Sharing Salford`s fantastic story

Sharing Salford’s fantastic story
LifeTimesLink
Issue No 27 Summer 2010 FREE
Useful contacts Phone
John Sculley,
museums and heritage
services manager
0161 778 0816
Heather McAlpine,
lifetimes officer
0161 778 0885
Amy Goodwin,
lifetimes and
exhibitions officer
0161 778 0883
Charlotte Derry,
exhibitions officer
0161 778 0819
Peter Ogilvie,
collections manager
0161 778 0825
Ceri Horrocks,
acting heritage
development officer
0161 778 0820
Amy Whitehead,
acting learning officer
0161 778 0821
Naomi Lewis,
outreach officer
0161 778 0881
Hazel Fenton,
arts and community
officer Ordsall Hall
0161 778 0837
Caroline Storr,
heritage
development officer
0161 778 0817
David Potts,
volunteer and
training manager
0161 778 0845
Amy Senogles,
merchandising officer
0161 778 0818
Roseanne McLaughlin,
archivist
0161 778 0810
Maryam Patala,
Embrace officer
0161 778 0870
Salford Museum &
Art Gallery
0161 778 0800
Ordsall Hall Museum
closed - see back page
Useful contacts Websites
www.salford.gov.uk/museums
- for all museum related topics
www.salford.gov.uk/whatson
- find out about concerts, walks,
talks and other events in Salford
www.wcml.org.uk
- website for the Working Class
Movement Library
www.visitsalford.info
- what to do, where to stay and
what to see in Salford
2
Welcome to the summer 2010 issue of LifeTimes Link, the magazine
that celebrates Salford’s rich heritage. As always, we are grateful to
everyone who has taken the time to send in contributions and thank
you to all our readers for your continued support and enthusiasm.
Ordsall Hall
The transformation of Ordsall Hall continues,
and everyone is now looking forward to the
reopening in Spring 2011. For a look behind
the scenes at the restoration of the Hall turn
to page 11, where you will find photos and
information about recent work there and an
update on some of the projects which are
taking place during the closure period. On
pages 12 and 13 we look at the memories
project which LifeTimes and heritage staff
are working on.
Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Staff have been busy working on the
development plans for the Museum and Art
Gallery. The research assistants completed
their detailed research on the new gallery
themes in January. Heritage staff are now
using this valuable research to define more
clearly what will be on display in the new
galleries.
The new LifeTimes exhibition opened in
February, and has been very popular with
all of our visitors. The exhibition runs until
spring 2011, so there is plenty of time to get
to see it if you have not already. Life Through
The Lens: snapshots of Salford’s past is a
celebration of 10 years of LifeTimes Link,
with a focus on Salford’s rich photographic
collections. There is an area in the gallery
where you can spend some time reading
past issues of Link, and remind yourself
of the fascinating stories that have been
covered over the years. See page 10 for a
review of the exhibition.
For the first time last year we moved
Salford Local History Day to September.
The feedback to the change of date was
very positive, so we have set the date for
this year’s Local History Day as Sunday
19th September 2010. We look forward to
welcoming regular and new visitors to this
enjoyable event, and hope you will spread the
word to friends and family who have not been
before.
Staff news
David Potts started in November as the
new Volunteer and Training Manager. David
will be working with schools, colleges and
the wider community to develop exciting
volunteer and training programmes at
Ordsall Hall. He is already enjoying working
with partners to extend heritage skills and
other training opportunities at the Hall. He is
particularly looking forward to establishing
projects that will bring new volunteers on
board in the future.
Mary Francis started in November as
Project Assistant. She will be working with
the collections team, documenting objects
as they come into the museum. Alongside
this she will be helping with exhibitions
and she’s looking forward to finding lots
of interesting, and sometimes unusual,
objects for display.
Amy Whitehead is covering Luisa Neal’s
maternity leave. We pass on our best
wishes to Luisa who had a baby boy in
March.
Tim Ashworth left Salford Local History
Library on 30 April, after 36 years of service
with the authority. In 1977 he qualified as
a librarian and worked at Eccles, Swinton
and Salford libraries. However, most
readers will know him as the Local History
Librarian. Tim had an encyclopaedic
knowledge of every book in the library
- even which shelf it was on. Users
particularly appreciated the time he gave
to their individual family history searches.
No problem was too small, and he would
use every possible line of enquiry to locate
missing ancestors. Tim will certainly be
missed, and we all wish him a contented
retirement.
Finally we have some sad news to report
of the death of Joe Martin, the City of
Salford Conservation Officer. Joe worked
for the council for nearly 40 years and was
the longest serving member of staff. He
will be greatly missed by family, friends,
colleagues and the general public. He was
very knowledgeable about the city’s historic
buildings, and passionate about preserving
Salford’s heritage. He provided invaluable
support and advice in his specialism to
numerous staff, individuals and groups in
Salford. He was also a regular stallholder
and supporter of Salford Local History
Day. Joe will not be forgotten for his
excellent work. In 2010-2011 the council
will be launching the Salford Good Design
Awards and those promoting excellence in
conservation will be able to submit entries
for the Joe Martin Conservation Award.
We hope you enjoy reading Link 27.
Please get in touch with us if you have any
comments or responses to the features
in this issue. We can be contacted by post,
telephone or email.
Heather and Amy
TEMPORARY CLOSURE of Salford Local
History Library
Please note that Salford Local History
Library will be closed from Saturday 1st
May and will reopen on Tuesday 25th
May. This is a temporary closure and
is necessary for stocktaking work. We
apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Contents
Coming soon ...
Editorial
Useful contacts
2
2
Coming soon…
Contributions
Join the Friends
3
3
3
Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Sunday 20 June 1.00- 4.00pm
• Free entry
Collections Corner
4
Elephants of Salford
5
Join us to celebrate Refugee week
in Salford. There will be lots of fun
activities for all the family – all drop-in
events throughout the day.
Rediscovering the history of
Salford Quays 6
Cyril Cope - a Salford hero remembered
7
Local History Happenings
8
Friendship
9
Small World in Salford
Salford Local History and Family
Fun Day
Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Sunday 19 September
11.00am – 4.00pm • Free entry
With over 30 stalls representing local
history groups, museums, heritage
organisations and booksellers.
Children’s activities and vintage bus
rides. More information will be on our
website nearer the time or contact us for
further details.
Salford’s story through the lens
10
Ordsall Hall renovations 11
Memories of Ordsall Hall 12 & 13
International Food Festival
Embrace project update 14
Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Sunday 10th October 2010
1.00 - 4.00pm • Free entry
Celebrate with us as we explore food
from around the world and food from
Salford. Our fourth annual celebration
of food. Plenty of chances to taste
international dishes, get recipe ideas
and cooking tips. Everyone welcome!
Join the Friends of Salford
Museums
The Friends remain at the heart of
support for Salford Museum and Ordsall
Hall. They are always keen to welcome
new members. For further information
on joining the Friends, ask at Salford
Museum and Art Gallery or call
0161 736 2336.
See Link Listings on pages 20
and 21 for full listings of our
changing exhibitions and events
programme.
A visit to People’s History Museum 15
You Write 16 & 17
Contributions
Send your letters, articles and copies
of photographs to: LifeTimes Link,
Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Peel
Park, Crescent, Salford, M5 4WU
Tel: 0161 778 0885 / 0883
Email: lifetimes@salford.gov.uk
The deadline for items for the next
issue (winter issue: November 2010 –
May 2011) is 6 September 2010.
Please note: we cannot accept any
responsibility for the loss or damage to
contributor’s material in the post. We
cannot guarantee publication of your
material, and we reserve the right to
edit any contributions we do use.
Sharing photos……
18
Buried at Weaste Cemetery 19
Link Listings 20 & 21
Mystery Pix
22
Local History Round-up 23
Cover photo:
Visit of Chipperfield’s
Circus to the Royal
Manchester Children’s
Hospital in the 1950s.
Basic large print versions of this magazine are available - ring 0161 778 0885
ring
Find us0161
on-line778
(plus088
all of our back issues) at www.salford.gov.uk/lifetimes-links
3
Collections Corner
Peter Turner,
Collections Assistant
for Salford Museum
and Art Gallery
writes….
Various aspects of Salford’s history are reflected in the range of recent
donations to Salford’s collections.
Michael Faraday M.B.E. of Walkden
recently donated objects relating to his
career as a marathon runner. These
include his M.B.E. medal, certificate and
photograph with the Queen; a jacket
which is adorned with badges from
various marathons; a Boston marathon
badge; Berlin and New York marathon
medals. Mr. Faraday has run more than
260 marathons around the world for
charity and was awarded the M.B.E. for
his lifetime achievement in sport and
charity work in 2005.
Following the People’s Mission Exhibition
held at Salford Museum which celebrated
over 100 years of the Salford Central
Mission, several items have been donated
to the museum’s collections. These are
a late 1950s banner, bowling trophies,
opening ceremony photographs,
a Salford Central Sunday School
presentation knife and fork, and a book
by Salford Central Mission’s Reverend
Ruff. Having played an important part in
the lives of many Salfordians since 1907,
the Mission is now due for demolition.
A bronze bell cast by John Bailey of
Salford has been donated by John
Greenhough. One of only a few John
Bailey bells still known to be in existence,
it was cast some time between 1832 and
1865. It was previously housed in a stable
block of a Norfolk stately home where it
was an hour bell for a clock.
