Minsterley. Jackie Gurden comments "An original door plaque from the creameries" (Courtesy Jackie Gurden, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
OS Map from Attingham Park, showing Minsterley before the creamery.
1920's Minsterley. Creamery/ butter packing site. June Pinches comments "I think this may be the Old Creamery which became the egg packing station and is now Willow Scott Park" (Courtesy Mark Farmer, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
1921 "Former Minsterley Station" Glyn Jones comments "I was there the day that crane was cut down, around 1965" (Courtesy Joe Lyons)
1923 Minsterley. Simon Alexander comments "A little piece of bygone Minsterley" (Courtesy Simon Alexander, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
1923 GWR map of Oswestry area, with Express Creameries marked. (Original courtesy Michael Armstrong-Smith)
1940's Minsterley. Lorraine Fletcher comments "My grandad Fred Ruff far right. (Courtesy Lorraine Fletcher)
1950's? Minsterley Creamery courtesy of Lorraine Fletcher on Facebook
1950's? Minsterley Creamery Rail Siding (From Lorraine Fletcher, Facebook)
1950's? Minsterley. Daimler Truck - Wathes, Cattell and Gurden Ltd (Courtesy Derek Evans, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
1950's? Minsterley Creamery Rail Siding (From hydey44, Flickr)
Minsterley (Courtesy Karen Osman)
1950's Minsterley Group.Lucy Walker comments "Back row, 3rd on the left Mary Rowson, my Nan". Wendy Jones comments "Margaret Titley is on this picture, my Auntie, 3rd from left bottom row." (Courtesy Monica Corfield, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
Minsterley June Groves identifies Alan Waters. (Courtesy Monica Corfield, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
1950's Minsterley-Margaret Waters, nee Pugh. Norma Waters comments "Dad tells me it's the love of his life...his ERF he drove for Horace Edwards" (Courtesy Monica Corfield, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
Minsterley (Courtesy Karen Osman)
1950's Minsterley. Caroline Tyerman comments "My late grandad Tom Dyas pictured. Don't know the other ladies. My Mum worked there too, Brenda Dyas." (Courtesy Caroline Tyerman, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
1950's "Now Cottage Cheese in background" Shirley Rowson says "That’s got to be my Dad, Bill Childs". (Joe Lyons Collection)
1950's "Barbara Chesters, Ivy Lionel" Ben Samuels comments "The lady on the left is Ivy Andrews." (Joe Lyons Collection)
1950's Minsterley. (Joe Lyons Collection)
1950 "George Chester" Derek Pugh adds "George then became a tanker driver, not sure if he was on the churn lorries first as when I started driving at the creamery, middle 70's, George was on tankers-great bloke easy to get on with." (Joe Lyons Collection)
1953 Churn Deck. Jackie Bebb comments "I remember the deck, Dad drove a lorry with churns, then a tanker later on." (Joe Lyons Collection)
1953 "Mrs Smith, Canteen" (Joe Lyons Collection)
1955 Minsterley. Charlotte Chalinor, Bill Gregg, Margaret Pugh and Joyce Matthews. Norman Waters comments "It was the day the Archers came to visit" (Courtesy Monica Corfield, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
Minsterley managers. Lucy Walker comments "Jesse Rowson on the left, my wonderful grandad 😊" (Courtesy Monica Corfield, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
Minsterley Three Girls. Monica comments "Marg Yapp (Delves) and her sister Jean (Broome) and Sybil Webster (Browning)." (Courtesy Monica Corfield, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
Minsterley two girls. Wendy Whitelaw identifies Jenny Broadhurst, nee Challinor on left, and Carol McMillan "Doreen Bailey nee Jones on right".(Courtesy Monica Corfield, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
Minsterley laboratory Fiona Highcock comments "My mum Denise Poole nee Jones, my nan Doreen Jones nee Swain, and my great gran Rose Swain nee Evan's all worked at the creamery. My mum is 2nd back, right" (Courtesy Fiona Highcock, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
Minsterley. Fiona Highcock comments "My mum Denise Poole nee Jones, my nan Doreen Jones nee Swain, and my great gran Rose Swain nee Evan's all worked at the creamery. My great gran and my nan." (Courtesy Fiona Highcock, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
1950's Minsterley. Patrick Taylor comments "The canning room, tins feeding the machine from above, filled either with condensed milk or cream then taken onto the sterilisers to be heat treated (UHT). The lady on the left may be Gwen Beamond but not sure, I can remember my mother operating this very machine." Kenneth Carswell added "I think it would be late 50's. I worked on the sterilisers with my mate Role and George-it was Carnation Milk, not condensed...the machine was the filling machine." (Joe Lyons Collection)
1950's 'The Archers' visit Minsterley Creamery. Harry Oakes as Dan, Gwen Berryman as Doris. Monica Corfield comments "From left: Gloria Rowson nee Dunn, Sheila Jones, Sybil Browning nee Webster, Margaret, married Waters, Mary Purslow married Jessie Rowson, Charlotte Challinor nee Watkin, Irene Purslow nee Evans, Foreman Pat Henson?, Jessie Rowson, Margaret Titley nee Evans, Joyce Mathews nee Farmel or Farnel? with Doris and Dan Archer".
