Moor Street
I lived on Little Moor Street 1946-1951 with my grandparent’s Jack & Mary, my mum & dad and aunt Edna who at that time was a nurse at the Victoria Hospital. My granddad was a miner at Warsop Main and my dad worked at the Shoe Co.
My grandma’s sister was Lillian and with her husband Matt they kept the shop at the top of Bradder Street. They had a daughter Betty and when they retired they moved on to Cromford Avenue. My mum could remember Betty enjoying the attention of the Italian prisoners of war who worked on the railway nearby.
Moor Lane School
I went to Moor Lane School and had wonderful childhood round that area, I made lots of friends and the big lads used to take me with them on their adventures on the next yard to ours. There was Larry & Michael Wheat, Terry & Betty Cheeseman, John & Steven Hatton, others in the gang were Denis Green, Terry Bourn, Jack Bradshaw, Kevin Shooter and Richard Hughes. There was Mick Gold, Denis Clamp and my best friend at Moor Lane School Arthur Brocklehurst. Other family’s I can remember were Gibson’s, Richardson’s, Sanders, Wakefields, Bucklands and Kenworthy I think their eldest son Ted was a prisoner in the Korean War.
Round The Streets
Singletons shop was at the corner of Moor Street and Victoria. I can remember sitting on the wall of the Co-op slaughter house watching the sheep killed, then on to Cambridge Street to see the loco engines being turned round on the table. Up to the top of Princess Street past Divits Ice Cream Yard, they had an ice cream cart pulled by a little pony, I think he was called Tommy.
Gypsy Caravans
Playing on the tip that used to be the Brick Yard pond, spying on the gypsy caravans that camped there when visiting the Bowers on Victoria Street. Playing on the hay field and then Cinderella Walk up to the Hermitage Ponds and the old quarry at the side. Back home through the brickyard past the club, where my mum’s cousin Snowy was the steward for many years. Great times!
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I’m George Divit’s son, we are looking for any information about the family, anything would be useful. Vic Divit and George were brothers, and were members of the large Divit family who made ice cream and had the van on the market place in Mansfield.
Thanks A.G.Divit.
News has reached me from my old friend Dennis Green of the death of his elder brother Ernest (Jim) Green. Jim lived on Moor Street and attended Moor Lane and Rosemary schools . On leaving school Jim worked at several local colleries. At the age of twenty he joined the Royal Marine Commandos and later the Special Boat Service. He served in several countries worldwide. IN 1960 he joined the Coastguard Service and won many awards for bravery . On his retirement in 1993 he was awarded the BEM. I know his Mum Connie would have been very proud indeed. Dave Camm
I well remember Jim Bowers. He had a wonderful Teddy Boy Suit in which he used to go to the Palais in.
Hello Carol,
We left Moor Street in 1952 after the death of my Grandmother. Can you remember Mrs Lager and her daughter Jean, they lived next door? Jean used to take me out in my pram. I left Moor Lane School in 1957 so our paths may have crossed. We’ve visited the West Coast of America many times but getting on a bit now yet still ” California Dreamin’ “
Best Wishes Dave Camm.
34 Moor Street – It would appear, David Camm, that my parents bought your house as we moved into 34 Moor Street in 1952. Remember Richard Hughes and the Wheaton brothers. The Tedcastle’s had the post office; the children were Roger (eldest) Ian and then Diane. I went to Moor Lane until 1958 and then to Brunts Grammar. I currently spend my time between Baja California, Mexico and Southern California.
Hi Colin, Dave: Thanks for jarring the memory with some of the names. I remember Roy from when he lived on Cherry Grove and heading over to the hayfield to play football. Sorry to read that he had passed away, I read the Chad online. I mentioned some of the names to my sister Margaret, she is younger than me, and she recalls the Lyons sisters, but the other names are vague, except for Garry Owen.
