Warsop Road, Mansfield Woodhouse

I would like to add my memories of Warsop Road to the comments and pages about Mansfield Woodhouse on this site. I lived on Warsop Road until I was 8 years old in the year that the 2nd world War ended.

The photo is the only I appear to have from that period, as we only had a box brownie camera and films were difficult to get in wartime.  The photo was taken in 1944 in the garden behind 40 Warsop Road and shows me holding a baby girl my parents were fostering, and Jean Taylor who lived next door but one in the detached stone cottage towards the Trough

My home was one of the stone cottages opposite what was then called ‘Savage’s Field’. I remember one year, a Circus arrived in that field and set up their Big Top opposite my house! The Star Inn, at the Village end of the road, once had my Mother’s Great Uncle Jim Pogmore as its Landlord and I had my first pint there when I came of age. Opposite, now part of a Motorhome business, was Jackson’s Fish and Chip Shop. I remember waiting to see the smoke rising from its chimney so I could beg some coppers from my Mum to get a bag of chips – I remember the price going up from tuppence to threepence – inflation was rife!

Further on in what is now the Anvil Classsic Car Garage was then Hobsons mostly coal delivery lorry depot.   Opposite, now an Auto-Electrical place was once a further part of the Pogmore empire a Wheelwrights Yard and Business – I can remember my Grandad talking about the Sawpits that men worked in there. 

The shop now housing the hair and Bodyworks business was of course the Post office run in my early years by Mr and Mrs Ince (not Inch as they often seem to be referred to). I can remember the price of a stamp to post a letter increasing from tuppence (blue) to tuppence ha’penny (purple) here and also the first ice cream to appear after the war being sold, on Tuesday lunchtimes, by Mrs Ince. Small paper covered rolls of Lyons Ice Cream but no cones to put them in so people took a basin to collect their share at tuppence a roll. 

 The Co-op was where the Bed Centre is now and weekly orders were wrapped in brown paper, tied with string, and delivered by horse and dray. The double garage opposite owned now by the Anvil Garage, referred to earlier, during the time I am writing of, was a timber structure which my Dad rented to keep his 1934 Morris 8 Saloon in. No petrol then of course and the car was raised off the ground on stacks of building bricks.

The row of cottages behind the Co-op and now opposite a Fish and Chip Emporium were called ‘Meadow Cottages’ a name that doesn’t get a mention on Google Earth!  My Mother was born in the first one!  It was here, as the War finished, I recall attending a  VE party and enjoying Rhubarb Jam Sandwiches. Proper jam was still rationed and Rhubarb was the first ‘fruit’ of the year to make homemade!

As the days lengthened around pancake day, with my friends, I used to play Whip and Top along the road as far as the bottom of George Street. Little traffic in the war years, just an occasional farmer’s pony and trap or a few cattle being driven to Savages Slaughter House. I do remember once however seeing, just once, a Convoy of Tanks heading to the Sherwood Forest training grounds. They left the pavement kerb edgings, along the front of the wall bordering Savages Field, chewed up by their tracks as a memento of their passing.

I could write much more of the goings on along Warsop Road in the early 1940’s but hopefully these will stir up memories for other people.

Comments about this page

  • My mother’s family, the Houghs, lived on George Street, just off Warsop Road. They had 13 children and to feed them all was difficult in the 1920’s so my grandfather and some of the other locals used to go poaching rabbits which was a major crime in those days. One night they were coming home over the top field above the Jug and Glass and grandfather sensed that something was amiss so he went round the opposite side of the pub to his mates. Sure enough the cops were waiting and nabbed his pals. He ran off down Warsop Road with the police not far behind and threw his small rifle over someone’s hedge. He went straight home and upstairs to bed. Knock on the door and it is the cops demanding to see Jack Hough. He fronted up in his night shirt wanting to know what all the fuss was. He was told they suspected him of being out poaching and when he denied it was asked if he always went to bed with wet muddy boots on! He escaped conviction but couldn’t find his gun the next day.

    By John Duckmanton (20/08/2019)
  • Very interesting comments from everyone regarding Warsop Road and former neighbours on Leeming Lane South.Thanks for the memories Ian “when I was a lad” as they say, a few years ago now for everyone.
    As a lad Ian I too remember Bill Briggs, but thought maybe his name was Harry Briggs? Didn’t realise that you lived in the stone buildings just up from the family home, small world.
    Pigeon racing, yes remember that also, one or two people raced pigeons on Leeming Lane South all those years ago with stones in a tin to be rattled when “calling them in”. Remember the sawmill on the corner of New Mill Lane, did Eric Wilson run it Ian? A bit of water gone under the bridge, as they say, from those days, and of course the “Top Field”, fond memories of days as a “Woodus Lad”, sadly nostalgia but happy memories long gone.

