How close is this !!
This picture was given to me by my old neighbour in Mansfield.Mr. Lomas….It was taken in 1961 by a Mr. Alan Smalley, who I understand knew and worked with my father at the Engine Sheds.
On the 7th July 1961…STANIER 8F 48063 lifts its load of coal wagons up the bank to Sutton Junction past Mansfield Carriage sidings.
The picture shows the top of Bradder St…( Mr Leivers, the house next to the shop is where your Grand Father was born. No. 81.) Sibthorpe St..The Tippin where the old sand quarry used to be… The overgrown area of the Brick Yard…The Carriage sidings….There is a gateway to the railway from the Brickyard…My guess is it was used to transport the bricks by rail…This picture was taken from the foot bridge near the top of Bradder St. and if you look closely you can see the other foot bridge at the far end of Cinderella’s Walk near to the Co-op dairy and warehouse.When these trains went by the top of the street,all the windows in the house used to rattle.
Addition to Living on Bradder St. 1940s
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Crikey, you lot are blowing some dust off my memory bank with all these names from my childhood.
My mother’s family came from Bradder St, their name was Humphreys there were 8 children in the family. Her father’s name was William, I do believe he was a miner in the mine at he top of the road. I used to go there in the holidays to my Aunty Sarah and her brother Israel who still lived in the same house they were all born in, I never knew how they all must have fitted in. The house was at the Quarry Lane end, I remember going for a swim and playing in the river this would have been in the late 40s to the 50s, I was born in 1946.
My mum’s name was Dorothy, there was 4 girls and 4 boys in the family. It would be nice to know if anyone could remember them.
I was born in 1950 at number 3, next to the shop. My family lived there for years before that. I vaguely remember trains running over the viaduct on Quarry Lane but have no memory of the engine sheds behind the houses.
I was born at the beer off over the lines from Bradder Street. In 1944, I use to play football on the field with kids off Bradder Street. We lived there with my grandma and grandad till my parents got a council house on Ladybrook.
The railway men would drink in the beer off any time of the day, in return they would throw large lumps of coal off their engines when passing.
I worked for Royal Mail for 40 years and they moved me to Newark where I live now. Many people would come into the beer off with their jugs for beer.
Happy days, thanks for all the comments, enjoyed reading them.
Mother’s maiden name was Bloor.
Tony Lawson.
This photo is quite high up so it must have been took from the railway bridge. l must have looked at that view thousand of times on my way to Moor Lane School, how this great site brings back so many memories
I remember the cobbler Mr Fell he had a club foot, He had a daughter Jennifer and a lad Stuart. Another cobbler was on Victoria Street my dad use to send me there for pieces of leather, he mended our shoes I still have his hobbin foot, most times the nails stuck in your feet so my Mam put cardboard inside till Dad could flatten nails.
Simon , I bet you were no more surprised than I was when I returned to the old street. Yes, I can remember the “Top Shop ” as it was . Take a look at my new page on this web site ‘Bradder Street, The Top Shop.’ Alan
Alan, can you remember what the shop in the top photo sold, was it just a general store? I cant quite make out what’s on display in the window. I have been back to this site and stood on the bridge to show my dad where my grandad was born at No 81 next to the shop, we can’t believe how much its changed since this picture.
Hello to the Moor Street gang, just thought of the Cobbler near to the top of Moor Street. He had a shed in his garden where he did his cobbling. Times being as they were, nearly everyone had their shoes or boots cobbled. His name was Mr. Fell, and I can see him now, mouth full of tacks, small hammer, and he could nail around the sole of a shoe before you could say ” Jack Robinson”. His shed was at the bottom of the back lane between the backs of the houses at the top of Moor Street and the wall of Moor Lane Infants School. Alan
Hello Eileen and Alan - been back and had a look, yes its small it makes you wonder how we all fitted in but we did. regards Keith
Photographs of the Midland 0-4-4 tank which ran out of the back of the loco shed onto Bradder Street with crowds gathered round is quite common. I have a couple. However, photographs of the BR Crab 2-6-0 that was pushed through the back shed wall by an 8f have not yet come to light.
Hello Eileen I have no contact with Peggy but Joan and I stayed close untill she passed away 2 years ago. Patsys name is Pattie Peggy, also had two sons Brian and Gary. Good to hear from you and Alan, regards Keith
Hi Keith, good to hear from you again, Alan and myself went a tour around Bradder Street last week and looked around the back of the houses where we lived backing up to the tipping I even took a photo of Cinderella’s Walk as that is still in use and photo’s of where Normans shop was. I cant believe how small it all looks. regards Eileen
Alan, I was delighted to find all this. I think we were in the same class at Moor Lane, from 1937 (you would have known me as Malcolm Cotton). Reading this has certainly stirred a few memories. I haven’t been back to Mansfield since 1980, except to pass through, but I still support the Stags through thick and (mostly) thin.
