Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

An interesting article by Neil Sayer, L.C.C.'s senior archivist, about Italians in the north west, and in Accrington, including an amusing account of bicycling Horrace Bacigalupo.

News from the Archives edition 57 (Dec 2006

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Very interesting rindy, I especially liked,

"Good God Sir! what can we expect? This tyke comes from a background of culture that conquered the known world while we were still living in the historical equivalent of bicycle sheds, make an example of him immediately or next thing you know we'll have hoards of his kind and perhaps worse coming over and stealing our jobs".

We should have more of this swift Justice.
:p

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Aye, the cops should start by rounding up these drunks found staggering out the Railway Hotel most weekday afternoons.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Nowadays he'd more likely be given a hug by the policeman, and presented with a new a bike, to encourage him from breaking the law again, instead of finding himself before the magistrates, and named and shamed in the local paper for committing his heinous crime.

:D

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Distant memory - a Joe Bacigalupo, married to the daughter of Nellie Renshaw - lived on Countess St I think and at one time in Fielding Lane, way up the top.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

In the 1950s there was a Bacigalupo who had a barber shop on, I think, Richmond Hill Street near to its crossing with Ormerod Street. I seem to remember hearing that he had a daughter who became engaged to Bob Scott who played football for the Stanley at the time.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Don't you mean Bert Scott- that lovely tall slim winger I had a girly crush on at the time:o

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Bert is still batting Top bloke n friend of mine,was talking to his son just the other week.:)

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There was a Bacigalupo at the Grammar School during the time I was there 1941-1945.Cant remember his Christian name though. Bob Dobson might know.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

No I don't know. There have been at least two Bacigalupos with barber's shops I think. I was under the impression that darwen was the Italian capital of Lancashire. Maybe they are left-overs from the constipation camp in Ossie during the war. There was a book about this published about 5yrs ago.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

There was a lad barry bacigalupo attended the art school within the accrington grammer school round about 1949/50 lived in baxenden think he went on to the barrow print works as did most of the art students round about that

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Hi Bob,
Why 'constipation' camp? is there an interesting story or was it just a 'slip of the lip'?
Actually I can remember my mum taking me up to see what was left of the camp and also mentioning that many of the Italian prisoners actually married Ossie girls at the end of the war. Also she told me that at Xmas /Easter etc... some of the prisoners were invited to local homes.
Any info anyone??

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

In post 52 of this thread I've put the link on to the programme (part 1 of 5) about the camp.

Interviewd are some former (German) prisoner who married local lasses.

I hope you find it interesting.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...l-31151-4.html

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

And .... going back even further ...... around Warner Street area we had an Italian Ice Cream vendor! In 1889 Warner Street was classed as "the most demoralising place in the town". Mr. Louis Brown, the ice cream man, had premises in Warner Street, where he had an ice cream parlour. (not sure on this, but a possibility we are talking the bottom property of Warner Street/Cross Street)- where once Key Joe's, used to be, then it was lastly Red Rose Paints I believe. Two guys were charged with obstruction. They had been seen on the Sunday evening, drinking and dancing in the street, directly opposite the ice cream parlour! The Chief Constable said the house was a frequent resort of youths and young women on Sunday evenings, the boys for the most part being found smoking. On one Sunday there were seen to be 57 youths in the house - 45 lads and 12 lasses! Another day 30 in total. On another occasion, 99 lads and 5 lasses! Reports had been sent to the Watch Committee and the Chairman said it was necessary that members of the public should be aware of this "den of iniquity" and parents should take need of what was happening in the street. He said he regarded the house as the most demoralising place in the town. He did not think there was any beerhouse in the town that suffered this type of behaviour. This was in 1889! Things never change, eh!

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Thanks so much, I did enjoy it, and seeing old Ossie almost brought a tear to my eye!!

