It seemed like heaven when Phil Margetts moved with his family to a new maisonette as the St Ebbe’s area of Oxford was redeveloped.

He recalls: “We moved into 19 Preachers Lane in 1962 as one of the first tenants, and I remember having warm air central heating for the first time.”

The family – dad Roy, mum Joy, Phil and younger sister Hilary – had moved from one of the wooden huts at Slade Park at Headington, a world adrift from the modern comforts in St Ebbe’s.

Mr Margetts writes: “The thought having to climb a few flights of stairs to get to our front door was a bit strange.

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“There was a children’s play area in the middle of the blocks with a slide, roundabout and an old tractor to climb on.

“Our maisonette had a balcony overlooking Speedwell Street, and there was only one staircase to the upstairs’ properties.

“In 1962, aged five, I started school at St Ebbe’s Church of England primary in Paradise Square. Miss Bristow was the head, and the other full-time teacher was Mrs Barltrop who, coincidentally, had taught my dad when he was at school in Cowley.

Playtime and washing day in St Ebbe’s

Playtime and washing day in St Ebbe’s

“In winter, we had to thaw our bottles of milk on the old Victorian radiators. I think there were only about 60 kids in the school.

“While I was at school, an old tree trunk was installed in the school playground for us to climb on and I know the Oxford Mail came and took photographs.

“Paradise Square was surrounded by houses, all now long gone, and I remember two boys in school lived at the Jolly Farmers pub just round the corner.

“Living ‘upstairs’ in Preachers Lane gave us a good view of the old terrace houses being demolished and made walking to school quite interesting. In 1968, the Queen came to Oxford at the start of the new Westgate development, and we all lined the street to watch her drive past. I still have my souvenir brochure.”

The family left St Ebbe’s in 1968 and moved to Bagley Close, Kennington, where mum Joy still lives.

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Phil Margetts, who now lives in the West Midlands, has recently discovered that his family links with St Ebbe’s go back much further than he thought.

He tells me: “My fourth great grandfather lived in Church Street, and his descendants lived in Osney Mill, Blackfriars Road, Nelson Street and Bridport Street.

"I have recently discovered that my great-great grandfather owned two properties in St Ebbe’s, in Paradise Square and Blackfriars Road. It seems they were sold to the council in the early 1950s in preparation for the planned redevelopment of the area.

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"Things have certainly changed since I lived there, and I was surprised when I visited to see the new shopping centre and the underground car park.”

Any more memories of St Ebbe’s to share with readers? Write and let me know.