Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Hi Littlepom thought I would reply as I lived next door to Lenora Leighton and my sisters and I also went to leightons to watch the coronation on their telly I remember it was very small and had a magnifier over the screen loved the street party afterwards though my name is Mariae Allen I do hope hope that you remember me and that you will reply and tell me your name

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Hi Thanks for your reply i would dearly love to contact Pamela if you could find out any information for me I would be most grateful

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Hi Susie

what a coincidence my Sister-In-Law moved to morecambe as well with her Husbands job after he left whitebirk power station he worked at Heysham power station now retired his son works there now and they live in Bare

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

More coincidences - my partner works at Heysham power station on their computers and we live just down the prom about half a mile from Bare. What's their name?

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Sydney and Barbara Carr there son is Michael

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Will try but can't promise. will P.M. yeh if i find out.;)

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Hi Cashman thanks for your reply look forward to hearing rom you again soon

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

The names don't ring any bells with my other half, sorry, but I will keep a lookout for them. You never know when paths may cross.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Hi

I am new to the site but i used to know Pam Gorten . DIdnt she marry Vinny Conroy. Thanks for the memories of Accy . I havent lived in england for many years but I went to new Jerusalem church and lived in Water street. Those days at the con club and the Empire in Church were great. I married Bunny Burnett but we divorced years ago . Remember many fights at the Con usually started by Bunny.

I am trying to trace my cousin Ray LLoyd . I think he is a member on the site. Havent seen him in years . I live in Cape Town.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Hi Littlepom

I also went to the leightons to watch the coronation we lived next door to them I am Mariae Allen do you remember me

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Just browsing on Ebay and came across this blast from the past - March 1961. On sale for nearly fifty quid! Of interest to this thread as several people have mentioned the late lamented Melbo snack bar as advertised on the front - and to the Accyweb members who gather each Saturday at the other establishment also advertised!! Or so I'm led to believe...

ACCRINGTON STANLEY v CARLISLE UNITED 11 Mar 1961 FOOTBALL PROGRAMME | eBay

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Went round the Vimto Factory in Chorley once (Closed Now) and under the part where it was bottled, the Concrete floor had a massive hole eaten away by the sugar in the Vimto, Oh, your poor teeth

There was a Percy's chip shop at the bottom of Plantation St,he had a cafe inside.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Twas a good un, young Rosey lived yon, was a cheeky little git n a mate.:D

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Hi suzie123, Bill Crawshaw was my Uncle.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

OK, guys, this is my class at Ms Caulfield's Central Prep in Accrington. About 1955 I think. Can anyone supply some names? I'm staggered that, after nearly 60 years, even though I have not seen any of the people here since I left Ms Caulfield's, I can still retrieve some names, maybe not accurately, but here goes:

John and Jennifer Creasey (?Creasy) - twins I think
Elizabeth Robinson
David Gartside
? David Haslam

That's about it. Can anyone supply some more names? I'm at that mawkish stage that it would be interesting/fun to get some more names. I remember Ms Caulfield (don't think "Ms" had been invented then). And Miss/Mrs Backhouse certainly. And black haired Mrs Hackwood, ferocious with the ruler, wouldn't be allowed now...my hand feels warm even thinking about it! But it was a different age, I guess.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Sorry don't remember that prep school, but going off the year of yer photo, were summat of the age i guess, perhaps Retlaw will know summat of it when he sees it?, Tis round his neck o the woods.:)

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

You're rght, John and Jennifer Creasey are twins, I am their big sister Susan. Jen is third from the left on the row behind the three girls on the floor and John is third from right in the row behind that.

I recognise some of the faces but can't put a name to them though I think David Gartside is at the RH end of the back row.

I started this thread last year and some where in it I posted photos of my class at Miss Caulfield's.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Bingo, its a small world john.:)

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Reached that stage, have you? Find your mind drifting back to a different time and place? Can remember what you did 50 years ago, but not what the missus told you to do this morning? Plenty of scope on this part of the forum for that sort of malarky...the Deck...the Derby...the Blockade...the Jazz Club...the Con. Come on, John, let's be having yer reminiscences!

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

John, I think that teacher in the photo was called Miss McGarry.

My bro and sis might be able to help you with more names, please PM me if you would like their contact details.

BTW what is your name? And where are you in the photo?

