'I hate how Telford has destroyed the happy world of my childhood'

There was no running water, no flushing toilet, and if you wanted hot water you had to heat it in a big pot hanging over the fire.

Today it sounds like a world of hardship and privation. But for Josie Smith those days in her childhood were a kind of paradise and evoke happy memories of a close community which was swept away forever.

And now Josie wants to hear from anybody who can remember that lost community - The Old Yard, in St Georges Road, Donnington - or has pictures of it.

Josie, whose maiden name was Downes, said: "Our family moved into 221 St Georges Road, Donnington, which was known as The Old Yard, around 1952.

"They were homes mainly for miners. It was a wonderful, close-knit community and even though I was only nine years old when the houses were condemned I can still recall most of the neighbours now, as they all helped each other.

The nearest we can get to finding a picture of The Old Yard - this is Tub Boat Row, Donnington Wood, which was in the same area.

"Our home was a bungalow with no running water inside and just a tap in the old washhouse which housed a copper boiler where mum did the washing each Monday. The boiler had to be lit with coal and sticks. We had a village green and each Monday the ladies all hung their washing out and the children never did play near the washing, out of fear or respect.

"My mother cooked on a large black-leaded open fire with a side oven. This had to be lit with coal in both winter and summer, otherwise we would have had no hot water or hot food. The hot water came from a big pot hanging on a hook over the fire.

"The houses were demolished around 1957 or 1958 and the whole community moved into modern houses with flushing toilets and bathrooms. No-one wanted to move - we all craved for the community we had lost for a long time."

Josie's baby brother Glyn Downes and dad Joe at The Old Yard in 1954.

Josie, who lives now in Ketley, added: "In the space the council built new elderly persons' dwellings and called the area 'High Mount'.

"The Old Yard days were happy carefree days. We were, as a community, all sad to leave despite the lack of mod cons in the houses. I have tried to get pictures and information of the area from Telford and Wrekin Council planners but they apparently have never heard of The Old Yard.

"So I appeal to any locals who may have any memories or even photos of this past happy little local community. I wish I had a picture of The Old Yard or a plan or map of the houses. I can see it all in my mind. Life has not changed for the better with all the new buildings and factories where farmland was."

Anyone who can help can contact Josie at josmith221@talktalk.net by email, or get in touch with us and we'll pass it on.

The Asda store at Donnington Wood - pictured here around the time of its opening - stands where Josie and her childhood pals played in an area known to locals as

The eldest of three children, her father Joe Downes worked as a blacksmith at Granville Colliery, and her mother's name was Joan.

"For the record, Donnington Asda is built on a site were we played as children. It was known by the locals as the 'Nobby Bank'. Donnington Country Park, as it is known by newcomers, was the old 'pit banks' which was full of wild fruit.

"We didn't need sugary sweets, we just used to pick what grew naturally. There was so much open space and wonderful natural areas for wildlife. Now it's so manufactured. It's not nice what Telford has done to this area at all. We had old cottages and everyone had large gardens.

"The architecture now has left much to be desired. It's like they have crammed so much in to meet the demand of the influx of people moving in to Telford.

"I just do hate what Telford has done. You have to be local to notice how much it's changed for the worse."