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Old Swinford
Old Swinford photos
Displaying the first of 10 old photos of Old Swinford. View all Old Swinford photos
Old Swinford maps
Historic maps of Old Swinford and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Old Swinford maps
Old Swinford area books
Displaying 1 of 7 books about Old Swinford and the local area. View all books for this area
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Memories of Old Swinford
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West Midlands memories
SUMMER DAYS IN MARY STEVENS PARK
As a young boy from 1943 to 1960, I lived in Heath Lane, Stourbridge and I think I spent almost all my free time playing in Mary Stevens Park.
The area where the playground still stands would be where all the children would meet up, then decide what the game for that particular day would be. Quite often it would involve a ball. Coats or jumpers would be thrown down for goal posts if we played football, or one of the trees became the wicket if cricket was decided on.
Whatever the game we all had great fun.
When it snowed we would take our sledges to the top of the hill, near the Love Lane entrance and all speed downhill as fast as possible until the snow disappeared.
As very young children we fished in the lake for 'tiddlers' with homemade nets and a jam jar to carry home our catch. As we got older we'd fish 'illegally' with rod and line in the hope of... Read more
Swan Pool Park
I remember Swan Pool Park from the 1950s-60s. It is in South Road, Stourbridge. There used to be paddle-boats available to hire in the early 1960s, and there were lovely weeping-willow trees - even, perhaps, swans.
The pool was filled in during the 1970s, and the playground became derelict. How sad.
The Park Keeper
I remember the boating pool in Swan Pool Park, the park keeper was Mr. Willits, he still owes me a go in a paddle boat, I hired a boat, I think it cost 3d, after a few minuets rowing, he called me in and said he needed to go, but if I came back he would let me have a boat for nothing, does anyone know where Mr. Willits lives...
fond memories.
Looking up The Long Drive
I remember in 1957, aged 13, arriving with my mom and dad up the drive and going round to the needle room to take my casefull of my clothes for the first term, then being taken into Main Block and up the stairs to dorm 6, my home for the first term. There I met my life-long friend-to-be, Robin. We sat on our beds and felt very lost. It was a Wednesday, there were tears till Sunday, then the sun shone and I was lost in a world of models, stamps, widegames, marbles and kick the can and never looked back, a wonderful time.
A Gentlmen From Amblecote
A Gentlemen from Amblecote, Staffordshire
By The Oracle | April 16, 2009
This public voice, dos not usually, print obituaries. However, three persons have signed their names to a tribute to Samuel Kinnear from Amblecote, and we feel it should be heard.Samuel Kinnear, universally, known as "SAM" was a successful business man. A veteran of the Second World War, a family man, who had two loves in life, which were His wife, family and The Royal British Legion.
He spend all his spare time working for the RBL. He was a member of his local branch, his local group and the county executive. He held most of the offices, open to all branch members. He was County President for years. He organised the sporting activities of his County for years. He was universally liked. He did, however, make a few enemies. Persons of no consequence, failures in their own lives, who resented his popularity, success and drive.
The usual character assassination associated with such persons, started in later life... Read more
Nan's House
Mr grandparents lived at 80 Dudley Road. This property was many years earlier a public house (I think it was called the Raven or the Blackbird). It was next to the railway line. To this day it has helped to give me a love of steam engines.
I remember the Christmas tree was at the top end of the high street (later it was moved to the Cross). The Clifton cinema had been converted to a toy store, it was like an Aladdin's cave. John Webb and his pony and trap were a regular sight.
Later I would work in Lye, first with the parks department of the council, later for Annabel's florist. I love the humour and warmth of Lye people, my immediate family have all at some time felt the love of Lye people.
Like all places, Lye has changed, and I don't think for the better. Ok, the slum housing has gone, but what has replaced it, yet more (modern) back to backs. I remember the... Read more
Memories of Lye in The 1950s
I too remember the Clifton Cinema and the temp. cinema, also the Salvation Army. There was 'Thornley' who sold veggies from his horse and cart, also 'Kitson' who sold bread from his horse drawn van with his brother, 'Wacaden' milk, the knife grinder who came round on his bike and coverted it into a grinder, gas lamps in the street, and where I lived at 19 Hayes Lane, gas and electric was in the house, Lye church when it had a steeple, the water tank opposite the Clifton from which my father Josh saved a small boy from drowning. Orchard Lane Infants School, also the Juniors and Valley Road Secondary Modern, where Jeramiah Harper was the headmaster.
Just a few of my memories, I've hundreds more...
Keith Shaw