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

I remember Saul's in Black Abbey very well. As you went in at the main door, there was a long polished, wooden counter. Your groceries were weighed out and given to you across the counter to put into your basket. After the bill was written out in pencil and added up, your money was put into a container and hung onto a cable which was slung above the assistant's head and ran along the length of the counter, travelling just below the ceiling to a cashier who who sat in a little area, up a few steps, and who returned it with your change.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

That shop in Black Abbey St was originally Bob Holts, his nephew Robert Saul took over from him, R. Saul lived in Blackpool and travelled from there every day, he was one of the first to stack em high and sell em cheap.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

:)

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Was 'Bike Bert's' next door, to Saul's or was it in Warner St?

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Hi, I remember Willie not to be messed with, loved a fight, and now spends his time fishing I think he worked at the Nori

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Percys was on plantation st, sat in every saturday 1965 ish

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Whalley Road is a shadow of its former self, so scruffy, used to feel quite different.

Too true. My Grandparents used to live opposite The Clock Garage upto the mid-70's (from the '40s, possibly earlier)

Last time I was in Accy the site was occupied by Kwik-Fit and it looked awful!

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

I have been very interested in your memories of Accrington, Susie. I was born in Dowry Street in 1946, so we are contemporaries. When tracing some of my family history I came across, in the 1911 census, what I think must be your great grandfather, Isaac Creasey, and his family. They were living in Devonshire Street at the time, what was intriguing was they had living with them a lodger who was described as a "horse handler". Is this the great grandfather you mentioned?

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

That's very interesting Chris, yes I believe at one time they lived at 10 Devonshire Street. I haven't looked at the censuses etc myself but your mention of a horse handler could be someone who was looking after the trotting horses that Isaac was interested in. Can't remember how much I have posted in this thread but he died in New Zealand in 1930 having taken some horses out there to sell, unsuccessfully. Do you have any more details about who was living in the house at the time? If you do, perhaps you could PM me. Many thanks.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Thanks for the prompt response. Yes, I can, it was fairly clearly written, 10 Devonshire Street is the address;
Isaac Creasey Aged 40 Wholesale fish merchant;
Ellen Ann Wife Aged 42
Florrie Aged Aged 22 ? maker(could be lace)
Fred aged 17 app. fitter
Rhoda aged 12 school
Beatrice aged 16 cotton weaver
Doris aged 11 school
Jas? Edward Crook aged 60 lodger horse handler.

My grandmother was Julia Curran, she lived at 55 Dowry Street, I think in the 1880's Isaac Creasey lived at number 60.
I could email all the information I have if you would prefer it.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

In the earlier census the lived at 16 Dowry St, Acc he was born in Dodsworth Yorkshire. in the 1901 census they are at 25 Whalley Rd..

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Thanks for the addresses, I had the Dodworth info but not those.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

I've just logged in after a rather long absence and picked up this thread. Central Preparatory School saw me enter its door sometime in 1956. My name: Karol Gajewski, obviously Polish, less obviously male.
I remember CPS very well and still keep in touch with various classmates of that time, chief among them being: Peter Whittaker and Andrew Nuttall. My wife and I established contact too with Judith Catlow (nee Banks) who was also at CPS. My crushes were quite numerous - I remember Anita Beard, Christine Court and Linda Thomas in particular.

Mrs Backhouse (I always referred to her as 'Miss' Backhouse) was my favourite teacher and Miss Hackwood the one I feared and loathed most. I'm sure - if she is still here - that she is a dear old lady who would, in war-time, knit woolly socks for the troops.

My family (mum died young aged 37 when I was still at CPS) lived at no 14 Cedar St and my father, Joseph, worked as a porter at Accrington railway station before qualifying as a train guard. He passed away in 1978.

It would be nice to hear more from anyone who recognises my name and experienced CPS.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Karol, I remember your name from when you posted previously. I think you've probably seen my posts about CPS from earlier in this thread. The only other person who's posted on the subject is John Duckworth (post 216). He started in 1955 so he was almost your contemporary, and he was in the same class as my brother and sister John and Jenny Creasey. I can let you have his email address as I don't think he's been on the site since he last posted. I left in 1957.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Gosh! what memories you bring back to me, especcially the Arts. Saturday, Sunday without fail for 2-3 years. Cliff , how i loved that place.
So sad kids nowadays have no place like that.
My dream is to win lottery and open up the old fashioned coffee bars, remember the boothes with the little juke boxes on walls.
Can we ever recreate that? Who knows!