From top left: Bailey bell; Faraday jacket; Salford
Central Mission banner; potters wheel; Worsley
Old Hall photo.
4
A recent addition to the museum’s
Pilkington’s Gallery is a Pilkington’s
potter’s wheel. Now a part of Salford’s
collections, it was previously held at
Manchester Art Gallery and was used
by Edward Terence Radford when
demonstrating pottery throwing at
exhibitions. He was the first potter at
Pilkington’s to use a potter’s wheel
and worked there from 1903 until 1936.
Find out more about this highly skilled
craftsman by visiting the Pilkington’s
Gallery at Salford Museum and Art
Gallery.
David Roberts has donated a programme
from the Historical Pageant of Worsley,
which was held in the grounds of Worsley
New Hall in June 1914. Interestingly, the
honorary editor and official photographer
of this handbook was Samuel Coulthurst,
the well known Salford photographer. The
museum also received a photograph of
Worsley Old Hall along with photographs
of Ordsall Hall from Kevin Mallon.
Josie Traynor has donated a costume
collection which includes women’s suits
from the 1950s and 1960s, a men’s suit
from the 1960s/70s, a dress from the
1970s and a coat from the 1960s. Robert
Chafer recently donated a Batty’s of Little
Hulton bottle stopper. John F. Batty was
a mineral water manufacturer on Hilton
Lane, Little Hulton.
If readers have any comments or further
information on any of the above objects
please write to LifeTimes Link – details
on page 3.
The Elephants of Salford
By Roy Bullock
The uproar attracted the attention of the
local police who when “they found out that
the dark jolting object was a company of
elephants, they retired into an adjoining
street to watch their movements. When
the boisterous company had passed, the
constables were somewhat reassured by the
presence of keepers, who were doing their
utmost to pacify the enraged beasts and
restore peace and harmony. In this attempt,
however, they were entirely unsuccessful, for,
on getting a little beyond the police station an
earnest and protracted battle commenced”.
Cleaning the elephant at Buile Hill Natural History Museum.
I have been researching
local history for a number
of years now and could be
excused for thinking that
Salford was once annexed
to Burma, India or Africa.
Why? Because of the
number of elephant stories
that I have encountered
along the way.
recent maps, that location would be near to the
Red Rose Centre between Phoebe Street and
Comus Street. I often wonder why it was never
found in the redevelopment of the area.
As a young boy I remember
the stuffed elephant that
used to be on show in the
Buile Hill Park Natural
History Museum, as I
suppose do most other
people residing in the city. In
later years I found out that
this particular elephant was
indeed Burmese and had
come to Salford from Belle
Vue Zoo where it had died.
Another story that I came across was that of
elephants fighting, on Eccles New Road, hard
to believe but true! This happened at about
half past two on a Monday morning, as the
convoy of Messrs Meyers great circus paraded
through Weaste on its way from Warrington.
The convoy consisted of seven elephants, three
chained together and the rest walking freely,
several camels, a caravan drawn by a few
horses and 2 or 3 keepers.
In the local newspaper
of 1964 there was a story
asking if any reader
remembers the burying
of an elephant off Regent
Road. The following week’s
issue published a reply from
a gentleman who said that
he had helped to bury the
animal, which had been
a casualty from a circus
visiting the city. He also gave
the location as a piece of
waste ground near to Hill’s
tripe dressers on Regent
Road. Studying old and more
The next instance of a buried elephant was in
a newspaper story in 1986 in which it related
to an elephant, which had died in the 1930s at
Belle Vue Zoo and had been buried in swampy
ground in Worsley Woods.
The report continued to say:
“One of the elephants that was loose began to
be quarrelsome with his companions, tapping
them occasionally with his massive trunk. This
was evidently calculated to irritate them, for
the larger beast, which stands as high as an
ordinary lamp-post, soon showed a disposition
to retaliate and gave the combative minor a
smart blow with his ponderous trunk, which
caused the latter to bellow to the extent of its
capacity and it is believed that the whole seven
simultaneously “gave mouth”. Aroused by the
horrible din, the inhabitants of Weaste and
a portion of Pendleton speedily congregated
together at different points listening to the
unearthly noise”.
After the battle had calmed down, the
elephants and keepers continued with
their journey. But to ensure the residents
would not forget their visit, the elephants
took a fancy to breaking large branches off
convenient trees and more than one whole
tree was torn up by the roots on their way
from Weaste to Eccles.
The final elephant story involves a Mr.
Lawton, who contested the 1900 election as
a Liberal candidate for North Salford. He set
up his headquarters at the Queen’s Hotel in
Manchester. One particular morning, a man
walked all the way from Oldham especially to
see him. Mr. Lawton had given this man his
first job, and they had not seen each other
for twenty years. Since then, the man from
Oldham had prospered and had bought a
menagerie for a hobby and declared “I’ve got
the biggest elephant in Europe.”
The man was instructed to bring the elephant
along to the hotel the next morning, which he
did, gathering the attention of a huge crowd.
Following the initial excitement Mr. Lawton
instructed his son to take the elephant to a
shop and get it dressed in red pyjamas with
‘Vote For Lawton’ on it!
The following morning the elephant was
dressed in red pyjamas with a large straw hat
placed jauntily on his head and Lawton had
him paraded up and down the poorer streets
of Salford. The elephant certainly caused
much interest in Salford, being followed all
day by armies of young people.
In the event Mr Lawton Senior lost the
election, but he certainly showed how, by a
touch of novelty and ingenious adaptation of
an unusual condition, such an event might be
lifted out of the stereotyped humdrum which
so often spells indifference. As has been
said so many times “It could only happen in
Salford!”
5
Rediscovering the history of
Salford Quays
By Greg McHugh
Museum volunteer Greg McHugh has been taking photographs of the redevelopment work at Salford
Quays. He has been inspired to find out more about the history of the docks and the history of the sites
now occupied by Imperial War Museum North, the Lowry and MediaCityUK.
I am interested in the history of the docks, and for the past
year have been taking photographs of the construction of
MediaCityUK. I took photos of the site at different stages
of the redevelopment, from the Trafford side of the docks,
looking across from the Imperial War Museum North. Taking
the photos made me want to find out more about the history
of the docks and what they used to look like.
The Manchester Ship Canal was built between 1887 and 1894.
The actual cost to build it was £15 million, which equates to
£1.22 billion today. The canal was officially opened on May
21st 1894 by Queen Victoria. The canal is 36 miles long and
when it was completed it was the longest navigation canal in
the world.
The site around the Imperial War Museum North was very
heavily bombed during the Second World War. At this time
the Hovis Mill was connected to the No. 1 Grain Elevator on
Trafford Wharf by underground conveyor belts. Both were
destroyed in the Blitz and the present Rank Hovis Mill was
rebuilt shortly after the war. This is next to the site of the
museum. The Imperial War Museum North was designed
by architect Daniel Libeskind, the world renowned American
architect. The museum opened on 2nd July 2002.
6
The site where the Lowry is today was once No. 8 dock, and
was where the trains used to transport the cargos from the
ships to the warehouses. The Lowry opened ten years ago
on 28th April 2000 and is permanent home to L.S. Lowry’s
paintings.
The present site of MediaCityUK was where they were going
to build other docks, but these never got built. The other
docks were on the Trafford side. MediaCityUK was once
occupied by Manchester Racecourse. The final race day,
when the photograph below was taken, was in 1901.
Greg won City of Salford Young Volunteer of the Year
in the Heart of Salford Awards 2009 for service to
volunteering. He is currently working on a book, to
include the photographs he has been taking, to raise
money for charity. If you would like to help him in any
way please get in touch with LifeTimes and we will
pass your details on.
From bottom left: Salford docks 1950s; Manchester racecourse 1901;
Greg’s photos of MediaCityUK 2009-2010.
A Salford hero remembered
By Ron Cope
1
Ed: Ron Cope contacted us with the story
of his father, Cyril Cope, who survived
one of the most important battles at sea,
the Battle of Narvik, which took place on
10th April 1940. This year marks its 70th
anniversary.
My father Cyril Cope was born in Salford
in 1918. He joined the Royal Navy in 1936
aged 18. On completion of his training, he
was sent to his first ship, HMS Hardy. When
war was declared in 1939, HMS Hardy
was deployed with the British home fleet
in the North Sea, based at Scapa Flow.
HMS Hardy was to keep a look out for any
movements of enemy ships. What follows
is the remarkable story of how my father
survived one of the first important battles at
sea. My father passed away in 2003 and left
me audio transcripts of his experiences of
the battle and how he survived the swim to
shore and, with the help of the Norwegians,
escaped capture by the German forces.
HMS Hardy was one of five British
battleships which entered the Norwegian
fjord, leading to the port of Narvik, in a
heavy snowstorm around midnight on 10th
April 1940. Cyril’s job was to man the tubes
from which the first torpedo was fired,
sinking a German destroyer. The British
destroyers carried out a second attack
sinking two ships, wrecking two others and
badly damaging another two. Whilst the
other ships were ordered to leave for open
water Hardy returned to fire more shots, but
she was met by six enemy ships. Captain
Warburton-Lee, of HMS Hardy, was fatally
wounded and several other officers were
killed. When Hardy was hit a second time
the order was given to abandon ship.