Malcolm Cotton, Well, well, well…How are you my friend? I do remember you,and still have a few bruises to prove it! I too don’t get back to the old town as often as I would like. I still have family there.1937, gosh, that’s a lifetime. My best wishes to you and your family, It’s nice that we are still around. Alan
Hi Keith Reast, yes I remember you and your family well, I am Alan’s sister and Joan and I used to be very good friends we went out a lot together. I also remember your mum Peggy she came back to stay with you on Bradder St for a short while and brought her daughter with her at that time, I guess she would have been about 6 or 7 years old and I don’t know if I am right but would her name have been Patsy? I remember her riding up and down the top end of the street on a little bike and she was wearing crop leggings of which they called them in America, Peddle Pushers! I remember not having seen them before but then they came fashion over here, gosh, its so taking me back to the good old days, it was hard then but I am so glad I spent my young days living on Bradder street. what became of your sister Patsy? if that is her name, would she still be in America? I still see occasionally one or two people who lived on the street but not many, sadly quite a few of them are not with us any more. Hoping to hear other comments from you Keith and yes its good to have a blast from the past so to speak. regards Eileen
Hi Alan: Your knowledge and recall of the Bradder Street area is super. As mentioned in prior comments the Moor Street “lads” often went over to Bradder street to go to the confectionary store that had those super sugary sherbet powder tubes we dipped a little stick in. Also I think they had somethng akin to a small tree branch, but tasted a bit licoricey (sic). while thinking back there was a family that moved back from the USA called Davenport, they had a son who would be around 65 now. We chummed around for awhile.. never knew what happened to him after I returned to Canada in 1961. Do you happen to recall this family ? Regards Mike
Hello Keith Reast, I remember a lot about you and your family. I know you are a little younger than me. I remember your Mum Peggy, and her leaving the street to live in America, we thought at the time how lucky she was. I also remember your Aunty Joan, just a little older than I, Joan married Bill Weedop who came to work at Landers. (He is on one of the photographs on the ‘More photographs of Landers page’). I believe they went to live on Maltby Road. I think that you lived next door to Mr and Mrs Taylor, who turned their front room into a fruit and vegetable shop. I’m sure you will remember everything written on the Bradder Street pages and perhaps be able to add to them. You are correct about the engine crashing into your Granny and Granddad’s house when they lived in the end cottage of Railway Row, next to the Back Lane.There was a picture of the accident in the local paper, it was either the Mansfield Chronicle or the Mansfield Advertiser. Lovely hearing from you. Best Wishes Alan
Reading the comment from Michael Wilson about being knocked down by a Landers van, reminded me of my old friend and work colleague Jack Severn. I worked with Jack for many years both in sales and management. I remember Jack telling me about his accident on Bradder Street, also about it costing him a cake every day afterwards , which he left at the shop for Michael.
My name is Keith Reast, I lived at 52 Bradder Street with my grandad , fred Reast, my mother was Peggy Reast and left to live in America. I can remember Alan Curtis, John Anphlett, Roy Parks, Russ Parker, and others. My son found me this site and it would be nice to hear from anyone who knows me or my family, I have been trying to find pictures of the train crash when the train went in to my grandads house at the top of Bradder Street. Many Thanks, Keith
Keith, Have you seen the three other pages about Bradder Street? Look under Places – Mansfield and scroll down to find them
Hello Bob, The answer to your question is no, all the houses in Bradder Street have been demolished. The area is now an industrial area. I was born at number 67 in the early 1930’s. 1933 to be precise, and during my time there, number 73 was occupied by an older lady, whom I believe was the mother of Mrs Ivy King who lived at number 77 nee, Ivy Ward and known locally at the time as Old Lady Ward! Mrs Ward lived alone, and many is the time that she ask me to pop over to the “Beer Off” with a large enamel jug to be filled with beer from the barrel, this was for the princely sum of a ha’penny…The ha’penny was for me, I believe that the jug of ale cost 2 pence. My mother would have known your mum, she was born in 1896 and her father lived there before her. Just a thought, if you have any old pictures of your Mum, you could check the Page, ‘Bradder Street, in the 1940.s Best wishes Alan
My mother Mary Ann Holmes born in 73 Bradder Street in April 1904 does anyone know if this house is still standing? Bob.
I have previously mentioned the Mason family who lived at number 71 Bradder Street as being an entrepreneurial family…We were great friends with them for many years, right up to the children of both families growing up and moving on, as one does….I can see Grandma Mason sat in the little bay in front of her front door, selling Ice cream now….Mr Mason was a Butcher, and I believe his butchery business was supported by all the family ….It is quite possible that Mr Mason had something to do with the slaughter house at the bottom of Sibthorpe Street….I do know that Mr Mason was the first person to become the owner of a car on Bradder Street…I can remember having a ride in the new car and travelling to Sutton in the back seat, I had to wind down the window to be sick….Sorry about that…and I still cannot ride in the back of a car without feeling sick.
