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St Blazey, Fore Street 1956
St Blazey, Fore Street 1956 Ref: S8024
Memories of St Blazey, Fore Street
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Families of St Blazey in the 40s/50s.
My father was one of the local butchers, Jack Grigg. He and my mother ran the shop opposite the church. My grandfather was John Charles Grigg who lived at a house called Mount View at the bottom of Rose Hill. When my father was born he was living at no. 9 Station Road. My greatgrandfather, Charles Rogers Grigg lived at Canal Cottages between the canal and Bailey's corn store. My great-great grandfather was John Grigg from up around Antony/St Germans who came to St Blazey to work at either Fowey or Par Consols mine somewhere around 1830. He married Ann Rogers from Par and they had 10 children, my greatgrandfather being the youngest. When I went to St Blazey boys school in the late 50s lots of the boys came from the fairly new Landreath estate. Several large families there, fine people, hardworking, honest folk. In those days in addition to the church, the town had two Methodist chapels, one in Station Road and one at Chapel Terrace. Let me put down some family names from the St Blazey of that era, with apologies to the ones I forget. Allen, Oke, Grainger, Studley, Brown, Clemo, Hobba, Kirwan, Simler, Collings, Davies, Phillips, Soady, Husband, Rickard, Parker, Stead, Richardson, Billing, Hooper, Williams, Stephens, Hoskins, Carne, Macpherson, Rowe, Green, Hagelstein, Giece, Rideout, Bowden, Burley, Hooper, Crocker, Holland, Pearce, Gilbert, Stead. Last edited: 25/07/2007 16:59 by Melville Grigg |
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Year: 1950
Shops in St Blazey
I will continue with some information on the businesses in St Blazey around 1950. Station Road, starting with no. 1. Grigg's the butchers, the house where I was born and the shop run by Jack Grigg. The next business, no.3 Station Road was the fish and chip shop run by Everett Turner and his wife. I remember the coal fired range and the white tiled top tables for the sit down meals. The next business, no.13, Haberland's, the barbers. Next to him Vage, the jeweller, the next business a little further down, Tamblin's, greengrocers. Then Lloyds bank, the manager Mr Barrett. We then have to go way down next to the boys school to find the Co-op furniture shop. Then way further down to Mr Roberts the mens outfitter, next to him, the doctors surgery. Further down again the large building of the St Blazey & District Co-operative Society with a grocery department and a drapery department. Then to complete that side of the road we have Bennett's shop with the petrol pump outside, which I remember being worked with a hand pump, by Nell Bennett. I will now cross the road and go up on the other side. The cosy corner cafe, then the Co-op milk depot (Tommy Cox and Stan Bowden, the milkmen). Then Padfield's the jewellers. Up the road a way then to the shop of Jack Bennett, Foundry Yard, Jenkin's the butcher next. Mrs Puckey's grocery next and then Russell Hambly's cobblers shop. Then another barber, Mr Libby. The Bennett brothers' garage next, Jack and Arthur with the printers business of Jack Carter above them. Carne's bakery came next and then another chemists belonging to Mr Wlliams. Mr Vincent's newsagents next then Tom Jackson the vet. Last edited: 25/07/2007 17:04 by Melville Grigg |
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Year: 1951
Shops in Fore Street
As a native of St Blazey, I would like to write about the businesses there at the time. The first shop on the church side " The International Stores", a fine shop managed by Mr Vincent, who also owned the newsagents in Station Road. Next to "Star" (the name used by locals for the International, because it was originally the Star Tea Company) was Barlow's cycle shop. Next the shop of the Best brothers, plumbers, Harry, Herbert and Arthur. They had a little green Jowett pick-up truck. Next to that a little cake shop run by Mrs Bounsell, "Lovelle", the sister of Mr Couch, the local baker who was to become the creator of the famous "Couch's Saffron Cakes". Next to that "CORNYS", the older generation will remember the business of Leonard Cornelius and how he produced the penny ice lolly. He would be present at the local football matches selling his wares, at that time the crowds were vast. Next to Cornys was the very posh tobacconists "Challacombes" run by Miss Challacombe. The next shop then was a grocers called Warren's on Pack Horse Hill. Now I'm sorry I've missed a shop on that side. It was between Bests and the cake shop. It was a butchers run by Mr Roseveare and his son Donald. Now I'll start Fore Street on the other side opposite the International Stores. The first one was the Wool shop run by Mrs Mavis Williams, next to that Mr Cook's shop, hardware, paraffin, boot and shoe repairs. At one time he employed two men repairing boots and shoes, Russell Hambly and Russell Blight. Next, the Post Office, run by Mr Charles Rundle, at that time it had a substantial grocery section. Next one the Market Inn, then Norman Johns, fruit shop. Then Smith's electricians and retailers of electrical goods. Next door another radio retailer, Osborns. Next to them we have the haberdashery and clothes shop of Mrs Cook, wife of the cobbler. A short distance from that was the Working Men's Institute where billiards, snooker and table tennis was played. The next shop was a fish and chip shop, Broad's. Next door was the chemist's shop of Mr Williams and next to him another grocers, Mr Sandy. Another small grocers next door, Angove's and opposite of course the modern butcher's shop of the Kittow brothers. Well that's Fore Street. I'll return to the site at a LATER DATE and fill in Station Road. I was born at no 1 Station Road on the 1st July 1939. Last edited: 25/07/2007 17:15 by Melville Grigg |
