My name is Geoff Harvey and I live in Mickleover.  I saw your request on Facebook for people to send in any memories of the Friar Gate Railway Bridge and the Great Northern Station, so I thought I would get a few memories down which I hope you will find interesting.

 

My first encounter with the Great Northern Railway Station was in July 1945.  As a lad of 8 years, I

was taken on holiday to Skegness by my parents along with the rest of the family.  This was my first ever holiday and indeed, my first view of the seaside.  This, of course, was only a couple of months following the end of the Second World War.

 

I can recall the sheer excitement of climbing the large stairway onto the platform to be met with a very large crowd waiting for the train to arrive.  When it did, it was very much a free for all to get into a carriage as, of course, there were no corridors in the train in those days, so once everyone got a seat that was it until you reached Skegness.  The anticipation, when in those days you could take your luggage the night before your trip to be collected the next day, is something I have never forgot, and since we lived in Wilson Street then, it was not far from the station.

 

The Friar Gate Station was nothing like the Midland Station on the other side of the town with its superb fascade, in fact, it was in some ways quite inconspicuous, and you could walk past its two entrances without knowing it was there.  Particularly the entrance in Stafford Street which at best, could be described as just a white fence some 8’ high and an attached gate.  From this you would walk up a slight incline about 200 yards to the station.  But of course, what was there was the unforgettable and imposing Handyside Bridge spanning over the Friar Gate/Ashbourne Road area.  If anybody was in doubt about a railway station being there, then this wonderful bridge confirmed it for them.

 

To me, at this early age, Friar Gate Station was very special.  There was something unique about it and as a lad I visited it many times, often just sitting in the large luggage trolleys that always seemed to be about on the platforms, waiting for the occasional train to come in.  Only two of the platforms were in use by then and there never seemed to be many people around, either travellers’ or railway staff.  I suppose it was slowly being run down which I remember feeling very sad about.  However, what seemed to remain in the middle of the station was the café.  It always seemed to be kept very clean and smart, not that there appeared to be many people inside.  But it was well lit and against the backdrop of the dark brick of the station, it shone out very well that you couldn’t miss it.

 

On a Saturday afternoon, which was usually my visiting time, I remember often seeing the same locomotive come in named ‘Doncaster Rovers’.  It mostly picked up goods and very few passengers and would stay in the station for up to 15 minutes or so before it would go easterly over the Handyside Bridge.

 

I have never understood why very little has been done to enhance the whole area in some way by incorporating the magnificent bridge.  Some years ago, with my wife, I took a walk over the waste ground which was once the station, past the old booking office which was actually under the station platforms.  This was such a magical place for me and through the undergrowth I could visualise how it had been during my childhood all those years ago.

 

Kind regards,

Geoff Harvey