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Mary's Music
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Here's one for the slightly senior generation. Can you remember this shop as it was, before it became a tattoo emporium? Any interesting stories to share?
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I used to like the sign round the back made from what appeared to be giant sequins which would flutter when caught by a breaze so the whole sign glittered.
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dosnt look as though its had a coat of paint since Mary had it. The whole row looks in bad shape. Is the church sill standing accross the road, I think they had some kind of youth club there in the 60s. Bought some of my first records from Mary's.
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I think the vets now stands on the site where the church used to be, Kenyon St.
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Marys music run by Mary Mortimer and assisted by her husband Joe (of Joe Morts Fame). Joe and use to go into the Con Club on Cannon St., he once asked me to join teh Cons and stand for the council, he said they needed young blood!!
Once in the shop Mary caught a lad trying to steal a 45 EP, Joe came across, smacked the lad at the back of the head and told him never to come into the shop again. Joe was brave, because he had the shop full of Teds that use to go in the Morts, and they looked threatening at the lad(I won't name him on this site or any other for that matter). Instant Punishment...it worked as that lad (to my knowledge) never stole anything again! |
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Mary's was the best record shop in Accy. You could ask for the most obscure record (and I asked for some pretty obscure ones, believe me!) and Mary would order it and have it ready and waiting for you in a couple of days. She had some pretty stiff competition in those days, too. Marshalls, further up on the same block for a start. Then there was Wiseman's Golden Disc Bar on Broadway. The main attraction here was the "never-never" club enabling you to buy an LP and then pay it off at a couple of bob a week. Moving over to Blackburn Road, we had Bandbox opposite the market hall with a great selection of sale items. I once chanced my arm on a 45 by Davy Jones & the King Bees for 1/6. It was naff so I chucked it. Turned out it was David Bowie's first ever record and it's now worth around £900. Then there was Tony's further on Blackburn Road opposite the bottom of Paxton Street and probably lots more places I've forgotten. Whatever happened to all the record shops in town?
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Ah but those were the good old days. Do you remember when you could go in a record shop and ask to hear the album before you parted with your hard-saved cash?
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Darby - at least I know I'm not on my own. :) |
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It was a hairdressers but I get the feeling you want something earlier?
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Was it a clothes shop at one stage? Or am I imagining things again?
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I might be on the wrong corner but I thought it might have sold womens underwear at some stage.
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I remember "Mary's" moved from the corner to the shop further along the block. (Was it the one that had previously been Marshall's?)
I think Arnold then took the corner shop but can't remember what he sold there (same Arnold who had the chippie on the other corner which is now Orient Express) |
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The Vets is situated where Mole St was on the next corner, opposite Britcliffe Row.
Retlaw. Quote:
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Are we talking aboput the same vets? Mearley Vetinary Surgery?
The address is Kenyon Street and the entrance to the car park is on Kenyon Street, although to all intents and purposes is looks as if the vets is on Whalley Road. The only other thing on what is left of Kenyon Street is a taxi company. Mole Street no longer exists does it? I think I recall the name but I don't remember Britcliffe Row. There used to be an archway over which was the name "Mason's Yard" down another of those side streets, which led to the area round the back of the 'Hope and Anchor' by the looks of things but that is all long gone now and the archway has been incorporated into a house. I think opriginally there was a room or rooms above the arch but I may need help to jog my memory properly. |
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Vetinary???? Well, you know what I mean!
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Wynonie, I forgot all those names, although I bought records from them. Good to know someone has got a good memory. Was there a pub called the Bricklayers Arms, in a side Street, near Mary's record shop.
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Must admit I can't remember the Bricklayers Arms, Al (although I usually have a good memory for pubs!). The only pubs I can remember around there were the New Brewery and Royal Oak, but they were further up towards the "Pioneer".
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I don't think it was that sort of question.
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It wasn't a quiz question bagpuss, more a sort of invitation to wallow in nostalgia. I like a good wallow now and again.
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Small point, it isn't "vetinary", there is no such word. The correct term is "veterinary" from the latin veterinae meaning "cattle". Just thought that I would like to share that with you.
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:D Thanks A-b. You'll notice I later remarked upon my abominable typographical error there!
