Old Market Square, Nottingham 1958

[littlebro 234]

Here is a series of images from the Market Square taken on the 5th June 1958 when Princess Alexandra came to officially open the Clifton Bridge.

Happy to upload as individual stills if requested.

[Ashley 288]

Crikey, I know there have been council cut backs, but when did they close that section of the bridge from the Market Square to Queens Drive?

[Carol Dickens 3]

this was taken sometime in the seventies, I think

[Bip 88]

nice picture carol pity thou not a tinsy winsy bit bigger........it it and ?

Bip.

[littlebro 234]

Hey Ashley,

I think the vist to the council house was for the mandatory civic tiffin.

Images show off the buildings though and it seems we had a sunny day for once.

When the Clifton Bridge was opened the road from the bridge to the Nottingham Knight was not completed and of course what we now call the A453 wasn't a trunk road.

The A453 was the Nottingham to Ashby trunk road and went through Beeston and Long Eaton to Sawley Bridge, Castle Donington etc. The A453 was only re-routed over Clifton Bridge and south of the Trent in the 1980's

[Ashley 288]

yes, remember them building the bridge, or rather 2 bridges as originally half as wide, and prior to that when ring road ended at dunkirk island , to get further you had to go down lenton lane or as you say

[littlebro 234]

On Picture the Past there is an image of the Clifton Bridge opening ceremony with a plaque etc. Anyone know where it is, north bank, south bank etc.

Can we get to it on foot?

[plantfit 7,582]

Ayup Littlebro,

I think the plaque is on the south side of the old bridge just before the cycle track takes a steep dive to the road below, accessible from the cycle track very easily, either end of the old bridge used to be or still is plaque's with a picture of a Pheonix on which I believe was on the coat of arms for the Clifton family, it also featured on the badge for the Fairham school together with a picture of the bridge.

Hope this has helped

Rog

[firbeck 859]

One of the old man's favourite sunday morning tandem rides after the bridge had been opened was via Wollaton Park, through the Derby Road gatehouse, across to Lenton Lane via the canal tow path then linking up with the then single bridge which had the distinction of having a cycle path which carried on all the way through the Clifton Estate. We then took the little road which went through Thrumpton and Barton to Radcliffe on Soar, no power station then, instead there was a little brick engine shed at the side of the road containing a small shiny tank engine that was used to pull the gypsum trains down to a wharf on the Soar Navigation.

We then cut across to the A6 which also had a cycle path then home via Sawley and the tow path of the Erewash Canal, usually calling in at a pub backing on to the canal at Sandiacre whose name escapes me, a pleasant trip on a sunny day.

[littlebro 234]

Thanks Rog, I will go and have a look - when it gets a bit warmer. Brrrrrrrr

[poohbear 1,360]

Thrumpton and Barton to Radcliffe on Soar, no power station then, instead there was a little brick engine shed at the side of the road containing a small shiny tank engine that was used to pull the gypsum trains down to a wharf on the Soar Navigation.

I think that must have been The Lady Angela..if the driver Ernie was in a good mood us village kids would get a ride on the footplate.The line and engine shed has disappeared now.

http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/53/Angela.htm

[littlebro 234]

Hi,

Is this the same Lady Angela? Taken at the South Devon Railway 2006

[firbeck 859]

I had no idea it was still with us, incredible that the engine has survived into preservation and is still working, it's looks just as I remember it in the 50's.

I recall that on a sunday morning it was usually outside the shed being maintained and polished, presumably by Ernie.

It would be fantastic if this engine could be brought back to Ruddington and used on the GCR North, I've no doubt that it must have been used to shunt wagons on and off the main line at Rushcliffe Halt, it must be rare for an industrial steam engine to work over it's old haunts.

[Beefsteak 305]

Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs ,Firbeck didn't know something

[littlebro 234]

From Wikipedia, List of rolling stock preserved on the South Devon Railway

Lady Angela – a small Peckett 0-4-0ST shunting locomotive (works number 1690, built in 1926), currently out of service due to thin tyres.

Needs to go to Kwik Fit!

[Fynger 841]

Tyres ???

[littlebro 234]

The tyre is a steel band around the wheel. They existed way before Dunlop came along.

It's what the wheel tappers were there to check?

[Fynger 841]

Ah....like the ring on a wagon wheel ( no not the biscuit before anyone says something )

[firbeck 859]

They used to be rubber, believe it or not, on the Paris Metro trains, must have had a steel flange round the back though, I don't know whether they are still like that, it made them run incredibly qiuetly, very wierd sensation.

[Beefsteak 305]

The last time I was there they were certainly still rubber . As we remarked on how quiet they were compared with some of the rolling stock on the London underground , although there was always a smell of burning rubber (In my opinion)

[firbeck 859]

It was probably the smoke from the drivers Gauloise drifting through the carriage, or something that Fynger had just rolled up.

[littlebro 234]

Images from the Old Market Square June 1958 on the occasion of the visit by Princess Alexandra to open the new Clifton Bridge

[Cliff Ton 10,464]

And to follow on from Littlebro's photos, here's what she actually did

http://www.pictureth...010767&prevUrl=

http://www.pictureth...010768&prevUrl=

[poohbear 1,360]

All those crowds...I wouldn't walk to the end of the road to see any of 'em.Especially Charlie and his old tart.