The Francis Frith Collection.
You are here:

Little Cransley

Little Cransley maps

Historic maps of Little Cransley and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all Little Cransley maps

Little Cransley photos

We have no photos of Little Cransley, although we do have photos of these nearby places:

Kettering| Rothwell| Isham| Barton Seagrave| Burton Latimer| Warkton| Rushton| Desborough| Geddington| Finedon| Wellingborough| Little Oakley

Little Cransley area books

Displaying 1 of 8 books about Little Cransley and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of Little Cransley

No memories of Little Cransley have been shared yet - be the first!
Add your memory of Little Cransley or of a photo of Little Cransley.

Northamptonshire memories

Working in Kettering Careers Office

People in The High Street c1960
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

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

Bus Station c1965
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

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

Bakehouse Hill c1955
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

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.

Silver Street 1955

Silver Street c1955
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

I first started work for Colliers Cabinet Makers in School Lane and as an apprentice I had to go for the cakes and biscuits at a bakers shop in Silver Street which was situated just around the corner from School Lane.
When this picture was taken, I was in the Merchant Navy and when on leave, regularly purchased a suit from Burtons' "Fifty Bob Tailors', which is just in view to the extreme right.
The street has not changed much physically during the past fifty years or so, but some of the old pubs have long disappeared.

Hairdressers/Barbers

Would anyone remember the name and exact location of a hairdressers/barbers shop in Kettering Regent Street area? Looking at late 1920's onwards.

High Tipper

Blue Bell Inn c1965
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

I visited the Bluebell Inn and spent only a modest amount, however I left half a crown as a tip because of a very nice waitress. I left and had walked about two blocks, when the lady chased me down to thank me. I was quite surprised at this, but managed to remain calm and smiled graciously. Told her that if I came again to the Bluebell, I would surely look her up.

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

© Copyright 1998-2012 Frith Content Inc. All rights reserved.