Thelwall memories
Here are memories of Thelwall and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Thelwall or a Thelwall photo.
Parrot
Childhood memory, the post office door had an actual brass bell fitted to it, on entering if the post master was in the back their parrot used to scream 'Wipe your feet' followed by 'No stamps today'.
Richard Oxley
Memories
I used to live in Bell Lane from when my parents moved there aroudn 1960 and moved out in 1977. This corner was known as Rachel's Corner and it was said that Bell Cottage was haunted. Rachel hanged herself on a tree after her lover didn't return - from where I don't know, the stories changed so much...
Bus Terminus
The bus terminus for Warrington was in Ferry Lane opposite the Pickering Arms. From memory I think it was the 10A one. It was always a double decker. The single decker one went through Thelwall village centre and up Bell Lane on to the top road, Stockport Road to Altrincham. I lived in Bell Lane but there was no bus stop in between the Pickering Arms and Stockport Road. I also attended dance classes in the room at the back of the Pickering Arms with my younger sister in 1964/65, ballet and tap classes. I often went to Warrington market for my mother to get her errands. Mum didn't drive. I used to enjoy the responsibility.
My School
I went to Chaigeley School since year 5 till year 9, it is a lovely building and I will always remember my memories from there.
1951 - 1955
Tree climbing was good fun in very large trees till it was banned when David Nash fell and hurt his back for a couple of days. Alarge tree opposite the headmaster's office had iron rungs to a top platform used for spotting approaching German planes in the Second World War. The platform had gone by 1951 and the iron rungs were disappearing into the expanding tree. There was a parrot at Chaigley early on for a short time, it might have been the post office parrot.
Chaigley School, 1951 to 1956.
The time I spent at Chaigley was some of best years of my life. The memories are still clear, but the names have faded with time. I would like to hear from anyone that will remember me.
Happy Days
I was known as David Armitage not William I have so many happy memories of Chaigley Mr Goynes was headmaster. I would love to hear from any old boys who remember me especialy Bob Price from Scunthorpe.
My Five Memorable Years at Chaigeley
There was Mr Jim Goynes, Mr Nicholson and his wife, Mr Hamer, Mr Oxley (the boys knew him as "Flump" although I never knew why). There was Mollie Manion (known as Matron), Mrs Nicholson was her assistant and invariably was in charge of the sick bay, this was an isolated area in the roof of the main building. I remember various times in the sick bay involved in pillow fights with other sick pupils!
I remember Brian Burgess (Bugsie) also Johnny Wilson and Harry Stevens who fell from a climbing tree known to us as "the choo-choo", was seriosly injured and was removed to hospital by ambulance, all of this was observed by me and some other chums from the tree from which Brian had fallen.
Brian Burgess was model aircraft mad and spent many hours fashioning superb control line models from what seemed to me, to be complicated kits. I recall the fantastic Spitfire that Bugsie made and he flew it on the front lawn in front of many... Read more
Chaigeley School - 1950 to 1955
I stayed at Chaigeley for the period from 1950 to 1955 and have some very pleasant memories of my time there. Mr Goynes was the headmaster and my favourite teacher was Mr (Hackenbush) Hill who taught me a whole lot of things that have stood me in good stead in the years to follow. I had some good friends who still remain in my memory to this day but, sadly, we have not been able to keep in touch. Wouldn't it be great if Chaigeley were to organise an 'Old Boys' re-union one day - I would certainly make a point of attending!
I particularly remember building 'dens' in the special area just behind the swimming pool and making our own boating lake out of a swampy area on the left side of the main house. I also remember the small 'Tuck Shop' where we were allowed to spend our pocket money of sixpence a week (old money).
I would love to hear from any other boys who... Read more
Swimming
I remember the old swimming pool we had back then and I was not allowed to swim because I had a bad ear. We used to sneak in during the long staff meeting sessions. I remember playing on the den site and what a football pitch we had!
Chaigley School
I am a former pupil of Chaigley, where I spent several happy years. I remember the little school house on the left side opposite and a little further up from the post office where we used to sit and have an illicit smoke. I also remember the Rose Queen Carnival. My memories of the village are of a place that almost seemed as though it was somehow more remote than it actually is. I have returned a couple of times as an adult and found it much the same.
