violets, sweet chestnuts and conkers of... Read more