New Era
 

I was wondering if anyone knows what the New Era Complex used to be through its history. I gather that it has been a community centre for some time, though the age of the origional structure suggests that it was likely to have been something before this.

Any information will be greatly appreciated (and may even get a mention in my acknowledgments in my Dissertation :D hehe).

Thanks
Lini

Re: New Era
 

To my knowledge it was purpose built youth and community centre

Re: New Era
 

Funnily enough was talking to a neighbour about this last night and according to him it used to be Bulloughs Social Club. The upstairs area was for the apprentices (he was "apprentice supervisor" from 1949) and downstairs was a bar and ballroom.

Re: New Era
 

Can't place it Bernie - is it at the top end of Church St? If that is the place I know it pretty well - so does you know who;););)

Re: New Era
 

They must have carried out a hell of a lot of building work Bernie, can't say I've ever actually been in the place, its on Paradise St ain't it

Re: New Era
 

That site has had many occupants in the past.
Originally it was known as Higher Fold, the centre of New Accrington, the land was occupied by cottages, then Lang Bridges had a factory along with others on Paradise St. Then a Sewing Machine Works occupied the site.
When they started to demolish the site to build the New Era, the library contracted me and asked me to go and see the site manager, down in the cellars they had a problem with water, and didn't know where it was coming from.
I identified it as coming from an old lodge that used to be on the site of Wellington Mill, facing the end of Paradise St, it was supposed to have been filled in and the water course diverted.
Once they knew what was happening they went ahead with the building of the New Era.
Retlaw.

Re: New Era
 

"according to him it used to be Bulloughs Social Club" came from a neighbour of Bernie's, and 1949 was mentioned - that is what threw me.
Bulloughs Social Club was behind Barnes Carpet Shop, down the ginnel and turn right into the club - turn left and it was the Ritz Ballroom. The club was still there in the very early '60s
The club was opened in the '40s (too young to remember when), but I do know that Joe Davis was at the opening and played 3 games of snooker against local players - one of them beat him off a 3 black start.

Re: New Era
 

I think I was told once that it used to be a cinema called the Ritz. But it's possible that they got confused with the Ritz Ballroom - unless it was a cinema first.

Re: New Era
 

The Ritz was where Barnes furniture store is -a different building from New Era, but nearby

Re: New Era
 

Ah, yes, of course - that makes sense. Thanks Margaret.

Re: New Era
 

Saw I was right when I said it was a new build Walter, may ave been on an old site but thought it was built to purpose

Re: New Era
 

The Ritz Cinema was further up the street on the right hand side of Church St if it went that far, past the pub on the left, The Bridge, and I see on Google Earth that the ginnel runnng between Barnes is still ther but gated off

Re: New Era
 

That ginnal as you call it, back in the mid 1800's was known as Cronshaw's Alley, led to some of the cottages in what was Higher Fold, there was also a Sink St, Cooper Row, and a Water St.
When that block being called Barnes's was the Ritz Cinema, there was 8' long stone sill which had Accrington Higher Bridge engraved on it, when Barnes's had some alterations done it vanished.

Retlaw.