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8 Madras Road

History of 8 Madras Road

Nos 6 & 8: in August 1910 (approved in February 1911), an application by Mr. Harry Goodwin, 285 Mill Road, to erect two cottages. Both cottages were subsequently rented out.

6 & 8 Madras Road, building plans

1935

William Francis, LNER driver

1951

Mrs E A Francis

Miss Francis, of No. 8, is recorded in Over The Bridge (a publication focusing on life and issues in Romsey Town) as stating:

This road [Madras] was considered to be, well, just a little bit below standards. Malta Road was absolutely it–if you lived down Malta Road you weren’t anybody. Cyprus Road was a fairly good road. I think Romsey Terrace wasn’t considered to be very grand; then Thoday Street was and Cavendish Road and Sedgewick Street. But Ross Street was posh. (Over the Bridge, No. 20, April 1983.)

She should know: the Francis family had moved into No. 8 around 1919, when William Francis was working as a driver with the Great Eastern Railway (GER).

1962

Miss W Francis

The Francis family continued in residence from 1919/20 to at least 1975 – the original William Francis, driver with the GER, being replaced by Mrs. E. A. Francis by 1951 and by Miss W. Francis by 1962 = 55+ years.

1970

Miss W [Winnie] Francis

In 2022 SC sent this reminiscence: Miss Winnie, as she was known to us, lived in that house her entire life.  It was a double block with, what is now, #10 being her cottage/vegetable garden that she would let us explore. I grew up in the house opposite (No. 5) in the 60’s/70’s and she was still there in 1976 when we moved.  Relatives of mine lived further down the street until just a few years ago and advised us when she passed away. A lovely lady who shared her large garden, recipes and tastes of beautiful treats in return for us kids doing her grocery shopping.  I still make her pound cake to this day.

 

 

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