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| Author | Message / Information |
| RMMee Moderator | Recreation Grounds posted on: 7/7/2005 2:25:42 AM Following on from the Street Games topic (in the Heanor History Forum) perhaps we should look at what the council laid on for the kids in their recreation grounds. I've put this in Miscellaneous as it concerns all the areas covered. We live in a very "Health & Safety" conscious age now, but... what do you remember about the recreation grounds of the past? I remember, at Queen Street Rec, Langley Mill, the "Bobby's Hat," a fantastic swinging roundabout, the likes of which have now totally disappeared, as (let's face it) it was pretty dangerous. Swings haven't changed an awful lot (except that we had no protective surface if we fell off!), but roundabouts are very different. And there used to be nothing at all for very young children - that has been a definite change for the better. So, tell us what you remember, and what you think of today's play equipment. And did any of you come a cropper as a result of playground equipment? |
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suzard
Researcher |
Recreation Grounds
replied on: 7/7/2005 7:02:06 AM I remember the "Bobbies Hat" on Queen St Rec-some called it the "Ocean Wave"- we used to pile on that -some sitting, the older ones standing on the bars (grab rails)-we used to get it spinning really fast and then "bump" it until the seats touched the centre pole-as you say Robert, very dangerous but I don't recall anyone being injured on it.There was also a roundabout for the little ones which we used to push until it was spinning very fast and then jump on it while it was moving. The swings we used to try and go high enough so the swing would go over the cross bar. There was also a long swing which held about eight, you sat on it as you would sit on a seesaw.We used to spend hours rubbing candle fat on the (mountain) slide to make it so slippery you would shoot off the end-of course the top of the slide was a good vantage point for train spotting (the railway line ran across the top of the rec).I remember in the top corner (near Argyle St jitty) the ground caved in one summer and left a huge crater approx five foot deep-about twenty of us spent the summer playing in that-jumping in and all sitting around-it was always a mystery how that happened -maybe it was the site of an old well-a similar thing happened in our garden -neighbours brought the ashes from their coal fires to help fill it in.The worst accident I remember having on the rec was not due to playing on any of the so called dangerous rides-it was when the dusty old path across the top was tarmaced-I was have a bike race (even though a notice stated "cycling prohibited) "Ready, steady ,go" was shouted , I set off, but my front wheel had stuck in the melting tarmac(summers were hotter then)and it caused me to fly over the handlebars-I cut my head and nose, went home with blood dripping down my face and had a telling off from Mum cos I has tarmac on my dress! |
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Iceboy53
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Recreation Grounds
replied on: 7/7/2005 7:56:44 PM i thnk you've covered everything there suzard, and may say brilliantly.brought so many memories back,especialy the candle wax. ice |
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Azzabuv
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Recreation Grounds
replied on: 7/8/2005 11:29:26 AM There was an 'Ocean Wave' on Heanor Rec too. The early lesson learned was never to hang bent over any wooden seat section, with your knees hanging beneath it, when the 'Wave' was rocking violently from side to side. When it lowered onto the top of your bent knees - OUCH and it was very painful. Not much fun then  Azzabuv. |
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philfred
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Recreation Grounds
replied on: 7/9/2005 4:47:34 PM The small one at the bottom of Coppice Drive. It consisted of a small roundabout and a bobbies hat. PC Egan lived opposite so someone had a sense of humour. The bobbies hat went and was replaced by a see-saw. regards Phil |
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Azzabuv
This message was updated on 7/11/2005 12:39:42 PM by Azzabuv |
Recreation Grounds
replied on: 7/10/2005 12:42:22 PM Heanor Rec had the rapidly spinning roundabout, (if you pushed it with one foot fast enough). A Bobbies Hat and half a dozen swings plus a medium sized slide and in the 1950s a giant bonfire on the 5th. of for some years. Azzabuv. |
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Iceboy53
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Recreation Grounds
replied on: 7/10/2005 4:02:53 PM marlpool rec had a bobbies hat, slide which was great,a couple of swings and a rounda bout which you had to either jump off or on at great speen and go home with grazed knees because you we're dragged round holding on to the bar.  great days. ice |
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RMMee
Moderator This message was updated on 11/18/2005 8:50:56 AM by RMMee |
Recreation Grounds
replied on: 11/18/2005 8:43:43 AM There must be other recs in the area that haven't had a mention at all. |
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Peter Chamberlain
Researcher This message was updated on 11/19/2005 8:02:32 AM by Peter Chamberlain |
Recreation Grounds
replied on: 11/19/2005 8:02:02 AM Wasn't There a small one opposite the Butchers Arms at Langley? |
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Dr.Valentine
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Recreation Grounds
replied on: 11/19/2005 11:52:25 AM There used to be one up near lee lane, where the council houses end. |
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RMMee
Moderator This message was updated on 11/19/2005 12:46:53 PM by RMMee |
Recreation Grounds
replied on: 11/19/2005 12:45:16 PM What was on the Rec's opposite the Butcher's Arms and on Lee Lane? I don't think there's been mention of the large Rec at Aldercar either. I remember there being quite a large football pitch, a set of swings (I fell off one once), but I have no idea what else was there. There was a footpath onto the rec off Upper Dunstead Road, and another from Greenfields. (I'm talking about the 1960's.) |
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Dr.Valentine
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Recreation Grounds
replied on: 11/19/2005 1:23:52 PM Behind the rec on Hands rd were allotments. behind the lee lane,well there was a foot path that led the to a bridge i think and a farm. |
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Dr.Valentine
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Recreation Grounds
replied on: 11/19/2005 1:24:44 PM And there was or is a rec near the woods on coppice drive...i think it's coppice drive. |
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db639
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Recreation Grounds
replied on: 11/19/2005 8:30:13 PM we used to play on the rec off Northern Road ,Bobbies helmet , swings ,cake ?roundabout and slide ,I used to get a candle off my granma to wax the slide and then get told off for going back with shiny bum trousers |
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RMMee
Moderator |
Recreation Grounds
replied on: 11/20/2005 8:01:47 AM quote: The rec is still there I think, and the farm must surely be Laceyfields? Hoping to go a walk down that way in a couple of weeks with the Aldercar & Langley Mill Parish Council. |
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Peter Chamberlain
Researcher This message was updated on 11/20/2005 12:42:32 PM by Peter Chamberlain |
Recreation Grounds
replied on: 11/20/2005 8:15:29 AM quote:quote: The footpath does lead to Lacey Fields Farm and if you go to the Langley Mill Railways Post there is an excellent Photograph of the Bridge courtesy of Russell Saxton |
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