THIS AREA OF BRIGG HAS BEEN CARING FOR DECADES

 

These 'Then & Now' pictures show the same area of Brigg 50 years ago and today.

Back in the early 1970s a council-run care home was based here, and now the same function continues courtesy of the company which runs Abbey Village.
The Wrawby Road site, near the Monument roundabout, was still being overseen by Lindsey County Council 50 years ago - Crosslands Hostel being the name used.
Provision of social services passed to Humberside County Council in 1974 when it was created as a new 'top tier' authority under local government reorganisation.
Humberside's new care facility was known as Rosecroft, with George Green becoming a long-serving manager. In 1974, George was the chairman of Brigg & District Horticultural Society, which held annual shows, and his address was given as Rosecroft, Wrawby Road. Shows were held in the Corn Exchange for many years.
Metal railings have bordered this site since the early 20th century, although we think they may have been removed during the 1939-45 conflict to be melted down to assist the war effort. If so, another set was provided not long after hostilities ceased.
Some of the children leaving 'Brigg Pictures' (the Grand Cinema) towards the end of its run in the mid-1960s used to play a type of racing game which involved these railings. The air pollution from passing vehicles on the main road came off the metal and onto kids' hands -resulting in a rebuke when you got home.    
Both pictures seen above were taken from East Park, near the Tintab shelter, looking across the A18. The zebra crossing has since been removed and replaced by a traffic island, while a push-buttom pelican crossing has been provided by North Lincolnshire Council nearer to the town centre.
At the time the 'then' picture was taken, Brigg was awaiting "complete modernisation" of this social services facility in 1974.