Old Witherley Memories

Allan Britt remembers:

I was born in Blacksmith Lane (now disappeared in Kennel Lane) in 1948. There were two families in the yard, the Lewis's and we Britt's. We shared a soil toilet and a communal pump at the end of the yard in the old Blacksmiths building. The local women used to make rag rugs on large wooden frames. Right outside the door to that building was the biggest boulder we had ever seen(or so it seemed in those days). Candles and paraffin lamps were the only light we had, so we used to play out till quite late under the light of the street lamps. It seemed in those days we were always out and about over the fields, bird nesting or making dens or anything else that took our fancy.

I remember making rafts on Dog island (behind the church) and sailing down the river to the weir. In those days there was still quite a lot of the old water mill left, so much in fact we used to dare each other to stand on the old waterwheel.

We still had Maypole dancing on the village park back then. The local pub was ran by a chap with one eye. I recall we always had the Village fete in the ground of the Large house opposite the Park. On Saturday mornings, if we had the price to go the money to go to the pictures in Atherstone, we would walk across the fields past the watermill and past a the new school into the town. On the left of the track past the mill there used to be some old cottages with old orchards, so we always had apples and pears for free.

I wont write anymore at present but there might be someone who still remembers what I am rambling on about.