Sharing Salford’s fantastic story
Issue No 34 Winter 2013
Join us in celebrating Salford
Past and Present
Welcome to Peel Park’s renewed Victorian
Gallery – re-decorated, rehung, so much
more to see and do!
£2.00
Useful contacts
John Sculley,
Museums and Heritage
Services Manager
0161 778 0816
Peter Turner,
Projects and Archives officer
0161 778 0809
Amy Goodwin,
Exhibitions Officer
0161 778 0883
Peter Ogilvie,
Collections Manager
0161 778 0825
Ceri Horrocks,
Heritage Development
Officer (Learning)
0161 778 0820
Amy Whitehead
Learning Officer
Ordsall Hall
0161 686 7442
Luisa Neil
Learning Officer
Salford Museum
0161 778 0821
Naomi Lewis,
Outreach Officer
0161 778 0881
Caroline Storr,
Acting Ordsall Hall Manager
0161 686 7446
David Potts,
Volunteer and Training
Manager
0161 686 7445
Lindsay Berry,
Head Gardener and Trainer
0161 872 0251
Amy Senogles,
Sales and Catering Manager
0161 778 0818
Kellie Brown,
Marketing Officer
0161 778 0819
Duncan McCormick,
Salford Local History Librarian
0161 778 0814
Salford Museum &
Art Gallery
0161 778 0800
Ordsall Hall Museum
0161 872 0251
Useful websites
www.salfordcommunityleisure.
co.uk/culture – for all museum
and culture related topics
www.salfordcommunityleisure.
co.uk/culture/whats-on – find out
about concerts, walks, talks and
other events in Salford
www.wcml.org.uk – website for
Working Class Movement Library
www.visitsalford.info – what to do,
where to stay and what to see in
Salford
Editorial
Welcome to the 2013, Winter
edition of Lifetimes Link. It has
been a particularly challenging
time for Salford’s Museums and
Heritage Service since the last
publication in May.
The Government’s austerity measures forced
on public services have seen a reduction in
staffing and opening hours at both Ordsall Hall
and Salford Museum and Art Gallery. Salford’s
local history library has been particularly
hard hit and, since July, has introduced a ‘by
appointment’ system of access. So, our best
advice before planning a visit to any of the city’s
museums’ and heritage services is to check the
website or telephone, before venturing out.
As well as making austerity savings, the
service is looking to generate as much income
as possible. The introduction of Friday and
Saturday weddings as well as room hires
at Ordsall Hall, the new café, shop and the
‘By Hand’ selling gallery at Peel Park, are all
helping to off-set the Government’s imposed
cuts. So, if you are planning a function, buying
a unique gift for a loved one or just looking for
somewhere to leave all your money, please, talk
to us first.
On the more positive side of life, the service is
benefitting enormously from the generosity of
the Friends of Salford Museums and numerous
volunteers. Teaching specialists, retired
professionals and post graduate volunteers
are all supporting exhibitions research –
particularly the 2014 planned World War
One commemoration programme. University
students are contributing to and helping
maintain the museums social media content.
Community volunteers are assisting Ordsall
Hall staff enhance school visits as well as act
as acting as tour guides for the visiting public.
Also, the local history library is just about to
commence induction training for a new wave of
local volunteers.
Perhaps the most active group of volunteers is
the Friends of Salford Museums. The Victorian
Gallery is currently undergoing a complete
colour change, redecoration and re-hang
thanks to the financial contribution of the
Friends. Special thanks too, to Ambrose Ellis,
the painting contractor who is doing the work
at cost price. When finished, the Victorian
Gallery will be entered into the Johnson’s ‘paint
contractor of the year award’ – so, fingers
crossed for more good news next year.
The Friends have supported funding
applications, provided financial support for
special schools and family activities, helped
staff various events, including the Ordsall Hall
garden party and are currently responsible for
editing and publishing this edition of Lifetimes
Link. Please consider joining the Friends of
Salford Museums and make your support count
for Salford’s heritage or contact the museum to
learn more about volunteering opportunities.
Salford Museum and Art Gallery and Ordsall
Hall continue to provide a spectacular range
of experiences for local people and visitors to
the city. The exhibitions programme includes
Harold Riley’s ‘Salford 1947 to 2012’ and
2014’s, ‘100 years ago: Salford at War’,
centenary commemoration. As for events we
have everything from the BBC’s Flute quartet
to choirs, crafts and Christmas – Tudor and
Victorian; programme details are at the back of
this publication and on the museum’s website.
As always, we are grateful to everyone who
has taken the time to send in contributions
and sincerely thank all our readers for their
continued enthusiasm and support. Please
keep your contributions coming in!
Why not join the
Friends of Salford
Museums?
This edition has been edited
by Members of the Friends
of Salford Museums.
The Friends were formed over 50
years ago and have since then
been at the heart of supporting
both the Museum and Art Gallery
and Ordsall Hall. We warmly
welcome new members.
For further information on joining
the Friends, come to one of our
meetings – see p. 23 or ask at
Salford Museum and Art Gallery.
Alternatively, call our Chairman,
Don Rainger, on or John Sculley
at the Museum on 0161 789 2071
E mails to Jphilipheyes@aol.com
Christmas at
Salford Heritage
Seasonal Activities for All Ages
LifeTimes Link
subscriptions
Why not subscribe to LifeTimes
Link either for yourself or as a gift
for a loved one?
UK subscriptions cost £6 for one year and
include two editions posted direct to your door.
Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th December
A Victorian Christmas
1-4pm
Meet Father Christmas, enjoy festive
music and have a go at some Christmas
crafts! Charges may apply for some activities.
Wednesday 11th December
Craft Social: Natural Decorations
5.30-7.30pm
Join Lindsay Berry, the gardener at
Ordsall Hall, to make beautiful natural
decorations inspired by the grounds of
the Hall. Only £4 per person (includes a
slice of cake and unlimited hot drinks)
No booking needed
2014 Half Term and Easter Holidays at
Salford Heritage
We always have fun during the
holidays at Ordsall Hall and Salford
Museum and Art Gallery. During last year’s
Easter holidays we had great fun
decorating eggs, making flower pot
bunnies and making mobiles (amongst
other things!)
2014 Workshops and Classes
As well as activities for children we also
have a range of workshops and classes
for adults – a great chance to learn
a new skill in a relaxed and informal
atmosphere.
If you require further information please go
to www.salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk/
culture/salford-museum-and-art-gallery/
lifetimes/lifetimes-link-magazine
or call 0161 778 0818 for more details.
FIND US ONLINE, plus all our back issues
www.salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk
Basic large print versions of
this magazine are available
ring 0161 778 0809
Contributions
Send your letters, articles and copies of
photographs to: The Editor, LifeTimes Link,
F.S.M.A., Salford Museum and Art Gallery,
Peel Park, Crescent, Salford, M5 4WU
Telephone: 0161 789 2071
Email: Jphilipheyes@aol.com
The deadline for items for the next issue
(Summer Issue, May – November 2014) is
2 March 2014.
Please note: we cannot accept any
responsibility for the loss or damage to
contributor’s material in the post.
We cannot guarantee publication of your
material and we reserve the right to edit
any contributions we do use.
Recent examples have included:
Front Cover:
•
Mono printing
•
Crochet ‘stitch up’ workshop:
Broomstick crochet
“I hope you like this card…” is the message
on this post-card view of the Technical
College, Peel Park, Salford, from the
collection of the late Mr John Shirt, former
Local History Librarian at Salford Museum
and Art Gallery, Peel Park.
•
Basic pattern cutting course
•
Craft Social: Craft Selling evening
For both school holiday activities and
workshops and classes and to find out
what we’ve got coming up - visit:
salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk/culture
Look out for the Museums’
forthcoming January to June Events &
Activities Brochure.
Contents
Page 4
The Victorian Gallery Renaissance
Carrie May
Page 5
YOU WRITE – the filming of “Hobson’s
Choice”
Page 6-7
The First World War Centenary – War
Memorials and the 21st Century. By
S.W.A.R.M.
Page 7
Celebrating the History of Mather & Platt
A review by David George
Page 8-9
A Village Christmas, 1959
Don Rainger
Page 10
Ordsall Hall – a Snapshot of History –
Part 2
Lauren Jaye Gradwell
Page 11
Towards Modernity – 300 years of
British Art visits China. John Sculley
Page 12-13
Collections Corner
Page 14-15
How does your Garden grow?
