Welcome to the Bulwell Hall Estate Web Site
Dedicated to Bulwell Hall Estate, Nottingham, England
My Name is Brian Wilkinson, this is my memoirs of Bulwell Hall Estate from 1930's
My Parents
George Wilkinson was born 1907 in Arnold, he was one of 7 brothers and 2 sisters. He worked at Bestwood colliery at the coal face,. till he lost is life in a Colliery accident at Bestwood Colliery on 20/2/1952. He was a fun loving man and a big torment.
Annie May Wilkinson nee Dabell was born 1902 in Manchester, but her family were born and lived in Basford and Bulwell. She died on 2/10/1993. She was a loving Mother.
Mother and Father
Click here for Our Family Tree
Our House
My parents George and May Wilkinson came to live at 129 Longford Crescent when I was 1 year old in 1932. My brother Alan was born there in 1936. It was a mid terraced house comprising 3 bedrooms, living room, with coalhouse, pantry, bathroom with brick copper, access was through the kitchen and there was an outside toilet. We had a small back garden which backed on to open fields. As my father worked at Bestwood colliery he had a ton of coal tipped in the street every month, we had to get it in using the dustbin lid and buckets through the house as the coal house was inside and as it was a middle house it was a long way round the back. Come rain or shine Monday was wash day. Mother would light the coal fire boiler for boiling her clothes in. She had a dolly tub, ponch stick and hand turned mangle. When we came home at dinner time we would have to do some ponching and mangling while Mother got the Bubble and Squeak ready for dinner. I can still taste it . Sunday was best clothes day. We were not allowed to play outside. Every Sunday morning we went to Sunday school, first at Springfield School and later at St. Albans Church Hall.
Mother, Father, Alan and Me
Springfield Schools
I Started Springfield Infants School in 1935, moved up Springfield Juniors School on 22/8/1938. Went in to 2B, Miss Alvey's class, I was not one of her favourites, always in trouble. I seemed to get the blame for things I did not do, but sometimes it was justified. It was Miss Alvey's first year as a teacher, some years later when my eldest son Gary went Springfield School Miss Alvey was the Headmistress and admitted she had made mistakes.
The other teacher I can remember was Mr. Burnham (4B) I got on a lot better with my lessons , and was much happier in his class. On the outbreak of World Two in 1939 the Government decided not to have all the School children under the same roof, our class had the their lessons above the chip shop on Hucknall Lane. This was only for a short period, before we got back to normal.
Highbury Boys Secondary School
I was not looking forward to starting Highbury School, many tales were going round about the Knocker, (this was a metal hook that held the doors open.) You were held down and hit on the head three times, if you cried you had a second dose, only had it once. Although the war was still raging the teachers did their best to educate us. Many of the male teachers were called up for active service, consequently we had three lady teachers, which was un-heard of in boys only schools in those days. Their names were Miss Richardson, Miss Caladine, and one I can not recall. The Headmaster name was Mr. Poole, who was strict but very fair. Male teachers names I remember were Mr. Lomax, he took Woodwork and had a very short fuse and when you did anything wrong you had to duck because he threw anything at you. Another was Bulldog Hartley, he lived up to his name, I can remember once he had two lads in front of the class and gave them six of the best on each hand. When they asked "what's that for?" he replied "That's for smoking last night when going by my house" (he lived on Piccadilly which was close to the school). Then there were Mr. Faulkner, (nickname Daddy Fortnight - but not to his face). He was very strict and did not suffer fools gladly. But any one was doing their best he would try to help them. I think he was the best teacher at the school. The last male teacher I can recall was Mr. Baker, he took us for all sports. He never lost his temper. I was in his form the last year at school. I was in Miss Richardson's class when I first went to Highbury, she was very nice. Miss Caladine had a very quick temper. She had the ability to throw the blackboard eraser round corners and still find the target.
When I first went to Highbury we had a double sports period, but soon found out why, we had to walk to St. Albans Road playing fields which were a good 1.5 miles away. Everybody was digging for victory and Highbury was no exception, The allotments were at Bradford Street. Each form would go there at least once a week, something I enjoyed as it got me out of lessons. During the last year at Highbury, I had the honor of being Vice Captain of the school and a prefect. I also had to help the teachers to take the first years for games. In The summer of 1944 I spent three weeks working for Hatton's Market Gardeners as work experience.
School Holidays
The summer holidays were spent mostly playing up Bulwell Hall Park, fishing in lakes, catching dragonflies and blue bottles. We would take bread and jam sandwiches and get our water from Farley's Lane Spring. We would also play football, (I was the lucky one, to have a football my Dad won one at Notts. County football match, on penny on the match ball), cricket, and tracking through the woods. They were happy times when the sun seemed to be always shining.
Early Recollections
My first recollection was 1936 when I went with my Dad to Firs Maternity Home to fetch my mother and baby brother Alan home. The taxi was driven by Mr. Syd. Hewes who I think had the first car on the estate, (I felt like royalty). Mr. Hughes also took us to the railway station and back home when we went for our holidays. Two hawkers namely Mr. Savage and Mr. Horsley used to come round with their horse and carts, delivering green groceries six days a week. Mr. Sutton sold ice cream from his van - you took your own glass and got it filled a for penny or tuppence - it was great, I can still taste it now. We used to have Iron Brew delivered by Mr. George Stone, he used to go to Church and was quite a character, Mr. Parham was the road sweeper who kept the Estate clean better than it is now. The last one I can remember was "Punch Green" a rag and bone man who would come round weekly.
