‘The Way We Were’ in Evington

‘The Way We Were’ in Evington

Reproduced from the Evington Echoes of 1982

This charming rural scene shows Main Street in summer sunshine around the turn of the century  and is recognisable by the row of cottage (opposite the Cedars) and the gothic-style Chapel which still bring traditional character to Evington village.

 

But the ivy-clad house and the picturesque thatched cottage have long since vanished whilst the street, with its former cobblestone pavements, has lost it winding narrowness.  And with the amount of traffic that passes along this route today, how many children would be allowed it idle in the middle of the road?!

Our thanks to the  Evington Librarian for permission to reproduce this old photograph which was originally donated to the Library by Mr Tranmer of Grocot Road.

 

Another rural view of Evington reproduced from an old postcard loaned by Mr W R Horner who regularly attends the Wycliffe Evergreens Club.

Perhaps the pony and cart are taking a family into Leicester on a shopping spree?  They wouldn’t recognise the village today for the houses on the right have been replaced by a garage and the garden on the left by a parade of shops in Main Street.  Ahead is the old cottage which many will remember stood where the road forks between Evington Lane and The Common.  This position is now occupied with less old-world charm by the Library.

Editorial note 2023  The garage that replace the old cottages has long gone too.

 

 

A picture of old High Street

Evington Echo Issue 7 April 1982

High Street Evington showing the old cottages

 

Thanks to Mrs Goodman of the Common for the loan of her fascination scrapbook containing this and many other photos of Evington over the years.

 

Cottages along School Lane
Cottages along School Lane

Evington had a very different look in those far-off days, “My son Peter went to the village school just around the corner and the Cedars was still a country house.  We used to see the folk setting out for the Hunt Balls at Stoughton Grange.  And where the golf course is, and beyond, was once a hunting park – I often heard the hunting horns in the spinney down the lane”.  The only shop was the Post Office and General Store standing close to the ‘Horse & Groom’ opposite the chapel.

“Woodbines were 5 for 1d and we’d go to the Palace for the music-hall -2d in the ‘gods’,”  Arthur laughs.  Farers used to drive cattle to market down Main Street.  “Once they escaped from the drover and into a garden at the top of the Lane.  What a mess!”

Arthur has a lively personality and many friends, all of the lifetime variety.  His party was held in neighbour Barbara Hughes’ home.  She keeps a friendly eye on Arthur and has given a birthday party for him without fail for the past 10 years.  Our reporter was invited into a room overflowing with people of all ages.

Some of his friends, like George and Peggy Martin, still live in School Lane and others have moved away but return to celebrate with Arthur.  Pip and Shona Marples who used to live next door have now moved to Banbury but make an annual pilgrimage back to School Lane bringing a big birthday cake laden with candles.  Hilda Partridge, still an Evington resident, has lived in various houses up and down the Lane and she was able to tell us how Piggy’s Hollow got its name.

 

Evington resident, Mrs Carvell, sent us this unusual view of Evington Lane showing the handsome turn-of-the-century house which can still be seen at the corner of Hawthorne Drive.  Down the lane stands an old two-seater coupe – does this date the era round 1920s?  And how bare it looks without the spinney that we are so familiar with today.

 

Editorial note:  This old house on the corner of Hawthorne Drive has been demolished.

 

Evington Echo

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