Sights and Sounds of Old Hillfields

by Joe Burbridge 

I was born in the bottom house in King William Street next to what was then stables later converted to garages. We lived in a row of eight terraced houses with a long back yard running the whole length of the back. We shared two toilets and we had to leave the door open so we would know if it was vacant. If the door was open we ran like mad to get there first. 

Going up Berry Street we came passed Dr. Collington's big house into Primrose Hill Park where I spent many happy hours as a child and in my early teens. If we climbed to the top of the sandhill, now taken down, we could look into the doctor's garden and see his bloodhounds. If we tormented them they would howl for us.

Sometime we would go out of the top gate into foreign territory (houses with small front gardens and bay windows which was a sign of prosperity to us) then find our way back home through the entries. 

A friend named Les Sharp owned a few pigeons. We would take them to the park and try to race them home. Alternatively, we could go along the brookside that ran between Berry Street and Harnall Lane and catch little frogs or use a stick to poke dead cats and dogs. Along the brook was a high fence with a big house 'Foot's Crag' I think it was called. We were too small to see over the fence, but in our romantic minds we thought it was a mansion with bats flying around and guarded by two great dogs. 

King William Street was the most interesting. Going towards town on the left hand side we came to Miss Farrows, a little sweet shop where in the First World War she made her own chocolate in cocoa tin lids. Passing Waterloo Street we came to the New Inn, then Everal's sweet shop who had a bigger selection. Then Fox's who made basket implements, Bradshaw's the pet shop I still remember the witty advert in this shop. In the window it said O.I.C.U.R. Looking for Bradshaw's the best Pet Shop. Moving up we came to Billy Milligan's the baker. He baked all day then would set out in the evening with a basket truck to sell the bread. He also sold corn in the shop and what a beautiful smell it had. 

Then came Shistons the chemist, a bit of a mystery to us lads. He sold many things which we could not understand.

The most exciting happening of the week was Monday nights when we followed the cows being driven from the various cattle market round the butchers trying to get them down the entries to the slaughter house I remember at least two getting away and being killed in St. Peter's Churchyard.

Grocery shops we had in plenty - Fearises, Maypole, the Co-op, Masons, Liptons and many smaller shops. The man I most remember was Mr. Thomas, the manager of Masons. He always wore a brown coat and brown bowler (the only brown bowler I ever saw). He was always respected because he looked so important. 

Two people must be remembered. One was the Rev. Paul Stacey the Vicar of St. Peter's. Every morning he would walk in the middle of the road looking neither right or left from the vicarage down Vernon Street, up Yardley Street to the Church. The other man ins Charlie Giles the newsagent at the bottom of Berry Street. He stood behind the counter all day looking like a sergeant major. Very imposing indeed.

Then of course there was the No. 8 tram. How it came rattling down King William Street, waited in the loopline in Berry Street for its partner to pass, then proceeded to the Bull's Head on the Binley Road. It really squealed when it turned the 'S' bend at the vicarage corner.

I have never met anyone born in Hillfields who is not proud to say so.

Other stories about Hillfields in their own words

This page was last updated 29/03/03