Old Accrington

Retlaw · 09-10-2009, 18:42

Found this whilst searching for a soldiers obit in the Accy Observer 1917.
Retlaw

wadey · 09-10-2009, 20:41

I think this is the terrace far right with The Hargreaves

Atarah · 10-10-2009, 15:42

Hi Wadey, yes that is the terrace shown on the old photo supplied by Retlaw. This terrace is known as Bank Terrace and was built 1834. Certainly the oldest elevated terrace in Accrington.

Atarah · 10-10-2009, 16:41

Glad you put that photo on Retlaw. Has made me at last get round to giving some information I have intended doing for a while. Its sad that sometimes people are mis-led about historical information, not always intentional.
Your photo shows a rounded building (in the centre of the photo). This was the Toll Bar (Manchester Road and Grange Lane being on each side of it). At the other side of the road, between Grange Lane and Wellington Street, was another rounded building. This, many years ago, was known as Bew's Shop, then it became Riley's shop, then it was used as a small nursing home, then North Lancs Training Group used it, now its a house I believe. But ... somewhere along the line, someone has probably looked at pictures such as the one you have shown here Retlaw, and .. assumed ... it was the Toll bar and have now had a lovely plaque put on the wall saying it is the Toll House. WRONG!
Its the premises of Bew's shop. The sad thing is, people moving into the area will accept that this once was the Toll bar/house, cos they wont know any different.
But .. at least WE all know now, eh? :-)

Atarah · 10-10-2009, 16:42

Glad you put that photo on Retlaw. Has made me at last get round to giving some information I have intended doing for a while. Its sad that sometimes people are mis-led about historical information, not always intentional.
Your photo shows a rounded building (in the centre of the photo). This was the Toll Bar (Manchester Road and Grange Lane being on each side of it). At the other side of the road, between Grange Lane and Wellington Street, was another rounded building. This, many years ago, was known as Bew's Shop, then it became Riley's shop, then it was used as a small nursing home, then North Lancs Training Group used it, now its a house I believe. But ... somewhere along the line, someone has probably looked at pictures such as the one you have shown here Retlaw, and .. assumed ... it was the Toll bar and have now had a lovely plaque put on the wall saying it is The Old Toll House. WRONG!
Its the premises of Bew's shop. The sad thing is, people moving into the area will accept that this once was the Toll bar/house, cos they wont know any different.
But .. at least WE all know now, eh? :-)

Retlaw · 10-10-2009, 19:31

[quote=Atarah;752258]Glad you put that photo on Retlaw. Has made me at last get round to giving some information I have intended doing for a while. Its sad that sometimes people are mis-led about historical information, not always intentional.

Yes, do you remember when it was being done up, I could hear some one working in the bottom floor, you can only see the to 12" of the windows. I shouted down and asked him what he was doing. Result was I nipped home for my camera and he let me take photos of the old fire places and some of the things he had found.
They also built that wall at the front which encroached onto the pavement, they were supposed to knock it down but its still there.

Another misnamed building is at the bottom of Timber St, which says Cow Houses, its over 700 yards from Cow Houses, which in the 1841 and 1851 census returns, is actually an area of Accrington centered round Black Abbey, not a specific building.
Were you there on the day went into Cow Houses with Walter Haworth and took photos and made detailed drawings of it

Retlaw.

wadey · 10-10-2009, 19:39

Thanks for the info

Retlaw · 10-10-2009, 20:30

Re confusion at top of Grange Lane and Wellington St, hope these pictures clear things up once and for all.

Retlaw

Retlaw · 10-10-2009, 20:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by wadey

I think this is the terrace far right with The Hargreaves

Do you mean this.
Retlaw.

ian1 · 10-10-2009, 23:31

Thats just the end of my street !! the "Toll house" was a old folks home in the 1990s and then nltg took it over for offices , i haven't seen the sign saying cow houses though !!
ian

Atarah · 11-10-2009, 06:40

The sign Cow Houses is on the bottom cottage in Timber Street. Probably just trying to re-create a bit of old Accrington and its possibly mentioned on their deeds, you never know.

Retlaw · 11-10-2009, 10:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian1

Thats just the end of my street !! the "Toll house" was a old folks home in the 1990s and then nltg took it over for offices , i haven't seen the sign saying cow houses though !!
ian

I thought the picture would have explained that the property at the top of Wellington St and Grange Lane was NOT the "Toll House" It was Bews Shop, old folks home etc.

The TOLL House was demolished when they built the Fire Station Houses.
Look at the pictures again, the frontages are entirely different.

Retlaw.

Retlaw · 11-10-2009, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atarah

The sign Cow Houses is on the bottom cottage in Timber Street. Probably just trying to re-create a bit of old Accrington and its possibly mentioned on their deeds, you never know.

I doubt it is mentioned on their deeds, all that land surrounding the Christ Church area was part of Grange Farm, which belonged to Lawrence Duckworth.
The farm buildings were situated where Kemp & Murrays butchers shop was.
The word Cow House Post was only mentioned in the 1841/51 census directions, for the census takers benefit.

Retlaw

bekibird · 05-02-2011, 00:40

Much fun and amusement with this thread! I am the current owner of the wrongly attributed Toll House!! Very appreciative of the comments and the fact that my husband let you, Retlaw, see what state its in at the moment. We are trying our best to be sympathetic to the buildings former uses and hope to have some exciting plans for it in the future. We will not be removing any original features. If anyone can help with any further history of the building, as I really do love it, it would be great. NLTG left behind some framed articles and pictures - of which have been posted on here- but it would be nice to hear locals stories. Thanks again for clearing up mistakes. It's a pain to know that we will have to take out the etched glass which states 'The Toll House' in the outside lamp though!!!

Tealeaf · 05-02-2011, 01:31

Err...why do you have to take out the etched glass?