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Chris Siv - your grandmother had a daughter Dorothy Curran, I recall. She will now be 80yrs (I hope). 55 was left hand side going up below Arnold St with a lamp outside. I think they were related either to Burrells across the street or Pendergasts on Arnold St. 16 Dowry St might have been close to Whalley Rd, and No 25 very close by

Karolgadge....Andrew Nuttall was likely the lad, a good musician, who was landlord of the Stop & Rest, Ossie for years. Peter Whittaker may have become a policeman, though that is a common name.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

16 Dowry st would be just above the first street up from Whalley Rd right hand side. The Burrells, Frank @ Kathleen about 7/8 doors up from me.i was at 58.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Crikey Cashy thats a blast from the past,used to walk home from Holy Family school early 60s with Kathleen,havn't seen her for 50 years

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

I aint seen her fer as long either Dave, saw frank a couple of years back on Hyndburn Rd.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

I was with Frank Burrell on Sunday . He's fine and healthy .

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Thats good to know, ta. top geezer.:);)

Re: My early life in Act 1946-68
 

Andy was Landlord at the Stop for years, took over from Jim Lucas, who was mine host when I used to sink a few in the deep end with Wayans father, when he left the Stop took over as steward at Ossy Con, sadly he died around 6 years ago

Re: My early life in Act 1946-68
 

Do you remember Ron Potts , Jaysay , who was the landlord before Jim Lucas ?

I used to go in the tap-room on Saturday nights when Jim Lucas was landlord . It was men only , and then they started letting the ladies in . :D

Re: My early life in Act 1946-68
 

They started letting em in the Black Bull Vault mid/late 60s SACRILEGE.:( I blame that action as the real start of foul language by women.:D

Re: My early life in Act 1946-68
 

Ya knew Ron very well Colin and his wife Isobel, they lived near me on Merlin Drive, sadly Ron Died a few years ago now, Isobel lived in Merlin Court until she died about 3 years ago. I remember when it was men only :D an earache free zone:D

Re: My early life in Act 1946-68
 

The last time I saw Ron Potts was in the Straits . I had gone in for a pint with Michael Conway .

Some of those ladies in the Stop and Rest were good dominoe players . :(

We used to get a laugh out of Bertha , who called herself the corset woman . She lived at the bottom of Fielding Lane just below the park . She had a Spirella sign next to her front door . Her brother or brother-in-law Cunliffe used to live at the top of our street on Richmond Rd .

Re: My early life in Act 1946-68
 

Cunliffe Duckworth, Bertha also used to do tailoring too Colin can remember her taking in some trousers for me after I lost about 3 stone in weight;)

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

[QUOTE=susie123;943018]Having been confined to bed for a bit, passed the time reading some of the threads on this site and thought it was about time to make a contribution.

I grew up in the 50s and 60s and lived at various times in Owen Street, Queens Road and Whalley Road. My earliest memory is of the Festival of Britain procession on Queens Road so that would have been 1951. My grandad had a stall on the fish market, a family business since the late 1800s, and I remember going down town with my cousin on Good Friday and taking him his lunch in a basket. That was when the fish market was still in a shed.

It's always struck me, looking back, how many small shops there were in the area where I lived. Starting at the Whalley Road end of Owen Street there was the off licence at the top of Milnshaw Lane (still there) and Thornber's chemists on the corner of Knowlmere Street. My second cousin worked there, very long hours, and I used to go behind the counter into the pharmacy area where they had all the little drawers and bottles on shelves. There were also some rooms behind the shop, in one of which was a fireplace with a real fire also a gas ring presumably to boil a kettle. That shop became Everitts supermarket. Ernie Everitt used to sell fruit and veg from an open sided van round that area before that.

Going along Owen Street, on the western corner with Haywood Road was Gregson's, grocers, pies and ?bread. I remember taking a jug there to get gravy. Next block along Owen Street, north side was Sagar's cake shop - wimberry pies oozing with juice, such a local thing, haven't seen one for years. Opposite was Mr Nicklin's, newsagent and sweets, no shop front, just a converted front room. Going up Haywood Road, on the west side about halfway to the hospital was Mr Chaffer's bakers, and opposite was Leighton's greengrocers and Thistlethwaite butchers. On the northeast corner of Haywood Road and Garden Street was a Co op though I don't know what it sold and I seem to remember it closing down.

