The Francis Frith Collection.
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Clayton Le Moors

Clayton Le Moors photos (15 available)

Old photo of Clayton Le Moors

Clayton Le Moors maps (2 available)

Old map of Clayton Le Moors

Clayton Le Moors books (6 available)

Clayton Le Moors 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
Contributed by DONNA COOPER

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

Accrington, Market and Bus Station 2004

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

Extracts From Clayton Le Moors & Lancashire books

Blackburn, the Town Hall c1955

This is how local historian W A Abram described the Town Hall: ‘The west front, 120 feet wide, with an elevation of 63 feet, presents the main entrance in the centre, by three massive arched doorways. The front is emboldened by Corinthian columns resting upon a rusticated basement upholding a broad tablature surmounted by a perforated parapet’ - an impressive piece of architecture.
An extract from from"Blackburn Town and City Memories".

Blackburn, Exchange 1899

The Exchange looks here much as it did when Charles Dickens ascended its steps to give his reading. The premises on the right advertising Whittle Springs Ales was W H Gregson’s brewers’ agents, later to become an office for Grant’s whisky, the only one they had outside Scotland - a tribute to Blackburn’s fondness for strong liquor. On the left was the Exchange Hotel.
An extract from from"Blackburn Town and City Memories".

Blackburn, the Town Hall c1955

Note the change of illumination outside the Town Hall. On the right is the Exchange Building in its incarnation as the Majestic Cinema. Davy Crockett is showing, and you could have had a seat in the stalls for one shil- ling (5p), or in the circle for one shilling and sixpence (7½p).
An extract from from"Blackburn Town and City Memories".

Burnley, the Art Gallery, Towneley Hall c1955

Towneley Hall has a very good collection. It includes the famous Zoffany portrait, ‘Charles Towneley and his Friends’, several Turners and an Epstein bust. Most of the pictures have been acquired by the Council, though the Hall has some pictures formerly in the Towneley Collection.
An extract from from"Burnley Town and City Memories".

Burnley, the Chapel, Towneley Hall c1955

The chapel is the work of Sir John Towneley (1473-1541), who also saved the magnificent vestments formerly used in Whalley Abbey. The vestments, very rare survivals of the pre-Reformation church, are usually on display near the chapel. The chapel itself is full of interest. On the extreme right, note the beautifully-carved wooden shield over the door of what was once a confessional room. On either side of it are the crests of the Towneleys of Towneley and the Asshetons of Lever, together with the initials RT and IT and the date 1601. The initials are those of Richard and Jane Towneley (formerly Assheton). High on the panelled ceiling are bosses on which are carved the initials of Sir John’s family.
An extract from from"Burnley Town and City Memories".