Albert Road c1960, Widnes
Albert Road c1960, Widnes Ref: W97030
Memories of Albert Road c1960, Widnes
WHERE'S OUR SUSAN!
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I saw this photo and the year it was taken. I was born in 1960 and my mam already had my two older brothers to look after, one was 3 and the other 1. She took us all to the shops one day, this would have only been a short walk from South Street, which was at the back of the shops, my two brothers had her mithered all round the shops, she says, so she just got a few things from the shop next door to the Co-op, called Maypole and headed back home. A few hours later my dad came home from work, looked around and asked "Where's our Susan?" - me mam says she went sick! She'd only gone and left me outside the shop!! They ran back round to the shop - yes, I was still there in my posh Silvercross pram, 3 hours later! I love reminding her of that! So that's why I'm ordering this... Read more
Widnes & local memories
Read and share memories of Widnes and Cheshire inspired by Frith photos.
Simms Cross
I was born at 9 Frederick Street, in 1941, and my earliest memory is of flags, streamers and buntings strung across the street every time a soldier came home 'from the war'. I don't know why, but the Union Jack flag absolutely terrified me, and still does....I will walk blocks to avoid one flying...but I always go to the cenotaph in Victoria Park on Remembrance Sunday...still terrified of the flags, and yet I am sure, not as terrified as those we remember were. Does anyone remember my grandad? He was Bob Houghton, known as Long Bob because he was well over six feet tall. He was a Bookies Runner, and took bets for the Bookmaker (illegally then, of course) in Gerard Street, and he used to give me a threepenny Joey, to take the bag of bets and money to the bookmaker's sweet shop, and another to pick up the 'winnings'. It was 'our secret', I think my grandmother would have killed him had she known. My grandmother was Fanny Houghton,... Read more
The Baths
I used to get dragged here for swimming lessons once a week when I was at Wade Deacon. Mr Learmouth (I think) the P.E. master always used to call me "Price" for some unknown reason, anyway I never learned to swim!
Hough Green
This is just as I remember it when I used to go to Hough Green station (the entrance is on the extreme left of the photo) train-spotting. All steam in those days of course. The scene is very little changed today except for the cars and the lack of a petrol station. Ditchfield Road, on the extreme right of the picture, was a quiet leafy lane then, leading down towards St Michaels and the new housing estates of Coronation Drive and Philip Road. Indeed all the street names had a Coronation theme, it being newly built in 1953.
The Flats
This is the new flats in Thirlmere Way, the top end near Royal Avenue, and you can see the Labour Club too on the left of the flats. The GUS ( Great Universal Stores) offices was built on the field as well but I don't remember the date. I can remember more of the GUS being built because the dumper trucks moving earth from the building site used to go up and down Philip Road where I lived. I think they where using the material to fill in the pond at Meads Farm which was directly at the bottom of our road.The Turners Asbestos factory was built on the farm land.
Widnes Road c1960
This takes me back. I had a Friday night/Saturday job there when I was 14 in the Tesco store. Great fun, and all that money - £1 5s!! My dad was greengrocery buyer for Tesco in those days and we went all over the north to visit the different stores. I remember that our shopping trolley would be overflowing with items, and still come to under £5 for a familyof 5!! Used to love the hot buttered toast from the Rendezvous cafe next door to Tesco, really thick and dripping with proper butter. Mmmm!
Widnes Baths
How brilliant to find this website. I am a Widnesian born and bred and loved this photo of the baths. I lived across the road in Princes Street and used to go every night after school, I went to Kingsway School.
RE. Where's Our Susan?
I was looking at the old Co-op photo of Widnes. I was amazed when I read about Susan. I too lived in South Street. I lived at number 4. It's been many years but I'm almost certain I know you all! Lol! By the way my name is Charlie I was 6 in 1960.
Childhood Days
Having moved several times as a child we were offered our first council house on the new estate in Hough Green, we were one of the first families to move into Phillip Road and I can remember my late mother saying it looked like a palace. It was their home for many years. I went to St Bede's Primary School before at 13 years of age moving to St John Fisher and St Thomas More Secondary Modern. I left school in 1960. If anyone reading this can remember me please use this site as a means on communication. Some of the older generation may remember a young mascot for the 'Chemics', now known as the Vikings rugby league team around the early 1950s.
Simms Cross
Living in Princes Street, Widnes - loved that era in my life.
Princes Street
I was born in Princes Street in 1959 and lived there till 1978 when it was demolished. I grew up in Widnes and miss it terribly, I went to St Maries then Kingsway School.
Fir Street? 'course I Know It!
I think it would be about 1951 when we moved to Reay Street, which runs parallel to Fir Street. I had just started at Wade Deacon Grammar School and had quite a long walk up all the avenues called after trees, through Victoria Park, and then to school! A good 30 minutes each way....and I went home for lunch, because (as the girl) had to get lunch for my brother, until he left school and went to work for Richard White (engineers) in Widnes. This firm built the Great Orme Railway in Llandudno, and my dad helped maintain it in later years....you can still find the metal plate with the firm's name on it....took my grandson to see it a few years ago. Widnes stretches for EVER if you look!
Moss Bank
I lived in Mos Bank from age approximately 2 1/2 to about 10 years old then moved on to Frederick Street - finally moving to NYC in 1961. I have very fond memories of living there with my five siblings and being close to farms once you got past the chemical works ... ICI I believe. Very fun times around the Tanhouse Train Station ... the local chippy's and the Widnes Baths ... all are sweet memories.
Early Memories of Widnes
I was born in Widnes in 1934 and lived on Lowerhouse Lane until I married in 1965. Then went with my wife, Shelagh, to live on Elkan Road before moving to Lowton in 1967 and then to Sheffield in 1971. Memories of Widnes include dancing at Everite, playing cricket for West Bank and Peter Spence. I visit Widnes fairly regularly.
My Dirty Old Town
I was born in Widnes in 1939 and lived there until I married my Dutch husband in 1969. I go back about once a year and always do quite a few long walk-abouts, as I can't find my way anymore by road. Some things have hardly changed but I can't recognise downtown Widnes. I attended The Commercial College,worked at several firms in Ditton Road and then at Laporte and Bowmans(Croda), used to go dancing in Warrington and Runcorn and still have quite a few friends, family and colleagues that I keep in touch with. I'm 68 now and hope to be paying another visit to Widnes this summer. I'll be visiting Victoria Park and the old Town Hall Square and West Bank. I was born in Kingsway so I like to see St.Bede's Church and maybe the Angel Pub is still standing, Farnworth Station and Laural Bank and the fields behind Wade Deacon Scool where we jumped ditches. The Open Air School where... Read more
Childhood in Widnes
Resident from 1941 to 1949-born Widnes Nursing Home (now Nursery School)-baptised at St.Bedes R.C.Church and attended the attached school from age 4.
Swam in pond in Victoria Park. Attended double feature picture shows with my mother at the Rex?
Father worked at Widnes Foundry. Lived at nr.3 Fir Street and rode the 'fastest three wheel cycle in our street.'
Travelled many times on the Transporter Bridge.
Have revisited the town in 1966, 1986 and 2003.
