Perfect Place

A Memory of Erbistock.

My name was Sandra Goodfellow when I was born at home in Erbistock in 1954. I lived on Twining hill. I had a very happy childhood there with my three siblings, Mum and Dad.
I started Erbistock school in 1957. It was a cosy, two classroom school with coal fire heating. Mrs Parry ( head mistress ) and Mrs Roberts were the two teachers. There were only 32 children in the whole school. I remember story time with Mrs Roberts who introduced me to the stories of Enid Blyton, Christmas parties and learning to knit with Mrs Parry. I passed my cycling proficiency test here too. Mrs Davies lived across the road and Mrs Ketley to the side.
Mrs Rhone was the dinner lady who served up the meals that had to be delivered by a van.
We walked to and from school each day. At home time a group of us walked together until each family turned down a different lane.
Mr Bell was the Sunday school teacher in the beautiful Saint Hillary’s Church..... where my own children were christened. I always remember Carol singing around the village at Christmas time. At many of the larger houses we were offered mince pies but none could beat those that Mrs Harris gave us.
Mr Bell also founded the Friday night youth club, which was held in the Women’s institute, a tin hut that was painted green.
There was an old chapel at the top of our road whose walls were lined with prayer books but it was never opened during the 17 years I lived there!
Memories of harvest time when Mr Clarke cut and bailed the hay. He allowed us to watch and then when it was safe, to play among them.
My mum used to clean for some of the larger houses in the village. Mr & Mrs Williams and then Doctor Morris who both lived on Twining hill, Lord & Lady Lowther and also at Manley hall.
School holidays were spent picnicking and exploring the woods near our cottage, playing in the fields, picking primroses, making up games and going on long walks. Perfect.
Erbistock is such a lovely village that still retains all the charm it had when I lived there. It will always have a special place in my heart. I was very lucky to have lived there and I loved it!

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