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Shaw Mills memories

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

Early Childhood

My father was the manager at the bottom tannery in Shaw Mills and we lived in Sunny Lea from 1955 - 1960. Although I was only 6 when we left, I have numerous vivid memories of that idyllic time and feel privileged to have lived there.
My sister and I used to walk up to Hardcastle's farm to get eggs and our mother wasn't very pleased when we brought a kitten home instead!
On Saturdays we were allowed to walk down to Miss Stead's shop to spend our pocket money.
We went to Sunday school at the methodist chapel and were close friends of the Petches who lived next door on Millbank Terrace.
What a wonderful start to life!

Memories of North Yorkshire

Birstwith Remembered And Cherished

I was born in Birstwith and lived there until I married and my ancestors for several generations lived, farmed and owned the flour mill. In 1964 I was a member for the church choir and rang bells, they were such happy times. The choir mistress was Peggy Myers (nee Hewitt) abd we had such fun on the choir trips and festivals, we never stopped laughing. At Christmas the vicar Rev Capel Cure took us carol singing but he used to get so drunk we had to walk home but again I had some great times as a youngster. I was married at St. James's Church in 1981 and both my children were christened there even though we lived in Harrogate. My daughter was married there in 2008 and hopes to have her baby christened there too. Things have changed a lot in Birstwith but whenever I return to the church where my parents are buried I go inside and sit in the choir stalls and quietly reminisce, there is... Read more

Schoolboy Days

I remember living at No 12 Kingwood Estate and spending many evenings after school playing cricket on the village pitch.

My Fiancee

I met a young lady named Pat Brown, who lived at 3 Station Cottages in Wormald Green. I was a young army apprentice from nearby Harrogate and I first met Pat at the cinema in Harrogate one weekend. I was posted abroad to Germany when my training finished. I kept in contact with Pat and eventually became engaged. But I had to go back to Germany and Pat was seduced by an older man named James Lindsay who was already married and in his forties. She broke off our engagement and married him. He died in the mid 80s as I found out when I wrote to Pat on the off-chance, but she was already with another guy so once again the love of my life escaped me. I moved to Australia to find a new life but always my thoughts return to Wormald Green and those Station Cottages where my first love was born and blossomed into a beatiful rose. Pat if you read this, please contact me, I... Read more

Dacre Banks

My Grandfather, D J R Wilson had lived in Dacre Banks since just after the end of the war meaning that as a child would often have to visit. As a teenager I never appreciated just how beautiful the place is, or how lucky I was to have somewhere like this to visit.
Sadly I would imagine that I will only ever visit Dacre once more and then I'll never pass through again. I hope the scenery and the people stay the same and that it remains as ageless and as charming as I will always remember it.

Chris Clayton

05/08/09

Dacre Banks

I was born in 1952 and lived in Dacre Banks until I was 20. When I was young I can remember watching the once weekly goods train shunting at Dacre. Sadly my father (D J R Wilson) who lived there died 4th Aug 2009 so from going there every Sunday to see him, I have very little reason to go, so not only did I lose my father but I lost what I consider to be my home.

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