Rawson Street works (closed 4/12/1980)

"Top Weldon's (Rawson St) dyed and finished (Trimmed or boarded) half hose and children's socks and later, dyed and folded material in the web room, and they did have a new unit built on the corner of Duke St for this process believe."

1966 Rawson Street works

Area between two chimneys and around. Bridge across Rawson Street as well as a tunnel between the two factories at Rawson St.

W&W also initially owned the Raven pub operated by William Atherton (in directory 1898-99 and 1915) and in 1941 directory showing W I Booth. The Raven closed in 2019

Houses on John Street since demolished, offered to employees working at W&W.

Left to Right: Rob Roy Terrace (7 units), Alma Terrace (6 units), & Rose Cottages (2 units)

"They were warm dry little 2up 2down houses "

Rob Roy Terrace side view

The chimney shown behind belonged to Shipstones Brewery below that was behind the locked gate halfway down John St.

Weldon's trimshop would be located over the high wall just out of shot to the right of the terrace.

"Weldon's car park was on the corner of John St with the wall of the trim shop at its rear. Further down the street were originally three rows of terraces.

The one nearest to Shipstones Brewery was demolished before I moved there in '62, leaving just Rob Roy Terrace and Alma Terrace.

But before those, facing our house, there was one small terrace of only 2 houses, Rose Cottages. A Mr Tow (or Toe) lived in one and the other was empty.

I visited him a few times as he was about 90 years old and lived alone. I was amazed to see he still had GAS MANTLE lighting.

The dark yellow smoke stained ceiling was covered in black sooty rings above the mantles. And this was in 1963! He refused to go modern.

He lent me a pile of about 30 Daily Mirror newspapers from the 1940's.

On our row at Alma Terrace, No.1 was the home of Joe Abbott and family and they left to run the Raven Inn (better known as the Dicky Bod)

Joe was an ex-miner and had three sons and one daughter. The eldest son was in the Air Force if I remember correctly, the middle son, Brian worked in Weldon's dyehouse and also had a side line of being a professional wrestler fighting under the name of Leo Larazzi from Milan among other names. He was well built and a likeable and sociable lad.

The youngest brother, David, may have also worked in the dyehouse too.

The daughter June, worked in the Weldon's office and married a chap from there named Melvyn Wheatley. They used to ride about in a Heinkel three wheeler bubble car that you entered from the front,sat down then pulled the door shut with the steering wheel positioning itself.

Another trimmer, Graham Martin then moved into No.1. He did leave Weldon's and worked on a mushroom farm for a while. I lived at No.2 and No.3 was Bill Burton and family. He too was a trimmer and later made foreman on a shift of the machines. I don't think anymore trimmers were living in them.

In Rob Roy Terrace there was a family named Kay and the wife, Lil, worked in the Web room. She is in one of the Web room photos I sent you being presented with flowers on her retirement. They emigrated to Australia in the 60's'

Also there was the May's.Jesse the husband and Daisy his wife with Jesse, the son who also became a legger but left soon after starting.

Another couple there were Jean and Johnny Bramley. I'm not sure if they had a family but Johnny did say to me when he was mixing asbestos in a bucket to lag the steam pipes and presses, " This stuff kills you y'know ". Tragically he died sometime later.

An old lady I looked forward to taking a bet to was Mrs Bertha Bridges, at the end house next to the trimshop wall. She was a 'bookies runner' and took lots of neighbours' bets to the Turf Accountant nearby. But she was well known for her pet birds, a budgie and an African Grey Parrot. I forget their names but they had me in stitches laughing at their word exchanges.You would think they were having a conversation instead of just repeating what Bertha had patiently taught them. Phrases like "He's coming out,Bertha." from one and a reply of "No I'm not,Bertha". or "Be quiet",then "No I'm not...go away."

I have forgotten other phrases but she must have spent hours chatting with them. But then again,she did live alone.

She did tell me she turned down a £200 bid for the parrot. And this was in the 60's!" Ted Marriott.

Rawson Street looking South in 1984 showing the W&W bridge across the road, the bridge and buildings on the left all since demolished, just leaving the Raven pub in this distance on the left.

In the foreground to the left are the remains of Jardine Engineering which suffered a fire in 1962 (date TBC) resulting the W&W tunnel further up Rawson St flooding into the trim shop on the west side of Rawson St.

The Rawson St works had closed in 1980, and the rest of W&W closed in 1982.

View North down Rawson Street after 1984. The Chilwell Bookies on the left. After the Raven pub on right, the original W&W works and bridge have been demolished on the East side leaving the 1914 works on the West side that still stands today and are now occupied by Encompass Group.

1914 plaque commemorating the factory built on the west side of Rawson St, building behind this wall is still View North down Rawson Street after 1984. The Chilwell Bookies on the left. After the Raven pub on right, the original W&W works and bridge have been demolished on the East side leaving the 1914 works on the West side that still stands today (January 2023) has been occupied by Encompass Group since W&W closed.

Map in 1954/5 showing W&W 2 up & 2 down terraced houses at Rob Roy Terrace, Alma Terrace & Rose Cottages

Map in 1969 showing Alma Terrace houses numbers 1 through to 5 and Rose Cottages demolished

Map in 1983 showing demolition of Rob Roy Terrace and the west side of the W&W Rawson Street works including the chimney, leaving the Raven Inn pub intact.

In 1915 William T Atherton ran the Raven Inn and brewed their own beer in 1921 and subsequently becoming part of the Home Brewery Company Ltd on Mansfield Road, Daybrook, Nottingham.