Down Memory Lane

A couple of weeks ago we travelled to the town of Mansfield in Nottinghamshire to attend the funeral of Paul's Aunt Peggy.  Paul was able to catch up with some of his cousins who are now spread across the country in different places like the Isle of Wight, York and Colchester. We also spent some time in the town visiting old haunts one of which was the Museum.  

When I worked at the Museum in the 1970s and early 80s the entrance was off the street down a large passage way between the Library and the Theatre.

The older entrance is still there under the glass canopy or atrium which now houses exhibits and photographs of manufacturing in the town.  Many factories including Metal Box, Mansfield Shoe Company, Mansfield Brewery and Mansfield Hosiery Mills to name just a few.

Paul hoped to see the Dinosaur exhibition and we managed to catch it before it closes in early October.

Dinosaurs, Weird and Wonderful by Bespoke Scientific features replicas or casts of some of the most unusual dinosaurs.

The layout of the museum has changed so much over the years which is good.  Some of the Victorian Whitaker collection of birds is still there, as is the Buxton collection of watercolours of Old Mansfield but the ceramics have gone, perhaps they are temporarily in store.  There were quite a few pieces, purchased whilst I was there,  decorated by Derby born ceramic artist William Billingsley from his days at the Derby Pottery, Pinxton Pottery, Mansfield, Torksey, Nantgarw and Coalport.  Here is a - link - to more about William Billingsley.  I find him fascinating.

We had a wander around the town before we left.  Lots of memories as it was one of our main shopping towns when I was a child.  The village we lived in was midway between Mansfield and Chesterfield so we shopped at both.  Mansfield was slightly closer by bus and I caught that regularly when I worked in the town.  There was a bus every hour to Mansfield through the village and a bus every two hours to Chesterfield.  Those were the days, when every outing was worked out by bus times. Making sure you were in time for the last bus home after evening classes, theatre or cinema.  Only heavy snow would make them late or stop them running.

Below are a few photos of the town.

The viaduct which is so prominent in the town is now used by the Robin Hood line which runs between Nottingham and Worksop.

 

St Peter's Church.  Scene of one or two family weddings and that of a friend.

This statue by sculptor David A Annand is called Ampitheatre.

Below the Market Place in front of the Town Hall and the Moot Hall.  When I was a child this was always very busy and full from side to side with rows of stalls selling anything and everything.

The Bentinck Memorial was built in 1849 in memory of Lord George Bentinck who was MP for the area for many years.  It was never finished, due to lack of funds.

We've been enjoying the warmer weather for the last few days getting out and about, walking, gardening, enjoying the sunsets and this week the Harvest moon which has been beautiful.