Warsop, Warsop Vale & Church Warsop

Warsop, Church Warsop & Warsop Vale My Childhood Memories

These memories were written after a drive on the 13 April 2010 with Pauline Marples who took the photographs.

I was born at No 18 King Road in 1948, my parents had moved into the house when it was newly built. Across the road were terraced houses, these have now been demolished and new houses are being built.

My dad worked at Warsop Main Colliery and he would leave home to walk down the lane to a path and a little old bridge which crossed the river Maun. He walked across the fields to work. On his way home, our cat used to wait for him in a tree near Windsor Drive, it would jump down and walk home with him.

    

An area near the bridge was known as Humps & Hollows or Hills & Holes, they used to have motor bike scrambles there. The gate is still there where we used to pay and watch them.

The day before I was two, we moved to Sycamore Street, Church Warsop. Our coal was delivered and left on the street, we had to get it in down very steep steps. Our house had a 1/- (shilling) gas meter and warm water was piped from the boiler house at the top of village. The gates to the boiler house are still there.

Mum didn’t have any modern household gadgets like we have to day. From our house you could see across the fields where we played. I had a sister and two brothers and if mum wanted us to come in for our tea she would stand at the landing window and wave.

This is my sister Maureen, brother Colin and me (Marylin) on the right

As kids we would go Carol singing for pennies, I remember once that Mr & Mrs M…. gave us 2/6d

Bethel Church was where I first went to Sunday School, most village kids went there. It was previously a Salvation Army building and was empty for some time, then Mr Tonks, his wife and sister started the Bethal Church. Mr Tonks was gardener for the pit manager. Behind the church were some Nissan huts with stoves in where they had the kids Christmas parties. At the side were greenhouses where tomatoes were grown.

Mr & Mrs Tonks

We used to go to Mrs Tonks house to practise for Sunday School anniversaries.

Mrs Tonks only died in February 2010 aged 97.

I went to Church Warsop Wood School, there was a massive clock on the wall, maybe it wasn’t that big but that’s how it looked to me. There was a little garden that we used to look after.

My next school was the one on the main road, Warsop Vale School, it was built by the colliery and there was a coal fire in each room  – there was always plenty of coal. The hall which was the biggest room was upstairs, the dining room was downstairs.

  

Mr Penrose was the Headmaster his house was next to the school

The headmasters house

Doreen Tipple used to be the school Lollipop lady and Mrs  Noble was the dinner lady who checked your hands before lunch. We used to put little bottles of milk on the pipes to thaw out. I remember the nit nurse used to come to school.

I used to catch the bus to Warsop Vale school it was one penny each way.

We had street parties for the Coronation I had a dress with Hip Hip Ho-ray on.

We used to go for picnics in the woods with mum and our aunties, we used to picnic under three beeches. We made dens in the woods and had hours of fun.

I remember going with my Dad to the pit on a Friday for his money and we would go into Mansfield and the Home Stores for a treat – a bottle of lucozade with a straw!

Miners Welfare We used to go on trip from the ‘Welfare’ and ‘Legion’, if your dad was a member you got 10/ to spend. We went to Cleethorpes, Skegness or Mablethorpe. My dad was a big Legion Man. The trips went from the station

A Trip Round Warsop Vale

At the back of the Town Hall was the baby clinic, I remember going there (possibly with my mum) for cod live oil and orange juice.

The Plough Inn is where I used to go for Ballet Lessons with Nita Evans from Forest Town they were held in an upstairs room.

 Me at 55 Sycamore Street.

On the left is my cousin Kathleen Hatton, Maureen my sister is in the middle and I am on the right

We used to walk by the river after going to the Bethal Church, and I remember when I was about 11,  they had been cleaning the river out and on the banks it was all silt. Suddenly a young lady started to sink in the silt, she was up to her knees in it and two young men from church grabbed her and pulled her out.

Up till recently the Mill was still grinding flour, it had been a working mill for years – now the upstairs has been turned into flats.

We used to go up Cuckney Hill chestnutting and for a walk to the Greendale Oak.

This was once a Railway bridge, the railway used to go towards Cuckney Hill,

The woods are lovely they have wood anemones, daffodils and bluebells.

This was the field where the pit ponies used to be when they used to come out of the pit each year. It has since been used for Athletics, Alley Cats Jazz Band and football.

