Foolow, Derbyshire

The Unitarian holiday camp

I was 10 when I was sent from my home in Bognor Regis to the Unitarian Church's holiday camp at Great Hucklow for three weeks. Since I was the only child from the south of England, I was frequently teased about my accent. I remember being miserable a lot of the time thinking that my parents had wanted to get rid... [more]

A soldiers Lament

Will I ever hear the wind sough in the trees as I lie in my trench in the night? Will I ever hear our Anna's laughing voice. or see my mother's kindly face? Here in the trenches of the Somme, lying in the mud, the everlasting mud, my thoughts fly like the birds on wing, back to my home, to Little... [more]

For Mum, Annie Ashworth .

I am Heather Johnson. I am 57 years old. My grandmother's name was Laura Frith, born in 1915 (sometime referred to as Swales Friths) from Stoney Middleton. I had other relatives in Eyam and Grindleford, other family name Outram. My grandmother moved to Greenfield Saddleworth as a young woman and married an Ashworth, a local wheelwright and farrier. Time marches on... [more]

Memories of growing up in 1940s Tideswell

Memories of visiting Uncle Bernard at his cobbler's shop, and smelling the leather and sweaty feet. Uncle Bernard makes crisps, peeling potatoes so thin with the knife he uses to cut leather, and the crisps taste good, Uncle Bernard is my friend. We go to the Orchard behind the Club(Ex- Service Mens Club). He keeps Banties there (small hens to you),... [more]

Memories of growing up in 1940s Tideswell

Up past the lightning tree, its trunk split in half where it was struck. Round Conjoin Lane and back home to Mum. Big brother and sister, our Vee and our George, fair-haired and handsome, this brother of mine. Our Vera is dark, beautiful and mysterious, seven years older, I love her to bits. She puts my long hair in rags and... [more]

Memories of growing up in 1940s Tideswell

My memories of growing up in 1940s' Tideswell are: navy blue knickers with elastic bottoms, gym slips and liberty bodices, awful shoes, legs like poppy stems, twirling and whirling, chalk on the blackboard, desks with inkwells, teachers so prim we held them in awe - they knew each and every one of us. Snotty noses, permanent sniffs, the thick and the... [more]

The "White Hart Inn"

My Gt.Gt.Grandparents ran this Inn in Bradwell during the 1870's. Their names were John & Ann Archer. They originally came from West Yorkshire in a place called Kirkburton.
John & Ann had a great many children who married into Bradwell families.
John & Ann both died in 1879 wilthin a few months of each other & are buried in St.Barnabus... [more]

The "White Hart Inn" Towngate

My husband's ancestors John & Ann Archer were Innkeeper's of this Inn in Bradwell in the 1850's. They lived here until their deaths in 1879 & are buried in St.Barnabus Churchyard.
They both originally came from Kirkburton West Yorkshire & at one time were Tollkeepers for nearby Mytham Bridge Toll Road.