Prefabs in Gee Cross

A few weeks ago we spoke about the prefabs and steel houses that were built after the end of WW2 . Someone mentioned the ones that stood behind the Grapes pub in Gee Cross and Ken Smith very kindly sent us this newspaper cutting and some information about them.

 

Over to Ken -

 

"Looking through the blogs recently I came across a request for information regarding  the prefab estate constructed behind the Grapes Hotel shortly after the end of WW2.

I lived on the estate with my parents from its first occupation until September 1952, when I joined the RAF as an Aircraft Apprentice, with just one short break during 1951 when our house burned down!

I enclose a newspaper cutting from the time which may remind some of your readers of the occasion.

Incidentally, I now live on the plot of land almost immediately opposite that of the house that burned down !!"

 

Thanks very much for sharing , Ken. Much appreciated ! :)

Coal Shed Tobogganers

Another terrific photo from Tony D.
It is so evocative of a more innocent age.

Over to Tony for the description...

"This the last, although I never know, of my 'steel house' collection.  The trained eye can just see it, it's roof is centre picture in Pimlott Avenue 

These 'steep' hills, as they'd seemed to my child's mind had various runs with various degrees of bicycle fear about them.  They are still there although now so mildly landscaped. They border Johnson Brook Rd in foreground and Markham Street to the left. 

We kids would  'borrow' a sledge like this one, one from  a half section of a corrugated steel coal shed, a steel house piece of property and just about the right size for four of us junior tobogganers to fit on! "

Thumbnail to larger view.

Many thanks, Tony. PLEASE keeping sending them in . They are wonderful ! :)

Busheyfield Close, Newton.

Here we have some more photos of the Steel Houses in Busheyfield Close, this time after a flash flood in the summer of 1952.

The local children look like they are having a ball playing in the water !!
Hyde Mill can be seen in the background.
How the area has changed...




The same view taken in June 2012


1952


1952


2012


Again, many thanks to Tony Downend for sharing these wonderful photos with us.
Keep them coming, Tony! :)