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Whilst I feel sure that sm counsell will realise it, my use of constipation instead of concentration camp was an attempt at humour. Looking at Atarah's posting, I cannot see there being an Italian called Brown.(Unless he was really Luigo Bruno) I think he sold Italian style ice cream. I have heard it said that his ice cream took some licking.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

I did think you were trying to be humorous Bob, perhaps I just hoped there was a funny story somewhere.
As regards the names of Italians that emigrated for example to the USA, perhaps we should remember that usually the people that emigrated were more than often extremely poor, and in many cases, unable to read or write. On arrival, they were asked not only their names, but also the spelling!.
This is the reason that many Italians in England have a different name because it was left up to the clerk to decipher their 'Italian' names. Perhaps Mr. Luigi Bruno knew the translations for a few colours ( Bruno = Brown), so he had fewer problems!
I've heard of Italians called 'Maffei' that was then written as 'Maffia' ( you can imagine the problems!!) and it has taken a long time to correct this mistake made many years ago!!

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Yes, I'm sure that you're right, seeing the name Bert in print has jogged my memory and, yes, he played on the wing. And it's obviously brought back memories for you which I hope are not too painful... :)

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I had a great great uncle named Joe Bacigalupo. He died when I was only little though. Always been told that side of the family is from Genoa.

Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

For Bob Dobson - oh yeah of little faith! Shame on you, doubting me! Its a bit blurred, sorry, but you can just make out the name Louis Brown, Ice cream dealer in Warner Street.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

This is an amazing find for me thank you Atarah for posting that census, Louis Brown was my Great Grandfather and he was an Ice Cream dealer who eventually had places in Burnley and Nelson also. I was a baby when he died and I believe he lived to 101, his daughter, Ada, also on this census lived to 93 and I visited her many times at 114 Dowry Street where she lived with her daughter, Josephine, for many years. They are all buried in Accrington cemetary. Legend has it that when Louis Brown retired he gave all of his businesses to his employees. I actually think his real name was Luigi Capigrossi but am not 100% sure on that.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Hi go2riamb, have much more info on Louis Brown. Will pm you.
Atarah

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Yes , my first barber , and he seemed to take ages .

In later years he opened up his business at the bottom of Warner St , across from the Warners Arms .

There was another , much younger , Bacigalupo who worked at the Sports Centre , teaching swimming .

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

There was also one on Whalley Road in Clayton. He was forever going out to put bets on and watching horseracing so took ages to get a haircut.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Garindas' post(13) mentions a video about POWs in Oswaldtwistle and on the video I saw Mary Clarke. She was my best friends stepmother and told us about the locals having the POWs in their homes at Christmas. She said they all took turns to sing the carols of their homelands-English, German and I think Italian at one time. She said they all ended up in tears. When you think how small rations were after the war it was very generous of them, can't have been much to share.

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Barry Bacigalupo was/is my second cousin, his mother, Alice Mary Wood married Leo Bacigalupo in 1930 and she had ladies hairdresser's on Church Street, she died 1970..they lived Manchester Road Baxenden.....by coincidence my mother was also Alice Mary Wood, and she married a Cuddihy in 1931....two cousins ..same name....so it was confusing researching family history, but got all the documents now, so can confirm the above...but don't know, as yet, what happened to Barry

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just found out Barry emigrated to Canada

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Hi go2riamb, You say Louis Brown was your great grandfather. From who do you decsend as he was my gr gr grandfather. I have his marriage cert & Researching into his family as I am very interested in family history. Hope to hear from you soon
Tracy

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Hadn't seen this thread before -interesting link to earlier thread about the concentration camp in Ossy.
There were several 3rd generation Italian's at junior school with me in Clayton -i remember the Di Mambro's and Philippini's, there was another girl called Lydia but i can't think of the surname...

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Funny how things stick in your mind... I remember the surnames Di Mambro, Philippini and Bacigalupo when I was growing up, couldn't tell you why except I know Bacigalupo was a hairdresser. Probably the exotic sounds of the names made them memorable, but you are probably used to that by now mobertol.

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Do you know i never realised they were of Italian extraction back then -they were all "dead lanky" the way they spoke -it was only when i moved here that I made the connection...

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There was a chap who was gaffer at the sports center called bacigalupo in the 80's.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Just looked up this surname on Internet - it's from the South of Italy in origin and means literally "to kiss a wolf" which apparently equates to a person of "dubious integrity"....

(Baciare il lupo - is to kiss a wolf in Italian-" bacigare" is the dialect in the south for to kiss...hence : Baciga - lupo, kiss the wolf, possible connections to the "Malavita" -Mafia and such?).