Picture of Miners Welfare – we used to go on trip from the ‘Welfare’ and ‘Legion’, if your dad was a member you got 10/ to spend.

The lane known as the Black Pad because they used to put black shale down, it goes across the fields and comes out near the Miners Welfare.

A house on Bishops Walk was where the Doctors Surgery and waiting room used to be, there was Dr Hay, Streven and Kelly.

These were once Colliery Houses

This was the pit yard area I can remember the pit yard and canteen, I used to go with my dad on a Friday for his money.

The Boiler House used to be there, warm water was piped to the village houses. Those are the original gates.

This grand house is where the pit manager lived.

Picture of Rhein o’ Thorns

Just up the lane from the Pit managers house are these lovely old cottages known as the Rhein o’ Thorns, or The Rocks – they were built before the pit.

This is where we went for nature walks and looked for frogs. The ridge over there is where the coal wagons used to run.

This was at one time the only private house in the village, it was owned by a Doctor.

This is the Resource Centre, it used to be the Co-op

The Vale Pub used to be known as the Swing.

I left Warsop in 1968 but it still hold many happy memories for me especially the time spent at the Bethel Church.

 

 

Sunday School Anniversary

Comments about this page

  • Lovely read. The clock you are talking about that was in Church Warsop wooden hut school, I have in my house on my wall. My grandma and grandad worked at the school (Mr and Mrs Hartley) and the headmistress gave that clock to my grandma. I had it restored and still have it.

    By Jo hayes (08/08/2023)
  • Fascinating little stories, I was Warsop born and bred, born at 51 High Street, then moved to the Warsop Workingmens’ Club house. My mother and father ran the club for several years (Jack and Elsie Homer). I remember most of the places and events mentioned in the short stories which I find very interesting as you never forget. I still visit Warsop. We lived opposite Hawkins Farm, Mrs Joyce Hawkins was my mam’s dear friend, I spent many hours exploring on the Farm. I am now 69 but the happy childhood memories never fade.

    By Julie Homer (14/04/2023)
  • That’s me next to Marilyn on the Coronation float, I have fond memories of Church Warsop, at a time when we knew everyone…It was a special place to grow up…x

    By Pauline Ashby ( Jackson) (13/04/2023)
  • Does anyone know what the ladies dress shop was called? It was open in the 1980’s and early 90’s as my friend used to buy and hire lovely evening dresses from there.

    By Mrs Ward (05/05/2020)
  • Is the Mrs. Noble referred to (dinner lady and Ramblers Association) the lady who lived up in the “Rocks”, which were the old engineers houses up at the Vale? If so, that was my Grandma.

    By Anne (24/09/2019)
  • Spooky isn’t it? I was just browsing the Warsop pages, when I saw my ‘home address’, 18 King Rd. My name is Jeff Proctor and we exchanged houses with you in Jan. 1950. I was only 6/7 at the time and I believe your Dad’s name was Tommy. I think that we exchanged houses to make it more convenient for our fathers in going to work. I left home at 16 to join the Royal Navy and never returned permanently to live. My parents lived there until 1988 when they moved to Nottingham. It stills brings a smile to my face when I remember that we lived between Mr. and Mrs. Crookes on one side and Mr. and Mrs. Christian on the other. All the Christian family have now passed on but I am still in contact with both Michael and David Crookes who still live in Warsop. Both my parents ashes are buried in the cremation plot at Warsop Church and with me now living in Dorset I do not visit as often as I would like. However when I do I always take a trip down King Road and reminisce awhile. That is getting more and more difficult to do as not just the terraced houses are gone but the whole of ‘the Old Part’. If you are of a mind, please drop me a line.

    By Jeff Proctor (31/08/2019)
  • Veronica Childerley, I bet you knew Mr and Mrs Hallam then, they lived at number 99 King Street.

