Nostalgia - What are your memories of Stafford?

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
1880.

Shows a few escarpments and describes the building on the hill as Kingstonhill Hospital (infectious diseases).

stafford-1880_hosm35232.png
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
I heard that it was at the bottom of Sunningdale Drive and Colwich Crescent, where the small green "playing area" is, just dont have a ball with you or made lady on the corner would come out and shout at you, threatening to call the fuzz.....she never did :D

I still remember the golf house being there before it was knocked down for Kingston Hill Court to be built. Morris drive on wards was still a HUGE building site. lots of fun knocking about in the foundations / builds wrecking havoc :D
Thanks for that.
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
1880.

Shows a few escarpments and describes the building on the hill as Kingstonhill Hospital (infectious diseases).

stafford-1880_hosm35232.png
I never knew there was a hospital there.
And I'm surprised at houses on Corporation Street which I thought was about Edwardian.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
A fascinating photograph.
No houses, and not many trees in Kingston Pool Covert.
It seems that the land belonged to the Earl of Shrewsbury and that may be part of why the club migrated to Ingestre, although now threatened by HS2...
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I never knew there was a hospital there.
And I'm surprised at houses on Corporation Street which I thought was about Edwardian.
Past Track says Corporation Street was mostly built in the 1890s. It's not beyond the bounds of possibility that some information could have been included on a map from a slightly earlier date, based on planning information - for example, there is a map showing the route of the Stafford-Uttoxeter railway following a slightly different route from that which actually existed in reality.


However - I'm not convinced by the date that was given for that map - it describes the Prison as being His Majesty's...

Oxford Gardens houses don't seem to be there - I suspect it may be more like 1905ish...

OK, there is no sign of the 'new' Lotus factory, so around 1903 - probably - to be in time with a male monarch...
 
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Entropy

Well-Known Forumite
the level of sand stone on the south side of kingston hill is quite substantial.

where the old quarry is situated does look to be the junction of Colwich crescent and Wolsley Road

data=eMTv2ydITxcwW9CkAmTltXRQhclJECYXBQqXpqjpd-epFXzjrG0DxEAUNVcARjhmADIXnsJXb14-foOtiqlEhDMprym-S0ByHcUPyH5qzYu4VJRy7pvMzLtcZnJQTgXtFH0ENqAbtiIpaLs-Qgm0D4UC3JWM2zzi1yjzScvYeLyW5mysrbv_XffH6dnSyix0-Xcv5bCKy2uqDZ0te2n4r5e2SUbTUnyvrK_9PHwzRGUB0LV7WsNqsMjDItzrjDgdtECZqw
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
This would imply that your information may be correct.

kingston_hill_4.jpg


That would line up with where the odd open space is in Colwich Crescent.

Presumably filled in, but not built on?
That's fascinating.
Old Clay Pits, Old Marl Pits and an Old Quarry.
And there's 'Allotment Gardens' where or near where there are now.
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
the level of sand stone on the south side of kingston hill is quite substantial.

where the old quarry is situated does look to be the junction of Colwich crescent and Wolsley Road

data=eMTv2ydITxcwW9CkAmTltXRQhclJECYXBQqXpqjpd-epFXzjrG0DxEAUNVcARjhmADIXnsJXb14-foOtiqlEhDMprym-S0ByHcUPyH5qzYu4VJRy7pvMzLtcZnJQTgXtFH0ENqAbtiIpaLs-Qgm0D4UC3JWM2zzi1yjzScvYeLyW5mysrbv_XffH6dnSyix0-Xcv5bCKy2uqDZ0te2n4r5e2SUbTUnyvrK_9PHwzRGUB0LV7WsNqsMjDItzrjDgdtECZqw
There's a bit of bare sandstone on the grassed area with the big poplar near Colwich Crescent - and it's only a foot underground at the top left corner of our garden.
There's sandstone visible in many places other nearby, on Beacon Hill, near Hopton Pools, by the Upper Hanyards, etc.
 

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
Difficult to place the quarry even on Google Earth. I'm going back 50+ years now. It seemed to me it was on the highest part but it's all houses now.:|
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
That's interesting.
I never knew there was a kink in the Tixall Road, as if to keep clear of the Hospital for Infectious Diseases that was only reached by footpaths ( and might have been busy this past year )
The footpath is still there, presumably it was the original route of what would have been Tixall Lane at the time, before a diversion to the 'loop' occurred. The eastern end follows the original straight line, from the bottom of Gleneagles Drive, across Birkdale Drive, then along the southern edge of Kingston Pool Covert, to rejoin the 'main road again, but the western end has slight deviations, following the 'new' road layout for Wentworth Drive and Colwich Crescent. There is a short section of 'pure' footpath joining Wentworth Drive to the Wolseley Road/Avon Rise junction, but not following the original line, with a short section running sort of parallel to Avon Rise, then joining the Tixall Road..
 

Entropy

Well-Known Forumite
There's a bit of bare sandstone on the grassed area with the big poplar near Colwich Crescent - and it's only a foot underground at the top left corner of our garden.
There's sandstone visible in many places other nearby, on Beacon Hill, near Hopton Pools, by the Upper Hanyards, etc.

Climber that tree many times and lazed about underneath it as a kid. We moved into Sunningdale Drive in 1982 ( I was about 18 months old at the time). My folks still live there too. The huge lump of sandstone you mention is still present on the green area, tripped over it a little on Sunday afternoon walking back down Wentworth drive to Avon rise, forgot how steep it is!

The footpath is still there, presumably it was the original route of what would have been Tixall Lane at the time, before a diversion to the 'loop' occurred. The eastern end follows the original straight line, from the bottom of Gleneagles Drive, across Birkdale Drive, then along the southern edge of Kingston Pool Covert, to rejoin the 'main road again, but the western end has slight deviations, following the 'new' road layout for Wentworth Drive and Colwich Crescent. There is a short section of 'pure' footpath joining Wentworth Drive to the Wolseley Road/Avon Rise junction, but not following the original line, with a short section running sort of parallel to Avon Rise, then joining the Tixall Road..

That black path was LETHAL in the snow and if it iced over, forget it....walk on the grass. my mum slipped and broke her leg years ago because of the ice on that path. mind you, great to sledge down it though :)
 

Entropy

Well-Known Forumite
just searching though the Britain from above site (thanks @Gramaisc ) And I was looking for Forebridge area.Managed to spot my house 2 year after it was built. and before the factory was built.

Far right below the allotments Salt Avenue I believe.

EPW053374.jpg
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
That black path was LETHAL in the snow and if it iced over, forget it....walk on the grass. my mum slipped and broke her leg years ago because of the ice on that path. mind you, great to sledge down it though :)
The avoidance of the gradients may have been a reason for the loop diversion, as the lane upgraded to a road?
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
just searching though the Britain from above site (thanks @Gramaisc ) And I was looking for Forebridge area.Managed to spot my house 2 year after it was built. and before the factory was built.

Far right below the allotments Salt Avenue I believe.

EPW053374.jpg
1937 - the Main Works would have been there at that time, but off to the right of the picture, Transformer Works was a much later addition, well post-war.


1940.

Luftwaffe 1.JPG
 
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