On the next street Aitken Street about halfway up from Owen Street on the west side was Mrs Hogggarth's, grocer, again just a converted front room, and opposite was Miss Clarkson's sweetshop. Then on Marlborough Road north of Queens Road in the first block on the west side was Susie's chippy, just a range in her front room. Susie was a big blonde woman. I've just looked on Google maps and there is a Sue's chippy marked in the same spot! The last two shops I remember were Cameron's baker on the corner of Lime Road and Marlborough Road and a greengrocer next to it. Then another chippy on the corner of York Street opposite Mary Mag’sschool, still there, used to take a basin and get a mixture, chips and mushy peas. This is making me hungry! And I always remember the steamy smell of the Dot Laundry on back Owen Street by the railway embankment.

This seems to me quite a lot of shops, especially bakers, in a fairly small area. Were other areas of town similarly well serviced?

My first school was Central Prep aka Miss Caulfields – she lived a few doors along from us in Owen Street and had taught my dad when he was a lad. When I first went around 1950 the school was in the Oak Street Congregational Church buildings, then it moved to Hargreaves Street behind New Jerusalem Church. I used to go home for lunch which meant trekking from one end of town to the other in the middle of the day as well as at the beginning and end. Although several of us did it in a group I doubt it would be allowed now without supervision! I then went to the High School 1957-64 under Miss Horne's regime and remember all the teachers mentioned on the High School thread, mostly with affection.

I used to go to the Arcs on Knowlmere Street on a Saturday (that offy on Milnshaw Lane came in very handy for illicit drinking!) On Fridays it was Whalley Road Congregational Youth Club - we lived opposite it at the time. I remember getting ready to go there one Friday when we heard the news of JFK's assassination. I also remember going in a coach to the Cavern in Liverpool one afternoon to see a group from Accrington. Having checked the 60s group thread I guess that must have been the Scorchers. I also went to the Majestic ballroom (Con club) on occasion, used to love Lionel Morton and the Four Pennies, also saw the Merseybeats there. Also went to the Meccas at Blackburn and Burnley where I saw Freddie and the Dreamers. And I used to go to the folk club at the Stanley Supporters Club where they used to have some really big names. I still like folk music today and prefer to listen to those acts than any of the modern ones.

Looking back at all this I wonder how I had time to do any school work but I did get some A levels and in1964 went to college in the great metropolis of Preston leaving most of this heady social life behind. Then in 1968 I left Accy for good and have lived in all sorts of places since, from North Carolina to Morecambe, where I am now. I come back for the odd visit but to me the town ain't what it was and it makes me sad.

Sorry for rambling on but maybe some of this has stirred other folks' memories. I look forward to finding

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Hi, just read you initial post, Iwas Pamela Barnes and lived on Aitken St, had a brother Ian, Margaret Nicklin was my best friend, she now lives in new Zealand, I knew your sister Doris and many of the people who have replied to your posts. I went to the High school 1960 to 66. I now live in Canada

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Worked with what must have been John Sargeant's dad; Cornelius by name; at Steiners, he was a electrician of the really old school, when he made me carry his tool box I realised why he was so bow legged, about 5 foot tall would have been six but for that. Very precise and skilled with installation but had little idea of faultfinding on machinery.
Very seriously religeous; Plymouth Breth(e)ren so used to get quite upset at the outbursts of workshop language which were frequent. Came to work on a bike which should have had wide load signs on the back.
He and his wife and daughter were still running the leather shop till the mid sixties.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Remember Sid well from both Whitebirk and Heysham, haven't seen them for a while, I got the impression that he and I were remotely related. Also ended up working on the old computor system, there can't be much of it left; Feranti have been out of business longer than I have

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Thanks fore yesterday's posting, Pam. Apart from thinking that Owen street had a south and a north side, I recalled much of what you said, though you were 5yrs younger than me. I was disappointed that you were not a St John'ser.
(Umpire is older than me and, as he lived near to me, acted as a 'chum' in my earliest days a the Grammar Schol) He also acted as tutor to me on trainspotting matters)

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Hi I was a st johns er from 1954 Miss Salthouse thru Mrs Thurman nad Hartleys jam as Head

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Think twas 52 when i started yon, yeh didn't have n older sis called Pauline did yeh?:)

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Pam I will PM you re St John's reunioins.,,....In yoyur long posting, you missed out Booth's bakery shop near the Iron Bridge, and Sagar's bakery on Owen St bottom of Aitken St. I met Margaret Booth, now Wilson(?) at a recent reunion. The time before that, I was snogging her near the Co-op Laundry - or was it Loofe's factory down Owen St back?

