Memories of Wellington in the 50s - Hallcroft

Wellington was a thriving town. There was McClures, Bates & Hunts, Walters, Sidolies, Lands the butchers, Craddocks. Hepworths, Bradleys Stead & Simpson and Britions grocery & bakery were in the square.

Mr Roach had the sweet shop by Chad Valley.

Johnsons had a travelling lorry selling wares bagged up near Chad Valley.

I worked at Chad valley making Sooty and Sweep.

Memories of Family and Home Life - Hallcroft

I got married in the 50’s. I had a long dress and veil. My husband came me his extra clothing ration coupons so that I could buy my wedding dress. It cost 13 guineas.

We didn’t have fringes – you had a cold slab on the wall in the pantry to keep your food and milk cold. When it was really hot you’d put the milk in a pail of cold water to keep it cool.

You’d hang your bacon up in there too until it stank! You’d still be able to eat it.

We had a wind up record player and the radio needed batteries called an accumulator. You had to take it to the garage to  get it charged so you had 2 - one that you’d have in the radio and one that you walked down to the garage to get charged.

We had to walk to Bloomsbury garage to get ours charged.

We used to walk miles with the pram.

Washing took all day. We had a boiler with a fire underneath.  You’d rinse the washing into the blue bag to keep your clothes white.

If you had a wasp sting you’d use the blue from the bag.

Memories of Childhood - Hallcroft

We’d play dominoes, draughts, card games and whist drives.

We loved to play outside –with marbles, jacks, and conkers or leapfrog – simple things.

I remember having a stick and a tyre and keep it going down the street like a top and whip.

We played with skipping ropes and hopscotch.

We’d play tin can murky under a gas light where you’d kick the can and then go and find it.

It was before the Fifties but we used to collect shrapnel during the war on the bombsites and would spend hours swopping it, trading it and stacking it.

I went to the school library and borrowed 2 books a week and read them. I loved Enid Blyton, Beatrix Potter and Rupert.

Festival of Britian - Hallcroft

I was meant to go to the Festival of Britain on an organised coach trip from Newport, but I broke my leg and couldn’t go so my brother went instead. I remember him talking a bout sailing down the river on barges to get to the site.

Memories of the Coronation - Hallcroft

We didn’t have a TV – we went next door to watch the Queen’s Coronation.

We watched the Coronation in black and white on a 9”TV which was in a Mack Michael cabinet. I saw her going down the aisle.

My husband and I were living in the Solomon Islands at the time of the Coronation.  We organised a sports day for the residents and a ship came from Australia with soldiers and sailors to join in to celebrate the Coronation and remind us it was on.