St. Thomas' church Skirbeck Quarter Boston

[onmebike]

Frank, Skirbeck Map with higher resolution. Roger B

[Redroger]

Thanks for the nudge Pam, I knew the Meadows family too, they lived on the same side of Wyberton West Road as I did, at around No.60. I remember too that they were active in the Church. We must be a little careful as Betty may well be still living. She is around 8 years older than me I think. The Skirbeck map at higher resolution is really excellent thanks, but I am somewhat puzzled. The bakery where we lived in the flat around 1940 was certainly 54 London Road, so why were the numbers on Oldman's Terrace also even, when it was on the opposite side?  I also recall that numbers beyond the level crossing on the opposite side to the hospital were also odd numbers. Something of a mix up?

Now for the map. One alteration the railway shows a lead from the western side of the line (northbound) into the southbound line beyond the south bank of the Forty Foot drain. This had gone by the 1940s. Also though the footpath along this bank is shown from London Road to the railway line, there is no sign of the concrete bridge which connected it to Wyberton West Road. When was this bridge built? I had always believed it to have been included when the road was diverted to accomodate the railway line in 1848. Apparently this crossing seems to have been at grade when the line was first built.

[FrankAT]

Thank you for the map. I will have a good browse tomorrow.
I will look up what I can of the Broadley's and Mr Newton. I know Walter? worked for Mr Newton in the shop and were both very active in church matters. I have some more information and will look it up and post it.
You say the map is 1800s. I see the railway looks to be very well established therefore it must be somewhere in the later 1800s as the 'Lincoln Loop' was using a goods line to Peterborough in 1848 with the passenger service opening later. The bridge over the Redstone Gowt and the Forty Foot Drain was completed in 1847 and the Skirbeck Quarter passenger station at the same time. The passenger station was finalised and ready for use in 1850.

I also see the Railway public house isn't marked and I believe that was built circa the mid 19th century. I am interested in the pub because I am filming the complete refurbishment of the place by two local brothers who have bought it recently. I am looking for anything to do with the place and its history, including, of course, when it was built.

Betty Meadows has been dead for quite some time. Her husband, Gerald, is still around still walking into town to do his shopping etc.
I and my wife and family lived next door at number 60, with the passage between the two end of terrace houses separating the properties. We lived there for a number of years, and they were very good neighbours indeed.
Just a little further towards the rail line (from number 60) was a small brick building owned and run by the Milk Marketing Board until the new estate of mainly bungalows came along.

I would have thought the railway authorities would have had the bridge (footbridge joining London Road with Wyberton West Road) over the line built at the time of the Redstone Gowt and Forty Foot Drain, bridge construction. The two gates at either end were certainly railway types. That would mean the bridge went up no later than 1850 when the bridge was finished. Just a calculated
assumption.

 

[Redroger]

You might remember the model bull proudly displayed in the MMB window for many years. I brought that back from Spain in 1959, and eventually my parents gave it to the inseminator Peter Epton who was a friend of Dad.As I remember it the houses were terraces of 4 except to semis 84 and 86 in the same style, and 88 the last house was detached. There was then a space now built on a bungalow, a house "Brownholm" a wooden bungalow now replaced and then Park Road. Sorry to hear Betty Meadows has died. Think she lived No 56.

[FrankAT]

My apologies. Yes the Meadows family did live at number 56. Mr and Mrs Hubbert ( I think that is how the name was spelt) lived next door to us at number 58. They have both died.
Donaldson is the name of the family still living in the very first of the terraced houses. They were there when we moved in and and are still in residence.
Many of the homes in that immediate area are now occupied by immigrant people of various nationalities. The very large purpose built block on the old Lovelaces' fish processing site (further west, on the right) is home to wholly foreign people. Unfortunately the police are regular visitors there. The foreign families living 'under the roof' with English residents seem to have, in the main, settled in and most are very amiable.

I remember that bull, too. Small world, as they say. Of course you will know the whole area is now covered with comparatively new housing.

 

[onmebike]

Hope I am not sending this information again but I have just had some problems. The numbering in London Road is certainly confusing to me. You lived at No 54 a flat above the bakery but now perhaps due to renumbering the house next door to the bakery is No 47 and in the window light above the door in gold lettering is the name Oldman Cottage so I am fairly sure this is where William Oldman the baker lived

[onmebike]

Another photo showing Oldman Cottage No 47, London Road and including part of the bakery as it was last September when I visited.  :)Roger B

[FrankAT]

Re the chat about the homes in Wyberton West Road:

I had to visit the area just this morning so I had a good look and also thought of the people who lived there when we moved in.
Number 54 is still occupied by the Donaldson family. They took over the house from Sergeant Flynn, a police officer, Numbers were 54,56 and 58 (only three in that terrace). Next to the policeman lived the Meadows', at number 56 and the Hubberts' lived at number 58, next to us. That terrace is called May Terrace.

The next terrace consisted of numbers: 60 (us) 62, 64 and 66, a terrace of 4 houses. No name to these 4. 64 lived the Lovelace family (the older members were fishermen). In 66 lived the Clifton family.

68, 70, 72 and 74, another terrace of 4 houses, also no name is on the building.

76, 78, 80 and 82, another terrace of 4 homes but that are, too, called May Terrace.

I think the whole at some time would have been called May Terrace or, why just the two end ones.

84 and 86 are two semi detached and are called Lily Cottages.

88 is the detached one you wrote of and when we were there another Clifton family (no relation)  lived there.

90, where the wooden bungalow once stood is now a new house.

92 is still the pebble-dashed bungalow and called Fuchsia ( I think they have it spelt 'Fuschia) Cottage.

94 is a detached house and named Brownholme

96 is a detached bungalow and named, Wozwood.

The photo of Newtons Corner are very good, and a familiar sight to me. I wonder if number 47 is still owned by the Baker? I will see. Has anyone any idea of who 'Oldman' was?

The pub undergoing renovation that I write of can be seen just to the left centre of the photo, over where the rail crossing used to be. It opens on the 16th of this month, by the way. So filming goes on apace.

[Geoff-E]

Has anyone any idea of who 'Oldman' was?

 ... bearing in mind I don't know Boston at all ...

1861 census has

On London Road
Richard OLDMAN, shoemaker
then
William OLDMAN, grocer
then
Toll House
then (a couple of houses further on)
Railway Road

In 1871, William OLDMAN (still with Richard next door) was a Grocer and Baker, same in 1881.

In 1891, William was still at London Rd, "living on own means".

In 1911, Richard's widow Ellen (apparently the last surviving OLDMAN) was living next door to "Baker's warehouse.