1950's 'The Archers' visit Minsterley Creamery. Harry Oakes as Dan, Gwen Berryman as Doris.
1950's Minsterley Creamery-"Ladies in dinner hour, Lady on right is Mrs Wynne Dyas" Monica Corfield identifies the lady on the left as Val Smith [married Wilfred Evans]. Marlene Hawkins adds "Auntie Wyn married Harold Dyas in the seventies I think 🤔" (Joe Lyons Collection)
Minsterley (Courtesy Karen Osman)
Minsterley (Courtesy Karen Osman)
1955 approx, Minsterley. Matthew Taylor comments "My Great Uncle Steve Jones, drove for Wathes Cattell and Gurden, which went on to become Minsterley Creamery." Patrick Taylor comments "I remember these lorrys as my Uncle Steve used to occasionally take me with him on the milk collection round, happy days. Steve completed 50 years service. (Courtesy Matthew Taylor)
1955 Minsterley Station. David Giddins comments "Had a canopy then. an SLS Special that travelled all the branch lines of Shropshire, behind the sole remaining GW Dean Goods loco at the time. It is in post nationalisation condition, after 1948." (Courtesy Colin Middleton, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
Minsterley Track Layout drawing. (Joe Lyons 35mm slides)
Minsterley Station. (Joe Lyons 35mm slides)
Minsterley Creamery Rail Siding. (Joe Lyons 35mm slides)
Minsterley rail siding. (Joe Lyons 35mm slides)
Minsterley Yard. (Joe Lyons 35mm slides)
Patrick Taylor comments "The photo is of my uncle, Stephen Jones. He was employed at the Minsterley Dairy, which as you can see was owned by Wathes, Cattell and Gurden. Steve completed fifty years service, later the Company was sold and Mr Michael Gurden became sole manager. (Courtesy Patrick Taylor)
1959 Minsterley office girls. Lynn Fickenscher identifies "From left: Sandra Evans (Nee Preston) Mary Middle, Jean Gittins, Eileen Crowther. They are lovely dresses-Ladies had the waist lines to carry them off then too!-Mum had a 23" waist when she got married. I'm not sure I ever had one of those!" Janet Zakovics comments "Spent many happy teenage years at the Preston's house, Sandra still as lovely as ever." (Courtesy Lynn Fickenscher, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
1959 Independent Dairies joins Express (Express News October)
1959 Independent Dairies joins Express (Express News October)
1959 Independent Dairies joins Express (Express News October)
1959 Independent Dairies joins Express (Express News October)
Minsterley Group. Norma Waters comments "Doreen Jones now Bailey, unknown, unknown, Horace Bishton and Jennifer Challinor (Broadhurst)." (Courtesy Monica Corfield, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
1959 A selection of products from Minsterley Creamery
1959 Chocolate Crumb production area at Minsterley on the left, and Condensed Milk canning on the right
1953 (Courtesy Joe Lyons)
1950's Minsterley. "Jeff Cartright" (Courtesy Joe Lyons)
1953 (Courtesy Joe Lyons)
1953 (Courtesy Joe Lyons)
Monica Corfield thinks the lady in the background may br Doreen Bailey nee Jones. (Courtesy Joe Lyons)
"Chocolate Crumb plant" (Courtesy Joe Lyons)
1959 Minsterley Creamery output included condensed milk and chocolate crumb
1960's Minsterley. Ian Perrin writes 'Dispensing milk to staff-when staying with my grandparents over the school holidays I liked taking this white enamel pot to a hut alongside the arrival deck and a lady would ladle milk out of a churn to fill up the vessel... cream too, sometimes!' Ben Samuels comments "the bloke in the hat is Roly Lakelin". Dave Jones comments "...remember that ladder just in front of the milk labs, that was the door to the Butter Room too".
