Bernadette McNamara/Smith

I remember roller skating down this road when I was about nine or ten back in 1967/68 with no thought for any cars that may have been passing at the bottom on Hartwell Road, only stopping when I got to the wall at the bottom! My grandparents used to live at number 23 Alexandra Crescent and lived there for many years until they moved out in and around 1972/3. They lived opposite the white car that you can see parked on the Crescent. This car may have belonged to Pat Beirne and his family,(wife Agnes, son David and daughter Angela) who were close friends and neighbours with my grandparents, and until the mid 90's,Agnes was still in touch with my aunt. The wall that is visible on Hartwell Road, (top of Alexandra Crescent on the right)we climbed on to many times and the family that lived at the house were Pakistani, and I and other kids on the street would all play together.You can also see the top of their house with the mock Tudor end.The side of their house was great for playing bat and ball against! I remember there was 'Nasreen' and one of her sisters was called 'Meena',(who for some reason I nicknamed 'Lynn')! She always gave me lovely bracelets to keep! You can just make out the railings on the steps that led up to the front door and their brick wall was painted red at the bottom of the house which led into the scullery and the room where you would have your meals. Pretty much the same layout as my grandmas. There was a big cast iron fire place where you could hang a kettle to boil water and a small oven with two compartments. I can also just make out the wall & hedging that was my grandparents front yard and at a stretch the dustbin that was always kept in the corner of the yard. Further down the street you can make out some washing that is hung up; I seem to recall that a family called 'Wood' lived here and there were two sisters, one of whom was called 'Denise' and I am sure there was a baby brother called Robert.More often than not, there would always be nappies and baby clothes on the line!! I have mixed memories about this place as I used to have to stop here when my mum had to go into hospital and I hated being away from home and would always prefer to stop at my other grandmas who lived at Swinnow in a lovely modern flat! But, now seeing this picture, it does make me realise that it wasn't so bad after all. I always used to think of it as looking like Coronation Street on the opening titles on TV back in the 60's! Not sure about the flats in the distance; could they be the 'Clydes' at the bottom of Tong Road?? I can't really make out the other tall buildings. On the left of the photo there are two slim chimneys, I seem to think that these may have belonged to 'Wiggins Teape' on Canal Road, but not entirely sure. I always remember seeing a slim metal looking chimney with a black top and the one in the distance, to the left, looks very much like the one at Wiggins Teape. If the photo was a little more defined, I would get a better perspective! Hmmmm, may have to buy this !! Lovely tho' to see this photo. Brings back so many memories. Does anyone know why Alexandra Crescent as a street/street name now no longer exists?? Also, the building behind the lamp post ( top right)is that where D.E.R had some offices or factory?? Direct ? Rentals??? I seem to think that they were something to do with television rentals?? Hope someone can restore my memory!!

06-Aug-2012

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