Far Gosford Street

I remember going to see 'Battle of the River Plate' at the Odeon in Far Gosford Street, and that premiered in 1956.

I visited the new 'Fargo Village' this weekend for the first time. I had my 5 year old with me, but he was well behaved so I managed to get in some food and coffee at the excellent Urban Coffee Company and picked up an LP at Romans Records inside the market hall. A nice development, reminded me a lot of places I used to visit in other cities 20+ years ago. Friendly people as well. They're building a 500 capacity venue up there apparently now, so hopefully that'll bring in some footfall. I love the re-use of old industrial buildings in this way. Hope this is a huge success for the developers, retailers and artists with units there!

Just been looking at the old pictures of Far Gosford Street which brought back some happy memories. We opened a Gas Shop at number 32 in 1963. The shop on the left was Garners Pie Shop and the Wool Shop was on the right and then Harnall Row and Sid Walton Tailors. We later moved to to 122-124 which is the top picture and was formerly Dudleys Furniture Shop. Due to the termination of our contract with West Midlands Gas Board we closed in 1988. Alan H

saw guns of navarone with a girl - wonder where she is now???

Hi all. Researching family history and trying to determine whereabouts Bridge Cottages were in Far Gosford Street. My grandfather was born there in 1888. Can't find any maps that might help. Anyone got any ideas where I might be able to look.

Hi Wimero Bridge Cottages weren't actually in Far Gosford Street (even though that was their postal address) but were set back from it by about fifty yards in what is now Sky Blue Way and ran parallel to it. Their gardens at one time backed onto the Springfield Brook. That, together with the dye works built alongside suggests they were silk dyers' cottages. They could only really be seen properly from the air as in this 1934 aerial view looking towards Lower Ford Street. The cottages are in the centre of the picture:

Thanks dutchman I know there is a service type track at the rear of the shops on Far Gosford Street (same side as the church). Just wondering if there are any remains of the cottages left or if they were all demolished when Sky Blue Way was constructed. Think I'll go and have a looksy.

I think this will save you the journey The arrow road markings at the bottom of Sky Blue Way would appear to be the location (if I read dutchman correctly!)

I recall catching the 3/4 bus home - in the late 1980's/early 90's; outbound after Gosford Street would be a short triangular one-way system to get to Far Gosford St and eventually Bramble Street [and Stoke Aldermoor, Ernesford Grange etc thereafter]. That, including homes and a few old businesses were obliterated upon the construction of Sky Blue Way (I think that large roundabout was constructed or certainly enlarged at that time). Very little, if anything remains of that stretch today.

Close MR, they were where the traffic island is now and no trace of them remains. The short stretch of road to the east of the traffic island was occupied by the dye works although that is not clear from the 1934 aerial view. There were only seven seven cottages in the row, numbered 1-7. The cottages are clearly marked on the 1888 board of health map but I don't have a clean copy myself and Old-Maps.co.uk no longer allow me to link to it.

Do you have any memories of Far Gosford Street - recent or distant - that you would be willing to share? Did you walk through it to go to the football? Did you visit the pictures or gaze in the shop windows? If so, I would love to record a short interview with you that we can save and share with residents and visitors alike so that more people can appreciate the rich heritage of this special street. Please get in touch soon! All the best, Claire

Lock ins at the Hand & Heart when I was a student (John, the landlord, was an Irish boxer, I believe) and spending many hours in the various second hand stores buying records and books. Fargo village has actually brought some of that back! (Plus the excellent Urban Coffee Company.) I must have walked down this street hundreds of times as I lived in Stoke during my second year. My mate had an argument with the bloke in Luckman's over the state of the records he was selling and the price he wanted. They were in ghastly condition.

Great to hear people's memories of Far Gosford Street in Fargo Village on Saturday. Thank you! "It was an absolute mecca for records and clothes in the 90s. Every Saturday we would come to rifle through 'Hits and Misses'. I bought my first Rolling Stone record there."