Haslingden Wheelers Cycle Club, Allotment Society and other Clubs etc

Here is a photo of a badge sent in by Jim Nuttall of the Haslingden Wheelers Cycle Club, the badge is silver and hallmarked.

a update from Jim Nuttall. "Just an update about the HW badge.

I rang my sister last night,and she told me that she has had a look at a census for around 1901, and found that our grandad Harold Butterworth, worked as an apprentice at a cycle works in Haslingden.

I can't find any information about the cycle works, on the internet.

Jim Nuttall

Update: 15th October 2010: Jim Nuttall has just sent the following information on the Haslingden Wheelers Club which he has kindly received from Tricia Kenny:

"Haslingden cycles were made at Croft Cycle Works, behind Higher Deardengate, which was started in 1882 by John Stancliffe Cordingley. The Trade Directory of 1909 lists him at 26 Deardengate, a bicycle agent and manufacturer, in 1913 he is listed at the same address but is now a motor car agent and dealer. John Cordingley held the cycling championship of Rossendale for 7 years in succession from 1886 to 1892

I haven't found a date for the start of the Haslingden Wheelers Cycling Club, but assume it's around 1882-3? Here at Rawtenstall Library we have a copy of a National Cyclists' Union 'License to race as an amateur' for John James Holden of Haslingden, member of the Haslingden Wheelers Cycling Club, dated March 1902.
Tricia Kenny.

Does anyone have any further information etc on the Cycle Works in Haslingden?

Look at these old Haslingden "cycling related photos"..... top) is Cordingleys Cycling Shop which was on Blackburn Road, where Laws the butchers is now (at the side of the Black Bull) 2) Georgie Berry on his penny farthing in 1944 3) Richard and Will Moorhouse with their penny farthings in 1891 and 4) Will Moorhouse on the penny farthing and Jim Crankshaw on the cycle at Flaxmoss in c1930.

Haslingden Wheelers Club  (Click over to enlarge)
Photo: kindly contributed by Kaye Ridings.  The photo shows Kaye's father Mr. John Henry Kay who is on Row 2 and 2nd from the right hand side.

Above is a "Annual Ball" programme for the Haslingden Wheelers and Motor Cycle Club from 1926.
The Programme was kindly supplied by Marie Ives

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Haslingden Allotments Society

Haslingden Allotment Society  (Click over photo to enlarge)

Photo: Kindly contributed by Dave Wise and uploaded here on 27th October 2015

Additional information kindly supplied by Elizabeth Smethurst on 29th October 2015

"Just seen this on the site and wondered if you wanted some names to go with it.  I think it was taken in the late 1950s or early 1960s.

I can't name the first 3 men from the left on the back row, but the next one is my father, Clifford Willis, then don't know, then Mr. Craig, who was Parks and Cemeteries chief for the Council, 2 more unknown and finally Harold Taylor who worked with my father at Duckworth Clough Mill.

Front row I should know the first man but can't name him but he used to win lots of prizes at the show and I think lived in Helmshore.  Next to him is Billy Johnson, then Bob Spiby, who was the secretary of the society for many years, Sam Good and Reg? Whitham.  Don't know the other two.

The Allotment shows were held in the Public Hall every September.

Additional information kindly supplied by David Wise on 1st November 2015. On the back row the 2nd one from the L is Jim Wise (David's father). Front Row first left is Mr. (Jack?) Ramsbottom. Also on the front row is Walt Taylor who is on the front far right and who lived on Broadway

Haslingden Festival Schools Concert June 1959

(Click over photo to enlarge)

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This was a collective massed choir from four Haslingden Schools and involved 200 pupils. There are lots of people I can remember on the photo, I have named some below. And I can also remember my headmaster at St. James which was Mr. Rawlinson, who conducted the choir. Also I remember the Chairman Mr. Parker who was the headmaster at St. Johns Stonefold, and lived on Rising Bridge Road (Hud Hey end), close to where I used to live. (Please click over photo once to enlarge.

Some of the participants I can recognize include: Maisie Booth RIP, Kath Waller RIP, Doreen Rushton RIP, Lynn Hargreaves RIP, Mary Harrison RIP, Jean Smith (1), Jim Rushton, Brian (Yap) Wilson, Ann Friend, Miss Dickinson Catrina Pickup, Pauline Stott, Dorothy Barnes, Margaret Singleton, Brian Lees (flogger), Arthur Diggle, Maureen Ashton, John Jennings, Sherry Holden, David Cole, Jennifer Edwards, Stuart Bickford, David Wise, Vivien Collinge, Joan Costain, Miss Pittman, Miss Barrow, John Beech, David Taylor, David Blomley, Jean Smith (2) etc.

Thanks to Jim Nuttall for kindly sending these photos.

Moses Ball & W.M. Holden Fruit & Vegetable Merchants of Haslingden & Bury

Jim Nuttall has kindly sent me the following postcard/photograph.

