Northwich memories
Here are memories of Northwich and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Northwich or a Northwich photo.
My Days in Northwich
I was born in Northwich in 1966, however I moved here to Lancashire in 1980 but I still consider time in Northwich as being the best days of my life. I moved here when I was 14, I lived in Greenhall Road and my best friend Tracey lived on Victoria Road. We were great friends then and still remain friends now even though we both moved away from the area. Most of my best memories were boys boys boys... probably is when your 13 and 14! I used to love the town - Tracey and I would finish school on Friday nights get dressed up and straight to the Rudheath youth club, then Saturdays down the town chippy first though, then downtown, bought a few records, then for a drink in Popormbies cream soda was great, then to Woolworths to look at more records, messed about in the phone box for a while (like you do at that age god knows why). Then home, usually round to my Auntie Nonie's... Read more
Marbury Hall
I am the co- author of 'A house with Spirit' a tribute to Marbury Hall, and loved reading all the comments about your memories at Marbury. I have lots of original photographs in my possession of the Hall and welcome any of you to contact me at any time, as I totally understand your love of Marbury. It casts a spell over anyone who has been there.
Happy Days at The Terminus
Oh my goodness, this takes me back. Many happy memories of times spent at Northwich Bus Station. There was a photo booth that was housed to the right of the building in the photograph. Me and my friend Amanda Grandy spent quite a bit of dosh doing our random silly face shots in there. There was also a great little cafe to the extreme left of the photo who did an amazing cornish pasty with gravy - well it tasted good to us 13 - 15 yr olds who regularly met up there or hung about outside or on the terminus. Happy memories. x
Ardern's Carpets at The Bottom of Castle
At the bottom of Castle, going down towards the bridge on the left was Ardern's Carpets. this belonged to the father of my friend Mary Ardern, she would have been about 10 in 1960. If anybody knows where she is now, I'd love to be in touch! After being a carpet shop, it became a car showroom, and I think the entire building is now gone.
Opening of Hartford Secondary Modern School
Peter Drinkwater is mistaken with regards to the opening date of the school. As the first Head Boy I can assure him the school opened in 1956 as a co-educational school. It was later officially opened by Sir John Foster, M.P for Northwich. I still have the original invite etc. The first Head Girl was Sylvia Gre(a)y. Peter is right though, it was a good happy school. Best wishhes to all the former pupils. My grandaughter is now a pupil in the second year. Happy memories.
Marbury And The Old Hall
I was born in Marbury in 1952. My father worked for ICI. I have wonderfull memories of Marbury especially the old hall. My maiden name was Campbell and I had 3 sisters, Pauline, Christine and Caroline, also a brother, Andrew. I have an obsession with Marbury and go back there often. Although Marbury Park is a beautiful place now I feel the magic has gone, along with the hall. When I was a child I spent many hours in the hall because my friend Isabel lived there with her family. We spent many happy hours exploring and lots of time looking for the Marbury lady. I cannot believe this wonderful building was demolished. If there is anyone out there who remembers our family please get in touch, email: bingopat1@live.co.uk
Marbury Hall 1956
In the 1950s ICI had what was even then a slightly old fashioned ethos - they cared for their employees beyond the workbench! In those days the workers participated in a share scheme which meant that workers benefitted financially from the company's successes. But more than that each Christmas this once great company organised a Christmas party at Marbury Hall for workers and their families - and all of the kids received Christmas presents - in some cases perhaps the only Christmas presents they got. I can remember the excitement of the day and of going home feeling that I had enjoyed myself tremendously!
What a pity the old hall was knocked down! A hall like that, so full of local history should surely have been saved! Those who participated in its end should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.
The Death of Marbury Hall
I remember this beautiful building from my childhood and can remember how the old Northwich Rural Council ordered its destruction. To me this was an act of local aurthority vandalism never surpassed in the UK. The hall should have been handed over to the nation and then maintained by the newly formed Natioanl Trust. The councillors who ordered the destruction were never held to account and over the following years quietly retired when the councils became Vale Royal District Council.
Hartford Secondary Modern School
Me and my late twin brother started at this school in 1953, the school was mixed. We were the first ones to be there, it was a brand new school. Fred Beech was the headmaster, he was a grand man and would always listen to you. Mr Phipps was PE teacher, Mr Williams wood work, Miss Hunt music, Mr Bolton art, Mr Simpson RE. THIS WAS A SMASHING SCHOOL, the pupils were all a credit to the teachers. We left there in 1957 but what lovely memories we had. We used to run from Hartford School home to Leftwich nearly every day, some days we would catch the bus home, it was a penny in them good old days.
Brunner House Fond Memories
I started my working life here at Brunner House as a 16 yr old mail girl. I helped to sort out all the mail, then deliver to all of the offices. An opening became available in the filing room with Margaret Johnson. I got on very well with Margaret and had a lot of respect for her vast knowledge. I also worked in transport accounts and finally as a Secretary. I typed for many of the Managers there including John Dunbavand, and Derek Isherwood. I have extremely fond memories of my time at Brunner House and all the friends I have met. Many of which I still have today, like the lovely Irene Thomas, who everyone loves. I left ICI to have my daughter who is now 28yrs old. Good grief where did all those years go..
My Old School
Hartford Secondary Modern School, Northwich brings back very fond memories. The teachers were very good and enthusiastic, encouraging us all to do well.