Plus Today’s Recipe
Ordsall volunteers: Cynthia Greenwood
and Sue Coutts
Page 16
Tripe and Trotters by B Carllne and D
Summerville
A review by Don Rainger
Page 16
Albert Batty - Serving in a World War I
Ambulance Unit
Steve Illingworth
Page 17
Winifred Mabel Letts - A war poet born
in Salford
Cynthia Greenwood
Page 18-19
Sharing photos
Page 19
Salford Museum in the ‘50s
A cutting from the Salford Advertiser
Contributed by Don Rainger
Page 20-21
Link Listings
Exhibitions Jan - June 2014
Page 22
Mystery Pix
Page 23
Local History Round Up
A “What’s On” Guide
The Victorian Gallery’s
Renaissance
By Carrie May, Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Collections Team
Salford Museum’s Victorian Gallery has
been closed since September 8th and
will re-open on December 6th, after a
well-deserved make-over; it’s almost
20 years since the Victorian Gallery
was last redecorated. Much work went
on behind the scenes by staff in our
Collections and Exhibitions teams in
preparation for the big change. They
were busy researching paint colours,
selecting additional paintings, planning
for the big task of taking down the
current works as well as emptying the
Gallery and, once the ceiling and walls
have been painted, making ready for
the major re-display of just some of the
city’s Victorian treasures.
Using New Technologies to
interpret the Victorian Age
Alongside
the
redecoration
and
rehanging project, Ceri Horrocks,
Heritage Development Officer (Learning)
has been working on a project to digitise
and make available electronically many
items from the Gallery’s Victorian past
Volunteer Ann Marie Lang has been
researching the Museum’s annual
reports, photographs, curators’ diaries
and meeting minutes to pull together
some fascinating strands of the
museum’s history.
As an example, the Museum hopes
to show digitally some of the fantastic
posters put together by Mr. Mullen,
Curator and Chief Librarian from 1892.
His firm warnings and harsh treatment
for those found ‘writing indecent words
or remarks’ on ‘newspapers, magazines,
books, walls etc’ include a £1 reward for
information
To choose the ‘new’ colour scheme,
images of Victorian interiors and design
sources were researched, investigated and studied. Eventually, a dark green colour
was decided on for the walls, with other shades of green, yellow and white to be used
for the ceiling details. For half a century, the Victorian Gallery has been a shade of
deep crimson, so the move to green is a major change.
The most popular Victorian style of hanging pictures in galleries was the “salon” style
used at both the Royal Academy and Paris Salon. This style, which we have chosen,
involves fitting as many artworks as possible onto the walls. It will allow us to show
many more of our nineteenth century and earlier art collection seldom before seen.
The paintings to go in the gallery were chosen by drawing up a list of all our pretwentieth century works of art. Images of these were then looked at to choose
a varied selection of themes and styles to show the range of our collection. The
selected works were then checked, to make sure they were in a suitable condition,
and measured. 100:1 scale images of all these paintings were then made and placed
on a scale drawing of the Victorian Gallery walls to work out how they would best fit.
When deciding where each painting was to be hung priority was given to the
practicalities of hanging rather than putting themes together. However, some thought
has been given to this, and hopefully visitors will be able to see how each painting
relates to those around them whether through themes, historical connections, styles
or just colours.
The cases in the gallery will also be refreshed. Two display cases will show objects
from our nineteenth century ceramic and glass collections, and a display cabinet will
hold objects that would have been collected by Victorians. Other colleagues have
been working with an interactive media consultant developing fresh interpretation
techniques using new technologies (see below).
Special thanks go to the Friends of Salford Museums who have helped fund the project
and to the decorators, Ambrose Ellis, who have provided the materials and labour
at cost price. Once finished, the Gallery will be entered into the national ‘Johnson’s
painting contractor of the year award’.
Come and see what you think of the changes when the gallery reopens in December.
An example of Mr Mullen’s posters,
intended to preserve order and decorum
at the Gallery. The warnings were later
re-inforced through the issue of Byelaws by the County Borough Council..
You Write
According to the newspaper at the time,
the film crew were to arrive on Saturday
9th September and were expected
to spend ten days in Salford. It also
recorded the fact that the fire service
were called in to help, because on the
day that the riverside scene was filmed,
Salford did not live up to its normal
gloomy reputation, so some corrective
measures were taken, with packets of
soap powder thrown into the river and
sulphur bombs set off to give the scum
and smoky effect during filming.
Hobson’s Choice
Dear Ed
I was very interested in your article about [Hobson’s Choice].
At the time of filming, St. Philip’s Church (off Chapel Street) was having a ‘Restoration
Appeal’ and my father along with other men from the church hired a barrel organ, I
was younger at the time and allowed to go round with them collecting money for the
church – we went round the parish, a memory, as I was the youngest I climbed the
stairs of the Oldfield Road Tenement to collect the money.
The film crew of Hobson’s Choice saw this and borrowed the same for a couple of
days, and gave us some money towards our appeal. So in the film somewhere is the
barrel organ.
Brenda Ackerley
Dear Ed
Like Margaret Jones, the correspondent in the last issue, I also remember the local
activity surrounding the filming of Hobson’s Choice. One memory I have, is that
at the time I used to go from school to a woodwork and metalwork class in some
prefabricated concrete buildings on the old cattle market site off Cross Lane. One day
when we had broken-up for our lunch time break I saw this fellow in pin striped suit
and tails making a telephone call in the red box at the side of the Red Rose Hotel and
the produce market.
I stood and watched in wonder until he came out and it was only later that I realised
that he must have been connected with the filming.
Seeing the film eventually, I concluded that it was Richard Wattis that I had seen,
based mainly on his height and stature, and that he wore that type of clothing in the
film, although it may have been any one of the cast. Maybe I was just feet away from
the great John Mills on Cross Lane - it definitely wasn’t Charles Laughton.
It was then reported on the 18th
September that the filming had finished,
with the crew working from 9-00am
on Tuesday 15th until 4-00am the next
morning. The newspaper also listed
all the places where filming had taken
place.
I am sure that to most Salfordians it
must be one of their favourite films and
although a very rare film watcher myself
it is one that I never cease to enjoy.
The version that was made in the 1950s
is reckoned to be a classic, with Charles
Laughton, John Mills, Brenda de Banzie,
etc.
There were however, other versions
made, with one in the 1930s starring
Viola Lyel, Joan Maude, Belle Chrystall,
Frank Pettingell and Jay Laurier. The film
reviews at the time made it sound very
funny and equal to the later version.
Another version, of which some scenes
were filmed in Salford in March 1920,
and described as a ‘very Lancashire
film’, starred Joe Nightingale and Joan
Ritz. I am also sure that I saw recorded
somewhere that there was a silent
version of the film.
How wonderful it would be if these films
survive today and they could become
part of the city’s art collection.
Roy Bullock
If you’d like to tell a story, ask “where are they now?” or share your memories then please send your letters in to: The Editor,
LifeTimes Link, Salford Museum & Art Gallery, Peel Park, Crescent, Salford, M5 4WU. Email: lifetimes@salford.gov.uk. Due to space
limitations we reserve the right to edit any letters that we do include. Please get in touch with us if you have any responses to our ‘You Write’ page.
The First World War Centenary, War
Memorials and the Twenty First Century
By: SWARM (Salford War Memorials Project)
Prior to the First World War,
memorials had been erected to
either celebrate a victory or mark
the site of a great battle. The Arc
de Triomphe, Nelson’s Column
and Salford’s own Boer War
Memorial are all good examples.
The inscription of the names of those
who fell in battle only came to prominence
in the late 19th century. By the time of
the First World War the commemoration of
‘the fallen’ was deemed of the upmost importance and the celebration of ‘victory’
became a secondary consideration.
Salford Corporation Transport staff war memorial
recording 91 names, presently at the Manchester
Museum of Transport, Boyle Street, Cheetham.
The First World War was fought by an army that was largely recruited from a patriotic
civilian population who had enlisted to fight for the freedom of their families and for
future generations; ‘For Freedom and Honour’. Towards the end and after the First
World War, churches, work places, clubs and local communities all felt that it was their
duty to remember and commemorate the sacrifices made by the men and women
who gave their lives. This sentiment was felt to such a level that some of Salford’s
streets, and its surrounding districts, started to unveil “Street Shrines”. Some excellent
examples of these “Street Shrines” are carefully preserved in the Salford Museum and
Art Gallery.
These First World War memorials have now become an important part of our national,
local and ancestral history and provide physical evidence of our collective social
history. Most importantly, they allow us to remember and commemorate the men
and women who fought and fell. Without memorials recording individual sacrifice,
descendants may have lost their link with fallen family members as well as the
opportunity to discover an ancestor who died during the carnage of the Great War.
Sadly, over time, many of Salford’s older buildings, which may have contained war
memorials, have been demolished or re-developed, and some memorials have
disappeared altogether. The First World War Centenary offers a real opportunity
to establish new ways to preserve and protect our war memorials. Some forward
thinking local authorities have recently added new rules to their planning policies to
protect memorials. In London, for example, the Mayor’s plan states:
“New development should make provision for the protection of archaeological
resources, landscapes and significant memorials. The physical assets should, where
possible, be made available to the public on-site. Where the archaeological asset or
memorial cannot be preserved or managed on-site, provision must be made for the
investigation, understanding, recording, dissemination and archiving of that asset.”
At a time of increasing financial pressure on local councils, it seems difficult to predict
how this and future generations will secure the lasting memory of Britain’s war dead.