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Year: 1940s
After the War Was Over
Just after the war during our summer holidays I was sent from Rochester (where we lived at that time, Dad having been demobbed and then working at Short Bros on the airport), together with my trusty Hercules cycle to spend the full summer school holidays with my Dad's Aunt and Uncle and their little fox terrier here in St Blazey. At that time they lived in Sea View Terrace and seeing Kittows shop brought back memories of my daily morning walk down the steep hill to them armed with an enamel jug to collect the day's milk, and woe betide me if any was spilt on my way back up the hill (only joking, they were two of the kindest people I have ever met). Auntie Beat was almost as round as she was tall and what a marvellous cook she was, cake was on the table at every meal and Cod liver oil and malt was dished out after breakfast, a lovely gooey mess. Our family, all being of Cornish origin, used to pride themselves on their pasties, but I can honestly say that none could hold a candle to hers. Maybe it was Kittows skirt that did it, now we'll never know. Life then seemed ideal. Just nearby was Kittows field where twice a day the cows were brought to and from for milking in their milking parlour behind the shop. We didn't need a clock as we could tell the time from their comings and goings. Part of the field was fenced off, containing, I was told, an old mine shaft and this was our rubbish patch. No dustbin men for us. Just stand near the fence and throw as far as you could. Keeping a wary eye open for any cow that had its calf there and ready to run for the field gate if she decided we'd come too close. The fields were our playground and the hedgerows were full of blackberries so we would always be sure of blackberry and apple pie, the apples scrumped from Ada Legg's garden when we were sure she was out. Having our bikes meant we could easily go to our local beaches. Par sands, where the tide seemed to go out for miles even making Par harbour a dry dock, which reminds me that everything seemed to be covered in China clay dust when the boats were being loaded. Uncle Ralph worked on the docks here and always came home covered in clay dust, I think that that ended up finishing him off, who knows. Anyway to get back to the main subject we had great times on Par sands looking for mines etc. We were told the beach had been mined during the war and no-one knew whether they had all been cleared. They must have been as we never found any. Our own private beach was Spit, where only the locals knew how to get there, "Foreigners", anyone not a local, weren't told of its whereabouts. It took some getting to but it was a lovely rocky beach where we would clamber about on the rocks making sure we took home a saddlebag of limpets which Auntie would cook up for supper. I'm told now that Spit beach is no more after cliff falls have now cut it completely off. Was it the late forties or the early fifties that we visited an open air "theatre" on Par sands where the players acted on a stage surrounded by tiers of seating rising up? I can't remember it as a youngster but do remember going there in my early teens. I do seem to remember that there were a lot of caravans around there then. I don't know whether anyone will ever read these ramblings or whether the people now living in number 8 find the area as happy for them as it was for me. I hope so. I went back to look around the area in the 1980's and saw the changes that the coming of the motor car has made to it. Gone were the high granite garden walls to make space for their cars, though no.8 still looked as I remembered it as luckily it had a garage store to the rear, the bottom wall still had the same two stones I used to sit on pretending I was on a motorbike. Gosh, the memories were flooding back. Last edited: 29/03/2007 18:19 by Mike Mumford |
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St Blazey & local memories
Read and share memories of St Blazey and Cornwall inspired by Frith photos
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Year: 1965
The Cinema
Tha Palace Cinema in St Blazey was one of the longest operating cinemas in England. I worked there as the usherette during the middle to late 60s (I believe it is now closed). We had films three times a week and bingo twice a week - there was a Saturday morning children's cartoon show. I did everything from selling tickets to urshering and during the interval selling chocolates, drinks and ice cream. I have always been an avid cinema fan and as I saw everything that was presented at the Palace I was able to endulge my viewing and get paid for it! I lived at the top of Rose Hill and would walk home after the show without any worries for my safety. Our local pub was the Cornish Arms and it was run at that time By Ross Edwards and his wife. many a happy hour was spen there. My father painted and some of his paintings hung on the walls - I donated my collection of American banners and they were hung on the walls of the lounge bar. Posted: 27/05/2008 16:16 by Odette Lind |
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 St Blazey, Fore Street 1956 (ref: S8024) |
Families of St Blazey in the 40s/50s.