"I Have been sorting out my dad's old photo's, and found one of Moses Ball He lived on Wells street Haslingden until he died.
He was related to me through my Uncle's ( Nick Nuttall) wife.
The photo is of a Horse & cart Owned by W M Holden Fruit & Vegatable merchants of Haslingden & Bury.
Uncle Moses is the at the reins on the cart.
I haven't been able to find any information about the fruit & veg merchants, or where the building in the photo was.
I would be grateful if you have any information, about the merchants or there premises.
I have attached a copy of the photo, for you and you are welcome to use it in your Blogs"

If you have any information on where this photo was taken from or further information on Holden's Fruit and Veg, it would be most welcome, please contact me at: bryan.yorke@sky.com

Please click on the photo once to enlarge, then click on the enlarged for supersize

Zeppelin, Bombs, Bomb Damage in and around Haslingden 1916 and 1941

The Zeppelin Raid on September 25th 1916

L21 Zeppellin Raid on September 25th 1916 

September 25th 1916 was a clear night and without warning a German Zeppelin dropped seven bombs on the outskirts of Haslingden. The bombing was unexpected and residents came out to see the Zeppelin - the size of an ocean liner - above the town. The report in the Haslingden Gazette states "The visit of the Zeppelin struck momentary fear into the hearts of everyone. The masses of flashed light and the air-rending cracks from the exploding bombs were things to be remembered"
Jackie Ramsbottom - 

I have visited National Archives at Kew and seen the records they hold on this bombing raid. Here is what is recorded in section 111 of the secret file compiled by the intelligence section of GHQ home forces on the air raids of 1916. 
Ann Taylor - 


THE AIR RAID OF THE 25-26 SEPTEMBER 1916

5. Course of L. 21. – L. 21 came in at Sutton on Sea at 9.45pm. at 9.50 pm she was at Alford, at 10.15 pm south of Wragby. At 10.30 pm she passed over Lincoln, and turned north-west, and at 10.43pm passes Knaith. At 10.55pm she was south of Bawtry, and at 11.8 pm was at Beighton. She then passed over the northern outskirts of Sheffield, was heard from the city, but dropped no bombs, going on eastwards into the Peak district, where she was reported from Derwent at 11.28 am (yes the original report says AM!) She then disappeared from observation over the uninhabited moorland, and reappeared suddenly at Todmorden at 11.55pm. at midnight she was at Bacup, and went north-west to Lumb, between which place and Newchurch she dropped two incendiary bombs. She then turned south-west and made the railway at Rawtenstall, where she dropped 2 H.E. bombs. Thence she went due west to Haslingden. From Haslingden she followed the railway south, dropping 5 H.E. and 2 incendiary bombs at Ewood Bridge, which did slight damage to the railway line and broke some windows. Still following the railway she now dropped 7 H.E. bombs at Holcomb, which injured a woman, damaged the post office and broke windows and telegraph wires. At Ramsbottom, further down the valley, 2 H.E. bombs were dropped, followed by 2 incendiary bombs at Holcomb Brook. The airship was reported from bury at 12.19 am and at 12.40 was near Atherton. At 12.45am she went over Bolton, where she dropped 9 H.E. and 11 incendiary bombs, killing 12 persons and wounding 2. Six houses were demolished and 6 badley damaged, a church slightly damaged, and many windows blown out. One fire, not serious, was caused at a mill. No damage was done to the Bessemer Steel forge or any factories or public buildings.

From Bolton she turned due north, at 1.15am was south of Blackburn, and then turned north-east, passing Burnley. At 1.30am she was near Skipton, and about 1.35am she dropped at Bolton abbey a H.E. bomb which failed to explode. She held on her north-easterly course, was reported in the neighbourhood of Rippon about 2am, and at Thirsk about 2.15 am. She now passed over North Yorkshire moors, where she apparently had some difficulty in location her position, as it was not till 3.5am she passed out to sea at Whitby.

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Jeff Stevens has kindly sent in the following link with even more information about the L21 Zeppelin-Airship

CLICK HERE

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The Bombs fell at 1:45am on 16th April, 1941
(Laund Hey and Cribden)

Fizle has kindly sent in the following mail:

Hi Bryan,

With the anniversary of the Blitz being marked everywhere, I wondered if you would be interested in starting a thread on bomb damage in Haslingden and surrounding areas and if anyone or their relatives remembered the experience. Also the on Laund Hey there used to be two dips which we described as 'bomb holes'. Were there really bombs dropped there at the foot of Cribden or was it just a tale?

Hope you are well and keep up the good work.

Cheers
Fizle Sagar

I remember the bomb holes (there still there!) and I was probably told the same story as you. They said that they where German bombers who had been instructed to return to Germany and decided to lighten off their horrible payload near Cribden (Laund Hey - playing field, towards the base of Cribden and alongside the footpath at the junction where you would turn right). B.Y.

