Several Houses
There is a row of houses before a couple more shops and then B&M. The houses in this row are 8-16 Station Street.
A Shop in a House
In 1941, there was at least one shop in this part of Station Street although it operated from a house. Edith Searson, in her book(let) “I Also Remember“, notes “we pass a row of cottages, one of which has a small shop which is in their front room. This shop has had various owners over the years, selling mainly sweets“.
Colemans
I think this is referring to 16 Station Street. In 1941, Arthur Coleman was a shopkeeper there. Coleman Sweets appears on Jacques’ List of Station Street retailers circa 1920-1940.
Annie Sear
In 1928, confectioner Mrs Annie Sear was based here.
The Little Red Shop
This shop has been discussed on Kirkby Living Memory Facebook Group. I am grateful to Helen Potter for pointing out that this was her family’s business and that it was known as The Little Red Shop. Ron Coleman was her father. Alison Carter, Alan Coleman’s daughter, also recalled the business. Laurine Stafford noted going there on a Sunday night with her sister and parents to buy sweets.
Memories of the Colemans
In 2019, Christine Evans posted a photo of Mr and Mrs Coleman on Kirkby-in-Ashfield People Facebook Group and this triggered many memories of them and their shop. In her post, Christine noted that it had been a busy little shop and “a few other kids kept them in business buying sweets back in the 70s.” She remembered them as a lovely couple. She thought he had been a part-time fireman and he “used to get the paint from the fire station on Urban Road to paint his shop“.
Sweets and Cigarettes
In comments on Facebook, many people recalled the shop. Jean Newton bought sweets there every Sunday ready for a film. Jane Wilson, Roger Wakefield and Rita Elliott remembered buying sweets and cigarettes there. Wayne Shirley also recalled that they sold cigarettes. Rita noted that you could buy cigarettes in packets of five. Frank Ball noted that “during the war, when cigarettes were short, they would sell in ones and very obscure brands like Pasha.”
Types of Sweets
Carol Harrison recalled that they used to have chocolate-covered toffee that they broke with a hammer. John Henry recalled getting Smarties from there for his mother and midget gems for his father. Andrea Giggle Good recalled Cabana chocolate bars. Julia Wilson recalled cola cubes and chewing nuts. Jaki Taylor remembered buying Rainbow Drops. Tracy Sowter recalled bon bons. Stephen Townsend remembered buying Fishermen’s Friends for his grandad.
Ice Lollies and Ice Cream
Linda Booth remembered buying Jubbly ice lollies. Edwin Trusswell remembered triangular ice lollies from there and it seems he may have been referring to Jubbly ice lollies too. Christine Evans remembered Juicy Jims as “angular shaped ice pops in a cardboard wrapping“. She only remembered orange-flavoured ones and was not sure if there were other flavours or not. Karen Mills recalled her father sending her there to buy a block of Neopolitan ice cream.
Fireworks
Ken Tomlinson, Edwin Trusswell and Wayne Shirley recalled that you could also buy fireworks there. Christine Evans recalled buying Bengal matches there near Bonfire Night. She noted that they were available in red and green.
Running and Babysitting Money
Tracy Hill recalled that she like running so her mum and dad used to time her to see how long it would take her to get their and back with their cigarettes. At that time, it was possible to buy cigarettes without any need for ID. Kathryn Chapman recalled that she spent her first babysitting pay there on a box of Maltesers.
Open on Sundays and Christmas Day
Sharron Smith recalled that it was the only shop open on a Sunday afternoon. Steve Whysall also recalled it being open on Sundays. Tracy Burton recalled going there on a Sunday night, Malcolm Guy noted that the shop was open seven days a week. June Tasker noted that it even opened for two hours on Christmas Day. Anne Bromley recalled buying balloons there on Christmas Day.
Coming Out Through a Curtain
Several contributors on Facebook recalled that the Little Red Shop was run by an older couple and “when you entered the shop, they would come out of the back through a curtain.”
Nick Grabowski commented that “it seemed that every time I went in for something, the family were around the table in the next room eating. It was never any trouble to him to serve you with a smile.“
Christine Evans recalled that “as you walked in the shop the counter was on your right and to the left in a corner was a small freezer with a sign above showing the Walls ice creams available. There wasn’t much standing space as I recall as behind the counter was lots of stock on display taking up quite a lot of room in what was once a small living room. Mr and Mrs Coleman were lovely and came across as slightly strict to us youngsters which I suppose they had to be.“
Musical Sons
Margaret Hollingsworth commented that it was always a friendly place. Karen Mills recalled that the owner was always whistling. Dave Lambert recalled that their son had told him that he had been bitten by a shark!
Michael and Pat
Christine Evans commented that their sons were Michael and Patrick (Pat). She noted that Pat was drummer. David and Lynne Orrel commented that Pat still plays drums for Mercury, a Queen tribute band. Patricia Castledine also noted that Pat was in Mercury. Ian Shirley thought that Pat had been a roadie for Queen.
