Atherton
Atherton maps (2 available)
Map of Lancashire
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
See this old map of Lancashire
Personalised maps
Create an historic map centred directly on any postcode!
Atherton books (4 available)
Did You Know? Bury - A Miscellany
Hardback
Manchester Photographic Memories
Paperback
- 2 photos on Atherton appear in 1 Frith books - View photos of Atherton
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Atherton and Lancashire
Atherton memories
Read and share memories of Atherton and Lancashire inspired by Frith photos
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You can also read memories of nearby places in Lancashire below.
Lancashire memories
Astley Street Park
My grandfather Thomas Elliott was the Park Superintendent and appeared on early Frith Photographs.
A memory of Tyldesley contributed by Dorothy Lee
Tyldesley Recreation Club
My grandfather (A E Rahr) donated a silver cup for competition on the Crown Green Tyldesley recreation club. This was competed for in the 1930s and the winners were: 1933 J Baker, 1934 J Hodson, 1935 E Lythgoe and J Crook, 1938 T Farnworth, 1939 W Putter.
I have just donated this cup to the Wigan Museum / History Shop and hopefully it will be preserved. I will see if I can upload a photo of it.
Peter Rahr
A memory of Tyldesley contributed by Peter Rahr
I was born there
I was born in Tyldesley at 13 High Street - the house is gone now. I emigrated to USA in 1953, married and had 3 children. I went to St Josephs RC School and Sacred Heart Church. We all went to school in Hindsford, Tommy, Norah, Maureen and Paddy. I am the only one who left UK, Tommy and family still live in Atherton. Will look up photos after the holidays and send. Merry Christmas to all. Mum's Mum owned and operated the theatre on John Street after my grandad died. I would love to hear from somebody from Tydesley.
A memory of Tyldesley contributed by Norah Keleher-Burke
Saturday afternoon pictures
Going to the Eccles market in the morning putting lights up for the stall holders for two bob, that was after doing the shopping for my mum and sister for half a crown. That was more than enough for the ABC Broadway ticket, or your mate could go in and open the emergengy door at the back. They put on at least 7 films, some cliff hangers, and lollipop sticks went flying through the air. The place was packed every Saturday.
A memory of Eccles contributed by tony jarvis
Extracts From Atherton & Lancashire books
In July 1889 Walter Davies, manager of a pawnshop in Market Street, was found dying from a stab wound to his neck. The murderer William Chadwick was tracked down and eventually stood trial at Liverpool Assizes. He was hanged in April 1890. Dominating our picture is St John the Baptist Church.
An extract from from"Greater Manchester Photographic Memories".
Atherton was a cotton-spinning town, and for 200 years a mining community. Local collieries included Howe Bridge, Gibfield, and Chanter. Howe Bridge was closed by the NCB in 1957; Gibfield followed in 1963, and Chanter in 1966.
An extract from from"Greater Manchester Photographic Memories".
This aerial view of the swing bridges at Barton again shows them swung to let a large cargo ship through. Note that the cargo ship has tugs fore and aft to guide it through this section of the canal. Barton Monastery stands just to the right of the swing bridges; it was formerly All Saints RC Church, Barton. The area at the top of the picture was the wood seasoning area for one of the large timber firms using the canal, and is now a housing estate.
An extract from from"Manchester Photographic Memories".
This view shows the two bridges at Barton upon Irwell both swung to let the paddle steamer ‘Ivanhoe’ pass. When the Ship Canal first opened (our view is only twelve months after that opening on 1 January 1894), many people wanted to travel, and see the wonders of this new waterway. A Ship Canal Pleasure Steamer Company was formed, and weekends and Bank Holidays would see two or three of these paddle steamers taking passengers on sight-seeing trips up and down the canal.
An extract from from"Manchester Photographic Memories".
When the Duke of Bridgewater planned his canal into Manchester in 1760, the original plan was to stay on the Salford side of the Irwell. Because he could not purchase the land he wanted, he was forced to cross the River Irwell and go into Manchester via Stretford. He was given permission to skirt the Trafford Park Estate, but his big problem was crossing the Irwell, which he did with a beautiful stone aqueduct designed by James Brindley. This aqueduct lasted over one hundred and twenty years, until the emerging Ship Canal needed it out of the way for the large vessels to pass. This swing aqueduct that carries the Bridgewater Canal over the Manchester Ship Canal was the answer to their problem.
An extract from from"Manchester Photographic Memories".