    By Mr G Burton (former" Woodus Lad " (05/04/2019)
  • Sorry John I can’t bring you to mind but possibly my sister Gillian would remember you David Carlisle was my elder brother he passed away some 40 yes ago
    We played football at the level area at the top of the banks I remember Maureen Pitchfork training for athletic at whinney hill end of the top field she went on to represent the country at the Olympics .We lived at the sawmill end were Bill Briggs kept pigeons he won the king’s cup with them the pigeon racing was Saturday afternoon and stragglers came in on Sunday we would play football on Saturday and hear the crowd cheer at Field Mill when the stag’s scored.Just hit me were you the tall boy and wore spectacles lived halfway up Titchfield AVE the memory s I could go on for hours at least back to 5 yes old . Bye for now

    By Ian Carlisle (05/02/2019)
  • Pleased to read your comments Ian Carlisle. I remember playing both Football and Cricket on the ‘Top Field’ when we lived on Titchfield Avenue and could access the field at the bottom of our Garden. We probably played at the other end to you though. Don’t remember the horse bolting but recall the Pigeon Fanciers Lofts along the top of the Bank towards the ‘Trough’ end and the races their pigeons used to take part in on many Sunday Mornings. The Pigeon-pea Tin rattling used to go on for hours to encourage the birds to clock-in. Can also remember Greyhound Owners training their dogs on the field by winding in a long string with a Rabbit skin attached by means of an old Bike frame with no tyres on the one wheel. Remember picking some good giant (Horse?) Mushrooms there as well – wonder if they still come up in the Roman Bank House gardens?
    What made your Comments doubly interesting was I remember a David Carlyle from whom I bought some Bantams around 1949 a relation of yours maybe?

    By John White (29/01/2019)
  • I too am a member of the 40s and 50s youth that lived on Leaming lane I remember G Burton has a baby born next door to my best friend, we played on the top field now Roman Bank,football pitches with coats or jumpers for goalposts, we swore to play on lower pitch if it was someone’s back garden. I remember many things that you describe, Edge Hill Garage with car sales and repairs and petrol sales owned by Luther Gregory, he also had David Brown Tractors opposite Hobson’s Garage. Mrs E Brown had the grocery shop at the bottom of George St. We also played whip and top but in George St a Mr mills of Leeming Lane made our whip and tops. I learnt to roller skate on Warsop ed with Jennifer Taylor I was holding on to Savages field wall.
    l
    Many hours spent playing on the banks and surrounding areas to many to mention today. No homework from school, any wonder we re-think to much play – great what kids miss today. One more thing can you remember Twigges horse bolting and taking trap through the Co -op window?

    By Ian Carlisle (26/01/2019)
  • Hi John, I am the same age as you I believe and remember some of the facts you have mentioned, except next to the Post Office was Thackers buses which later became Gittins and moved to Blake St. Jean Taylor sadly passed away a couple of years ago and left a bequest to the Church for a Cherry Blossom Tree avenue on the Turner field leading to the Church orchard. Fred Ghilks remembers the Circus when he lived on Louwil Aveue. I am in the Heritage Link[Woodhouse Library] and people come in to relate their memories to us. The Library is closed till 9th April so we hold court in Turner Hall, Fridays, till 11-30. Pop in sometime and see our archives!

    By Tom Shead (25/02/2018)
  • Thanks John and Tom for more nostagia memories.I to remember the area of Warsop Road having been born and brought up on Leeming Lane South .Yes remember the cottages across from “Savages Field” John as I used to remember the Hall family who’s son Colin I used to knock about with in the middle 50’s lived in one of the cottages and the area of which now is a fish shop remember many bonfires on the then spare ground and much of the preparation wood etc was given Jack Harrow at the top of George Street who had a upholstery shop for many years . Across from the fish shop was a house of which in the late 50’s/60’s I remember being a book makers think his name was Silvers who ran it ,yes the Co-op to No. 18 Branch.and of course the Post Office in my era was run by Mr & Mrs Slater for many years. Just going back to the fish shop remember it in my youth being run by the Goodband family with then a supper room I’m sure many will remember that ,and many a time whilst waiting for your order the ladies would put a few chips on paper on the counter to tuck in ,happy days .In the late 60’s the garage across from the Star Inn remember it being run by an old school friend called Paul Broadhurst if my memory serves me right ,and yes John with just a small area of Warsop Road it’s memories and nostalgia of which brings memories flooding back.

    By G.Burton former "Woodus lad " (25/02/2018)
  • Hi Tom! So sorry to hear your sad news about Jean Taylor – the last I heard of her was that she was a Children’s Nanny but that was over 60 years ago. We moved to  Titchfield  Avenuein 1945 and I eventually, when I was 18, moved to live at Newstead Abbey where I was an Apprentice  Gardener. Oddly enough when I married my Wife and I rented a house on Blenheim Terrace eventually buying a Bungalow on Park Hall Road! Re my reference to Pogmore’s having a Wheelwrights Yard – I only write of what I was told, not what I remember. I think the time it was there would have been before the First world War when there would have been a demand for wooden cart wheels. I have three chairs that my Great Grandmother once owned – I’d like to think they were made, with their turned spindles, in that Yard!

    As an ex-Yorke Street 1A fellow pupil I wouldn’t mind having a chat sometime – will have to see what can be arranged when the weather improves, possibly you should let me have your eMail address?

    By John White (25/02/2018)

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