Drakelowe 1947-2003

My family lived at Grove Cottage, Drakelow for 56 years. I was a few weeks old when we moved fromm Orgreave. At that time there was our parents, me, and four older sisters, the eldest being 15. My dad Arthur Taylor went to work at Grove Farm for the Staleys. I lived there until 1971. My mother lived there until her death in 2002 and my one and only brother left the year after. We were there when the first stone was laid for the power station. It was quite a sad day when the cooling towers were demolished. I have very fond memories of growing up in Drakelowe - we always spelt it with an 'e' in those days. Our cottage was in the midlde of a field which caused a few problems in bad weather especially when it snowed or rained - it was normal for us to go out in our wellington boots and leave them by the farm gate before we got on the bus.

Gwen