A Sentimental Journey
- No. 08
Ilkeston - The Concrete Fishpond
w/e 06 April 2008
All
this week's pictures were taken with a Kodak DX6490
Gonna take a Sentimental Journey, Gonna set my
heart at ease.
Gonna make a Sentimental Journey, to renew old memories.
Our series of sentimental journeys continues following an
email from Richard Windmill who asked if I could conduct a little
investigation for him. He wanted to know what had happened to
a concrete fishpond that he remembered from his childhood in
Ilkeston. Read on to find out more.
Richard tells me that he lived in Ilkeston up until until 1999
when he moved away to chase his career in the medical profession
with an appointment in Manchester. He hasn't been back since
but he will no doubt remember this view of Broomhill Avenue from
Inglefield Road.
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I say he should remember that view because it was in this small
cul-de-sac which is also part of Broomhill Avenue that he lived
with his parents prior to his move north.
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The view from the other end of Broomhill Avenue will also be
familiar for this building on Cavendish Road is where Richard
attended Cantelupe Secondary School. Cantelupe School came about
after the merger of several other schools in the town and this
was known as the Lower Site. Prior to the merger the building
was the home of Cavendish Girls' School.
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Cantelupe later merged with the Grammar School to become Ilkeston
School and the running of the Cavendish site was taken over by
the South East Derbyshire College of Further Education (SEDC).
It now runs courses under the grand title of the "Cavendish
Centre for the Creative Arts". The clock above the main
entrance adds an imposing feature to the roof line but unfortunately
it shows the correct time only twice a day. I can assure you
I was there at neither ten past six in the morning or the evening!
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The concrete fishpond that Richard asked me to investigate is
actually in the grounds of the Cavendish Centre and as it is
on private property, especially in these days of heightened security,
I could not just wander willy-nilly onto the site. I duly sought
and was granted permission by the SEDC to access the site and
was shown round by the caretaker. I must take this opportunity
to thank all concerned for the assistance. I'll let Richard take
up the story from here. He wrote "To give you some geography,
if you stand at the main entrance of the Cavendish Centre, turn
to your right and walk to the end ...."
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".... of what used to be the girls only playground."
As you can see much of the girls' playground has now found use
as an off road car park for the Cavendish Centre.
"On the other side of the wrought iron fence there were
two buildings. The one to your left was made of brick and used
to house the woodwork/metalwork, directly in front of you would
be a grey wooden building that was the art/drama building (however
I think it may have been demolished now)." These three
images show some of the features Richard remembers - the brick
building is still there although its usage has changed; the wrought
iron fence remains but the wooden building has indeed been demolished
and replaced by another structure.
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Richard continued "Between the art building and Cavendish
Road was a grassy area sometimes used during our drama lessons
if the weather was good. In the middle of this grassy area is
a tree with white bark and next to it used to be a circular concrete
fishpond." In the fine spring weather, today would have
been an ideal time for an outdoor drama lesson but apart from
a few students standing nearby, no-one was on the grassy bank.
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But right where Richard described it was the concrete fishpond.
He continued "When I was young my brother and I used
to play on the school and we used to spend our time jumping over
the pond on our bikes. At that time the pond was more full of
soil and rubbish than water and wildlife. I just wondered if
it is still there and if you or any other folk remember the pond
being used for its correct purpose." Well I can only
partly answer your queries Richard. Yes as you can see, it is
still there and at the moment is full of last autumn's discarded
leaves. Still no water, wildlife and definitely no fish and as
it is the first time I have seen the fishpond, I personally have
no memories of it being used as such. If anyone else reading
this knows any different, please drop me a line and I'll let
Richard know. Until then ....
Cue song:- Never thought my heart could be so yearny. Why
did I decide to roam?
Gotta take that Sentimental Journey, Sentimental Journey home.
If you have a sentimental journey of your own that you would
like featured, email
a few details to me.
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