From Paul Burke.
Hello Bryan,
Whilst searching for information on the bomb holes up on Laund Hey, Haslingden, I came across a similar enquiry on your wonderful Haslingden blog:

To answer your query, the Lancashire Telegraph published a detailed map of every bomb that was dropped on East Lancashire during World War II. It includes the Laund Hey/Cribden bombs, but actually places them in Rawtenstall! They fell at 1:45am on 16th April, 1941:


LT Map in larger size
Google Maps Aerial View

I have just been up there today and can report that 3 of the 4 craters are still easily visible, especially when looked upon from the side of Cribden. The location of the 4th crater, which I always remember (albeit from 30 or so years ago!) as being immediately next to the footpath (which follows the wall on the left of the photo below), was no longer obvious.
hope this information helps.
Regards,
Paul Burke
Haslingden

20th October 2012 from Jeff Stevens:
Bryan,
I remember in the late 1950's, as a youngster finding some rusted shrapnel in the vicinity of the bomb holes, it was quite a prized possession at the time.
Jeff Stevens

My grandma and grandad had Baxenden Conservative Club (Bash Con) at the time and i remember my grandma telling me that when the air raids were on she would hide the children under the billiard table as it wouldnt collapse even if the building came down on top if it. We dont know we're born these days.
Chris Howarth

Bomb Holes over Longshoot Estate

There were holes at the top of shoot, what used to be open land at the back of the houses, and over "The valley" as we called it, Always described as the bomb holes.
Eileen Webster

Starfish Station - Haslingden Grane

There used to be a starfish station in the Helmshore Grane area.This was a system of lights that from the air resembled a city or railway marshalling yard.This was used to convince Ww2 German aeroplanes to offload their bomb load in the open countryside.
Jeff Stevens

CLICK HERE (for site showing more)

Decoy Site - Haslingden Grane

Jeff Stevens has kindly sent in the following link to the site showing the Decoy Site

CLICK HERE

AIR  RAID  LOG  BOOK

 

Compiled by the late Mr J. Belshaw at Ewood Bridge, whilst carrying out duties as a Special Constable and Air Raid Warden.It records the times of the sounding of the‘Warning’ and ‘All Clear’ sirens, during the

237  Air Raid ‘Alerts’, in this area,  between  Thurs, 20^th June 1940,  and  Sun, 23^rd Aug 1941. 

The following notes from the log give details of bombs dropped locally. 

1940 

June  20^th,  Thurs.       High Explosives at Clayton-le-moors.

Aug  31^st,   Sat.           High Explosives, at Heap Clough, Grane. 

Sept  24^th,  Tue.          High Explosives & Incendries at Hutch Bank  Haslingden. 

Dec  16^th.   Mon.        Incendries at Helmshore. 

Dec  22^nd.  Sun. )      

Dec  23^rd.  Mon.)        Manchester Blitz. 

1941 

Apr  15^th.  Tues.        4 High Explosives at Roundhill Lane,  Stonefold. Haslingden.

                                  7 High Explosives at Laund Hey, Cribden  Hill, Haslingden. 

May  2^nd.  Fri.           2 Land Mines at  Stubbins,  Ramsbottom. 

May  4^th.  Sun.          High Explosives at Loughclough,   Rawtenstall.

Haslingden Corporations Horses....

There was no rush them days… I can clearly remember when the old Haslingden Cart Horse would clip clop along Blackburn Road and down Hud Hey to Carr Hall Street, where the carts and horses were kept.

It would be in the 1950s that I remember, “Owd Jord” (or was it owd jerg? ) as he was called, probably short for Jordan. He used to be in charge of the horses and drive the cart, it was a big thick wooden cart, sort of pink coloured, not unlike “pink primer” paint. I can picture “Owd Jord”, a small stocky chap who always wore a black beret, and I remember his gruff voice has he gave orders to his horse. I can remember one of the jobs I used to see them on quite regular, and that was cleaning out the roadside drains, and the contents would go in the back of the cart and later must have been emptied at the Carr Hall Street Depot.

There were definitely two horses, could well have been three and they were stabled well within the Council building itself, the horses would walk inside by a small corridor (stone floored) until they reached their stables. I think they did away with the horses in the early 1970s. 

I used to have to go through to the weighbridge clerk and you would pass the stable section, in fact now and again one of the horses would have its head sticking out of the stable door (half door), and would always welcome a quick pat has you were passing…

Also close to hand was Bert Marsden the local smithy, who had his blacksmiths at the bottom corner of the Haslingden Corporation yard in Carr Hall Street, which also cornered to the railway sidings. Bert was always on hand to sort out the Town’s horses. I spent hours down at Bert’s and he was always kept busy with horses, in fact I would have thought that he shoed most of the local farmers and other peoples horses.

