My family moved to 11, Penrith Road in 1957. The elongated oval island had four lime trees on it. My sister and I used to collect stick insects from them. I have an un-dated photo taken when they were being removed. Penrith Road was originally a cul-de-sac, so my guess is that they were taken down about the time that the maisonettes were built and Penrith Road was made a through road into Winchester Road. They had been long gone before I moved in 1968.
I have seen another photo of the tree and I cycle this road to and from work. Not much sentimental value left when it comes to road and house building today :(
hi bob l only found out it had an island in the middle of the road when l saw that photo a few years ago l also used to wonder why the walls curved there.
It was an island when I was a child but the photo makes it look as if it was round and very small but it was actually elongated and a nice feature. Penrith Rd was a fairly upmarket cul-de-sac
Hi Bob, i thought it was going to be a tramway passing point, but that photo tells us what it was but not why. Maybe it was an early traffic calming measure after too many men with red flags collided with each other🤣🤣🤣 Seriously though, this was just right for a "short" style video. Well done and have a great weekend
Hi David, It's a mystery as to why it was built or even when it disappeared. Not as if there was a traffic problem in Basingstoke in 1912... Or was there?
its for delivery horse carts to turn round after making a delivery so the horse doesnt have to walk the entire length of the street to go on to the next drop off in another street, ive seen it before in other llong roads
My family moved to 11, Penrith Road in 1957. The elongated oval island had four lime trees on it. My sister and I used to collect stick insects from them. I have an un-dated photo taken when they were being removed. Penrith Road was originally a cul-de-sac, so my guess is that they were taken down about the time that the maisonettes were built and Penrith Road was made a through road into Winchester Road. They had been long gone before I moved in 1968.
Thanks June, just the information I was looking for, thought there had to be more to the story.
Love a mystery. That's fascinating how a road layout, even though gone, still determines how a road is still laid out.
Absolutely Bob! probably thousands nationwide have a similar story to tell
Gainsborough estate in Henley has one.
The estate was named for the painters brother who was a church minister in the town.
I have seen another photo of the tree and I cycle this road to and from work. Not much sentimental value left when it comes to road and house building today :(
hi bob l only found out it had an island in the middle of the road when l saw that photo a few years ago l also used to wonder why the walls curved there.
It was an island when I was a child but the photo makes it look as if it was round and very small but it was actually elongated and a nice feature. Penrith Rd was a fairly upmarket cul-de-sac
Thanks Joe, Don't suppose you know when the island was removed?
Hi Bob, i thought it was going to be a tramway passing point, but that photo tells us what it was but not why.
Maybe it was an early traffic calming measure after too many men with red flags collided with each other🤣🤣🤣
Seriously though, this was just right for a "short" style video. Well done and have a great weekend
Hi David, It's a mystery as to why it was built or even when it disappeared. Not as if there was a traffic problem in Basingstoke in 1912... Or was there?
its for delivery horse carts to turn round after making a delivery so the horse doesnt have to walk the entire length of the street to go on to the next drop off in another street, ive seen it before in other llong roads
Thank you