Memories of Spratton

Living in North Bank House

Hi, name Theobald, we - mother Ivy, 3 kids (Mavis, Fred, Ivy) lived in North Bank House in 1939, we were evacuated from London with Aunt Ada Smith, Uncle Vic and Aunt May. We went to the village school, went back to London in 1949 or 1948. We had a big goat called Mary, she butted all who came to the house, she ate Gran's flowers and we laugh so much. We always pick potatoes on the farm in the village.

Sandhills/Middle Turn (commonly known)

To the left of this picture was a cul-de-sac called Sandhills.  My Aunty Grace and uncle and family lived here, so did my mother Margaret Anderson at some stage and later various cousins.  Down the bottom to the right was the original local shop (known Gammidges? when my Mother was small) owned by Greenwood for many years later (and when I knew it).  My Aunty Grace worked there until retirement along with Doreen my mother's cousin - many happy memories as a child calling in for the local groceries and rhubarb and custard boiled sweets from the jar.  Now a huge supermarket.

At the bottom facing us was Corry's, a small corner sweet shop/grocery store.  Known by the same name by my mother and me.  Huge glass jars displayed along shelves holding scrumcious coloured gems of delight, crystal colours of the sugar sherbet.  My mother has similar memories of calling into Corry's for her penny worth of rhubarb and custard boiled sweets.  I remember always buying my 2d worth of sugar sherbet presented in cone shaped bags.  Now I think it may be a hairdresser's.

Going to work at Tattersall's

I was born in 1953 in Northampton.  Later my family moved and settled in Essex but my childhood was spent in Spratton with my Nana Anderson.  She worked at Mr Tattersall's as a housekeeper and during the holidays I would go down with her.  Tattersall's house was situated a little further down from Saul's butchers which is seen here on the right of the photo.  This lane I think was called Brixworth Lane.  Does anyone remember Mr Tattersall - an educated person, with travel, the arts, and connections with the art world, (I think retired schoolmaster), a little eccentric.  His house was like an Aladins cave of interest and mystery to a small child.  My Nana worked for Tattersall for many years.  My Uncles Len and Rich Anderson bought the smithy next to Mr Tattersall's house.  
On our way home my Nana would call into Saul's butchers to buy meat for the dinner.

Margaret and Julie

Margaret Anderson and Edward Gill married 8th October 1949 last to be married by the 'blind' vicar (does anyone remember his name I think it was Pettit) while it was named St Luke's. The name of the church was changed from that year.

Julie Gill-Frisby - I walked past this church many times when my Nana Anderson walked to work at Tatersalls just down the hill.