Horses and horse power obviously played a major role in the earlier development of Haslingden and so here I have included a rare photo below of one of the Haslingden Corporation horses (probably from around the 1920s, and also some other photos of Haslingden businesses who again depended on horses to aide their trades. 1) taken in 1900 of Robert Berry in Bell Row, with Glovers Printworks in the rear.. 2) Walter Holland (Hollands Pies) early delivery cart, taken at the Kirk Show in Newchurch. 3) Ed Holmes with Constantine and Lindsays Cart - Ryefield Avenue.. 4) Getting ready for the Mayday Show. 5) Taylor's Butchers of Haslingden. 6) Luke Ralph - Tinsmith who had his first workplace at the Top O'th Town. 7) Richard Holmes delivery milk in Blackburn Road, Haslingden...

I also remember helping out regularly on a Saturday morning as a boy on the John Gibbons (farmer) milk cart (or float as some would call them) , of Higher Hud Hey Farm. Over the period I helped out their had been two different milkmen: Derek and then later Donald Brennan from Rawtenstall. It was great those days we would pour the milk out of big alluminium milk churns and would use measured "gill" (pronounced Jill) ladles to scoop the milk.

This is a photo postcard kindly sent in by Jim Nuttall, and shows his relation Uncle Moses Ball at the reins of the cart of W.M. Holden (Fruit and Vegetable Merchants) of Haslingden and Bury. 

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Bert Marsden the Blacksmith and the Carr Hall Street Smithy - also Bill Nelson who later took over the smithy.

Carr Hall Street Smithy - If ever a man could shod a horse - Bert' was your man!
Picture's not kind but will have to do for now until I can possibly find a photo of him

"Hassy had a man called Bert, best smithy in town,

From old school was Bert who had some shout!

You didn’t mess with him if you knew what’s about.

He stood tall, and well over six foot, with trilby on tilt,

White shirt with sleeves rolled up, and stout built,

A brown leather apron and a hammer in one hand

That was our Bert."

Fantastic! a photo of the great man himself - Bert Marsden (Blacksmith) - Click over to enlarge)
Never thought we would get one and here it is thanks to Stephen and Joan Nuttall. Joan and
her family (nee Watson) were good friends with their neighbours Bert and Beattie and it
the photo shows from L to R . Mr. Watson with his daughter Dot and Bert in the deckchair.

To Joan and her sisters he was known as Uncle Bert and was a friend of Joan's mum and dad (Arthur and Letitia Watson). Joan's family and Bert and his wife Beattie (Aunty Beattie lived next door to each other for many years (25 and 27 Park Street).

It wasn't unheard of for Joan to go out in to the back yard only to find a horse in the yard next door which Bert was dealing with.  The back yards were quite small so not much room for a big horse and a big man.

Another great photo which shows Bert and Beattie Marsden on the right hand side (Click over to enlarge)
With friends on the promenade
Photo: Kindly shared with us by Stephen and Joan Nuttall

"I that's about reet as I remember as a young lad and later on has a young teenager".

"Bert Marsden was the man", he had his place at the bottom of Carr Hall Street, just off Hud Hey. It was attached to the bottom corner of the old Haslingden Corporation Yard and you would also pass it if you had decided to walk along the old sidings with all the coal trucks being used by William Henry Shaw (Coal Merchants). Or if you had decided to cross over the railway into the old "laundry" (previously a tripe works) or you had decided to continue over to Martin Croft.

This is all thats left of Bert's and later Bill's - Smithy on Carr Hall Street (photo 2003)

He was a big burly man and I guess you would think you had probably met John Wayne in real life to see Bert - He stood tall (and I mean tall) with large trilby on a tilt, you rarely saw him without his trilby on.  He would stand there proud with his white "grandad" type low necked shirt with sleeves rolled up always on the ready. He would have his leather apron on which must have weighed a absolute "ton". and then he would have his steel hammer in one hand ready to beat "heck" out of a shoe on the old anvil. All his hammers were self made along with chisels and all sorts which he could make out of steel.  More important he made all his own horse shoes.

I used to spend hours as a child watching Bert. Even in sweltering sunshine he would have his fire going, giving it a regular quick blast of the bellows, he was never happy until the fire had a "white centre" and his shoes were like glistening pieces of gold! and just before he would "dunk" it in the nearby tubs of water.

If you knew what's good, you did not mess about with Bert, he was a man who told you straight in no uncertain terms, he never beat about the bush and said things straight to the point, he could always give far better than he got! I suppose at first you might have felt a little intimated with the roar and bigger than life posture from Bert, but once you got to know him you soon realised he was one of the "Salt of the Earth" type of chaps.

This one wasn't Bert's but it is the same type, yet his was a light green colour, the same colour thats shown here on the bottom section of the car
Even his car fitted his presence it was a really large green rover and he looked ideally suited behind the driving wheel.  I remember once or twice going along with Bert, Harry Wilky and Harry Barton to the Wrestling over in Belle Vue, Manchester and I think Mick McManus and Jackie Pallo, Steve Logan and Les Kellett were on the bill, it was a absolute scream of a night.  But getting back to tale, riding in his large Rover, was like riding in a limousine, it was so big, commanding and so comfortable.