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Margaret wilson....Bob, is she a retired Nurse/Midwife, who used to work on the district?

Only asking because I knew a Margaret Wilson, and wondered if it was the same one.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Did you keep a list of all the girls you either had relationships with or perved at - I can only remember the names of about four (two that I still know), but I do remember that I was busier than that;)

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Just been told Willie passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday. He was knocked down outside Clayton Con (Hit & Run) and quite badly injured.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Hi enjoyed your recent post and certainly brought back many happy memories. I was brought up in the area (Devonshire st) and frequented Knowlmere Street, Accy Con, Spring Hill and also Youth Club. I was at St. Mary Magdalens junior school then off to Accy High for a three year stint, hated it so moved school! Happy days.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

the girls name was anne

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

I grew up in Accrington in the late 1950s and 1960s quite close to where Stanley play their home games now. I can still remember quite a lot of things about that time - so it seems to me. I'll pick out a few: the old NORI brickworks, primary school near Sandy Lane, hearing on the radio or tv The Beatles for the first time (I still love The Beatles even now). The hospital also is nearby where I was in for a few days.
Enfield cricket club... drinking warm orange juice with a straw out of a bottle in summer days at said Enfield cricket club on Dill Hall Lane. Aye.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Thanks to Eric and Bob. Bless your cotton socks.:)

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Accrington and district - a good place to grow up I think.
Sometimes I miss there being places like Nick o' Pendle nearby. Some hills.
(Or Nicky Pendle as I used to call it - come on I was only about seven years old).

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Hameldon Mill has gone - houses on the way. Marlborough club is no more. The NORI railway line and engines. No Load of Mischief. No Arcadian ballroom. o flower shop at Queens Rd/Whalley Rd
. No Clock Garage.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

I am looking for stories and images of The Warriors band for a book project I am doing, can anyone help? I know of the web sites however its untold stories and unseen items I want. Thanks for any help you give me. Please email me with [email protected]

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Are you by any chance the chappie who had an exhibition up Haworth Art gallery, Accr4ington, a few years back, with a collection of YES memorabilia?

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Indeed. The dentist WAS Stanley Horsfield. His son Nigel is a retired chest physician in the Blackburn area

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Just read through all this thread and found it very interesting. I remember calling in a shop on right hand side of Dowry Street, think it was on a corner, on my way down from the High School to the station for the train home. Iced finger buns were a favourite and I think it was the first place I ever bought a cream egg. Who's shop would it be?

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Nice memories Sue. I grew up in Westwood Street. I am 3 years younger than you, but was also at Whalley Road Congregational Youth Club when I heard about JFK. My sister Jean went to the High School, but she is a couple of years older than you. Everitts also had a shop at the bottom of Malt Street before they moved to the old Thornbers shop. You didn't mention Matt Taylor's shop (great iced lollies) before they moved to the opposite corner of Westwood St and Eccles Street, later became SPAR I think.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Les, Sue died a couple of years ago now.
I still miss her posts... She had a very acerbic wit and called a spade a spade.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Yes, Margaret, I miss her posts also. A real champion right to the very sad end.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

