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Gnosall memories

Here are memories of Gnosall and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Gnosall or a Gnosall photo.

I Now Live in Gnosall Mason Lawn...

Mason's Lawn c1955
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I now live in Gnosall Mason Lawn after living on the cut for a number of years when I was forced off due to ill health. I was born in Brineton about 3 miles from Gnosall. I have lived on Masons Lawn now for about 4 years and it's ok.

Mason''s Lawn

Mason's Lawn c1955
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We moved from the hamlet of Moreton/Bromstead to Gnosall, where my Dad worked, (based at the council wharf) in 1958, and Mason's lawn wasn't built then!  We used to have our bonfires on the site and, if 1963 was the year it snowed really heavily (and I believe it was) - we were still building snowmen and rolling massive snowballs there!

Norbury Junction!

Canal Junction c1955
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This is Norbury Junction, not far from but, definitely not Gnosall.
The boys in the woodwork class at school (Gnosall) built a canoe as a project which was afterwards stored in the old Mill on the opposite side of the canal to the Navigation Inn. (The Mill was the first in the area to be steam powered, I think). The canoe could be hired out for 6d, and it was very popular with me amongst others! (in the summer months I virtually 'hogged it'.) I used to paddle up and down the canal, sometimes reaching Norbury junction.

The Boat

The Boat is the name of the Inn on the left of the picture. As children we used to walk across the top of bridge wall and, as a further dare, across the pipes which ran just below the parapet, above the water.
   Once, when I was serenely paddling the canoe back from Cowley Tunnel, a loaded barge came up behind me 'out of no-where'. It was MUCH BIGGER than I would have thought a barge could be, even if I had expected one, which I hadn't.  I don't know who was the more horrified: me or the bargee!!!!

Memories of Staffordshire

Leawood Pitts, High Offley

My Great Great Grandfather was  a farmer and the owner of Leawood Pitts from around 1848 to 1892. His name was John Clemson and he farmed about 46 acres. He had a wife, Mary, and seven children. I have a photograph of the farmhouse taken sometime during that period, and also some historical information. I thought this might get the Memories of High Offley page started.

My Life There

I remember the days when I lived on a farm that was owned by Mark Carter from Eccleshall Castle. I had so much fun living in Eccleshall that I didn't want to move when the farm was sold. I had loads of friends and good memories, I remember when all the children were given a Silver Jubilee coin at school, the walks to the church from Lonsdale School, and to the common at the top of the junction of Kerry Lane and we had to pass by the Jacksons' place, I was friends with their son Carl. I also remember the Royal Oak pub because my mum and Joyce Robinson worked there for Geoff Hurst the footballer who owned it at that time. The chip shop down the side of the Oak when they used newspaper to wrap your chips, they sold a Ford Anglia to my dad. The Badger that was then called the Railway Inn and owned by Ron and Connie. I had a best mate like all... Read more

Carnival

I lived and went school in wheaton aston, and once a year the village carnival was held. It had several floats that were themed and there was a MAYPOLE dance on the village green. It was also the home of the village bus stop. The building on the right of the picture was the primitive methodist chapel, (The PRIMS) I was a member for some years

Fishing

During the school holidays the canal and it's towpath became a playground for many of the village children. Several of us caught the fishing bug and used the canal many times throughout the holiday. We always looked out for a barge called the MENDIP. The bargee was a gentleman called Charlie Atkins. His route was from the CADBURY factory at Knighton to Bournville in Birmingham. This was the origin of his nickname (Chocolate Charlie). We always asked him for a bit of chocolate but it was the raw chocolate crumb before it had been milled and was all but uneatable. If he was in a good mood we were alowed a ride up the canal for about 2 bridges then it was Get off home to your mother. Can you see that happening today?

The Forge

Long Street 1952
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I lived at the Forge, Long Street, Wheaton Aston, between 1955 to 1959 when I moved to Wolverhampton. I would be very interested if anybody has any pictures of the Forge. The house stood opposite Whiteways the butchers and next to the car park for the Coach and Horses pub. There was a slaughter house down Frog Lane then. The side of the house was right onto the road and the blacksmiths was attached to the house. All the tools and bellows were still there then. The  forge was demolished and three detached bungalows are on the site now. There was a cobblers down Frog Lane by the church, sometimes the cobbler, an old gentleman, would open the bottom of the stable type door and you could see his wooden leg! (can someone else remember this? or am I getting mixed up.)

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