IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Byford Close, NOTTINGHAM, NG3 5FX

The houses are the typical pattern of Nottingham council housing of the inter-war period. This view is taken from Woodborough Road, and the marked difference in levels is due to the fact that this was the site of one of the many brickworks along the Mapperley ridge. Mapping shows that it had been worked out by the early years of the 20th century.

The southern end of this small council estate is seen here from Private Road on its final ascent to Woodborough Road. The housing in this estate appears to be typical Nottingham architecture from the 1930s, and if memory serves is similar to that around Wollaton Road and Western Boulevard.

Ordnance Survey documents indicate that a benchmark was levelled at 116.778m above Newlyn Datum in 1962 on the side of the left hand house at its front corner

Seen from Private Road (which actually continues as the turning to the left in the foreground), Gordon Rise appears unpopulated. However, it is surrounding by housing, albeit at a different level from the road at this point.

While the house on the left appears to be substantially as built, the one on the right looks as though it has been substantially altered, and may in fact be two separate dwellings. Indeed, the shape of the roof suggests that it may once have been the end of a longer terrace of houses.

A view across Woodborough Road. For comparison, see Alan Murray-Rust's Image

There is an Ordnance Survey benchmark Image on the brick section of the shop left of a downpipe

Ordnance Survey cut mark benchmark on Crystal Blinds shop levelled at 126.739m above Newlyn Datum in 1962

When built, these houses would have been sought after, with the luxury of a bay window giving extra space, and a convenient tram service into town just through the alleyway. Today, without any parking space adjacent they will be far less attractive (although the bus service is still frequent).

This combined mission church and school was built c.1863-65 and was originally called St Ann's C. of E. School. Following the construction of the nearby St Jude's Anglican Curch, Mapperley it was renamed St Judes's C. of E. School. Attendances rose and money was found to extend the buildings in 1881 and again in 1892 when the numbers on the register reached 250. By 1901 however, the ever increasing pressure on the facilities forced the local education authority to press the school management to improve the facilities still further and to include an infants' section. The church however, was unable to fund any further developments and children from the nearby new Porchester housing estate could not be admitted. The school became an infants and junior school in 1928 but it eventually closed in 1935 with only 170 children registered. Because of these low numbers it was decided to close these premises and for children to begin, instead, to enrol at new nearby Walter Halls School. The (unused) main entrance is on Woodborough Road. These premises are currently occupied by a painting and decorating supplies business.