I know for a fact Bert shod all the Corporation horses which were stabled almost next door in the corporation yard.  Also local farmers all brought their horses and all the young girls brought their ponies along to Bert to be shod.  So I don't think he did so bad for business, whenever I saw him he was always busy.

I loved to watch how he had the knack to handle and manoevre those big farm cart horses that seemed so tall I wondered how on earth they ever got through the door, but they did.  He would be out with his "shaveblade" and trim down the horses hoof so it was level and ready to accept the new shoes which were put onto the hoof shortly after they came out of the fire and still hot and after a quick dunking in water. With the noise of sizzling and a cloud of smoke "like a puffing billy", and the horrible smell of the burning shoe against the hoof! but that's the way he did it to get a snug fit for the horse, then he would take if off again and trim down more till he got it so he was happy and then nail up.  The nails where again home made and about 2 -3"in length.

When Bert packed up the smithy was left empty for some time but eventually local farmer Bill Nelson "took up the reigns".

It was interesting to read the following newspaper cutting about Bill Nelson taking up the vacant Smith job. Here below is "Bills" newspaper article:

Bill Nelson busy at the anvil

He answered Haslingden's "S.O.S." for a Blacksmith - BILL LIKES WORK, BUT NEEDS MORE OF IT.....

Bill Nelson is 21, the son of a farmer and is happy in his work.
He's a blacksmith, one of the youngest in the country.  But if things don't look up soon, the Carr Hall Street smithy, which Bill offered to run following an "S.O.S" from Haslingden Corporation to Rossendale farmers, will have to be closed - and Haslingden will be without a blacksmith again.

He doesn't want to have to do that, if it can be helped, but he told the Observer, "I'm not getting half as many horses as I need if the place is to pay for itself."
Bill had only 18 months experience behind him, plus "odd-jobbing" with horses shoes on his father's farm at Friar Hill, Baxenden, when he became "Haslingden's blacksmith" about four months ago.
But he has learned a lot about shoeing horses - and his customers appreciate it.  There may not be many horses in Haslingden, but their owners always take them to Bill's smithy when they want new shoes.  "I try to do a good job." he said with a grin "but, you know you don't need just brawn in this job.  That's not really as important as having had good experience in smithy work and in being able to make friends with horses."

NO GIANT

Bill is no giant - but he can bend a horse shoe to his requirements and wield a 15lb hammer as easily as you could, for instance, pick up an empty shopping basket. Alright." we said to Bill, "don't tell us it all comes with experiences"
Did you know that a blacksmith makes his own shoes? The iron, when he receives it, is in straight bars about a foot long but it's surprising as Bill pointed out, just what you can do with a piece of iron when its white hot.
Bill thinks he's fortunate in having a good smithy in which to work.  "This is ideal for the purpose" he said "and it's got practically all the equipment a smith needs."
Like everything else a blacksmith has to move with the times - and that means that, for heating up the fire, bellows are out.  No longer does the smith need to spend energy on blowing up the bellows - nowadays he just moves a lever and the smoke goes up the chimney via an electrically inspired draught.
Bill has a machine, too, for drilling nail holes in the shoes, so we had to admit he was right when he said that brains matter more than brawn now - even in a smithy.

MANY TYPES

There are all kinds of shoes, it seems, depending on the type of horse, and on the work it does - or does not do, according to the sort of life it leads.  Bill shoes carthorses, light working horses and ponies from other districts.  For these a special light shoe is used - some, made of aluminium, weigh only two ounces.
There are shoes with rubber bars to prevent the heavy carthorse from slipping, frost studs for wintry weather and shoes with iron bars to act as a "brake" when the horse wants to stop in a hurry.
Some of the horses that pay a five-weekly visit to his smithy are far from docile, and although they could be "gagged" with a special instrument, Bill doesn't like to do that, unless it's absolutely necessary.  So he has to resort to all kinds of ingenious tricks to keep his "patient" quiet.
One horse, brought in by two young girls, was so nervous that he just couldn't be shod - so the girls went out for a couple of two pound loaves, gave them to the placated horse - and on went the shoes, without any more trouble.  Even horses can fight shy when they go for a pair of new shoes, it seems.

TIMES CHANGE

Bill, young as he is, can remember the time when the smithy he occupies at present was shoeing more than 80 horses every week.  But times have changed; many farmers have gone over to lorries and cars and use horses only for general work.  So bill, realising that he cannot hope to get more than a few horses in Haslingden, is hoping to attract custom from other areas.  "The snag," he pointed out to us, "is that most horse owners will not walk a few miles, no matter how good the smith is, if they can get their horses shod nearer home.  Maybe you cant blame them, but it doesn't help me to make a success of this job."
And it is because he is not getting enough customers that Bill is seriously thinking of vacating the tenancy of the smithy.  At the moment, he shoes horses only by appointment, the rest of the time he helps out on the farm.
"But this job comes first" he said, "and I would gladly make it a full time job if the work was there."
And he would.  If you saw him at work in his smithy you'd know why- he likes his job.
(Thanks to Haslingden Roots and Jackie Ramsbottom for the "Bill Nelson" article

Haslingden Gas Works - Gas Street, off Grane Road.

