Victoria Buildings And Freshfield Station

A Memory of Freshfield.

This picture shows clearly the row of small shops that greeted you as you left Freshfield Station on your walk to the village. Bowers (or was it Cross's) the bakers next to the railway track, baked their bread on the premises and my grandmother bought our bread there. There was also a confectioners and newsagents which sold very good ice cream and a small selection of toys - can't remember the name. The Signalbox is also seen at centre right from which the local and distant semaphore signals, the main line/sidings points and the level crossing gates were controlled. I spent many happy boyhood hours watching both trains and signalman at work there. Just out of shot to the left was a peculiar hut-like structure (no longer there) which was Martins Bank, eventually taken over and closed by Barclays. On the road next to the bank Mr Wilson and another chap ran the local taxi service, from a couple of elderly Wolesleys. They knew everyone so well that you never needed to tell them your address - they just automatically took you there.