Following a discussion on a ‘school memories’ group about the Mapperley Plains Primary School, which moved to its new site about 30 years ago, someone commented that the new building was on a site known as ‘Johnson’s Pond’.
We asked whether anyone recalls this and even have a photograph of it
Jools Lane – The pond nearly stopped the school being built due to the newts. The wildlife had to be rehomed before building could begin. Does anyone remember the old hollow tree? I seem to recall that someone lit a fire in it to try and burn it down.
Rob Loasby – There definitely was a pond there, at the back of the last house on Central Avenue before the entrance to the golf club, as shown on this Ordnance Survey map.
The map from 1966 also shows the site of what is now Mapperley Plains School as Allotment Gardens
Joanne Caine – There was a pond there, l didn’t know it had a name. It had newts in it. Also there was the concrete ‘air raid shelter’. During the late 60’s early 70’s aged 8-12, friends and l would go up there playing. The golf course seemed so big and a great play area too. Looking back, climbing on an old broken shelter and trees probably wasn’t safe but we had lots of laughs.
This aerial photograph shows the area in the late 1940s. Below the tip of the yellow arrow (marking Central Avenue) is the pond and the allotment gardens.