I do recall the pigeon fanciers, used to sit on Grandma Prices wall at 140 Moor… which is right across from where the pigeons were released. If memory serves me correctly there was a garage close to that enclosure, it would be across from around #130 Moor St. I recall going in there when about 5 just to watch the mechanics, they had good biscuits.
Was Sandra Divit the daughter of Vic ? my Mum, who will be 90 this year, does recall the Divit family from when she was a girl. I think Divits lived on Victoria or Princes Street did they not?
One thing I have noticed that many of the people from the Bradder St, Brick Yard through to Moor Lane do seem to be adding their comments and stories from the past, fantastic to read all of them. Although I wish some more people from the “top end” would submit stories.
Thanks again Colin for bringing up those names, and Dave about Arthur Smith and the greengrocer van. certainly do not get that personal service any more.Does the milkman still make his rounds?Regards Mike
Hello Martin, nice to read your article. The greengrocer van you mentioned was owned by Arthur Smith and his assistant little Lou Mallatrat. When Arthur got exited he would start to stutter he was also a keen Pigeon fancier his loft was at the top of Moor Street. Regards Dave Camm.
Hi Mike long time no see. Don’t see a lot of the old school friends. Here is a few I have seen, Roy Overton, Rob Howison, Steve Godber, Ann and Lynn Lyons, Arnold Clark, Garry Owen, Steve Taylor, Paul Townroe.
Do you remember the pigeon men, Arthur Smith, Vic Divit and a few others, I was often sent to Midland Hotel to find out the release time, which they put in a window. Those were the days.
Hello, nice to see these reminiscences of Moor Street, where I also lived, at No.82, from 1943 to Feb 1950, having been born in Dec. 942 at Victoria Hospital. I, too, was christened at St Aidan’s Church. My parents move back to Moor St. from my father’s parents house on Terrace Road presumably coincided with my fathers entry into the RAF as I would imagine that it was my mother’s wish to return to live with her parents who were Charlie and Cissie Noakes-Mooring (usually referred to as either Noakes or Mooring). On attaining school age (Dec ’47) I attended Moor Lane infants, Head Teacher Miss Rowell, class teacher Miss Davies (Davis?). The names that I remember: are Alan Morton, Michael Binch, Jennifer Fell (daughter of the cobbler), Pat Cockayne, Peter Endersby, Colin Slack, John Hatton, too, sounds familiar. The adults I remember were George and Nelly Morley (no.80), Tom and Jessie Parsons (no.84, they had two girls younger than me, Pat and Denise), Mrs Stone (Jessie Parsons’ mother), the name Shooter is also familiar, Mrs Chadwick, Nelly Morley’s mother, lived a little further up with her other daughter, Alice. Some shopping was done at Mrs Barrows’ shop, just through the alleyway on Victoria Street, and Marsden’s, whose manager was Harold Williams. I also remember a greengrocer coming round with his produce on a lorry.
Hello Colin: I must say it is great to hear from someone who I went to school with, thanks for remembering. I am still living in Canada and still working. Do you happen to meet up or know what happened to our school chums from High Oakham? The ones I recall are John Reville, he lived on Princes Street, Christine Smith, “Rusty” Phillips, Carl Norman and I think there 1 or 2 from the Bradder Street and Brickyard area. Again, nice to hear about you.
Regards, Mike
Hi all, A lot of good memories from Bradder St, and the Brickyard, Area.I can just remember the Coronation party Bradder St., we all got a mug with the Queens head on it. I know most of the people mentioned who lived in the area. Saw Ivor Sainburys last week. A few more names for you Neil, Ann and Lynn Lyons. Sadly Neil past away in Nov 2014, he was also my brother in law. Eric Barthorpe and his dog Bob, Pete Mason,Kenny Wright. Bill Pedley, Phoebe Pedley. Hayfield Ponds and Great Crested Newts, Frog Spawn, Toads. Fish - Roach, Gudgeon caught from Hermatige ponds. Mike Frost I remember you going to Canada, I’m not far from you Brick kiln Lane.
