Manor Road

I was very interested to see the picture of Manor Road. I am looking for information about a Baptist Chapel which was founded there by John Cramp who was an ancestor of mine.Apparently the Chapel was founded in either 1820 or 1850
The building on the right hand side of the picture looks as if it could be a Chapel?
Strangely enough, during the 1970's I worked at Exchange Travel in Parker Road which is quite near to Manor Road.

Mount Pleasant Infants School on the right of the postcard foreground. My first school at the age of 5 and I was allocated to Miss Barham's class who was very strict and I was not very happy at the school. That would have been 1957

At the back of the school playground if I remember there was a path that led to Mount Pleasant juniors whose mainentrance was on Mt Pleasant Road

I came from London aged 9 in1955 and was sent to Mount Pleasant. I had a very strict teacher called Mrs. Longhurst, about a year later I went to Elphinstone school which was much nicer. Happy days.

Again some memories....Mt Pleasant Infants School was also my first school directly as the war was abating....we slept on little truckle beds in the afternoon, and I also started my first music lessons and, with the late Geoffrey Illman learnt the violin - went from there to Juniors and then to Elphinstone which was then so very new....took 11+ and from there all history...played with Geoffrey in the Schools Orchestra but by then was playing the flute....so memories of Manor Road and Mt Pleasant are very dear.

This same building was used in the late 60's as an annex to Priory road boys school. I used to have metalwork classes there on the third floor, but there was also carpentry and motor mechanics. Mr. Irwin our metalwork teacher was also a member of the magic circle.....happy days!

I remember Miss Barham. I started at Mount Pleasant in 1961, and Mrs Hollyfield was my teacher. We then had Miss Fowler, also Mrs Eastham. Miss Draper was our head. Anyone remember Miss Moffatt or Mrs Niblet? Mrs Ruse, or Miss Legg?

I remember going to Mount Pleasant School in the early 70's. lower school entrance in Manor Road, Upper in Mount Pleasant Road. A large metal gate on Mount Pleasant Road opened onto a downward slope that dropped to the playground. Outside toilets running on the opposite side to the slope. The dinning hall was situated in the playground of the lower part. It was cold I remember, having just small gas panel heaters high on the sides of the walls. I went to both upper and lower schools. Lower playground had a drinking fountain. A slope lead up from the playground to the entrance door. I recall a lot of wood panelling. Has anyone got any photos of the school upper and lower? Have tried to search for some but it's almost like the place never existed.

I started school here at Mnt. Pleasant Infants School in Sept. 1950 /1951.
I wa born in "Tin Town" Fellows Road, off of Parker Road, near to the old power station.
The houses were made of riveted steel panels, hence the name. I can only remember there being about 4 of them
then but it's possible others were demolished previously.
I used to walk from there to school on my own, at 5 years old , every day we (friends) used to walk /climb along the powerstation high concrete walls on the way to and fro school. Part of the wall is still there, as you enter Parker Road at the bottom end ,the. Wall is to the right, there is a ledge 3/4 of the way up that we walked along.
The school entrance was through a low metal gateway set in the brick wall in Mnt.Pleasant Road, it is still there.
Several years later I used to attend the carpentry and metalwork sessions of school work from Priory Road Boys School that I went to. My uncle ' char ' ( charley ) used to be caretaker at the infants School for many years, he lived along Manor Road for a long time.

I Went to Mount pleasant infants in 1970 and had Mrs Niblet then Mrs Brown. I then went to Elphinstone Infants and was taught by Mrs Chance then Mrs Ralph, she was in the wooden school. Miss Draper was the head then Miss Watkins. Happy Days!

Mrs Brown was my teacher there a couple of years earlier. She was Miss Apostilidies then got married have way through the year.

lovely to see these comments, I remember a few of the teachers mentioned,was also in the same class as Andrew Parkinson,who wrote last comment!

I went to Mount Pleasant Infants in Manor Road after the closure of St. Mary in the Castle School. From then I went to the Junior School in Mount Pleasant Road, then to Elphinstone School in Parker Road. I left Hastings in 1956. I remember a teacher in the Junior as Mrs. Longhurst. Very strict. Miss Hale was my teacher at Elphinstone, the Headmaster Mr. Hopkins, the Headmistress Miss Draper.