The words engraved on most memorials focus mainly on remembrance, with phrases
such as ‘Lest We Forget’ and ‘In Memory’. Perhaps the real challenge for us, facing
this first centenary of the Great War, is to ensure that those who sacrificed so much
are remembered by today’s efforts to conserve the memorials erected in their honour.
1914 – 18 War Memorial, entrance to Parr Fold
Park, Walkden Road, Walkden.
About SWARM
SWARM aims to find, record
and catalogue all of Salford’s
war memorials for posterity.
SWARM’s recent successes include
ensuring the safety of the Salford Central
Mission Memorial and discovering the
Adelphi Lads’ Club Memorial which,
until recently, was believed to have
been destroyed in a fire at the club.
SWARM has also provided evidence
to the ‘In from the Cold’ project to
have Sapper James Barnes, who is
buried in Swinton Cemetery, recognised
by the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission as a casualty of war (two
more cases are yet to be approved by
the Ministry of Defence).
Our website can be found at
www.salfordwarmemorials.co.uk and
forums at http://salfordwarmemorials.
proboards.com/
The World War I Street Shrine in Whit Lane, Pendleton
UNVEILING OF ROLL OF HONOUR
A Roll of honour was unveiled on
Saturday afternoon near to 208 Whit
Lane, Pendleton, by the Mayor and
Mayoress of Salford, Alderman and
Mrs Huddart. A large crowd of people
assembled, amongst those present
being Councillors Bescoby, Cannon,
Gregory and Bratherton. The Revd
S. D. Rees opened with prayer. The
Pendleton Old Prize Band accompanied
the singing of hymns and the St
Matthias Boys’ Brigade and Bugle Band
acted as a guard of honour. The shrine
contains 150 names and is a nice piece
of work. Thanks are due to Mesdames
Wilding, Harrison and Valentine who
were responsible for the arrangements
The “Street Shrine” placed near to 208 Whit Lane, Pendleton. This was at the junction with Owen Street.
The Roll of Honour contained the names of 150 men.
Celebrating the History of Mather and Platt Ltd (2012)
The works of Mather & Platt were founded by Colin Mather
(“Cast-Iron Colin”), a millwright and machine maker, who in
about 1817 took over the good will and part of the site of steam
engine makers Bateman and Sherratt. W. Mather Jr became
involved in 1838. They were joined by Alderman John Platt
who took over the lease and whose son William became a
partner in the firm.
This well-produced book has been put together by the Long Service Association
on their 60th anniversary.
Over the years Mather and Platt made textile finishing machinery, small steam
engines, centrifugal pumps and, after an association with engineer Edward
Hopkinson, electric dynamos and electric locomotives. This work necessitated
a move to new works in Newton Heath, the Park Works. However several
engineering buildings and machine shops were maintained in central Salford,
as the company also made fire prevention apparatus, rock drills and artesian
well boring machines.
Chapter 1 gives an outline history of the firm, and is followed by chapters on
welfare provision, technical education, the move to the Park Works, biographies of
the Mather and Platt families and some of the managers and directors.
There are sections on the two World Wars as reflecting Mather & Platt’s armaments
efforts; their survival in the 1970s; and the eventual takeover of divisions by Wormalds
and the Weir Group. The book is nicely printed and illustrated both in colour and black
and white.
Incidentally, a plan of the original works and elevations is held as part of Salford’s archive
collection, whilst in the 1990s MRIAS [Manchester Region Industrial Archaeology
Society] photographed the remaining buildings in Salford (with the archive being held
at Chetham’s Library).
A.D. George
Celebrating the History of Mather
and Platt Ltd is available at Salford
Museum and Art Gallery at £14.95
A VILLAGE CHRISTMAS,
1959 by DON RAINGER
In “The Classic Slum”, Robert Roberts wrote “Every industrial
city... folds within itself a clutter of loosely defined overlapping
Villages. Those in the Great Britain of 70 years ago were almost
self-contained communities. Our own consisted of some thirty
streets and alleys locked along the North and South by two railway
systems a furlong apart...”
Roberts was writing about that part of Salford in the 1900s bounded
by Hope Street, Oldfield Road, Liverpool Road and the gas works. I
recall neither Roberts’ Village nor the 1900s, but I do remember over
a half a century ago, and my own Village on the other side of the City
to his.
In Clarendon Road, Don saw the smoke and steam
of a train heading for North Wales. The train in this
photo is on the slow line, and will probably be making
for Tyldesley and Wigan. For the railway buffs, the
locomotive appears to be an LMS design Ivatt Class 2
tank engine. (Salford Local History Library)
myself spent time on alternate Friday
afternoons after school having short
back and sides. Here too is Stockport
Bedding, Dougie Grange’s greengrocers
and The White Eagle Delicatessen run
by a Polish lady who lived up our road.
Before the house on Vicars Street corner
is the dark green windowed Matthews,
Solicitor. Unlike this facade, though,
bottles of all sizes and colours in the off
licence opposite positively glint in the
gloom.
Although breakfast is long since eaten
the atmosphere is grey and this gloom
is as light as it will get all day.
Looking down Church Street in the late 50’s – Don walked past Allendales with its Christmas trees, poultry and
fish on his way home. Note the Salford Corporation bus making its way downhill. (Salford Local History Library)
Larger, different in character, ECCLES is to this day referred to by
the more advanced in years as ‘the village”.
A walk today from the Lodge at the corner of Half Edge Lane and Gilda Brook Road
to Eccles Cross is not what it was in 1959.
The M602 motorway has cut a huge swathe through Eccles: shops and houses have
been demolished, roads re-aligned. Landmarks remain, however, and with research
and remembrances one can yet picture a corner of the world gone for ever. Come
with me on that short journey on Christmas Eve 1959 - but bring an umbrella. It’s
raining hard.
Leaving behind Preston Avenue Lodge, the Boundary marker, Bindloss Avenue and
the high brick wall to the Polygon, we reach the first group of shops; the Manchester
Evening News office plastered in posters and Barry’ s hairdressers where brother and
Above the ‘offy’ the monocled man
in Riding Pink toasts us in Tetley.
Hattersley’s, lacrosse stick and tennis
racket manufacturers, is nearby but we
dash on and head for Jackson’s Post
Office-cum-newsagents.
Still time
to stamp a card. It will be delivered
tomorrow, Christmas morning. Buy a
comic and The Children’s Newspaper
and out through the crowds into the rain.
Tiled doorways and display cabinets at
Ross’s butchers gleam. The Dolphin
Restaurant prepares for lunch. Squint
at unsold turkeys in Lomax. Neither
Johnson’s dry-cleaners nor Gatleys
chemists have any attraction for a
ten year old, but next door Harris’s
toy shop acts like a magnet. Raleigh
cycles, Dinky cars, red and green metal
Meccano, dolls prams andlead soldiers.
Will Father Christmas bring that Hornby
Dublo train set tonight? Peep into
Robert’s Eccles Pet Stores on the
corner - tortoises, puppies and budgies,
all inside today because of the weather.
Inspect the blue police box near the
Belisha beacon and pause as a bus
turns right out of Gilda Brook Road into
Clarendon Road. EWS signs are still
visible on the railway bridge wall.
Behind the gates a little park, opened
at the turn of the century and once the
cholera burial ground from the 1830s,
the overflow from the Parish yard. A
steam train pulls out towards North
Wales and sooty smuts drift over the
parapet. Robinsons the Pastrycooks
have marzipan apples and mince pies
on trays that swing on silver arms into
the window. Leather aproned draymen
are making sure the Railway Inn is well
stocked. We pass Fryer’s furniture
store and Hulbert’s jewellers.
The
Eccles and Patricroft Journal office is
busy, its Christmas edition will be on the
streets soon. Grocers Maypole and T.
Seymour Meads have crowded interiors
and full length windows crammed with
adverts. Across John William Street
is Woolworths, more large windows.
Inside,
high
wooden
counters
subdivided by thick glass.
Mintons “The Paint People” put on a
spick and span face. NEWS ROOM
claims a stained glass window at The
Oddfellows public house. On the end
wall of Vicarage Street a painted sign
reveals this is Bradburns, the original
Eccles Cake shop, rebuilt in 1835.
Cakes of all tastes are being sold rapidly
as though, despite the shop having
been there a century and a quarter,
there were no tomorrows.
Shoppers crowd Church Street; traffic
edges both ways, cautiously. Redmans
is piled high with bottled mincemeat
and crystalized fruits. Eccles Cross on
the right. Lamps in the outdoor market
reflect on the wet paths, stall holders
shout against the wind. The atmosphere
is cosy, familiar. We buy holly sprigs and
mistletoe; carry it, prickly and berried,
carefully. Rain lashes.
Heading home. Parish churchyard,
table graves and inscriptions, is grey,
slippery. Alongside, at 23a Church
Street , was Paxmans the optician.
From 1938 until mid way through World
Woolworth’s Store, Church Street, as it was in the 50’s. Don mentions the high wooden counters within,
subdivided by thick glass. (Salford Local History Library)
War 2 that same building had also housed a Customs and Excise office and an Old
Age Pensions Office. Woodheads chemist has huge bottles of coloured water on
high - green, purple , blood.