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Pronunciation -in English we say "Bassygaluppo" in Italian it's actually:

"Ba -chee-ga-lou -po" they obviously adopted the more English pronunciation to fit in.:D

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Very interesting ... thanks for the info.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

My (italian)mother in law's name was Scavo, which means 'dig', so the name could have derived from gravediggers.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Or even gold diggers Margaret;)

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

hi, my wifes grandad was joseph bacigalupo, from the accrington area. He had 6 brothers i think. His son was William Baxendale (changed name 1945, have papers) who married Pat Pusey in Ormskirk. My wifes parents. I think that makes her your distant cousin? And alos our 3 children. We live in old skelmersdale. Contact me if you want/have further details. Thanks
Oh, and all the family was from Geona, and Joes father, Bathmolew baciagalupo, walked over the alps with his wife, kids and 1 of his brothers to get to england. famous family story.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Hi,please see my other reply on this thread re my wifes grandad, Joseph Bacigalupo. Think you must be related to her in some way. Please contact me if you have any more info. Thanks

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is he still cleaning windows:)

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Nah hes oer 80 now, does a bit of collecting,his lad does the windows, was talking to him just before christmas.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Quite a few Italians worked on the afternoon shift in the development tunnels at Huncoat Pit,very helpfull if you required a lift moving machinery underground.I remember just one name which was Adam.
When they got off the Huncoat bus Bottom of Little Blackburn Rd they were all dressed to kill and away they went around the pubs, this would be 9.00 in the evening and you could not tell they had just done 7 hours in the pit.
Very good workers earning top money,always looking after there boss.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

I remember Adam very well. We worked together for quite a while about 1964/65. We used to do the drilling into the rockface up the rise on nightshift ready for the shot Firer in the morning. he was a very fiery man and it didnt take much to upset him. He always wanted to fight someone. Never me though for some reason. Most fights took place behind the Baths after work. On one occasion it went too far. I think it was with a guy called Tommy Thorpe he was on development. Adam was may I say, A well known Ladies man. Also remember working with a Polish/Ukraine/German/Russian guy called Merlin. He lived down Clayton on the main road before the turning to bottom end. You could tell his house from the multi coloured bricks on the front. Other names spring to mind. Jack the pole, Black Bob, Herman the German and so on.Great Memories.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

At Hapton Valley I worked with Marto Lepri, an Iti who lived in Ossie. Great sense of humour. Liked to catch rats with his hands. He died in the Hapton Valley explosion
c1960.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

was later in 60s surely Bob?:confused:Seem to recall just before i left school which was early 63.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

I worked at the valley Bob with the mechanisation team Peter Ashton,Keith Bracewell,Brian Barrett(yogi) installing new faces with the automated hydralic props.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Hapton Valley or Happy valley as we called it. The explosion was 22/03/1962. I had just started at Bank Hall as trainee.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

I am also Louis' great-granddaughter, with my Granny being Ada from Dowry Street. My mum, Dolores Fiori, was her fifth daughter.

What's your name? I'm sure I must know you.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Hi Tracyann,

As Louis' great-granddaughter I have the oil paintings of him and his wife - Sarah Lever, plus a lot of family history, including official documents, including confirmation of his Italian nationality until 1918!

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Hi Atarah,

Many thanks for replying. No need to send me anything.
I have seven or eight original press cuttings and his certificate of nationality from the Italain Consulate dated October 5 1918.

He never became a British citizen so UK pensions etc. were never possible, hence his continuing to work to a very ripe age - 100! I was told by my mum, a granddaughter, that he sold his business at the age of 80.

I have an ice cream recipe that could be his.

