Abbey Hey, Lancashire

Holidays in Gorton

I am Kenneth Overend Edwards from LLandudno, north Wales, and my story about Gorton is surprising because from an early age I was sent by my mother Ellen Edwards (nee Overend) to stay with my grandad, Eric Theodore Overend, who lived on Sutton Road in Gorton. From the mountains, sea, and fresh air of Wales to the smokey city of Manchester!... [more]

my childhood in Gorton.

I was born Judith Payne in 1946 and lived in a two bed terraced house with outside toilet and no hot water or bathroom, on Victoria Road. Gorton, Manchester. This ran off Hyde Road next to the junction with Cross Street, later called Gorton Cross Street. On the left corner of Victoria Road was Batesons the ironmongers and... [more]

SCHOOL DAYS

I REMEMBER GOING TO HAUGE STREET SCHOOL AND LIVING IN ROBERT STREET JUST A STREET AWAY AND ONE MORNING I HAD FORGOTTEN TO TAKE MY LUNCH SO I STOOD AT THE SCHOOL GATES AND WATCHED FOR MR MERGAROIDE WHO WAS THE LANDLORD OF THE GREYHOUND PUB AFACING OU R HOUSE AND WHEN I SEEN HIM I ASKED HIM WOULD HE GET... [more]

1954 onwards

I attended Ardwick secondary modern school for girls, many of my friends lived in Ardwick we would all walk to school together, on the way home hot vimto at the cafe so I got to know the area well. Of course we visited the Apollo cinema and the Hippodrome, then the Court School of Dancing in the Apollo building, Hyde Roadside... [more]

Montgomery House YMCA Hall of Residence

I was a student here between 1966 and 1969 and loved the place! Although it was an all-male Hall of Residence we organised events with other Halls from the University and Colleges.  I was the social secretary for my Hall and got to meet some lovely people; although it is now more than forty years later I still remember very fondly... [more]

Olden Days

We used to play on Barney's hills, also known locally as Ashes. I also remember the May Queen and Molly Dancers, the herbalist shop on Rochdale Road, and happy days playing in the muck and near the River Irk! I would have been 8 or 9 then. We lived on Eliza Anne Street behind the chip shop opposite (more or less)... [more]

Happy days

I was born in Tebbutt Street in 1951. I went to St. Pat's School. Fond memories of Osborn St. baths, Hunts chippy and the toffee apple shop on Rochdale Rd. Played on Barney's tip as a kid and who can forget the wonderful smell that used to waft across Collyhurst from the bone works off Roger St. Used to deliver newspapers... [more]

The Knight Family

My grandmother Maria Knight nee Ward born 1888 was brougt up in the Hillgate area of Ashton where her father owned three shops. The eldest of tweve children she rarely went to school her father would rather pay the fines as she was needed to help at home. Eventually she escaped by marrying a customer Harry Knight from Bolton.... [more]