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Monthly Photographs

Photo of the month

Each month a picture will be displayed from our extensive collection (George Berry Collection) or from friends of the WLHG. If you have any memories of the places or people in the photographs please e-mail us and tell us. Alternatively, if you have any photographs and would be willing for them to appear here, please send them and I will oblige.

2010

January

Just been browsing through your website which brought back a few memories. I suppose I can class myself as an old Whitwellian. Although I was born in Sheffield, my family at the time lived in Killamarsh.  When I was very young moved to Bakestone Moor then Southgate (on the Whitwell side of Van Dykes). A photo of our cottage is attached. Toll Bar Cottage (as it was known) belonged to Southfield Farm. I attended Whitwell Infant and Junior school (as did my sister Jean) and later I went to Shirebrook Selective Central. In 1950 I left the area to join the RAF. I served 22 years and finally finished my service at Finningley (now Robin Hood Airport), and I now live in Branton (Doncaster).
Continued below;

2009

December

Continued from January 2010 above;
During my browse of the website I was interested in the Welfare Dramatic Group. I belonged to that group and remember playing in 'Christmas Carol'. "Scrooge" was played by John Addison, who at the time was Flight Sergeant in the RAF and then serving at 66 MU Cuckney where I also was employed as a civilian. A photograph of the players is attached. Perhaps other Whitwellians may be interested, and may also have played the production. I am on the extreme left of the picture.

Derek Bower

November

Just a delightful photo taken somewhere in the Whitwell area.

October

This is a picture of the shop which you showed in January 2007. It stands, or stood at the corner of Titchfield Street a few yards across from a little row of shops which included
Cross the barber and Phillips, general dealer in the 1920s   At that time it was kept by a Mrs Button, but whether she is the lady in the picture I am not sure. As I said in my earlier submission, when the Pit Pony races were held on Mill lane in the late 1920s or early 1930s, I heard that Mrs Button was looking for someone to sell sweets and chocolates at the event, so went to see her and got the job. The day of the races was a very hot one, and I walked around with a tray of goodies. The chocolate bars began to melt, but I sold out rapidly and went back to the stall on the grounds that Mrs Button herself was holding. She refilled my tray and I soon sold out again. I suppose I got a few coppers in payment, but I do remember having to almost drink the chocolate bar which she also gave me.. I would love to know what year this would be, as I only remember one Pit Pony Race event

Jim Buckingham

September

The photo taken on High Street shows Joe Snell (minus his Brunts School cap which he invariably wore) outside his grocers shop, one would assume the other Gentleman to be George Milnes outside his Ironmongers shop before he moved to the old Co-op which stood at the corner of Spring Hill and Hanger Hill. However I believe the Gentleman to be Joe Else who lived on High Street next to the Church, George Milnes was of a stockier build but of course when I knew him and Joe Else it was some years after the photo was taken which I imagine was round about the late twenties or very early thirties.

An interesting Family the Snells, Mrs Snell was considered by some to be somewhat eccentric in later life because of the large flowered hats she wore but I found here to be a very nice lady when I delivered their papers in 1937 onwards, they had a Son Charlie (School Teacher) whose Son a professional golfer won the British Players Championship. Charlie was a member of a group of keep fit enthusiasts at Whitwell, Teddy Taylor, Billie Taylor ? Hodgkis and Norman Drake, the latter represented Great Britain at the infamous 1936 Berlin Olympics. (Hammer Thrower)

This group could be counted on to take part in any event in the Village when entertainment was mostly home grown. In the 1930s concert variety/ parties used to visit the Miners Welfare one such party included an unridable mule, Charlie Snell not to be daunted, and an event which took the attention of the Village, had a go and succeeded until, unbeknown to Charlie when the Proprietor said ‘Right, it was the signal to a well trained mule for one more kick and Charlie was deposited on the stage floor.

Cliff. Hobson

August

What a lovely picture of Mr Snells shop in High Street.. I think I mentioned it in my "memoirs".

Mr Snell used to live next door to us in High Street, in a detached house, which I suppose is still there He used to wear a boys green Brunts Grammar School (Mansfield) cap, green with gold braid on it, to weigh out flour to keep it out of his hair.   I wonder if the lady is young Mrs. Snell. I knew her as an old lady. When I used the East Midland bus to go to Staveley Grammar School, she would sometimes board it and was a petite little lady who wore the strangest hats, trimmed with what seemed to me to be bits of old ribbon and other things and she seemed a bit eccentric The shop was a few yards from the ironmongers George Mills about opposite to the Blacksmiths, whereas the Snells lived on the opposite side to the shop, nearer to the Square, about no 5 High Street and their long back garden was next to ours (no 3), now replaced by a bungalow. They both sloped steeply up, and from the top end, you could look down into the school classrooms and playground I cannot believe that is all of 76 years ago.

