My Nan's by Lyn Harrington
Me in Nan's back garden
I was born at 4 back of12 Paddington Street at my Nan's house. Her name was
Lily Wood. Mom and Dad had not yet got their own house so it was Nan they moved
in with after they married.
My memories are very vivid of Nan's house. It was warm, cosy, clean as a new
pin and full of laughter. Nan had a small back garden where dad used to keep his
budgies and how well I remember old Mr and Mrs Townley who lived next door. Mr
Townley kept pidgeons
Every sunday they would invite me in and oh how the smell
the Lavender Polish that Mrs Townley used is still with me to this day. I recall
it came in a round tin and was purple in colour. Can you remember that? All that
was mixed in with the smell of Sunday roast in the oven and the Archers on the
radio.
Next door the other way but on the front lived Nan's sister Maud and
across the road lived other members of the family. Lets take a trip out of the back
door and up the entry.
Turn left and we had the brewhouses. Turn right
and thats where the miskins were kept. Straight ahead were the outside
toilets. No soft toilet roll in those days. It was newspaper cut into squares
and hung on a hook on the wall.
I've only recently discoverd that the old Aston
Brook ran right under Nan's back garden. What history I had beneath my feet and
didnt know it.
I left Paddington Street when I was 5 to move to Villa Street but
still continued to visit my Nan until she was moved due to what was called the
slum clearances.
I've said it before and I will say it again. They can pull down your house and
discard your street but your memories.
No they can never
be taken away.
My Dad George
with his mother in law Lily in his arms
in the back yard of Paddington Street
Mom, Beryl
Harrington and Nan, Lily Wood
Dad playing darts
Note the old mangle in the background by the brewhouse
Mom and Dad, Beryl and George Harrington in Nan's
back yard just after their marriage at St Georges Church.
Me again in Nan's back garden