    By Sharon Davies (13/12/2018)
  • Carole visiting from the US sitting here reminiscing and notice a comment from our cousin David. We two spent happy times at 15 Lilac Grove with Grandma and Grandad Perry and remember well David’s mother our Auntie Joan.  Good memories

    By Carole and Hilary nee Perry (26/09/2017)
  • God this took me back a bit, I’m a 1957  so might be a bit younger than some, I’m sure it was Dr Wilson in big house near the welfare, I remember the pit ponies on football pitch, Miss Langrick and Mrs Featherstone at Vale School I think after Penrose Mr Carr was head master, my dad was a deputy at Warsop Main and we lived on Bishops walk church Warsop. Wow what a lovely blast from the past 

    Andy Antcliff

    By Andrew Antcliff (04/04/2017)
  • I lived at Warsop Vale got lots of happy memories has a child there. I lived at 96 King Street next to the Blands family.  Went to Vale school then Meden School.  We left Vale in 84 very sad day when we had to leave but I will always have my memories. 

    By Veronica childerley simmons (08/11/2016)
  • Hi Marilyn I used to live across road from you often came to your house.

    Still got poems your mum wrote.

    By jean formly wesley (23/10/2016)
  • I would still be interested in any information as to how the old pit wheel ended up outside the “Swing” If anyone has any snippets to share.

    By John (28/02/2016)
  • Hi, Marylin

    Just found your page I loved seeing church warsop and the pictures I will send the link to Kathleen.

    Sylvia

    By sylvia steven (hatton) (05/01/2016)
  • This toook me back years also. I went to Warsop Vale School with my brother Robin c.1957 and left in 1962. I remember Mr Penrose and Mrs Noble who also ran the Ramblers Club. Also Miss Clay and Miss Langrick. Previously went to Church Warsop Infants Mrs Allenby was a teacher there. We lived in Birkland Avenue, Warsop. Lovely to see these photos, thank you.  

    By Pip Kings (26/08/2015)
  •  Hi from NZ

    My Dad, Bill, worked at Warsop Main until we emigrated to NZ in 1965, We lived in Shirebrook on New Estate On school holidays I used to bike along the path from Langwith Junction to meet him after work. So the photos are much appreciated.

    Dad died in 1980 but Mum Joyce still going strong  

    by Greg Daniels 

    By Greg Daniels (03/07/2015)
  • Can any “Warsopvaleians”  In particular any ex miners from Warsop Main, tell me a bit more about the small pit wheel which sits at the front of The Vale Hotel on the old raised bed? An item like this surely ought to have a purpose built plinth or stand with a plate commemorating the opening and closure of the pit upon it? Warsop had enclosed “Koepe” winders I believe, and this wheel was part of that apparatus? I wonder who actually placed this item there, or who approached the demolition contractors to acquire/buy it. Some information would be interesting if anyone local knows anything perhaps? 

    By John (27/06/2015)
  • Really pleased to see the entry here from the lady who rescued the date stone/brick from the old school at Warsop Vale-well done to you. I did not expect for one moment anyone would do something such as that, and whilst I have no connection with this area at all, it really is nice to see a little of something historical locally, saved to posterity.Too much goes by by way of the demolition man’s hammer now,to make way for so-called affordable housing,and whilst of no great architectural interest or importance in terms of their make up, they do form part of the area and tell it’s story down the years. Places like Warsop Vale and all such other places similar, do have value,and each warrant their own place in the history of the working people of the Midlands,and the Dukeries as a whole.

    By John (29/03/2015)
  • John was asking what would happen to the brick sign 190, I have brought it from the site as me and my husband Steven Darby both attended the school and didn’t want it to be destroyed so we brought it for keep sake of our history at the school. Its memory will live on.

    By helen darby was ducker (03/03/2015)
  • On passing through today,the old school at Warsop vale is in the process of being knocked down, with all the timber and internal fittings being stripped before the shell goes. Seems a shame, whilst not a building of great architectural or aesthetic interest (not being stone etc), it is still a part of what once was the company town of Warsop Vale, built by the colliery company for the education of the village children. I wonder what will become of the date stone on the front of the building,and whether it will be incorporated into the new development somewhere, as a nod of acknowledgement from the past to the present? I’d like to think so.

    By John (07/02/2015)
  • I was born at 85 King St Warsop Vale in 1946 and left with my family in 1959 bound for Australia. After doing many scrapbooking albums on my family I am planning an album about my life. With no photos this was going to be difficult but when I looked this morning and saw your page Pauline it brought back so many memories. Thank you, Barbara.

    By Barbara Laine Nee Davey (24/09/2014)
  • Reference Mike Clifford above. I have some records of the 1924 mining accident, as Frederic Arthur Newton, the deceased was half brother to my Grandfather. William Webster. Eric Webster. 01/02/2014

    By Eric Webster (01/02/2014)
  • Am I right in thinking that the old Warsop Vale school is to be demolished for new housing?

