From: Mike Horne Email: mike@jhorne62.freeserve.co.uk

Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 20:04

Subject: Cross Gates railway station footbridge

Hi Graham. I thought that I would let you know that the footbridge at Cross Gates railway station is the latest structure to be demolished. It is now in two pieces on the ends of the platforms that have been fenced off. It is a great shame that this piece of east Leeds heritage could not have been repaired & restored. It must have cost more to have it demolished than to have restored it.
Just like the old Colton school, it was left to decay, and eventually it was considered an eyesore, and suitable fodder for demolition.
It is odd that Garforth railway station had a replacement footbridge built some years ago to replace the original one. This was built nearer the main road bridge than the one at Cross Gates was to the ring road bridge, and yet the authorities argued that the footbridge at Cross Gates was unnecessary because it was near to the main road bridge. It does not make much sense !
I bet there are many people that remember standing on this footbridge as children, and watching steam trains pass by (just like myself)
Regards
Mike

From: Ian Wilson Email: igwilson@ntlworld.com

Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2005 15:06

Subject: Photographs

Hi,
Some fascinating historical information on this site. i particularly like some of the old photographs.
Following some good feedback from the Whitkirk web site, I thought some of the visitors to this site might like to look at a collection of more recent photos (old photos of the future if you like!) of Temple Newsam Park, and several other Yorkshire landmarks. They are available for viewing here :
www.photoboxgallery.com/WhitkirkPhotography

Keep the site live!
Ian.

From: Mike Horne Email: mike@jhorne62.freeserve.co.uk

Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2005 16:59

Subject: Colton school

Hi Graham.
I managed to get around to reading the books on Colton old primary school, and Colton Institute. They made quite interesting reading. It is good to hear about other people's memories of the institute.
I had forgotten about the open cast mining in the fields opposite the school on Colton Road East.
There was a photo of Miss Duxbury (headmistress from 1958 to 1974), and a Mrs Hill (can not remember her). Also, a photo of the spire and cross on the roof of the school.

Best regards
Mike Horne

From: Mike Horne Email: mike@jhorne62.freeserve.co.uk

Date: Monday, July 4, 2005 19:03

Subject: New houses on old school site

Hi Graham. I notice that the new houses on the site of the old Colton school are now well underway. Looking at the notice board at what is planned for the site, I can not help wondering what "family" has half a million pounds to spend on a house, and why would they want to have to share a small amount of land with three other neighbours with similar large houses? If I had such vast amounts of money to squander on property, I would at least want my own land space around my house. It seems poor value for money!
Also, why would you require four bathrooms in your house (as this was also shown on the noticeboard) - unless the bedroom is en suite ?
It would be in bad taste if they were called "The Old School Houses" or "School Mews" (I agree with Paul on that matter)

Best regards
Mike Horne

From: Paul Amatt Email: withheld

Date: Sunday, June 12, 2005 22:27

Subject: Colton

Me and my partner have lived in Colton for 5-6 years, and both love living here, but it is very sad that a greedy developer has started building houses on the site of the old Village School. I hope the developer does not have the cheek to call this site the old Village School or something like that. There are far too many houses in Colton as it is, this site would have been better served as a green space as mentioned by others on this site. It could even have been a community garden.
Also something needs to be done about Sainsburys car park, it gets so busy now we have Argos and Next. Any ideas?

From: Mike Horne Email: mike@jhorne62.freeserve.co.uk

Date: Thursday, May 26, 2005 19:40

Subject: Colton school memories

Hi. I was interested to read about Mike Jackson's memories of Colton school, and that his mother was one of the dinner ladies. I had left the school in 1962. Did the school use the Institute on Meynell Road for a dining room (like when I attended)or had they built an annexe nearer the school?
The headmistress was a Miss Duxbury (not sure if it is correct spelling). Mr.Greaves was deputy head. Infants were taught by Mrs.Backhouse or Mrs Oliver. The juniors had Mrs Storr, who used part of the Institute as a classroom (when it was not used for dining facilities). I can't remember all the dinner ladies, but I am sure that there was a Mrs.Makin, and a Mrs.Teale.
It all seems like ancient history now !
Best regards
Mike Horne

From: Mike Jackson Email: mikej@btinternet.com

Date: Monday, May 23, 2005, 20.21

Subject: Colton School pictures

Like many correspondents, I too am sad that Colton School has been knocked down. I went there from 1964 to 1969 and my late Mum was School Dinner Lady in charge for the same period (and later). Remember Mrs. Jackson??
I've posted some pictures of the school on its last legs (May 2004) on the Whitkirk web site http://www.whitkirk.com
I've got the original recording of the speeches made on the school's Centenary celebrations (I ran the sound system on the day) and I daily use the commemorative mug that was given to us at the time (just about illegible now, after 35 years washing).

