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My wife ( Barbara Astles, nee Evans) was one of eight daughters, and 2 sons
of Mr Alfred (Alf) and Mrs Hilda Evans
They lived in the Lock House, opposite the Kinderton Arms, by the side of
the Trent and Mersey Canal, for very many years, as Alf was a British
Waterways “lengths man” for the company, and the house provided as part of
his working conditions.
Alf, used to garden the Pub gardens for himself, with flowers and vegetables
for his family, and provided produce for the pub and his family as a
condition for him having the gardens to work for himself.
The gardens were always kept in an immaculate condition, were Alf’s pride
and joy, and if not in his house he would always be across at his gardens.
When garden produce was in good supply, on occasions would also offer for
FREE produce to the very many working canal boats that would go past 24
hours a day (late 40’s and early 50’s).
The Kinderton Arms was always good for a night of traditional pub singing
around an old piano, particularly on a Friday and Saturday night where at
such times their younger children would be allowed to sit in the Pub
corridor and front door step.
They were provided with a small bottle of “pop” with a straw and a bag of
Smiths Crisps ( with a blue twisted bag of salt), to keep them quite, and
the kids always looked forward to doing this on a Saturday Night.
Some weekends, when Alf and Hilda had decided to stay at home instead of
going to the pub, Hilda would be sent over to the pub with a large enamelled
water jug, to get Alf a few pints of beer.
In those days, with plenty passing trade of the canal boat people, and the
local community the Pub was always very busy and a nice place for locals to
have a good beer.
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