Regarding the top shop on Bradder Street, Mrs Norman the owner was my grandma‘s sister Lilian. I went most weeks to see her. What I remember most about the inside of the shop was a massive glass container near the window full of a medication that was guaranteed to cure everything. Their daughter Betty did marry Bert Peat the fishmonger he was her second husband, her daughter Denise emigrated to Australia and Betty and Bert followed in the mid 70s. The last I heard she was still alive. Many memories of Moor Street and the brickyard. My grandad had an allotment right at side of the pond he could remember many bodies being retrieved he used to say the summer time was the worst they would come out of the club and then go for a swim. Dave Camm.
On reading the comments about people in the Moor Street area, it prompted me to look out a couple of photographs I have of my Wolf Cubs of the 23rd Mansfield (Salvation Army) Pack taken around 1955/56 I think. Ivor is on them but I can’t remember the other names. I am going to submit a write up with them and it will come under the Salvation Army heading. Ivor’s mother Rose worked with my mother at Barringers Metal Box for a short while. My mother went to work just for a few months to earn enough to buy a television to watch the coronation in 1953.
Shirley Blythe
Hello Shirley: That would be wonderful. Ivor and I used to go to the Salvation Army each Sunday, I was not in the Wolf Cubs, however I was in the Boy Scouts, Mr Betts was the scout master , that was when I return from Canada in 1955. He had a son called Michael if memory serves me correct. Ivor and myself spent a summer down at his Grandmothers in Burlseldon( sic ?) near South Hampton. My mum also worked at Barringers, but not sure if she worked with Rose. Everyone seemed to meet up at the Brickyard . Looking forward to your comments
Cheers
Mike
Hello Mike. Although I didn’t live in the Moor St area I was really interested in your comments as I know Sandra Mountney(as was) very, very well. The chap who was in the RAF who she married was my step brother. She is still going strong and I see her about 2 or 3 times a year as she does not live in the Mansfield area. Her sister still lives in Mansfield though.
Hello Dave: nice to hear from a fellow “Moor str”. I do remember the Fells, they live in the houses between the terraces houses, I think there were 4 cottages that were behind the sports field of Moor Lane School. I lived at #126 for 3 or 4 years. The area between was an empty lot were we had bonfires etc… it was almost directly across from some ones garage we played cricket against the garage door. Also at that end was Walter Farmelo (sic ?) and a ginger haired lad, who I cannot recall his name. At my end, the top, was an older lad called Michel, the Marriot sisters, on was Sonia, the other is Cheryl. Then there was Helen Savage and her sister, they came to see their grandparents Mr and Mrs Turner, who lived at 138. Next door to my Grandma Prices was the Reases, at 142. On the opposite side were 2 more sisters, the Smiths, I think they were related as my Aunt Alice married their Dad Jim, but I am a bit fuzzy on that one. Then Ivor just lived down the street a bit. Good to hear he is still around; the last time I saw him was in 1971 when I made a visit back and ran in to him at the Brickyard.
I remember the Mountneys quite well. Sandra went to High Oakham as well and sometimes we walked back from there, via the ”short cut” We kept in touch when I came to Canada in 1961 for a short while, then she met a chap who was in the RAF got married and that was the last I heard.
Thanks for recalling all those people, I do recall Tadcastle now and his son Roger. That is what I like about this format, brings back those “day of yore”
Would be nice to meet all of the people mentioned, hopefully they are still around, and reminisce those great times on Moor St and the area around it.
Cheers Mike
Hello Mike. You were right about Jim Bowers he did live at the top of Victoria Street close to the pet shop you mentioned.
Mr Fell the cobbler at the top of Moor Street if my memory serves me right had a leg iron, his son Stuart was in my class at Moor Lane. Regarding the Wheat brothers you could be right their father Danny was steward for many years. He then went on to be the Landlord of Wheat Sheaf in Mansfield.