    By John. (22/12/2013)
  • Hi! I would love to see more pictures of Joe and Marie Tonks? I lived next door to them from the age of 3 till 11.

    By Jess Hadfield (30/09/2013)
  • I remember the Coop on West Street, Warsop Vale. My Mum, Winifred Newton worked there and at the associated Post Office for some years, but I don’t have the exact dates. here father Frederick Arthur Newton, who played Cricket for derbyshire, was killed in an accident at Warsop Main in 1924 and at that date they were living at Wheatsheaf Terrace. My Godparents, herbert and Eslise Sansom lived not far away. I also remember a shoe repairer who had a little shed on a patch of open land further along West Street at least until the early to mid-50s.

    By Mike Clifford (17/07/2013)
  • We moved to 2 Bishops Walk ( then the first house in the village) in 1948 after my Grandfather William Webster died, and lived with my Grandmother Florence Webster. All of us children four in all, two sisters June and Beryl and a brother Douglas went to Bethel Sunday School, my religion teacher being Mrs Metheringham ‘if my memory serves me right.’ My Father Roy worked at Kings Mill Motor Service Station as a mechanic and then at the Ford Agency in Warsop. In 1953 we moved to Hammerwater Drive in Warsop and after leaving school I worked at Poyntons Cycle, TV, Radio Shop before doing a short stint at Welbeck Colliery underground. Then deciding to join the fleet air arm for a period of nine years. Very happy memories of both Church Warsop and Warsop itself. My best friend at Church Warsop Norman Savage who sadly passed away in 1966 (26 years of age) and at Warsop Colin Wilkinson deceased some four years ago. I now live in Malta ‘for the past 37 years’ but like to visit the Warsop area when possible, both my sisters still live there on the Robin Hood estate. My brother now lives in Louth Lincs. Happy Days Eric Webster

    By Eric Webster (16/07/2013)
  • I was born at 15 lilac grove in 1944. The house was my gran and grandads (Joe and May Perry) They had seven sons and one daughter (my mum) Joan Perry. I remember much of the description including the Bethel, the black pad and so on. I remember Monty the milkman. He delivered milk on a horse drawn cart. There were large milk churns on the cart. He decanted the milk into a smaller carrying churn to carry it to your kitchen door anthen poured it into the bowl you left by the door.Because my mum had twins he always left a bit extra for free.He didnt have to go back to the cart to lead the horse, he just called it and it walked to the next stopping place, it knew the route by heart. I also remember Browns shop and the chip shop at the bottom of Lilac Grove. The hot water system that piped really hot water round the village had an added advantage. When my gran wanted to talk to the lady next door she knocked on the pipes and they both stepped out on to the back garden for a chat The system worked equaly well in reverse!

    By David Evans (25/05/2013)
  • A nice set of pictures and commentary. My next door but one neighbour and myself, in his lorry,used to pick up the milk from William Wood Farm up the lane. He worked for J E Flintham, who were situated beside the Bull Farm Social Club some years ago.Their yard disappeared when the Millenium Park was built off Chesterfield Road.

    By John (24/02/2013)
  • Hi Marilyn, Just read your article, and seen the photo’s. Can remember you well, as we are on the same timeline. I now live in Cape Town. I love nostalgia. Best wishes, Dale Norris (my sister is Shirley).

    By Dale Norris (15/02/2013)
  • Sorry to hear Mrs Tonks passed away, Sorry to hear such sad news, we knew her and Connie…she gave us a stone owl from her garden and we still have it..she was a lovely lady, when we moved in she came round with a tray of tea!

    By A Evans (07/03/2012)
  • Oh this has sent me back years. I lived on Popler Grove where Mr and Mrs Tonks lived they lived at number 6 and I lived at number 11. I am on the photograph of the Sunday School concert and Betty Fearn is next to me. We were great pals then. As for the 10/- you got when you went on the ‘club’ trip to Skegness I only got 2/6d (but I am 10 years older than you, inflation), and I had to sit on newspaper all the way to stop me being travel sick. This has real sent my mind in motion, will do something about it next week.

    By IRENE COOLEY NEE CHAPMAN (30/07/2011)

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