The Long Eaton & Sawley Archive  
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This section reflects the contributions from our visitors who have kindly donated photographs and some information about Long Eaton and Sawley. Many of these photographs have a personal interest to the contributor so we have created a special page for them to be displayed on. If we receive other interesting photos or information from our visitors, and they are suitable for inclusion, we will add them to this page and credit them to the sender.

To start things off, we have a collection generously sent from Mr Charles Wells, formerly of Long Eaton, who now lives in Canada. They were kindly forwarded on to us through Mrs Liz Stevenson of Castle Donington.


The photograph below was kindly contributed by Mrs Betty Breakwell (nee Salt) who lived in Old Sawley all her life. She said that anyone born in Sawley is called a 'Sawley Nosebag'. She had many memories of life in Old Sawley, and the people who lived there. Sadly, Betty is no longer with us and is very sorely missed.

Thunderbirds were go at the wedding of Coun Kevin Miller's daughter, Katie Miller and Rob Rose, of Breaston, in January 2006. A replica of the famous pink FAB1 Rolls Royce from the 1960's hit show Thunderbirds, rolled up at Sawley Parish Church and Parker the chauffeur opened the door for the future Mrs Rose. Coun Miller, a self confessed Thunderbirds fan, hired the car for the special day as a surprise. The ward councillor for Derby Road West in Long Eaton said: "Katie lives in a pink world, it is her favourite colour. For her hen party, all her friends got her pink presents, so I thought I would surprise her with a pink car." Both Katie and Rob were delighted by the surprise. After the ceremony, the couple left for their honeymoon in Venice. Katie's brother, Joseph, 25, came back from America for the wedding. He is a former Long Eaton Operatic Society member. Photographs of the wedding were kindly sent by Mr Stuart Wood.

Trentham House was built in 1907 for George Smith, a local lace manufacturer. When it was built access was from the end of Acton Road by a farmer’s accommodation road. George Smith was married to Annie and they had four sons and six daughters. He had a lifelong connection with Long Eaton, was involved in many organisations and was chairman of the Long Eaton Urban District Council from 1903. Many people in Long Eaton were employed by George Smith and he was well respected. He died after a long illness on Sunday 7th October 1923 at Trentham House.

On August 29th 1939 four sisters from St Joseph’s Convent in Chesterfield came to Trentham House and started the Long Eaton community of the Daughters of Divine Charity and the independent St Mary’s Convent School. The four were Sister Bernadette, Sister Dobromia, Sister Mary Joseph and the Superior, Sister Irmgardis. On September 2nd Sister Philomenia and Sister Josephine arrived at Trentham from Swaffham.

The first day of the school was on September 18th 1939 and by December there were 50 pupils. At the beginning of the school year in 1949 there were 220 pupils. In 1950 there were 9 boarders and the tuition fees were 5 guineas a term and the boarding fees 23 guineas a term. St Mary’s Convent school closed in 1964.

The premises were taken over by Nyla-Raywarp and used as offices for the company. The first computer-controlled dyehouse was built adjoining Trentham House and was opened in 1968. The firm became part of Courtaulds in that year. Later Nyla-Raywarp became Derby Nyla and then Penn Nyla. Penn Nyla was renamed Nylatex in 2004 and in 2007, still occupied the premises. Fields Farm Road was opened in the 1990’s and was routed by Trentham House, so instead of being isolated the house is now situated on a main road.

The above information and photographs were kindly provided by Anne Higton.

George Henry Button was a tin smith, who opened an Ironmongers shop at 56 High Street Long Eaton, (later renumbered to 35 High Street). He lived there above the shop from 1862/63 until his death in 1917. In 1899 he expanded the shop into Button and Son and had shops in New Street and at 46 Derby Road. In 1917 the shops extended into Station Road, Draycott, Derbyshire. The photograph shows George and his brother and was taken c1862. Frances Beatrice Button one of George's daughters was my grandmother on my mother's side.

This information and photograph of Button's Ironmonger shop on the High Street was kindly provided by Mr Gordon Wakefield of Peterborough, who was born in Long Eaton.

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