Mapperley People always enjoys posting items relating to the area’s history. With the Centenary of Woodthorpe Grange Park celebrated last year, we were pleased to be given this 1930 map showing Woodthorpe Grange Park in the early years.
The things that stand out are the railway, the bandstand (where the top football pitch is now) and a paddling pool down in the dip near Sherwood Station (where Woodthorpe Court flats are now).
We’ve waited a long time for the old TSB Bank on Mapperley Top to be developed. The Trustee Savings Bank used to be on every high street in the area, helped by it being the chosen bank for most of our former mining community.
It was worth the wait as the building has been transformed and is now a stylish tapas restaurant and bar named Alora which opened on 6th June Congratulations to Callum from the Old Flower Shop for bringing this great addition to Mapperley Top.
Namiko’s Adventure
Namiko, a Mapperley cat had been missing for several weeks. Like most cats, they do return, but Namiko had a real adventure before she was found. Neighbourhood police rescued her from the recently boarded-up building of the Mapperley Community Centre.
Officers from the city south neighbourhood policing team forced entry to the building using powers under the Animal Welfare Act. She appeared malnourished and was taken to a vets while officers worked successfully to trace the owner.
Police Constable Emily Hart said: “The owner was ecstatic to hear the news as her cat, named Namiko, had been missing for more than a month.
“It was the lady’s birthday and she said it was the best birthday present she could have had. It was great to find the owner and I’m pleased to hear they have been reunited.”
Football Fever
Football fever took a twist when the Duke of Cambridge pub were relieved of their beloved 10ft Euros Football after it was stolen from the beer garden overnight.
Owner Simon is hopeful that if ‘Pickles’ the dog found the World Cup trophy in 1966, then our facebook community can find their ball in 2024.
Unfortunately, it is still missing.
Identity Cards
More local history surfaced when Vicki Long shared this identity card from the 1940s. It shows her address as Emily Terrace, Dawson Street off Carlton Road (not to be confused with Dowson Street off Gordon Road). This area was replaced with what is now known as Hooten Street Industrial Estate. The high rise flats of Burrows Court, (built in 1967) appear to have taken its name from Burrows Street in the same area.
Identity Cards were replaced by NHS Cards on its formation in 1948.
Remembering Josh Downie.
There was a feature on BBCBreakfast this morning about a campaign by the British Heart Foundation and a tribute to Mapperley’s Josh Downie from his family. Josh was a keen and capable cricketer, but died suddenly from heart failure at just 24 years of age. 12 young lives are lost to sudden cardiac death each week and the British Heart Foundation is campaigning to raise money for a cure. There is a mural depicting Josh at Sneinton Market.