Cyril and others soon found themselves
forced into the water to swim ashore. “I
heard a shout for help coming from the
direction of the ship. I looked back to see
a mess mate, Tony Hart in the water with
a lifebuoy round his body. I knew he was a
non swimmer and he was not even trying to
paddle with his hands. I realised that he was
2
going to be swept down the fjord and drown
or freeze to death if he did not make it to
the shore. I swam back to him, and grabbed
hold of a lanyard attached to the lifebuoy,
and started to swim with my right arm
pulling him to the shore. I could not use my
legs, could not even feel them because of
the coldness of the water.”
3
4
They made it to the shore, but then had to
reach safety. Around a hundred men made
it to a chalet where a Norwegian mother
and her daughter helped them.
“Once we were thawed out and could move
about, we went upstairs to look for clothing.
Imagine, over a hundred sailors rummaging
through boxes, suitcases, cupboards and
drawers in search of something to cover
our naked bodies. Alas all we could find
were ladies and girls clothes, there was not
a sign of any men’s clothing. The man of the
house was a fisherman who had gone out
in his boat for a few days and had taken his
spare clothes with him.”
The men set off for the town of Ballangen
bare-footed in the snow.“I arrived in
Ballangen at 9 pm that evening. It was still
light and I was fortunate to reach the village
hospital. I was laid on a bed to have oils
rubbed into my legs and arms by two ladies.
I found out later that they were voluntary
nurses, many of whom came to the hospital
to help our wounded. When I was feeling
better and able to walk, one of the youngest
of these ladies, Mrs. Wanda Haugland, told
her son to fetch a pair of rubber boots and
an overcoat and to take me home where I
was able to have a ‘good wash and shave’.
The boy, who was thirteen years old, spoke
enough English for us to understand each
other. He and his five year old sister, with
all their friends, stood around me and were
obviously very excited at meeting this sailor
who had been ‘shipwrecked’”.
Cyril rejoined the rest of his unit which had
been in hiding, but due to the arrival of the
enemy troops they decided to head through
the snow down the fjord.
From the cliff tops they saw
other British ships firing at
German battleships. Two
ships were sent to rescue
the British sailors. The crew
from Hardy were put on
HMS Ivanhoe and on arriving
home in Britain they were
welcomed as heroes and
were presented to Winston
Churchill in London.
The full story of the battle,
and Cyril’s story, can be
found on the website
www.submerged.co.uk
From top left: 1. The survivors
from Hardy finally rescued. Harry
Rogers, now aged 92, is the one
remaining survivor of the Battle of
Narvik who is alive today.
2. Cyril Cope pays his respects
at the graves of the men of HMS
Hardy and Hunter at Ballangen
Cemetery, on the 50th anniversary
of Narvik, May 1990.
3. Cyril Cope on his wedding day.
4. Cyril Cope and his son Ron with
Petra Christiansen, whose family
helped him to escape German
capture, May 1990.
7
Local History Happenings
Invisible histories
at the Working
Class Movement
Library
The Working Class Movement
Library on the Crescent
has launched an exhibition,
Invisible Histories: Salford’s
Working Lives. Artist
Lawrence Cassidy worked
with a group of local people,
discovering items from the
Library that relate to Salford’s
labour history. Themes
include Chartism, mining in
Salford, the life of Friedrich
Engels, the Battle of Bexley
Square and Salford Docks.
Invisible Histories is open
until late summer. Everyone
is welcome to drop in any
time Wednesdays to Fridays
from 1pm to 5pm, or by
appointment at other times.
Did you work at METROVICKS or
AEI between 1945-1965?
I am a researcher working at Manchester
Metropolitan University interested in
contacting people who received training
of any kind during this period.
Were you an apprentice (Coll App, School
App or Trade App)?
Were you on the steno course?
Did you work in the drawing office?
Were you an office junior?
Did you work as a comptometer
operator?
Or did you receive training for any
other jobs not mentioned above, it
would be nice to hear from you. Please
contact Veronica at
vmjacko@yahoo.co.uk or contact
LifeTimes.
A series of talks on a Salford
theme is taking place
alongside the exhibition every
second Wednesday, usually at
2pm. Topics include Salford
pubs, the history of Kersal
Moor, Salford’s mines, and the
gangs of Victorian Salford. For
more information see page 23.
The talks are free and open
to all.
Tours of the Library are
available by appointment.
Individuals or groups are
welcome to come to one of our
Salford talks and then go on a
tour. Contact us to book a date.
Lynette Cawthra, Library
Manager, Working Class
Movement Library, 51
Crescent, Salford, M5 4WX
www.wcml.org.uk
0161 736 3601
enquiries@wcml.org.uk
8
Holiday and remember
the good old days!
The week-long ‘Memories of old Salford’
is being held on 16 - 23 June 2010 at the
Salfordian Hotel in Southport. Salford
residents are being invited to join fellow
Salfordians and swap experiences of days
gone by – and bring their old photos and
memorabilia to share.
Local history experts, from Salford Local
Historical Society, will be there on 18th
June to provide an insight into the city’s
rich history. Cadishead brass band will
be performing on the 20th June, and
entertainment will be provided throughout
the week.
Irlam & Cadishead Festival 2009
Celebrating 60 years of the
Irlam & Cadishead Festival
To celebrate 60 years of the Irlam &
Cadishead Festival, a new oral history
project is being launched to help
capture the history of the festival. To do
this, we need your help! We would like
to collect your memories, stories and
any photographs you might have of past
events. If you would like to help, please
contact Fay Flatt on 0161 606 6736 or
email fay.flatt@salford.gov.uk
The Salfordian Hotel is run by the
Salfordian Trust (in which Salford
City Council is a trustee) and provides
unique holiday opportunities for Salford
residents, including those less mobile.
Overlooking Hesketh Park, the Salfordian
Hotel is within easy reach of Southport’s
best visitor attractions.
Memories of old Salford is available to
Salford residents for a discounted rate
of £226 for a seven night stay. Special
rates are available for group bookings.
Transport to and from the hotel can be
arranged.
To book or to find out more, please call
the Salfordian booking office on 0161 925
1233 or email salfordian@salford.gov.uk
Friendship
Ed: Brian sent
in this article to
be published in
LifeTimes Link. Sadly
he died in February
after a long illness,
so was unable to
see it published.
He contributed to
Link on previous
occasions and was
very passionate
about Salford and its
history, so it is fitting
that we pay tribute
to Brian and the
friendships he made
in the city. Thank you
to his wife Winn, and
to his lifelong friends
Frank and Leslie.
From left:As young friends Brian (left), Frank (centre), and
Lesley (right) aged 18; aged 78
Leslie (left), Frank (centre), Brian
(right).
By Brian Farrin
Little did I know that through such hardships and turmoil
I would find friendships that would last for over 70 years –
Frank Lomas and Leslie Green.
Salford was hit hard by the Blitz of 1940, as the Luftwaffe was
hell bent on destroying the docks and the industrial area.
Failing to destroy their targets, many of the bombs hit houses,
shops and schools. Air raids came thick and fast for a week.
Every night in that week the sirens would sound. The all clear
to tell us when the raid had finished sounded around 7 am.
After Christmas we found that our school had not been hit
by the night raids, but a neighbouring school, the Stowell
Memorial School was destroyed when a landmine exploded.
Pupils from here joined us at Trafford Road School. Sitting
down on the first day back after Christmas, one of the new
boys from Stowell Memorial sat beside me. His name was
Frank, and almost instantly we felt a strong bond between us.
At that time I suffered terribly with my nerves and stuttered
badly. Part of my therapy was to sing the morning hymn – I
would sing the first verse and the class would sing the rest.
Standing up I felt even more nervous. Frank stood with me
and we shared the hymn book between us. He must have
realised how I was feeling because he stood with me and he
held my hand and we sang the hymn together. Frank and I
became firm friends. He told me he had gone to look at his
school and the only thing that was left was a big crater. He
asked me if I would like to go around to his house.
Next door to Frank lived another boy from Salford called
Leslie. Frank, Les and I began to play in each other’s back
yards. Back then we were all nearly 9 years old. Frank, Les
and I remained friends throughout school and into adulthood.
When I reached 22 years old, I left Salford to find work in
Stoke-on-Trent where I met my wife Winn. Frank married and
went to live in Bury. Les never married, but he opened his own
weightlifting gym, winning many medals and trophies and he
continues to weight lift. He now lives in Monton.
When Frank was eighteen
years old he had to do
his National Service and
joined the Signals. Les
and I couldn’t wait for him
to come home on leave.
Through the years we
kept in regular contact
and remembered our
childhood and friendship
fondly. Last year I went
back to Salford and
joined my friends again to
reminisce and laugh at old
times.
The black and white
photo was when we were
18 years old, and was
taken when we went to
Manchester one Saturday
afternoon. The recent
photo of us was taken
when we were 78 years
old, outside Leslie’s home.
Although we have got old,
our friendship has never
waned. My name is Brian
Farrin and I feel privileged
to have two lifelong
friends.
Brian C. Farrin (better
known as ‘Fadge’).
9
Salford’s story through the lens
by Maggie Amankowicz
Museum volunteer Maggie Amankowicz
reviews the current LifeTimes exhibition,
which is on at Salford Museum and Art
Gallery until spring 2011.
