P had to go up in the loft yesterday evening to check out the water tanks as the central heating was clonking and banging quite alarmingly. (He managed to sort out the problem then but today we're back to clonking and banging and I've turned the heating off as I'm a total wuss and am afraid everything is about to explode!! So that'll be P back up in the loft again this evening - he will be pleased!!) Anyhoo, whilst he was up there I asked him to try and locate a large cake tin which contains all the attachments for an unused food processor I've got. I'd like to sell the blommin' thing as it will free up a lot more cupboard space but will have to find the attachments first. He didn't find that particular tin but did unearth another one that I'd totally forgotten I owned.
I'm pretty sure I bought this in Hay-on-Wye ten or so years ago. It was always in a rather battered state but I really liked it because my Grandma used to be a secretary at Carsons Chocolate Factory in the 1920s. The factory used to stand amongst open fields, but was very conveniently located near to Mangotsfield Railway Station (and, according to Wikipedia, had it's own siding which saw chocolate trains until the early 1960s - I never knew that!!)
Another interesting fact about Mangotsfield station is that Arnold Ridley (Godfrey in 'Dad's Army') wrote his play 'The Ghost Train' based on being stranded at the station overnight. I did know that interesting snippet, but it's nice to see it confirmed by Wikipedia too.
I vividly remember going by train to Bath from this station when I was little, and I also remember me and my family going to watch the last train run on that line after it was axed by Dr Beeching. Sadly, the station and Carsons Chocolate Factory are both now long gone but I'm going to find somewhere to display this tin to remind me of bygone times.
PS Maureen, I'm dedicating this post to you as I know you have fond memories of Mangotsfield too.
PPS Tomorrow I'll show you what I've just unearthed from a drawer - yet more 'stuff' I'd forgotten I had!!
Thank you so much, Elizabeth. I read this on a hot rainy afternoon in NZ and was taken back to my old stamping ground.
I remember cycling along the track from Mangotsfield to Bath but had no idea the station had ever been so large. The Wesy Country's Waterloo!
Sadly chocolate trains were long before my time. Had I been around I might have done another Great Train Robbery!
Posted by: Maureen | 11/11/2010 at 02:42 AM
I really loved reading this post. It had everything - lovely old tin, The Ghost Train, and chocolate!
We absolutely love the film "The Ghost Train" and have watched it so many times. We know lots of the dialogue off by heart and join in frequently. I didn't know about the link with Mangotsfield station which was very interesting. (Also love Dad's Army).
Wendy x
Posted by: Wendy | 11/12/2010 at 02:15 PM