AWalk With Grandfather

A walk with grandfather
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A Walk with Grandfather.

I was about 11 years old, one summer's day, when I noticed my grandfather, who lived at Park Hill Farm, New Road, Uttoxeter (Parish of Stramshall) was preparing to go out. He had his walking stick, that meant no horse and trap. His name was Percival Jackson Mellor, and he lived with his family, and my paternal grandmother, Mary Ellen (nee Leedham). He said, to me, “Come for a walk”. We walked across the fields, to Campbell’s, and then to Titleys Mill. We gained the Ashbourne-Uttoxeter Road, turned left over the River Tean bridge, and then into Leasons Farm. My grandfather went and spoke to Mr Leason, senior, we then departed, turning left, and carried on until we reached Stevenson Bus Depot, the Yellow Bus service.

We then got onto the footpath immediately opposite the Depot. Grandfather then explained that the large grass mounds were the remnants of the Spath Quay, laughingly called Spath Ocean, by residents, who had not studied their local history. This was the size of four football pitches. Grandfather explained that this had been an inland port, with large barges moving loads across the country. These mounds then became clear canal banks, and we walked on the left-hand side, the field on the left being ours. The right-hand side was a public footpath, little used by anyone. We then took a left bend in the banks, until we reached the River Tean. I asked my grandfather what the large stones were in the river. He said that they had held an iron aqueduct, which used to cross the river. He explained that in 1914, to assist the war effort, he had detonated explosives and blew the aqueduct up. The scrap iron was purchased by Mr Cyril Bamford, from The Parks opposite us. This was taken to Leighton Iron Works. We then entered the rear gates of the farm. The canal banks were levelled out in 1973. Whilst at the river, Grandfather pointed out, on the left-hand side of the canal, the remains of a house. He said, "Your Great Uncle John(Jack) lived there with his wife, Dolly". She was an amusing character, called Dolly Duck Egg for her love of the fruit of ducks. It was an isolated spot, and Great Aunt Dolly did not like it. She moved to Stone Road, Uttoxeter, living in a row of cottages which she owned. Into the front of the farm, which was built on the canal site, the ground had been levelled. Until the bypass was started in 1936, it was possible to walk along the old canal banks, till you reached Beesons slaughterhouse (later Keelings Yard), and until you reached Ashboutne Road. Park Avenue, Slade Fields, was built on the site of the canal.

John P Mellor, then living at 57 Park Avenue, Uttoxeter.
Now living in wolverhampton John P Mellor. OBE., QSM., Ridder van den orde orange-nassau. Vierdeient Kreuz mit bande, Polonia Restituta-Commandatore; Grosse Goldene Ehrenzeichen