To celebrate 10 years of LifeTimes, Salford
Museum and Art Gallery have put together
a unique photographic exhibition which
explores Salford’s past through old images
selected from the museum and local history
archive.
‘Life Through The Lens: snapshots of
Salford’s past’ depicts changes in Salford’s
landscape, lifestyle, living conditions and
fashion. The images on display enable us
to gain an insight into the life of an ordinary
Salfordian, and show us how the city has
evolved since the late nineteenth century.
The moment we enter the LifeTimes Galley
we begin an inspiring and nostalgic journey
back in time, when you could become a
local celebrity and earn a living by catching
4000 rats a day, and when LS Lowry strolled
down the streets, knocking on the doors
to collect rent. Before we realise, we are
suddenly in a completely different world, the
world in which Salford Precinct was a pride
of local people, aspiring to be ‘Europe’s
After you have visited the exhibition,
don’t forget to visit the museum shop.
best shopping and leisure complex’. The
exhibition captures a great community
spirit, with ordinary faces trying to catch
our eyes from every corner of the gallery
space. From the 1940s candle makers, at
Irwell Mills, to children playing in the ruins
of demolished houses in Lower Broughton
in the 1970s.
For those fascinated by history, this
exhibition is a real treat. It provides us
with an opportunity to see how Peel Park
used to look before the development of the
university campus, and how our houses
have changed since the times when having
a TV was considered a luxury. You can
easily forget where you are when looking
at images portraying ruins after Luftwaffe
raids during World War II, and those
presenting Salford’s landscape during the
slums clearance, with blocks of flats rising
above partly demolished rows of terrace
houses. The exhibition truly conveys a real
spirit of long gone Salford, when people
used to go out on the streets to socialise
with their neighbours, when kids were
bathed in a kitchen sink and when parents
were not afraid to let their children play on
the streets.
If you live further afield and can’t visit
the exhibition you can have a look at our
shop page on our website
www.salford.gov.uk/museumshop.htm
where you can also see the range of
local history books we sell.
Postcard pack offer
Postcard packs, featuring 12 of the best
images of Salford from the exhibition,
are on sale to LifeTimes Link readers
at £5 with FREE postage and packing
10
Additionally, the exhibition
delivers a great family
experience through
many activities designed
especially for the little
ones. A mock dark room
allows children to learn
about a mystery process of
developing a photograph,
while a DIY shadow puppet
theatre invites the whole
family to be creative and
engage in one of the
simplest games of our
times. There is also a
giant camera that children
can climb in to see the
world through a giant
lens. Inspired by the 1950s
profession of a rat catcher,
kids are also invited to spot
rats hidden around the
gallery space and become
the most efficient rat
catcher in Salford.
The exhibition also
presents a comprehensive
collection of old cameras,
among which you can spot
real treasures. If you wish
to extend your knowledge
of Salford’s past you are
invited to visit a LifeTimes
study room and view even
more pictures of Salford’s
streets, shops and
characters. Those of us
with more creative souls
are invited to take part
in a competition to write
a caption for old photos
mounted on the wall. The
photos are hilarious, so
are the captions. To be
completely honest, I must
admit that it has been the
first time I spontaneously
laughed out loud in a
museum!
(usually £2) – please
quote ‘LifeTimes’ when
you order: phone 0161
778 0827 or log on to the
museum shop web page
www.salford.gov.uk/
museumshop.htm where
you can also see the
range of local history
books we sell.
Ordsall Hall renovations
Ordsall Hall’s restoration is
progressing well. Underneath the
scaffolding and huge tarpaulin,
transformations are taking place in
all areas of the building.
The fourteenth century roof beams
have been uncovered, and internal and
external timber frames and beams have
been stripped of their Victorian coating
to expose their natural oak colouring and
patterns. In other areas carvings have been
meticulously restored and conserved to
reveal intricate details not seen for an age.
New stairwells have been fitted, previously
unseen rooms are being made accessible
and medieval stained glass panels have
been carefully restored to their former glory
ready to take their place once again in the
Hall. Outside, the Hall’s ancient moat is
being marked out, and trees and lavender
hedges have been planted.
Whilst the Hall is closed for restoration,
staff and volunteers are working on lots of
exciting projects inspired by the Hall and
surrounding areas. We have been working
with an artist and community groups to
create ideas and stories for a unique textile
hanging for the Great Hall.
We are also working to capture photo
portraits, stories and memories of people
who live and work in Ordsall or grew up and
went to school here. These will become part
of a publication and exhibitions when the
Hall reopens. Find out more about some of
the stories we are discovering on page 12
and 13 of this issue.
There are also lots of other activities
happening this year. If you would like more
information about any of the projects, please
contact Hazel Fenton on 0161 778 0837 or
e-mail hazel.fenton@salford.gov.uk
From top to bottom: Ordsall
Hall (external); builder; Great
Hall (internal); Stacey Fisher
from Salford City College
learning new skills that could
lead to a career in historical
conservation; Ordsall Hall
entrance door.
11
Memories of Ordsall and Ordsall Hall
One of the projects staff and volunteers are currently
working on is to gather and record stories associated with
the Hall and the area surrounding the Hall.
We have already spoken to a number of people who have
close connections with the Hall, and also people who grew up
in the surrounding community. Their stories are invaluable in
telling the 20th century history of the Hall.
We will continue to collect more stories throughout the spring
and summer. We are particularly interested in talking to
people who had close connections with the Hall, but would
also like to talk to anyone who worked in the industries in the
area, such as the Worrell’s Velvet Mill and Richard Howarth’s
Mill on Ordsall Lane.
If you would like to share your memories and stories, or for
more information about the project, please contact Hazel
Fenton on 0161 778 0837 or e-mail hazel.fenton@salford.
gov.uk
Here is a selection of some of the stories that have already been shared with us.
1
3
Husband and wife Cyril and Claire Lawrence grew up in
Ordsall and were St Cyprian’s congregation members in the
1930s and 40s. They got married at St. Cyprian’s during the
Second World War.
Brother and sister, Alan and Agnes Whitaker grew up
in Ordsall in the 1940s and 50s and were St Cyprian’s
congregation members. They were part of a large family
with ten children in all. They used to play in Ordsall Park.
Cyril: “We got married on
10th October 1944 and I got
leave to travel from Scapa
Flow. We’d just come back
off a Russian convoy, and
I sent a telegram off the
ship when I was up at Scapa
Flow because I got told I was
getting three days leave and to make arrangements. I got
one day to travel, one day to get married, one night in bed
and travelled back the day after. I never seen her again until
1946!”
Alan: “Ordsall Park was split
into two parts, one contained
the bandstand, duck pond,
bowling green, there was the
recreation area for adults
really more than anything
else. The other half, the
Taylorson Street side, was more or less
swings, it had a tennis court on there … swings, roundabouts
things like that … a paddling pool.”
Claire: “I did ask at the church if I could have the bells, and
the vicar smiled. He said ‘well you could’, but he said ‘I’m
afraid you’ll bring half of England out’.”
Cyril explains: “During the war if there was an air raid the
bells used to ring.”
Claire: “But I really would have liked the bells. I don’t know
why but it was the fancy, you know.”
12
Agnes: “I fell into the paddling pool and the children that
were older than me … they
took me in the toilet and
put all my clothes on the
doors trying to dry them.
Somebody run home …
and my aunt come for
me and wrapped me up
in a blanket and took me
home.”
6
8
Sisters Jennifer and Ann’s father worked as caretaker at
Ordsall Hall. He started working there in 1953 and they lived
there for nearly ten years. They have fond memories of the
Hall which became their playground.
Joyce Nelson lived at the Hall with her husband, Matthew
Nelson, who was the rector of St. Cyprian’s Church, which
adjoined the Hall and was demolished in the 1960s. They
lived in the east wing of the Hall between 1950 and 1955.
Jennifer recalls
moving into the
Hall.
“Dad was offered
the caretakership
and with it came
a tied house
which happened
to be the lodge.
We moved in in
1953. I think it
was the summer
time, because I can remember not wearing a coat. Ann wasn’t
particularly old, perhaps coming up for 12 months, because
we moved all the furniture on Ann’s pram. I was five. As soon
as I saw the place, I thought Ann and I were princesses and we
were going to live in a castle!”
Joyce and Matthew got
married the same week
as moving to work at St
Cyprian’s: “We only went away
for three days. We had to
come back for St Cyprian’s
Christmas Fair on the Friday.
It was very snowy, but the
caretaker on the other end of the Hall, the lady, had been
in the house and lit a fire so it wasn’t entirely cold when we
went in. We lived in the end opposite the caretaker. We were
at the Guy Fawkes Street side. Our sitting room was the Star
Chamber.”
The sisters also remember the spookiness of the Hall and its
impact on them as young children.
Jenny: “It was very warm, very spooky in places, which was
right up our street ... we didn’t realise at the time, but Dad was
frightened of going in the Hall so we got sent in first. We had
friends ‘not of this world’. We got told off. Mum said ‘If you don’t
stop it you’re going to frighten yourselves’, and that’s when we
realised Mum and Dad were frightened, not us.”
Ann recalls one particular ‘friend’: “I used to call her ‘Celery’
because I couldn’t say her name. She used to come and have
a chat and I could hear her dress rustling and then she’d be
gone!”
