Margaret Brown was a child when she lived in Boleyn Drive on the Mentmore estate (built 1938-9) and knew the area well. She talks about how the shape of Cottonmill Lane changed after the war when Berners Drive and Priory Walk… More about ‘Cottonmill area – Margaret Brown’»
I knew that one day I would find someone who could give an explanation as to why the river Ver near New Barnes Mill is also called the Tar. Denis asked this question when he was a child and the… More about ‘Tar River and Flint Cottages – Denis Mardel’»
Denis was born in 1932. He lived in the town and didn’t move to Sopwell until 1960 but he knew the area well and he and his mates used to play here often. Denis describes how they used to go… More about ‘Playing in the river Ver – Denis Mardel’»
Mike was about three years old in 1949 when a thunderbolt struck his house at 10 Nuns Lane. Because of the fire damage, the family were rehoused in Cottonmill Lane, number 161, which was next to a large house belonging… More about ‘Living in Cottonmill Lane – Mike Titchiner’»
Val Goodyear-Burrow was born in 1938. She lived at 79 Tavistock Avenue during the war years and can recall specific memories of wartime: shelters, blackouts, gas masks and air-raid sirens. She also remembers watching the gliders coming from the Handley… More about ‘Wartime memories of living in Tavistock Avenue’»
Mary was born in 1929 and lived in New House Park. She recalls the Barnett family who lived in Sopwell House, previously called Sopwell Manor, and how Lady Aileen Barnett was frequently caught speeding. She remembers picking mushrooms, the ice… More about ‘Sopwell House and New Barnes Mill – Mary Myers’»
John talks of playing and fishing in the river near New Barnes Mill and describes the area as it was in the 1940s and 1950s. He also recalls fishing out an ammunition belt while fishing for crayfish in the river… More about ‘Playing in the river – John Buckingham’»
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’»
Mrs Betty Terry, born Betty Giddings in 1919, lived in Sopwell Gate Lodge in Cottonmill Lane for a few years from when she was about 9 years old. Her father worked as a cowman on Brown’s farm which was Sopwell… More about ‘Living in Sopwell Gate Lodge – Mrs Terry’»
Jack was born In Fishpool Street in 1921. He can remember before the lake in Verulamium was built. After he came out of the army he and his wife were living in the overcrowded family home. They applied to the… More about ‘Living in Nuns Lane – Jack Knight’»
Latest comments