Just a little more about the houses at the top of Bradder Street. Like the houses you can see, there were only 14 houses like them with bay windows on the street. Eleven on the side shown, and three more on the opposite side of the road. These three houses backed on to the Back Lane and had slightly larger gardens. Those on the side shown backed up to the “Tippin.” Downstairs there were three rooms, a front room, a living room, and a scullery. The toilet was attached to the scullery in the houses with bay windows. Wooden stairs led you up to the three bedrooms. At the top of the stairs, turning right you entered the front bedroom, this was over the downstairs front room. In the bedroom was a small fireplace, and in the corner was the commonly known “Glory Hole.” Every house had one, it was a very small room with a door and everything not used was kept in there, and shut away. Turning left at the top of the stairs took you into the middle bedroom, this was over the living room, I do believe there was also a small fireplace in this room. A door leading from this room took you into the third bedroom which was over the scullery. This was just a small bedroom, and a further door from this room took you into a bathroom ( surprise surprise ) with one cold water tap. Unfortunately, the houses had no electricity or hot water system, so the bath was deemed as useless. Remembering the living room and scullery were the only source of hot water, one with a coal fire that heated the oven and small water hob, the other had a gas oven with gas rings to boil a pan of water. It was considered too dangerous to attempt the chore, as a pan of hot water went nowhere in the very large cast iron bath. Apart from two, the rest of the houses on Bradder Street were terraced houses on both sides, all having their toilets and ash bins outside at the top of the yards.
Alan thank you again for great info. Although I know my grandfather Wilf Leivers was born at number 81, I never would have known what the house looked like without the above photo. Yes those houses must have been extremely noisy and rattle with the coal trains thundering by. I will show my dad the photo. Great stuff, keep it coming .
I am enjoying these reminisces of the places where I also grew up. Before moving to Canada in 1956 my folks, plus my sister and I, lived on Moor St with a gentleman name Mr Stafford, that was around the 50s. We moved to Brick Kiln Lane. After returning from Canada in 59 we lived again, with my grandma, at the top end of Moor Street. The scenes and comments bring back many memories of roaming around the tip, the railway sheds, and those cars. Also plating on that “bobby’s” helmet and round about. The Brickyard social club had the “teen” dances on either Friday or Sat nights. Any way that is my lot for now. Thanks for bringing back the good times
Correction to the above comment. Great-grandparents should read Grandparents, and fourth generation, should read third generation. My apologies. Alan curtis.
Michael, how nice to hear from someone who is the descendant of people that I grew up with, especially someone who is the fourth generation. Your great grandfather was in charge of the successful Bradder Street boys under 14’s football team….He and Agnes had four children, Marcus , Dolores , Richard (Dick.) and young David. There is a picture on this site of the 1953 street party with your Great Grandparents and David in the group. I spent a lot of time with Marcus (a real daredevil ) and also Richard during our younger days. The picture you placed on the site was taken on the Tippin at the back of Bradder Street and I knew most of the ladies on the photograph. I can name most of them. Alan Curtis
I was born on Bradder Street in 1953, my grandfather was Richard Wilson who lived at No 27. The picture of the train a the top of the stree brought back many memories for me as I was run over on the street by a bread lorry and every day after that a cake was left for me at the on the photo. Also Grandad worked locally on the railways and I can always remember the at the top amd the turntable near Princess Street etc.
Thank you for your comment Berisford….Yes. In the days of that time in our lives, Gas, Coal and Wood, were the only source of light and heat for the houses on Bradder St. Many is the time I was sent to the shop for a new Gas Mantle when the old mantle was broken by an unsteady hand trying to light a piece of paper in order to light the fire…My paper round was Sutton Rd. as far as the Reservoir when I was a Paper-lad for George Benton’s paper shop at the corner of Sutton Road and Sheep bridge Lane. It did include the old Kings Mill Pub…..
I was with Wardmans at the bottom of Bancroft Lane (next to the Red Lion), my regular round was the top of Ladybrook on 6 days a week but on Sundays not everyone took a paper so two rounds were combined thus I found myself working my way up from town via Victoria Street area and along Sutton Rd past your old shop then over Brick Kiln and into Ladybrook. Quite a bag full but it did pay 7/6 versus 15/- for the Monday – Saturday round! Together with 10/- for collecting the monies on a Friday evening (as you’ve pointed out, pay day) made me a handsome 32/6 per week.
You mention gas lights in your first article Alan. Well, the age of the gas lamp lived on, until at least 1969, in the area. As a lad I had a paper round that on Sundays included Victoria Street / Moor Street and I’d always get onto the Cinderella’s Walk foot bridge to have a look at railway activity. The bridge was lit by a few gas lamps. I remember they featured a pilot light and could be switched up or down by pulling a small chain that dangled temptingly for a small boy!
Relating to the photo above, the carriage’s to the left of the picture was where the Italian prisoner’s of war was housed when being put to work on the railway.
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