Limelight
Ivan Braddow commented that Pat had been in a band called Limelight. Gillian Howlett thought she had seen Limelight at Shades. Simon Sheppard described Limelight as a Thin Lizzy tribute band. Tim Brown commented that Pat played as a touring drummer with White Snake for a while. David Orrell noted that Pat had played drums for Jimmy James and the Vagabonds. David Jeacock, Sue Broughton, Michael Atherton and Cynthia Evans recalled that they went to school with Patrick. Lynn Pustelnik recalled that Michael had played several musical instruments and was in Desmond Dickens band.
Notts Free Press Article
In April 1976, the Notts Free Press published a biographical article about him. At that time, he was still living with his parents. His mother noted that he “eats, sleeps and drinks music“. Pat got his first drum kit aged nine. He played in a show band from age 12 and joined his present band, the Limelights, shortly afterwards. He played for them professionally after leaving Ashfield Comprehensive School.
Their first big break came when they took on a tour of Australia that Opportunity Knocks winners Paper Lace had pulled out of. The article describes the dramas of that tour including long drives, accidents involving kangaroos, an exploding PA system and a lead singer who, on separate occasions, was electrocuted and arrested! The tour overall was a success and they followed this up with a further tour of Australia and tours of Spain, Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. They had also made two records and were working on an LP at the time the article was written. The group had their own recording studio built from a dismantled church hall. At the time the article was written, he was 22.
Fireman
Sue Cross and Judith Wells confirmed that Gordon Coleman had been a fireman with their fathers. Jill Shirley, Den Langford and Susan Henshaw also confirmed that he had been a part-time fireman. Michael Atherton noted that his class at school included Gordon’s son Patrick and they had a trip to the fire station organised by Patrick’s father. Mark Wallis and David Davenport recalled that Gordon would run to the fire station when the siren sounded. Mark noted that he would stop the traffic to let the fire engine out.
Council Caretaker
According to Maureen Sharman, Gordon Coleman was also caretaker at the Council offices on Urban Road. She noted that he was “well-known and loved there“.
Family Members
Several relatives also commented. Pat Hurt noted that the photo was of their aunt and uncle and that it had been taken at their mother’s house. Michelle Thorpe commented that the photo had been taken at their house and that that it was her piano behind “Auntie Norma“. She thought it might have been taken at her grandma and grandad’s ruby anniversary party. Helen Potter identified the people in the photo as her uncle Gordon and Aunty Norma. Lynne Orrell commented that they were her husband’s aunt and uncle. Alison Carter commented that they were her aunt and uncle and they had taken on the shop from her grandmother. She remembered “when I was a child they always used to buy me a jar of flying saucers or sherbet pips”. Carole Goodall identified Gordon and Norma as her aunt and uncle.
Living in Those Terraced Houses
Ian Paul Wordsworth recalled living at 16 Station Street in around 2002. He commented that he hoped they had “sorted the gas and electric meter out …was useless cost around £30-£40 a week back then …and that was when wasn’t even in the place“. Mary Parker commented that she had lived at 10 Station Street.
William White
There were also other businesses in this part of Station Street. In 1941, William Vernon White, a dental specialist, was at number 14, as noted by Mark Ashfield in “Christmas Pigs and a Summer Donkey” (p23). We came across him previously at Walker’s factory and 21 Station Street.
In 1928, William White was listed as part of the firm of dentists, MacDougall and White.
Edward Lowe
In 1928, a slater, Edward Lowe, was at 12 Station Street.
William Blount
In the 1912 list of shops in Station Street, compiled by Barbara Parkin, William Blount is listed as a confectioner at 16 Station Street.
Parliamentary Offices
Of interest perhaps is that 8 Station Street housed MP offices from at least October 2008 to March 2019. Between 2008 and 2009, these were offices for Geoff Hoon MP and, from 2010 to 2019, for Gloria De Piero MP. In September 2020, the building was for sale. Geoff Hoon was Labour MP for Ashfield from 1992 to 2010 and Gloria De Piero was Ashfield’s Labour MP from 2010 to 2019. Since 2019, the seat has been held by Lee Anderson. He was initially a Conservative but he defected to Reform in March 2024.
Fern’s Watchmakers
According to Alwyn Bowskill’s comment below, there was a jeweller at 8 Station Street in the sixties/seventies. He thought the name was something like Ferns but was unsure of this. In a Facebook comment, Christine Redfern confirmed that the name was Fern. She noted that she often went there and that Mr Fern was “lovely“. She thought it had closed in the seventies. James Weston recalled going there in 1976 and for a couple of years after that. David Meredith remembered it being there in the sixties although he noted that he only window shopped as “couldn’t afford It on paper round money”! Daphne Cantrill recalled it as a small shop. Jennifer Colledge noted that Mr Fern “used to clean and repair as well“. She also thought he was a “lovely chap“.
Derek Taylor noted that Mr Fern was a “real gentleman“. However, he also noted that he did not like being called a jeweller, “he always insisted he was a watch maker“. He recalled that Mr Fern loved his father’s watch which he had owned since being in Italy during the second world war.
