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Recollections of life in the middle of the 20th century by Derek Rowell, Chairman of the Parish Council. Back to the History Pages Index I was born a few months before the start of World War 2, and thus grew up during the early 1950 s. The first home we had in Warmington was No. 15 Orchard Close, (now No.22). These houses had only been built shortly before the start of the War, and were bright and modern. I don t recall any events of the actual war myself. However, I do recall my parents telling me and my brother about a very successful air-raid searchlight unit which was positioned a little way along the old Roman Road to Ashton, not far from Springfield Farm. Evidently, because of their efforts, they were subjected to an attack one night by enemy aircraft. Naturally, the operators switched off the light, and the enemy planes mistook the village for the site. This resulted in the aircraft firing on the old Methodist Chapel in Chapel Street, which I believe still bears the scars of the event. The bases for the search light were still evident several years after the War. It is, perhaps, difficult today to believe how spread out the village was when I started attending the Village School shortly after the end of the War. The School was just the old school building as we know it today, the extension having been added in the 1970 s. The infants were taught in the section where the Playgroup keep their toys today, and the Hall was two classrooms, split by a removable dividing wall. The first headmaster I knew was a Mr. Wyke, who was succeeded by Mr. Essam, both of whom occupied the School House next door to the School. The majority of the village streets were all in existence, but with many gaps between houses, most of which have now been in-filled. For example, there were no houses in Broadgate Way, the first house on this road from the village being Villa Farm. There were also a considerable number of allotments around the village. These were; at the corner of Taylors Green, just beyond the cemetery; where Pierce Crescent is situated today; between the Village Stores and the former Hautboy & Fiddle Inn; and Mr. Slaughter's field on the old A605. Everyone was virtually self-sufficient for food, poultry, and pigs in those days. We certainly had learned to Dig for Victory ! Back to the History Pages Index To The Top Big Green had only two houses on the right hand side after the council houses: one small cottage and, right at the bottom (where Mike & Tina Dixon live), was Ivy Cottage (No 44), which was occupied by an old lady called Miss Lines. She had lived there for over thirty years and all the children of the village believed her to be a witch. In the Autumn she sold apples from her large orchard for a penny a bag, the apples being stored in the bath! Little Green also finished at the end of the Oddfellows Cottages, (Nos.39). On the opposite side of the road Ashdown Farm was a real farm in those days. There was great excitement here in the fifties when a chimney caught fire one afternoon. With the wide, deep chimneys of the old building this was a real event! Buntings Lane, which today is a relatively wide, well-trafficked road, was very similar to Taylors Green in dimensions, being very twisty, with high banks on the right hand side. The ancient monument, still known as Dark Hole, was a great place to fight mock battles in the daytime - however, no one went in there after dark! The Football Field was pretty much the same as it is today. Warmington Wasps were a very reputable team even in those days. I recall Tim Eden's father who rejoiced in the name of Toey, kicking a football so hard that it broke the net - (perhaps it was a pre-war net!). Returning to the centre of the village, at the start of Broadgate Way, just before the entrance to Pierce Crescent, was the site of the Warmington brick pits. Many of the Victorian houses in Warmington are built with this brick, which is very hard and weathers well. By the 1950 s the site had become a dump for village refuse, including the battered wings of airplanes, returning to R.A.F. Polebrook just up the road. At the corner of Broadgate Way and Orchard Close, (where Mr. & Mrs. Mike Wesson, (No.2 ),and their neighbours now live, were the four 'brickyard cottages . Back to the History Pages Index To The Top These were gaunt brick buildings which stood until the late 1960 s. Opposite these houses, bounded by School Lane and Chapel Street, was a large field in the middle of the village, used mainly for pasture in my early days. This field was developed in the early 1960 s by Mr. Bowering, the village entrepreneur, who kept the Post Office and Shop at No.28 School Lane. The builder was Mr. Mynard, who still actually lives in one of the bungalows. Nearby, at the house now occupied by Mr. William Du Croz, (No.2 Chapel Street), lived Mr. Black the village builder, he later sold his business to Mr. Rollings. A little further down the road, (Mr. & Mrs James' No. 12 ), was the carpentry and undertaker's premises of Mr. Jack James. Where the Warmington Working Men's Club