"How often have you heard the saying, “Those were the days”? As I am the type of person who is likely to make such a remark, I suppose I would be called “the older generation”.

My memories and recollections of Cobridge are from the age of two years. My parents came to Cobridge to look at a newsagents which they wanted to rent from a Mr. Barlow, who was about to retire. I was given a clockwork stream roller to play with a to keep me quite while the serious business was discussed. I recall playing with it on the floor of the back room, watching it go backwards and forwards until it ran down. Suddenly, there was a heavy rumbling, clanking and bells ringing. Running outside I was just in time to see the gates of Granville level crossing opening with red lights flashing on top of them. I could also see a man in a signal box, high up turning a large wheel which opened the gates. Then, to my delight, the train started to cross over the road like some snorting, fire breathing monster, with its long tail of coal trucks, returning to its lair at Hanley Deep Pit. To a small child this was an experience that would stay with me for all time."

Memories in the life of Alan Chell (b. 18 October 1933)

Granville Street and Waterloo Road area in 1898
Many of the houses are now demolished - see the 2007 map below, Woodall Street still exists. The school in Granville Street has been replaced by a new school: Forest Park Primary School.

The same area in 2007 (Google maps)
Woodall Street still exists, Leveson, Gower, Copland and Granville Streets have all been demolished. Garden Row (also known as Garden Street) has been renamed Bowness Street. The terraced houses between Garden Row and Waterloo Road have been demolished and replaced with sheltered housing.

This series of photos of Cobridge were taken in the 1950's

School in Granville Street
looking from Granville Square / Waterloo Road
This school in Granville Street has been replaced by a new school: Forest Park Primary School.

the pupils of Granville School
in the rear playground at the lower end of  the school the Queens Coronation party

Housing in Granville Street, Cobridge

These cottages were built by Lord Granvile  for his workers situated in Granville Street, Cobridge in front of  Granville school, at  the top of the street can be seen the rear of Myott's pottery
- all the houses in this area are now demolished -

looking from where Granville Street goes into Granville Square, across Waterloo Road towards Windermere Street on the opposite side.
The Granville Inn can just be seen on the right of the picture

Waterloo Road, looking downwards to Vale Place and Hanley

This picture was taken of Waterloo road, looking towards Vale Place, the shop on the right with the waste bin outside was where I lived with my parent from about 1935-6 until the death of my father Harry Chell 1943, the shop was a news agents. From Portland Street to Cobridge traffic lights there were three newsagents shops, our family then moved to Windermere Street.

Waterloo Road, looking downwards to Vale Place and Hanley
from the opposite side of the road.
The tower of St. John's church can be seen in the distance

The rear of the shops in Waterloo road , as demolition began

This picture is of local girls standing outside the
Cobridge Gospel Mission in Derwent Street, Cobridge
- this picture appeared in the  Sentinel newspaper on October 2nd 2004

Local Resident  Mrs Dissington
the front of this house was in Garden Row (now Bowness Street), Cobridge , the rear backed to back with the houses in Waterloo Road
- all the houses in this area are now demolished and replaced with sheltered housing -

Although not strictly Cobridge - Hanley  Deep pit head gear could be seen from from Cobridge

Hanley Deep pit, looking towards Hanley
"REFLECTIONS OF THE PAST"