Joyce has fond memories of St. Cyprian’s Church and their
parish: “We were told the church had been put up over part of
what was the moat, and the floor at the right hand side was
all tilted, it had sunk down … but it was a lovely church.”
Joyce remembers the effort that
the local community put into the
Coronation celebrations of 1953:
“That was beautiful … it was lovely,
they must have been saving up for
months, I don’t know where they
got their resources from, but they
transformed the little side streets.
They closed them off and cars
weren’t allowed in and they trimmed
them up and they were all different
… it was beautiful. Some of them
actually painted the whole house!”
Hazel and Heather, who have been working together on the project, would like to thank the kind people who have contributed
their stories so far.
We are also very keen to receive written memories, so if you would like to write down or type up your memories please send
them to us at LifeTimes.
Photographs:
1. Cyril and Claire Lawrence
2. St. Cyprians Church
3. Alan and Agnes Whittaker
4. Alan Whittaker represents St. Cyprian’s in the annual Whit Walk
5. Alan and Agnes in St. Cyprian’s choir, taken in front of Ordsall Hall
6. Jennifer Harrison and Ann Tapp
7. Jennifer (front row 2nd in from left) and Ann (front row far left) at
their Aunty Betty’s (Betty Williamson) wedding. Ordsall Hall forms the
backdrop to the wedding photo
8. Joyce Nelson
9. Ordsall Hall in the snow
10. Joyce with husband Matthew and their two children
13
Embrace project update
Maryam Patala is the new
Embrace project officer
who started work in
September 2009. Maryam
has been working with new
communities for nearly 7
years and has a very good
understanding of their
needs.
The Embrace Project started a volunteer
programme in April 2006 and, since then,
we have worked with 24 volunteers from all
over the world. This volunteer programme
has provided opportunities for learning
and cultural sharing with refugees, asylum
seekers, people for whom English is a
second language, and new communities
in Salford. We are really proud to say
most of our volunteers have moved on to
study at universities or have entered into
employment assisted by their experiences
with us. Here are a few of the projects that
our existing and new volunteers have been
involved in:
Delicious and healthy recipes from the
Middle East
We were looking for a project that all our
volunteers could work on together as a
team regardless of their age, nationality
and level of English. Producing a recipe
booklet seemed to serve this purpose.
This full colour glossy recipe booklet
contains 26 Middle Eastern recipes
including starters, mains and sweets and
is on sale at Salford Museum’s shop for
just £3.99.
Culture boxes
From top left: International
Women’s Day; spray can art
workshop; Recipe booklet;
Family Fun Day.
14
Our volunteers have developed a
collection of eight handling boxes from
the countries they have come from. The
boxes contain symbols of their culture
e.g. traditional costumes, objects, spices,
pictures etc. Our existing culture boxes
are from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Albania,
Eritrea, Democratic Republic of Congo,
Iraq and Iran. Our volunteers are in the
process of updating these boxes to make
them more user-friendly so we can loan
them to different organisations and
community groups to improve cultural
awareness.
ESOL resource pack & handling boxes
Our ESOL resource pack containing
a section on visiting Salford Museum
and Art Gallery and another section
concentrating on Queen Victoria’s visit to
Salford in 1851, is now ready and you can
get your free copy by contacting Maryam.
It is also available as a downloadable
online version on the museum website.
You can borrow our Victorian and Tudor
ESOL handling boxes by contacting our
learning team at the museum. Each box
has a catalogue explaining every object
and what it was used for.
Outreach sessions
In the past couple of months we have
been very busy with various outreach
sessions, including attending the
Family Fun Day on 15th February at
Emmanuel Church, Dress 2 Impress on
17th February at Swinton Sure Start and
International Women’s Day on 11 March
at Emmanuel Church. A total of 89
people visited our stall and viewed our
culture boxes.
Small World in Salford
We have started planning our Refugee
week event which is called ‘Small World
in Salford’. This drop-in event includes
a lot of fun and entertaining activities
suitable for all the family and will be
held at Salford Museum and Art Gallery
on Sunday 20th June, 1-4pm. Our event
is the biggest celebration of Refugee
week in Salford and this is the sixth year
that is being held at the museum.
If you would like any further
information on the Embrace project,
or if you would like to loan one of the
culture boxes from the World in a Box
collection, please contact Maryam on
07809 085 064 or 0161 778 0870 or
e-mail: maryam.patala@salford.gov.uk
A visit to the recently reopened
People’s History Museum
By Kate Charlton, Salford Museum volunteer
The People’s History Museum in Manchester recently re-opened its doors to the public after a closure
of over two years. The museum closed its doors in October 2007 to allow for the start of a multi-million
pound re-development scheme. On its much anticipated reopening I went along to investigate.
impressive collections. The first changing exhibition, Carried
Away, takes a look at protests that have taken place over the
last 100 years. The exhibition covers issues such as antifascism, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the
1984 Miners’ Strike. There is a fascinating display of images
of protestors being forcibly removed by the authorities. There
is also the opportunity to visit the museum’s very own Peace
Camp, and to get involved in your own campaign. The Engine
Hall, part of the original Pump House building, has now been
transformed into a community gallery.
The People’s History Museum is a unique space dedicated
to the lives and struggles of the working people of Britain.
The museum houses a vast collection of items dating back
to the earliest days of the vote, exploring the birth of trade
unions, political parties, and the Suffragette Movement.
Contained within the stunning new development is the story
of the British working class and their struggles, successes
and defeats. The story highlights the fight for democracy
and the misery, repression and strikes that impacted on
their lives during a 200 year period. However, it is just as
much an inspirational story of the hope, courage, strength
and solidarity displayed by the British working class people
throughout history.
In the new permanent galleries, visitors can find out about
key events in Greater Manchester’s history, such as the
Peterloo Massacre and the founding of the Co-operative
movement. There are
also displays on modern
movements, including
the Miners’ Strike and the
Gay Rights movement.
The museum boasts the
largest collection of trade
union banners in the
world, and contains over
1500 historic objects.
As well as the permanent
gallery spaces, there is a
new temporary exhibition
space with new displays
every six months. This
temporary display space
will allow people to
experience topical touring
exhibitions, as well as
more of the museum’s
The impressive new structure is the first public building to
be built in Britain using a new Cor-Ten metal shell. The eyecatching structure is situated on the banks of the River Irwell
with a restaurant with an outdoor terrace, which lets visitors
relax and enjoy the views. The building also houses the
Labour History Archive and Study Centre which is accessible
to researchers by appointment. Visitors may also catch a
glimpse of textile conservators at work on the museum’s
banner collection through a special viewing window on the
top floor of the museum.
The museum is very family friendly, and is guaranteed to be
an enjoyable day out for all the family. There are hands-on
activities available in every gallery, with regular activities from
dressing up to working in the very first co-operative shop.
There is also a varied programme of tours, talks, events and
family activities.
The museum is open Monday to Sunday from 10.00am until
5.00pm. Free entry
The archive is open Monday to Friday from 10.00am until
5.00pm. Visits to the archive by appointment only.
For more information see the museum’s website
www.phm.org.uk or telephone 0161 838 9190 or email:
info@phm.org.uk
From top left: People’s History Museum, photo courtesy Kippa
Matthews; People’s History Museum interior; The Busy Bee explorer
pack for 3-6 year olds.
15
You Write
If you’d like to tell a story, ask ‘where are they now?’ or
share your memories - send your letters in to:
The Editor, LifeTimes Link, Salford Museum and Art
Gallery, Peel Park, Crescent, Salford, M5 4WU.
email: lifetimes@salford.gov.uk Tel: 0161 778 0885
Due to space limitations we reserve the right to edit any
letters that we do include.
Ed: Fred Barber sent in this wonderful
autobiographical poem reflecting on his life
growing up in Weaste.
I lived on Falcon Street which was behind the old
RAF club on Eccles New Road and had many happy
days there. The Barber family lived in Weaste from
1941 to 1970 at 8 Falcon Street, Weaste, Salford 5,
Lancashire.
Falcon Street is where it began
Two up, two down just like the rest.
Three brothers, two sisters, Mam and Dad
First up best dressed
My past is fading fast.
Gelders, back field, the Croft
My jungle, my playground, my Wembley.
‘Twenty aside’
‘First to ten’
‘Next one’s the winner’
Then home again.
My past is fading fast.
Kelly’s entry, passageway to another world
Gateway to my childhood.
Sewage works a constant smell
To a Salford lad “What the hell!”
A ‘piggery’ that was out of place
Grunts and squeals abound.
Penned in a makeshift garage
No space to turn around.
My past is fading fast.
“Is Mike playing out with his ball?”
“Sorry luv, he’s got a cough”
“That’s it” the shout goes out
“The football match is off!”
My past is fading fast.
On every doorstep uncles and aunts
Back entries with clothes hung to dry
Cracks in pavements crawling with ants
Aunty Florrie keeping a watchful eye
“Mind how yer go – watch the road!”
No such thing as the Green Cross Code
My past is fading fast.
Childhood pals now friends for life
Neighbours have long since gone.
Streets demolished, cuts like a knife
The spirit of Weaste lives on. My past is fading fast.
