I WAS born and brought up in number 7, Kensington Grove, for the first 28 years of my life.

It was a lovely Grove with the Lawn Club at the top. The first house on the left, number 1, was Mrs Woodbury (my godmother), then 3 was Mr and Mrs Forty, 5 Mr and Mrs Lenard, us, Mr and Mrs Chard, at 7, Mr and Mrs Bowdeler.

On the other side, The first house on the right, Mr and Mrs James at 2, Mr and Mrs Humbert at 4, Mr and Mrs Hobbs at 6, Mr and Mrs Shellard at 8, Mrs Corlett at 10, and Mr and Mrs Edwards at 12. What a great place to have lived.

Also, the photo was taken outside my nan’s house on the right Paul Chard, Newport

TODAY looks like the Kensington area of Chepstow Road. possibly Kensington Grove. It’s all changed around there now with quite an activity of clinics and care centres.

Many people will remember the popular Kensington Court Club which highlighted famous 60s pop groups and local bands like the Pieces Of Mind. I think the building at the rear/centre of picture is the old Lawn Club which has been closed for many decades.

James Dyer, Newport

I RECOGNISE the then and now as Kensington Grove as I started my darting career in the Lawn Club in the background. I have many fond memories as a child of playing in the area.

Andy Miller, Newport

THE photographs show Kensington Grove, a cul- de-sac that forms a T junction with Chepstow Road, near Eveswell. My grandmother lived on Chepstow Road directly opposite so this was a daily view for me as a youngster on the many occasions I stayed with her.

A keen eye may spot that the buildings shown in their own grounds at the top of each photograph are different The large house shown in the ‘Then’ photo belonged to Dr Millar, a popular local GP who was my grandmother’s physician.

I surmise that this was originally called Kensington Court, a name that would befit its Victorian style and was accessed via the nearby Kensington Place. When this was demolished in the 1950s the building shown in the ‘Now’ photo replaced it and was known as the Lawns Club, although still referred to locally (as it is to this day) as Kensington Court because of its former association.

Dances and other entertainment took place there, to the chagrin of many of those living in the proximity because of the noise ; a friend says that he saw Dickie Valentine sing there in the 1960s, shortly before his death in a car crash near Crickhowell. The present dilapidated state of the building is due to suspected arson, I believe in the 1970s.

The area was hit by German bombs and parachuted land mines in the Second World War; my grandmother recounted that whilst all the windows at the rear of her house were shattered, other nearby properties were destroyed and lives lost.

Clive Wood, Newport

I THINK the Now and Then picture is of the Lawn Club, Newport. You pass that way to St John’s Church in the Maindee/Eveswell area. The Lawn Club was burned down but has been tidied up.

Mrs M Reardon, Newport