Allendales, Christmas trees, poultry, fish - a sensual feast from the Church Street /
Church Road angle.
Over the way Waddilove’s, fresh bread smells and mullioned windows. Alongside
stands W. H. Smiths, up two steps, long, wood panneled. A dark shop with a whiff
of magazines close by the railway station. Quink ink, blotting paper, pen nibs and I
-Spy books. No time today for a look in the Swap Shop near the Cross Keys Public
House, so on to the station, wooden, gas lamped and resplendent in British Railways
colours. It knows not what a fiery fate will befall it in a few years’ time. Outside, a
Salvation Army band plays carols. Folk reach for and donate threepenny bits and
florins. Here, atop the slope up from the Cross, are the tripe shop and estate agents,
more low wooden buildings and Elliott’s newsagents.
On The Park corner is Joey Oakes’ shop packed with fruit, chestnuts, bagged nuts,
boxed dates and tins whose contents are unknown to small boys in short trousers.
Nearby, Worthington’s, decorators, displays tinselled tins of paint - but Christmas
really isn’t their time. Above is the RAF Falcon Club. The Royal London Mutual
Insurance Society building stands sombrely alongside. Another house then, back
from the road, behind high hedges, is the Veterinary Surgeons black and white
painted house and stables.
Hurry on to Tan Pit Lane under lowering clouds. The White Horse Public House,
imposing brick, ivy clad, lattice windows and huge wooden doors, already has cars
parked on the cobbles outside. Many a footing will happen in the rosy warm Snug
there today. An open croft, bleak scene of death and destruction of a Home Guard
station in the war only a few years prior, gives on to high gabled houses. Then
it’s across Gilda Brook, rain dripping from my black and gold school cap onto my
gaberdine.
Pause at Half Edge Lane corner.
A green and yellow Salford City Transport number 9, set your clock by it, bus, heads
for Worsley. It will run tomorrow, Christmas Day, punctual as ever. Across the Lane
is a three storey house, cut in two by bomb damage a decade and a half ago. Men
traipse daily, furtively, across the adjacent weed strewn bomb site to the front door.
I have often questioned my Dad about the lady who sits by the third floor window.
She sits alongside a lamp which is covered by a red shade and she waves to these
gentlemen - and to ten year old me! “You are too young. That’s not for you to know,”
my Dad tells me!
Another Lodge, testament to a former Victorian mansion which had stood on this
spot, a high stone gatepost, entrance to The Crescent - and home. Dry out. Mug of
hot Vimto from my Mum. Hang up the greenery. Slip up to the bedroom with paper,
tape and scissors to wrap presents - and to wonder about that train set!
Ordsall Hall - a Snap Shot of History
Part Two 1850 – 1880
Article by Lauren Jaye Gradwell, Education Facilitator.
Ordsall Hall, C.1869, From Negative 139 – 23, 631082, Salford Museum & Art Gallery Collection. (Salford Local History Library)
By the 1870s Manchester and Salford had changed greatly.
The pace of life was increasing, along with people’s ideas and industrial developments
across the nation, and the world. The residents of Ordsall Hall would have witnessed
these changes by simply looking out of the window. Opposite the Hall hundreds
of boats transported manufactured goods and materials on the Irwell Navigation
and Bridgewater Canal. Beyond them the new Cheshire Lines Railway was being
constructed, joining on to the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the world’s first
purpose built passenger railway, a mile down Ordsall Lane. Where steam locomotives
would move people and goods at ever increasing speeds, the Industrial Revolution
would bring new ideas, and new ways of living and working, but it also brought the
Chartist and Plug Riots of the 1840s, which caused turmoil throughout the north of
England.
Ordsall Hall had remained isolated amidst the changes and developments taking
place, and still retained its rural estate, holding on to the last breath of its agricultural
past as the encroaching factories and machines moved closer.
Between 1850 and 1880 the Hall was home to several families, with the names of
Brown, Lomas, Powell, Webster, and Markendale. It is evident, through newspaper
reports, that the people living at Ordsall Hall at this time were not poor or living in squalid
conditions, but were part of the new upper middle class society. The Markendales
were a successful family of butchers and hide merchant, while the Browns took up
the opportunity to change their occupations from farmers in the 1830s to Cotton
Merchants by the 1870s.
Cotton production would eventually have a greater impact on Ordsall and its estate,
when in 1875 Richard (Dickie) Haworth took out a 21 year lease on Ordsall. But just
before this happened, Ordsall Hall would become the home of a Pre-Raphaelite artist
named Frederic Shields.
Born in Hartlepool in 1833, Shields moved to Ordsall Hall in 1872, as a retreat away
from the noise and stress of London, to work on his paintings. Being a member of the
Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, his friends
included John Ruskin, William Rossetti
and Ford Madox Brown. Shields loved
living at Ordsall and writing to Ruskin
he mentions his home as “the happiest
refuge I ever nested in. It is, like most
old rooms, very lofty, is of wood and
plaster, evidently of the Seventh Harry’s
time, and is most interesting in many
ways.” In 1874 Shields married his
child model Matilda Booth (Cissy);
she was 16, he was 41, but on the
evening of their wedding, he left his
new bride alone in the Hall, with only
the Housekeeper for company, while he
travelled to Blackpool, where he said
the light was better for painting with.
It is not known if this marriage was for
love or for business.
However, by 1875 Shields would leave
Ordsall, as the Industrial Revolution
finally began to encroach onto the
estate. Shields recorded this event in
one of his letters “Where the sheep fed
last year, five streets of cheap cottages,
one brick thick in the walls (for the
factory operatives belonging to two
great cotton-mills near)”. New terraced
housing was being built to provide
homes for the workers at Richard
Haworth’s Mill, just across the road.
Lifetimes: Towards Modernity, 300
years of British Art Visits China.
In 2011, Salford Museum and Art Gallery’s Director, John Sculley
(pictured right), led a British Council delegation of museum
professionals to three Chinese provinces and visited 11 museums
including the National Museum of China, in Tiananmen Square.
That first visit established a number of international relationships
between museums in Britain and China.
In June this year, John, together with Salford’s exhibitions officer, Amy Goodwin –
who acted as exhibition courier and installation adviser – returned to China to open
the exhibition ‘Towards Modernity, 300 years of British Art’, at the Henan Museum,
Zhengzhou. Henan Museum is the oldest public museum in China, opened in 1927.
The museum holds 130,000 objects, including 5,000 which are regarded by the
People’s Republic as national treasures.
‘Towards Modernity, 300 years of British Art’ is an
exhibition assembled from 19 North West public
collections by the Greater Manchester Museums
Group (GMMG), a long established, loose
association of 8 museums, including Salford’s,
which recognises the sub-region’s ‘connected
histories’ and, through sharing professional skills
and knowledge, aims to introduce an entrepreneurial
element to the region’s museums’ management.
‘Towards Modernity…’ is a remarkable milestone
for Greater Manchester Museums and the North
West. This is the first time that a large number of
museums in the north of England have merged their
treasures to represent one magnificent history. ‘Towards Modernity’ draws upon the
great richness of art that is the legacy of collecting and patronage by these institutions
over the centuries and celebrates both their open-mindedness and liberal spirit as
well as their belief that art has a universal meaning and is a benefit for all people,
everywhere.
Amy Goodwin carefully checks that Salford’s
Painting of “Defoe at the Pillory” from our
Victorian Gallery is in tip top shape for the
Exhibition, while others look on.
With China a leading economic driver of the 21st Century industry and technology, the
exhibition offers a great opportunity for examining the effect that notions of progress,
dialogue and international influence had upon British art during the economic
expansion of the 19th and early 20th centuries. And, just as these experiences
influenced British artists, we hope that the exhibition will, in some way, contribute to
the development of Chinese contemporary art and China’s artists.
“Toward Modernity” is the exciting result of the decision to curate an exhibition that
celebrates our GM collections but its form was defined equally through our dialogue
with curators at the great Chinese museums, including Zhengzhou, with whom we
worked. Organising the exhibition has been a remarkably challenging endeavour.
In drawing artworks from nineteen UK museums to be transported more than ten
thousand miles across the world and seen in six prestigious Chinese Museum’s by
more than one million people, we have set future developments a high standard.
Already we are investigating options for future exhibitions – The History of the Tea
Trade (“All the Tea in China”) and The Story of the Industrial Revolution are just two of
the suggestions currently being looked at. At the same time, our new and developing
relationship with colleagues in China also offers the possibility of bringing Chinese
exhibitions here to Salford and the North West. It is an exciting time.
The complete line up, including our John Sculley,
at the formal opening of the Exhibtion
For more information and an amusing,
‘translated from the Chinese’ read, with
some pictures too, go to:
www.english.chnmus.net/News/201306/28/content_145706.htm
Collections Corner
by Peter Turner, Collections Assistant
Recent months have seen a variety of donations to the museum’s collections representing
different areas and aspects of Salford and its history.
