Accrington, Lancashire

Central Prep School

I was a pupil at this school until about 1960 when I went to the technical school. I have fond memories of the headmistress and her blue-rinse hair do. Whilst I was there Miss Cauldfield left and a Miss Hackwood (hope this is correct) took over. To a child's eyes it all seemed to change.

School Days

The building behind the church is where I went to school from 1955 1961. It was called Central Preparatory School and the headmistress was Miss Caulfield.

Sacred Heart Church

This is Sacred Heart RC Church, in Accrington.  It has now been demolished.  I have many great memories and some not so great from this sacred place.  I felt like I had to share this info, with you when I saw this picture.  When the church was being knocked down there was a last service mass held and it was a... [more]

Accrington as I recall

We moved to Accrington fom Whalley 10th December 1941. I remember it because Syd Ashmeed and his band was broadcasting that day and Ronnie Brooks was the drummer and I wanted to listen to the broadcast but as we were moving I missed it. I started work at Howard & Bulloughs in April 1941 as an apprentice mechanic in the milling... [more]

Heart of Lancashire Photographic Memories

Blackburn Road is at the very heart of the town. The first building on the right is the Market Hall, and next to that, in the centre of our photograph, is the Town Hall.

Accrington Old and New Photographic Memories

Although not a market day, there is still plenty of activity along the road. Henry Wormwell, a mill and general furnishing engineer, had premises on the corner of Piccadilly, the block of shops just opposite the Town Hall. The block opposite the Market Hall was demolished and rebuilt as more imposing shops in about 1924.

Heart of Lancashire Pocket Album

The name Accrington means 'community where the acorns grow'. Acorns were the main source of food for pigs in Norman England, and pigs were an important source of food for many Lancashire villages. The name was written as 'Akarington' in 1194 and 'Acrinton' in 1277. The town grew up on the edge of the Rossendale Forrest. In 1801, Accrington was just a growing village with a population of under 3,000. Before the start of the Great... [more]