Granville Gardens
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Granville Gardens under construction, 1950
This picture was taken from the end of the existing Harefield Drive, with the rear of a house on Westmorland Road in the distance. Numbers 1 & 3 Granville Gardens can be seen in the centre. Curtains and open windows would suggest that these properties were already occupied. Other houses were occupied as and when completed over the following two years. Note the cement mixer and mound of sand or gravel to the left, with rubble to the right. Also, note how there was only a dirt track for a road.
Site of number 18 Granville Gardens, 1951
These three photographs were taken before the house, on the right-hand side of the circle end of Granville Gardens, was built. Its first owners were Les and Dorothy Potts who, after paying a deposit, made periodic visits to the site to check on the progress being made. The houses in the background are in Whitehaven Gardens.
The ground is cleared and prepared
Dorothy Potts is pictured surveying the scene of the site of their new house.
Foundations of the house laid
Dot and Les Potts, the original occupants
They moved into the completed house in 1952.
Plan of part of the estate, 1952
Rear of Granville Gardens, numbers 2-12, early 1950s
Note the coal bunkers and metal refuse bins. The absence of fences meant that children were able to wander from garden to garden.
Granville Gardens, looking towards Harefield Drive, 1950s
The garden wall abutting the road was 1 foot 6 inches high.
Circle end of Granville Gardens, 1950s
The wooden gate was the entrance to an electricity substation. The houses in the far distance are on Dene Road. Pictured on their cycles are, from left: Peter Duncan, Hazel Thompson and Michael Duncan. There were children in most houses and everyone knew everyone else – both parents and children. Young children attended local primary schools such as St Catherine’s, Beaver Road and Elm Grove. Children played outside on the road or in their back gardens and were frequently in and out of each other’s houses. They also played games in Simon Field – referred to at the time as ‘Faulkes’ field’ by children.
Child relaxing at back of house, 1950s
First car to be owned by a resident of Granville Gardens, 1950s
Parked outside number 12, the car was an Austin A40 Somerset. Note the dropped kerb for access to drive.
Number 8, left, and number 6 Granville Gardens, 1950s
Front garden of number 6 Granville Gardens, 1950s
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