Three of the five stoneware jars from Robinsons Dairies, finds from Fitzwarren Street, Salford.
Five stoneware jars, which were
discovered whilst drains were being
dug for a new road in Fitzwarren Street,
Salford, have been donated by the
contractors Southdale. Part of a larger
find, these jars, lettered Robinson’s
Dairies, 42 Fitzwarren Street, Seedley
were found in a covered basement.
Robinson’s Dairy was on the site
from 1897until 1935, when it was
sold to Burgess’s Dairy. The owner,
James Francis Robinson, was born in
Staffordshire in 1856 there were also
branches of his dairy in Weaste and
Irlams O’th’ Height.
In the nineteenth century ragged schools
provided free education for poor children
in industrial towns. Liz Salmon from
Devon recently donated a Queen Street
Ragged School Salford ceramic jug.
Salford school children were given
Wedgewood commemorative beakers
for the coronation of King George VI in
1937, and they were also each given a
Union Jack scholar’s flag in an envelope
to commemorate the visit of King
George V and Queen Mary to Salford
on 17 July 1934. These were both
issued to Donald Hood as a schoolboy
and have been donated by Mrs. Susan
Hood of Malvern, Worcestershire, who
has also donated four Renk teaspoons
inherited from Donald’s parents, William
Hood and Edith Watson (A.C. Renk
was a jewellers on Chapel Street). The
Watsons were pioneers of the socialist
movement in Salford.
Queen Street Ragged School ceramic jug
presented by Liz Salmon
Coronation mug and 4 Rank teaspoons, some of the items donated by Mrs Susan Hood
The last mayor of the borough of Swinton and Pendlebury was Councillor James
Birmingham J.P.. He served twice as mayor, in 1971/72 and from May 1973 until the
borough was abolished in 1974. His eldest daughter, Ann Brown, has donated objects
relating to the former Mayor, Councillor Birmingham, including a portrait, mayor and
mayoress medals, election certificates and a thesis by Patrice Ferre, who stayed with
the mayor during his time in England, entitled ‘Year in the life of a mayor’.
Pip David has kindly donated a signed Pilkington’s employee photograph album that
she was presented with on her retirement in 1995. She started work as Assistant
Personnel Manager and became a director of the company in 1975. The album contains
photographs and signatures of all the employees at Clifton Junction at the time.
Amongst other recent additions to the museum’s collections are six photos of Ordsall
Hall taken by the donor, S. Hallmark, around 1964 or 1965 whilst on an archaeological
dig at the Hall, and three works by the artist Harold Riley, donated by Dr. Jack
Goldberg. A retrospective of this Salford artist’s work can be seen in the LifeTimes
Gallery until 23 February 2014.
One of the six photographs of Ordsall Hall taken in
1964 or 1965 by the donor, S. Hallmark.
If readers have any comments or further information on any of the above objects
please write to LifeTimes Link – details on page 3
Articles from Volunteers at Ordsall Hall
– taken from their September 2013 Newsletter
HOW DOES THE GARDEN GROW?
Heritage vegetables, White Ladies and a cure for snake
bites! I talked to Sophie Bromley who works with Lindsay
Berry, the Head Gardener and Trainer at Ordsall Hall, to see
what new things were going on in the world of plants.
MICHAEL on the “front lawn” at Ordsall. Michael
has been a volunteer at Ordsall for at least two
years, and he helps with the gardens for a couple
of hours each week.
GENERAL VIEW OF GARDEN AT ORDSALL SUMMER 2013
Sophie said that the Hall is working with the Heritage Seed Library (HSL), the aim of
which is to conserve and promote heritage vegetables i.e. vegetables that were grown
in the past but have gone out of favour or are no longer favoured commercially. A lot
of these are in fact endangered now.
in the border of the Knott Garden will be
replaced with different varieties of pink
including one called White Lady! I hope
the ghost feels flattered!
At Ordsall we are saving seeds from two types of vegetable : tomatoes (Auntie
Madge’s variety) and peas ( Timperley Wonder variety). The seeds saved will be sent
back to the Heritage Seed Library headquarters.to be grown by the next set of seed
savers next year.
Some garden volunteers have recently
got certificates for 100 hours work of
volunteering.
Cynthia Greenwood
Another example of a heritage variety of vegetable is Scorzonera which is like a carrot
but with a black root and white flesh. In Tudor times it was peeled like a carrot and
boiled. and was used to treat snake bites!
A heritage variety of potato is the so-called Home Guard Potato, popular at the time
of World War Two because it was easy to grow and tasty.
The trees in the orchard had to be taken out recently due to a drainage problem but
the pear, medlar and apple trees have now been put back .Two crab apple trees and
two Blenheim orange and apple trees are to be planted soon.
There is a plan to plant grasses in the moat to define that area more fully. The types
of grass would include Carex, and Calamogrostis, which have a good height and
catch the wind to create the sense of water and movement. Soon the pinks that are
14
Today`s Recipe
VEGETABLE POTTAGE
In Tudor times vegetable pottage was the main part of an ordinary
person’s diet. It is basically a vegetable soup flavoured with herbs
and thickened with oats. The ordinary people would not have
been able to afford much meat, so would rely on this soup as
their staple diet with bread and cheese. Occasionally meat bones
or fish would be added when available.
Church Street, Eccles, late 1950s (Salford Local
History Library).
The pottage would have been made with whatever vegetables were in season.
However, dried vegetables such as peas and beans were often served in Lent, by
which time the winter food stocks were very low. This helped people survive until early
Spring produce (nettle tips, ground elder and spring greens) began to grow.
It was considered the thicker the soup the better the quality of the pottage.
Over fifty years ago I went to school in
Salford with Brian Carline and David
Summerville, respectively author and
illustrator of “Tripe and Trotters “. Later,
both had long, distinguished teaching
careers. Brian combined his love of
science with a successful foray into
writing and professional TV comedy
(New Faces); David’s artistic nature sees
him in retirement continue as a practising
potter and artist. Their lifelong friendship
and wealth of talent could lead to only
one thing - collaboration on a beautifully
illustrated, funny book.
Recipe
1 onion
2 leeks
1 or 2 parsnips
Spinach
Butter
Stock and seasoning
Herbs (e.g. parsley, rosemary
and thyme)
Method
Peel and slice the onion, top and tail
the leeks and parsnip, peel and roughly
chop, roughly chop some spinach.
Sweat the onions in butter for a few
minutes then add chopped leeks and
parsnips, allow to sweat for a few
minutes and then add stock, add the
spinach. Allow to cook until vegetables
are ready, then add the garden herbs.
A diet based on this would seem to be
fairly healthy by our standards today!
Sue Coutts
“TRIPE AND TROTTERS”
BY BRIAN CARLINE AND DAVID
SUMMERVILLE
A Review by Don Rainger
Brian’s Mum was manageress of the
UCP shop on Broad Street, across
from their Strawberry Road home. As
this emporium sold a “comprehensive
range of bovine and porcine viscera” it
seems wholly appropriate that when he
came to set down his remembrances
of life in those 1950s grimy, unhealthy,
over-crowded streets of the inner city,
he should plump for a title which reeked
of what he saw on a daily basis - the
cowheel, haslet and faggots he collected
on his cart.
The book records the hardships and
deprivations, the determination and
sheer hard work of the times through the
eyes of a pre-teenage lad. Brian recreates
a world of sights, smells (many of these)
and occasional excruciating childhood
embarrassments we cringe to recall.
David’s delightful, distinctive illustrations
add to the humour of the situations .
Hugely recommended. Happy Days!
NOTE: The Friends of Salford Museums (FSMA) are pleased to announce that they are
financially supporting the fees of two young people who are doing Royal Horticultural
Society courses at Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form College whilst working part time
under the supervision of Lindsay Berry, Head Gardener at Ordsall Hall. They are
Rachael Taggart and Sophie Bromley.
“Tripe and
Trotters” £7.99.
Available from
Salford Museum
and Art Gallery.
15
Albert Batty: Serving in a World War I
Ambulance Unit
Article by Steven Illingworth
Albert and wife Dora, 1919, before they were married (Salford Local History Library)
Albert in uniform in June 1917 (Salford Local
History Library)
Albert Batty was born in 1893 and lived
in Salford from 1903 until the First World
War broke out in 1914. His father was a
chemist at Winterbottom’s - a company
based in Weaste, specialising in making
cloth for book covers. Albert himself
went on to work there.
During the war Albert was part of
an ambulance unit - the 18th Field
Ambulance Unit (Transport Section),
Royal Army Medical Corps. He kept a
war diary that filled 15 notebooks and
then in 1960 he wrote a book of notes
to accompany the diaries. The Batty
diaries were presented to Salford City
Libraries in 1967.
