Oakengates, c.1960

Photo ref: O1033

On the left of the photo is the Crown. For many years, this was my local. A good combination of beers & ciders, great bar staff (John Ellis, the landlord, Rachel, Carol, Mel, Yvonne & Keith, the last three sadly died ) & regulars, also frequent live music nights, quizzes, beer festivals & brewery trips made it our 'go to' pub. It was a proper pub, no TV, games machines or jukebox. My ...see more

My father was born in Shropshire in 1919, his family name was Talbot changed by his father to Talbott because there were so many Talbot's and the mail was always sent to the wrong address. The family lived in or around Oakengates for many years until my father married and moved to Sheffield. I recall visiting the old family home at Christmas time each year. Proud of my heritage.

My memories are that my late mother and father had the public house The Crown Inn in Market Street, Norman and Elizabeth Rowe, I was eight years old. My sister got married at St.Georges Church in 1962, I was eleven and went to school at Wrockwardine Wood school and was girls only. We left when I was 13 years old and we moved Dawley Bank to another pub The Old Red Lion, and then finally to other pub The Royal Exchange, Burton Street.

Family legend has it that Grandad took a small party of friends for a pint or two in Oakengates. At the end of the evening for a lark he undid the traces and when they set off the horses went and the cart tipped up, to great hilarity. I also remember Mrs Hitchen, at the end house a few houses up from Gran, who's address was 61 Stafford Road; she would be sitting on a stool wearing a sack apron ...see more