Nostalgic memories of Staveley's local history
Share your own memories of Staveley and read what others have said
For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our web site to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was when the photographs in our archive were taken. From brief one-liners explaining a little bit more about the image depicted, to great, in-depth accounts of a childhood when things were rather different than today (and everything inbetween!). We've had many contributors recognising themselves or loved ones in our photographs.
Why not add your memory today and become part of our Memories Community to help others in the future delve back into their past.
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Displaying all 9 Memories
I left school in 1971 and went to work in James Smith factory. I worked there for around 13 years. I used to play football for the ladies team, which practiced on the field at the back of the factory. I can remember when the miners strike was on and some of the miners ran through the factory. I remember all the Christmas parties we went to. When the girls got married or had a baby we all collected together and bought ...see more
My dad worked at the factory for many years in the stores - he always said how he loved it. At the same time of working many years at the factory he was the landlord of the Royal Oak Pub at Mastin Moor. He worked in the factory during the day and the pub at night and weekends. He was a lovely, lovely man who would help anyone he could and I still miss him after 27 years. His name was John Gardiner but to his friends he was 'Jack'. RIP, dad.
I loved this school, having many happy memories, so if anyone is out there who knew me please get in touch. I was Magsy Evans, then went to live in Lincoln in 1965. I had good times with Val Dickens, Dianne Hilton and Rosemary Harrison.
My first job on leaving school was at Smiths in Staveley. Recently found a diary I kept that year and my first take home pay was £25. I pressed the insides of the seams on arms of RAF jackets on what seemed like a conveyor belt that went on forever. Really did not like the job at all, same thing day in day out it was horrendous, not a good job to start working life. Smiths is no longer there. No idea when it was demolished.
Yes, I remember this factory and hated it. Every day I sewed buttons on army garments, how boring! It's no longer there, in its place was a car sales building - now changed to a store that sells reduced products. The terraced houses that once stood on Inkersall Road have also gone. Moving further up, you will find the Drill Hall where once entertainment was held there, live bands etc.. Now it is used ...see more
I moved to Brimington aged 2 in 1947 when my parents had the shop at 81 Station Road. I went to Brim Boys School and left in 1962 to join the Halifax Building Society in Corporation Street Chesterfield. In 1968 I married Pat Goddard from Ashgate and we lived at Newbold until 1971.
Probably the most famous pupil I knew was John Hickton who went on to play for Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesborough and his brother Roy ...see more
I remember I used to visit this castle sometimes and I remember digging a small hole in the mortar and putting a penny in, then covering it back up. I did intend to go back years later to see if it was still there but somehow never got round to it. I lived in Renishaw at the time and moved away in 1971 to Tyneside where I still live. I am comming back in the summer to do a nostalgia trip.
Just wondering if there is anyone out there who used to work in this factory? I got a job there in 1970 aged 15, I used to work on a felling machine and I loved it. I used to sit and sew all the side seams on this twin needle machine. Is the factory still there and where was it exactly?
I am doing my family tree. Francis Evans was my great-great-grandfather, he was born around 1802 and married a Hannah in 1828, they lived in Staveley until he died in 1876. I am trying to find out my great-great-grandmother's maiden name Hannah ..?, Francis Evans's wife, they had a daughter called Hannah also, she was born 1830/31 and married a George Bates in Staveley, he was my great-grandfather. If ...see more