Haslingden Gas Works was down Gas Street which was off Grane Road, down the side of the new units which used to be Frozen Foods Works and also down by the Arran Nurseries. (Please click over photo to enlarge) ...

Some Old Photos kindly sent in by Dave Rothwell

These are some really good photos sent in by Dave Rothwell. PLEASE CLICK OVER PHOTO TO ENLARGE....

1) Walking day approx 1957 near the Loose Pulley shop on Blackburn Road - the old Wesley Church spire can be seen in the background and the Lion Ales sign over the shop door. I remember this when my uncle Dick Beech ran the shop.

2) A Motorcycle Gymkhana held on the fields where Tesco now stands near the bottom of Fields Road approx 1950-1951 - You can see the rear of Fields Road in the background.

3 & 4) Are both photos of the Sports day on the Haslingden Grammar School Playing fields approx 1939.

5) Walking day again with another angle - in the background the first shop on the left corner of Townsend Street. This was owned by my Dad at this time 1958-1959. He had decided to open another premises in addition to the one next to the post office (as described in earlier correspondence). This shop was to sell just prams and nursery goods only wilst the Deardengate shop was to concentrate on house furnishings at this time. You can just make out a pram handle in the window.

He only kept this shop for a couple of years and then sold it as he found he could not staff both shops at once. Our car can be seen parked on the corner of Townsend Street. The shop is now part of the Haslingden Discount Store.

6) Children of the St. Jame's Primary School during the flower show approx 1959, showing from within the School.

7) Again children of the St. Jame's Primary School during the flower show approx 1959, this time showing from on the school Steps.

8) Walking day on Blackburn Road approx 1959, in the background you can see a shutter on the shop next but one to the corner of Townsend Street. The shop to the left of this is the Relay Vision, to the left of that is the Pet Shop and then on the far left the double frontage of Bon Marche.

The Sixties was something else!! ASTORIA, AMBULANCE HALL, BUCCANEERS, PUBLIC HALL ETC...

Yes the 60s was a great period with rock n roll (Bopping or Jiving) or one man bop! or Chubby Checker's twist. Some good nights where had especially:

Thursday night at the Haslingden Ambulance Hall (see photo below) on Lindale Avenue was a great gig run by the local St Johns Ambulance with the Late George Green,and John Barnes, Alan Durkin amongst others running the show. I can remember seeing loads of local groups there including The Warriors (Later Jon Anderson/Yes fame) and also The Lionel Morten Four (Later became chart toppers as the Four Pennies and had a number one with "Juliet".

The Ambulance Hall on Lindale Avenue (Click over to enlarge)

also at another period of time in Haslingden there was Beat Nights put on at the Haslingden Public Hall on Thursdays, organized by Frank Bell a Boxing Promoter who besides organizing this gig, also had events on at the Parr Hall, Warrington and the Stamford Hall, Warrington.

During its lifetime we saw many famous groups appear at the Public Hall,who at the time would have been in the top ten of the charts including: Manfred Man, Hermans Hermits, Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders, The Undertakers etc etc.

Haslingden Public Hall had "Beat Nights" on Thursday nights
(Click over to enlarge)

Haslingden Public Hall (interior) - (Click over to enlarge)

also in Haslingden we had the Buccaneers on Park Street in the basement of the old Haslingden Liberal Club.

Old Membership card from the Buccaneers Club
Kindly photocopied and shared to us by John (Chunky) Simpson
(Click over to enlarge)

Dances where also on the agenda at the Haslingden Youth Club, odd dance functions at the Co-op Hall on Deardengate, and at many youth clubs at various Churches.

Some Haslingden folk would travel to Accrington, to the Arts (Arcadium Ballroom - see photo below) on Knowlmere Street. I used to go every Saturday and Sunday and would regular see Jon Anderson there (Warriors and Yes) and also most weekends (Alex Hurricane Higgins) the snooker player would be there. Also there was Joe Morts (just under the bridge on Blackburn Road) run by Mary and Joe. Also there was the Majestic Ballroom on Cannon St (The Accy Con Club), here they had well known groups on Mondays and Saturdays. Also there was the Cavern Club on Milnshaw Lane, it was run by a ex Bolton Wanderers Footballer and he would get great blues acts on like John Lee Hooker and Alexis Korner and many of the Marquee Bands....

"The Arts" on Knowlemere Street, Accrington - just left off Whalley Road
after going under the railway bridge (Click over to enlarge)

They where great days and probably the place remembered most would be the Rawtenstall Astoria, where lots of folk from Haslingden would go each Saturday for the beat nights.


