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Southwell memories

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

Infant School

The Methodist infant school's headmaster was George Topliss, my teacher was Mrs Cresswell. The school is now a private house. There were only three classes, infants, juniors and seniors. If you did not pass the 11+ you stayed until 14-15 years and then went to work. In the juniors was an ogre of a teacher, really strict and who spat when getting cross. Getting to Mr Topliss's class was the aim, he was lovely, or when Miss Hallam left, even better, getting into Mr Bushells class, it broke my heart when he got married! I still remember most of the names of those in my class. We all lived locally. In the winter our milk froze. Our toilets were at the bottom of the playground. All the teachers were in school, the caretaker lived in caretaker's house in the school grounds and never failed to have a warm school for us, the infants class had an open log/coal fire which heated the boiler/radiators, none of the school was harmed, no... Read more

A memory of Southwell, shared by Nesta Phillips.

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Ideal Cinema

I was a projectionist at the cinema, we had a change of programe three times a week. The manager then was Mr Charles Ellis, he then lived at Halam, he used to bike to work then. There was also a ballroom at the top of the cinema, the people came from all over to dance on Saturday night. I also have seen long queues waiting to get into pictures. There was also for a short time live talent shows on the stage. There were two shops attached to the cinema, on one side was a cafe, the other was Bakers fish & chips but not at the same time. The nearest pub was the Shoulder of Mutton, the next business around there was Butler the painter. Thankyou.

A memory of Southwell, shared by George Knight.

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A Southwellian

I was born in 1941 on Westgate in Southwell opposite the old fire station - now offices - and my father was assistant headmaster at the Grammar School and my mother was a domestic science teacher at the Edward Cludd School. We moved to Vicars Court on Church Street and Kirkbys was the grocers at the top of the street. On the corner stood the National Provincial Bank. Happy memories of running errands very safely in those days as a youngster. The town has grown very much bigger but still retains its character and I remember George Paling the official gravedigger and dog whipper which was his title and "Daddy" Chamberlain who was leader of the bellringers.

A memory of Southwell

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Memories of Nottinghamshire

Farming From Horses to Electronics.

My grandfather G. A. Smith took the tenancy of Springs Farm on Edingley Moor in 1931, when I was six months old. A builder by trade, and a sergeant in the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry during the First World War, he farmed entirely with horses and the hand-graft of his sons and daughters, not to mention his wife Aggie. In 1934 agricultural depression was at its worst and he went back to his trade and his son-in-law, my father David Butler (Jack) Watts took over the tenancy. The farm was then part of the Hexgreave Estate. Jack, a champion ploughman from Derbyshire, brought an old Fordson with him to supplement the horses, and was able to start farming with a contract with the new Milk Marketing Board. The farm then had its own watermill, and by gradually adding labour-saving machinery and another tractor Jack was able to get established. I was eight when the war started, and in August 1940 the farm was straddled with about 180 incendiary bombs, possibly jettisoned... Read more

A memory of Edingley, shared by John Watts.

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Family History

My parents married in this church on 10th December 1960.
I was christened here in 1962. My father's ashes were scattered in the churchyard in 1993. To my family this is a special place.

A memory of Rolleston, shared by Julie Morgan.

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Scout Camp

The 79th Boy Scout Group of which my father Bert Lacey was Scout master for on a number of years used to take us camping on a farm close to Farnsfield, I think it was called Combes Farm. We would get there down a lane off the Ollerton Road. If any none remembers this camp site please let me know. As far as I know my paternal grandmother came from Farnsfield, a lady by the name of Alice Bonser who married a Mr Lacey and moved to Netherfield.

A memory of Farnsfield, shared by John Lacey.

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Gilberts Row

Not really a memory, my great-grandparents were living at Gilberts Row on the 1911 census. I was hoping someone out there knew where it was. I have a photo of them outside the cottage. My great-grandfather was born in the village as were my grandfather and father. My great-grandfather was a chimney sweep and wore a patch over one eye, his name George Henry Antliff. I have heard from my father that his Aunt Jessie used to deliver the newspapers in the village and it would take her so long as she stopped in several places to help the elderly with their Sunday dinners...

A memory of Caunton, shared by Karen Beckett.

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SCHOOL LIFE LIVING IN BILSTHORPE

My earliest memory was at the age of 5. I vividly remember sqeezing through the school railings at the bottom of my garden to go to school. My teacher was a lady called Mrs Malkin, she was very nice and kind to us all in her class. Someone would bring in flowers every day to brighten up the classroom.

In those days you would work with a piece of slate and chalk and life could be very strict. Every time a teacher came into the room you would have to stand up and greet them accordingly and sit down when told. At around 11 o'clock the whole school would get a small bottle of milk to drink, it being delivered by the elder boys in school who would look at a little board on the blackboard to see how many was required.

No matter what the weather, at playtime you were sent out into the yard to play. Many a time you would come in soaking wet... Read more

A memory of Bilsthorpe, shared by Peter Waby.

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