FOND memories are at the forefront of the minds of a Northwich family whose childhood home has been demolished to pave the way for new houses.

Stephen Griffiths was born and raised at 191 London Road, the detached house opposite the former art college which was recently knocked down to create the new access road to the Dane Valley housing development.

Built by his father Kenneth in the 50s, Stephen and his sisters Kate and Helen grew up in the property, which at the time was surrounded by fields.

Stephen, 57, said: “My grandfather Clarence Kelsall, who was involved in the development of polythene at ICI, bought the land there and sold the plot at 191 to my father, who built our house there at the towards the end of the 50s and start of the 60s.

“It was quite modern for its time – it had underfloor heating and we even had a swimming pool.

Northwich Guardian:

“One the most impressive features was its beautiful mahogany staircase. It cost about £3,000 at the time, which was a lot of money then. It was really impressive. It makes me sad to think that has now gone, I do hope they might have been able to re-use it.

“There were a lot of mixed emotions when we found out it was going to demolished. I have such fond memories up growing up there.

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“We had so many wonderful family celebrations there – birthdays, Christmas. It was a wonderful house, a real family home.

“Grandma and grandad lived next door and we were linked by an adjoining gate so we spent a lot of time together as a family.

“It was a completely different place during my childhood. We were surrounded by fields that were teeming with wildlife. I can remember the farmers bailing the hay in the summer.

Northwich Guardian:

The house as seen from the road in recent years

“We loved playing out down the back – making rafts to go down the River Dane, building dens, it really was an idyllic way to grow up.”

Kenneth, a lecturer at Mid Cheshire College who also started the Hartford Sub Aqua Club, and his wife Jean, a teacher at Hartford Primary School, lived in the house until they passed away.

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Stephen, who now lives in Comberbach, said: “My father built a wonderful house and together they created a wonderful home.

“It is sad that it is no longer there as there are so much of our family embedded in the fabric of the house. But the memories are all still there which is what matters.”