16
Ed: Bruce Small
emailed us with this
lovely photograph of his
great-grandparent’s pet
shop in Salford, and his
mother’s memories of
her childhood and early
life. Bruce’s mother was
Jessie M. Small, born
Jessie Matilda Murray,
to parents Florence
(nee Bruce) and Joseph
Murray, in Salford,
England, July 20th 1910.
Here, his mother Jessie
tells us her family’s story.
“While Dad was in the
war we went to stay with Grandma Jessie Matilda Bruce (nee
Williamson) and Edward Bruce at 143 Blackfriars Road in
Salford, where they owned a bird shop - canaries, parrots,
etc. I started school, where we sat on picnic-style tables and
benches. I swiped little oval dog biscuits called “sprats” from
the parrot feed. The kids at school loved them. Grandma had a
monkey which hated me and pulled my hair. I was Grandma’s
namesake so she would have me take piano lessons. The
teacher had a cane and used it on my fingers if I missed a
note. Eventually he said no way on this earth would I play the
piano. Three cheers!
Ma eventually found a place of our own. She went to work in a
meat processing place. She gave us kids money for our lunch
- fish and chips or meat pies, etc. I spent my money instead on
Brazil nuts and then we’d have fried bread. It looked like the
house was on fire with the smoke.
There was a store where you could put some money down
until it was paid for. I of course had this doll on hold. My
mother took sick and they sent for Dad to come home for
a few days. While there, he got my doll for me. My mother
recovered and Dad went back. In 1917 or early 1918 he was
hurt, blown up by a bomb. He was sent back to Christie St.
Hospital in Toronto, a vet’s hospital. Ma had two brothers killed
in the war, Edward and Bob. I remember Grandma Bruce
making macaroons to send to Dad.
There was a little street, at the back of Grandpa Bruce’s store,
where Dad’s brother Jim and family lived, and Grandpa Murray
lived with them. He used to sit on the windowsill and we kids
used to visit him. Dad’s brother Jim was a clogger. He put the
irons on the clogs when they wore out. I wore the clogs and a
shawl. There’s a song about a Lancashire lass:
Though she dresses in clogs and shawl,
She’s the prettiest of them all,
None could be fairer than fair little Sara,
The girl in the clogs and shawl.
I wanted so much to go to summer camp, and I’d go every
Saturday morning hoping my name would be called. I think my
Grandma must have pulled a string, for finally my name was
called. All the soldier’s wives and kids had to wait their turn to
come back to Canada in 1919. We got our call the very week I
was to go to camp, so never got to go to a summer camp.”
(Edward Bruce was born in Manchester in 1858, and died in
1937. Jessie was born in 1863 in Salford, and died in 1948.
Both are buried in St. Catherine’s cemetery, Barton on Irwell.
The photo shows them in front of their pet store with daughter
Alice, circa 1917)
The old police station on Chapel Street where Hugh worked.
Dear Editor,
I am the great-granddaughter of a Salford policeman who
served in the force in the later years of the 19th century up
to his retirement in 1904. His name was Hugh Chesworth
and he originally hailed from Knutsford where he was a
village schoolmaster. Hugh was left a widower with two
young children: Elizabeth (my grandmother) and her
brother, Hugh, who survived his mother’s death at his birth.
Hugh’s sister, of Ellor Street, took the children whilst he
joined the Salford Police Force. He was made a desk officer
because he could read and write.
The
police station where he worked still survives on Chapel
Street, though the premises are now a commercial business.
Going into Manchester it can be seen on the left hand side.
It is a red brick building with a large, wrought iron cupola on
top and the word ‘Police’ still in place over the big door.
Hugh
often mentioned the humorous side to his particular
area or beat. The extent of the Salford area ended for him at
the top of Blackfriars Bridge, where Deansgate crosses the
top of the main road. There was a particularly violent gang
at this time in the notorious area of Deansgate itself and
they were known as “the Scuttlers”. It’s difficult to imagine
how terrible this place was as today it is such a vibrant and
pleasant place! On riotous Saturday nights the police in
Manchester would dispatch the drunks, prostitutes and other
people engaged in criminal activities to the Salford side of
Blackfriars Bridge where they landed up in the Chapel Street
cells. Hugh had a swordstick, last owned by my grandmother,
Elizabeth, who swore it still contained ancient combat
evidence. It must have seen some action in those violent
confrontations.
Sybil’s grandfather, Leonard Nield, is in the white apron.
Ed: Sybil Nield contacted us in response to Freda Lear’s
letter and photo in Link 26 about Nield’s butcher’s shop.
My sister, Dorothy, and I are Leonard Nield’s
granddaughters. The shop (in the photo) was at 152 Lower
Broughton Road. Leonard bowled at the green at the Griffin
Hotel for the Manchester and Salford Butchers Association
and his wife, Jane, bowled for the County and Albert Park
ladies team. Jane lived to be 94. Their only son, Syd, with
our mother’s help, kept the shop open until he retired aged
67. He carried on making brawn until then. His customers
and friends still remember how delicious it was.
Next door to 152 was Birtwell’s Electrical Supplies, then
Gloria’s ladieswear, then a children’s prams and toy shop
before a row of houses at the end of which (on the corner
Sussex Street) was the chemists Timothy White’s – the
pharmacist was Mr. Parkinson. Opposite 152 was also a
row of shops – Mrs Bamber, grocer, Goulding’s Bakers and
Confectioners whose hot meat pies were made with meat
supplied by Leonard. Next was a wallpaper shop, then Mr.
Wong’s Chinese laundry, and on the corner the Salvation
Army. A little further along was Baxendales.
Dorothy and I are grateful to Mrs. Lear for sending in the
photo of the shop and the picture of the staff.
Sybil Nield
Hugh died in one of the little houses by the canal at Barton in
1904, not long after his retirement. He was, I’m told, a great
character and a loving dad. I’m proud of my Salford roots and
of men like him, who gave their service to keeping the city
safe.
Dorothy E. Gresty, Irlam
17
Sharing photos
massed choirs. I am on the extreme right of the front row,
and Joan and her friend, Vera Hough, who both appear on
Joan’s Weaste Congregational Rose Queen photo are on this
choir photo taken in June 1945 after the festival.
We had a couple of responses to Joan Hamer’s ‘Sharing
photos’ in Link no 26. Thank you to Joyce Sellors and Peter
Worthington for writing in.
The photo of Mrs Hancock’s class at Tootal Drive in 1947 was
of particular interest to me as I was one of the pupils - Joyce
James on the back row 4th from the right. A few other names
came to mind - Marian Ellerby, Muriel Billings, Pat Jarvis,
also on the back row next to me. Albert Finney (3rd from left,
3rd row) and I think Jack Sumner (3rd from right, 3rd row)
are also in the photo. Lots of other faces are familiar, but I
couldn’t put names to them.
Joyce Sellors (nee James), Orpington, Kent
Looking at Joan Hamer’s ‘Sharing Photos’ in your last issue,
I am on her photo, taken in 1947, of Standard IV at Tootal
Drive Council School. I can name most of them and am still in
touch with some of them.
1. My first photo is one of the two choirs entered by Tootal
Drive Junior School in the Salford Schools Musical Festival
held at the Royal Technical College on the 7th and 8th
June 1945. This was a non-competitive festival in which the
choirs sang two test pieces which they had chosen. The
comments of the adjudicator were afterwards passed to the
representative of each choir. The festival concluded on the
Friday evening with a concert given by the senior and junior
2
2. My second photo is of myself and my cousin, David
Redfern, on a ‘walk’ from Weaste Congregational Church,
led by the church’s Boys Brigade band. Behind us are Roy
Owen and Peter Robinson, and the photo is taken in 1941
on Tootal Road, passing Lords Avenue. I regularly attended
Weaste Congregational Sunday School until the late 1940s.
My mother and father were both members of Weaste
Congregational Church and I would go with them to various
fairs, dances, fetes and church walks.
3. My third photo is my dad, Walter Worthington, who was
a member of the men’s club at the church and played
snooker and billiards in the basement. Maybe he played
against Joan’s father Jack! He was also involved in the men’s
pantomimes which were a great success. The men were
known as “The Knights” and this photo shows some of the
cast in one of the pantomimes. If any reader can tell me
which pantomime this is and what year it is, I would be very
interested to hear. My dad is on the left of the front row.
4. My mystery football photo is of “Talbot AFC”. My dad went
to school at Ordsall Board School and was for many years a
member of Salford Lads Club. He is on the right hand side of
the back row of this photo. I would like to know who “Talbot
AFC” were and where they played if any reader can help. The
photo would have been taken around 1920.
Peter Worthington, Manchester
Ed: Thanks Peter for sharing your photos with us. If you
can help provide the answers to any of Peter’s queries or
you would like to share your photos in future issues of Link,
please get in touch with us. We recommend you only send
us copies of your photos and we will return any photos sent
in.
1
4
3
18
Buried at Weaste Cemetery
Pete Kilvert, Friends of Weaste Cemetery, has been investigating
some of the stories behind the headstones.
Timothy Boddington (1817 – 1885)
Timothy Boddington was a Corn Merchant and the younger brother
of the founder of the renowned Manchester brewery, Boddington’s.
He was born in Thame, Oxfordshire, on 28th February 1817, the son
of Baptists, John and Elizabeth Boddington. His father was a Master
Miller and he was the eighth child of ten, although three did not
survive infancy.