I was born in Clayton-le-Moors in 44 but after living in Church then Oswaldtwistle my Dad went to Canada on the £10 assisted package, but after six months he didn’t like it, so we never emigrated. When he can back we moved to 157, Higher Antley St in Accy , there was Joe, my Dad, my Mum Monica, (she is still with us at 98) and my sister Maureen (little Kathleen came some 14 years later???) and there I stayed until 1972 when I moved up into the Yorkshire Dales. Like Susie123 I also remember all the little shops, there was nearly one on every corner on each street and far more if that corner was an intersection of a main street. Ours main street was Omerod St that ran down from Willows Lane passed Howard & Bullough (where I served my apprenticeship as a machinist/fitter and later a draughtsman), and under the railway bridge next to the pit. However I can’t remember the names of all these little shops, other than there was a chemist, a general store, a clothes shop or was it florist? and the same at the intersection of Richmond Hill St, where there was a well visited chippy and a betting shop for my Dad. I can see them all in my mind’s eye but their names allude me. And there were many more on Omerod St’, itself, namely the news agents where I was a newspaper boy for many years.
When I was too old to share a bed room with my sister, I was moved into the downstairs front room, its window fronted directly onto the street. Even now I can hear the factory hooters calling the workers and I can hear the boots and clogs of all the men and women hurrying past my bedroom window. I remember the busses and the smell of cigarette smoke, and damp oily clothing.
Like many of you I went to the Arcs on Knowlmere Street and as I got older the Majestic Ballroom (Con club) and the Meccas at Blackburn and Burnley, I used to go to the folk club at the Stanley Supporters Club where I remember seeing Pau Simon any many other famous singers and groups. By this time I was very much into caving and every Friday evening after work I would hitch hike up to Ingleton in the Dales.
When my Dad died in 84 my Mum moved down to Potter Heigham in Norfolk, on the same street as my sister who’d move down a few years earlier, and my trips to Accy came to an end, although I have been back a couple of time in recent years to look at the old place, but it’s just not the same. The new road, well new to me, has dissected the town, the loss of Howard & Bullough, the pit, the railway up the valley through the clough where I played as a lad, and the mills, it’s just not the same. I’m not saying it’s worse, who would want the smoke, the dirt, the river stink which regularly change colour and the pea soup fogs were you couldn’t see the other side of the street, it’s just not the Accy I remember and still dream about.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Hello John, remember you from somewhere, St Annes, St Pauls scouts? I lived on Plantation St in the late 50s early 60s, Arcs, Empire, lots of good memories, nice to see your still kicking. Regards, Bryan Pemberton.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

John, I know that area well.
My grandma lived at 188 Higher Antley Street.
I can put some names to some of the shops....there was a bread and cake shop (probably across from where you lived..at a guess) that was Mona's.
The papershop where you were a paperboy..might that have belonged to Harry Littlefair?
He had a second one at the corner of Nuttall Street and wellington Street.
Thornbers Chemists was on the corner of Higher Antley St and Ormerod St.
There was Ducketts grocers....corner of Major St and Richmond Hill st.
at the other corner of Richmond Hill street was Frank Greenhalgh's grocers...he had a bit of green grocery too...Woodnook Inn, Old Band club.
There was a green grocers on the 'odd side of Higher Antley St and Major St...but I can't for life of me remember who that belonged to.
I used to beg onion sacks from this shop so that my grandma could make peg rugs with them.
Daniels Coal Yard was at the back of my grandma's house...and there was a selling out shop at that end of her street too(that name escaped me as well)
It was a real community way back then...and neighbours looked out for one another.
I have vivid memories of the rag and bone chap coming round, and the milk being delivered directly from the churn into a large pot jug(my grandma had a beaded crochet cover to keep the dust out) both these used to have horses and carts....and Birtwells ice cream on a Sunday afternoon...custard yellow with raspberry vinegar dripping down the cone.
Sweet, sweet memories..but as you say Accrington has changed and not for the better.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Yes, when I was a lad after I left school "St Oswalds" and did my GEC's at Accy Collage, I work during the six week holidays at Stanton.s based in Oswaldtwistle. Great pop. The following year I did six weeks at the NORI brick works at Altham.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Hi Bryan, your name rings a bell, I went to St Anne's school and was in the scouts when I went to St Oswald's, I think its was the Sacred Hart Group, yellow and white neckerchief. Went on a couple of great summer camps with them down to the New Forest and the Quantock Hill.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

I remember I think they had two kids Malcom and Margaret, they had a gang hut in their back yard where we use to play. When it was time to come in from playing their Dad would stand at the door and shout "Malcom Malcom Margareeeeeet" as loud as he could. All the mums and dads use to shout our names to come in at tea time or bed time.
There was a piece of spare ground in front of our hose next to what I think at the time was a Methodist Church where we had some wonderful bonfires and all the mums would make parkin and treacle/bonfire toffee.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

