Nostalgia - What are your memories of Stafford?

Mudgie

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
The sidings bottom left look well used.
I don't recognise the two storey building with nine windows across bottom right.
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
The avoidance of the gradients may have been a reason for the loop diversion, as the lane upgraded to a road?
Yes, and it really is a gradient.
The steepness of the drives of the houses on the west of Tixall Road make that one of the most challenging walks out of Stafford Delivery Office, and it was appropriately known as "The Alps".
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
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.

View attachment 10612
it's no surprise that the Luftwaffe highlighted the sites of 16MU RAF Stafford.
4 Site as Tiel I
2 Site as Tiel II
6 Site as Tiel III
3 Site as Tiel IV
5 Site appropriately as Tiel V
approximately 1 Site as Tiel VI
approximately HQ Site as Tiel VII
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I don't recognise the two storey building with nine windows across bottom right.
Dinham's Wagon Repair Works - I think.

The building was still there in 1974, when the adjacent signal box was demolished.

https://www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk/Details.aspx?&ResourceID=17246&PageIndex=1&KeyWord=dinham's&SortOrder=2


It would appear that Network Rail may still use the term "Dinham Sidings" for that location and some of the track is still there, and spanned by the overhead gantries, though in little, if any, use these days.
 
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Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
Dinham's Wagon Repair Works - I think.

The building was still there in 1974, when the adjacent signal box was demolished.

https://www.search.staffspasttrack.org.uk/Details.aspx?&ResourceID=17246&PageIndex=1&KeyWord=dinham's&SortOrder=2


It would appear that Network Rail may still use the term "Dinham Sidings" for that location and some of the track is still there, and spanned by the overhead gantries, though in little, if any, use these days.
Thanks.
It's odd because I definitely recognise that building but the one at the bottom right of the other photo looks to have square, not rounded, topped windows but maybe that's with it being such a distant view.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Thanks.
It's odd because I definitely recognise that building but the one at the bottom right of the other photo looks to have square, not rounded, topped windows but maybe that's with it being such a distant view.
Mmm, and it appears to have eight bays, not nine...
 

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
Quite a few pits on this Victorian/Edwardian 25" map. Move the trancparency slider to see what is there now

https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=52.80896&lon=-2.09640&layers=168&b=1

Play with some of the other maps available as well.

Interesting to see the Rec was even then marked as a Recreation Ground, even though no houses were built around it. Also what we used to call 'The Valley' leading off the top edge of the Rec, long since filled in. Also Shelley's Pits which I can just about remember to the North-east of the Rec and North of the Asylum.
 

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
As I remember it they were left as a large piece of open ground with a NAAFI type shop situated at one end. Like that for years until they built houses on it.
 

gon2seed

(and me! - Ed)
TY Bob, my Dad, also Bob 'god rest him', started his apprenticeship at Bagnalls in the 1950's I think, before moving on to English Electric as a Pattern Maker, worked there for many years before taking early retirement. Now they have both been flattened and I am contemplating my own retirement. Funny old world ain't it!
 

tek-monkey

wanna see my snake?
The Main Post Office in 1978 courtesy of the brand new SLR camera I'd recently bought. Sheridan House, I actually never minded queuing in there, that ground floor was so impressive. Strange to think that all those people in the pix are 44 years older, or gone. :|

View attachment 12120
Was just thinking it can't be 44 years ago because I was born..... oh yeah, I'm old now 🤣
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
The Main Post Office in 1978 courtesy of the brand new SLR camera I'd recently bought. Sheridan House, I actually never minded queuing in there, that ground floor was so impressive. Strange to think that all those people in the pix are 44 years older, or gone. :|

View attachment 12120
Yes, it had a lovely interior just like the Carnegie library that we've also lost.
I'd forgotten about those adjacent K7 or K8 'phone boxes.
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
The Main Post Office in 1978 courtesy of the brand new SLR camera I'd recently bought. Sheridan House, I actually never minded queuing in there, that ground floor was so impressive. Strange to think that all those people in the pix are 44 years older, or gone. :|

View attachment 12120
It seems that you managed to catch it with undercoat on the railings?

Or were they really that colour?

And was it not Chetwynd House?
 

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
Yes it was, ...... I've got Sheridan on my mind being bought up in Sheridan Street. I'm allowed a few 'senior moments,' ... (or is it 'years' ? SHIT !!!) :eek:
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
The Main Post Office in 1978 courtesy of the brand new SLR camera I'd recently bought. Sheridan House, I actually never minded queuing in there, that ground floor was so impressive. Strange to think that all those people in the pix are 44 years older, or gone. :|

View attachment 12120
I always used to get in the wrong queue , the days when it was all separate queues .
Once thought I was doing well near to getting next to be served after the one bloke in front. Then he proceeded to tax a whole fleet of about 20 cars in his garage, each one done writing everything out by hand.
Remember it being entrance by front doors and way out through side doors onto Mill Bank at one time. Used to hate that side bit for some reason.
 

Mudgie

Well-Known Forumite
I always used to get in the wrong queue , the days when it was all separate queues .
Once thought I was doing well near to getting next to be served after the one bloke in front. Then he proceeded to tax a whole fleet of about 20 cars in his garage, each one done writing everything out by hand.
Remember it being entrance by front doors and way out through side doors onto Mill Bank at one time. Used to hate that side bit for some reason.
Ah yes, "entrance by front doors and way out through side doors onto Mill Bank" and across the road into the Coach and Horses.
What happy memories.
 
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