Drew Family Diaries

Drew Family Diaries provides details of the Drew and Parkin families by providing notes on diaries kept by Sheila Drew nee Parkin and her father Charles Gordon Parkin

38 Station Street

There does not currently seem to be a 38 Station Street. There is a gap between numbers 36 (Cult) and 40 (D I Blow) which provides access to the D I Blow car park. Elizabeth Smith commented on Facebook that this gap had always been there “for the cars to go behind Bowmars funerals“.

Composite image which shows the relatively modern-looking run of houses from 24 to 36 Station Street from photographs taken in August 2023

This image is from Kirkby-in-Ashfield People Facebook Group circa 1980s. On the left, the distinctive roof of 40 Station Street, currently D I Blow’s, is visible. Beyond that is the relatively modern building that houses 24-36 Station Street

This image is from Kirkby-in-Ashfield People Facebook Group and is said to date to 1966. It shows the new building occupying 24-36 Station Street on the left.

This photo shows the building which houses 24-36 Station Street on the right with the Regent in the distance. Photo from Annesley OC Heritage Extra Facebook page

This photo appeared on Kirkby-in-Ashfield People Facebook Group. It has been annotated to show Hutchinson’s/King Clouds Vape on the left-hand side. In the distance on the right is what I think is now D I Blow’s at 40 Station Street. On the immediate right is the turning to Hodgkinson Road. All the buildings between Hodgkinson Road and 40 Station Street have since been demolished including the low building on the corner which is I think the location of Fasey’s chippy.

Krackers

Krackers may have had a shop here in the eighties in addition to their shop at 58 Station Street. However, I now think it is more likely that it was at 36 Station Street.

No Businesses

In 1942, there were no businesses at the even numbers between 30 and 40 Station Street.

Kirkby Chronicle

In 1928, 38 Station Street housed the Kirkby Chronicle whose proprietor was Frederick Willman.

Entry from 1928 Kelly’s Directory

The term Kirkby Chronicle may refer to the Mansfield, Sutton and Kirkby Chronicle. I found information on this from the Britishpapers.co.uk website although this no longer seems accessible. Based on that information, this paper was established in 1895. In 1952, it merged with the Mansfield and North Notts Advertiser to form the Mansfield and North Nottinghamshire Chronicle-Advertiser which became known as CHAD, a name that was formally adopted in 1979.

Advert for the Mansfield, Sutton and Kirkby Chronicle that appeared in the 1935 Hospital Carnival Magazine obtained from Annesley OC Heritage Extra Facebook page

In addition to producing a newspaper, the Chronicle also adevertised commercial printing. For example, this edition of “Forest Folk” by James Prior was published by them in 1925. F Willman is credited as publisher.

Example of book printed by Chronicle in 1925

Comparing 1914 and 1939 Maps

Comparison of 1914 and 1939 maps shows a building in this location in 1939 that is not present in 1914. I don’t know the nature of this building.

Comparison of 1914 and 1939 maps which shows a building at this location (marked with red rectangle) in 1939 which is not present in 1914

Memories of This Part of Station Street

In her book(let) “I Also Remember“, Edith Searson returns to Station Street, after a detour up Hodgkinson Road, and then proceeds up Station Street in the opposite direction to which we have been travelling. She notes, “we have another row of cottages. A few yards later a ‘hut’ shop was erected at the beginning of the row, and it was fitted up as a Fish and Chip shop, with Mr and Mrs Frazey conducting the business. It was a busy shop until the demolition of all the row of cottages, where now is D R Cresswell’s Store, opened in 1967“.

Mark Ashfield also recalled these houses in his book “Christmas Pigs and a Summer Donkey” noting, “there were about half a dozen houses, terraced and tiny, with minute gardens at the rear. But some of those gardens were cared for and productive, a relative tenanted one, and in summer it was a riot of colour, irises, violas, and, for some odd reason, penny daisies. An abundance of flowers, sometimes offered for sale from the whitened front doorstep of the house. These dwellings have been gone for some years now…”

In a comment on Facebook, Linda Knowles thought that the houses were demolished around 1964 or 65. She was working for the solicitor, Mr Raine, at the time.

Frazey’s

I now believe that this was a reference to Fasey’s Fish and Chip Shop and that this was on the corner of Hodgkinson Road and Station Street at what is 24 Station Street. I cover this there.

Cresswell’s

Similarly, I believe that Cresswell’s was based at 24-26 Station Street.

Mr Jeeves

In a Facebook comment, Phil Nock commented, “Mr Jeeves dry cleaning was thereabouts in the early 70s“.

Residents of 38 Station Street

The Hornes

In 1939, Mary M Horne (b1902) was living at 38 Station Street. With her was Edwin K Horne (b1857), described as a widowed, retired farmer, perhaps Mary’s father or father-in-law. There is also one closed record.

The Wainwrights

In 1921, widow Jane Wainwright was living at 38 Station Street with her son George Wainwright (b1881). With them was Jane’s grandson-in-law, Frederick George Horsley (b1898) and his wife Ellen Irene (b1901). Both George Wainwright and Frederick Horsley worked as miners at Butterley Colliery Company. George was a hewer and Frederick a loader.

In 1911, George and Jane Wainwright were living at 38 Station Street with their son George and their granddaughter Mary J (b1895). As in 1921, George Jnr was working as a colliery hewer. George Snr was a colliery banksman surface.

The Wainwrights were also at 38 Station Street in 1901. At this time, George Jnr was a loader. They also had two boarders staying with them, Frank and George Dickman. Frank was a coal miner (ripper) and George was a colliery banksman. They also had a 13-year old domestic servant, Ella Turner, with them.

October 18, 2023