Mike

From: Graham(coltonvillage.com) Email:

Date: Thursday, April 28, 2005, 12.35

Subject: Troon House

Help required- does anybody know where Troon House is (or was) in Colton?

Thank you.

From: Mike Horne Email: mike@jhorne62.freeserve.co.uk

Date: Saturday, February 5, 2005 22:13

Subject: Colton old school

Hi. I was sad to hear of the demolition of old Colton primary school, and have been to see the site a few weeks ago.
I think that it is diabolical that the objectors did not get much chance to save the buildings from demolition. It seems to be the same old story in any place, about plans for certain areas, and old buildings that are "in the way of so called progress" Why did it take 13 years (since the closure) for the owners to let it slowly decay. There must have been some form of preservation order on the old school, and in order to bypass this system, the building was left to rot. Then when the building finally got in to such a state, I suppose that some people were "pleased to see it demolished", as it had become an eyesore!
I would like to have seen it renovated, and put in to use for the people in the community to enjoy. It would have been quite a novelty to have one of the original buildings of Colton to have been given a second lease of life.
It is alright people going on about old buildings having potential asbestos problems, but these can usually be remedied, surely?
Anyone can build up modern housing complexes, but I bet that they would not stand the test of time that the old Colton School building did, or look as distinctive (as it did up to 1992)!
Anyway, at least I have my 1960/62 memories of my time there (before moving to Suffolk), and also the mug (c/w logo)and a b/w photo of it, that I bought at its closure in 1992.

Best regards
Mike Horne, Leeds 12

From: Peter Smith Email: Pvhsmith@aol.com

Date: Thursday, February 3, 2005 12:37

Subject: Colton School, a former Pupil Teacher

I am a grandson, born in Clacton on Sea, Essex 1928, of one Fred Ovenden;my mother, Dorothea Smith , was a daughter of his...he had another daughter Mary Ovenden, who later married someone called Pett(notorious for creating the character "Jane" in the Daily Mirror) and ason, Donald.I cannot trace him(Fred) on the 1901 Census, although I believe he was a teacher in a Church School at either Abbots Bromley or Rugeley in Staffordshire.I have come across a reference to a Fred Ovenden in the 1881 census, stating he was born in Yorkshire. I know that his widow died in Barnsley in 1936.
I have a book in my possession with a certificate in it saying it was presented to Fred Ovenden, as a Pupil teacher, by the Leeds and District Pupil Teachers' Prize Scheme Association; the certificate has a date of January 31st 1880.
I have another book with a certificate stating that it was presented to Mr Fred Ovenden of Colton School by the Staffordshire Board of Church Education for 17 years of service to the Church. There is no date.
Can anyone tell me why the Staffordshire Board should refer to him as of Colton School ? Is there a record of Pupil Teachers or Teachers at Colton School? Any information would be very welcome.

Many thanks, Peter Smith

From: Bob King Email: bob.king@esp.co.nz

Date: Thursday, December 16, 2004 23:50

Subject: mycolton.com

Hi Graham,
Thanks for the information on the Colton Site, it is interesting.
Just by chance looking thru. old papers I found a letter written to me by Godfather Herbert Haigh, when both of us were serving in Germany in WW11. Herbert was the Colton Postman, but I haven't got a clue what happened to him once he got demobbed and whether he came back to the village. My Dad was the village Policeman and I was born at the Police House which I think is now a private house called "Hawthorn Cottage" or "Hawthorn House", I know it was quite close to Templenewsum.
It is many years since I was back in the village, but you can't deny a man his birthright and since I was born in the village I'll always be a Colton Lad.
40 years in New Zealand hasn't taken the Yorkshire out of this bloke, I love being a Kiwi, but I still confound the natives with my Yorkshire Brogue.