I went to Elphinstone Primary starting in 1970...Mrs Fryer and Miss Lambourne were two early years teachers...I then went to what was known as The Wooden School, teachers were Miss Fowler, Miss Muffet....then back to 1st year junior's at Mount Pleasant...Miss Barham I remember old fashioned strict teaching style....2nd year juniors Miss Kemp....then Mrs Smith (Downer) lovely lady....finally Mr Hodgkinson. Miss Capon taught music and Mr Booth taught brass. Happy Days...

I was brought up in Manor Road From 1945 until I joined the Royal Navy in 1962. This picture brings back many memories. I attended Mount Pleasant Infants School (my first teacher was Miss Dooley) and Primary school before going to Elphinstone Road School. From the age of 14 I had a Saturday job working in K A Goldsacks grocery shop. The garage on the corner (not visible in picture) was owned by Mr Young and the family also ran a Taxi service. The shop on the left of the picture with the awning I remember as Scotchers the bakers. The no 72 Maidstone and District bus came along Manor Road (it was then 2 way traffic) on the route between Parker Road and The Green (St. Leonards. There were lots of shops scattered along the length of the road which also included a printing workshop, upholstery repair workshop, ice cream parlour, butcher and greengrocer.

I was there around 1950 and my form teacher was Miss Dooley. From what I can remember a nice lady. I recall getting the cane from the headmaster Mr Hopkins for saying "last one up the stairs stinks" I was about 9 years old at the time. In 1952 I transfer the the new Elphinstone Primary School and a year later moved from the area.
Whilst at Mount Pleasant School I remember my best friend was named Raymond Collins. He was a lovely lad and tall for his age. He would come to school in hobnail boots, A jumper with holes in and an old pair of short trousers. He confided in me that his step father would often give him a good hiding and he would come to school with bruises.I had a birthday party that Raymond came to and I remember him giving me a pin cushion that he had made because he had no money to buy a present. The memory of that pin cushion has stayed with me throughout my life. I cannot remember if I told my mother about Raymond's beatings or if she saw his bruises for herself, but she clearly spoke to our doctor Constance G Lee who practiced in Mount Pleasant Road. Raymond was removed from his home and taken into care.
To this day I do not know what happened to him. Even now at the age of 76 I get very emotional when I think Raymond and I
sincerely hope that his life was not too bad.
He lived in either St Marys Road or Manor Road. If anyone reads this who came into contact with Raymond after he was taken into care I would be grateful for any information.

A few names that I recall from my class were Judy Dale. Peter Poulter, Robert Elam and Ronald Moth.

I remember going to the infants school at 5 years old 1949 or 1950. The Rea family lived above the garages in Manor road before the war but eventually moved to St Georges Road where Rea's Icecream was made at No 38. ( Later to become Rea's Radio and Television) I remember the shops in Manor road and used to run down the steps from St Georges Rd to get bacon etc freshley sliced thick or thin as mum wanted from the grocers at the bottom of the hill opposite the school entrance...Many of the teachers names ring a bell ... Hopkins and others...it was a wonderfull area to live in those days... very few cars and local policemen all over the place to keep us hooligans in control!

I went there at the same time as Denise. (Comment left May 2016). I too had Mrs Hollyfield for teacher followed by Miss Fowler and Mrs Ruse. More than 50 years ago - it all seems part of another life now. My mother used to take me in my first year but I seem to remember getting the Parker Road bus (2d fare) home on my own. Mixed memories of the place - the worst of which was being forced to sit in the canteen until well into the afternoon because I hadn't eaten my milk pudding. I told the dinner lady that I'd be sick if she made me eat it. Well, I did warn her...!!
I remember wet lunch times when we'd sit cross-legged in rows in the assembley hall (or whatever it was called.) There was a ubiquitous odour of damp, smelly kids. One of the teachers would play the piano - the only song I remember was Bobby Shafto.
I remember the drinking fountain really well - there's was always a queue - which the bigger kids never respected. Unfortunately I was small and never stood up for myself. While we were waiting, we used to play: 'What time is it, Mr Wolf?'
There were various toys in the playground - trikes etc and a superb pedal car. Of course, I never got a go! (Same problem as at the water fountain.)
Then there was the winter of 62/63 when the place froze up. We didn't go back after the Christmas holidays until March!
As for friends, does anyone remember Clive Booth, (from Hoadswood Rd, like me), Graham Parcel from Pilot Road... I can't remember any more... too long ago.
My email,if anyone's interested: steve15@orange.fr

My parents owned the greengrocers shop. Frank and Beatrice, known as Trixie, Whimhurst and my Uncle Fred Whimhurst ran the butchers shop at the other end of Manor Road. I remember living over the shop with Brian and Sheila my siblings when we came back from being evacuated. Sheila’s best friend was Mary Scotcher from the bakers. We eventually moved to Silverhill but still ran the shop for quite a few years.