Singletons shop was at the bottom of Victoria Street about two doors away from the fish shop. They had two daughters Carol and Glennis. Ivor Wakefield was one of my old friends, I often see him around town. One of the Moutneys girls was in my class. The Post Office News agents shop opposite the Salvation Army was owned by Mr Tadcastle I can remember his son Roger. Two other friends at that time Malcolm Buckland and Mick Turner. Regards Dave Camm
It is nice to read more stories about people and events of those who lived on Moor St, whether at the bottom, middle or top end. We all have a common theme. Some of the names are recognized and others may have come across at one time or another. The Bowers are a family we knew. I believe there was Jim and Harry, one of them had a pony called Mayflower and once in a while we were given a ride on Mayflower . just a short way ride down Moor Lane and back. Ah and the gypsies had one or two not so pleasant encounters with them. Did not one of the Wheat boys act as an MC at the teen dances that were held at the Brick Yard? I do not recall too many shops on Moor St. Was there not one at the getty between Moor St and Victoria ? I can remember a number on Victoria and Princes St. There was a pet store at the top end of Victoria, then came Balls shop, they had a daughter called Jennifer or Janet, She went to High Oakham. Then further down was there not a little store owned by the Osbournes, or were they on Princes St ? Where Moor St met up with Victoria, opposite the Salvation Army was a newspaper agent, then the cobbler, was that Mr Fell? and then Mountneys greengrocers ?
Mum had a friend, Jessie Sharpe who lived on Little Moor St. I know she is still alive but I do not know where she lives now.
I chummed around with Ivor Wakefield for a number of years. Nice to read these stories, would be even nicer if there were some from those who lived on Victoria, and Princes street as well as from the people who lived in the Brickyard houses. Cheers,
Mike Frost
Thanks Dave for also bringing back some more memories of Moor St. I recall the name Brocklehurst. I believe there was Jim Bowers and Harry Bowers, one of them had a pony called Mayflower and once in a while we were given a ride up and down Moor Lane. Did one of the Wheat boys act as an MC at the teen dances held at the Brickyard ???? I used to chum around with Ivor Wakefield in 59-61 before returning to Canada, in fact I think my Mum had a friend who lived on Little Moor St. but I cannot remember the name. The only person I recall from that way was a lad Leslie Gascoyne. I think he may have live further down just on the other side of the Fish and Chip shop.
Which end was Singletons shop on, I know there were two at the top end of Victoria St, one was Balls , they had a daughter called Jennifer, she went to High Oakham as well. The other I think was a pet store.
I recall St Aidens as well, especially that crawl around the wall to get to Princes Street. “Thanks for the memories”.. Mike Frost
Hello Dave, Enjoyed reading your page which brought a few memories back to me. Firstly not many people can remember St. Aidens Church. Made me wonder if Father Oliver was still there to Christen you.
Albeit a few years earlier for me. I was around when the Brickyard Pond was still claiming the lives of some of the locals. I remember it being filled in.
Some of the names of the families I remember quite well, Shooters, I recall Eric Shooter. Richardson, Green. Normans ran the top shop for many years, including through the war years. And Betty Norman was a big friend of my sister Ina. Betty married an old school friend with whom I went to school, and played football with, Bert Peet, he stood market on the fish stall. They moved into the Indoor Market when it opened it’s doors in 1964.
Mr and Mrs Wright had the Brickyard club for a long time, At the rear of the club, many of the locals would play Pitch and Toss on a Sunday morning. The Wright’s lived next door to the Norman’s Shop at the top of Bradder Street, number 81.They had a daughter Mavis who was a real Tomboy. I sometime walked to High Oakham School with her.
I left Moor Lane School in 1945, but you are right, happy times and great teaching from Teachers who never stood any nonsense. I visited the old school last year, and my how it has changed. I heard that it was no longer called Moor Lane, for it is now called Sutton Road School. How sad for we who started out life there for it is still on Moor Lane.
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