And here below we have the Astoria story.....

Rawtenstall Astoria Ballroom December 16th 1932 – 7th February 1966 – 34 yrs

The very popular old Rawtenstall Astoria was built originally in 1932 out of the motor car showrooms and workshops of John Myerscough and Co. The new venture was the brainchild of brothers John (snr) and Noel Myerscough. The Ballroom remained under the ownership of the Myerscough family up until its sad closure on Tuesday 7th February 1966.

The motorcar Showroom and Workshops of John Myerscough and Company which in 1932 was

converted into the "Astoria Ballroom" (Click over to enlarge)

(Photo: My thanks to John Myerscough for sharing this photo with us)

A rare old postcard again showing the pre Astoria when it was a garage
(Photo: thanks to Peter Fisher for sharing with us)

The original site dates back to 1839 when it had been the site of the Holly Mount School, a school for the very young employees of the adjacent local Cotton Mill called the Fold Mill and owned by David Whitehead and Sons.

This is a rare old photo showing the building when it was the Holly Mount School
(Click over to enlarge)

This was the original entrance to when the property was the
Holly Mount School for young employees of the nearby
David Whitehead and Sons (Click over to enlarge)

The Astoria was a very special and up market venue for its day being able to boast about the purpose made sprung dancefloor which measured approx 585 sq ft and covered in maplewood and was capable of holding a capacity of up to 800 dancers. And following on in 1959 this floor was yet again resprung with over six thousand pieces of Canadian Maple laid on steel springs – and yet again the Astoria was able to boast that it was one “of the finest sprung dance floors in England. The cost of this work in 1959 was £1000.

The Astorians from the 1930s

The Ballroom opened on December 16th 1932. The very first event held at the Astoria was the Annual Ball of the Rawtenstall British Legion, when on this occasion the then Mayor, the late Ald. John Hamer welcomed the Lancashire Cotton Queen, Miss Marjorie Knowles.Those early years supported dancing almost throughout the week with learners sessions, all Modern sessions, an Old Tyme Music Night, a 50/50 night and probably the favourite the “Popular” night which was on Saturdays. As time went this levelled out and the norm seem to settle down to a regular three nights a week activity.

The band in them early days was led by Henry Haworth with Ruth Raymond on vocals, this band was later succeeded by bandleader Alan Hargreaves, then in 1950 James Heyworth took charge and under his direction The Astorians gained national fame.

Jimmy Heyworth
Photo: Kindly shared by his son  James Heyworth

Jimmy Heyworth Orchestra
Photo: Kindly shared by his son James Heyworth

Jimmy Heyworth and His Astoria Orchestra EP

In the Late 40s and during the 50s it boomed with dancers, the Astoria hosted some of the biggest band names and star vocalist around at the time such as: Joe Loss Orchestra with vocalist Rose Brennan, Johnny Dankworth Orchestra with Cleo Laine, Eric Delaney Band, Ted Heath Orchestra, Dickie Valentine, Lita Roza, Dennis Lotis, Ray Ellington with Marion Ryan, Edmundo Ross, Ken Mackintosh, Ivy Benson and her all Girls Orchestra and the list went on…..

A newspaper cutting from 4th August 1990 reflecting on the death of Joe Loss
and a photo reminder of when he appeared at the Rawtenstall Astoria.
(Click over to enlarge)

The Jimmy Heyworth Band (Click over to enlarge)

Jimmy Heyworth and my dad Eric Newton, proudly holding the Melody Maker Cup after winning
the "All Britain contest in the 1950s
(Photo: Kindly shared by Joyce Newton Whelan)
Click over photo to enlarge

A much later re union photo of some of the members of the Jimmy Heyworth Orchestra
(Click over to enlarge)
Kindly shared to us by Pauline Emmet Dagg

Some old Postcards or photos showing the Astoria from years gone by: (Our thanks to the Bacup Times, Dave Haworth and Peter Fisher for kindly sharing their "Astoria photos" with us)

1950

1960

A photo of the Astoria from 1962

1966

Down the side of the Old Astoria leading to the Fold

By 1959 John Myerscough (jnr) came to elm, and thankfully he had the foresight to prepare for what was to become the mighty beat boom which arrived in the early 60s. During the early 60s up to and sometimes more than 600 teenagers would come to the Saturday night beatnights which featured lots of headline groups of the day like: The Animals, Kinks, The Who, Small Faces, Moody Blues, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Hollies, The Mojos, Yardbirds, The Spencer Davis Group (see poster thanks to Kieran Ridehalgh ), Maurauders, Honeycombs, Rocking Berries, Unit 4 plus 2, Sounds Incorporated, Rhythm and Blues Incorporated. Their was a cramped dressing room to the right hand side, just after coming through the main entrance where the groups would prepare themselves, before having to be escorted through the noisy crowds making their way to the stage. Cost of admission those days was anything between six shillings to 15 shillings and sixpence, levied in accordance to the status of the band playing on that evening. Besides the great headliners there was also two other groups supporting. These groups also where always of a fine quality handpicked by John Myerscough himself and would usually consist of the best bands around at the time from Lancashire including Manchester and Yorkshire - amongst them where: Wynder K. Frog, The Warriors, The Raging Storms, The Dappers, The Imps, The Swinging Hangmen, The Pagens, The Avalons, The Avengers. The Travellers (Rochdale). The star attraction groups during those explosive years of the 60s where booked into the Astoria by Agent Lewis Buckley Entertainments of Southport. Lots of Posters, Handbills and Newspaper adverts shown below

