An item of history from the Wells Road of the 1920’s
A walk back through time started at the bottom of the Wells Road and continued to the BRS depot in the former Bulwell Brick Company works being used by British Road Service.
By day and by night the red lorries, I recall many AEC’s, would journey to and from the depot. The Bulwell Brick Company had mothballed the brick works during World War 1, around 1916 when the demand for bricks had fallen, along with the many men lost to WW1.it never resumed working.
Ironically from 1919 post war demand for “homes, fit for heroes” was high but skilled construction workers, including brickmakers and bricklayers were at a lower level than 1914, reduced by almost 50%, workers who had been lost to the Great War.
Nottingham like many other towns and cities sought to build, expand and replace housing stock but the shortfall of skills was a major problem to achieving given building targets
The Wells Road, with few exceptions had yet to be built upon beyond Colborn Street and Hendon Rise.
In 1922 the Morley Secondary Modern was opened on Wells Road built upon former allotments, the name commemorating Samuel Morley a former MP for Nottingham and son of Sneinton born John Morley of I & R Morley Ltd.
A notable, but unseen moment in the history of council housing building was about to begin in Nottingham.
The site chosen in 1923 for trialling quick build concept homes was on the Wells Road, in the form of bungalows constructed using a steel frame and concrete panels was built just beyond the Morley School, on the other side of the allotment avenue between the school and what would become Warton Avenue, steel semidetached houses were also constructed close by.
The concept of nonstandard house building materials, concrete and steel being used, would evolve and be used in a variety of builds for housing, offices, schools and the new St Ann’s.
Nottingham City Councillor William Crane, builder and chair of the housing committee commemorated by the former William Crane School Aspley was the originator of such quick building, in order that the demands for housing could be met, the concept bungalows were destined without envisaged consultation for many new builds at Wollaton.
In 1927 an unfortunate incident involving the statue of Samuel Morley erected at Theatre Square in 1888 occurred when the statue fell from the lorry transporting it from cleaning to the new chosen site at the Arboretum, a location it would never reach, for it was damaged beyond repair in the fall at Lister Gate.
The haulier transporting the statue Richard Keetch was not held responsible, the loss attributed to the inherent weakness of the statue’s lower limbs.
Which returns the journey back to Wells Road for the haulier, Richard Keetch operated from the Wells Road, not too far from the concept build and Morley School.
Paul Key
A walk back through time started at the bottom of the Wells Road and continued to the BRS depot in the former Bulwell Brick Company works being used by British Road Service.
By day and by night the red lorries, I recall many AEC’s, would journey to and from the depot. The Bulwell Brick Company had mothballed the brick works during World War 1, around 1916 when the demand for bricks had fallen, along with the many men lost to WW1.it never resumed working.
Ironically from 1919 post war demand for “homes, fit for heroes” was high but skilled construction workers, including brickmakers and bricklayers were at a lower level than 1914, reduced by almost 50%, workers who had been lost to the Great War.
Nottingham like many other towns and cities sought to build, expand and replace housing stock but the shortfall of skills was a major problem to achieving given building targets
The Wells Road, with few exceptions had yet to be built upon beyond Colborn Street and Hendon Rise.
In 1922 the Morley Secondary Modern was opened on Wells Road built upon former allotments, the name commemorating Samuel Morley a former MP for Nottingham and son of Sneinton born John Morley of I & R Morley Ltd.
A notable, but unseen moment in the history of council housing building was about to begin in Nottingham.
The site chosen in 1923 for trialling quick build concept homes was on the Wells Road, in the form of bungalows constructed using a steel frame and concrete panels was built just beyond the Morley School, on the other side of the allotment avenue between the school and what would become Warton Avenue, steel semidetached houses were also constructed close by.
The concept of nonstandard house building materials, concrete and steel being used, would evolve and be used in a variety of builds for housing, offices, schools and the new St Ann’s.
Nottingham City Councillor William Crane, builder and chair of the housing committee commemorated by the former William Crane School Aspley was the originator of such quick building, in order that the demands for housing could be met, the concept bungalows were destined without envisaged consultation for many new builds at Wollaton.
In 1927 an unfortunate incident involving the statue of Samuel Morley erected at Theatre Square in 1888 occurred when the statue fell from the lorry transporting it from cleaning to the new chosen site at the Arboretum, a location it would never reach, for it was damaged beyond repair in the fall at Lister Gate.
The haulier transporting the statue Richard Keetch was not held responsible, the loss attributed to the inherent weakness of the statue’s lower limbs.
