Audio Histories

Special memories of village life

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  • Beth Ely – ex headmistress village school

    Stoney Middleton School

    Beth Ely was the headteacher of Stoney Middleton primary School for many years. Here she shares her memories of that time telling some interesting stories about the pupils of the time. She also talks about her time in the village which she and her husband chose to make home. Ex head teacher at Stoney Middleton Primary… Learn more

  • Cesare Dati – Prisoner of War

    Cesare Dati a young Italian man was only eighteen when he was conscripted into the Italian army. After a brief period of training he very quickly found himself in Tunisia (North Africa) in a war he felt no affinity to. He was in the transport core driving heavy trucks and on one particular day found himself under heavy air attack from… Learn more

  • Gladys Barker – Stoney Middleton resident

    Calver Mill

    Gladys Barker originally from Sheffield moved to Stoney Middleton 59 years ago and gives an interesting account of the village and particularly of Calver Mill. During Gladys’s time the mill was a stainless steel factory making sinks and other similar pressed stainless steel products. Part 1 Part 2 Learn more

  • Ken and Betty Orange

    Lifelong residents of Stoney Middleton Ken and Betty provide us with a unique insight into village life from the second world war onwards. Recorded in 2014 Ken provides us with an in-depth understanding of the mineral processing activities which were at the very heart of the village for hundreds of years. His time at Cavendish Mill at the top of… Learn more

  • Lois Bekeris

    Lois Bekeris (nee Hall) is a lifelong resident of Stoney Middleton, born in one of the Cottages on High Street, opposite the school, home to the first boot factory in the village. Lois married Janis Bekeris, a Latvian man who was housed in the ex prisoner of war camp in the village as a displaced person… Learn more

  • The ladies in the Chapel

    Chapel

    The ladies in the chapel was recorded during a coffee morning held at the chapel and is complete with background sounds. The Ladies are long or lifetime residents of the village and were happy to share their memories of a village and life in it many years ago. They talk about the pubs of the… Learn more

  • The Longden family – last residents of Farnsley Farm

    Farnsley Farm

    The Londen family were the last occupants of Farnsley Farm, which was located on Farnsley Lane (halfway up on the right hand side). Farnsley Lane can be found by heading out of the village towards Tideswell, approximately 1 mile past the turning from Eyam on the left hand side. The farm was very remote and… Learn more

  • The Men – veterans of the village

    The Men in the Moon Inn

    The men is a recording of five men of the village, they were recorded in the local pub (Moon Inn). They were in their eighties and nineties. Four were born in the village and lived there all their lives. They share with us many interesting accounts of the village including the prisoner of war camp and… Learn more