Riversdale Road West Cross building new bungalows by Louise Davies

Photo: Riversdale Road, West Cross, May 2019, by Google Streetview

Riversdale Road bungalows, West Cross, May, 2019, by Google Streetview

Louise Davies, (née Louise Cooke) remembers that her parents, who had bought number 30, Riversdale Road, West Cross, in 1956, at a cost of £2000 and they had saved a deposit of £500.

Louise remembers her dad, John Cooke, saying that there was some sort of delay and the house needed to be ready for when my parents were married on 11th February 1956. I am not sure why they were helping the builders, probably some time the year earlier, except if they were ensuring that the house was completed on time.

Louise adds, 'Although we moved to Mayals when I was 12 I will always think of Riversdale as my family home growing up. The road was full of children and I remember playing tennis on the road as there were so few cars in the 60s.'

Grandpa (Max Gronow) and Dad, (John Cooke) age 24, are in overalls, said Louise.

Louise said that they were helping the builders dig the foundations for the bungalows.

Grandpa, Max Gronow (on the right) and a builder working on the foundations, with a large greenhouse in the garden behind.

This view is looks over to the houses on Bude Haven Terrace behind Grandpa, Max Gronow, standing next to 30, Riverslade Road.

Photo: Riversdale Road, West Cross, May, 2019, by Google Streetview

John Powell commented - 'I was born in Bellevue Road, above Riversdale Road and sometimes walked near the site of the bungalows when travelling through to Bude Haven Terrace and beyond. I waI s often sent by my Mum to buy shopping, American Cheese, broken biscuits, sweets or even pop, from one of the two shops by Glen Road, In the early days I would not forget to take my ration book to be able to buy the sweets. Happy Days! '

I probably went shopping on my own from around 1949 and discovered that sweet rationing ended in February 1953. A vivid memory of the time was when my father bringing home loads of bags of sweets for us four children. I think it went on ration again for a time, but there is record of that online, but can understand if everyone had done the same!

Louise replied - I had to go to the shops at the end of my road to buy bread, I can remember picking the crust as I walked back, no wonder I am addicted to bread now.

John added - I also ate the crust on the way home and to this day, bread has never tasted the same.