His elder brother John came to Manchester,
followed by Henry (who founded Boddington’s
Brewery) and then himself in 1836. In 1839
he established a corn merchant business in
Broad Street, Pendleton.
Timothy Boddington married Alice Rushton
in October 1838 and they had a daughter
Anne, who married Robert Leigh and had five
children. At first Timothy and Alice lived above
the business, but later moved to Howard
House, Howard Street, off Eccles New Road,
near Trafford Road. Timothy took his son-inlaw into partnership and the business was
known as Boddington and Leigh, with depots
in Shudehill and Long Millgate in Manchester
as well as Broad Street, Pendleton.
He was a strong member of the United Free
Methodist Church in Eccles New Road, and
could be described as the father of the UMF
churches in the district with his devotion and
huge financial support. He laid six foundation
stones between 1864 and 1880 at Liverpool
Street Chapel, Moor Lane Chapel (Swinton),
Hankinson Street Chapel, Hankinson Street
School, Eccles New Road School and
Hankinson Street enlargement. He was a
teacher at Eccles New Road Chapel and
superintendent for 30 years. On Thursdays he
would visit the poor.
In politics Boddington was a moderate
Liberal. He was elected to the first Salford
School Board and stood twice for Salford
Council, but was narrowly defeated both
times.
Timothy’s wife Alice died in September 1880
and he married again to Mary Ann Hall.
However, he died 5 years later, in 1885, at the
age of 68. The funeral service was held at the
Eccles New Road Chapel with a cortège of 25
carriages proceeding to Weaste Cemetery.
In 1886, a memorial tablet was unveiled at
the Eccles New Road Chapel, followed in 1889
by a huge memorial stained glass window,
displaying the Good Samaritan, the Parable of
the Talents, flowers and quotations.
To find out more about forthcoming tours of
Weaste Cemetery, please see details on page
23.
19
Link Listings
A taste of
forthcoming
heritage events
A full programme of
events and exhibitions
can be found in our
twice yearly (approx
January and July)
Events and Activities
publication. Pick
up a copy from our
museum or any
Salford library, or
check www.salford.
gov.uk/museums for
full events listings.
ON, the magazine for
what’s on in Salford is
published bi-monthly
and carries full
listings for events and
activities in the city.
You can also find
much more to see
and do (as well as
find out the most
up to date venue
or event details) at
www.visitsalford.info
Remember- internet
access is free at all
Salford libraries
and help is always
available.
At Salford Museum and Art Gallery
FAMILY Activities and events
• Activity Afternoons
Last Sunday of every month 2-4pm
Join us for an afternoon of arts and crafts
At Ordsall Hall Museum
activities with a different activity each time.
All activity afternoons are free and drop in
events, no need to book.
• Tudors Live!
First Sunday of every month 2-4pm
While Ordsall Hall is closed, the staff from the
Hall will be holding Tudor themed fundays at
Salford Museum and Art Gallery. These Tudors
Live! sessions are free and drop in events, no
need to book.
• School holiday activities
We will be running a packed programme of
activities for children during all the school
holidays. For details about what will be on offer
during the Whit half term and the summer
break look out for our events and activities
booklet, or pick up a copy of ON.
• A Small World in Salford
Sunday 20 June 1 - 4pm
This year’s Refugee Week finishes with A Small
World in Salford, an afternoon celebrating our
city’s rich cultural mix in music, dance, art and
heritage.
For more information please see:
www.salford.gov.uk/refugee.
• Salford Local History and Family Fun Day
Sunday 19 September 11am - 4pm
With over 30 stalls representing local
history groups, museums, heritage
organisations and booksellers. Children’s
activities and vintage bus rides. More
information will be on our website nearer
the time or contact us for further details.
ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS SUITABLE FOR
ADULTS
• Images of the Museum
Wednesday 26 May 1.30pm
Join our Learning Officer Ceri Horrocks as she
tells you all about the history of the museum
through fascinating photographs. This is
an opportunity to find out the lesser known
facts about the museum building and its
development. This event is FREE but booking
is essential as places are limited. Please call
0161 778 0821 to book your place.
20
• Family History Event
Saturday 29 May 2pm
We are delighted to welcome The History
Wardrobe back to Salford Museum and Art
Gallery with their fascinating talk on family
history through fashion and photographs.
This is a personal journey into the past,
with excellent advice on tracing ancestors.
You are invited to bring your own textiles
and pictures along to the event to be
dated. This is a FREE event but booking is
essential as places are limited. Please call
0161 778 0821 to book.
• Roger Hampson talk and tour
Saturday 5 June 2pm
A look at the exhibition and the artist’s
life in more detail, with curator Stephen
Whittle.
This is a FREE event but booking is
essential as places are limited. Please call
0161 778 0821 to book.
• Take your Pic!
Last Wednesday of the month starting in
July - 28 July, 25 August, 29 September, 27
October, 24 November - 2:30pm.
What’s your favourite photo in the
exhibition? Join the staff of Salford
Museum in a discussion of our favourite
photos and chat about the ones you like!
These events are FREE but booking is
essential as places are limited. Please call
0161 778 0821 to book your place. July’s
and August’s Take your Pic are suitable for
families.
exhibitions
• Life Through The Lens: snapshots of
Salford’s past
Until Spring 2011
To celebrate 10 years of the LifeTimes
project, this exhibition shows some of
the hidden gems from the photographic
collections held at the museum and local
history library. Focussing on themes
including local characters, fashion and
changing street scenes, these photographs
tell Salford’s story from the perspective
of local people. Families can enjoy the
reconstructed dark room, the ‘climb in’
camera and the shadow puppet theatre.
• Swinton and District Amateur
Photographic Society
Until 13 June
This exhibition showcases some of the
very best work from the society members
including landscape, portrait, human life
and wildlife.
• A Father’s Fears: Paintings by Alan
Hawkins
Until 20 June
These exceptional oil paintings show the
artist’s very real concerns as a father about
young people in contemporary society. This
is his first solo show and exhibition of this
body of work.
• Roger Hampson Retrospective
Until 27 June
During the years of the post-war industrial
decline in the North West, painter and
printmaker Roger Hampson (1925-1996) was
motivated to paint a landscape and way of
life that he knew was fast disappearing. This
retrospective shows how his work captures
the bleakness of the northern landscape,
as well as the warmth and humour of its
people. This is a touring exhibition from
Gallery Oldham.
Talk and tour of the exhibition by curator
Stephen Whittle - please see Events listings.
• Dreamfest by Constance Fearn
19 June to 26 September
Constance uses the architecture of Salford
and Manchester as her inspiration to
generate expressive poster paint sketches.
Her colour work transforms the stunning
but drab looking cityscape into vibrant and
textured panoramas.
• On The Edge by Daniel Glenister
2 October 2010 to 9 January 2011
Inspired by the red boundary lines that
surround the regeneration area on maps of
Broughton, Daniel creates semi abstract art
work through painting and photography. A
layer of time is documented through images,
and paint creates both a reference to what
was once there and also what the future may
behold.
• Salford Art Club Annual Exhibition
6 November 2010 to 6 February 2011
A selection of the very best art work produced
by members of Salford Art Club, including
portrait, landscape and still life.
• Eccles Town Centre
Sunday 6 June, 2pm
Meet Eccles Train Station Car
Park, St Marys Road, Eccles,
M30 0DN. Approx. 2 miles
Walk Leader: Chris Carson
• Monton to Worsley History
Walk
Wednesday 9 June, 7pm
Meet Waterside Bar &
Restaurant, 1, Parrin Lane,
Monton, M30 8AN. Approx. 3
miles, circular. Walk Leaders:
Chris Carson & David George
• Nasmyth and Industrial
Patricroft
Sunday 13 June, 2pm
Meet Monton Medical Centre,
Canal Side, Monton Green,
Eccles M30 8AR. Approx. 2.5
miles. Walk leaders: John &
Jill Aldred
• Kersal Moor
Saturday 3 July, 11am
Meet outside St. Paul’s
Church, Moor Lane, Kersal,
M7 3PJ. Approx. 2 miles. Led
by the Ranger Team
• Selection from the collection
26 June to 31 October
To compliment this year’s play exhibition, On
The Move, we will be selecting some of the
best transport pieces from the museum’s
collections. Artwork, prints, photographs
and objects will illustrate Salford transport in
the air, on the roads, along rails and across
water.
• On the move
17 July to 7 November
This year’s family friendly play exhibition
takes a look at transport. Move your way
through the gallery to experience how people
have got from A to B over the last 150 years
in Salford, from the times when feet were
the main mode of transport, to horse drawn
trams and Salford’s buses.
• Fragments
27 November 2010 to 13 March 2011
Fragments brings collected objects together
with reminiscences about Salford, its
people and their stories. Through visual
art, photography, pottery, woodwork and
interactive installations , the work will provide
a contemporary and thought provoking insight
into Salford’s rich and diverse history. This
work will be produced by START members,
a charity that promotes the arts as a means
to enhance the health and well being of
individuals in Salford.
Also, in the Blue Stairs Gallery
Showing here this year will be work from:
Friars Primary School, Salford’s Gifted and
Talented group and Salford City College
Heritage Walks
This summer’s programme of heritage walks,
run by Salford Heritage Services, gives an
insight into the city’s history, brought to life by
experienced guides.
