NextBackUnicorn Hill, where the Witherspoon place is now, there used to be a beautiful big house owned by the Field family, they used to let me and my brothers and sisters go and play, we used to slide down the bannister. The stables ran down to where Sarsons Bread Shop was, run by the Sarson sisters, next door was the Tripe Shop, the smell was delightful but I never fancied pigs trotters, next came a yard, the Barratts who moved to Feckenham.
Next was Windsor Street, the Pub then the Railway station or part of it, adjoining this were the insurance shop, Sandilands a small general store, who sold ice cream, then the Butcher’s shop, followed by two houses. Opposite was a garage, then going up the Hill was a Butcher, Johnson, Clevely Paper Shop, Shoe Shop, Fish & Chip, Perkins Shop a small shop that sold “loose milk”, Seconds Shop – Miss Wilmore, Laundry, a General Shop that sold almost everything, loved a halfpenny worth of creamy toffee, owned by Chambers.
Next came Hill Street, this lead from Unicorn Hill, up into a yard, several houses filled the place. At the bottom was the “Lamb & Flag” pub, where every Saturday night there were fights with the drunks, then their wives gave them another hiding for spending the rent money?
Back to Unicorn Hill, next to “Lamb & Flag”, were some little houses, next was a Dress Shop, then Crook’s Sweet shop, then an entry which lead to three houses.
Back on the Hill, several more shops ending with Harrisons Grocery Shop, next door was the “Unicorn Hotel”, then the Fruit Shop, owned by the Miss Reeves, next was quite a posh house, this fell back from the road, next was the China Shop, owned by Mr Beatley, my Sunday School teacher, then came part of Cranmore and Simmonds, which led into Evesham Street.
Come back to Witherspoon, facing it, look to the right, there used tp be a pub and T. Hemming, where we used to pay our rent, is still there, next is an entry where there were six cottages and two houses, which are still there, but sadly the cottages were demolished. Known as Pound Yard, I was born at number 10 as were my eleven brothers and sisters. I wish I still lived there!
Behind Witherspoon’s were two more cottages, maybe three? There are still two houses left in Pound Yard, where I lived, they were modernised, I see one of them is still for rent. My Aunt Ada lived in one of them and had a very large family, (13).