Which returns the journey back to Wells Road for the haulier, Richard Keetch operated from the Wells Road, not too far from the concept build and Morley School.
Paul Key
Wells Road Brick Works 1912
Road Haulage Men on Strike NOTTM. ACTION
Dispute Over Appointment of Official Strike.
Pickets to-day went on duty at Wells-road, Comery-avenue, and Bulwell depot* of the No. 63 Croup (North Notts.) British Road Services. The stoppage. which involves about 250 drivers and drivers’ mates, began officially at midnight on Saturday. The action, state the strikers, a protest against the appointment of Mr. J. Dance, who came from Wales as depot superintendent at Wells-road about a month ago. The dispute arose seven weeks ago. when Mr. Dances appointment was announced The attitude of the men at the dispute had lasted too long and they want immediate results The district union organiser of the Transport and General workers Union, Mr T. Thacker appealed to the men to drop strike action and follow the matter “through the proper machinery." but the men voted overwhelmingly in favour of stoppage " It we put it off now. this thing would drag on for months else fizzle out altogether." one of the men told the Post , Thacker told them that the Excutive had agreed to replace the official “at a convenient time" In the meantime, promise had been given that would not be allowed to interfere with the men
STRIKE COMMITTEE SET UP. However, a strike committee of was vet up and a branch meeting yesterday of the union in the Berridge-road schools confirmed the men's decision carry on with the strike. Drivers arc disturbed by the influx of out of town men being appointed over the heads of local people, who, they argue, realise better the difficulties involved in the working of this area From a.m to-day. transport men in their driving kit waited patiently outside the Wells-road depot while the strike committee went in to consul: with the management. About half-a-dozen police stood by and a four man picket of workers was on hand calling for support of all union members. They have agreed not to interfere with any man who continues working. Many 12-ton lorries were parked the despatch bays but these were loaded with non-perishable goods—iron pipes and the like. Soft fruit that could easily bad was collected this morning by trucks from Nottingham Wholesale Market. It understood that the strike is supported by porters at Covent Garden. London, who have agreed not to handle I goods usually dealt with by the Wells[ road depot.
COME BACK AT 5 P.M.
At 11 am, after consultation with the management, one of the strike committee addressed the men.” Leave it to your committee.” he told them. and come back again at 5 o’clock A road haulage officer is coming from Birmingham and we hope to have the whole matter settled soon ” Mr. B. T Culley, group manager, declined to make any statement.
Dispute Over Appointment of Official Strike.
Pickets to-day went on duty at Wells-road, Comery-avenue, and Bulwell depot* of the No. 63 Croup (North Notts.) British Road Services. The stoppage. which involves about 250 drivers and drivers’ mates, began officially at midnight on Saturday. The action, state the strikers, a protest against the appointment of Mr. J. Dance, who came from Wales as depot superintendent at Wells-road about a month ago. The dispute arose seven weeks ago. when Mr. Dances appointment was announced The attitude of the men at the dispute had lasted too long and they want immediate results The district union organiser of the Transport and General workers Union, Mr T. Thacker appealed to the men to drop strike action and follow the matter “through the proper machinery." but the men voted overwhelmingly in favour of stoppage " It we put it off now. this thing would drag on for months else fizzle out altogether." one of the men told the Post , Thacker told them that the Excutive had agreed to replace the official “at a convenient time" In the meantime, promise had been given that would not be allowed to interfere with the men
STRIKE COMMITTEE SET UP. However, a strike committee of was vet up and a branch meeting yesterday of the union in the Berridge-road schools confirmed the men's decision carry on with the strike. Drivers arc disturbed by the influx of out of town men being appointed over the heads of local people, who, they argue, realise better the difficulties involved in the working of this area From a.m to-day. transport men in their driving kit waited patiently outside the Wells-road depot while the strike committee went in to consul: with the management. About half-a-dozen police stood by and a four man picket of workers was on hand calling for support of all union members. They have agreed not to interfere with any man who continues working. Many 12-ton lorries were parked the despatch bays but these were loaded with non-perishable goods—iron pipes and the like. Soft fruit that could easily bad was collected this morning by trucks from Nottingham Wholesale Market. It understood that the strike is supported by porters at Covent Garden. London, who have agreed not to handle I goods usually dealt with by the Wells[ road depot.
COME BACK AT 5 P.M.
At 11 am, after consultation with the management, one of the strike committee addressed the men.” Leave it to your committee.” he told them. and come back again at 5 o’clock A road haulage officer is coming from Birmingham and we hope to have the whole matter settled soon ” Mr. B. T Culley, group manager, declined to make any statement.