Corbet Arms 1946 To 1958

A Memory of Market Drayton.

My father, William Tom Stallard, was manager here 1946 to 1958.He was previously manager at the Btooklands Hotel, Sale, Manchester 1937 (?) to 1941.~ The youngest in the company.

He married in 1938.
He enlisted in the RASC as a Captain in 1941.
I am his eldest son, born 1941.
The family managed various hotels when their managers were on holiday.
i.e.'The Swan' at Leighton Buzzard. The Fox at Willian. Herts. The Crown at Slough.
He also managed the 'Guinea' in Berkeley Sq. London.
He died in 1971.Lung Cancer.Cigarettes.
He was always in a good humour. very open and positive, and welcomed everyone. He loved his job.

Many happy years at the Corbet.
I went to Adams Grammar School, Newport, as a boarder 1952 > 1958.
I see from the Google satellite photo, that the huge vegetable garden, the sunken garden with sundial, and the old coaching stables either side of the yard, have all been replaced with car park areas.

The bowlers used to go mad, because our Alsatian bitch used to pee in the same spot in a corner of the bowling green and make a patch. .

There was a parrot cage. Mother used to keep pigs next to the monkey house. (No monkeys).

Also we used to creep down the back stairs, behind the stage in the ballroom, to the masonic bits and pieces. Spooky!

Father had a black 1938 Pontiac. A folding canvas top. Reg. ANT 816.He bought it off Jones Garage, up Shropshire St. on the right.

We used to get the brewery men take us on the back of the lorry as they went to Shrewsbury, then drop us off at Tern Hill to see the trainer planes land.

The ivy was taken off while we were there.

The market day was Wednesday. All the farmers would be in. One old regular dear used to have a tipple, then go out and direct the traffic.

I saw a pineapple for the first time in the market.

Two guys used to dress as King and Queen for the Carnival.

Great times sliding down Salisbury Hill in the winter, Five of us crammed on a 10 ft. (ex army?) sledge, and all rolling off before we crashed into the hedge at the bottom.

Also had a pilots rescue dingy. Two of us would paddle along the canal.

Saturday morning matinees. There were two cinemas. Then we would rush out and down the garden to re enact the film. Playing 'Knights in Armour' or 'Spanish pirates'. And Willy the gardener chasing us for running over the little hedges in the vegetable garden.


I now live on the Costa del Sol. Spain. Since 1993. A signwriter by trade.
Website ~ Google > sign art site ~ one word ~ signartsite.

I had a good 15 years before the computer / digital printing arrived.
Yes. The 'dying art' is dead.
But I do menus on the computer.

That shop with the white awning was the stationers where I used to get my comics, and put them 'on the bill' ~ Hotel expenses I suppose.

The swing sign outside was of a coat of arms. Portraying a raven, or 'A chevron between three ravens, I cannot remember. There are a few differing Arms for the Corbet family. It would be nice to know which one. It has since disappeared. The motto was " Deus Pascit Corvos" ~ "God feeds the Ravens"


Tom Stallard
email. signsmurals@hotmail.com