Re: Bridges of Accrington(Historical)
 

Oh, its all part of the same building Katex!
Once, a gentleman called Samuel Spencer lived there. He was born in Accrington in 1809 and became a Master Tailor. He reputedly founded the first business on these premises c1830, not long after the construction of "Little" Blackburn Road. Mr Spencer worked here most of his adult life and, according to the census returns, employed as many as 14 men and boys.
He lived above the shop with his wife Suzanna, 3 children and one domestic servant.
Not too sure of the date, (in last 10-15 years at a guess) but before the bridal shop used to be there, an "eating establishment" open there and after research by the owner, named it SAMUEL SPENCERS to keep the name of the original owner alive.

And ....as the photo shows, E.J. Riley's were there at one time too.

Re: Bridges of Accrington(Historical)
 

I just tried to photograph a good view of the house on Google, and my lappy went loopy, so gave up.

It's odd.

Dual purpose.

From one side it's a shop fronted property.

Go around the corner and it's the front of a Victorian town house.

Re: Bridges of Accrington(Historical)
 

What a star you are, Atarah .. looks like was a sweat shop ... LOL.

Re: Bridges of Accrington(Historical)
 

...and the perfect symmetry of the windows and door, would suggest this was the intended frontage of the building, on Bridge Street, and not just the side of a shop on Little Blackburn Road.

Re: Bridges of Accrington(Historical)
 

It was a chip shop about twenty years ago, with a cafe you could access via Bridge Street, if you didn't want to fight past the queue in the shop on Blackburn Road.

Re: Bridges of Accrington(Historical)
 

But would the shop not be the frontage of the business ?

Re: Bridges of Accrington(Historical)
 

If it is late Georgian, circa 1830, it makes sense the front of the property would have been on Bridge Street.

Perhaps it turned, so to speak, with a front made on the gable end, as the importance of Little Blackburn Road grew commercially?

Re: Bridges of Accrington(Historical)
 

Looking at it today, where the shop entrance is now, would have been the side of the property.

Visually, the front of the property is on Bridge Street.

Might be wrong.

Have a look, next time you're passing, and see what you thing.

We might all have tol march down from the Arden on Saturday, if we can't decide now.

:D

Re: Bridges of Accrington(Historical)
 

I was waiting to pick up some photos, and had my camera on me!

Why didn't I take a photograph?

Doh.

Bridges of Accrington(Historical)
 

That makes absolute sense!

Here is a copy of an advert from a 1927 local newspaper showing E J Rileys

And ... here is something you might not know. Dont know if true, but ...the shop next door, ALTHAMS Travel Agents as we know it - apparently Althams started by selling tea in 1864, and then began taking their customers on trips. Thus began a travel agency which developed branches over a wide area, and continues today.

Re: Bridges of Accrington(Historical)
 

oops, forgot photo!! Here it is

Re: Bridges of Accrington(Historical)
 

Fantastic!

When did it stop being E. J. Riley's?

I remember going in there as a young child in the late sixties.

Unless I dreamt it.

Fascinating about Altham's.

:)

Re: Bridges of Accrington(Historical)
 

Moderators - please feel free to move recent posts in this thread.

Thay are in the wrong place.

I did a search earlier, but perhaps this might be a more suitable place for the recent discussion?

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...ton-49850.html

Re: Bridges of Accrington(Historical)
 

Well many thanks for reviving this thread, because now I remember where bridge street is, I had forgotten. I have been told that an Accy Webber can be found sat in his bus on bridge street most days at 1pm and was planning to say hello today, until I saw the weather forecast:rolleyes:

Re: Bridges of Accrington(Historical)
 

I well remember it being E J Rileys I think it was probably early 70's when it closed down. Used to regularly visit to add to my subbuteo collection (which I still have in the loft somewhere)

Re: Bridges of Accrington(Historical)
 

Managed to take a few photographs today of the property in question.