My recollections of the war
Family's separated from their Fathers, Son and Husbands who were called to fight in the war. Women called for service in the A .T. S, W. A. A .Fs, Wrens and Land Army Girls. Women going to work in factories on ammunitions. Under ground miners were exempt from national service.
Hearing the news on radio, Tommy Handley,s Itma's show and propaganda from Lord Haw Haws. Seeing the Pathe news twice a week at the cinema. Going down into our Anderson shelters when the sirens sounded, taking personal effects (" insurance policies, identity cards and bank books"). the council removed all metal fencing and gates to make ammunition, having to black out all light from windows and doors at night, an A R P man would come round to check to see if there was any light showing he would knock on your if there was. All buses had to blank out their destination. All traffic had there head lights covered with a black hood with two slits to reduce the light. British summer time was put forward two hours to make more daylight and one hour in winter. We had evacuees from the south of England staying with Nottingham families. Flying of kites and letting off fire works were banned.
Ration Books
In 1940 rations books were issued to each person containing coupons, the coupons were needed for food, clothing, sweets and soap. The shop keeper would remove the coupons be-fore issuing the goods, the coupons had no monetary value. There were different types of ration books one was a buff coloured which were issued to adults and children over 5. Expectant mothers ration books were green in colour, as they were given extra coupons. I think that miners were given extra food coupons. When rationing first began each person were allowed 4 oz butter or lard, 12 oz sugar, 4 oz raw bacon or ham and 2 eggs per week. As the war went on bread became scarce, people had to queue very early in the morning, even if you had coupons there was no guarantee they would get any bread. I didn't know what Oranges, grapes and Bananas looked liked till after the war. The government encouraged us to grow our own vegetables in our gardens. My father kept chickens in the back garden with the councils permission, some mornings we would have to wait for the hens to lay eggs for our breakfast. Bulwell Hall Park had to have football pitches ploughed in to grow wheat sugar beet and potatoes. Bartering became a way of life and there was an illegal black market going on. Food rationing came to an end in 1954.
Clothing
Clothes was strictly rationed during the war and ended in 1949. I can remember wearing short trousers, the material was gray flannel with white cotton lining, we had no underpants as we could not spare the coupons, they were held up with bracers. If you wore a belt it was elastic with snake clasp. I had long socks mostly gray with coloured tops, I always preferred them rolled down to my ankles. I started wearing long trousers when I was 12, they were baggy gray in colour and I only wore them for best. Foot wear were mostly brown T strap sandals with yellow crepe soles in summer, Boots in winter and black plimsols for games and P T. Jumpers and sweaters were always hand knitted with no sleeves. Swim wear was made of wool and when they got wet they sagged to your knees. To make jumpers, cardigans and jackets last longer, patches were sewn on the elbows. These became fashionable and popular. Ladies were most affected because there were no silk stockings. They used to stain there legs with tea, then use eye liner to make a line to back of there legs to look like a stocking seam.
My first years at work
On leaving school I started work as a van lad for Murray's Finishers And Dryers, at Leonard Street Bulwell. I did not think there were any prospects, so left after 9 weeks. My next employment was a apprentice wagon maker at Annesley Wagon Shops. I Not find the work very interesting and left after about 8 months. Then I got the career I wanted as Apprentice Bricklayer with A. G. Glower of Daybrook Sq. I were a bound apprentice for 5 years, and came out of my time in November 1950. They were very happy years.
Pastimes and Hobbies
In the early 1940,s, television was in its infancy and not many households had one. We were fortunate we had three cinema's. The Adelphi, Highbury and The Palace. The Adelphi situated on Hucknall lane Bulwell, was built just before the 1939--1944 war, it was very luxurious (at the time). Later it became a bingo hall, now it has been demolished to make way for a Kentucky fried chicken restaurant. Highbury cinema situated on Highbury Vale Bulwell, it is now a Co-op shop. The Palace cinema was situated on Main Street Bulwell,( fondly called "the flea pit"). Every Saturday morning Highbury and Palace had a "tuppenny rush" watching Tom Mix, Buck Jones, Flash Gordon, was just some of the hero's.
In the 1940,s the youth of Bulwell Hall Estate had more things going for them, than they have now. Springfield School was the focal point of the estate. With Baldwin Boys Club. They catered for football, cricket, boxing, athletics, and drama classes. The leader was "Skip Archer). Also at the School were the "Jack Tars" Marching band, old time dancing classes ( that's where I meet Joyce Richardson who later became my wife), and social events. I do not think that the school is used to its full potential.
Acknowledgement's
Brian Taylor for his help and patience.
David Buxton Secretary of Nottingham City Golf Club.
Frank Blinco for his help on Bulwell Hall.
Nottingham City Council Policy Team.
Denise Davis of First Data.