I do not recall a Malcolm or a Margaret(well other than me, that is) I spent a lot of time at my grandma's...this would be 1950 ish...there was only my Auntie Phyllis at home then...my dad and his brother had both married and left home.
My Grandma was Sarah, and my Grandad was George...there was a police bobby lived on the same side as my grandparents...just a few doors along.
I remember the bonfires on the spare land(yes there was a little church on that side...I used to go to the Sunday school there...and the jumble sales too)...but I lived on Riley's Hill and we had our own bonfire...but the mums all did the baked spuds, the black peas and the Parkin and treacle toffee...they were hard times, but they were good times too

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Hi Margaret
Reference Stantons pop bottles I have recently acquired on and I keep it in the garden as a feature it reminds me of home. They used to do sarsaparilla too those were the days.😀

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

After reading this thread through, I find myself yearning for simpler days without smart phones and computers. Where I used to spend my pocket money on the latest "single" record, (I struggle to find a cd these days) and the rest on sweets in the week. Family was all important, we as kids at the time could play out safely, and adults could find a pub to have a drink on a Saturday night.I could cross the road on my own at quite a young age as there were a lot fewer cars and actually walk on my own to school. (shock horror). Everybody knew everybody. We didn't have a lot but valued what we did have.
Mark

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Yes, life was simpler then.
I walked all the way from Riley's Hill to Peel Park school every day.
I also remember getting the bus to Whalley, being in charge of my three younger brothers, playing on the banks of the river at the age of ten....taking a picnic...being out all day.
No adult supervision. My parents considered me sensible and responsible to look after my brothers.
Skimming stones and picking flowers, playing on a tree swing.
I feel sorry for the children of today who are not given those lovely times in which to have adventures.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Ecky thump Margaret, tha dusn'd ayf bring back memories, my grandad Fenwick lived on Higher Antley St, only a door or two away from thi Grandma, Daniel's coyle, think he moved to Lee St an took oer a pub, cake shop at top end of Major St, facing back Higher Antley St, they med some right gradely Parkin, A thowt ice cream man were Clemson, delivered in a horse drawn milk float.
I used to do me Grandads shpping for him during last war, armed wit basket, ration books, an money, you could get every thin you ever needed in shops in Woodnook, last stop were for his tobacco, fromt shop on Nuttall St, he always gave me a brand new penny, aypenny for that, and I was too watch closely as grandads baccy was cut off a large coil of black twist, an balanced the penny, aypenny. Dusnd thowts like thad start you ramblin thro time, ell fire near 75 years since. And tha geet punced eyut o skoo wen tha wur 14 an all. :hehetable

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

My Auntie Mary had the greengrocers at the corner of Major Street and Higher Antley Street in the 50's

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

The church was linked to Oak Street Congregational Church

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

The ice cream man might have been Clemsons for you, but in my time it was Birtwells.
You were right about the Daniels...they did branch out and the pub they had in Accrington was The Kings Arms.
In fact, when I was in Rough lee having my daughter, one of the younger generation of the Daniels was in there having her son...we reminisced about how it was when we were children.
I didn't tell her that I often went with a coal shovel and riddled under the coal yard gate for whatever would fall on the shovel.(frequently not much other than a bit of 'slack').

Frank...that has solved the mystery. I have racked my brains trying to remember who had the greengrocers.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

The Daniels brothers were Frank and Jack. One had the Kings Arms on Lee St around the corner from where we lived on Plantation Street and the other had the Coal business. Not sure now which was which.
Mark

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

HI Sue. Just read your memories and the subsequent links.Between 1947 and 1951 I lived on Haywood Rd near the Co-op and Meadow St. and have vivid memories of Whalley Rd Congregational YC and standing on the iron bridge while the trains passed under. In later years Arcs was a popular place on Sunday afternoons but we always went to the Con on Saturdays and Mondays

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Do you mean the foot bridge at the end of Meadow Bank, near Back Owen St.?

I used to watch the trains go under it in the 1950s, steam in those days which made it more interesting.

My grandparents lived on Whalley Rd and the had a flat roofed extension which I used to stand on pretending to be the signalman, you could see the signal from there.

Happy days :)

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

i used to train spot yon in the 50s lived on dowry st then.

Re: My early life in Accy 1946-68
 

Jack had the pub Frank did the coal, Jack retired, Frank took the pub,Phill took the coal,Frank retired Phil took the pub and so on.