Jim Buckingham

July

The present one is of the ironmonger Mr G Mills at his original shop at the top of High Street. I wonder if the shop building is still there? There was another shop, Mr Snell, the general grocers both opposite to the old Smithy where the blacksmith, George Harness plied his trade. In later years, Mr Mills moved his shop to the top of Spring Hill adjoining the old Co-op before it moved a little way away We bought many of our household items from Mr Mills, who opened a branch shop in Elmton Road, Creswell and had it managed by an old friend of mine Ernest Whiles It was not a success however and soon closed I believe.

Jim Buckingham

May

The 1000 years celebrations in 1989. Some well known faces here, but some are no longer with us. Can you name them?

April

A old shot of the old post office on the High Street

I think it was the old High Street Post Office premises. probably about 1925 or much earlier.
Just below the shop is the entrance to what used to be the house of Dr Lawson, The stone entrance to his yard was still there when I last visited Whitwell.
There was then a narrow opening before a row of shops Carriers the drapers and then the Boot and Shoe Inn. This narrow path led up to the doctors surgery which was detached from his main premises, and was gas-lit. I lived at No 3 High Street, opposite in about 1932 I shall be interested to see if this is correct.

Jim Buckingham

March

Is this Mr. Mills? Possible on the High Hill?

February

Grand Organ Recital, 11th September 1921.
Any other information gratefully received.

January

This was a sneaked photograph of the new 'tank', taken as it was being shipped by train from Lincoln during the Great War.

2008

December

Obviously Alan Hall in a pram race. Any further details gratefully received.

The photograph of the pram race.

The man on the right was my dad... George Wyld and my grandad (known locally as Lobby) is in the pram.

You will remember the family quite well..... we all played together many times in the Dicken

Regards

Linda Brammer

November

Here are a few names to those faces

Top row left to right

Stuart Maiden, Susan Hall, Robert Biggin, ???, Gary France, Morag Gorley, Maxine Smith.

Second row

Sylvia Webster, ???, Alan Brain, ??? Elizabeth Durr, John Hinds, ???

Third Row

Lynette Wardle, Stella Hobson, ???, ???, Barbara White, Linda Wyld(me), Lyn Greaves, Vicky Howell.

Bottom row

Bernard Kimber, ???, ???. Susan Baker, Nigel Sternberg, Susan? , John Webster, David Sissons, Stephen Holmes

Best wishes and keep up the good work

Linda Brammer nee Wyld

Missing names

Top Row

Ian Whapplington

Second Row

Mrs Ellis, (Sylvia Plummer?), Christopher Medcalf, Wright?

Third Row

Joan Ashley, Yvette Shepherd

Bottom Row

Alan Crossland, Susan Margetts,

I happened to fall over your web-site on the net and came across the photo on November 2008.
I would like to confirm the names .
Ian Wapplington is next to me on the back row and Robert Wright (Frak) son of the then colliery manager is far right on the second row.
It is Sylvia Plummer next to Joan Ellis.
The front row is Bernard Kimber , Alan Crossland and I think Ian Mawby

Best Regards
Rob Biggin

October

Steam Engines at Gypsy Hill.

September

Bedfords Shop. No longer a shop but looking in much better order

August

I included this picture to see if anyone can help with a recent enquiry. Are the mechanics of the pump wood or metal? Although the spout is metal, the operating handle is wood?

July

I included this one as it is rather topical for me as it currently looks quite different after a tragic accident. Also one of our recent Lowestoft visitors went up there and asked what the 'aircraft landing lights' were as you enter the top side of the site. After a recent visit I now realise that the 'landing lights' are the remains of the stanchions holding up the Dutch barn in the foreground, the roof of which is no longer there. (They do look like landing lights!)

June

The old mill on Mill lane. I understand some people fought to save it at the time, but they sadly lost!
Pete

May

This May picture is a good view of old Whitwell from one end of the High Hill, with the old mill in the far right background and the Miners Welfare, then fairly newly built on the left horizon. I started my membership of the County Library when it was held in the "Welfare" and it was also the venue on Tuesday nights for visiting concert parties organised by ENSA (Entertainments for National Service ) about the end of the war, ostensibly to keep up morale, they said when I returned briefly to Whitwell
Jim Buckingham

April

I sent your pic to my brother Noel,in the USA.(he was born 1934,so he has memories of this era) I hope his reply (enclosed) is of some help.

