Memories of growing up in York as a 'Dringy kid'

Here's what she had to say. It includes a gentle reproof for using the name 'Hogg's Pond', which should rightfully be called Leethams' Pond, she insists. We'd be interested to hear from other 'Dringies' on this...

"Being a “Dringy-kid” from 1953-1978, (your) pictures brought back fond memories," Linda wrote.

"I lived in Chaloner’s Road at Moor Lane end, and we had the beautiful Leethams' pond behind us. It was so picturesque. The Leethams owned a flour mill in Hungate in the 1800s and lived at Aldersydye, a big house in Old Moor Lane. Later, the lovely Kildin family lived there. They had a a fish and chip shop and also sold sweets and crisps etc from their kitchen and filled the fishermens’ billy-cans up with soup or tea for them. I believe Mr Kildin was the custodian of the pond for Birches (builders).

"A family called Standish moved in after Kildins, not very popular when their lad decided to have fun in his speedboat at 5 am. Mr Standish came round to all the houses on Chaloner’s Road requesting that we all refrained from trimming the hedge behind our boundaries because it now belonged to him. I suppose it did but we so loved our view of the pond.

"They stayed a few years and were replaced by Mr Hogg. This is why people christened it “Hoggs pond” or ‘Oggy’s’. I wish they wouldn’t because it’s incorrect. It annoys me when I see the pond called ‘Hogg’s’ in print, even on some maps. Grrrrr.

"The pond and the land was later sold to a wealthy man, some say a Greek Airline pilot, but I don’t know if that is correct. After the sale, we were no longer able to walk round the pond which we had so enjoyed over the years. The new owner built some holiday chalets, ‘Lakeside Villas’, I believe they are called. It was probably around this time that the miniature railway, run once a month, stopped.

"As for Chapman’s pond, which is behind the houses opposite to where we lived, it belonged/belongs to Farmer Chapman who farmed in Moor Lane and the same family owned another farm on the corner of Moor Lane and Chaloner’s Road, long demolished, and council flats have stood there since the 1950’s.

"We spent many fun-filled childhood hours there as there was a lot of land to play on. We often climbed trees which are probably no longer there now, since Woodthorpe was built. I can recall gypsies camping there, too. It was ideal for hide and seek and other games. We had fabulous, huge bonfires there on the 5th November with adults watching over us. I can remember older boys floating on the pond in huge inner tubes and home-made rafts. Also they made rope swings hanging from the trees. We even found a burnt out old jeep which we used to play on. I am so glad I had my childhood when I did, it was such fun.

The trees that Linda Hill remembers being 'massacred'

"I can remember the brutal massacring of the trees in St, Helen’s Road, to prevent them scratching the buses. Also I remember the Zebra crossing being installed on Tadcaster Road and the narrower St. Helen’s Bridge and Old Moor Lane bridges being replaced with bigger, wider bridges..."

Many thanks, Linda, for sharing these memories.

We have a few more photos of Dringhouses today, in the hope they'll jog a few more recollections.

One, which is undated, shows children and parents on the Leeside Park in Dringhouses, protesting against dog-fouling. 'Keep our park clean', says the placard. Does anyone remember taking part in this protest, or what sparked it?

Campaign: the protest against dog fouling on the Leeside Park

Another, taken in August 1979, shows a view of Slingsby Grove. The caption says that it had been dubbed the 'street of fear' because of a mini crimewave. It doesn't look that fearful in the photo: what was it all about?

Street of fear? Slingsby Grove in Dringhouses, August 21, 1979

Aphotograph taken in 1963 shows a short connection road being built to link St Helen's Road into Thanet Road.

COMING THROUGH: the 'connection' into Thanet Road under construction in October 1963

And we also have a photo of yet another Dringhouses pond - this one Railway Pond off Mayfield Grove. It was taken in October 1991 and shows firefighters deliberately pumping water out of the pond, into the air and back to 'aerate it' so that it is healthier for fish.

Railway Pond, Dringhouses, October 1991

To finish with, we have a couple of church-related photos. One shows Dringhouses church in August 1985. The second, dating back much earlier, shows members of the Dringhouses Church Choir in 1949. Recognise any faces, anyone?

Dringhouses church in 1985

Dringhouses church choir in 1949