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So you did chuck, so you did. You may count yourself among the blessed for that.
You'll have to excuse me, I'm feeling a bit pontifical and evangelical today. Don't worry though, I'm sure it will have worn off by tea time. (exits genuflecting, amid a cloud of incense.) |
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:s_wink: I usually just count myself amongst those who have little control over their fingers at times. (either that or blame this wireless keyboard)
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Silly me, I had no idea that Mary's Music used to be on the corner, please forgive me on this one.
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Mary's Music, a great shop! I did my work experience there and continued to work there for a good few years after. I do believe it's original position in Accy was down on blackburn road next to funnies nightclub. Does anyone remember it there?
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I vaguely remember it. There was a dancehall above it which was also run by Joe and Mary...but Darby would know much more about all that, as it's more his era.
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Was there ever a Bricklayers Arms in Accy?. What was the name of the street that ran down the back or Entrance to the hospital, I used to have a mate, Harry Gardner, who lived oposite, always wondered what happened to him, he was a headmaster. I think his dad was a Photographer, but he died in his 40s, Harry's brother, was Tony or (Fanner) was his nick name.
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it was known as joe morts, i only went up once frightened me to death, much prefered to go to the empire,ossy, or the vic in clayton-le moors.
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Mary's Music
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Just seen this photo by A-Bob, is this showing the old entrance to Morts? i.e. next to what was Africa's
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That was it wasn't it? That concrete looking porch type bit.
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Just found my old address book, W.T.W. It was 62 Haywood Rd. Also found the driving school I used in the 60s. It was JEM school of motoring, 54 Richmond St, Accrington, can't remember his name, but he was a really nice man. I remember Joe Morts, but never went up there, full of teds I think, When I started to go out to dance halls ( Arcs ) Teds were on there way out. But always remember sometimes they would dance in a group and stamp on the floor in there brothel creepers and make a hell of a noise and make the whole place shake.
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Joe Morts was further to the left as you look at the picture, and upstairs. As far as I can remember, Mary's Music started down stairs from the Dancehall (Joe Morts), but soon got too crowded and so they moved onto Whalley Road. That must have been about 1958 or so. The Morts went into disrepair and at one stage had to be "Propped" up with a hugh wooden structure as it was in danger of collapsing (too much Rock & Roll). I don't know what happened to Joe and Mary Mortimer...perhaps they finally moved away, as Mary always wanted to be next to the sea. I think Joe became a Conservative Councillor later during the 60's..I remember talking to him and Mary "up" the Con Club in Cannon Street, about 1968. I never saw him or Mary again after that. Joe Morts Dancehall was famous for Rock & Roll, Teddy Boys and big fights. Some even with razors, and the Teds would come from Bury, Burnley, Preston and even as far afield as Bolton! Drinking was done at either the Big Crown, Imperial or even the Spread Eagle. The landlord at the Big Crown (1959-1963) was called Bernard, and wouldn't stand any nonsense from the Teds. I frequented the Big Crown regularly when I got home from sea (was in the Royal Navy in those days :engsmil: :engsmil: ), and got so regular that I was allowed to stay late and drink after time!!....a crime in those days....but only if you got caught!!!! :mad: I can honestly say that I only once went "up" Joe Morts, and then didn't stay long (was on a Sunday Afternoon and the pubs had just shut). My missus went up there regularly...that is until she met me ;) ;) ;) . Knowlemere St. was the place I frequented until I joined the Navy, after that it was more the Empire up Ossy, and all the local pubs!! Ahh a misspent youth.............. |
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the other crown known as "the little crown" is on whalley rd just in front of the new stanley football ground, i was once ,not long ago , asked to pick someone up from the crown & i didnt know where it was, until told whalley rd, to which i replied"o the little i know where that is " old habits die hard.
