The recent annual Larkhall Festival has brought back memories for one former resident.. The Virtual Museum was contacted by Mr Eddy Priest who lived in Larkhall from 1949 to 1970.
He told me : “I remember the festivals we had there in the 50’s and 60’s – including the 1964 Carnival in which my wife of 45 years – then girlfriend Gill Brewer – was a beauty queen contestant. The roads were cordoned off from Camden right through the Square and up to the back fields where the contest was held.
It was a great social event organised partly by my old dad. Happy Days.’
Eddy has sent in a couple of newspaper cuttings which l am sure will bring back memories for many people and he has asked our help with something he remembers his father telling him.
‘He explained to me that during the war an unexploded bomb dropped through the pavement under the old pub at the junction of St Saviours Way and St Saviours Road – opposite St Saviours Church.
He told me he was told off by the local ‘plod’ for peering down the hole made by the unexploded bomb.’
I have been unable to find any history of the pub. When it opened or closed – and l am not even certain of the name but think it was ‘Queen’ something.
Can anyone help?’
Tracey Hill of Larkhall was quick to come through and confirm that there was a pub called The Queen in a property that is now a private house and opposite St Saviours Church.
It’s not the only vanished pub either. According to Tracey ‘even the Larkhall butchers shop used to be a pub.’