Regards

Yvonne Trachy

They are early 'aircraft spotters'. They have arm bands and lapel badges and appear to be in a bunker. All the early war 'part time volunteers' had to make do with just arm bands and lapel badges for identification. Such as;- fire watchers, ARP, Firemen, Special Constables, Home Guard etc. Some working in industries critical to the war effort, were also issued lapel badges. I have dads Railway service badge. He was also 'volunteered' to be a fire watcher.

Spotters and the home guard were issued uniforms later in the war.

There was a spotters post on the top of Sunnyside.

The instrument is a sight that swivels both horizontally and vertically. When the spotters sighted on an incoming enemy aircraft they reported its horizontal and vertical angles (at their location) to area control, along with it's direction of travel. With several such reports the aircrafts location, height, and route could be calculated.

February

This is the late Arthur Websters property on Malthouse Row. If this shot were taken today it would be of the Chemist in the Square.

January

These pictures were kindly sent in by Lynne Bradley. The lady in front of the Coop is Doris Lawson of Colliery Row who worked there.

Front row seated far left - as you view the photo - is Walter Buckingham (Walt Buck) who lived on Mill Crescent in the "Bottom Ring" No.29. Front row far right seated is Charles (Wag) Gee who lived at No. 34 Mill Crescent. Charlie Gee was my uncle, son of Daniel Gee who died in the first world war and is recorded on the war memorial, nephew of Reg Gee, joiner and undertaker, who lived in The Square "Gee's Cottage" with the pump outside. His grandfather Daniel Gee of Milroy Cottage, Mason St. was in an earlier photo.
Hilary Estrada-Haigh

2007

November

This picture shows St. Martins Church, Hodthorpe football team of 1910/11. 4th from the left is Mathew Lee. His Grandson Mel Holdsworth sent in the picture.

October

Vaults Hotel(now Holmfield Arms) from over a stone wall on Butt Hill. Men on the road...seem to be heading towards the Pit.
Yvonne Trachy(nee Cross)

I thought it was in Station Road, near the Vaults Hotel, and near the site of the old Whitwell Kinema It seems as if there was a heavy fall of snow before the picture was taken
Jim Buckingham

August

Looks to me to be on the High Hill..and judging by the dress maybe early 1900`s
Yvonne Trachy(nee Cross)

July

A fine gathering of folk. Mainly WI members. Who are they and what year?
The rector there is my father, Frederick J Brabyn, who was there from 1958 to 1968.
The other man in the picture is Mr. Pedley I think (he was churchwarden)
Jeanne Clapp
OR
The July photo shows left Father Featherstone? then Mrs Streets who taught us at the Methodist Chapel and held sewing classes at her home on Fox Road for us. She was so lovely. Behind her is Linda Millard whose father was a painter and decorator on Stoney Hill.

4th left is Joan Tomlinson married name Lee. Extreme far right - is it Marjorie Holmes? Hi Marjorie, don't know your married name. I hope you are well. Before Marjorie on the back row is Miss Kirkby (Hilda) she used to teach us sewing (seems we did a lot of sewing!). She lived on Doles Lane then a flat on Holmesfield Rd, maybe when she retired. Some other faces I recognise but sorry can't remember the names.

Hilary Estrada-Haigh

June

As the name states, this shows a threshing machine with tractor.
Can anyone name the people?

May

The picture shows Drabbles farm which was lost to the quarry!

March

The photo of the month. I showed it to my mum several years ago and asked her who the girl was stood on the steps of what was Mrs. Jones sweetshop, and almost without hesitation she said it was Pearl Spetch! A Whitwell name I had never heard! She said they came from down south (perhaps London) but didn't stay long. The photo is Welbeck Street showing the Methodist Chapel, possibly taken before WW1. Can't offer any more information.
Harold Streets

This appears to me (Whitwellian, born and raised) to be Welbeck Street, The Methodist Chapel on the right The entrance to Fox road hidden by the frontage of the shop.Looking towards Hangar Hill, and where the Co-op now is.
Yvonne Trachy (Nee Cross)

The present (March) photograph is outside Bedfords shop, with the Chapel next to it and in the distance is the Coop One end of Fox Road came out between Bedfords as it then was, and the Chapel. I have no idea what occasion the photograph was depicting. but next to Bedfords was Atkins (not in the picture) where I used to spend my weekly one penny spending money, two ounces of one kind and same of another.. two varieties for the penny.
Jim Buckingham

