Left-Hand Side of Western Road
After some 1890 houses, used to be a square shaped house which was the residence of several doctors – Dr. Sinagar, Dr. Win-Wernich and Dr. Galloway – the latter was found gassed in his garage on 29th January 1924. The house has now been pulled down and a block of flats built. Five very large bay-fronted houses brings us to Belmont Avenue. This road leads to nowhere; at the end is the old site of the “White Swann”. This was purchased by the Council in 1935 for £330. Maybe one day the long proposed road from King Street to Western Road, via Pluckington Place, will go through and Belmont Avenue will connect up.
Eight shops which frequently change hands, brought Roe and Silcox, Dairy, with yard at rear, and Sydney Brand who, for several years had a motor transport company. Brands also dealt in old iron, metal, rags etc. and when anyone took their tots to get the money value, Mr. Austin ( Taxi – his nickname ) was the man you had to deal with. A very wiry little man, the last I can remember, who had Army puttees wrapped round his legs. He would weigh and value your scrap. A good old servant.
The “Bricklayers Arms” has changed very little since built in 1860. The sign outside shows a coat of arms under which are the words “In God is all our Trust”. It is next to this that the by-pass road from Norwood Road should have come.
The new Featherstone County Secondary School, built by Messrs. Try Limited of Cowley, is on a site of approximately eight acres and was officially opened on Saturday 14th March 1959 by Sir Ronald Gould. Mr M. G. Down, M.B.E., Headmaster. It was built on charity land which, at one time, was public grazing ground and, later, an allotment site. The money obtained for the site was used to build new Almshouses at Frogmore Green, and their maintenance.
Florence, Leonard and Albert Road, all named after children of Mr. J. J. Stevens, who built the houses on what was known as the Coronation Estate in 1900. On the corner of Florence Road, we come to the Coronation Bakery, built for Mr. Fowler in 1904, after moving from King Street. Their delivery vans could be seen around. There was always the smell of hot bread coming from their large brick ovens. At Christmas time they would cook over 100 Christmas Dinners for people in the neighbourhood, some coming from as far as Kingston Road.
Just a little further along is a small trading yard, Tapping & Co., Coach Builders, were very well-known. Cramic Engineering Ltd. started here and gradually expanded. Several other small firms started here.
From here onward was formerly Heathern Road, which was dropped when the Ribbon Development of houses came in 1900. Mr. A. E. Boot had a bungalow at number 217. From here is the Manor Way Council Estate, built in 1920 – 21 – 22 by A. & B. Hansons. Questions were asked at the Council Meetings as to why the average cost of a house was £1,150, yet houses were being built in Allenby Road for £407. I am not able to give the answer.
We are now at the North Hyde Canal Bridge.