Lenton Times

The Magazine of Lenton Local History Society

No. 1

No. 2

No. 3

No. 1

We know the location for this photograph - the stretch of open space between Castle Boulevard and Sherwin Road with the Albion Hotel visible on the left of the photograph.  What we would like to know is more about the organisation(s) whose members are posing for their photograph.  Clearly the banner mentions the Nottingham & Notts Sick and Annual Societies and there is also a reference on it to the Children's Hospital - but what other references were to be found on the lower half of the banner and does anyone have a suggestion as to when the photograph was taken?

Replies:-
Ivor Williamson
I think that this photograph shows a local gathering of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes and the large banner behind them relates to their charity.
If you look on the smaller banner you will see a pair of horns, very faint but they are there. 

No. 2

Gavin Holman has a web site which among other things features old photographs of  brass bands.  This very blurred image taken from his web site shows members of the Lenton brass band which Gavin understands was certainly around in the early part of the twentieth century.  He doesn't know any other details about the band and doesn't have access to a better image.  We would obviously like to learn more about the band and if possible get hold of a superior copy of the photograph.  Those who would like to know more about Gavin's website should click on http://www.ibew.co.uk.

No. 3

This photograph appeared on picture postcard produced by J. Spree.  It shows a steam wagon with the registration number FE-2031 after it had crashed through the garden wall of 259 Derby Road, Lenton.  We would like to pinpoint the date when this accident happened then we could check out the local papers to see if the mishap made the pages of the local press.  One way of assisting us is to find someone with another copy of the picture postcard but one that has been sent through the post and so has a postmark with a date on it.  Then we can better gauge when the photograph might have been taken

Replies:-
Ian Carney
The steam wagon shown in the photograph is an "overtype" made by Clayton & Shuttleworth of Lincoln. As far as I can tell, all their steam wagons bore the registration prefix 'FE'.  I have a photograph of a beautifully restored wagon of the same type. The legend reads:- Clayton & Shuttleworth 5 ton compound wagon. Built 1920. Works no. 48510, Reg. no. FE 3344. The wagon is pictured in front of Shuttleworth House, was sold new to West Morland County Council. By 1934 it had moved to Tarroads of Battersea, London. Eventually being sold to engine dealers and scrap merchants J. W. Hardwicke & Sons of West Ewell. It passed through several owners before being purchased by the present owner D. Scott, in 1995. It was exhibited as part of the The Clayton & Shuttleworth Millennium Event at the Society's Bedfordshire Steam & Country Fayre, 16th and 17th September 2000, at which this picture was taken.  If Clayton's had a batch of registration numbers, then the Lenton one (FE 2031) obviously was built a little before 1920. The brightwork on the wagon appears to be quite shiny so we might assume it is not too old. I would therefore think early 1920s is probably about the time the picture was taken.  Further speculation would suggest that the wagon has rolled backwards whilst unattended. Brakes were very rudimentary and instructions to drivers at the time were to stop with the wheels chocked and into the kerb. The fact that she is still steaming, suggests that some attempt to drive her out is about to be made.