Basingstoke flashback: History of The Barge

Over the next two weeks, from personal memory, I am highlighting another area within the pre-demolished town, the area we called The Barge.

Named after the pub of that name, it became synonymous with the area and, amongst other shops, contained two cinemas, a fish and chip shop, a hardware store, café and a strange-looking crooked house.

In the centre of the bottom end of Wote Street, as it joined the junction of Brook Street, Reading Road and Station Hill, was a small island which sported a large Oak tree beside a horse trough and a small concrete building which housed a gents’ toilet.

The island was jokingly called The Isle of Man.

The tree, known as the Reformers’ tree, in its time, followed the national tradition of gathering around a central point to discuss the politics of the day.

The more well-known Reformers’ Tree was in Hyde Park, London and, in more modern times, the area became known as Speakers’ Corner.

Further, into Wote Street the Waldorf cinema, which opened in 1935, stood on one side and, behind a large, gravelled area opposite, was the Savoy.

The cinemas ran two programmes of the latest films a week, one beginning on Sunday and the second on Wednesday.

The Waldorf cinema circa 1960 (Image: Newsquest)

The biggest drawback was the fact that the last bus of the evening left before the end of the second film showing, so to enable a person to see the complete film they had to be in the cinema before the end of the last performance and catch the end before the beginning.

The young people took advantage of the usherettes at these cinemas by paying for one entry and letting their mates in by the way of the fire exit.

The Savoy cinema (Image: Newsquest)

The film itself being of cellulose acetate used to occasionally get caught as it passed through the gate of the projector and melt a hole in the centre, at which point the performance would stop until the projectionist could sort the problem and continue with the performance.

Saturday mornings at the Waldorf were a popular time for the children to attend ABC Minors.

At 6d each, the children were shown films, sometimes Western shoot-outs starring Alan Ladd, and cartoons.

Lower Wote Street with the Waldorf in the background. Credit: Lower Wote Street with the Waldorf in the background Alastair Blair (Image: Alastair Blair)

All the children joined in singing ‘We’re minors of the ABC…’, as well as songs made popular by Burl Ives (Lollipop Tree) and Max Bygraves (I’m A Pink Toothbrush).

To the right of the entrance to the Waldorf cinema was a Gents hairdresser which was very popular in the early 1960s with the men of the town.

Run by Bill Mortimer and Peter Maidment they gave ‘short back and sides’ haircuts and asked young men if they wanted ‘anything for the weekend Sir?’

To the right of the Barge public house, stood the Savoy, which opened in 1939 and replaced an earlier cinema called The Savoy Electric Theatre.

The Savoy cinema prior to demolition 1966 (Image: Newsquest)

At the side running the length of the forecourt, was a sheltered area designed to keep the waiting customers out of the rain.

Showing films like Psycho, the Alfred Hitchcock X-rated film of the time, the cinema was very popular with all, especially as part of the entertainment was to watch the mice run through the aisles in the dim light.  

Further up Wote Street, at number 59, was Stevens’ fish and chip shop.

Fish and chips said to have been ‘the best in the town’ wrapped in newspaper and costing one or two shillings; a popular venue when the cinemas turned out on a Friday or Saturday night.

Stevens Fish & Chip shop (Image: Newsquest)

A queue stretched out of the door and down the street whilst Mrs Stevens and her son Norman worked hard to keep the customers happy, occasionally arguing amongst themselves.

Norman, who today would have been classed as having a mental disability, would swear at his mother and occasionally get violent and upset the customers who, on occasion, would retaliate, especially the Teddy Boys.

In part two next week I will reveal some more memories of the Barge area, including the history of The Barge public house.