Introduction and Explanation

Born in Kirkby

I was born in Kirkby, in Diamond Avenue, in 1960 but we moved away when I was still a baby.

Family Diaries

My mother and grandfather both kept diaries which, from 1914 to the 1960s, were set in Kirkby. My grandfather, Gordon Parkin, ran a shoe shop in Station Street until 1958 when it was taken over by Fred Flint and then Gordon Sugg. To understand the diaries, I found I needed to understand people and places from Kirkby, in particular Station Street.

A Walk Up and Down Station Street

To do this, I first compiled an imaginary walk up and down Station Street around the time of the second world war and now. I visited Kirkby in August 2023 and updated the “now” part based on an actual walk. I retained the imaginary walk as an archive version, not least because I had translated some of the text into narrated photos and I have not yet updated these. They are also available on a separate, dedicated page.

Individual Building Histories

I saw a suggestion that it would be good to have individual building histories. I thought based on the information I have that I could do this for Station Street. So, I have done this and it is those posts that are in this section.

How the Posts are Organised

The posts are organised as per the walk. This starts at the old station/spring factory goes up to Nag’s Head/Four Lane Ends and back. This means the odd numbers come first and then the even numbers. The odd numbers are arranged in ascending order and the even numbers in descending order. There are entries for all buildings and intersecting roads. Entries reflect my own personal interests and the amount of material I have available.

Community Review

At the end of 2023, I shared one post a day with the Kirkby Living Memory Facebook Group and the Kirkby-in-Ashfield People Facebook Group. Contributors have kindly shared photos, memories and comments which I have incorporated into the posts. These groups are referenced from the posts. However, to read posts you need to be a member of these groups. Membership of both groups is available free-of-charge.

Summary Version

A summary version of all this material is available as a PDF here.

Booklet-1 Download

2 responses to “Introduction and Explanation”

christine evans

June 18, 2024 at 7:29 am

Kirkby car sales was indeed the same building as the current Kirkby motor services, Switswoo isnt new it was part of the motor services building and was a parts sales shop and rammed to the rafters with everything you could want for car repairs, the shop closed and was refurbished and then switswoo moved in.

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1. rogerdrew60
  
  June 18, 2024 at 8:07 am
  
  Thanks for the comment. I have covered SwitSwoo here – https://drewfamily.uk/2023/10/26/the-factory/. As a business, I believe SwitSwoo started in 2019. As you say, before that car accessories were sold there. I think the building is relatively modern compared to the terrace next door – from 1 Station Street and presumably that is why SwitSwoo is 1B. But, presumably the SwitSwoo building is the same vintage as the garage building itself?
  
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Drew Family Diaries