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I must say that I have enjoyed all of these threads. Certainly a sentimental journey. The picture above is not Joe Morts. Morts was further to the left of an old fashioned pub complete with vault, tap room and bar. In 1988 I re-visited this pub and found it to have been totally renovated inside and it professed to be a 'nightclub':D Being one of Accy's original teds,1956-1961, I used to spend most of my time at Knowelmere st with Cliff or at Joe Morts. Not only did they run a rock'n'roll place but they also taught ballroom dancing. Morts did have a fearsome reputation all founded on myth, and it all helped to build an atmosphere about the place. There was rarely any trouble at all in the dance hall. I used to help Joe and Mary with the DJ duties quite often as did other of my teddy mates. There were only about five or six of us originally although the rest of Accy's youth soon were all wearing drainpipes soon enough. In fact alot of the crowd were from Haslinden. From time to time we heard that a lot of teds had come from Manchester and Liverpool and used to battle it out on Blackburn Rd. but I never saw any of it. In fact the Accy teds(including myself) were all wusses:) Had there ever been anything like that we would have quietly disappeared. At no time was I ever aware of Mary having a 'Music' shop under the ballroom. That's not to say she didn't. Because I am a newbie I haven't quite got the hang of all the different posts and threads yet and i'm not quite sure of where to post. Hope you all bear with me. I have asked elsewhere for details of Mary's shop and address. I can't remember where. I also gave a description of the clothes I wore during the late 50's. Again I can't remember where. Sorry all. I was going to continue but I think I'm getting off thread so I'll stop:o
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No, don't stop. this is all fascinating stuff
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I agree, and especially as my memory plays tricks and things turn out to be different to what I thought they were.
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Keep going Terry....
my minds not what it used to be (in fact its better now than then). I was a bit too young for a Ted...and didn't start going to the "places" until 57/58 - 60. Do you remember Jim Cross? he was a Ted...went to Ossy Tech, and had 11" drain pipe trousers. Good job he 'ad thin legs!! Jack Duggan was another Ted, but a bit later!! |
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What was the name of the pub across from the bridge pub on church street?
was that not the "little crown? next to that was a cinama i just cannot remember the name of them. |
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There used to be a pub on the site of the gardens behind St James's Church. I don't remember it myself, but my dad told me about it. It was called the Bay Horse, but it was known as the "Learner's Arms" because a fair amount of under-age drinking used to take place there.
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Not that I remember it !!!!!!!!!!!!! All my training was done in the Australian and the New Brewery....I use to wear short pants as well!! |
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The "Little Crown" still exists - it's on Whalley Road. Stanley's "Crown ground" is behind it.
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The Australian? I seem to remember walking past a pub with that name somewhere at the back of Broadway car park around 1963 when I was 12 (oops! gave my age away!). If I recall correctly, it was all boarded up ready for demolition.
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There was a piccy somewhere on the site showing a view from the railway arches looking down on Bull Brig and the River Stink. The Australian was on the left as you looked towards the Odeon. Wasn't much but they had a serving hatch, where you could go and get a jugfull to take away. Just knock on the window and say yer dad wanted some mild! It was a long way to walk back to the Antley with a jug full of beer!! |
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It sounds like my sort of pub! Sadly though, yet another one on the ever-growing list of great boozers that are now only a fond memory - the Bull Brig, Blockade, Union, Palatine, Langs Arms, "Big" Crown, Antley, Church Commercial...I remember them all!
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[QUOTE=Darby]I don't remember a pub opposite the "Bridge", but the cinema was called the "RTitz"[/QUOTE There was a pub,i am sure it was known as the little crown.
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Is the crown on whalley road not in altham and not in accrington?
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Hi Darby. There was indeed a pub called the 'Australian' somewhere there but I can't even remember exactly. Getting back to Joe and Mary. They were both teaching ballroom dancing as far back as 1948. My parents were pupils of theirs and used to go in for amateur ballroom comps. They won quite a few trophies too. As far as I know my parents danced at Joe Morts, Cliffs along Knowelmere st. and somewhere else with a live band called Eddie Mcgarry and his broadcasting band.LOL. By the time I got into my teens I was also taking dancing lessons at both Joes and cliffs. This was well before rock and roll started. I remember that the top of the Pops was "trala la tralaladee it gives me a thrill, to wake up in the morning on Mocking bird hill, LOL Just before Rock around the clock came out. Then almost all of Accy's youth went to see Blackboard Jungle in Picture St. and that was the start of teddys and Joe and Mary started a rock and roll night and that was that. The rest is history. Because I was an avid music lover I used to buy all my records from various places in town. If Mary had have had a music shop I would have bought them from her. But as I said I can't recall her having one. However, having said that I gave up my teddying days and rock and roll about 1960-1 and didn't have much to do with Joes after that, so Mary could quite easily have started one from then on without me knowing.
