Bulwell Hall Estate is located on the north-west boundary of the City of Nottingham, on the main road leading through Bulwell to Hucknall. The site was purchased from the Corporation Estate of the Gas Committee for £8,810, an average of £10 per house. Tenders for building 804 houses, comprising 60 Parlour type with three bedrooms, 592 non-Parlour type with three bedrooms, 80 non-Parlour type with 2 bedrooms, and 72 special flats with one bedroom, were received in September 1927. The tender of Mr. Arthur Goodchild of Nottingham, amounting to £269,510 was accepted, and the building operations commenced in February 1928. The average costs were Parlour type three beds £450 (rent 9/6, rates 6/2 ), non-Parlour type three beds £334, (rent 6/4 rates 3/7), non-Parlour type two beds £292 (rent 5/2 rates 2/11), special flats one bedroom £261 ( rent 4/9 rates 2/9 ) Tenders for road works and sewers which amounted to £31,500 was given to Mr. H. Sewell of IIkeston. My wife's Uncle George (Harris ) worked as a foreman on the Estate. From start to finish.
There was originally a total of 804 dwellings, however additions to the estate were made in the mid 1890,s bringing the total to 981 dwellings. The majority of properties have under gone an Improvement Program therefore most have gas central heating, although a minority have solid fuel or storage heaters.
Bulwell Hall Estate experienced its first sale of Council Property in 1963, a total of 306 properties have been sold since, with the majority of these sales occurring after 1985. Therefore 31% of all the properties on the estate have been sold.
Moor Bridge
In 1937 plans were submitted before General Works and highway Committee and passed for a new bridge, It was erected 160yds south of the old one. It formed a direct continuation of Hucknall Road. Estimated cost was £ 44,500.
Moor Bridge Pond
Moor bridge pond, is an important wetland site. With many species of frogs, birds and insects, the River Leen runs through Moor Bridge. In the 1930,s people went there for picnic's, fishing, catching butter flies and tadpoles. On the corner of Moor Bridge there is one of the oldest thickets in Nottingham, there is a path which is believed to be the original road from Sherwood Forest to Nottingham.
,Shops On The Estate
Bulwell Hall Estate was well served with shops. Horsleys had a green grocery shop next to the bus terminus on Hucknall Lane, there was also a small cafe run by Mr. Les Chapman for the drivers, conductors and passengers. Next to the cafe was Bells garage, which sold petrol and serviced cars. Opposite Longford Crescent stood the Forest Hotel (Swinger) they said it got its name from when they swung the poles on the trolley buses from one track to another, or when the workers were swinging the lead on Monday's take your pick. There was also Smiths the newsagents which later was owned by Chappell and Walker and in later years became the Post Office. Next door was a Chip shop owner Mr Lineker, later Woodward.
Co-Op had three shops between Grindon Crescent and Lawton Drive, a Butchers, grocers, and Green Groceries and Fish Monger. Corner of Lawton Drive was a Post Office and Beer Off owned by Mr. Mc,Culloch, later by Mr. Lacey. On the other side of Lawton were four more shops, a Chip shop, Wool Shop, Confectionery Shop owned by Bettinsons, and a Grocers owned by Shentalls later by Fine Fare. These shops were opened in 1934. At top of Lawton drive was a small wooden hut which sold sweets, on our way to school we would stop and buy a penny "Gob Stopper" or liquorice stick with a bag of Kali.
Shops To-day
In place of the old shops we have 2 off licenses, one of which sells newspapers, fish and chip shop, a take away, and a Video shop. Morrison's Supermarket is situated close by (on the other side of Hucknall Lane ), it is within walking distance with a safe place to cross the road. The local Post Office is also nearby but again on the other side of Hucknall Road, which has also a safe place to cross the Road.
WITHIN BULWELL HALL ESTATE AREA THERE ARE THE FOLLOWING FACILITIES
Totley Close Community Centre.- Springfield School ( primary school with nursery facilities). -Alderman Derbyshire School (Secondary school ).- Two warden aided complex's (Totley Close and Fradley Close).-One private Nursing Home (Springfield ).- Ken Martin swimming pool (located to the south of Naomi Crescent).-A Community Garden which sells its own produce.- Nottingham Golf Club.-Children's playground.- Football Pitcher's and facilities for Cricket.