(A) Sandpit No. 1.
Where my friend (Frank Perris) and I would go to watch Sandmartins
building their nests in the sand.
(B) Refuse Tip
When it
was dusk Frank and I would go across to the refuse tip and shoot
the rats with Frank's air-rifle.
(C) The Golf Club
Where I was employed, at the age of fourteen, as an
Apprentice to the
Golf Pro Mr. Bill Davies. While I was there
the great Henry Cotton came to play in an exhibition game.
(D) Upton Grange
The wall
of the big house bordered the garden of the cottage where I
lived. I would often see Sir Basil Nield (MP) and his
sister, Beryl,
walking around the grounds in their Forces uniforms.
(E) Grange Farm
This farm
was opposite to the Lawn Cottages where I lived. Mr. Powell,
the farmer, kept pigs which he would slaughter to make meat pies,
sausages, black puddings, etc. I went only once to see his son, Joe, use
the stun-gun on the pigs.
(F) Upton Lawn
This
house belonged to Sir John Frost who was a former Lord Mayor of
Chester and also the owner of Frost Flour Mills, Ellesmere Port. This
house was bought by Mr. Fred Owen and converted into flats. Among
the tenants were Mr. Beresford Adams and his son, Phillip, Estate
Agents.
(G) The Lodge
The Misses Rivers occupied The Lodge during the
war.
(H) The Woods
This is
where we (evacuees) would go and pick the rhododendrons when
in bloom and sell them around the village but we would be chased away
by Mr. and Mrs. Hampton, Caretakers of Upton Lawn.
(J) Extension of Golf Course
(K) The Village Hall
During
the war the Village Hall was used for activities such as dances
concerts and, on Sundays, Catholics would hold Mass there. I was an altar
boy. The path at the side of the Village Hall led to Newton Lane.
(L) School
St. Mary's School was built in 1885 with bricks from the
brickyard behind
the school. Mr. Chidlow was the headmaster.
(M) Riding School
At the side
of the school was an entrance leading into the yard and stables of
Miss Nixon's Riding School.
(N) Congregational Church
The Church Boys Brigade and Life boys held their meetings here.
(0) Scout Hut
Mr. Boyd, Scoutmaster, held the meetings for Cubs & Scouts
(1st Upton)
(P) Wheatsheaf inn
(Q) Playing Field
Donated by Sir John Frost to the children
of Upton.
(R) Newsagents
Mr. and Mrs. Mason ran the Newsagents shop which was a
former chapel.
During the war I worked as a paper-boy at this shop.
(S) Sandpit No.2. Situated behind the
Congregational Church and the Playing Field.
(T) The Frog Inn
The Licensee was Mrs. Archer
and her son. Robin.
(U) Darlington's
Smithy
Situated in
Liverpool Road, practically opposite The Dale Army Camp.
(V) Kingsmead
This ring of houses is behind Darlington's
Smithy.
(W) Demage Farm
This farm
was owned by a Mr. Fred Davies. I would go to the farm to
help with the milking and to collect the eggs laid by the hens in the barns.
(X) Council Yard All the Council equipment used to be
stored here.
(Y) Dick Jones
Smithy
We would go to watch the horses being shod.
(Z)
The Dale Army Camp
Home to the 22nd Battalion Cheshire Reg