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I'm not sure whether Mary had a market stall for about 3 weeks before they opened the record shop on Whalley Road - Mary's Music. But the mind fades with age....suffice it to say...that the Morts and Mary's Music shop were a major factor for the youth of the 50's and 60's. |
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Thanks Darby. Yes I was going to mention the 'Con' club but I wasn't sure. I had been up there but I couldn't envisage where it was. I posted something in 'do you remember when.......... but it hasn't refreshed so I don't know if its in??? The page came up "page unavailable(damn computers:) )
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I don't know about anybody else, but I love Darby's and Terry's reminiscences of life in 50's Accy. I was only a nipper at the time and it's all a revelation to me. In fact, I sometimes think I would have been really happy as a teenager in this era. I can just imagine myself donning my drape on Saturday morning, nipping down to the Co-op to buy the latest Little Richard album, off to the Spiders Web for a quick coffee, then onto a nice red-and-blue open-platform corporation bus for the short trip to Peel Park to watch Stanley play a thrilling third division North top-of-the-table battle, then it's off to Mort's in the evening for a night of jiving.
Can I have some more material to fuel my fantasies please, lads? |
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I'm enjoying it too, it's just a little bit before my time.
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Same for me. I have to kick start the old brain often.Still tons of memories there. Perhaps you would like my post in "Band,Music :- Accrington poets thread. Its pure sentimentalism on my part
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I can also remember this shop being a clothes shop. Mary,moved furthur along the block, into which was the old animal magic shop(i thinks). |
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Can anyone remember a music shop which was situated on the corner of little blackburn rd and abbey st,opposite canine club. I cant think what the shop was called,surely someone here will know.
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Yeah, I think it was Disc and Tape too.
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You`re right It was the Disc`n`Tape. Originally just round the corner where the sunbed place is, it started by selling second hand records and was owned by Mike Levine. In `80`s it was taken over by Colin Briggs who inherited me as part of the assets. Most people think I worked there, but I just spent my youth leaning on the counter. We had a number of celebs pop in, including Kevin Rowland, The Alarms Mike Peters, Transvision Vamps Wendy James and the singing gardener Kim Wilde. It was also a frequent haunt of Accy Webs Gayle Knight in her "Boy George" years!!
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Prior to being a tattoo shop the corner shop was renovated after being empty for some time & was a hairdressers for a year or two. Knew Marys two great nephews, Louis who has his own plumbing business in town & Mick who lives out at Barnoldswick now. Their dad Alan used to act as a bouncer at Morts dance hall on Blackburn Rd when he was home on leave from army. Understand Mary died from cancer but kept a well stocked shop that would put Virgin & co to shame today.
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Mary's was the best record shop in town (and there was some pretty stiff competition from the likes of Bandbox, Tony's and later, Marshall's). No matter how obscure the record was (and I asked for some pretty obscure ones, believe me!), she would look it up on her release sheets, order it and it would be there in a couple of days.
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Must admit I found the woman in Marshalls a bit pushy - always trying to sell you something. Still, she obviously, did the trick for you (the original version by the Platters I assume?). The staff in the Golden Disc Bar on Broadway were the complete opposite. You could listen to records in the booths for ages, without being asked to buy anything. No wonder it didn't last long!
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Went passed today and the shop is now Rossendale Carpets. I'll bet they struggle to get them in and out that door.
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I only remember Marys to be the one next door to that one on the corner ?!?!?
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I loved it, I got far less money for a Saturday than my friend did who worked at the sport shop down the road but I didn't care. I spent most of my wages on records as soon as I'd been paid. |
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Eeee by gum do i remember marys music yeh was in the shop every saturday for me 7"'s n if they didnt have it in u could order them from there vinyls going way back LOL:)
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i remember going in to buy my records, happy days
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Camera letting me down again, a blurry photo. Just look at this, the original tiles each side of the steps, up to what was Morts on Blackburn Road. Now fancy that!
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