One day in the ‘borough April ‘76

Today’s pictures come from regular Looking Back contributor Andrew Cole. All of them were taken in 1976 and the three biggest ones show Westgate southside close to the junction with Lincoln Road. Queensgate is now on this site.

You can see the Royal, Elephant and Castle and Crown public houses.

Andy said: “Me and my pal Dave Munago (of Yaxley) would appear at the Elephant and Castle on a Friday and Saturday evening sometimes as early as 6pm (then the official opening time for pubs) and have a pre-evening drink in the peacefulness of the back bar - a roughly square plain room with a corner hardwood polished bar.

“In the winter there would be a blazing coal fire. We were in our mid-twenties but the majority of our small band of fellow drinkers were far older.

“Harry lived at the George Hotel and mended watches as a side-line.

“Edwin was a very bright businessman who owned a furniture shop in Cowgate and we had many an interesting chat about the state of the world.

“The landlord was Albert Leech who in his quiet gentleman way kept the peace and his regulars happy.

“Sometimes Peggy the Landlady of The Nags Head would appear having visited the market to get Albert fresh fish for his tea.

“Circled around the fire we would explore the different Ruddles beers. County was the star, real nectar, but we knew the score and our night would be starting properly at just after 8pm, so we tried to drink slowly. The mild was often my solution.

“At one point our group all got into mead. County with a mead chaser is not to be recommended if you have a full night out planned.

“Just after eight we would leave our pals and go off into the night to search out the hot spots of Peterborough. This was usually the back bar of the Bull Hotel in the Cardinal Bar with its antique paintings, juke box and good scene.’’

Andy describe the smaller picture (top right): “This is still on Westgate but at the corner to Queen Street. The shop ( I assume an Edwardian department store) may have been called Trollopes (not sure) but I do remember in the early 1960s me and my mother went there to buy a school uniform.

“You went in from the corner and the stock was on the right and the counter was on the left. It had a vacuum system of brass tubes and cylinders to take your money to the pay room elsewhere in the building.

“The final picture is Westgate southside looking towards Long Causeway.’’

Many thanks to Andy for sharing his pictures and some wonderful memories of Peterborough in the 1970s.