Online orchard memories

Not quite oral histories, but we asked people to share their memories of orchards in Luton online. Read on for some of these recollections. They're word-for-word with some small edits to help understanding. 

Chrissie and Paul remember the orchard by the Drill Hall, Marsh Road

Chrissie: 

'I used to live in the Drill Hall in Marsh Road from when it opened in the 50’s and we had an orchard bang next door. Apples, cherries and pear trees hanging over the boundary walls it was great for us kiddies. The owner would sell her produce along the footpath on Marsh Road great times😊. 

1963 OS National Grid map, 1:1250

'Looking at this old Aerial view whilst facing the Drill Hall the orchard was to the right hand side belonging to the bungalow and extended around the back of the Drill Hall. In later years the MOD purchased some of the land where another gun shed was built as an extension for storage but the bungalow remained and more houses were built behind existing houses on Marsh Road. 

'I remember helping to harvest the fruit for the owners and we were allowed to keep only the fruit that was on the ground. They were very strict. Apples, pears and cherries, numerous blackberry bushes. Plenty of apple pies and crumbles were enjoyed. Great times growing up on Marsh Road 😊.'

Paul agreed: 

'That’s correct I lived opposite in 1940 just before the church at 233 the orchard was there well before the war. The people who lived there were the Kings and had a big Alsatian dog who always ran loose when the fruit was on the trees, but we were good runners!'

Source: The Luton I Remember [private group], Facebook. Minor edits to aid understanding.

John remembers an orchard on Waller Avenue

'Used to be one on the corner of Selbourne Rd and Waller Ave near the railway bridge. Used to hop over there for a few apples.

1922 OS County Series map, 1:2500

'It was the thrill of the scrumping rather than the desire for apples really l guess. Circa 55/57. I lived in Pembroke Ave, short walk through the back field and past large workshops where at night you could see the arc welding flashes through the roof window lights. Think it may have been part of George Kents. Happy carefree days by and large.'

Source: The Luton I Remember [private group], Facebook. 

Sheila remembers Bide-a-While orchard

'I remember going to Bide-a-While with my father in the 1950s. 

Photo of a watercolour of Bide-a-While from 1939. With kind permission from Geoffrey Farr's private collection. 

'He’d returned to Luton after being a soldier in WWII. He found great solace in the garden after the turmoil of war. He would often take me with him and we would spend time amongst the trees. It was really something special.'

Source: email to Luton Orchards project. 

Carole remembers an orchard in St Ethelbert Avenue

'The orchard in St Ethelbert Avenue is now a small close of houses. Mrs Harris lived at 13 St Ethelbert Ave until she died in the 1960/70s. 

1963 OS National Grid map, 1:1250

'She tended her apple trees, picked the fruit and stored them in newspaper in boxes in her spare bedroom. She often gave us a box. She had no immediate family.  Her whole house smelt of apples. Would like to think she was remembered for her mini orchard. Good luck with your further research.'

Source: email to Luton Orchards project. 

Jan heard from her friend about an orchard in Pomfret Avenue

1922 OS County Series map, 1:2500. The pathway through the allotments marked in green is what will become Pomfret Avenue. Number 100 Pomfret Avenue would have backed on to the area marked with orchard trees. 

'I was speaking to a friend who lives in Las Vegas and has been in the USA for around 30 years! She tells me when she was a child she lived at 100 Pomfret Avenue and their was an orchard behind the house.'

Source: email to Luton Orchards project. 

Side by side: orchard behind 100 Pomfret Avenue in 1963 and 1922