Darlington Street 1890, Wolverhampton
Darlington Street 1890, Wolverhampton Ref: W285003
Memories of Darlington Street 1890, Wolverhampton
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Wolverhampton & local memories
Read and share memories of Wolverhampton and West Midlands inspired by Frith photos.
Grand Theatre
I remember going to the Grand Theatre at Christmas as a child from my Dad's works children's party. Our dads would pay so much a week for their children's Christmas party, and the young ones would have a party at the works canteen and the older ones would be taken to the pantomine at the Grand Theatre. I always remember being fascinated by the opera glasses that were fixed at the back of the seat in front, you had to put an old sixpence in the slot to unlock the glasses that were like binoculars so you could see the performers more closely.
Grand Theatre
I remember going to the Grand Theatre in Lichfield Street when I was a child. My aunt took me to see Margaret Lockwood in 'Peter Pan'. Her daughter Julia Lockwood was playing Wendy. Afterwards my aunt took me to the stage door and managed to get Margaret Lockwood's autograph and Julia's for me. My aunt was quite well known at the Grand as she visited regularly. Her father, my grandfather, was a violinist in the theatre's orchestra in the 1920s and 1930s. Later he became musical director there. Because of this my aunt worked really hard to prevent the theatre closing when it went through bad times, even to the point of buying rows of seats for performances and then pestering her friends to go with her!
My Parents Wedding
Although I wasn't to be born for another 6 years, I remember my mother teling me about her wedding day here. My brother's name is Peter, I wonder if the connection is from this church?
Bedford Williams
I remember visiting Bedford Williams' Store as a kid, it was opposite Beatties, it had wooden floors and when you paid, your money was sent up to the account room via a tube that sucked up after the assistant pressed a button, and then the receipt came back down with the change. I remember my Mom buying my school blouses from there and watching facinated as the assistant folded them on the counter.
The Milano Coffee Bar.
I remember the first time I went downstairs to the "Mill' as my peers called it. In the cellar, it was dark, mysterious and wonderful. I had just started work and was finding my way around, like others, I was warned to keep away from this 'den of iniquity", however being me I ignored the warnings. I think the young lady behind the counter was called Maureen and she served the best hot chocolate in town. Amongst the clientele was a chap universally known as Mick the Greek, a Cypriot who I later got to know as an engineer with the GPO. When bands were playing there it was bedlam, so many people crowded into so small a place. I can honestly say yes, I was offered certain iffy substances, but only once and then I declined. Sadly it has gone the way of a lot of the town and ceased to be.
Memories...from Pat Round
My memories relate to 1949-1968 and I remember going to St. Paul's church hall to bop until I dropped with friends, and then had to walk home to Low-hill, shoes in hand, as we had missed the last bus. Happy times remembered with fondness. Regards Pat Hunt (Cook, nee Round). I now live in Perth, Western Australia and would love to catch up with anyone from the old country, and share memories.
Bedford Williams
I remember Bedford Williams before it became part of Beatties. I think there was a rocking horse which children could ride (?near the stairs). I went with my granny and wanted to go on the horse, but she told me to wait because another child was first - it turned out to be a child dummy modelling childrens clothes!!
Wolverhampton
Milano's was always a place my mother told me not to go to. I worked in Queen Street in a solicitors and had to deliver mail to all the other offices by hand. I saw my first Beatles movie in Wolverhampton. My sister 's haunt was the Queens Dance Hall, she married one of the Wolves players in 1964. Dudley Street was the place to shop, with Marks and Spencers, all the shoe shops and Woolworths. I now live in the States but then I lived in Lower Penn.
Teenage Memories of Bushbury
Does anyone remember the sand pits in Sandy Lane, it was in the 1940s, the workmen had been called up for war service. We found we had the sand pits to play in as we wished, apart from one old watchman it was a young lad's dream, the rails and trolleys were left there, we had great fun, but we had the war on our minds as most of my mates had brothers away in the services. Does anyone have photos of old Sandy Lane?
The Milano
Yes, the Milano was a little bit of the Left Bank in Wolverhampton. But what about the 'Troc'? It was a much more dubious place. 'Cool, Clean Consulate' were the other cigarettes if you wanted to pose and couldn't afford Passing Clouds. Dainne
'Milano' Coffee Bar
As a school girl I have delicious memories of the forbidden coffee bar in Darlington Street. I remember it was downstairs, or is that now muddled with a thousand other coffee bars? It was dimly lit and had an amazing machine that hissed and spluttered and made coffee, the taste of which I have no recollection beyond the fact that it was not Nescafe or Camp. No, the memories are of the romance and the excitement of imagining being just a little bit French, of mixing with the A level crowd of all the local grammar schools, the odd arty teacher and students from the college. There I learned to smoke Gauloise and Sobranie (Black Russian cigarettes from a shop whose name escapes me, though I think it begins with B), learning about Jazz and a hundred different ways of disguising myself to avoid prefects. The Milano was a huge and innocent influence on my adolescence. I hold it fondly in my memories and wonder if anyone has other memories... Read more
Pearks
Pearks was one of the first supermarkets in Wolverthampton to start trading. I worked there in 1962. My name was Marain Beech, I went on to marry a former work colleague, Chris Rutter.
Cheese was cut up on the premises, and so wa bacon. Many happy times. Does anyone else remember working there? The supermarket was in Queen Street. Names I remember are Elsie, John Volmer, Diane Cassey, Maurice Joan, Mickey Cullen, John Mills. Manager was Mr Tustin.
Bedford Williams Store
Hello, does anyone remember the Bedford Williams Store in Victoria Street, Wolverhampton? I was employed there in 1962 until about 1964 in the fabric department and I also worked on the button covering counter and stocking repairs. My supervisor's name was Miss Corkingdale. I would love to see if anyone remembers the store. I now live in Australia and I am trying to build a memory book about my life in England. I was 15 years old when I started work there so it's been a long time. I hope someone can remember either me or the store, or both. Thank you from Kathy Downunder.