I also have the original oil paintings of him and his wife.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Found this whilst researching my family history... at least we know what happened to him...seems he had an interesting life....
Barry Bacigalupo 1930 ~ 2005 Barry Bacigalupo, 74, died serenely at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah, with family and loved ones by his side on Friday, April 2, 2005. Barry was an only child; he was born September 03, 1930 in Accrington, Lancashire, England to Leo Bacigalupo and Alice Mary Wood. Barry attended art school in Accrington; he was a very talented artist and sculptor. In 1948, Barry and his parents emigrated from Southhampton England to Halifax, Canada on the ship Acquitania. They worked on a large farm in Ontario for two years as a part of their immigration agreement and eventually settled in British Columbia. In 1951, Barry married Jeanne E. Northgraves of Chilliwack, B.C., Canada; they had three children: Craig, Valerie and Brian. Barry worked as a salesman and continued his art studies. In the Fall of 1963, the family immigrated to S.L.C., Utah. Later divorced. Barry wed Alice Smokoff, who was also born in Lancashire, England. Barry and Alice lived in Sacramento where he worked for Subaru as the Regional Sales Manager. Barry and Alice later owned and operated BMW Marine on the Oakland Embarcadero. They spent much time sailing on San Francisco Bay. Barry loved to go deep-sea fishing at every opportunity. They returned to live in S.L.C. in 2000 where he continued to work as a contractor designing and building bunkhouses on National Wildlife Refuges. Barry was a car enthusiast; he loved Formula 1 racing, basketball and football. Survived by his loving wife Alice; children Craig (Anita) Bacigalupo, SLC; Valerie (Byron) Engh, San Diego, CA; Brian (Beth) Bacigalupo, SLC; grandchildren Andrea (Scott) Peterson, David, Robert, James, SLC; Erin, Katherine, Ryan, Erik, San Diego; Brayden, SLC; great-grandson Matthew L. Vincent Engh, San Diego; step children Thomas Smokoff, LeeAnn Smokoff, Pete Smokoff, all of S.L.C. A memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 16th at Calvary Baptist Church, 1090 S. State. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to The Road Home. The family would like to thank Dr. Keith Lane and Life Path Hospice for the loving care they provided to Barry and his family.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

I am Valerie (Bacigalupo) Engh, age 58, daughter of Barry Bacigalupo who died of pancreatic cancer on April 2, 2005. I was born in British Columbia, Canada and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. I live in Los Angeles, CA; however, I was very fortunate to travel to England with my father Barry Bacigalupo, my husband and my two brothers (Craig and Brian Bacigalupo) for a treasured visit to see my father's beloved Baxenden. The trip took place approx. 7 years before my father died.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Dear Garinda, I am the daughter of the late Barry Bacigalupo and Horrace was/is my late father's Uncle Horrace. My father's parents are Leo and Alice (Wood) Bacigalupo. Leo was one of seven brothers. Horrace was my grandfather's younger brother, and my grandfather Leo and his brothers did own or manage several barber shops. I would be so very interested to read the article about Horrace which you linked to; however the link does not seem to work for me. Is there any way you can help me to find this article? Thank you so very much in advance!! Any other info that anyone can share about my English relatives is so greatly appreciated!

I was born in Canada but when I was 7 years old our family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. At the age of 20 I married Ensign Byron R. Engh, U.S.N. who was soon to begin flight school training with the U.S. Navy in Florida and Texas. After becoming a pilot, my husband and I have lived in California and raised our family here. My father and his second wife, Alice, also lived in California for many years.

About seven years before my father Barry Bacigalupo passed away, my two brothers and I were very fortunate to be able to travel to England with my father in order to visit my father's beloved Baxenden, Accrington, and many places that he loved when he was growing up. It was a very sentimental and wonderful trip to learn of our family roots and I have many lovely photos taken during that trip. I'm only sorry that I was not able to connect with any of my English or Italian relatives at that time.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Hi, my name is Valerie (Bacigalupo) Engh. My paternal grandfather was/is Leo Bacigalupo, who was one of the seven Bacigalupo brothers. The seven brother's parents were Bartholomew Bacigalupo, born 20 Dec 1874 in New Accrington, Lanc. England, died 1940 and Ann Jane Walsh, born 15 Feb 1879 in Haslingden, Lanc., England, died May 1963. The Bacigalupo brothers names are, from eldest to youngest: 1.Bartholomew (Bart) 2.William (Bill) 3. Leo 4.Francis (Fran) 5. Albert 6. Joseph (Joe) 7. Horace I would love to connect with relatives and share information. My father, Barry Bacigalupo, was an only child and emigrated to Canada. I have never met any of my English or Italian relatives, (except for my Grandfather Leo and my Grandmother Alice Mary Wood), and I would really love to finally get in touch. You are correct about the story of Bartholomew walking across the Alps to get to England! I've heard that story many, many times from my father Barry and my grandfather Leo!

