4 thoughts on “Norton Watermill C1900”

  1. We called it the Monkey walk Bob, it was our adventure playground as wee ones then the Sunday night walk after Church our parents walked the High Street meeting and greeting, Sunday being the only day off, Saturday was part of the working week.
    Paula I certainly remember it getting Bombed, as usual Mother after much yelling at me to get up had run round to 8 Mill Lane to sit with Mrs Pierson whose husband was away. Hearing the German planes overhead got me out of bed and into the road just as I heard the bombs screaming down. Flat on my face each explosion lifted me up as the ground shook, I took off and possibly broke the 100 yards dash record as I dived into the shelter, my question being why does Hitler hate me so, we were in more danger from our own shrapnel which we picked up next morning. There could still be a tin box full of shrapnel hidden in the garden of 5 Mill Lane.
    That Mill became a trysting place, the old broken down barn being convenient for the odd snatched blushing kiss there usually being a crowd of boys and girls so a kiss got you some micky taking, we had simple tastes and the thought of every dad owning a shotgun curtailed our expectations, Marriage was for life you were not allowed two or three goes at it like today for some.
    I remember having tea with Mr and Mrs Skelton and their two daughters, the mill had a lovely garden. Mr Skelton was a friend of Dad’s, if the girls had gone to Town they would come into our house and Dad walked them down the old mill lane on dark nights, carrying his Police truncheon which I still have, no lights in wartime and those overhanging trees gave the lane an eerie feel.
    The fact it is still there almost as it once was amazes me, I see it from the ring road and memories flood back.

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