The Hippodrome

Tony Ireland · 17-09-2007, 13:36

Recently in your friendly banter about the location of the hippodrome there was reference from willow the wisp about images of the place existing can anyone point me in the right direction please I was born down there and regret never having any interest in photography in those days
thanks if you can help
tony

MargaretR · 17-09-2007, 13:45

This photo was posted by Atarah in 2003

BERNADETTE · 17-09-2007, 13:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by [email protected]

This photo was posted by Atarah in 2003

Where abouts was it?

MargaretR · 17-09-2007, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

Where abouts was it?

I put 'Accrington Hippodrome' into Google and got this
http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/a....php/f-73.html

BERNADETTE · 17-09-2007, 13:51

Was it at the bottom of Ellison Street?

MargaretR · 17-09-2007, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by BERNADETTE

Was it at the bottom of Ellison Street?

Yes - bottom on the right - I remember going there with my mum, brother + 10 of his mates as a 8th? birthday outing for him. It was an ice show, the patch of ice on stage was just big enough for 2 people!!! at a time.
We were amused by small things in those days

BERNADETTE · 17-09-2007, 13:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Yes - bottom on the right - I remember going there with my mum, brother + 10 of his mates as a 8th? birthday outing for him. It was an ice show, the patch of ice on stage was just big enough for 2 people!!! at a time.
We were amused by small things in those days

Now it would have to be the Ice Show at Blackpool or they wouldn't be interested

West Ender · 17-09-2007, 18:36

I saw my first pantomime there when I was 4 or 5. It was "Babes in the Woods" and I was bowled over by the 2 kids who played the babes, I wanted to be up there doing that. About 20 years later I got my wish, not at the Hippodrome but the Spa Theatre in Whitby and not as a "babe", I was Prince Charming.

So, all that singing, dancing and acting I used to do was all sparked off by Accrington Hippodrome.

jambutty · 17-09-2007, 21:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Yes - bottom on the right - I remember going there with my mum, brother + 10 of his mates as a 8th? birthday outing for him. It was an ice show, the patch of ice on stage was just big enough for 2 people!!! at a time.
We were amused by small things in those days

Actually the Hippodrome was less than half way down Ellison Street on the right. I think that there were houses after that right up to the bus and tram depot, which was across the bottom.

Whenever I managed to scrape sixpence together I would make the long, long climb up to the gods to watch the variety shows.

Wynonie Harris · 18-09-2007, 08:57

Are you sure, Jambutty? I seem to recall that the Hippodrome was very near to the bottom of Ellison Street, with just a small yard between the theatre and the bus depot.

WillowTheWhisp · 18-09-2007, 10:14

To clear up any doubt - there's a photo of it in this post of Atarah's

MargaretR · 18-09-2007, 11:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillowTheWhisp

To clear up any doubt - there's a photo of it in this post of Atarah's

Is that not the same as the one in post #2 of this thread
Ps just noticed a slight difference , but taken from same viewpoint

jambutty · 18-09-2007, 12:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

Are you sure, Jambutty? I seem to recall that the Hippodrome was very near to the bottom of Ellison Street, with just a small yard between the theatre and the bus depot.

Not 100% sure because memory is a funny thing. But I’m pretty sure.

As you walked down Ellison Street from Blackburn Road there was a back street that led to the top of the Tenament, where the fair used to be. From the top of King Street was a short street (barely 20 yards) leading to the Tenament and joining up with the back street from Ellison Street. At the top of this short street on one corner was a pie shop where you could get potato pie, peas and gravy for one shilling and eat them in a little room inside. A meal to die for. Those were the days when Holland’s pies were not just good but excellent. On the other corner were a barbers and my school mate Johnny Preston lived next door.

The back street was the entrance to the gods and also the general exit from the main theatre.

So the Hippodrome was about half way down Ellison Street. Mind you it was so large that unless you actually walked all the way down it could have looked as if it backed onto the bus and tram depot. I’ve got vague memories of the Co-op grocery store just a bit up from the Hippodrome.

After the Hippodrome there were some buildings, either offices of the depot or houses, then at the end of those was the bus and tram depot across the bottom of the street as you can see from the photographs so thoughtfully supplied.

WillowTheWhisp · 18-09-2007, 12:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Is that not the same as the one in post #2 of this thread
Ps just noticed a slight difference , but taken from same viewpoint

It's got a little bit more in it on either side of the theatre. There was something, some sort of building, further down the street but there looks to be a thing on top which you wouldn't get on a row of terraced houses.

I wonder if Atarah had any more piccies? I'll go a-hunting.

Tony Ireland · 18-09-2007, 13:07

Everyone has got Ellison st a bit wrong I could give a brick by brick description but that would be boring I lived at two houses down there from being born at number 4 to leaving number 7 when I was 14 in 1959 so I think that the only way to settle it is a good photograph
I appreciate all the attention Ellison st is getting
all I know is I don't have any photographs
keep up the good work
Tony