Memories of Cheshire
Growing up in Grappenhall 1980''s And 1990''s
Having grown up in Grappenhall I've seen it develop with time, but its managed to keep its identity, even though there's been a growing demand for redevelopment in the area.
Within the space of a few streets you were able to experience several ages of British history. Like a timeline, starting on the higher ground you have the quaint village life within the cobbled village centre. This was no doubt made more picturesque and saved from further building by the Bridgewater canal that has acted as a kind of 'moat' since its completion in the 18th century.
Here you will still find a village school, two pubs, a church, Village Stocks, community hall, scout hut and cricket club. With a Post Office and second community hall in close proximity. (The development of land at Grappenhall Heys has kept and partly restored the Walled Gardens and provided a new school, but no further amenities.)
Moving out of the village and downhill with the sloping gradient... Read more
An American Boy in Stockton Heath, England
I was a 13 year old boy from Wilmington, North Carolina, USA. My father was a Sergeant in the US Air Force, assigned to Burtonwood RAF Station. We rented a flat at 35 London Rd, Stockton Heath. It was over Mr. Alfred Ward's Butcher Shop. His wife operated the Sweet Shop on the opposite side of the road. Their son was named Terrance.
London Road was lined with small shops; several butchers, bakery, candy shops, the post office, a shoe shop and others. This was a big change for an American boy. I enjoyed following my mother when she shopped at the different shops.
I would watch Mr. Ward in his shop serving customers just the right amount of meat or eggs, to serve their family for one day. I would also watch him in his kitchen, where he prepared boiled hams, hoghead cheese, blood pudding, and spotted dick, just to name a few of the things I had never heard of. I remember that his boiled... Read more
Willow Crescent
The next turning on the right is Willow Crescent (I think it's a cul-de-sac now) if that's how you spell it. Yep, this is where I grew up, we had 1 bus, the 81 Dam Lane. If I remember right it used to turn up every hour (with no digital display as well). I had some good times and some bad, but more good. If only we could turn the clocks back, eh. I remember the local bobby dragging me home by the ear because I was riding my bike on the footpath. What a vandal I was, ha! We used to jump over the brook which was at the bottom of our garden and sneak into the L.C.C. Depot, shhhh don't tell my dad. Them were the days. Anyway I think that will do me for now. It was nice seeing Green Lane as it was even though it ain't changed that much. If you can find any photos of Padgate walking day or St Oswald's that would be... Read more
Yesterday
Seeing this picture braught back memories of 3rd January 1951, when I, and around fifty others, ambled down this lane from the rail station to RAF Padgate, to start an 'adventure' which would remain with us for the rest of our life.
Bill.
My Memory
I remember walking down Green Lane from my home in Eric Avenue, Padgate to Woolston with my new girlfriend in the snow just by the Cottage Homes. We cuddled together to keep warm, she was 16 and I was 17 and had only met a few weeks earlier. We married in 1958 and had two children. In 1966 we came to live in Australia where we have lived ever since. She died in 2005 and I have returned to Woolston every year since then to stay with her family in Long Barn Lane and my cousin in Fearnhaed. I am now planning on returning to live locally to be with them. Whenever I am there I travel every day between Fearnhead and Woolston down Green Lane and it has never changed. I look forward to being back there very soon.
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Places this week
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- Conicavel, Morayshire
- High Halden, Kent
- Ashtead, Surrey
- Aveley, Essex
- Stadhampton, Oxfordshire
- Blaenllechau, Mid Glamorgan
- Southgate, Greater London
- Braunston, Northamptonshire
- Neath, West Glamorgan
- Port Bannatyne, Isle of Bute
- Chedworth, Gloucestershire
- Kempsey, Worcestershire
- Knockentiber, Ayrshire
- Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire
- Llansamlet, West Glamorgan
- Nant Ffrancon, Gwynedd
- Battersea, Greater London
- Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
- Heswall, Merseyside
- Ewell, Surrey
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