The Francis Frith Collection.
You are here:

Little Leigh memories

Here are memories of Little Leigh and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Little Leigh or a Little Leigh photo.

Childhood Memories

My granny used to live in Hole House, Lane Little Leigh, her name was Ellen Frances Hough, and I remember she used to live next door to Mr and Mrs Astbury. My dad used to take me there on a Friday night and pick me up on a Sunday, had to go to Little Leigh church on a Sunday morning which I quite enjoyed, then we would be picked up by my Auntie Kathleen who lives (and still does) at Bridge Farm, Acton Bridge, we would stay there for the afternoon, then attend church in the evening yet again, where she was in the choir. My granny died in 1974, but I still have very special memories of those days. I have lived in Bournemouth since 1973, and I do still go to visit my dad who still lives in Wincham, and I always have this feeling of 'coming home'.

Memories of Cheshire

Acton Bridge Cruising Club

The River Weaver Near Acton Swing Bridge c1955
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

My memories of Acton Bridge go back to the mid 1950s and early 1960s. The picture of boats at Acton Bridge Cruising Club takes me back to my teenage days. We had a boat called 'Scampi' which was a 32-foot ex-Norwegian lifeboat. It was our family boat.  It was kept initially on the Mersey at Wallasey Dock, then my dad decided to join the then very newly formed Acton Bridge Cruising Club. And so we moved 'Scampi' up the Weaver to Acton Bridge. The boat in the forground on the right is 'Hannah', an ex-fishing boat. 'Hannah' was eventually sabotaged by British Waterways and sunk at Level Lock. What a destructive act on a vessel with quite some history! All because the owner had not kept up the licence. Our boat was more or less moored where the camera would be to take the picture. I can remember names of club members in those days: Stan Davies, Ken Binns, Fred Warburton, Barclay Guy, Henry 'Hatch' Hatchard (my dad), Ken? Shields,... Read more

Acton Bridge

The River Weaver Near Acton Swing Bridge c1955
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

Hello Laurie

My dad had the boat 'Jan' - I still see Roger & Jean from time to time. We still have a boat on the Weaver at AB, and she is called 'Triton'. I have a brother called Peter and my parents were called Peter & Mary - but can you remember my name? I once went out with you just to confuse you further. am now the Hon Sec at AB!!

Hope to hear from you soon.

The Boat Club, Acton Bridge

The River Weaver Near Acton Swing Bridge c1955
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

Laurie, I remember vividly those days as if they were yesterday, strange to see the Jan mentioned which dad bought from the Faircloughs which was moored at Widnes Docks.Do you remember our trip down the ship canal to the boat festival? Our boat at the time was the gorgeous 32ft 'CORAL', Thornicroft powered, I have a photo of the 'CORAL' at Chester with your mum and dad, Roger, my mum and dad and me. Remember 'BOY BLUE' which was moored by the cottage? An ex MTB I think. Names from the past, the 'Barnton', the 'Comberbatch', the 'Wimborne', the 'Polythene', the 'Madge' to name a few.

Island Cottage

My nanna and grandad Noden lived at Island Cottage. Grandad was a bridgekeeper along with Jack Powell and Syd Bebbington at Acton swing bridge from 1945-1960. There was an enormous flood in 1946 when my grandparents were the first to be rescued. The water rose over 12and a half feet.  A Bulldog Drummond film had its location at Acton Bridge when his car was supposed to go into the river and he had to be rescued.  My grandad was standing by with his rowing boat. During the 1950s the River Weaver was a very important waterway and some very big boats went up and down to I.C.I Winnington. Once when the lock gates further downstream got stuck all the water drained out of the the river and all the boats were stranded in the mud. Also the swing bridge got stuck one day and all the traffic had to be re-routed via Winnington Bridge at Northwich.  I used to live at Field Cottage in Acton Bridge, and was a minshall... Read more

Ay, Them Were The Days!

Manor Drive c1955
Enlarge photo |  More about this photo

I was born in Manor Drive in 1948, in the white house at the top left of the picture. Each house from bottom left working up and then back down again was the Simmons family, then Coppack, Clewes, Fowler, Emptage, Lyons, Leather, Roberts, Keelty, Hulse, across the road, the Curbishleys, Liecester, Yeomans, Hornby, Banks, Wilkinson, Simpson, Hornby, Elsby, Elsby, Carter, Fagg, Essen, Quilty, Bland.
We used to have a bonfire every November on the ‘patch’ of green off picture on the right. This ‘patch’ also served as a football field, a Cricket field, a general playground where we played, kick can, tick, hide n seek, truth dare kiss command or promise and loads more.
We also had a street party every year. Mums would provide the food and kids ate it as we sat around trestle tables in the glorious sunshine.
At the top of the road is Church Road with Mrs Cappers’ food shop, which became Cross’s shop. Opposite this was the British Legion Club previously the Manor Farm... Read more

Memorybank total

We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.

You've shared 28,875 memories of 5,951 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!

Browse memories button

Find Memories

Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.

Start by searching for your favourite places

Tips & Ideas

Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:

How does it feature in your personal history?

What are your best memories of this place?

How has it changed over the years?

How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?

Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?

Start now!

It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.

Your memories

To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here

I Remember When...

I Remember When

This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.

A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.

Learn more button Save 25% on I Remember When when you order now!
Home > Explore your past > Little Leigh > Memories of Little Leigh

© Copyright 1998-2012 Frith Content Inc. All rights reserved.