Very few people in Britain were
untouched by the death and destruction
of the First World War. Therefore it is
amazing to learn that all of Albert’s
ambulance unit seemed to survive. In
1960, Albert wrote a commentary on
his original diaries where, looking at
the list of the 39 men in his ambulance
unit at the start of the war, he made the
following point, ‘It is almost safe to say
that not one in this list was killed during
the war, which is not a little remarkable.’
16
From his diary entries, Albert comes across as a thoughtful, calm man and not
somebody likely to be over-emotional and melodramatic. Most of his diary entries
describe everyday routines in a largely factual manner. Even when world events
took on a more dramatic turn, this style did not change. On the day when news was
received that the war was over he wrote simply, ‘11 November 1918 – It is posted on
our orders at 8.30 am that all hostilities shall cease at 11 am today.’
However, Albert and his colleagues could enjoy the lighter side of life, even if the
midst of the worst conflict the world had ever seen. During the First World War they
compiled a regimental journal called ‘The Pannier’, containing gentle humour and
slightly surreal reflections on their situation. An almost complete set of these journals
was donated to Salford City Libraries, along with the diaries.
For the modern reader, one of the main points of interest from the Batty diaries is
how Albert viewed certain events without the benefit of hindsight. On 5 July 1916, in
the early days of The Battle of the Somme, he wrote optimistically, ‘the British and
French are advancing on the meeting point at Verdun, taking first line trenches and
numbers of prisoners and guns. This being so…only clearly shows that peace is in
sight and may be expected late in the Autumn’. Unfortunately, it would be only two
years later than this that the war would end. The day after the actual end of the war in
November 1918 Albert wrote, ‘The old danger from enemy planes has gone forever.’
With hindsight, we know that an even greater conflict would break out just over 20
years later, with hundreds of thousands of people around the world killed by enemy
planes. One can only imagine how disillusioned Albert must have felt.
After the First World War Albert spent
the next ten years or so working abroad,
mainly in Brazil and India. While he was
in these places, he continued to record
his thoughts alongside a collection of
photographs and picture postcards,
which were also donated to Salford City
Libraries.
Albert in football team photo, 1910-11. He is top left.
(Salford Local History Library)
The diaries, journals, photographs and
postcards from the Batty collection can
now all be found at Salford Museum
and Art Gallery.
WINIFRED MABEL LETTS
A War Poet born in Salford who features in
forthcoming World War I Exhibition
Article by Cynthia Greenwood
Winifred Mabel Letts. The name may not mean much to people today
and sounds a bit stuffy and old-fashioned, suggestive of Victorian
drawing rooms and prim ladies in heavy dark-coloured dresses! In
fact Winifred was far from stuffy and seemed to have the guts and
enthusiasm of modern women. She carved out a successful career
for herself as a writer, became a nurse during World War One and was
one of the few women who wrote war poetry.
I am a volunteer at Ordsall Hall/Salford Museum and Art Gallery. After
doing a degree in English and History I have had a career as a librarian
in further education. One day in a bookshop I picked up “Journal of an
Infantry Officer” by Siegfried Sassoon, the World War One poet, and
since then I’ve been hooked on World War One literature. I am now
on the committee of the Siegfried Sassoon Fellowship and a member
of the Wilfred Owen Association. So, when I was asked to research
Winifred Letts for a future exhibition at Salford Museum and Art Gallery
I jumped at the chance.
Winifred was born in Salford and had a varied writing career producing
plays, short stories, children’s stories and autobiography. During World
War One she was a nurse and drew on this experience for some of
her war poems. She also worked as a masseuse giving therapeutic
massage to injured soldiers. Her early poetry was lyrical concerned
with love and influenced by fairy tale themes. It is possible that some
of this influence came from Ireland where she lived for many years.
After the outbreak of the First World War she began to write about
the conflict and her style became more powerful using simple direct
words that would emphasise the pathos and terror of the situation.
Winifred Mabel Letts (Salford Local History Library)
The centenary for World War One is making us draw many events and people out
of the shadows to reveal and codify valuable lives that have been forgotten. People
only known through fading names on war memorials or in dusty boxes of letters or
photographs are being brought to life. During my research I obtained a copy of a
photograph of Winifred, sepia in colour and a little creased, showing a thoughtful
young woman gazing at us from about a hundred years ago, and I felt I had begun to
know her. Determined – yes, dreamy – yes, complex – yes. Someone to be reckoned
with. Another person pulled from obscurity.
Winifred Letts will feature in a major new exhibition at Salford Museum and Art Gallery
in March 2014 .and the copy of her photograph will be displayed to introduce her to
new generations.
17
Sharing photos
One of our regular readers, Doris Slater, who now lives in Little Hulton, sent us a
letter telling us about work and play in Salford 60 years ago, and sent us photos
of herself and the people she worked with …
Doris with her cat, at the back of her (then) home
in Burland Street, Salford 7
Doris and colleagues “at play”, Lockett Street
Dear Mr Turner,
I enjoy very much reading the Life Times and look forward to it dropping through my
letter box.
I’m sending you a few photos of myself and my workmates who were also my friends.
I say “were” as, sadly, most have passed away. The photo of me and the cat was
taken early 1952, when I was expecting my first baby. It was a boy, he was 61 in April!
I went on to have twin girls and another two boys (not twins). We are all fine.
The other photos were taken at work. [The first photo is of us in our working clothes.]
We were machinists at The S.A. [S & A Manufacturing Company] Bury New Road.
We made children’s hats. The other photo is of us when we went dancing at the
Broughton Assembly Rooms. We also went to The Ritzes and other places.
My best friend and I learnt to dance at Madam Jones on Broad Street. Not much
money, but we made the best of what we had! So many happy times together …
Just thought I’d share a few times of my life with you. I’m still blessed with family and
friends.
Regards, Mrs Slater
(Photos are copies)
If you would like to share
your photos with us in future
issues of Link, please get in
touch with us.
We do recommend you only send
us copies of your photos and we
will return any photos sent in.
Doris and colleagues at work, Lockett Street, Bury
New Road, Manchester”
Editor’s notes:
The photograph of Doris and her cat
has on the back: “Burland St, Salford
7”, this street is between Teneriffe Street
and Bury New Road, Salford.
The reverse of the photograph of Doris
S and colleagues in working clothes
states on back – “Lockett Street, Bury
New Road – At work” and that of
the group ready for the dance at the
Assembly Rooms states – “Left to Right
– Edna, Edith, Lily, Susy, Kitty – Front
Row – Sadie, Doris, Angela, Eleanor –
At Play.”
Lockett Street is a “no thoroughfare”
street off Bury New Road (just in
Manchester).
Research in trade
directories in the 1940s and 1950s held
at the Local History Library indicates
that S & A Manufacturing were variously
wholesale milliners and children’s
hat makers. Directories give S & A’s
address as 13 (later 16) Lockett Street.
Do you have any memories of
working for this company you’d like
to share with us? Did you work in a
similar trade?
WHAT THE MUSEUM WAS
DOING 60 YEARS AGO
Contributed by Don Rainger
From the Salford City Reporter
5th October 1951
MUSEUMS ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Mayor of Salford, Ald. Darby JP, welcomed the 50
delegates of the North West Federation of Museums and Art
Galleries attending the conference at Salford Museum and
Art Gallery on Friday 28th September 1951.
Mr. Frape, Director of Salford Art Gallery, who was nominated to the executive
committee of the Federation by conference, gave a talk on The Lancashire Scene
exhibition visited by delegates. Describing the five years that lead-up to the exhibition
he said “On coming to this Art Gallery I found a very good collection of archaeology,
ethnology, zoology, conchology, Egyptology, geology, numismatics and coins as well
as fine and applied arts.”
MUSEUM DISPLAYS – TRADITIONAL STYLE –
SALFORD’S VICTORIAN GALLERY IN 1898
Photo by Samuel. Couthurst – Salford Local
History Library – F Molyneux Collection.
Pausing for breath, Mr. Frape proceeded “I decided that the best way I could apply
myself to the job was to admit I wasnot an expert in all these sciences and to apply
myself to the fine and applied arts and to an extension of these arts to embrace
music, drama and the art of the painter. With that in mind I assisted in the formation
of an orchestra, a choir and of the Salford Art Club whose first major exhibition was
The Salford Scene. It was only one step from The Salford Scene to The Lancashire
Scene. What we looked for in the paintings submitted was truly significant work in
relation to Lancashire - paintings of streets, country lanes and life which were purely
of Lancashire and could not be mistaken for any other district.”
In the same edition another article relating to the Peel Park building noted that 30
year old Mr. Alan Longworth had been appointed Salford City Librarian, one of the
youngest Chief Librarians in the Country. Elsewhere, it was noted that the (Buile Hill
Park Museum) mammals were being given their first clean up in 16 years!
PICTURE OF LARK HILL PLACE 1965
Salford Local History Library
And 50 Years Ago …
From “The Reporter” Friday November 22 1963 Headed:
“Sudden Death Of Art Gallery Chief Mr. Frape put Peel Park
on the national map”
….. Mr Frape came to Salford in 1946 from Manchester, where he was curator of
the Sir John Rothenstein Collection.