Mr Beech was the Headmaster, very keen on cricket. Mr Baines Assistant Head, who was a lovely man, full of good advice. Miss Hunt an outstanding Music Teacher. I remember a romance between our P.E Teacher and History teacher, they eventually got married I think. Miss Bird was our Gardening teacher, she should have been on TV with all the gardening tips she gave us! Miss Allinson was our English teacher, and very good.
Those were the days when there was great respect for the teachers, and the Hartford Secondary Modern teachers were full of enthusiasm.
Sadly we moved from the area, and I had to leave this school, but it has left lots of good memories. The next school I attended in Folkestone was not at all good, and I left school at 14yrs because I was so disillusioned with it.
Valerie... Read more
London Road
These 'crooked houses' existed until recently. A friend of mine lived in one of them. They occupied the opposite side of the road and just down from the old workhouse, and were probably shaken as much by traffic on the railway (about 100yards to the left of the picture) as anything.
Joe Allmans Junk Shop
This shop had solid soil floors. It was full of old junk which now I suppose would be classed as antiques. Joe Allman was the owner and was made to leave as the Council stated that the building was unfit for human occupation; another great blunder by the local council that seems to be hell bent on removing anything of interest in Northwich. The shop was situated at the bottom of Winnington hill, next door to the barrel roofed house (again destroyed) reputed to have been built by Navies who put their canal tunnel building to use.
Sir John Deanes
My old school, unchanged when I was there in the mid/ late 70s. I returned for visit in 2007 old building unchanged then as well. Memories of wooden school rooms, chalk and those cranky mobiles from NE8 onwards.
Memories of Cheshire
Random Memories of Rudheath
I have fond memories of making butter at Bill Walker's farm at the top of Wessex Drive and then going to play in the playing field next door. I also remember speeding down 'Spibey's Hill' on my way to play at the brook in Shipbrook Road. We didn't like the farmer there - he was a grouch! Bread cost 9d a loaf at Birtwistle's Newsagents and, if you were up early enough, you could go up to Roberts Bakery near Shurlach and smell it being baked. The only adult entertainment seemed to be at Shurlach Chapel which held regular Beetle Drives and Jumble Sales! The main shopping areas were the shops down East (or was it West) Avenue where the cobbler, off licence, hairdresser etc were, or in the other direction past the chapel, past the Italian POW camp, and tramp to the wonderful cake shop, chemist etc on the 'new estate' The two coalmen were Norman Broady and Tommy Muskett and they wore leather jerkins to protect themselves when carrying the... Read more
Buttercup Field
This field was behind our house and is accessed from a path that runs along the churchyard wall. From the age of about 7, I spent many a happy hour with my dog Shep - just wandering around the field looking at the Buttercups, spying rabbit holes and trying to keep the dog out of dried cow pats.
The path continued onto the bypass - and it is this route that my errant dog Shep would take, in order to visit Leftwich Estate. Every so often he would escape from the garden and set off on his mission to visit his friends! Such was his urgency, he let nothing or no-one get in his way. How he managed to cross the bypass without mishap is beyond me - but during his lifetime, he made several visits! Usually my dad (Eric Jenkins) was in hot pursuit and I can hear him now woefully shouting, "Shep, Shep - confounded dog!". I knew there was no point in trying to catch Shep... Read more
Bert Price''s Shop
Bert Price's Shop was at the top of our street - Church Street. Bert Prices' shop sold anything and everything. From household buckets and dusters to DIY tools, firewood, fire lighters and paraffin for the heater in our bathroom. It was run - if memory serves me right - by Mr Price and two sons. It was the shop of choice that my dad took me to when I repeatedly mithered him for a penknife -that would be when I was about 8 or 9 years old (1960ish). Being a girl, this could be said to be a strange request. But I was more of a tomboy than a 'girlie' girl - and David, who lived next door to me, was a Boy Scout and he had a knife. So anything that was good enough for David was good enough for me!
It was a different world back in the early 1960s. Knives were used by children for whittling pieces of wood, cutting bits of string and sawing twigs... Read more
A Quiet Haven of Peace.
I lived next door to Davenham Church, and one summer's day, when I was about 7, I went for a walk around the churchyard. Hearing a rustling noise on the ground, I crouched down, parted some long grass, and found a baby hedgehog. Now my sister and I had had a tortoise, and he had died during the winter, so I thought the hedgehog would make a great pet.
Running back home, I found a wooden box and my dad's gardening gloves and scurried off back to the churchyard. To my dismay the hedgehog had gone, but some careful detective work soon located him. Donning the overlarge gloves, I carefully picked the hedgehog up, placed him in the box and triumphantly returned to the house. It wasn't long before mum came and found me and explained that hedgehogs couldn't be kept as pets. My disappointment was great - but mum said, "His mother will be looking for him." With that, I returned the hedgehog to the churchyard and watched... Read more
The Dizzy Heights!
I lived next door to the Church for 17 years and during that time, I climbed to the top of the spire just once.
In 1962 when I was 10, some neighbours were having their house decorated.
Being an outgoing (some would say nosey) child, it didn't take me long to befriend the two men who were doing the work. One day, during the summer holidays, they told me that they had got permission from the vicar to go to the top of the tower and asked me if I would like to go with them, of course I said "Yes". The older of the two came with me to ask Mum if I could go and after some persuasion and warnings of "I'll be watching!", she agreed. What a climb it was - ever upwards on an increasing tighter stone spiral staircase. We emerged out of the spire through a small doorway - and the views all around were amazing.
Looking down into our garden, I... Read more
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