February

This is a picture of Yorkie the cockle seller who lived on the Common

January

I think this months picture is outside a little corner shop opposite what used to be Mr Cross's the barber in my day, and Jim Cross his son later. I don't remember the names of the streets, but it may be Tichfield Street. The shop stood in the fork of a V. The left one went up towards Southfield
Lane and the right up towards The Dicken. I remember a lady called Mrs Button ran it in my early days and she had a sweet stall at the Pit Pony races one August in the late 1920s.
Jim Buckingham

With reference to the photograph in the Jan 2007 section. I can confirm indeed that the shop in the photograph is on Titchfield Street (No. 12 to be precise). I owned the property for a while from 1985. It was, apparently, created as an extension to no.12, which was at the end of the terrace, for some tailors. It had (and probably still has) a large window in the roof and a very large window at the front on the first floor (still there) to let in the maximum amount of light. I believe the first floor was used as the tailoring room and certainly the internal architecture would support that. The building had two staircases from the ground floor to the first floor; one directly from the ‘shop’ to the front room on the first floor and the other as a more ordinary terrace stairs.

Hope that helps

Regards

Michael Fox

2006

December

This was Brank's farm which stood on the site of the Health Centre.

November

The November photograph is taken from the High Hill looking towards Whitwell Common, the Building standing four square is the Mallet and Chisel on Stony Hill (Hillside) the house next but one on the right, last occupied by Mr Tom Gallagher, was demolished early 1950's. The photo was either taken then or most likely before the last war. Probably the latter because the footpath across the Church Field is prominent, when it was used daily by the people from Whitwell Common and regularly by the people from the West End (Dicken)
Cliff Hobson

October No.1

These are all related to the Portland Street Chapel. Notice the position of the organ. When was this moved?

October No.2

Some names - Ray Cluroe, Joe Beeston, Stephen Hall, Peter Hall, Mrs Blount.

September

See above comment

August

The August picture-- of what was Scotland Lane now Portland Street. ( the Dicken) When the houses were built they were known as Greenwood Terrace, colloquially known first as Long Row but quickly became known as Long Curtain Row and still referred to by that name by old and not so old Whitwell people. The decorations shown are I believe to celebrate the end of the First World War as there is another photograph in existence showing the decorations taken from the other end of the street and so labelled end of 1914-1918 war dated 1919 ( Treaty of Versaille ending the war officially was signed June 1919)
Cliff. Hobson

July

This photo, sent in by Joanna Holland shows her paternal great granddad, Walter Newton Stubbings standing 2nd from the left in the third row. Clearly taken in front of the Vestry at Portland Street Methodist Church.

June

The following description was sent in by an ex Whitwellian, Mr Jim Buckingham
"....It seems to be at the bottom of Hanger Hill by Sapsfords Farm on the left and Barlows Farm on the right, looking towards Malthouse Row. All now the site of a medical centre I believe."

And from Hilary Estrada-Haigh
The photo submitted on above date shows my great grandfather Daniel Gee of Millroy Cottage Mason St., coming down to the square by Sapsford's Farm.
I was always told he is the person on the left, however I know due to his blindness he used a stick? I don't know when he became blind but do know he was a very tall man, so I will stick with the family history He was father to Reg (the local undertaker & carpenter) "Gee's" Cottage in square, Al. who with A Ada kept the shop at the end of Portland St. Mabel later Ward, shown in working party photos of the Welbeck St Methodist Chapel.  She was Grandma to Dorothy & John Shooter. Daniel Evelyn, my grandfather, killed in 1st World War, commemorated on war memorial in the square also Polly, whose name I think was Hannah. There was also Louis who died aged 21yrs, 3 weeks after tooth extraction, (most likely a botched job - the family tell he never stopped bleeding!). (Has his record in the church yard been changed from Louise?) Also Charles who lived in the 3 storey house on Butt Hill and had the butchers shop which was later owned by Reg Richardson. There is a photo somewhere (I think in a book on Whitwell) that shows 2 girls giggling in the Dicken in the distance you can see a horse standing by Gee's Field, at the bottom of Stoney Hill. This is where U Charles kept cattle - He supplied meat to the Duke of Portland at Welbeck Abbey.
I am sure many will remember sledging down Gee's Field and possibly landing in the Dicken Dyke!
My great great grandfather was Samuel Gee of Firbeck Farm, Steetley who married Mary Warrener. My mother was Mabel Evelyn Gee.
I have most wonderful memories of life in Whitwell
Hope this is of interest
Happy New Year to All for 2007
Hilary Estrada-Haigh

(Please click on he photo to enlarge, and use the back button to return)