Longford (inc. The Red Hills)

Heathite Looking at those Grange Road numbers again, on the east side you have 2, 4, 6, then jump to 120 because of the allotments. But 2, 4, 6 were down the side of Foxford playing fields, hidden behind a tall hedgerow, now Longford Park.

Midland Red Wow, just been reading through this topic, loved the advert for the rink 1937 - how about that? Used to go there then, wonder if they weren't allowed to advert the kids boxing shows they had occasionally? The thing that gripes me everything about the area - boats etc, I can't find one photo of the canal drained of water or mentioned. It was a phenomenal sight, you would have had a field day, with all the boats lopsided, some terrific shots.

A long time ago, between Hurst Road and the canal bridge there was a field. On the right hand side was Jones the baker, the house had a huge wall facing the field. On the left-hand side was Hackett's undertakers. Between the two was a railing fence, the entrance had two large railing gates with cherubs or angels, but all painted shiny black. The buildings sprawled down the sloping field to the brook at the bottom, but Hackett's built some small terraces with white chippings as paths - every so far along were pieces of granite rock and flower vases of all shapes and sizes, one of burnished gold, also half-size headstones with carved verse. There was a small sculptured white column with open bible, but pride of place was the glass burial hearse, with its shiny polished woodwork and brass fittings. Pulled by two black horses, their coats shone. An usher in long black coat and tall hat would stand on the canal bridge and stop the trams as the burial party entered onto the road. With the flowers the scene was a splendid, colourful sight as it made its way down to the church. Kids stopped playing, gentlemen raised hats, the trams stopped, people lined the square, and time stood still.

Hi there You say you live at No.9 The Croft. Mrs Grimley lived next down to the Tench family. My brother Henry Charles Treddle aka Tim married Val. We lived at No. 21 next door to my Dad's Aunt Liza.

Hi all, is this of interest? 1935 Directory.

St Thomas, Longford

I have in front of me my mum's baptism certificate dated 2nd January 1927. I think my grandparents lived in Grange Road in those days. There is an inset photo on the certificate which is almost the same shot. My mum's extended family were all Longford and Bedworth people working as miners, weavers and publicans, amongst other trades.

Walrus, yes I have one similar but six months later.

Thomas Mann house in Longford. Edit: This is Longford Square, I gave the wrong caption to the photo

Prof, are you sure of this? Your picture is of Longford Square, I always thought the Tom Mann house was Grange Rd, just before the turn to Sutton Stop?

Bohica, I agree with that location of Tom Mann house. I am sure it saw in Grange Road, we used to deliver newspapers to houses there in 1963.

Don't know the area but adverts and articles in the newspaper archive say Hurst Road, Longford.

Hurst Road runs into Grange Road that may be the reason, I have seen the address given as 177 Grange Road on a CovGov site and a British Listed Buildings site on the internet.

You are right, Bohica, as the photo was of Market Square, Longford, with Salem Baptist Church in r/h background. This is the Thomas Mann house.