[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by Atarah

I have been in touch with "Owd Bert" and he has kindly loaned me a coloured photo from a few years back, which I can share with Accywebbers. I wish I could visualise all of Pitt Street, but I cant. I have read that the higher part of the street was blocked by houses which formed almost a cul-de-sac but connected with Birtwistle Street by a passage which went by the name of the "Mouse Trap". Here was The Prince of Wales hotel, kept at one time by a William Mitchell. (The one from Owd Bert will help you visualise the area of town we are discussing). It is said that William M. once went out to Australia during the gold rush. There is supposedly a street named after him in Melbourne (wonder if there still is?). After returning to Accrington (hopefully, rich!) he became host of the hotel. Any Mitchells tracing their family tree? He could be related!

If you look at the old maps, you can see where they demolished the end house on Higher Pitt St and two houses in Birtwistle St to make it a through street to connect with Hargreaves St.
Think it was done just before WW1.
The picture which shows the Prince of Wales still standing, also shows the remains of Bunny's Back along side.

Retlaw.