My father was one of the local butchers, Jack Grigg. He and my mother ran the shop opposite the church. My grandfather was John Charles Grigg who lived at a house called Mount View at the bottom of Rose Hill. When my father was born he was living at no. 9 Station Road. My greatgrandfather, Charles Rogers Grigg lived at Canal Cottages between the canal and Bailey's corn store. My great-great grandfather was John Grigg from up around Antony/St Germans who came to St Blazey to work at either Fowey or Par Consols mine somewhere around 1830. He married Ann Rogers from Par and they had 10 children, my greatgrandfather being the youngest. When I went to St Blazey boys school in the late 50s lots of the boys came from the fairly new Landreath estate. Several large families there, fine people, hardworking, honest folk. In those days in addition to the church, the town had two Methodist chapels, one in Station Road and one at Chapel Terrace. Let me put down some family names from the St Blazey of that era, with apologies to the ones I forget. Allen, Oke, Grainger, Studley, Brown, Clemo, Hobba, Kirwan, Simler, Collings, Davies, Phillips, Soady, Husband, Rickard, Parker, Stead, Richardson, Billing, Hooper, Williams, Stephens, Hoskins, Carne, Macpherson, Rowe, Green, Hagelstein, Giece, Rideout, Bowden, Burley, Hooper, Crocker, Holland, Pearce, Gilbert, Stead. Last edited: 25/07/2007 16:59 by Melville Grigg |
Add your own Memory Read/Post Comments [0 so far] Add to your Album |
|
St Blazey, Fore Street 1956 (ref: S8024) |
Year: 1950
Shops in St Blazey
I will continue with some information on the businesses in St Blazey around 1950. Station Road, starting with no. 1. Grigg's the butchers, the house where I was born and the shop run by Jack Grigg. The next business, no.3 Station Road was the fish and chip shop run by Everett Turner and his wife. I remember the coal fired range and the white tiled top tables for the sit down meals. The next business, no.13, Haberland's, the barbers. Next to him Vage, the jeweller, the next business a little further down, Tamblin's, greengrocers. Then Lloyds bank, the manager Mr Barrett. We then have to go way down next to the boys school to find the Co-op furniture shop. Then way further down to Mr Roberts the mens outfitter, next to him, the doctors surgery. Further down again the large building of the St Blazey & District Co-operative Society with a grocery department and a drapery department. Then to complete that side of the road we have Bennett's shop with the petrol pump outside, which I remember being worked with a hand pump, by Nell Bennett. I will now cross the road and go up on the other side. The cosy corner cafe, then the Co-op milk depot (Tommy Cox and Stan Bowden, the milkmen). Then Padfield's the jewellers. Up the road a way then to the shop of Jack Bennett, Foundry Yard, Jenkin's the butcher next. Mrs Puckey's grocery next and then Russell Hambly's cobblers shop. Then another barber, Mr Libby. The Bennett brothers' garage next, Jack and Arthur with the printers business of Jack Carter above them. Carne's bakery came next and then another chemists belonging to Mr Wlliams. Mr Vincent's newsagents next then Tom Jackson the vet. Last edited: 25/07/2007 17:04 by Melville Grigg |
Add your own Memory Read/Post Comments [0 so far] Add to your Album |
|
St Blazey, Fore Street 1956 (ref: S8024) |
Year: 1951
Shops in Fore Street
As a native of St Blazey, I would like to write about the businesses there at the time. The first shop on the church side " The International Stores", a fine shop managed by Mr Vincent, who also owned the newsagents in Station Road. Next to "Star" (the name used by locals for the International, because it was originally the Star Tea Company) was Barlow's cycle shop. Next the shop of the Best brothers, plumbers, Harry, Herbert and Arthur. They had a little green Jowett pick-up truck. Next to that a little cake shop run by Mrs Bounsell, "Lovelle", the sister of Mr Couch, the local baker who was to become the creator of the famous "Couch's Saffron Cakes". Next to that "CORNYS", the older generation will remember the business of Leonard Cornelius and how he produced the penny ice lolly. He would be present at the local football matches selling his wares, at that time the crowds were vast. Next to Cornys was the very posh tobacconists "Challacombes" run by Miss Challacombe. The next shop then was a grocers called Warren's on Pack Horse Hill. Now I'm sorry I've missed a shop on that side. It was between Bests and the cake shop. It was a butchers run by Mr Roseveare and his son Donald. Now I'll start Fore Street on the other side opposite the International Stores. The first one was the Wool shop run by Mrs Mavis Williams, next to that Mr Cook's shop, hardware, paraffin, boot and shoe repairs. At one time he employed two men repairing boots and shoes, Russell Hambly and Russell Blight. Next, the Post Office, run by