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At some time we moved from our temporary lodgings to The Grange.
This had previously been the Westbourne Union Workhouse. It was located between
the junction of Covington Road and Commonside Road. At one stage in its history
it held a 100 inmates, but now this terraced building was divided into
independent family units. We lived at number 6 sharing a porch with Mr &
Mrs Goble and their two children Harry and Rosy. In later years Harry, or
Godfrey as he was often called, worked for Mr Ambrose, the local high-class
butcher. Later in my 'teens I worked there also, helping in the shop and
delivering meat. Next door to them were Mr & Mrs Dane with their two boys
Robin and Terry, who died at a very young age. On the other side of us lived Mr
& Mrs Puntis and their boys. Further down were the Paignton and Alder
families.
At the end of the block lived Harry Goble's grandparents. I
particularly remember him standing under an apple tree near his house, waving
his stick and warning us to keep clear as he had just killed an adder. We
looked at it most apprehensively as he said that it could still bite until the
sun had gone down. At the back of houses were large gardens that overlooked a
field and then the Westbourne Cricket Club grounds and further on to the woods
at Aldsworth. Later in my teens I was a member of the cricket club and played a
few games, but not with any great success. To the front of the houses was an
open patch of grass intersected by a path. This came through an open gateway in
the brick and flint wall opening onto Covington Road. The other end of the path
led round the buildings and came out opposite Ivy Cottage a short distance from
the Cricketers public house. On one occasion I was playing on the front garden
with other children when a German plane strafed the ground. Fortunately his aim
was poor or we were too quick in running for cover.
Our home comprised a
large sitting room, kitchen, coal house and toilet on the ground floor and two
bedrooms upstairs. A Morrison shelter that doubled as a dining room table
dominated the sitting/dining room. It was made of heavy steel and wire sides
that could be lifted up for people to crawl underneath. It was large enough to
provide sleeping space for several people. During the height of the blitz in
Portsmouth my father's brother and wife would often come to stay at weekends.
On occasions we would all be under the table during what was thought local air
raids. The windows were covered with black Hessian mounted on a tailor-fitted
wooden frame.
The bottom of the front garden was a high flint wall with
a doorway that led into sheds used by Mr Ambrose the butcher. They were often
full with hay and straw for his cows and horses, working and show. When he
wasn't there they made great slides and an excellent place for a general rough
and tumble. In one corner was a simple yellow shrub that always caught the eye.
It was not until years later that I came to know its name as Kerria. A regular
game was marbles or alleys. These were played outside the side gate on
Covington Road. David Cripps, son of the local newsagent, was a regular and
welcomed player. He could always be relied upon to swap pen nibs for marbles.
Pocket money was scarce in those days.
Historical Information: The
Westbourne Union Life In And Out Of The Workhouse by Ian Watson. Westbourne
Local History Group ISBN 0 9507496 4 8 |