|
To contact us: |
|
The following is a description by Ken Allan who lived in the Bakery 1945-51.
Communication The only telephone in the village was the public call box situated on the pavement opposite the Baptist Church and just outside the original village hall. I believe the post office had one but it was for post office business only.
Radios were few and far between, if you did have one it was powered by a wet cell accumulator which had to be charged to provide power. It was usual to have two of these so that you always had one to power the radio whilst the other one was being charged. The only place that would charge them was a garage in Rushden.
Transport Private vehicles were not allowed to be used in 1945, any private vehicles were put up on blocks for the duration. Not only was petrol rationed, but there were strict controls on where and how far you could travel. As far as the bakery was concerned dad was only allowed to drive as far as St Mary’s church at the end of the square in Higham Ferrers. I remember he was fined once for going beyond his designated area, he had dropped me off near where the bus depot was located in Rushden so that I could catch the bus to London. He completely forgot that he had stopped right outside the police station and they nabbed him straight away.
Taking the Kimbolton Road he was only allowed to go as far as Tilbrook and in the other direction as far as St Lawrence church in Stanwick and the village square in Raunds. He was not allowed to go through the square.
Public transport was one bus from Rushden that only ran on a Saturday, pickup and letdown were at the school on the corner of Caldecott Rd and the (then) A45. The bus turned around at Poplar farm and there were no pick-ups between Chelveston and Rushden. Pick up was at 12 noon and you returned at 9.00 pm. which was just right to go to the cinema in Rushden.
In the summer of 1946 another bus was allocated to do one run on a Wednesday leaving at 10.00 am. and returning at 4.00 pm. so that villagers could go to the market in Higham Ferrers. The market had been suspended during the war and only started up again during 1946.
|
|
Utilities (part 2) |
