Some More Memories of Worthington

The 'Worthington Revisited' articles in the Parish Times has interested a retired man I'm in touch with who was brought up in Worthington. He recalls some of his boyhood memories, which may be of interest to you as editor of the Parish Times.

Here are my notes of our conversations and some recollections he gave me. Eric Hinsley now lives in Coalville (Alan Peters)

"I was born in 1918 and brought up in a cottage owned by the quarry near the Holly Bush public house on the Woodside by Cloud Hill Wood. My father, Arthur, was the blacksmith at the quarry for more than 45 years. The cottages were on the corner of the Middle Brand and the Woodside. Electricity was installed in about 1935, but up until about 1945 when mains water was put in. it had to be carried by pail from a well between the Holly Bush pub and the cottages. I remember mother making nettle pop and collecting herbs from the hedgerows to make herb beer. Father used to keep two or three pigs, and I remember what trouble it was getting them out of the wood if they once broke in. Cloud Wood was very different then with large oak trees, before it was felled during the war. Near to our cottage was The Delph referred to in a previous Worthington Revisited, where we picked violets and primroses.

The scene is very different now. The Holly Bush and cottages are gone, pulled down in about 1965. Our cottage stood about where the viewing platform looks down to the quarry bottom.

My school days began at Newbold, then on to Worthington school when it opened in 1926. The teachers were Miss Amos and Mrs Mawson. At eleven years old it was back to Newbold for most children of the village. The staff at that time (1930) were Mr Burrows, headmaster, Mrs Cuthbat, a student teacher Miss Mitchell and another whose name I cannot recall.

Mr Walker has mentioned the three cottages at the top of Pipe Yard Lane, Newbold. I recall one of them sold a variety of sweets, including Gob Stoppers, which were about the size of those large marbles of the time, called Bassy Marbles. Four of those or thirty Aniseed Balls for one penny, which was also the fare for the Trent Bus from Worthington to Newbold Well.

I recall the Chapel sermons being held in a tent, but previous to that they took place in the Village Institute, a long wooden building standing about fifty yards up from the lockup on the opposite side. This was also the venue for other events such as whist drives and dances, and also the annual horticultural show with a sports day held on the adjoining field, kindly lent by Captain C Shields. Of course, after the Highland cattle, which were a feature of Manor Farm, had been moved to a different location. Local schools used to take part in football competitions along with other events.

Finally does anyone remember when the stone cottages were flooded in about 1931, and a boat had to be brought from Kings Mills near Castle Donington, to bring the occupants down from the bedrooms?