hunters vale hockley

[Astoness]

hi folks although hunters vale was not very large this thread maybe of interest to anyone who had rellies living there..

from the age of about 4 dad and his family lived in the old houses in in the vale and when new maisonettes were built his mom was given first choice of a new home in 1938 so they moved into the upstairs maisonette just round the corner right next to hockley brook..they started in hunters vale and went round the corner into villa st..although dad was evacuated for part of the war he was at home for some of it and remembers hunters vale being hit quite badly...until i saw these pics i didnt realise just how much damage was done...here is a map marked out where he lived at court 2 hunters vale before moving a few yards away into his new home..

 

[Astoness]

in this first pic you can just how one of the maisonettes was damaged during the raids..dad lived just yards away from here so i would say he had a very lucky escape..

its quite possable that either of these men in this pic could be my grandad..hoping when i show dad he may be able to tell

more damage..

 

[Astoness]

corner of hunters vale and villa st..the maisonettes are on the other corner out of shot

the same corner..

 

[TOPSYTURVEY]

Glad you started a new thread lyn .A very interesting story about your family and the photos to go with it.

 

[Astoness]

thanks topsy dad also recalls climbing up the ladders at the side of potters factory in villa st with a broom and pushing the insenderies off..same when they landed on the canal wall...he would push them off into the canal below..i must ask him for more info next time i visit him..

lyn

 

[TOPSYTURVEY]

Hi lyn, He lived at 6b .

 

[Astoness]

dad lived at 51 b topsy...i shall be going down that way again will get some pics of the maisonettes