Residents of 8 to 16 Station Street
The Townsends
In 1939, William R and Florence Townsend were living at 8 Station Street with their son also William R (b1926). There were also two closed records. William R Snr was a colliery hewer. In addition, a colliery labourer, Albert E Ward was living there.
The Rabbitts
In 1939, Walter and Annie Rabbitts were living at 10 Station Street. With them were Arthur (b1916), Lorna (b1921) and Doris S (b1937), all surname Rabbitts. Initially, I assumed they were Walter and Annie’s children but it is possible that Doris was a grandchild. A pensioner, Jack Carter was living with them. It appears that he may have been Annie’s older brother. Walter was a labourer at the gas works. Arthur was a colliery ripper and Lorna worked as a cycle factory operative.
The Rabbitts were also at 10 Station Street in 1921. At that point, Walter was described as a gas stoker working for Kirkby Urban District Council. They had five children with them. In addition to Arthur and Lorna, they were Walter (b1907), Leonard (b1909) and Hilda (b1910). In the original record, Leonard’s age is given as 12 but this has been transcribed as 2.
The Rabbitts were at 10 Station Street in 1911. at that time, Walter was a general labourer.
The Lowes
In 1939, Edward and Rosa Lowe were living at 12 Station Street. He was a retired tiler and slater.
Edward Lowe was also at 12 Station Street in 1921 but, at that time, his wife’s name was given as Priscilla . Edward was described as a slater and tiler. They had three boarders with them, Thomas and Beatrice Green with their son, Thomas. Thomas Snr was a hewer at Annesley Colliery. From information in the 1901 census, I suspect Thomas Green was Edward and Priscilla’s grandson.
Edward and Priscilla Lowe were also at 12 Station Street in 1911. At that time, their daughter, Ethel (b1894), was also there.
In 1901, Edward and Priscilla Lowe were at 12 Station Street with their three children, Elizabeth (b1881) and Ernest (b1885) in addition to Ethel. Elizabeth was married to Thomas Green. He was living with them as was their son, also Thomas (b1901). Ernest was described as a slater’s labourer and Thomas Green as a coal miner (loader).
The Whites
In 1939, William V and Fanny L White were living at 14 with their children, Vera Mary (b1912), Kenneth H (b1917) and Irvine E (b1920). There was also one closed record. William was a dentist, Kenneth was working as a dental mechanic and Irvine as a draughtsman electrical engineering.
The Whites were also living here in 1921. William was described as an unregistered dental practitioner although this has been transcribed as graduationer. Fanny’s middle name is given as Lilian and Kenneth’s as Hubert, Irvine’s middle name is given and his name has been transcribed as Ivine Eward. However, the middle name is difficult to read and could be Ernest, Edward or something else.
The Colemans
In 1939, Arthur and Elsie M Coleman were living at 16 Station Street with their sons, Ronald A, Alan and Gordon. Arthur was described as an unemployed miner. The three sons were all colliers. Ronald and Alan were haulage workers and Gordon was a surface worker.
The Holloways
In 1921, William and Mary Ann Holloway were living at 8 Station Street. He was a retired miner. They were also there in 1911 with their two children, Ruth (b1885) and George (b1889). William was described as an above ground colliery labourer. Ruth was a millhand worker cotton and George was a coal miner hewer.
In 1901, William and Mary Ann were at 8 Station Street. Their son George was with them but their daughter Ruth was not. There were also three other children, Thomas (b1881), Mary (b1883) and Edith (b1891). William was a coalpit banksman, Thomas a coal miner loader and Mary a machinist shirtmaker.
The Blounts
In 1921, William George and Annie Blount were living at 16 Station Street with their three children, Herbert (b1897), Harold (b1900) and Minnie (b1903), They also had their granddaughter, Annie (b1912), with them. William, Herbert and Harold were all coal miners, hewers, at New Hucknall Colliery.
The Clarkes
In 1911, Henry Kingscote and Florence Clarke were living at 14 Station Street with their son Franklin (b1907). Henry was a carpenter and joiner.
In 1901, Mabel Clarke was living at 16 Station Street with her baby son who had not yet been named. Also with them was a nurse Martha Tuttle.
The Halls
In 1911, George and Elizabeth Hall were living at 16 Station Street. They had their granddaughter, Agnes Wiltsher (b1899) with them. Both George and Elizabeth were described as dealers in sweet confectionery.
In 1901, George and Elizabeth Hall were listed as living at 14 Station Street with their son John W (b1877). George was described as a life insurance agent and Elizabeth as a confectionery shopkeeper. John was a stoker colliery engine above ground.
George Hall is listed as a shopkeeper in the 1899 Kelly’s Directory.
The Wrights
In 1901, John and Katherine Wright were living at 10 Station Street with their four daughters, Ethel (b1892), Alice (b1894), Beatrice (b1897) and Minnie (b1901). John was described as a coal miner stallman.
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