1960's? Joe Lyons at work (Joe Lyons Collection)
1960 Tony Swain comments "Looks like Ivy Andrews to me". (Courtesy Joe Lyons)
(Courtesy Joe Lyons)
(Courtesy Joe Lyons)
1960 "Joyce Matthews, Margaret Waters, nee Pugh". Norma Waters comments "That's my mum". (Courtesy Joe Lyons)
1960 Kathryn Purslow identifies Albert Purslow.(Courtesy Joe Lyons)
"Tanks" (Courtesy Joe Lyons)
1962 Minsterley winter. Also published in 1962 Spring Express News (Courtesy Joe Lyons)
1962 winter. "Driver Jack Socket escaped with a twisted ankle". Patrick Taylor comments "The unfortunate man behind the wheel was Mr Jack Socket, I dont believe that he was seriously injured. At that time the railway virtually split the site in half, when carriages were shunted to factory carrying coal for the boilers-which were coal fired at that time. Products such as cheese, condensed milk, and butter were loaded directly onto the wagons and taken by train to distribution points. I think the last train to use the line for transporting products in and out of Minsterley was between 1965/6." (Courtesy Joe Lyons)
(Courtesy Joe Lyons)
(Courtesy Joe Lyons)
(Courtesy Joe Lyons)
"Knocking Out". Tony Swain says "I think that's Alvin Scott" (Courtesy Joe Lyons)
(Courtesy Joe Lyons)
Jean Sockett comments "Yes that's my dad, Walter Evans" (Courtesy Joe Lyons)
(Courtesy Joe Lyons)
(Courtesy Joe Lyons)
(Courtesy Joe Lyons)
Tony Swain identifies Bert Potter and Margaret Vale, in the Cheese Room. (Courtesy Joe Lyons)
Ben Samuels identifies Daisy Ellis, on the conveyor belt. (Courtesy Joe Lyons)
1950's? Minsterley, outside Stables pub. Lorraine Fletcher comments "My grandad Fred Ruff far right. Ben Samuels adds "That's me on the left in the trilby hat." (Courtesy Lorraine Fletcher)
1950's Minsterley. Patrick Taylor comments "The chocolate crumb was used to make a product for Rowntrees, that department finished around 1962/3. The chocolate crumb was like chocolate fudge before it was baked and ground into powder. Often used to go down with Dad and get a bag 😛. Transport was Lewis Bros, their depot was next door to the Minsterley factory." Alec Liz Williams adds "My Dad Reg Carswell worked for Lewis Brothers" (Joe Lyons Collection)
1950's Minsterley. Patrick Taylor comments "The chocolate crumb was used to make a product for Rowntrees, that department finished around 1962/3. The chocolate crumb was like chocolate fudge before it was baked and ground into powder. Often used to go down with Dad and get a bag 😛. Transport was Lewis Bros, their depot was next door to the Minsterley factory." Alec Liz Williams adds "My Dad Reg Carswell worked for Lewis Brothers" (Joe Lyons Collection)
Minsterley Rail Connection dates. (Joe Lyons 35mm slides)
1970's "Old Railway Line, Michael Pugh" (Joe Lyons Collection)
1960's Nick Gurden comments "This is my Dad on the left when he was manager at Minsterley Creameries"
Minsterley Plant showing rail sidings. (Joe Lyons 35mm slides)
Minsterley rail sidings. (Joe Lyons 35mm slides)
1960's? Minsterley Rail Siding (Courtesy Karen Osman)
1960's "Now Cottage Cheese" Elaine Chidley Uttley comments "Thanks for doing this.Lovely photographs. My Grandad worked at the creamery (Ivor). I loved sitting in his lorry while he collected the old churns and delivered them back, chatting to customers on his way. My grandchildren have loved seeing their Great Grandad, Joe Lyons too." (Joe Lyons Collection)
1961 Minsterley. Hunting Whip presented to John A Gurden (Nick Gurden's father) by Minsterly Creameries Welfare & Social Club when he left to take over the Frome Plant as Manager. (Courtesy Nick Gurden)
1961 Minsterley. Hunting Whip presented to John A Gurden (Nick Gurden's father) by Minsterly Creameries Welfare & Social Club when he left to take over the Frome Plant as Manager. (Courtesy Nick Gurden)
1962 Minsterley canned cream and evaporated milk with Goldhanger Fruit Farms canned vegetables and fruit
1962 Express Manufacturing Centres
1962 Minsterley, employed 200 staff. (Express News Christmas)
1962 Minsterley and Ruyton products
1963 "Old Dairy" (Joe Lyons Collection)
