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UPPER SOUTH STREET AND THE 'POOR RELIEF'

That was all taking place in Middle South Street; then Upper South Street was a little classier, and different , with larger, more imposing houses . There was also the Police Station and next to that building was the back of the Thorngate Hall . This was made up of small offices such as the Registrar1 s Office of Births, Marriages & Deaths. Also a little office place where the very poor collected, every Thursday, half—a-crown per week to keep and clothe three children. I was often sent to line up for this , for my mother. There was a school clinic there as well . I thought it a cruel place, when I went there to be treated for chilblains. The front of this beautiful building round in High Street, the lovely Thorngate Hall, was truly magnificent. We all loved it, and it was so very different to what is now known as the Thorngate Halls. 

MISS GILLARD'S GROCERY STORE

 Miss Gillard *s grocery store on the corner of South Street and Haslar Street was owned by old Mrs. Gillard, and run by her two daughters. I have a vivid recollection of old Mrs. Gillard, the mother. She was a huge old lady, always sitting on a chair in the doorway leading from the shop into the living quarters. She ordered everyone about in a deep voice, seldom taking her eyes away from her two daughters, Lizzie and Flo. She had a very beady eye, and dressed in black. Lots of people lived by the 'book1 or, in the language of these days, 'on tick'. When the old lady died, the two sisters took over. Although they were good business women, their hearts were too big, and within reason,no family went hungry if they were the very poor. Food was always found for them and no question of repayment, or else a few pence was accepted towards an account. They did not push for payment, and they were said to have hundreds of pounds owing them!

HOT WATER FROM THE BREWERY

 South Street was really dominated by Blakes Brewery, which was situated in four large buildings. The largest, on the corner of South Cross Street, was for us the important part of the Brewery,. Every Saturday morning one of us would go into this building with a bucket (how useful buckets were in those days, we used them constantly for every purpose), and ask for hot water, piping hot* We then used to scrub the floors, and toilet of our little three-roomed cottage, where I was born and lived, until I was fourteen years old.

THE FODEN STEAM WAGON

 On the other side of South Street, part of the Malthouse went into New Road which led off from South Street. Down here was a shed as we called it, these days it would be called a Garage.

In here was kept the old Foden Steam Wagon which took the barrels of beer out to various Public Houses in the Gosport vicinity. This engine was a marvelous sight, puffing its way down South Street, rumbling along quite slowly down the little side roads. Next to this shed was a big archway which was a walkway under the top floors of the Malthouse.

THE SECRET GARDENS

Once you got through this entrance there were two cottages with lovely, well tended gardens, full of coloured flowers. They must have been well-positioned workers who lived here. Once again, I remember taking washing here and not only receiving the laundry money, but very often a ha'penny for myself, also in the Autumn a bag of apples. To me it was a secret fairyland of a place, with blossom on the trees, and bright beautiful flowers and vegetables growing together there. We had no gardens in the courts and alleys of South Street.

THE FURNACE

On the other side of the garage was a large furnace with a big iron grid and a high stone doorstep. We often sat here on a cold evening before it got too dark. I recall the pictures we saw in the furnace's glow, and the truly wonderful stories we used to make up for each other - entertainment that didn't cost anyone a penny.

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