Rob used to play in the Nunnery open space and remembers Pearce’s scrap yard. He and his brother took newspapers to their yard in Albert Street where he would be rewarded with a toy windmill or maybe a few pennies.… More about ‘Childhood memories – Rob Edwards’»
Category: Work
Memories of schooldays and work – Rob Edwards
Rob Edwards has fond memories of going to St Peter’s primary school. Here he recalls getting into mischief in the river on the way to school, school dinners, the layout of the classrooms and playtime. He talks about his education… More about ‘Memories of schooldays and work – Rob Edwards’»
Living in Abbots Avenue West – Tony Prior
Frederick Anthony Prior, known as Tony, moved into the Sopwell area in 1958. He lived in Abbots Avenue West, opposite the shops. He saw the flats above the shops being built and also the King Offa pub. He talks about… More about ‘Living in Abbots Avenue West – Tony Prior’»
Chris Wilkinson’s army surplus vehicles yard
The yard of the disused London Road station near where Orient Close is now, was home to a collection of army surplus vehicles owned by Chris Wilkinson. The vehicles were used in many films, television shows and local events. Rob… More about ‘Chris Wilkinson’s army surplus vehicles yard’»
River Ver from Holywell Hill to Park Street
A large stretch of the river Ver, from Holywell Hill up to New Barnes and on to Park Street, runs through Sopwell. It is an important recreation area for local residents and in the past an area for growing watercress.… More about ‘River Ver from Holywell Hill to Park Street’»
New Barnes Mill
New Barnes Mill, situated in Cottonmill Lane, was one of the three water mills along the Sopwell stretch of the river Ver. In its heyday, it was used as a flour mill and was operated by the British Flour and… More about ‘New Barnes Mill’»
Pinnock family memories – Roy Pinnock
Roy Pinnock whose family had watercress beds in Riverside Road and Park Street, tells some stories about his father, Doug Pinnock. Doug was one of twelve children: six sons and six daughters and they lived in a two bedroom house… More about ‘Pinnock family memories – Roy Pinnock’»
Sinking a borehole – Roy Pinnock
Watercress is grown in running water from springs. At Riverside Road, the Pinnock family had to sink boreholes in the lake to get spring water for the cress to grow in. Roy Pinnock describes the process. Interview date: 4 April… More about ‘Sinking a borehole – Roy Pinnock’»
Watercress industry in Park Street – Roy Pinnock
The Pinnock family had a smallholding and also grew watercress in Burydell Lane Park Street. Unlike the beds in Riverside Road, these were purpose built using concrete walkways. Roy Pinnock talks more about the business which wasstarted by his grandfather.… More about ‘Watercress industry in Park Street – Roy Pinnock’»
Watercress industry in Sopwell – Roy Pinnock
Roy Pinnock born in 1933, belongs to one of the two families who grew watercress in Sopwell: the Pinnocks and the Lees.. Roy describes the watercress industry: how the watercress was grown in Riverside Road, where the Watercress Wildlife Association… More about ‘Watercress industry in Sopwell – Roy Pinnock’»
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