1965 Minsterley win prizes for Cheshire Cheese, butter and double cream. (Express News Christmas)
1967 Levenshulme- Christine Cartwright in Levenshulme lab, daughter of Geoffrey Cartright, Buttermaker at Minsterley
1967 Minsterley Spray Dryer; this picture was admired by Princess Margaret at the 1967 Royal Dairy Show.
1967 Minsterley poem, written in honour of Eric Robart's visit. (Express News Christmas)
1967 Minsterley engineers holding their own Christmas reunion at the Herbert Arms, Chirbury
1969 Long Service Dinner for Minsterley staff at Shrewsbury. Peter Francis comments "On the left, Jim Sargent from Little Minsterley, our neighbour for many years", Gillian Leah adds "Uncles Will Swain and Will Jones". Marie Parry adds "Will Jones, my Grandad". (Express News Summer)
1970's Minsterley Brochure from Shopshire Magazine. Colin Middleton comments "Who remembers Minsterley Butter with a Church on the pack?". Charles Fulford comments "It was on a visit to the creamery that I discovered that 'Minsterly Tinned Cream' and the much cheaper Woolworth's own brand tinned cream was the the same-they changed the labels over halfway through the canning process, from the same vat!" (Courtesy Colin Middleton, Pontesbury past and present FB Group)
1970's Cheese Store (Joe Lyons Collection)
1970's Minsterley. Patrick Taylor comments "Hard Cheese room, the vats above the ones in the foreground were filled with milk and rennet was then added to curdle the milk. This was then agitated and when it reached the correct texture it was drained into the lower vats and the whey was drained off. Further agitation then took place until a more dry crumb texture was achieved. The product was then put through a mill which cut the cheese into smaller pieces and then into buckets with small holes in-these buckets held approximately 56 lbs> They were then compressed to remove any remaining whey and the block of cheese was ready to be wrapped in linen for storage.Dave Jones adds "I can remember Jean, bless her soul, adding salt as the small chunks went up the conveyer belt." Chris Evans comments "My dad and father-in-law worked in there: Sid Evans and Jack Williams." (Joe Lyons Collection)
1970's? Joe Lyons at work, with Alan Roberts? (Joe Lyons Collection)
1971 Walter Nell presents a gold watch to Cheese Production Manager E.T. Malkin
1971 New Cottage Cheese plant pilot run with Chief Supervisor Ivan Donnelly and Assistant Manager Frank Van Hoof
1972 Cottage Cheese Filling Room
Joe Lyons (Joe Lyons Collection)
(Joe Lyons Collection)
1978 Minsterley. Terry Screen (L) and Terry Gray (R) - his grandchildren Sharon and Anthony remember him well . Sharon Starbuck comments "Many of my family worked at the creamery included grandad Gray in the top left photo". Carol Bennett adds "Yes, my lovely Dad worked at the Creamery, as did my Mum." (Joe Lyons Collection)
1978 "Lofty" (Joe Lyons Collection)
1978 Minsterley (Joe Lyons Collection)
1978 Minsterley (Joe Lyons Collection)
1978 Minsterley (Joe Lyons Collection)
![1950's Minsterley Creamery-"Ladies in dinner hour, Lady on right is Mrs Wynne Dyas" Monica Corfield identifies the lady on the left as Val Smith [married Wilfred Evans]. Marlene Hawkins adds "Auntie Wyn married Harold Dyas in the seventies I think 🤔" (Joe Lyons Collection)](https://cdn.myportfolio.com/2af86ba5-cc2e-48df-9280-3c42031e6b21/bb4b2f08-8b5c-42af-a108-c8a2872e073e_rw_1920.jpg?h=65b9e623c7b9fec4eb0df21fcd974c75)
