Ramsbottom memories
Here are memories of Ramsbottom and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Ramsbottom or a Ramsbottom photo.
River Irwell
This is the weir on the River Irwell where it swings round and is bridged by the road up to Peel Brow. The mills on the right are on Kenyon Street. There were cotton weaving mills, towel mills and soap works. The Church spire is St. Paul's Church. I used to go past here everyday on my way to the railways station to catch the train to school in Haslingden. Sometimes the river was very low and a bit smelly and at other times it was a raging torrent. Just a little further down stream the river skirts round what was Ramsbottom Paper Mill, where my father worked, and on past Ramsbottom Cricket Club at Acre Bottom.
View Towards Holcombe
This is a view from the east side of the valley looking towards Holcombe Hill and the Peel Monument. The tower was erected in memory of Sir Robert Peel who repealed the Corn Laws in about 1846. The hill is a favourite local walk especially on Good Friday. Trains used to run from Manchester as far as Holcombe Brook at the foot of the hill and thousands used to enjoy the day. The railway to Holcombe Brook closed and for a few years the event was less popular but now it has been revived. The buildings in the foreground are part of what was Peel Brow School. In the 1950s it was in two parts: Peel Brow County Secondary School and Peel Brow Primary School. Mr Vernon Booth (Dinky) was the Head of the Primary School for many years. Rhodes Boyson, who later became a Conservative MP and Minister, was Head of the Secondary Modern School for a while. The mill chimneys show that manufacturing was still important in those... Read more
Peel Brow
Peel Brow was laid out in 1789. It links Ramsbottom on the west bank of the River Irwell with the districts of Shuttleworth on the east bank. It joined the Bury-Haslingden turnpike, now the A56. It was built in phases. The OS map for 1890 shows houses at the bottom end but not at the top. Some of the houses nearest the camera were demolished in the 1960s and 70s to make way for the M66 motorway.
I lived in the road for 19 years and went to the local primary school just off the picture to the right. The shop on the right hand side was a general grocers run by Mr & Mrs Kenna. There were other shops further down: a butchers (Taylors), a grocer (Browns), a fish & chip shop, a bakers (Beswicks) and a plumbers. Further up the Brow was a hardware shop run by Mrs Fish who had a bungalow opposite.
As can be seen from the picture people did not have cars,... Read more
Memories of Lancashire
Hill Top Farm, Holcombe And Peel Tower
My grandmother Ms Vickers lived with her mother and father and brothers for many years at the farm and had the keys to the tower. There are so many fascinating stories that I've been told about the farm and tower but I will put them all in here another day.
Tottington, Market Street c1955
I remember this view of market street. At this time Tottington was an Urban District with its own council of 14 members. The gates and building on the right of the picture were Tottington Town Hall and council offices.The building also housed the public Library. I was a member of that council in that year. I am now 80 years old and take no further part in politics.Denis Wood.
Platt Family
My grandfather was born at Horncliffe Lodge, Tottington Higher End on Nov 15 1882. His name was Arthur Owens. His mother was Mary Platt whose family I believe were a prominent family in the village. His father was Richard Owens. Arthur, a cabinet maker, left England around 1910 and settled in Australia.
Brookhouse
I used to live at Brookhouse with my parents, great aunt and maternal grand mother. Brookhouse was split into 3 houses at the time (131, 133, 135 Holcolme Road). My grandfather (Thomas Lomax) visited at Christmases and holidays. My parents were Pat (Lomax)and Andrew Martyn-Clark. My aunt who worked at the local Tech (Bury) was Mrs Irene Cosgrove (nee Lomax). My grandmother was Jane Lomax (nee Dunn). She was known as Jennie Dunn in the village. My great-grandfather was Frank Lomax. He was one of several Lomax siblings. They were related to the majority of the Lomaxes at this end of Tottington. He was very active until his late eighties. I can recall the houses being built in the field at the bottom of the hill. There was also an electricity sub-station there. I think it still is. The first house on the right was owned by a Mr Jones, Ernest I think - not sure. I do recall he had a Wolsey or Riley 1500 saloon that he drove... Read more
Education And Health
By the 1940s the Grammar School had been rebuilt in Tenterden Street. The building in the photograph became The Wylde Clinic which was the centre for mothers and babies and of course housed the 'dreaded' school dentist. My younger brother went to the Wylde Clinic for 'sunray treatment' where all the children had to wear goggles to protect their eyes.
The Wylde Clinic was still operating in the 1960s for mothers and babies, ante-natal care and school health referrals.
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