church

[Darby]

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

If the first pic here is the road you are referring to I think we're in the right place. There is another entry but that just seems to lead to a private area.(see second photo)

I took a few more photographs of the wall, (must learn to use less pixels so I can have a larger image) to see if we can work out what was what, but it's hard to get a good angle.

Willow, nice piccys, but none of them are what was wood street. The first one is the entrance to Coach Road and the second one is or was a drive way to the former railway sidings, which are now used to locate travellers. You need to come back at least 400 yds towards Church and past the former entrance to the Gas works. Blair Electronics use to be in the building on its corner nearest Church.

Wood Street: If you go on Market Street and stand at the front door of what was the Con Club. Immediately on your left is what can only be described as a ruined track, which was (last time I looked) full of rubbish and piles of soil etc. It goes directly to Blackburn road..and opposite it's exit to B'burn road stands what was the Navigators.

[WillowTheWhisp]

Yes that's the Navigation!

My arched window is slightly round the bend. (Busman will probably tell you that it's like me in that case!! Out there yesterday evening photographing walls whilst passers by looked at me as if I'd gone totally mad.)

It is in the wall where there's a gate with a Blythe's sign on it. (It says "Emergency Access" or something like that.)

There is also this doorway which still has a door in it which leads through to Blythes. The main entrance is down Bridge Street but something at the back of my mind says the "Emergency Access" used to be a main entrance. Maybe it was changed as coming down Bridge Street gives easier access for lorries turning right.

[Darby]

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

Yes that's the Navigation!

My arched window is slightly round the bend. (Busman will probably tell you that it's like me in that case!! Out there yesterday evening photographing walls whilst passers by looked at me as if I'd gone totally mad.)

It is in the wall where there's a gate with a Blythe's sign on it. (It says "Emergency Access" or something like that.)

There is also this doorway which still has a door in it which leads through to Blythes. The main entrance is down Bridge Street but something at the back of my mind says the "Emergency Access" used to be a main entrance. Maybe it was changed as coming down Bridge Street gives easier access for lorries turning right.

Your right as usual Willow...That was the main entrance to Blythes many years ago. I think there was some concern about lorries pulling out of it and the road in both directions was blind to them.

I use to play around there when I was a kid. Further on after you go under the railway bridge, on the other side of the canal there are some ruined red brick kilns. I don't know what they were used for, but we use to go bird nesting inside them. Twas an area full of wonder for young kids (that's if you could get across the canal by sneaking through Blythes or walking across the railway lines on the bridge!!!!). Twenty steps is next to the bridge on the opposite side to the canal and leads by a rough path to Hill Street. There's not 20 steps but everybody called them 20 steps...I wonder why?

Tealeaf may know?

[WillowTheWhisp]

Originally Posted by Darby

Your right as usual Willow...

LOL
More often than not I'm as woolly as they come. I have vague memories of things but I think my brain cells have siezed up. I was reading this week that human brain cells start to die off once the brain reaches full maturity (around age 21) which probably explains a lot.

I went out to take photos of the area on Blackburn Rd, both sides, but by the time I got back and downloaded them I'd forgotten which photo related to what!

This morning my camera wizard was acting up and I seem to have something very strange on the SD card I was using yesterday.

Somewhere I have a map and when I can find it I intend to ask a question...............it may take some time.

[WillowTheWhisp]

Originally Posted by Darby

Further on after you go under the railway bridge, on the other side of the canal there are some ruined red brick kilns. I don't know what they were used for, but we use to go bird nesting inside them. Twas an area full of wonder for young kids (that's if you could get across the canal by sneaking through Blythes or walking across the railway lines on the bridge!!!!). Twenty steps is next to the bridge on the opposite side to the canal and leads by a rough path to Hill Street. There's not 20 steps but everybody called them 20 steps...I wonder why?

Tealeaf may know?

Would that be the coke ovens? I used to get there by going along the canal bank from the back of the Hare & Hounds.

[Darby]

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

Would that be the coke ovens? I used to get there by going along the canal bank from the back of the Hare & Hounds.

Yeah that's right, but the canal path was on the other side from them (I think...My brain cells have had a lot of time to die off!).

You must have been around at the same time as I was? Did you live up the West End?

[Tealeaf]

Oh Dear..........It must be that strong German beer on the the brain cells, Darby. The canal tow path runs alonside the coke ovens; it switches to the other side at Church Kirk bridge and stays threre until it reaches Clayton (see the previous attachment on the toffs at the Dunkenhalgh estate)

Until about 1970, the support for the winding engine above the Aspen Colliery shaft was still in place by the coking ovens. This was pulled down and the little canal "inlet or dock" all tidied up about then. Like the warehouse further along, this was a technologically advanced facility for it's time. The coal came up the shaft, into the ovens, then loaded onto barges in the dock an away. Once again, clever stuff.

Some of you may also recall the wooden signals box which stood close by. Again, this was pulled down about 1970, as the signals moved from manual to electronic. The interesting thing about the railway as it crosses from this point towards Rishton is that it appears to be built on a massive embankment across Aspen valley. But it's not an embankment; it's actually a huge wooden viaduct which was filled in with soil sometime around 1900. I've seen piccy's before....it would be nice to have posted on here. Anyone help....Atarah?

[Bazf]

1.Church siding on the Boulevard looking to the Railway Station. The trams left here for Intack, Church and Accrington until 1932 when Accrington trams ceased to run. The terminus was then moved to Salford. A very good overall view of the Boulevard and Station. Note the old charabanc to the left.

2.The Church siding with a view of the Star&Garter pub and Syd Smith's Funeral Directors and Garage (also a taxi place!). He was a well-known character who always wore a bowler hat. Notice the people waiting in the shelter for the next tram.
3. This was the Church terminus from 1932 when Accrington trams ceased running and the trams came straight down Eanam to here and then back. A good view of the Bay Horse and Lord Nelson pubs and the opening into Penny Street.

4.A splendid view at the Churc siding with the conductor looking curiously at the camera, and interestingly, the passengers boarding at the front of the tram.

5. A snowy scene in the siding. Imagine being on the top deck in this weather - brrrrr! W. W. Rice and Sons Printers and Mooreys Health Store are in view, and the Salvation Army Citadel is behind the trams.

6.Looking towards Church, with the Fountain Brewery on the left, later to become the Redcap Paint Works, and beyond is the Old Mother Redcap pub.

7.Heading to Church with an Accrington Corporation bus in pursuit. On this country section the trams could get up to a fair old speed.
8.Steam tram and trailer underneath Church Railway Bridge, and on its way to Blackburn. The scene is very much as it is today.

9.Church bound tram on the Accrington side of the railway bridge.
10.The Church terminus looking towards Blackburn, and the lines are being laid in preparation for the opening of the electric trams from Accrington to Oswaldtwistle in 1907. Image the disruption this must have caused! The Canal Warehouse and the Church Commerical Hotel can be seen in the background.

[Acrylic-bob]

Brilliant photographs Bazf. Once again it is disheartening to see just how much has gone.

[Tealeaf]

I agree..but has Bazf barrowed them from http://www.cottontown.org/page.cfm?p...5&language=eng

Or has Blackburn libary borrowed them from Bazf?

[Bazf]

not borrowed stolen