Mr Charles Rundle, at that time it had a substantial grocery section. Next one the Market Inn, then Norman Johns, fruit shop. Then Smith's electricians and retailers of electrical goods. Next door another radio retailer, Osborns. Next to them we have the haberdashery and clothes shop of Mrs Cook, wife of the cobbler. A short distance from that was the Working Men's Institute where billiards, snooker and table tennis was played. The next shop was a fish and chip shop, Broad's. Next door was the chemist's shop of Mr Williams and next to him another grocers, Mr Sandy. Another small grocers next door, Angove's and opposite of course the modern butcher's shop of the Kittow brothers. Well that's Fore Street. I'll return to the site at a LATER DATE and fill in Station Road. I was born at no 1 Station Road on the 1st July 1939. Last edited: 25/07/2007 17:15 by Melville Grigg |
Add your own Memory Read/Post Comments [0 so far] Add to your Album |
|
St Blazey, Fore Street 1956 (ref: S8024) |
Year: 1940s
After the War Was Over
Just after the war during our summer holidays I was sent from Rochester (where we lived at that time, Dad having been demobbed and then working at Short Bros on the airport), together with my trusty Hercules cycle to spend the full summer school holidays with my Dad's Aunt and Uncle and their little fox terrier here in St Blazey. At that time they lived in Sea View Terrace and seeing Kittows shop brought back memories of my daily morning walk down the steep hill to them armed with an enamel jug to collect the day's milk, and woe betide me if any was spilt on my way back up the hill (only joking, they were two of the kindest people I have ever met). Auntie Beat was almost as round as she was tall and what a marvellous cook she was, cake was on the table at every meal and Cod liver oil and malt was dished out after breakfast, a lovely gooey mess. Our family, all being of Cornish origin, used to pride themselves on their pasties, but I can honestly say that none could hold a candle to hers. Maybe it was Kittows skirt that did it, now we'll never know. Life then seemed ideal. Just nearby was Kittows field where twice a day the cows were brought to and from for milking in their milking parlour behind the shop. We didn't need a clock as we could tell the time from their comings and goings. Part of the field was fenced off, containing, I was told, an old mine shaft and this was our rubbish patch. No dustbin men for us. Just stand near the fence and throw as far as you could. Keeping a wary eye open for any cow that had its calf there and ready to run for the field gate if she decided we'd come too close. The fields were our playground and the hedgerows were full of blackberries so we would always be sure of blackberry and apple pie, the apples scrumped from Ada Legg's garden when we were sure she was out. Having our bikes meant we could easily go to our local beaches. Par sands, where the tide seemed to go out for miles even making Par harbour a dry dock, which reminds me that everything seemed to be covered in China clay dust when the boats were being loaded. Uncle Ralph worked on the docks here and always came home covered in clay dust, I think that that ended up finishing him off, who knows. Anyway to get back to the main subject we had great times on Par sands looking for mines etc. We were told the beach had been mined during the war and no-one knew whether they had all been cleared. They must have been as we never found any. Our own private beach was Spit, where only the locals knew how to get there, "Foreigners", anyone not a local, weren't told of its whereabouts. It took some getting to but it was a lovely rocky beach where we would clamber about on the rocks making sure we took home a saddlebag of limpets which Auntie would cook up for supper. I'm told now that Spit beach is no more after cliff falls have now cut it completely off. Was it the late forties or the early fifties that we visited an open air "theatre" on Par sands where the players acted on a stage surrounded by tiers of seating rising up? I can't remember it as a youngster but do remember going there in my early teens. I do seem to remember that there were a lot of caravans around there then. I don't know whether anyone will ever read these ramblings or whether the people now living in number 8 find the area as happy for them as it was for me. I hope so. I went back to look around the area in the 1980's and saw the changes that the coming of the motor car has made to it. Gone were the high granite garden walls to make space for their cars, though no.8 still looked as I remembered it as luckily it had a garage store to the rear, the bottom wall still had the same two stones I used to sit on pretending I was on a motorbike. Gosh, the memories were flooding back. Last edited: 29/03/2007 18:19 by Mike Mumford |
Add your own Memory Read/Post Comments [1 so far] Add to your Album |