Altham
Altham maps (2 available)
Map of Lancashire
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
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Altham books (19 available)
- 1 photos on Altham appear in 1 Frith books - View photos of Altham
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Altham and Lancashire
Altham memories
Read and share memories of Altham and Lancashire inspired by Frith photos
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You can also read memories of nearby places in Lancashire below.
Lancashire memories
Coopers and Booths
My Great, Great Great Grandfather, William Booth, used to push a cart up and down the streets of Clayton le Moors with his son John Booth, selling shellfish. He was known as 'Muscle Bill' and his son, 'Oyster Jack'. (This is actually a memory passed down from my ancestors to my 3rd cousin.)
They lived at 'Old Sparth House' from around 1895 onwards. William died in 1900 age 79. Most of the family married and brought their children up in Clayton le Moors. A few emigrated abroad. Robert Booth to Australia, Ellen Booth married Charles Battersby and moved to Canada. John Booth's daughter Luciana Booth married William Cooper from Great Harwood at All Saints, and my Grandfather, Robert Cooper was born ...read more here
A memory of Clayton Le Moors contributed by DONNA COOPER
Accrington as I recall
We moved to Accrington fom Whalley 10th December 1941. I remember it because Syd Ashmeed and his band was broadcasting that day and Ronnie Brooks was the drummer and I wanted to listen to the broadcast but as we were moving I missed it. I started work at Howard & Bulloughs in April 1941 as an apprentice mechanic in the milling room, but after a year I asked for a transfer to the tool room. George Crawshaw was the foreman. I was in Bulloughs Home Guard and did our guard duty in Fountain St. We lived in Buxton St and one Saturday night a shop window was broken on Charter St, I believe that happened for three Saturday nights, when they ...read more here
A memory of Accrington contributed by Trevor Williams
Mrs Kilshaw
I remember the creaky stairs and stodgy atmosphere of Central Preparatory so well, even though it's now 44 years since I last heard the sterling tones of Mrs Kilshaw resounding through the classroom.
Miss Backhouse was my personal favourite: a gentle, caring teacher who had the patience others seemed to lack.
I still live locally (Ossy) and occasionally wander round the area where the noble old building that began my experiences of the world of British education once stood. So much has changed of the Accrington I knew then and having moved back after 35 years away - in Scotland and Cheshire - it's nice to know that others have soothing and happy memories of Central Prep.
A memory of Accrington contributed by Karol Gajewski
Sacred Heart Church
This is Sacred Heart RC Church, in Accrington. It has now been demolished. I have many great memories and some not so great from this sacred place. I felt like I had to share this info, with you when I saw this picture. When the church was being knocked down there was a last service mass held and it was a ticket only event. I couldn't go on that evening and therefore missed it.
The church holds many memories for all of my family. My mum and dad were married at the church as were her seven sisters. Every week in Sunday best marching with my Nanna picking up all of my cousins along the way, to 11 o'clock mass. My ...read more here
A memory of Accrington contributed by First name Last name
Extracts From Altham & Lancashire books
This is the edge
of the rock
gardens, and we
can see one of
the terra-cotta
vases (centre
left). There
were over
two miles of
footpaths in the
park. The sign
on the grass in
the foreground
reads ‘No dogs allowed‘.
An extract from from"Accrington Old and New Photographic Memories".
The new shops
on Broadway are
on the site of the
former outside
market. Also just
visible on the
left are the new
Cornhill shops,
which are on the
site of the Odeon cinema.
An extract from from"Accrington Old and New Photographic Memories".
The figures on top of the Market Hall were removed for five years when sewerage work was being undertaken nearby, but
they were returned after cleaning and repair in December 1986. According to the reports of the opening of the building,
they represent industry, commerce and agriculture. The cornucopia with cherubs on either side of the clock illustrates the
produce available inside the building.
An extract from from"Accrington Old and New Photographic Memories".
Cock Bridge takes Whalley Road across the River Calder (now much cleaner
than it used to be) and links Great Harwood and Whalley. This stone bridge is
in an attractive spot, popular with walkers, as many good footpaths from Great
Harwood, Whalley and Read converge here. Just above the bridge on the Great
Harwood side is the Game Cock Inn.
An extract from from"Accrington Old and New Photographic Memories".
Hollins Hill was built in 1909 by William Haworth, as a home for himself and his sister Anne. The house was designed by the
eminent architect, Walter Brierley of York (who also designed Dyke Nook, the home of the Blake family on Whalley Road).
Built on the south side of the town in over 13 acres of park, Hollins Hill commanded a fine view of the hills. The formal
rose garden was reputed to be one of the finest in Lancashire. The house imitates Tudor Architecture and the oak panelling
and the oak staircase rank amongst the important features of the building. Carvings of flowers, animals and birds indicate
William and Anne’s love of nature.
In 1871 William Haworth had joined his father Thomas in the family cotton business; Thomas was a major employer and
owned several mills. Twenty years later, William succeeded his father as head of the company, and expanded and improved
the business.
Sadly, William died in 1913 so was not able to enjoy the pleasures of such a fine house for very long. After his death Anne,
along with her companion and staff continued to live there. Anne died in 1920 and Hollins Hill was bequeathed to the
Corporation of Accrington for use as an art gallery. In September 1921, the house, renamed the Haworth Art Gallery, opened
as the town’s first public art gallery.
In 1942 the gallery closed for the duration of the war and the pictures, together with several items from the museum at
Clayton-le-Moors, were put into store. Contingency plans were made to utilise the gallery as an emergency hospital in case
the Victoria Hospital was put out of action by enemy attacks and a system of fire watching was begun. Fortunately these
plans came to nothing and the gallery began to be used as a hostel where off-duty service women, posted to this area, could
spend their leisure time. The gallery reopened to the public in June 1945. Nowadays the gallery has achieved world-wide
fame as the home of the largest collection of Tiffany glass in Europe.
An extract from from"Accrington Old and New Photographic Memories".