Apart from the odd chimney, pylon and part-demolished windmill, this panoramic view over Peterborough looks remarkably uncluttered compared with today’s skyline. 1A20 appears very smart in its unbroken blue and grey livery. The source of this early 1970s image is unmistakably a Kodachrome slide! [Tony Kirby]
Peterborough (235.09) – David Ingleby
Tony Kirby’s image of the southern approach to the river crossing at Peterborough, featured on page 09. brought back many happy memories. I believe it was taken from London Road Bridge over the main line, or, more probably, from the embankment adjacent to the bridge which was accessible from a small gap in the fence next to an engineering works in Queens Walk, which left London Road at the southern tail of the bridge.
Having got through the gap you had access for some way between the engineering works on the west and the
tracks to the east, I used to love foggy winter nights and the sight and sound of a 9F straining to climb the incline with a loaded coal train bound for London. It was even better if, as usual, the wind was from the west and you also got the smell of the sugar beet factory in Oundle Road!
This was my favourite place to train spot as it was on my way to and home from junior school (a mile and a half
walk in both directions which I did twice a day – going to school, home for lunch, back to school for the afternoon and home again). There was an old blue police box adjacent to the gap in the fence and one always had to be on the lookout for a copper!
The tower seen on the right hand side of the photo is the old Peacock Mill and the substantial house next to it was the old miller’s house. There is a well known Peterborough pub the other side of the mill called the Peacock which still sports a thatched roof. When I used to catch the bus home with my Mum from shopping as a nipper, she always asked for one and a half for the Peacock. It has been for a long time a well known pub for football fans as it just over the road from the London Road Stadium. To the left of the tower and the pub were allotments
which stretched all the way up to Oundle Road Bridge. Peterborough Power Station can be seen on the right of
the photo, served by its own sidings while on the opposite side can be seen the spires and tower of Peterborough
Cathedral.
Ah! Memories! I’ll say farewell before I subside in a wallowing warm bath of memories and nostalgia!
From the GNN
By David Ingleby
