We didn't have many luxuries

The Blackman Street area was very busy, and many people worked at the railway works or the electricity generator; a signalman lived opposite us. When work had finished for the day the streets would be full of workmen going home. It was a very good area to have a shop in, as so many people passed by. There was every shop available in the area, you didn’t have to go far. We had the Co-op and Marks and Spencer in the area at one time. The grocery boy would come to the door and ask for your order book and return with your groceries later that day.

In 1929 we had signed a petition to get electricity into our street, as you had to get a certain amount of signatures. Even with electricity we didn’t have many luxuries in the house, and many people were glad when they were offered new council houses on the estates, with baths and hot water. We didn’t qualify for a house as our chil­dren had grown up and married by this time, so we were left to nearly last to be rehoused. We were given a flat in Albion Street, but my married son and family who were living with us at the time didn’t get rehoused. The area has never been redevel­oped, and some people said that the council ran out of money and left it looking derelict.