• Walks must be booked in advance at Salford
Tourist Information Centre on 0161 848 8601
• Walks are £2 for adults, children FREE
• Please wear appropriate shoes or boots and
bring an umbrella!
• All distances given are approximate
• Greengate & Central
Salford
Sunday 18 July, 2pm
Meet outside Sacred Trinity
Church, Chapel Street,
Salford M3 5DW. Approx. 1.5
miles, circular. Walk Leader:
Roy Bullock
• Lark Hill to Castleford
Sunday 8 August, 1.30pm
Meet Salford Museum & Art
Gallery, Crescent, Peel Park,
Salford M5 4WU. Approx. 2
miles, circular. Walk Leader:
Tony Frankland
• Irlam’s Princes Park
Sunday 29 August, 10am
Meet outside Irlam &
Cadishead Youth Centre,
Liverpool Road, Irlam M44
6BR. Approx. 2 miles. Walk
Leader: Deborah Yates
• Eccles Ale Trail
Sunday 3 October, 12pm
Meet Eccles Train Station Car
Park, St Marys Road, Eccles,
M30 0DN. Places on this walk
are limited to 20. Drinks not
included in the price. Approx.
1 mile. Walk Leader: Tony
Flynn
21
Mystery Pix
Salford Local History Library has over 65,000 photos in their collection. Unfortunately we can’t identify all of them. Drop us a
line or pop into the Local History Library if you can help! (Open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm, with a late night opening on
Wednesdays until 8pm). *Please note the library will be closed from 1 to the 25 May.
Responses from last issue
Mystery Pix 1: Any idea where these builders might be?
Mystery Pix 2: This school photograph may have been taken in the Pendleton
area in May 1946. Do you recognise any of the pupils?
Mystery Pix 1:
A few of our readers got in touch about
this photograph. Mr.E Hulmes from
Bacup recognises it as Ordsall Park
in the early 30s. He remembers the
drinking fountain that the group of
children have gathered around in the
foreground of the picture to wait their
turn to sup from iron cups attached to
the fountain with chains. Alan Bailey
from Gloucester agrees with Mr
Hulmes saying that Ordsall Park was
on the junction of Newport Road and
Taylorson Street. He remembers the
drinking fountain was abolished in about
1935, and that the paddling pool was
filled in, due to a typhoid or diphtheria
epidemic. He also recognises the black
and white building in the background
as Holmes’ Milliners shop. Dorothy
Sweatman of Worsley also recognises
this building and identifies the mill in
the background as Dickie Howarth’s.
She also recognises it as the Taylorson
Street entrance to the park.
Send your information or
comments to:
Life Times Link,
Salford Museum and Art
Gallery
Peel Park,
Crescent,
Salford,
M5 4WU
Tel: 0161 778 0885
lifetimeslink@salford.gov.uk
Mystery Pix 3: This is possibly the priest
at St. James’ in Pendleton. Do you have
any ideas?
22
Mystery Pix 3:
Molly Booth (nee Broughton) from
Bramhall has identified this one as
taken in a classroom at Lower Kersal
Infants School. She is certain that it
was taken in the 1950s, as her first job
from college was teaching there from
1950-58 in the very same room. She
even recognises some of the children
in the photo and can identify the
unusual heating system.
Local History Round Up
This calendar of local history and heritage activities is based on
information supplied by the individual organisations, and is believed to
be correct at the time of going to press. It may be advisable to confirm
details with the organisation in advance of attending an event.
Note to programme secretaries. For your group’s talks to be included
in this listing please send your programme to us before the deadline as
shown on page 3.
Please note that some societies have their own websites and details of all
talks supplied to us are also listed on our web page at www.salford.gov.
uk/museum-talks
Boothstown & District Local History
Group - The informal meetings are
held in the main hall of Boothstown
Community Centre, Stansfield Drive, on
the third Wednesday of the month.
Contact - Ann Monaghan 0161 799 6091
Talks start at 7.45pm • Price £1.50
Chalk History Group, Charlestown and
Lower Kersal - Meet at St. Sebastian’s
Community Hall, Douglas Green,
fortnightly every other Friday at 12.30
pm. For further details for forthcoming
meetings check their website at
www.chalkhistory.colsal.org.uk or email:
chalkhistory@yahoo.co.uk
Eccles & District History Society - Meet
at Alexandra House, Peel Green on the
second Wednesday of the month
Contact Andrew Cross 0161 788 7263
Website: www.edhs.colsal.org.uk
• June
No meeting but the Society members
are invited to a series of Heritage
Walks in the Eccles area organised by
Salford City Council’s Heritage Service.
See Link Listings for details
• Saturday 17 July
Excursion to Skipton - A guided tour
of Skipton Castle and of the Yorkshire
Dales Mining Museum will be included
• August - No meeting
• 8 September
Salford in ‘Love on the dole’ - An
illustrated guide to Walter Greenwood’s
novel of 1933 Chris Carson
• 13 October To be confirmed
• 10 November The trial of the
Lancashire witches John Doughty
Talks start at 7.30pm
Irlam, Cadishead & District Local
History Society - Meet at St. Paul’s
Church, Liverpool Road, Irlam Contact
Deborah Yates 0161 775 8708 Website:
www.icdlhs.colsal.org.uk
• May / June
History Nostalgia Day - Date and Venue
to be confirmed
• 16 June
The Local Co-op Deborah Yates
• 24 July
A visit to Rochdale Pioneers Museum
Toad Lane, Rochdale
• August Bank Holiday Monday
Summer Show Princes Park
Talks start at 7.30 pm
Visitors welcome: £1.00
Salford Local History Society - Meet at
Salford Museum & Art Gallery Contact
Roy Bullock 0161 736 7306 www.
salfordlocalhistorysociety.colsal.org.uk
• 25 May
Salford’s Victorian Cellar Dwellings
Sandra Hayton.
• 30 June
History of Kersal Moor Alice Searle.
• 28 July
Retracing Salford Lawrence Cassidy
• 25 August
The Leeds to Liverpool Canal David
George.
• 29 September
The People in Weaste Cemetery Pete
Kilvert.
• 27 October
Central Manchester Margaret Curry.
Talks start at 7.30 pm
Visitors welcome: £1.00
Swinton & Pendlebury Local History
Society - Meet at Swinton Library,
Chorley Road, Swinton Contact John
Cook 0161 736 6191 Website:
www.splhs.colsal.org.uk
• 24 May
Down forget-me-not Lane Brian
Hallworth
• 14 June - A.G.M.
Talks start at 10am
Cost £1.00
Friday Focus at Walkden Gateway Local interest talks at Walkden Library
which take place last Friday of the month
at 2pm. All talks last about an hour.
Walkden Library, Walkden Gateway, 2
Smith Street, Worsley, M28 3EZ. For
more information and to book call 0161
909 6518 or email
walkden.library@salford.gov.uk
• 28 May, 2pm
Salford in Love on the Dole Chris Carson
• 25 June, 2pm
A history of Trafford Park David George
Free but please book in advance to avoid
disappointment.
Tours of Weaste Cemetery - The
Friends of Salford Cemeteries Trust
have organised some guided tours of
Weaste Cemetery, Cemetery Road, off
Eccles New Road, Weaste. Metrolink
stop nearby. Unfortunately no toilets are
on site. Meet at the War Memorial at the
end of the main drive. Enquiries: pete.
kilvert@ntlworld.com or 0161 748 3123.
• Sunday 27 June, 11am
Veterans Day
• Sunday 12 September, 11am and 1pm
Heritage Open Day
Tours are free and tour booklets are
available at £1.
WCML talks - A series of talks will take
place at the Working Class Movement
Library to accompany their current
exhibition Invisible Histories. Working
Class Movement Library, Jubilee House,
51 The Crescent, Salford, M5 4WX. For
more information visit www.wcml.org.uk
or email enquiries@wcml.org.uk or call
0161 736 3601.
• 26 May, 2pm
A celebration of Kersal Moor Alice
Searle
• 9 June, 2pm
Salford Lad’s Club Leslie Holmes
• 23 June, 2pm
No Compensation Glen Atkinson
• 7 July, 6pm
Re-tracing Salford Lawrence Cassidy
• 21 July, 6pm
Salford Star Stephen Kingston
• 4 August, 2pm
Trades union memorabilia Cliff Stockton
Please note: Walkden
Local History Group and
Worsley Methodist Church
& Community Association
have unfotunately
disbanded and will no
longer meet.
23
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Salford Museum & Art Gallery
Peel Park, Crescent, Salford M5 4WU
Tel: 0161 778 0800 • Fax: 0161 745 9490
Email: salford.museum@salford.gov.uk
Open: Mon-Fri 10.00am-4.45pm and
Sat-Sun 1.00-5.00pm
Free parking, disabled access, gift shop,
café .
Salford Local History Library
at Salford Museum & Art Gallery:
Open: Tues, Thurs and Fri 10.00am-5.00pm
and Weds 10.00am-8.00pm
Closed weekends and Mondays
*Please note the library will be closed from 1 to the 25 May
Ordsall Hall Museum
Ordsall Hall is now closed for an exciting
and extensive refurbishment programme
and will reopen in 2011. Go to
www.visitsalford.info/ordsallhall
for the latest information and updates.
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