1941 Kirkstall Forge Air Raids

A Memory of Horsforth.

The Armstrong family moved to Horsforth from Armley in 1938. I was only 1yr old so cannot remember the move. Mum and Dad bought a house at no 15 Charles Street.

My earliest memories must have been in March 1941, the nights that Leeds and Kirkstall Forge were bombed. The houses in Charles Street do not have cellars, but I do remember hearing the air raid warning and going down the cellars in Rose Ave, I still remember the white walls and the damp smell.
Dad was an air raid warden, and during the day he would cycle to Avro at Yeadon to work on building Lancaster bombers.

My Mother use to work in the fish and chip shop at the bottom of Fink Hill, we use to get the leftovers for tea. and she also worked at the Glenroyal Cinema on New Road Side. Mum use to get complimentary tickets which me and my mates used for the Saturday afternoons matinees. "Flash Gordon" comes to mind. I was very popular.


Added 18 January 2015

#337224

Comments & Feedback

Fascinating memories thank you for sharing. I live on Rose avenue and am very interested in the history of the street and the houses, especially as I expect they have altered so much. We live at number 51.
I think Rose Avenue had odd numbers and even numbers on diff sides of the Avenue. The back of Rose Ave faced onto the back of Charles St. I remember this being a dirt road, the rain use to make deep ruts in the road and we filled them in useing grass sods from the waste land at the top, and the ashes from the fire.
Washing use to be strung across the road every Monday. The horse & carts who delivered knew not to come down on a Monday. The Rag & Bone man, Coal man, and the Farmer who use to come down to collect food slops out of the 2 dustbins.
Have tried to remember names, the only one I do remember is Duncan & Joan Leeming who used to live in the top house faceing Charles St, and Kenneth Denbigh (the last I heard he still lives in Horsforth)

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