c1950, Mappleton
c1950, Mappleton Ref: M343014
Memories of c1950, Mappleton
Be the first to add a memory of c1950, Mappleton
Mappleton & local memories
Read and share memories of Mappleton and Derbyshire inspired by Frith photos.
Walks to Mappleton
My family moved to Ashbourne in 1942 when I was 6. My father was the engineer at the Nestle factory in the town and we lived in a big company house on the rising ground to the North of the town. There were two houses - mock Tudor - they are still there though more houses have been built on what were extensive gardens. There were two girls in the other house a little older than me and we went to the same school. We had Wednesday afternoons off school and our passion and delight was country walks. We used to walk regularly to Mappleton, collecting wild flowers along the way and spotting rabbits. I particularly remember the woodlands on the right hand side of the road and the violets in spring and the wood anenomes. I used to think it was a long way to Mappleton - my legs would get tired. One memory I have of our walks is encountering... Read more
Where it All Began!
My great grandfather John Plant (known as Jack) was the grave digger at Mappleton church, St Mary. He married Francoise Chevenia, a coloured lady bought over from Mauritius to work as a maid at the Manor House in Mappleton. They lived at Rose Cottage for about 13 years. Their son, John Frederick (Freddie), was born after the war in 1920. Although Francoise met an early death in 1928 John and Freddie remained at Rose Cottage. Freddie even brought his Yorkshire-born wife to live here. They lived there for several years but were forced to move because the house was to small for their growing family. My mother Patricia was born at Rose Cottage like her father before her, and still to this day feels a sadness at having to leave. One of her earliest memories is of her and her grandfather walking to the Post Office to collect his pension and get some sweets, her weekly treat.
I recently went to stay at the Bed & Breakfast in Mappleton and... Read more
