SOUTH LANE - 1930's to 1970's

Twitten with no name

By Laurie Stonehouse

The following pictures are of various views of South Lane from the 1930's through to the 1970's, this twitten is still here today but no longer has a name.   This little lane ran from Dacre Road opposite South Road, and through to the High Street.The first view was taken in Dacre Road now South Way in 1969, demolition of the old Meeching Infants school has started and this site is now a section of South Way.  Back to the twitten I can remember a cabin along South Lane in 1971, I believe it was used as a temporary health centre whilst the new premises were being constructed in Chapel Street. A large detatched house known as Sidney Cottage built in 1851 could also be found in this lane, unfortunately, this building was demolished in 1970, a sign of the times!

Photo:South Lane to the left - 1969

South Lane to the left - 1969

G Amy collection

Photo:South Lane looking North with Sidney Cottage - c1950

South Lane looking North with Sidney Cottage - c1950

J K Stonehouse Collection

Photo:Sidney Cottage (Reg Flowers) - c1938

Sidney Cottage (Reg Flowers) - c1938

J K Stonehouse collection

Photo:Into South Lane Sidney Cottage is now demolished behind the flint wall, the High Street is straight ahead - c1970

Into South Lane Sidney Cottage is now demolished behind the flint wall, the High Street is straight ahead - c1970

Unknown - LJS collection

Photo:South Lane to the right from the High Street - c1932

South Lane to the right from the High Street - c1932

G Amy collection

Photo:South Lane looking south from the High Street - c1975

South Lane looking south from the High Street - c1975

Unknown - LJS collection

This page was added by Laurie Stonehouse on 03/08/2009.
Comments about this page

The Building in the middle of the bottom photo was Bannisters Builders offices and yard. I started work there in August 1961 as an apprentice carpenter. The top windows and door were the joiners shop, the right hand window was the area used by George Cohen who was the jobbing carpenter.  He did all the repair jobs to houses, he always seemed to be working in Gibbon Road. I had to stand at that window for hours sharpening handsaws and daydreaming my life away. If he needed a hand I used to have to go with him on his BSA 250cc motorcycle and sidecar, which was fun. 

By Terry Howard
On 02/04/2011

In the fourth photo down I can see the rear of Bannisters Builders premises. The small window visible was the rear of the joiners shop. The flue coming out of the roof was from a little coke burning stove which was my job to lite on winter mornings, as far as I can remember it was the only form of heat we had up there apart from the gas ring. That gas ring was used to boil up the hoof and horn glue we used for gluing the staircases together, the smell was something else.

One of my other duties was to boil the water for the joiners tea, coffee and Oxo drinks at break times, the Oxo was used to dunk cheese sandwiches in it was delicious, I have tried it since but it never seems to taste the same.

The lower building was the plumbers shop with the glass and nail store next to it, the paint being stored across the yard in another area. Below the joiners shop was the machine shop.

I can remember it all so well although I was only there for about 5 years as the firm moved to the Quarry just before I left. Bannisters carried on building work for a while after the move, then started up the box making company called "Nainshouse" which I worked for a while until I left to get married and moved away in the early seventies.

I was reminded of all this today after meeting someone who had done a course in Artexing at the Artex company next to us in the Quarry.

By Terry Howard
On 16/04/2021
Add a comment about this page

If you're already a registered user of this site, please login using the form on the left-hand side of this page.