Regards Bob King

From: Hazel Ramejkis Email: mattsgirlkirkby@yahoo.com

Date: Saturday, December 18, 2004 14:45

Subject: Primary School

Hi Graham, reading through the letters on Mycolton site I see that the old primary school features in many of them.

I have very fond memories of the school. I moved to Colton in 1939 and left school in 1945. Friends have sent me photo's of the school in it's present state of decay and I feel very sad that nothing is being done about preserving it. I do hope that those people who are trying to get something done about it will succeed. I feel that it should become a listed building. Good luck to them. Hazel

From: Mavis Cook Email: mcook.goyh@go-regions.gsi.gov.uk

Date: Tuesday, December 7, 2004 13:28

Subject: Leisure activities

Dear MyColton,
I would be grateful if anyone could point me in the direction of the nearest Yoga venue?

There is a yoga club at Colton Institute. Call Tel. 0113 2647805 or e-mail colton.institute@ntlworld.com for more details.

From: Dorothy Davies Email: doffy48@yahoo.co.uk

Date: Tuesday, November 2, 2004 11:33

Subject: Old Primary School Site

Since I last submitted my initial comment on the website and particularly my comment on the old primary school. I now realise that the new Primary school has a green area so my point of reusing it for the new school's purpose is redundant.

However, as this is a growing area with an increasing number of nursery and primary school children why not submit the idea of a properly fitted safe recreational area with swings, slides etc. Again I haven't yet come across one and as I have two grandchildren who would love to be able to 'go to the park Nana' I would welcome the idea. Is there one nearby? Help please.

Currently the site is just open to more and more vandalism. I dread to think what will happen in the next week or so.

Thanks again MyColton.

DFD

There was a playground built a few years ago on the grassy area just down from Sainsbury's - sadly it was abused, vandalised & was pulled down & re grassed within months of it's erection. The nearest other playground is next to the main car park at Temple Newsam. Hopefully there will be some sort of play area for the kids when the Thorpe Park 'green park' is created.

Graham

From: Dorothy Davies Email: doffy48@yahoo.co.uk

Date: Monday, October 25, 2004 9:39

Subject: mycolton website

Dear MyColton,
I'd like to offer my thanks for mycolton.com. We moved into Colton in May of this year and didn't really have a clue about the area we had moved into. Having spent a good number of years living in the North East of Leeds it was pleasant to move to Colton and be able to see the large expanses of greenery and farmland.

We found the mycolton.com website very helpful as it gave us at out fingertips the information we needed. It was helpful because, invariably, these days wherever one moves people are at work during the day and no one is around to talk to about the area. But to receive a welcome card within a day of arriving from new neighbours was warming and made us feel welcome. So far we have really felt at home.

As for the old primary school buildings; I do not like to see the building disintegrating because of lack of funding. Nor can I honestly see the point of keeping it in the name of history. Presumably it and the land it stands on belongs to the council. I applaud the principle of giving it back to the community - but who would maintain it? Who would be responsible for its administration? While the council could be approached with this in mind it would invariably have to go before various departments before they decided that it would (possibly) have to come out of next year's budget.

As it was originally the local primary school why not clear the site, turf it and give it back to the children of the area as a playing/sports field for the school? Where do they currently have to go for sporting activities? Surely this would benefit the children more and be in keeping with the government's desire to have a healthier nation!
Dorothy Davies

From: Mike Horne Email: mike@jhorne62.freeserve.co.uk

Date: Sunday, October 17, 2004 4:30

Subject: Colton Primary School

Hi Graham. I see by the news on your site that there are more plans to demolish the old Colton school, and to build new houses on the site.
I have contacted the planning dept at Leeds City Council, and have voiced my opinion to them (again) about the fact that the school building should be reprieved, and renovated, so that the area can utilise this old structure for such as a community centre.
It is now 42 years since my family left east Leeds, and my time at this school came to a close, but even I would like to see this building saved, and put in to good use. The outbuilding with the corrugated roof (to the east of the original school building, that was my first classroom in 1960), could also be restored.
These buildings should never have been abandoned to go in to a state of decay.
Best wishes
Mike Horne

Mike has also contributed to the 'people & memories' part of the site- click here to read his story.