Station Road?
My grandfather, Gordon Parkin always referred to Station Street. Anyone I have asked about it has responded that it was always called that. However, on a map I have, from around 1900, it is labelled Station Road. In addition, Station Road extended across Four Lane Ends onto what is now Diamond Avenue.
Origin of the Name
Regardless of whether it started off as Station Road, Station Street was named after East Kirkby Railway Station which was also known as the Midland and LMS Station. Indeed, while that station was open, the demarcation between Urban Road and Station Street was the level crossing close to the station.
Understanding the Geography of this End of Station Street
I found it quite difficult to understand the geography of this end of Station Street, particularly at the time when East Kirkby Railway Station was in existence. There are perhaps a number of reasons for this. First, none of the substantive infrastructure that there once was remains. The area has changed considerably and it is difficult to imagine that a station once stood there.
Also, at the time that the station existed, it was such a dominant feature of the Kirkby landscape that it is etched in the memories of those who lived there at the time so that sometimes their descriptions and stories are hard to follow by someone who does not share those collective memories. For this reason, I have compiled a sketch map of the historic features of that area. The map is not to scale and does not relate to one fixed time period only. Rather, I have used it to try to locate features that I found difficult to place geographically. For example, include the temporary Council prefab structure which was in existence later than the station-related infrastructure.
The Station
So, now if you look up Portland Street from Station Street, there is only residential accommodation on your left. However, this is where East Kirkby Railway Station was although, at that time, the Station Street end of Portland Street was called Factory Road.
Steaming Back to Kirkby Wesbite
There is a range of excellent historical material concerning East Kirkby Railway Station on a page called “Why is it Called Station Street” on the Steaming back to Kirkby website. This includes brilliant photos of the station, the nearby crossing and footbridge, and other relevant memorabilia, such as a railway ticket to Mansfield and flyers for trips to Dudley and Cleethorpes. There are also some details of the new railway station and Robin Hood Line. There is also a great set of narrated photos, an audio by George Peat of taking Mr Roe’s racing pigeons to the station and a video of Newstead and District Racing Club transporting their pigeons on a race day.
Ken Higham
In his article on memories of Kirkby, Ken Higham noted that both waiting rooms had roaring fires. He also recalled the important role the train station played in transporting young people who worked in Nottingham.
Three Railway Stations
At that time, Kirkby had three railway stations – Kirkby Bentinck, Kirkby in Ashfield Central and Kirkby in Ashfield East. They all closed in the 1960s, Kirkby in Ashfield Central in 1962, Kirkby Bentinck in 1963 and Kirkby in Ashfield East in 1964. A new station, at a different location opened in the 1990s and is the current station.
Motor Discount Shop and Accessories Centre
In the seventies, a motor discount shop and accessories centre operated from the former station building. It was run by Alan Holmes.
I looked into this a little and found an extensive article on this in the Recorder Free Press in September 1987. This identified Alan Holmes and Douglas Dugdale as the owners of Kirkby Motor Sales. It noted that they had been selling secondhand cars in the town for 18 years, that is from 1968. The main point of this article was that they were now selling new FSO cars. In March 1993, the Weekly Post & Free Press Recorder commented that Kirkby-in-Ashfield Motor Sales was taking on a new Lada dealership. The article quoted Alan Holmes and noted that his daughter Julie was now working with him.
I also found an earlier article in the Mansfield and Sutton Recorder in October 1982, This was focused on the planned demolition of the station. Alan Holmes was interviewed for the article and it noted that with his partner, Douglas Dugdale, Kirkby Car Sales had been based there for a time from 1973.
Particularly Confusing
One thing I found particularly confusing about this part of Station Street related to what car-related businesses were where. Currently, Kirkby Car Sales are located on the site of the former Walker’s Hosiery Factory. On that location, they also had an accessories centre but that is now occupied by Swit Swoo boutique. Before the accessories centre was located there, it was located here at the former station building.
Part of my confusion arose because, in discussing Kirkby Motor Sales, Frank Towns commented that KMS was previously known as Alan Holmes and this business “started over the road in the old railway crossing house“. Initially, I thought by “over the road” he was referring to the other side of Station Street. But, I now think he may have meant the other side of Portland Street and, when he was referring to the “old railway crossing house“, he was referring to the former station building.
I think my confusion was, at least in part, because there was another car sales business on the other side of Station Street. It was known as Station Garage. In fact, this was on the corner of Urban Road and Lindley’s Lane and is covered in my post on 2 Station Street.
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