99 Suez Road

History of 99 Suez Road

1939

Leonard Lofts, b 1889, clerk storekeeper

Florence, b 1888

Maisie L, b 1919, provisions clerk

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The Lofts had five daughters. In 2003 Vera Joan Lofts sent her reminiscences of life in Romsey Town to the Museum. She was born here and left finally in 1942.

I was born in Suez Road March 1920. My name was Vera Joan Lofts. I was the middle one of five girls. I went to St Philips School Thoday Street from the age of four until 11 when I went to live with my sister in Essex until I was 14.

I can remember the railway at the top of Suez Road; it ran where Marmora Road is. Coleridge Road ended just past the Romsey school. Ee had to cross the line to Dad’s allotment. When the Coleridge estate was built we had one at Burnside. By the way did you know Coleridge Road is a concrete road. There were marking for runways. I remember the rush there was to blacken it so the bombers could not see it.

Also near the top of Suez Road there was a forge where horses were shod.

At school we learned to write on sand trays in the baby classes.

I was considered the worst needleworker in the class (I became a dressmaker when I left school) but I was the only girl who knitted a pair of socks in a term. (I am still knitting).

There are many changes on Mill Road. Where Robert Sayles have their workhouse was [Sampons?] wood yard and saw mill. The house on the corner of Vinery Road was Childs the butchers.

The Mill was a Wesleyan Chapel where I went every Sunday. Where the Broadway is was a house and garden, also now built on. Sunday School outings were sometimes to Wandlebury which ‘the  Grays’ lived in. School sports day was on Vinery Road Rec which backed onto an orphanage.

The bus service was Ortona and they stopped at what was the Royal Standard.