The Francis Frith Collection.
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Bramhall

Bramhall photos (7 available)

Old photo of Bramhall

Bramhall maps (2 available)

Old map of Bramhall

Bramhall books (4 available)

Bramhall memories

Wrens Nest Bramhall Lane

I remember when I was about six, we lived in Peterborough and had travelled to Bramhall to visit my Grandparents Joe and Harriette Morris who lived at Wrens Nest
#1 Bramhall Lane, There was a grassy area in front of the house where we parked our caravan. I have a copy of a painting of the cottage that was painted by a prisoner of war.  The house was later demolished and the famous George Best built his house there.
I well remember Grandfathers Plum trees, his large garden and the outdoor toilet.
My Aunty Kate Laughton who lived down the road about 1/2 mile. on Moss lane. and my uncle who had a butchers shop in Woodford.
I would love info ...read more here
Contributed by Stuart Hook

FOLLOW UP RE MOSS LANE

How interesting! I moved into your house when you left in 1965. Yes I have a few more memories of the area,the house no was 210 Moss Lane. I was fifteen at the time and my family were the Bentleys,I am Brian. The photographer next door were the Longson family and they had two children John and Georgina, long gone they left around 1978, across the road was Stan who owned the chip shop and adjacent was the bakers owned by the Davenport family.  Lookers the garage(car sales), then the pet shop next door to Burts menswear. The precinct was built around 1967/8 where the Victoria pub stood and the replacement pub still stands today! Renamed The Orange Tree.  Other outlets ...read more here
Contributed by Lynne Watson

The 50s and 60s

I lived with my parents,  Ralph and Joan, "Bindy" and sister Judy,  on Birchway, off Ack Lane East, then we moved to 17 Atholl Road.  There were several families with children who my sister and I  spent a lot of time with - Johnny Catlow at the top of the road,  Elizabeth in the house opposite, Robert and his sister up the road,  and others whose names fail me!!  There were fields and ponds to the top right of the road where we used to play before they were built on.
We used to go sledging at Benja Fold in the village (especially 1962/63) and to Bramall Park and Lyme Park.   
There used to be a petrol station and smithy ...read more here
Contributed by Richard Caville

Wilsons Bakery/Griffith Wilson

My parents are Angela (nee Goulden) and Bryan Wilson (now sadly deceased), both from Bramhall.My paternal Grandfather owned the bakery in the village "Wilsons" which was taken over after my grandfather's retirement by Ainsworths and which is now a wine bar. He and his several brothers and sisters started life in a farm on the corner of Ack Lane. This site now forms part of the building which houses Reeds Rains Estate Agents. My grandfather started out selling loaves of bread and cakes from a wheelbarrow in which he used to carry his wares and push around the village to his customers before he bought the bakery (the family lived in small rooms above the bakery for a while) ...read more here
Contributed by Helen Young

Extracts From Bramhall & Cheshire books

Bramhall, Bramhall Lane South c1960

Hazel Grove-cum-Bramhall became a civil parish in 1900; it was made up from the older parishes of Bosden, Norbury, Offerton, Torkington, and Bramhall. About 50 years before this picture was taken, there were at least two farms off Bramhall Lane, as well as Miss Hooley’s private school, Bramhall Grammar School, the consulting rooms of two physicians and surgeons, a post office, fishmonger and fruiterers, a confectioner, a grocers, a boot maker and cycle dealer, and a branch of the Lancashire & Yorkshire bank.
An extract from from"Greater Manchester Photographic Memories".

Manchester, Ship Canal c1965

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".

Barton Upon Irwell, the Swing Bridges 1895

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".

Barton Upon Irwell, Barton Aqueduct 1894

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".

Manchester, No 9 Dock c1965

When the docks first opened, it took a while for them to reach their potential, but by 1900 they had started to show that they could be successful and profitable. Moves were then made to enlarge the dock, and the land belonging to the Manchester Racecourse Co was purchased ready to build No 9 dock. This dock, the largest of all the docks, was officially opened by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra on a royal visit on 13 July 1905.
An extract from from"Manchester Photographic Memories".