Some memories of Mount Pleasant, please correct me if necessary.

"Jenny Wrens" (?) sweet shop by main entrance ramp.
Dutch barn in playground to shelter in when it rained .

Toilet block in playground, built like......well.....an outside toilet! Substantial wall in front of entrance (blast wall?)
The pre mentioned drinking fountain.
School dinners with a designated pupil server at the end of the table. You said "big" or "small" depending on what was on offer and the portion size you wanted . If the server hated your guts - dinner was interesting!
Christmas dinner one year (every year?) featured a sixpence in the pudding, with a warning from Mr West to not swallow it accidently - no chance!

I remember one of my class teachers was "Ms Duly." Regrettably, she passed away during the term and we were all granted a day off whilst teachers attended her funeral.

The really long window poles to open the really large high windows in the classroom.

The slope from the playground to the school entrance, like a drawbridge.

A travelling theatre group performed "Sleeping Beauty" one year and I remember we all enquired of the actress afterwards if she really was asleep during the performance? (Bless us!)

"The Battle of Britain" film being shot overhead in 1969. All of us kids wondered about the contrails in the sky. It wasn't until many years later I realised that was what it must have been.

Grand plans were drawn up one year to issue us kids with a florescent jacket or sash as we walked to school in the dark in those days (Late 1960's.) I recall the scheme was abandoned (?) as we were never issued anything.

I can name a few classmates: Stephan Luff (railway/train mad, birthday date 31st March (close to mine))
Phillip Woodcock, John Latter , Shaun Downes, Caroline Sharley, Peter Humphrey, Paul Challoner. Keith, Claire (?)

There was a kid called "Nicky" who was frequently in trouble for spitting.

I remember Miss Muffett from Elphinestone Junior School. One of my recollections of her was that her husband was killed during service in the Army during the 1950's/60's (Middle East, Malaya?) and we were asked not to upset her with any questions, etc. Anyone else recall that?

I was born 1961 in Fernbank Maternity Home. During my time at Mount Pleasant/ Elphinestone we lived at Beaconsfield Road / Elphinestone Avenue. We left Hastings in 1970 when my parents separated.

Me, scruffy, NHS glasses, "Wayfarer" shoes with animal print soles (never really clean) always in trouble with parents for scrumping fruit or conkers. Still kid my wife I am wanted in 5 counties - is there a statute of limitations for scrumping? Hold on - somebody at the door

Started at Mount Pleasant in 1959, but I'm feeling much better now. Mrs Niblett told me I was the Devil's child, but I was disappointed when I didn't grow horns. I am reminded of her whenever I watch "Matilda" I lived in Emmanuel Road, my Dad was an undertaker for Hinkley's, and My mate Bernard Jeffreys lived along the road near the shop. Later went to Elphinstone, which we all thought posh because it had indoor toilets. Was Mrs May the dinner lady scary or what?

I first went to Mt.Pleasant Infants school in 1937 aged 5years - a few months late because my mother had to take me and my two younger brothers- one was a baby, and the other just learning to walk. Mum had to push us nearly two miles. My father couldn't help because although he had a clerical job, he had to start work at 7.30 in the morning. Miss taylor [later headmistress.and miss needham, whose class I was in at the beginning of the war in 1939- we practiced running along Mt Pleasant Rd. to a house for shelter if bombs started dropping... Later we were evacuated to Hertfordshire . We had nice digs. my youngest brother didn't start school until after the war was over .1945
By christmas 1942 my mother couldn't bear the thought of xmas without us, so my dad travelled to Hertfordshire to fetch us. He got some time out of the army to fetch us. He didn't get sent abroad.
Before that, a bomb was dropped in a field quite near to the house we had been evacuated to with Mr. & mrs Watts We had to walk all through the long village to school, about three or four classes in one big room. The village was called Bennington. .