At Peel Park Art Gallery he replaced traditional display methods with a more attractive
modern system of presentation, and at Buile Hill Park he transformed a Victorian
natural history museum into an up-to-date science museum, famous for its working
model of a modern coal mine.
“Lark Hill Place” – Peel Park’s replica of an old-time street – was his brainchild,
inspired, but with its own improvements, by the famous exhibit at York.
He fostered the formation of that very active voluntary organisation, the Friends of the
Salford Museums, which raises funds to enhance to scope of the exhibits.
It was through his advice that Salford
built up the biggest collection in the
world of works by L. S. Lowry, and
the art world is indebted to him for
his encouragement of today’s artists,
typified by such talented young men
as Harold Riley, whose own recent
exhibitions set up new success records
at Peel Park.
One of his happiest experiences was
the Corporation’s decision to buy
ancient Ordsall Hall and convert it into
a period museum…..
Link Listings
A taste of
forthcoming
heritage events
A full programme of events
and exhibitions can be found
in our twice yearly (approx
January and July) Events
and Activities publication.
Pick up a copy from our
museum or any Salford
library, or check www.
salfordcommunityleisure.
co.uk/culture for full events
listings.
You can also find much more
to see and do (as well as
find out the most up to date
venue or event details) at
www.visitsalford.info
Exhibitions
Salford Museum & Art Gallery
Lifetimes Gallery
Harold Riley: Salford 1947 to 2012
Until 23 February 2014
Harold Riley has dedicated much of his
career to capturing the everyday street
life in Salford. This exhibition is a mini
retrospective of these works including oils,
watercolours and drawings. Growing up in
Salford, Riley has seen many changes within
the city. He and LS Lowry recorded the lives
of working people during the 1960s. Some
of these drawings will feature in the show.
This exhibition places Riley’s works of his
home city next to a selection of portraits of
some of the people important to him.
Random Visual Poems by Charlie Holt
5 April to 6 July 2014
This exhibition brings together a number of
related series of works by artist Charlie Holt.
Charlie creates collages that have their roots in
both Pop Art and Surrealism, preferring to work
with an attitude similar to “the game of chance”
or “the exquisite corpse”.
All the works on show are either traditional cut
and paste collages or digital montages influenced
by both Manchester and Salford. There are
altered record sleeves, random visual poems
often inspired by music, reworked posters with
interventions, mini hoardings based on graffiti
and fly posters, and a series of collages based
on the Northern Quarter and Salford inhabited by
people like Eric Cantona.
Remember- internet access
is free at all Salford libraries
and help is always available.
Eric Cantona at eastern block charlie holt
Harold Riley Chimney Pot Park
100 Years Ago: Salford at war
Opening 15 March 2014
‘100 Years Ago: Salford At War’, helps
uncover some of Salford’s unique stories
from World War One. The Exhibition focuses
on local characters, including the Broughton
poet, Winifred Mabel Letts, Billy Unsworth,
a soldier from Ordsall and Dr James Niven,
who helped fight the Spanish Flu pandemic .
North Gallery
Where the Needle Passes…Sarah Greaves
Until 26 January 2014
This is the first exhibition to bring together
Sarah’s ‘Embroidered Graffiti’ and her 2013 Arts
Council funded project ‘Armenian Threads’. Her
extraordinary practice of embroidering into solid
objects is both beautiful and insightful. Domestic
objects tell personal stories, whilst ancient
Armenian imagery becomes a lens through which
to view history and identity.
Langworthy Gallery
20:20 Vision: An installation to celebrate
20 years of Start in Salford
23 November 2013 to 23 March 2014
Start in Salford aims to promote
emotional wellbeing and recovery
by providing creative arts-based
activities and training opportunities
for people who are, or may be at
risk of experiencing mental health
difficulties or social exclusion.
Start in Salford creative arts and wellbeing
centre is celebrating its 20th anniversary
with this special exhibition. Explore the
installation to uncover individual member’s
stories and see some of the fantastic artwork
that has been created over the years.
Greaves Armenian Threads
Salford Art Club Annual Exhibition 2014
8 February to 11 May 2014
A selection of the very best artwork
produced by members of the club
including portraits, landscapes and still
life in a variety of media. This year, to
commemorate the centenary of World
War One, some works have been
created around the theme of ‘1914 2014: a century of change’.
Ordsall Hall
Egerton Gallery
By Hand: the exhibition
6 October 2013 to 19 January 2014
Looking for that special Christmas gift or a
unique shopping experience in the beautiful
surroundings of Ordsall Hall? Then this
exhibition is for you.
Running alongside a display in the new shop
space at Salford Museum and Art Gallery,
this temporary exhibition at Ordsall Hall will
showcase more of the quality art and craft
work made by local and national artists, for
sale at affordable prices.
By Hand
Urban legends and landscapes:
Threadmill Textiles
26 January to 18 May 2014
Lady picking flowers, Albert Sawyer
The Good Old Days: Terry Allen
17 May to 7 September 2014
Inspired by his surroundings growing up
in Stockport, Terry Allen paints scenes
of his childhood reminiscent of industrial
northern towns in the 1950s. The stylised
cobbled streets, corner shops and
houses in working class neighbourhoods
are brought to life with characters busy
about their everyday lives. A self taught
artist, Terry started doodling at an early
age, drawing and painting all of his life,
and has now developed his own often
whimsical style.
Salford has a far reaching history from its first
recorded mention in Anglo Saxon England
to the present day. The rural landscape of
Salford metamorphosed into the industrial
town, the high density housing and the
cotton mills and to the present day city.
The Threadmill artists are each motivated
by different aspects: Ordsall Hall and its
paintings; Elizabethan inhabitants; the
effects of World War I on the area; the
modern cityscape.
Members of Threadmill Textiles present
an exhibition of creative and stimulating
artefacts inspired by Ordsall Hall and the
wider environs of Salford using a profusion
of tactile and colourful techniques.
Mud, Sweat and Tears: the story of
Ordsall’s allotments.
Ordsall Hall Fighting With Food
25 May to 28 Sept 2014
Terry Allen
And on the Bluestairs Community Gallery
look out for an exhibition put together by
Salford Brownies (2014 is The Brownies’
Centenary Year) and art work from Chapel
Street Community Arts!
2014 marks the centenary of the outbreak of
World War One, but did you know the important
part Ordsall Hall had to play? ‘Mud, Sweat and
Tears: the story of Ordsall’s allotments’, examines
the important part Ordsall Hall played during the
Great War. Visit this family friendly exhibition to
find out about the story of Salford’s pioneering
allotments and how they
helped the war effort.
Lyn Atkinson Threadmill
Family events and activities
at Salford Heritage Services
Salford Museum and Art
Gallery and Ordsall Hall run
a programme of activities for
children and families.
Please visit our website to
find out what is coming up!
salfordcommunityleisure.
co.uk/culture. Look in the
‘what’s on’ section for holiday
activities and weekend craft
sessions.
Alternatively e-mail
salford.museum@scll.co.uk
with your contact details if you
would like to join our mailing
list and receive a copy of our
twice-yearly events and
activities brochure.
Mystery Pix
Salford Local History Library has over 70,000 photos in their collections.
Unfortunately, we can’t identify all of them. Drop us a line or give us a ring
if you can help!
Responses from last issue …
Mystery Pix No. 1 –Link 33
Mystery Pix No. 1
Do you know where this is? Is it in the City of Salford?
Can you identify the house on the right, and have you any
idea what this group
of well-dressed people
(somewhat segregated
by gender) is doing?
Josie Potter rang in to say the picture labelled
“Salford Training College” (i.e. teacher training)
is Sedgley Park College, now
the Police Training College.
If this is correct, the building
in the photograph still exists
at Sedgley Park.
[A note in Salford Local History Library suggests
this is De la Salle Teacher Training College, 2226 Singleton Road]
Any more views?
Mystery Pix No. 2
There are lots of clues her – name of the shop, the
decorations, believed to be early to mid ‘50s – the time of
the Coronation or a Royal
Visit? There is also the
“Pendleton”
telephone
number, the street number
19, etc.
Write in and
let us know where this
is and whether you can
remember shopping at
“Jessies” yourself!
Mystery Pix No. 3
From the street lamp alone, this must be a later photo
than Pix No. 2. We think this may be off Oldfield Road,
or possibly Robert Hall
Street, but we may be
wrong! Do you recognize
these
bay-windowed,
cellared terraced houses?
The “SCHOOL” sign at
the far right may be a clue.
This may also hint as to
the date? Do let us know
what you think!
Please send your information or comments to the
LifeTimes Link Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Peel
Park, Crescent, Salford M5 4WU.