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Valerie, you might be interested in a thread, 1st Barbers, in the nostalgia forum, or Questions & Answers forum, under heading Bagigalupo

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We seldom see Garinda on here, Valerie. I will tell him about your postings..

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Valerie There is only one Bacigalupo ( J) in the local phone directory I shall send you a private message with the details. You can PM Garinda by clicking onto his name in a posting. A drop box allows you to send him one. He gets an email to notify him.

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how wonderful to connect with you Valerie.. we are related and I have replied to your message with family information. Well done Accrington Web...yet again reuniting family and friends.. thank you xx

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

I'll be sure to check that out right away! Thank you so very much!! Big Hugs!!! This is sooo exciting!!

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Hi Atarah , I am trying to find information about my great great grandfather
Luigi Bruno Capogrossi ( Louis Brown)
My father Joseph Blades remembers selling ice cream when he was a little boy from a cart with Louis in Accrington .
I do hope you can help me
Richard

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Dear Valerie,
We share the same ancestry. My great grandfather was Bartolomeo Bacigalupo. Just to keep the family history correct, it was he who walked across the Alps, not his son Bartholomew. Bart. Jn. had seven sons, one of which was Leo. Bart Jn. was born and reared in Accrington not Italy. In fact, the English connection goes back to Bartolomeo's father and mother, Giuseppe and Rosa (nee Botto) They came to England c1840 but went back to Italy. They returned for good in April 1856 and settled in Bradford where they ran a lodging house. Bartolomeo was born in Italy in 1853. He went back to Italy in the late 1860's, early 1870's to finally return to marry in 1874. It is he who walked across the Alps with his friend Antonio Papa, (Tony Pope, another ice-cream supplier to the town).Bartolomeo married Mary Jane Rodgers of Italian parents. Her father James although Italian was known locally as 'German Jimmy'. He ran a doss house in Duke Street Accrington.
I have tried for years to establish Bartolomeo's exact place of birth. I think it is Chiavari, about 20 miles south of Genoa, but cannot be certain.
I have a few family photos if you would like copies. Message me and I will send you my email address.
Regards,
Graeme

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Hi lovely post. I dont really know much of your family in our town of Accrington, but certainly have heard of them. They "left their mark". Your mention about "German Jimmy" and Duke Street made me smile. If I remember correctly, if you look on the census, an early one, am sure you will find all the names of the folk who were registered there on the night of the census. Maybe that gives the birth place of your ancestor.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

When Bartolomeo settled in Accrington, the family home was 29 Oswald Street c1891 and remained so up into the 1970's when Agnes Bacigalupo, the last of Bartolomeo's daughters died. He tried his hand at many jobs. Apparently had the first fried fish shop in Accrington, greengrocer, and of course made and sold ice-cream. The family story is that he was the first man to put raspberry sauce on the 'penny lick'. My father who was William Thacker, also lived in Oswald street, and told me that as a very young boy, would help his grandfather Bart to make the ice-cream which would then be packed in blocks of ice and loaded onto a hand cart. Bart would then push the cart to Burnley to sell at an annual fair. You know how family stories can get embellished down the years!!
Bart's eldest son, also Bartholomew, had seven sons. Three of them were well known in the town for being barbers.
With regard to my other greatgrandfather, James Rodgers, I visited Accrington Cemetery and found the entry for James. Next to his entry was written, A.K.A, German Jimmy, and he was Italian!!

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

i used to know a bacigalupo in accy back in 60s but sorry my memorys knackered i cannot tell you anything.

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There used to be a shop in Ormerod street that was run by the Bacigalupo family.
It was on the block just higher up than Howard and Bulloughs....can't remember what the business was though... i have it in my mind that it was a barbers/mens hairdressers, but I could be wrong.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

There was Bacigalupo Barber on Richmond Hill Street between Ormerod Street and Holden Street and he was well established there for many years.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

The only Bacigalupo that I knew was the gents hairdresser at the bottom of Warner street, this was in the fities and sixties.
My father was a gents haidresser in Rawtenstall (Dany Kenyon), he would normally cut my hair at home in Accrington where we lived, but now and again he didn't have the time, so I would visit Bacigalupo's shop in Warner street.

Cheers

Philip Kenyon
Formally Belfield road