HISTORY

The Duckle, Gornal (late 1950's?) latest update from Andy is at the foot of this article Some weeks ago we published a photograph of Gornal Village in the late 1950's or early 1960's, kindly sent to us by Jim Williamson. The image and accompanying article proved popular and attracted quite a response from Yampy readers willing to share their memories of those "pre-precinct days". If you have not seen this article click here - note that the main character in the photo has now been identified as Derek Bridgewood. Anyway, recently Arthur Hale brought us two postcard pictures of Gornal (we think he was given them by the Baines family, so thanks to them also). One of these pictures was the photo already published and described above. The other, apparently from the same series, is another fascinating image that we are pleased to reproduce below. The Duckle Gornal - Click Photo to Enlarge We love the detail on this photo. Behind the girl posing (who is she? where is she now?), a man is looking up a telephone number at the phone box. It made us remember that there was a time when phone directories could safely be stored in phone boxes! The woman on the right hand side of the picture looks like she has just been to B&Q, but as there was no such place perhaps it was an ironing board? And does that say 'Woodgate' under 'Junction Inn'? Was that a brewery? Excuse our ignorance, you Gornal born and bred types, Yampy has only been here for twelve years, we come all the way from Coseley originally. Arthur Hale tells us that the end terraced cottage next to the chapel used to house a rest and refreshment room for both the Midland Red and 'Green' bus drivers and conductors. The Duckle was the bus terminus then, as it is now. Andy Cashmore writes: I've just seen the photograph of the Duckle on the site. My Grandmother once mentioned that there was originally a small duck pond where the island is and that's where it got it's name from. The sign on the Junction, could it read Highgate, as in the Walsall Highgate Brewery? And the two 'cottages' opposite the bus station were a set of old semi's next to the White Chimneys Inn, I seem to recall the one on the right was used by the bus drivers, and two old dears, who lived in the right hand 'cottage' used to brew them tea. I remeber going in there once, they still had the black lead grate and the Belfast sink in the kitchen. If any Yampy reader has any comment about the people or places shown, or has any similar images to share, we would be delighted to hear from you at admin@yampy.co.uk