Category: Crowle memories

January 1, 1970

Crowle at War: Part 2. Gas Masks, Invasion Defence – submitted by Bill Goldthorp

GAS MASKS. These were issued to every body early on in the war; there was a serious concern that the Germans would drop gas bombs aimed at the civilian population. We had to carry the gas mask at all times and did so for the first two years of the war. It was believed that the Germans did not use gas because we were quite […]

Bill Goldthorp World War 2

January 1, 1970

Crowle at War Part 1. A schoolboys memories. – submitted by Bill Goldthorp

Crowle at War. A Schoolboy’s Memories – Part 1 By Bill (once known as Billy) Goldthorp. Background. My mother’s forebears, Tills, Everetts, Oates, etc. had been farmers in the Isle of Axholme for generations. For ten years prior to marriage Doris had been the primary school teacher at Eastoft. Boltgate my grandfather’s farm was a mile north of Eastoft. At that time when a woman […]

Bill Goldthorp History

January 1, 1970

Transport in Crowle. – Submitted by Bill Goldthorp

I have no photographs of transport when I lived in Crowle. Very few people had cars, most used bicycles. The cinema in Epworth and the Olde Tyme Dances, in the village halls at Xmas if we could not scrounge a lift in a car was also by bicycle. Our dinner suit trousers well tucked into long socks, the girls had their dresses in a haversack […]

Bill Goldthorp Roads

January 1, 1970

Wharf Road, Crowle, as it was. Bill Goldthorp

Modern Wharf Road, stretches from Godnow Road to Crowle Station. It was not always so, parts once had different names. Crowle Map Old Street Names. When I was a boy, 1933 to 1951, when I went to university. Mill Road was often referred to by the older residents as Mill Trod, to my mind much more picturesque than Mill Road. Fieldside was never referred to […]

Bill Goldthorp World War 2

January 1, 1970

Crowle at War: Part 10. Dietry Supplements – submitted by Bill Goldthorp

Dietary Supplements. All the lads were at it. I firstly with my cockerels and two year old hens. We all were after rabbits and woodpigeons, which the farmers regarded as pests. Rabbits at first without much success trying to use snares. Then my father bought me a Webley air rifle for a birthday present. My rabbit total suddenly shot up. At eight years old I […]

Bill Goldthorp World War 2

January 1, 1970

Crowle at War:Part 11.Pig potatoes, war casualties – submitted by Bill Goldthorp

Pig potatoes. The small potatoes would be scooped up and taken to the fold yard. Every farm had a yardman who looked after the cows, pigs, chickens and other livestock In the farm building where the pig potatoes were stored would be a large copper where the potatoes would be boiled before being fed to the pigs. Boiled in their jackets they were lovely flowery, […]

Bill Goldthorp

January 1, 1970

Crowle Market Place – submitted by Bill Goldthorp

The market square has barely changed in over one and a half centuries. The above sketch, from the mid 1850’s, is taken from Read’s History of the Isle of Axholme published in 1858. Note the gas lamp, the only streetlight in Crowle. Crowle was modern; it had a gas works, which paid good dividends to its investors. The gas works lasted to about 1940 when […]

Bill Goldthorp History

January 1, 1970

Gervii (Fen Dwellers) – submitted by Bill Goldthorp

I am proud to admit being a 50% Gervi by inheritance and a born and bred Gervi until the age of 18 when I went to University. At this time immigrants into the Isle were rare. It probably accounts for my bizarre sense of humour which is constantly getting me into trouble. So here goes lets get into trouble again. For the benefit of newcomers […]

Bill Goldthorp Roads

January 1, 1970

Mill Trod – Submitted by Bill Goldthorp

Submitted by Bill Goldthorpe Mill Road, Crowle, Mill Trod was the name given to Mill Road by the older inhabitants of Crowle when I was a boy, although by then the official name was Mill Road. I feel very sad that many of these old names have been modified. Mill Trod, makes me think of a tired farmer plodding alongside his horse and cart with […]

Bill Goldthorp Family History

January 1, 1970

Proud to be a Staniforth. Or The advantage of being an Axholme man.

Hannah Stanniforth aged 33 married John Everatt aged 39 in 1857. According to family tradition,(my mother and aunts) an arranged marriage. I have always felt proud of my 12.5% Everatt genes and totally neglected the 12.5% Stanniforth ones. Looking at John Everatt’s career, the reason is obvious, 1841 age 22, agricultural labourer, 1851 age 32, farmer 6 acres, 1861 age 42, farmer 50 acres, 1881 […]