Mystery Pix No. 3 – Link 33
Josie Potter said she believed this to
be either Claremont Open Air School
or Sacred Heart Secondary Modern
School [later Cathedral R C High
School]
Steve Winder e-mailed us to say this looked like the Assembly
Hall at Sacred Heart (as above) built in 1964 on Middlewood
Street, off Oldfield Road. The headmaster at the time, Mr
Winder, tells us was Mr F J Kiernan,
and one of the teachers was the
late Bernard Murphy, who went on
to become Mayor of Salford but
tragically died whilst in office
Margaret Jones has suggested
this was a spoof of the 1000 Guinea Trophy win (National Brass
Band Chamionship) early in the 20th Century.
Another source has indicated this is in fact “Cadishead Operatic
Prize Band” – a comedy band where all the instruments were
deliberately faulty! Source also dates this to the early 1900s.
Perhaps this adds to the spoof theory!
Any other views?
And finally …
Link 33 Mystery Pix included a postcard with various views of a
house called Hill End and its garden. The card had a reference
to “Swinton” on the back. Where is it? Further research by
the Museum and by the Friends indicates that Hill End was a
mill-owner’s house at Mottram in Longdendale. The only link
we can think of with Swinton is that L S Lowry moved from
Swinton to live in Mottram! Did Lowry ever paint Hill End (now
demolished)? We don’t know.
Local History Round Up
This calendar of local history and heritage activities is based on information
supplied by the individual organisations, and is believed to be correct at
the time of going to press. It may be advisable to confirm details with the
organisation in advance of attending an event. Unfortunately, it has not been
possible to include contact details in every case.
Note to programme secretaries. For your group’s talks to be included in
this listing please send your programme to us before the deadline as shown
on page 3. Please note that some societies have their own websites.
BOOTHSTOWN & DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY GROUP
Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of
each month at Boothstown Community Centre,
Stansfield Place, Boothstown – starting at 19.45
with a £2 charge for non-members.
(There are no meetings in June, July or August).
For further information, please enquire at
Community Centre.
PROGRAMME FOR JANUARY – MAY 2014
15th January 2013
David Lewis - Men, Mills & Machines
19th February 2013
Ralph Hart - Life in a pit village
19th March 2013
David Bratt - The history and current activities
of the “Peak & Northern Footpath Society”
16th April 2013
Janet Bradshaw - Sweet Memories
21st May 2013
Rosalie Gorton - Tatton Park & The Egerton Family
ECCLES AND DISTRICT HISTORY SOCIETY
Meet at Alexandra House, 395 Liverpool Road,
Peel Green, Eccles, at 7.30pm on the second
Wednesday of the month.
Membership subscription £15.00
Visitor’s fee £3.00
Contact Andrew Cross on 0161 788 7263,
or email: eccleshistory@yahoo.co.uk
www.edhs.btck.co.uk
PROGRAMME FOR JANUARY – MAY 2014
8th January 2014
James Brindley - John Doughty
12th February 2014
The Roman road in Eccles - John Rabbitt
12th March 2014
Homes for Motorcars - David George
9th April 2014
Bottoms Up! Life in medieval times as shown by
carvings under seats in churches and cathedrals
Michael Gitsham
14th May 2014 - Annual General Meeting
IRLAM, CADISHEAD AND DISTRICT LOCAL
HISTORY SOCIETY
We meet at St Paul’s Church, Liverpool Road,
Irlam 7.30-9.00pm. The third Wednesday of each
month. Members £1.00 Visitors £2.00.
PROGRAMME FOR JANUARY – JULY 2014
15th January 2014
Southport - Deborah Yates
19th February 2014
The Causes of World War I - Richard Winpenny
19th March 2014
Love on the Dole - Chris Carson
16th April 2014
Stranger than Fiction – The Children’s Story
Peter Watson
21st May 2014
The People of Dunham Massey - Bernard Champness
18th June 2014
Milestones and other Historical Waymarkers
John Armstrong
16th July 2014
A Stroll around Old Cadishead
SALFORD LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY
Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the
month (except December) at Salford Museum
and Art Gallery, starting at 2:00pm.
Correspondence to Mr D Rainger, 7 St George’s
Crescent, Salford M6 8JG
PROGRAMME FOR JANUARY – JUNE 2014
29th January 2014
History of Pantomime - Les Willis.
26th February 2014
The History of the Oxford English Dictionary Dr M.R. Scott
26th March 2014
Stranger than Fiction. True Tales from the
Supernatural - Peter Watson
30th April 2014 - Annual General Meeting
25th June 2014
Down Forget-me-not Lane 1939 -1945,
ordinary peoples lives on the home front, plus
radio programmes and music of the period. Brian Hallworth
SWINTON AND PENDLEBURY LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY
Swinton Library, Chorley Road, Swinton.
Starting at 10.00am with a £1.50 charge (where
there is a Speaker) or £1.00 (for other sessions).
Contact Jean Appleby 0161 794 4570 or
Marjory Williams 0161 793 7847.
PROGRAMME FOR JANUARY – JUNE 2014
6th January 2014 – Reminiscence Session
20th January 2014 - Is our Christmas lunch!!!!
3rd February 2014 - Music in Hospitals Sid Richards
17th February 2014 - Life As A Lancashire Lad
Stephen Sanders
3rd March 2014 - English Folk Magic Peter Watson
17th March 2014 - From The Mullineux
Collection - Glen Atkinson
31st March 2014 - Brockholes Nature Reserve
Brian Ashworth
7th April 2014 - Malaysia – Talk No. 2 Chandra Law
28th April 2014 - Coach Trip
12th May 2014 - Banking In A Gentler Age Alan Hayhurst
26th May 2014 - Bridgewater Canal - Jill Tyson
9th June2014 - AGM
Walkden local history group has disbanded and
will no longer meet. For local history meetings in
Worsley please see entry below
LOCAL HISTORY TALKS AT WORSLEY
Talks are held at The Secret Garden Cafe, 11
Barton Road, Worsley at 7.30pm.
Space is limited so visitors MUST book in
advance on 0161 793 4615
Details from David George on 0161 790 9904
PROGRAMME FOR JANUARY – MAY 2014
Wednesday 29th January 2014
A Worsley Slide Show
Chris Carson
Wednesday 26th March 2014
Rochdale Canal across Manchester
David George
Wednesday 28th May 2014
To be arranged
FRIENDS OF THE SALFORD MUSEUMS’
ASSOCIATION – F S M A
Meets at Museum and Art Gallery, Peel Park.
For information contact Don Rainger (Chairman)
on 0161 789 2071. Details also from
Jphilipheyes@aol.com
PROGRAMME FOR JANUARY – MARCH 2014
Wednesday 8th January 2014, at 2 p.m.
Peel Park (the Park itself) and its new Friends
Canon Andy Salmon
Wednesday 19th March 2014, at 6 p.m.
Annual General Meeting
WORKING CLASS MOVEMENT LIBRARY
Meetings as advertised at 51 The Crescent,
Salford M5 4WX. For information contact Lynette
Cawthra Library Manager on 0161 736 3601
enquires@wcmlibrary. www.wcml.org.uk
Times of meetings vary: watch out for publicity or go
on above website.
PROGRAMME FOR JANUARY – MAY 2014
Saturday 8 March 2014, 2pm
International Women’s Day
Talk by Professor June Hamman on Isabella Ford,
WW1 peace activist and suffragist. (Admission free).
Until 4 April 2014, Wednesday - Friday 1-5pm
‘Invisible Histories’ exhibition
The exhibition captures a flavour of people’s
working lives during the period when Salford was
a major industrial powerhouse in the North West.
:
Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Peel Park, Crescent, Salford M5 4WU
Tel: 0161 778 0800
Email: salford.museum@scll.co.uk
Open: Tues-Fri 10.00am-4.45pm and Sat-Sun 1.00pm-5.00pm
(Museum closed on Mondays).
Disabled access, gift shop, cafe.
Museum café opening times: weekdays (including Mondays) 8.30am – 4:00pm
Saturdays and Sundays: 1.00pm – 4:00pm.
Our museum cafe is now open from 8.30am on weekdays, serving fresh ground coffee, tea
and cold drinks. Breakfast options include a range of pastries, muffins, bacon and sausage
sandwiches and toasties.
Parking charges - £2.00 for up to 3 hrs; £5.00 for 3 to 6 hrs; £8.00 for 6 to 12 hrs
Salford Local History Library
at Salford Museum and Art Gallery:
Tel: 0161 778 0814
Open (now by appointment only): Tues, Thurs and Fri 10:00am - 1:00pm & 2:00pm - 4:45pm
Weds 10:00am -1:00pm. & 2:00pm - 8:00pm. (Closed weekends and Mondays).
Booking for the Local History Library is essential so please telephone 0161 778 0814 or
0161 778 0800 (museum reception) to book an appointment.
Ordsall Hall Museum
322 Ordsall Lane, Salford M5 3AN
Tel: 0161 872 0251 • Fax: 0161 872 4951
Email: ordsall.hall@scll.co.uk
Disabled access to nearly all rooms, gift shop, café
Open: Mon-Thurs 10:00am-4:00pm and Sunday 1:00-4:00pm.
(Closed Friday and Saturday)
Parking charges - £2.00 for up to 3 hrs; £5.00 for 3 hrs or more