Compstall
Compstall maps (2 available)
Map of Cheshire
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
Personalised maps
Create an historic map centred directly on any postcode!
Compstall books (3 available)
Did You Know? Bury - A Miscellany
Hardback
Manchester Photographic Memories
Paperback
Compstall memories
Read and share memories of Compstall and Cheshire inspired by Frith photos
school
The school i went to is still standing today..i remember the headmaster Mr Harry Healey...we had a drill hall it was the basement of the school which led us out into the playground...the boys and girls had their own playgrounds..school time was spent at 1 school not like it is today....the nit nurse used to come round and we had to have stuff put on our heads didnt matter if you had nits or not it was still put on . We had to go home for our dinner but it was just a village so we didnt have to go far to get home..
Contributed by joan jackson
Cheshire memories
school
The school i went to is still standing today..i remember the headmaster Mr Harry Healey...we had a drill hall it was the basement of the school which led us out into the playground...the boys and girls had their own playgrounds..school time was spent at 1 school not like it is today....the nit nurse used to come round and we had to have stuff put on our heads didnt matter if you had nits or not it was still put on . We had to go home for our dinner but it was just a village so we didnt have to go far to get home..
A memory of Compstall contributed by joan jackson
The Savoy cinema
My memories of the Savoy are of learning to ride a 2 wheeler bike in front on the wide pavement and of everybody dancing there when the war was over. Then of going to the cinema on Saturday mornings when Mr Scroggins used to keep all the children in order. They are happy memories.
A memory of Romiley contributed by Margaret Hibbert
Days out on Hyde Market
Being born and brought up in Flowery Field, Hyde was the centre of the universe for us as children. After shopping on Hyde market we would turn the corner and enter into the world of this picture. On the right of the picture, in the distance there was the bank then Fred Dawes, TV and Radio dealer where we would go to pay rental on our black and white TV. This was later taken over by Granada. You can see their shop clearly on the LHS of the picture. Next, coming towards the camera, Ibbotson's bakery. The best tipsy cake in the world and when mum and I went in on our own during the week ...read more here
A memory of Hyde contributed by Dave Davies
Extracts From Compstall & Cheshire books
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".
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".
When the Ship Canal opened in 1894, traffic really was a mixed bag of sailing ships, steam ships and motor vessels. Here we see the docks with a mixed array of vessels just a year after opening. Our photographer is looking from the very spot where the Lowry Centre on Salford Quay is today.
An extract from from"Manchester Photographic Memories".