• Article |
• Discussion |
• Edit |
• History

I lived where the Eagle Centre is now in Derby.

The current chat about the Eagle Centre (Westfield) and possible new names jogs my memories of the time I used to live in Devonshire Street during WW2 and afterwards.

My Mum and Dad moved into number 25 during 1941 - Dad worked in armaments manufacturing having been refused active war duty. See link - WWII: Derby's War Effort

No. 25 was a rented terraced property with an outside toilet in the communal yard. We had what I thought was a long garden but I was only a thought at the time and my memory is dimming! The garden backed on to the Boden factory in Burroughs Walk and we had a small veggie plot with chickens too.

Devonshire Street being demolished in the 60s

We lived next to the pub - The Devonshire Arms if I remember correctly and just up the street on our side, towards London Road, was the Ceylon Tea Company, see on the left of the picture. The Derwent Hotel was on the top right corner and I remember Dad taking me there to see Derby County parade the FA Cup in 1946. London road is towards the top of the picture and the building which can be seen are the area where Jessops is now.

1947 was the year of a great snow and we had a 'huge' snowman in the yard built by the kids of the four yard sharing houses. Going to the toilet was a sensitive activity due to the cold too. Down the street on the other side was St Peters primary school, my first school at the age of four or five. I'm told I didn't like the ouside toilets so I came home to 'do my business'! I was, though, very happy there and progressed to Gerard St junior school.

Further down on our side was a shop and at the very bottom, on the opposite side, was Hibberds yard where they had horses and a delivery business. Then came the back ways to Cockpit Hill, the Ice Factory, the Cattle Market, the Slaughter Houses, Bass's Rec etc.... all of which I frequented.

We left number 25 some time during the mid fifties to Byron St in Normanton by which time I had progressed to Bemrose Grammar School. Our house here was also near a pub just across the road - and NO we weren't boozers!

I remember my 11+ passing present was a push bike which came from the Co-Op down by Thorntree Lane. One day I parked it outside their shop while I bought something and a delivery lorry came along and flatted the wheels. The driver hadn't seen it! The Co-Op we very apologetic and fixed it for me. At some stage Devonshire Street was made one way. I remember coming home from school and being told off by a policeman for WALKING my bike down the one-way street. He made me go back up to London Road and I was 'forced' to ride round via Traffic Street to get home. Just think what the kids on bikes get away with today!

Many happy times were had in this area and I hope that Westfield preserve the names which have been around for many years.

I have lots more memories but does anyone have any pictures of Devonshire Street and the surrounding area back in the late forties/early fifties?

Tony Lintott

• Devonshire Street

FEEDBACK

Did you enjoy this article? If so, why not comment on it? Perhaps you disagree with something in it, or you know something the writer doesn't and can add some extra facts. You may want to ask a question about this article. Making a contribution is easy - either click 'edit' to insert more information or 'discussion' and then 'add comment.' This is your site. Please feel free to use it to the full and share your memories, thoughts and knowledge about Derbyshire with others.

If there is no 'edit' link showing it means the article has either previously been published in the Derby Evening Telegraph, or it has been protected by the site administrator and cannot be edited.'

County:  Derbyshire

Return to