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Altham
Altham maps
Historic maps of Altham and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Altham maps
Altham area books
Displaying 1 of 16 books about Altham and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Altham
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Lancashire memories
Sunny 1950''s Sunday Mornings
I have many memories about the old St Mary's Church. Until I started thinking of them I realised that I have not got one involving a rainy day apart from when my Grandad was buried in the churchyard. He was laid to rest with his younger brother who died in the First World War and my late Grandmother. I still visit the grave from time to time.
Both I and my brother were baptised at the old St Mary's. I still have the photographs. They look like a snapshot from another world now.
I remember walking down a sunny Burnley Road from Enfield with Daddy dressed in his best camel coloured and belted gaberdine coat, as we made our way to the later morning Mass. I can still smell those warm and dry dusty summer days. My hat always seemed to be blowing off and he had to chase after it. "Carry it until we get to church" he'd say. Mum stayed at home with my baby brother... Read more
Coopers And Booths
My Great, Great Great Grandfather, William Booth, used to push a cart up and down the streets of Clayton le Moors with his son John Booth, selling shellfish. He was known as 'Muscle Bill' and his son, 'Oyster Jack'. (This is actually a memory passed down from my ancestors to my 3rd cousin.)
They lived at 'Old Sparth House' from around 1895 onwards. William died in 1900 age 79. Most of the family married and brought their children up in Clayton le Moors. A few emigrated abroad. Robert Booth to Australia, Ellen Booth married Charles Battersby and moved to Canada. John Booth's daughter Luciana Booth married William Cooper from Great Harwood at All Saints, and my Grandfather, Robert Cooper was born in Lower Barnes St, Clayton le Moors.
Luciana used to stand outside the 'Forts Arms', as a young girl, with a tambourine, handing out hymns.
Clayton le Moors
Hi, does anyone have any information on a grocer's shop or a draper's shop which was situated at numbers 2, 4 and 6 Sparth Road? I've recently discovered that my great-great-great-grandparents owned these properties, any info would be appreciated, thanks. Jackie
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 ticket only event. I couldn't go on that evening and therefore missed it.
The church holds many memories for all of my family. My mum and dad were married at the church as were her seven sisters. Every week in Sunday best marching with my Nanna picking up all of my cousins along the way, to 11 o'clock mass. My mum and dad were married here and so was every one of my mum's seven sisters. Myself and my cousins were all christened at this church, and we all made our 1st communions and confessions here. My grandparents' funeral services were conducted from this church. Anyway I was working... Read more
Mrs Kilshaw
I remember the creaky stairs and stodgy atmosphere of Central Preparatory so well, even though it's now 44 years since I last heard the sterling tones of Mrs Kilshaw resounding through the classroom.
Miss Backhouse was my personal favourite: a gentle, caring teacher who had the patience others seemed to lack.
I still live locally (Ossy) and occasionally wander round the area where the noble old building that began my experiences of the world of British education once stood. So much has changed of the Accrington I knew then and having moved back after 35 years away - in Scotland and Cheshire - it's nice to know that others have soothing and happy memories of Central Prep.
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 room, but after a year I asked for a transfer to the tool room. George Crawshaw was the foreman. I was in Bulloughs Home Guard and did our guard duty in Fountain St. We lived in Buxton St and one Saturday night a shop window was broken on Charter St, I believe that happened for three Saturday nights, when they caught the culprit he said 'that he liked the sound of tinkling glass'. We used to go dancing on Saturday night up the Con, sometimes to Madam Buts, then when Bulloughs opened the Social Club we went there, that is where I met my wife. A friend of mine,... Read more
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.