is today, stood two very old wooden huts, very similar to those used by the military. One was for the Home Guard Unit, and the other was the original Village Hall. A Barn Dance on the wooden floor of that building was quite an occasion! Where the new (1990 s) Starter and senior citizens' homes now stand, at the end of Chapel Street, stood ten bungalows built of a clay tile brick . This was a most inefficient material to build houses with, and the new structures are a great improvement. Eaglethorpe has remained much the same during the whole century, with only Mrs Tessloff's bungalow (No.15 ) being added. The main farm was owned by a Mr. Thorpe Wilde, a gentleman farmer, who produced milk for the village. This milk was delivered by Mr. Frank Bream's father, in a horse and cart. The Mill also was in full use, grinding corn for the local community. The Miller, Mr. Hayes, also kept many chickens, and sold all manner of fish and eels caught in the River Nene. Back to the History Pages Index To The Top The Red Lion Public House has not changed much over the years either. The toilet block, on the right, was a Fish & Chip shop kept by a Mrs. Fanny Martin. She would sell a bag of chips, holding perhaps half a pound or more, for one old penny, plenty for a Saturday lunch for one person. The Police House, (No. 47 Stamford Lane), naturally had a full time village policeman in those days, the last one being Mr. Albert Hinton, ending a long line of a stout body of men, to be feared by all into keeping to the straight and narrow! Stamford Lane was another road that was lightly populated, with no houses from the Red Lion until the Chapel exit, and no houses on the left hand side after Mrs. Mazeika's, (No.36), except the pair of cottages, (Nos. 18 & 16 ), currently occupied by Mrs. Dakteris and Mr. Slaughter. On the right hand side of Stamford Lane, were just two groups of Victorian terrace houses. Acremead was a field where the village had extracted its supplies of gravel for many a year, as can still be seen in the field at the rear of Acremead, (off Church Street). At the end of Stamford Lane, (where Mr. & Mrs Hibbins live at No.1 ), were very old farm buildings which were used during the war by the Home Guard to practise combat training. Leaving the village by Church Skeet, one comes to the ford. It was a real ford in those days, with water running over the road for most of the winter months. This was most useful for cleaning out, and topping up, the boilers of visiting road rollers, used for repairing the roads. Returning along Church Street, to the Church, which is today the same as it was all those years ago. Opposite the Church (in No. 41 ), lived Mr. Lines, (the brother of Miss Lines in Big Green). This house was The Angel Inn where Mr. Lines was the proprietor for many years. (He was also the village sweep). Next door, opposite the Church gates, was the Village Post Office, which was run by a Mr. & Mrs. Howell, a very old Warmington family. Back to the History Pages Index To The Top Further along, on the site of the new Village Hall, was a stone field barn, (and a small orchard). Here the Annual Village Fair was held for many years probably the start of this goes back into history. It lasted until the 1960 s, with a travelling fair coming yearly. Opposite the Village Hall site was the Village Garage run by Mr. Lawrence Williamson. He could repair anything and was a village character, who lived in his cottage at No.9 Church Lane. Further along Church Street were the remains of two derelict cottages. These were replaced by two detached houses where Mr. & Mrs. Clapham, and Mrs. Newham, (Nos. 19 & 23 ) now live, (Mrs. Clapham being the niece of Miss Lines of Big Green). Opposite the School in Church Street was a new development of houses, which I believe were built for returning ex-servicemen. Into School Lane next, where there were no houses except for a very dilapidated pair of cottages on the left hand corner of Church Lane. Moving round the corner, was the Village Stores, currently in the ownership of Mr. Noel Jibb, whose family have owned the shop for over fifty years. In the 1950 s it was owned by the rather stern Mrs. Brudenell. It was much smaller then, being the portion of what today is the Post Office section. It was set further back, and had a typically dark interior very reminiscent of the shops of that period. The Village Butchers was opposite, but in those days was run by Allan Bell's grandfather. All the slaughtering was done on site where, as young lads, you could get pigs' bladders to use as balloons! A little further up Hautboy Lane is the old Hautboy & Fiddle Inn. Mr. Page, the retired publican, lived there and, during the war, it was the headquarters of the Home Guard. Opposite the Hautboy on the right, at The Old Bakery lived Mr. Dixon the baker, still turning out bread and cakes until he retired. I can still smell that bakery today, and hope that you also caught the smell and the feel of the 1950 s in these reminiscences. This article was written in 2000 for the Village Millennium Book.
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