Pictures of Chantry school and Chantry infants from 1977 are included in David Kindred’s Days Gone By gallery this week.
The Chantry, Stoke Park, Belstead Hills and Maidenhall developments of Ipswich, were built on land on the south-west side of Ipswich, over the past 70 years or so.
Maidenhall and Chantry is mostly a 1950s development, Stoke Park was built in the 60s, Belstead Hills and Pinewood are more recent.
Today I have taken a look back with pictures of the area. Many of the children who grew up here attended Chantry Infants and Junior School and went on to Chantry and Stoke High Schools.
The Stoke Park shopping area, which included the Harlequin (later Harleys) public house, was replaced around 10 years ago with an Asda store.
Did you grow up in this south-west corner of Ipswich, or can you name anybody featured? Were you a pupil at other schools in the area, which have mostly been renamed, such as Sprites Lane, Downing, Gusford, Luther Road or Halifax?
Nigel Crisp sent in his memories of the building that is now the Castle Hill Community Centre in Highfield Road, Ipswich, after a photo I featured recently.
He said: “After seeing memories of a former ‘Gentleman’s Residence’ it rekindled memories of my time growing up in Brooke House, which was situated off Henley Road, then as Castle Hill grew Epsom Drive.
“When I lived there it was an nursing home run by Mrs Harris and my mother was a nurse there. We lived in staff quarters. It closed down around 1971 and was demolished, we then moved to Maidenhall estate.
“Unfortunately I have no pictures of the house, but from some research I believe it was owned by Frederick Fish, a prominent businessman and Mayor of Ipswich, then by Ernest St George Cobbold and Col. John Usborne. After this it was a preparatory school run by Frederick John Cawthorne.
“Then Mrs Harris took over with her husband William who was an artist. Any information or pictures of the house would be appreciated.”
Do you have any photographs of Brooke House, Ipswich? Write to David Kindred, Days Gone By, Ipswich Star/EADT, Portman House, 120 Princes Street, Ipswich, IP1 1RS or e-mail info@kindred-spirit.co.uk
To submit a letter, write to David Kindred, Days Gone By, Ipswich Star/EADT, Portman House, 120 Princes Street, Ipswich, IP1 1RS or e-mail info@kindred-spirit.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here