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THE L.N.E.R. (GOSFORTH GARDEN VILLAGE) LTD HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE
Part two
We left off our story following childhood remembrances of a village entirely comprised of homes owned by railwaymen.
The Railways then had a "class" system second to none (and to a certain extent still have). For instance salaried staff were divided into eight classes - class 5 (at the bottom) to class 1 and classes A to C. To achieve A, B or C "special" status was very difficult indeed. "Out of category" status was almost impossible without considerable influence from a major shareholder.
Nevertheless the idea of the working classes being given the opportunity to actually own their own property is not all new.
As far as the "Garden" Village is concerned the idea was born in the boardroom of the North Eastern Railway Company circa 1909. (Railwaymen traditionally were keen gardeners).
The original plans were very ambitious indeed and included the area now occupied by the golf course. Have you ever considered why Briarwood Avenue is so wide in contrast to the other avenues and apparently finishes in a dead end? Briarwood was to continue to a roundabout from which would have radiated several avenues, one of which would have continued as a through road to the end of the bridle path and so emerge onto the Great North Road.
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