Affetside, Lancashire

Childhood in Affetside

Born at Baxterhead Farm in 1938, later lived at Butcherhead Farm. Attended village school, teacher Miss Davies, at playtime end she would blow a cuckoo whistle. Had to go to Sunday school but had to walk to Hawkshaw with my sister to church. Cars were a very rare sight, there was a bus every hour, it started from 200 yards up... [more]

Accrington Old and New Photographic Memories

In a few yards there were many clothes shops here, including Weaver to Wearer, Burtons and Fifty Shilling Tailors Ltd. The building on the corner of Broadway with the stylish curved frontage (right) housed Woods the tobacconist's and Porter's Wallpapers, both familiar names to Accringtonians over many years.

Accrington Old and New Photographic Memories

This part of Blackburn Road was a hive of activity with lots of shops. The electric tram (just visible under the bridge) shows that the photograph was taken after 1907, when the old steam trams of the Baltic Fleet were withdrawn. The Baptist chapel (centre left) was built in 1836, but since a larger building was erected on Cannon Street in 1874, it has undergone many changes of use.

Accrington Old and New Photographic Memories

The Town Hall was originally known as the Peel Institution, and was used as Assembly Rooms. The etching on the windows, 'Magistrates Room' and 'Solicitors Room', reminds us that the Magistrates' Courts were also housed here for many years. The police station, just visible behind on the left at the top of Union Street, was accessible from the court via an underground passage for the prisoners to pass through on their way from dock to cell. The imposing ballroom has seen... [more]