Rochdale memories
Here are memories of Rochdale and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Rochdale or a Rochdale photo.
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.
Drake Street
I was born in Rochdale in 1934. I attended Champness Hall Sunday School, 1940 -52, which was situated just below the Rochdale Observer offices (on the left of the photo). It was a large Methodist Central Hall with offices used by local people, a large auditorium used for concerts (eg Halle Orchestra) and public occasions (eg local speech days, visiting choirs etc). In the 1950s Drake Street was still home to a number of large shops (eg Co-op; Ivesons etc), but it began to decline in the 1960s, I think, with the building of new retail centres. I gained a scholarship to Oxford University in 1952 from the local grammar school which was situated just off Drake Street.
A Rochdale Childhood
My first memory of Rochdale town hall was seeing the King and Queen on the balcony in 1937 when they were on their coronation tour. Another visitor seen there was Gracie Fields. During my childhood, (1930-1945) I remember seeing the Pace Egging play in the Town Hall, a fascinating and traditional event. Later I took part in meetings there of the Youth Council. Only recently did I discover that my Great-grandfather moved to Rochdale from Nottingham in order to work on the staircase when the Town Hall was being built in the 1860s- 1870s. I would love to know more about him. His name was John Knighton, but he disappeared from the 1881 Census and I cannot trace him. Perhaps he went off to work on other buildings. He was a carpenter.
I was married at St. Chad's Parish Church in 1952, which overlooks the... Read more
Where is or Was Turkey Hall
I have found people on the 1861 census living at Turkey Hall, Oldham Road, Rochdale or Castleton. It seems to be a multi-occupied building - please does anyone know what it was.
Pamela Jones
My Time In Foster Care 1970 to 1980
I spent my years living in Langley Middelton Manchester england uk, from 1970, till 1980, i lived thier from beening seven years old till i turned 15 yrs old, i lived with my dad Tony, my sister Christine, and brothers Pauil and Allen farrow, we lived at 37 helvellyn drive,, i went to St Marys C F E Nusrey school, primary, and juniour schools which was a cross the road from St Mary's C F E Catholic Church....I Use to also go to Bishop Marshall School.. which was opend by Princess Ann, the queens of englands daughter i remmeber this as it wa son school wall stone Plaque...
I also rememebr alot of the teachs, Sister Barabara head religion , sister Ileen religion, mr Hardgreaves in bishop marshall Metal work teach and depty head in st marys , also Mrs Hudson Bioology teacher ...from st marys...} then Mrs Husdon . my form teach in sewing class and normal... Read more
Memories of Lancashire
Childhood Freedom
Born in the highest house in High Crompton next to the butchers, I spent much of my childhood exploring the hills above the village. My memories of the Gypsy Blood stream, Coal Pit Lane, Gravel Hole meant little at the time other than wild places. Now I can relate them all to my own family in the area. Like another comment, I worked at Osram in my long school holidays and my mum worked at Joe Cleggs mill.
Growing up in Castleton
I was born in 1947 at Birch Haill Hospital and lived in Castleton, first on Manchester Road and later Alder Road until I got married at St. Gabriel's Church. My maiden name was Jackson. I attended Castleton Council School before Rochdale Technical School, and attended St. Martin's Church where I was a member of the Church Girls Brigade and St. Martin's Amateur Dramatic Society. I appeared in many pantomimes and have very fond memories of my childhood in Castleton. My family attended the socials where we learnt to dance with the help of Mrs Gamble's dancing classes for tap, ballet and modern dancing. we have had many reunions from Castleton County Primary School. I learnt to swim at Castleton baths. I also spent many hours at Castleton Library. Does anyone remember going swimming at the Riviera outdoor pool in Norden? We must have had better summers in the "olden days" because we used to take a picnic and stay all... Read more
Castleton of Old
I moved to Melville Street, Castleton in 1956 at the age of 9. I went to Cassie council school, learnt to swim at Castleton baths taught by Ted Murphy, taken there from school by Pop Wright. Castleton was a nice place to live then, not like today with its drug and yob culture. Spent many happy hours playing on the rec and horse riding at Schofields stables. Fell in love with Angela Carter from no 33 when I was 14 (she didn't know it). Left Castleton in 1965 when got wed, it would be nice to be able to go back to those happy days.
The Summit
My great memories of the summit, known because of the summit pub, my grandad's local, what a great place to live, open fields, good neighbours. My gran and grandad moved there in 1936, a house full of love and laughter. Me and mum lived there with her 8 brothers and sisters, Saturday nights were card night. I remember Piggots butchers, my gran used to say to him, no fat on the meat, i don't pay for fat. She was a very good cook and baker, I can smell her fresh muffins on my way home from school, Heady hill. The Co-op was on the corner with mona's chippy on the opposite one, the Towler pub was opposite mona's chippy. Taylors farm where I used to walk along the wall where the pigs were, Lomax Lane at the top was the sand quarry, my friend Lorna and I were told not to go there, but we did. The dye works where I used to crawl through the big pipes outside. These... Read more
Family History
I visited Heywood in November 2010, to see for myself the area where my family originated sometime in the 1600's. I know that was a long time ago, but, I swear, when I walked up Bury New Road to the top of Summit and then ventured into the farmer's field (that borders the Lower Lomax Farm) I could feel the connection tugging at me through the centuries. I am American but I truly felt as if I had come "home". Heywood is a wonderful little town and I like the fact that it is still primarily working class. I plan to return soon. The people are top also.
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