Hunslet

A Memory of Hunslet.

I was born in 1952 and lived with my grandparents, mum and dad in Cross Whitehouse Row, Hunslet. When I was 6 months old we moved up across Hillidge Road to Ashbourne Street and then up to Belle Isle when I was about 4. It was a new house, the estates being built to replace the slum clearance that was taking place in Hunslet, athough I still went to St Joseph's School in Hunslet travelling by bus. We had a brand new house with an indoor toilet and bath. We had a garden and dad grew a few vegetables in the back. I can just remember the trams going up the centre of the road from Hunslet to Belle Isle but thought buses were wonderful. As my grandma still lived in Hunslet I spent a lot of time there just playing out. We had gangs of kids playing football or cricket or just sitting round playing with lolly sticks in the gas tar on the cobbles and roads. My socks used to get stained and it would never come off. Her house was a 'back to back' but also had a cellar kitchen which was down some steps - this was the main living area and had a huge black lead range which she used to polish every week. There was a sink in the corner with a cold water tap - how she used to cope the housework and looking after seven children, then grandchildren - I don't know. At St Josephs we were taught by nuns, those days they were dressed all in black with a black veil and just a white bit round their faces. Some could be very strict, but every child I knew could read and write before they moved up into the Juniors. We used to go to Joseph Street Baths with cubicles either side of the pool. I had a great childhood, surrounded by family and friends, playing out where I wanted as long I didn't talk to any 'strange men'. I never strayed far and my dad used to take me to Hunslet Moor to play on the swings.

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