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Rochdale
Rochdale maps
Historic maps of Rochdale and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Rochdale maps
Rochdale area books
Displaying 1 of 5 books about Rochdale and the local area. View all books for this area
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Memories of Rochdale
Displaying a selection of personal
memories of Rochdale.
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Why Ashworth
We left Rochdale when I was three, so only have memories of visits to aunties and uncles. We stayed at Deplish Cottage, my mother's family hom, the Frosts. Father was an Ashworth, is there a link to Ashworth Valley? We used to visit every year, but no more - it isn't the Rochdale we used to know. Any info about the names would be good.
Born in Rochdale
I was born in Tatham Strret and then we lived on Milnrow Road where my parents owned a fireplace and china shop. I have many happy memories of my childhood there. I used to go next door to Harold the clog maker and play with the odd parts of the clogs, I think I plagued the life out of the poor man. We came back not so long ago as I wanted to show my husband where I had grown up and show him Smith Street where my grandparents lived, but I did not recognise anywhere and I think it is true when they say you shouldn't look back. I will never forget my good life there all those years ago.
Fond Memories
I used to work in the High Class Department Store opposite to The Walk. It was owned by the Haworth family, with the gentleman's outfitters next door owned by another member of the same family. When the store was ready for closing at the end of the day and with no customers there, we used to look across to the people coming from the walk and 'claim' any handsome man and say to our friend '..but that one is yours' .. and that one would be the ugly one. We were a very happy band of girls, and often went out on trips with the owners. A lovely family. Is it still there? I now live near London.
ABC Cinema Rochdale.
I worked as a trainee projectionist at the ABC cinema in Rochdale. Happy days. I now live in south Germany as my wife is German. But I do miss my old job.
Mozaics
I lived just a few hundred yards from St John's Church and attended mass every Sunday as well as Stations of the Cross or Benediction on Sunday Nights. There is an amazing area of mozaic behind the altar. I also attended the school from about 1946 - 1950 when I moved to St Patricks followed by Bury Convent. I was Marcia Tassiker then. My dad used to take photgraphs of the Whitsuntide processions and put them in our hardware shop window for people to buy.
Park Follies
Although I lived in London I spent much of the summer holidays with my Auntie Mabel and Uncle Bill in Greenhill Avenue, Rochdale. I was 12 then and spent a lot of the time on Lenny Barn with the local children. The rest of the time I remember was at a nearby park which I suppose was Falinge Park where I watched the Park Follies. I remember there was an Uncle Cliff and Auntie Jean and some very glamorous (to my young eyes!) twins. I forget how much I paid to get in but it couldn't have been much.After I would go back to Greenhill Avenue and have a tea of toast and dripping and orange juice and soda water. Happy days! Mabel and Bill are no longer with us so I cannot share any memories with them. I have fond memories of Rochdale and if anybody remembers the Park Follies I would love to hear from them.
Rochdale Technical School
My grandparents were teachers at the school from 1895-1909. John Frederick Wiilkinson and his wife Lydie Wilkinson, who was French. He taught Maths and she taught French and German. I am told all records of the school were destroyed. I am trying to find any photos of them with pupils and staff of the school, any Registry books at that time. John had lost an arm in his youth and Lydie also played piano and taught at a Baptist Chapel where Gracie Fields went. Lydie taught her to sing and to whistle. In 1949 Gracie Fields visited her in a Nursing Home and gave her a signed photo (which I have). Does anyone remember them or have any school photographs? I would love to hear from any one with any information. Thanks.
My Mum's GRAMMER SCHOOL!
Sadly Mum died 3 years ago - MARGARET MALKIN, nee HALL - but I always remember her saying "Green gym knickers" was what they had to wear. No doubt she hated them.
