At our January meeting Ann Featherstone gave an interesting talk on the history of pantomime. Originating in Italy, Panto is now predominantly a British phenomenon. Although sometimes staged in a few other countries, no-one likes a Panto quite like the Brits - and the Americans are totally … [Read more...]
Local History: Lords of the Manor
The long line of Lords of the Manor who owned West Bridgford came to an end at the close of the nineteenth century when the Musters family started to sell off their estate. The title is a little misleading as the Lord of the Manor could be a woman. This was the case at the time of the Norman … [Read more...]
Local History: Rushcliffe School
Unlike the impressive sprawling campus that it now is, the original Rushcliffe school on Boundary Road was a much more modest affair. A two-storey quadrangle comprising classrooms at first floor, with hall, offices, dining rooms and cloak rooms on the ground floor, complemented by a science, art, … [Read more...]
Local History: Rate Collectors
In January 1894, Beeston became an Urban District under the Local Government Act. The first meeting of Beeston UDC took place on 3 January 1894. The controversy was whether Richard Thornhill or Arthur Kirkland should be the Rate Collector. Richard Thornhill (74) had been in post as Rate … [Read more...]
Local History: The Old Trent Bridge
As they approach their one thousandth birthday the only two remaining arches of the old Trent Bridge are left to gently crumble in anonymity. Amidst the hurley-burley of incessant traffic they reside uncelebrated beneath the complex of roads leading to the West Bridgford end of the new bridge, … [Read more...]
Local History: When West Bridgford Was A Village
What did West Bridgford look like before the Musters estate was sold off and the transition to a town began? A rural idyll if two visitors are to be taken at their word. The first is an account by M H Barker, published in 1835: “I continued my walk to the village, which certainly presents a … [Read more...]
Gas explosion death 20 years remembered
Twenty years ago, a gas explosion destroyed a warden controlled sheltered housing block on Walcote Drive, West Bridgford. One person died in the explosion and three people were taken to the QMC. This afternoon the Seventh Day Adventist Church held a remembrance service at the Community Hall on … [Read more...]
Local historian unveils memorial to fallen US servicemen
A new memorial honouring the servicemen of the United States Army Airforce stationed at Langar Airfield during the Second World War has been unveiled. Funded by donations from local businesses, the memorial was unveiled during a moving ceremony on 1 October to honour the US servicemen who served … [Read more...]
You never know what you might dig up…
Members of The East Leake & District Local History Society were given an insight into one of the most exciting archaeological findings of recent times, here in the East Midlands, when Peter Liddle, former County Archaeologist for Leicestershire, gave an interesting talk on The Rutland Roman … [Read more...]
Local History: One Loughborough Road
Developers are currently busy at the corner of Loughborough Road and Bridgford Road, but can you recall the earlier buildings on that site? While the stone wall remains on Loughborough Road, you can make out the entrances to the houses that were there: numbers one and three Loughborough Road. A … [Read more...]