The following adverts have been kindly shared to us by Jeremy Barnfield, and most of the small flyers have been shared by Kieron Ridehalgh

I am also indebted to rock historian Steve Riley for kindly filling in the gaps with groups and others which I was missing, all of which have appeared at the Astoria on the dates shown

1963

June 8th 1963  "The Outlaws"

June 15th 1963 "Jetblacks"

June 22nd 1963 "Ketty Lester and the Mike Digby Trio"

June 29th 1963  "Terry Lightfoot and his Jazzmen"

July 6th 1963 "The Hollies"

July 13th 1963  "Jet Harris and Tony Meehan"

July 20th 1963  "Dick Charlesworth and His City Gents"

July 27th 1963  "Closed for Holidays"

August 3rd 1963  "Closed for Holidays"

August 10th 1963 "Mike Preston" "Keith Powell and the Valets" "The Lionel Morton Four"

August 17th 1963 "John Leyton with the Hi-Fi's"

August 24th 1963  "Shane Fenton and the Fentones"

August 31st 1963  "The Big Three"

September 7th 1963 "Faron's Flamingos"

September 14th 1963 "The Marauders"

September 21st 1963  "Mike Berry with the Innocents"

September 28th 1963  "The Redcaps"

October 5th 1963  "Eden Kane and the Downbeats"

October 12th 1963  "Craig Douglas" and "Brian Diamond and the Cutters"

October 19th 1963  "Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers"

October 26th 1963 "The Original Checkmates" and "The Lionel Morten Four"

November 2nd 1963  "The Fourmost"

November 9th 1963  "Shane Fenton and the Fentones"

November 16th 1963  "The Rockin Berries"

November 23rd 1963  "Duffy Power and the Prowlers" and Clay Ellis and the Landsliders"

November 30th 1963 "The Tony Meehan Combo" and "Eddie G Marten and the Sabres"

December 7th 1963  "The Swinging Blue Jeans"

December 14th 1963  "The Maurauders"

December 21st 1963  "The Hollies"

December 24th 1963  "The Four Pennies"

Boxing Day December 26th 1963  "The Dennisons"

December 28th 1963 "Freddie Starr and the Midnighters"

New Years Eve December 31st 1963 "The Four Just Men" and Eddie G Marten and the Sabres"

1964

January 4th 1964 "The Karl Denver Trio" 
with support "The Phabulous Phantoms"

January 11th 1964  "Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders"

January 18th 1964  "Pete Maclaine and the Clan"

January 25th 1964  "Dave Berry and The Cruisers"

February 1st 1964  "Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders"

February 8th 1964 "The Four Pennies 
with support "Eddie G Marten and the Sabres"

February 15th 1964  "The Big Three"

February 22nd 1964  "Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders"

February 29th 1964  "The Merseybeats"

March 7th 1964  "The Downlands"
with support "Nomads"

March 14th 1964  "The Redcaps"
with support "Dominators"

March 21st 1964  "The Tornados"
with support "Denny Seyton and the Sabres"

March 28th 1964 "The Dennisons"
with support "The Excheckers"

April 4th 1964 "The Four Pennies"
With support The Mustangs with Ricky Day"

April 11th 1964 "Chris Sandford and the Coronets"

April 18th 1964 "The Fourmost" plus
support "The Dalesmen"

April 22nd 1964 "The Four Pennies"
with support "The Cyclones"

April 25th 1964  "The Sheffields"
with supports "Mutineers" and "Chapters"

May 2nd 1964 "Johnny Kidd and The Pirates"
with support "Mr Smith and Sum People" and "Ian Dean and the Brystals"

May 9th 1964  "Brian Poole and the Tremeloes"
with support "The Dappers" and "The Cyclones"

May 16th 1964 "The Undertakers"
with supports "The Phabulous Phantoms" and "Ian Curtis and the Dominators"

May 23rd 1964 "The Brumbeats"
with support "The Mighty Avengers"

May 30th 1964 "The Merseybeats"
with supports "Pilgrims" and "The Chapters"

June 3rd 1964 "Mr Smith and Sum People"
with support "The Silhouettes"

June 6th 1964 "The Swinging Blue Jeans"
with supports "The Mustangs" and "The Dalesmen"

June 13th 1964  "The Hollies"
with supports "The Deltas" and "The Mutineers"

Saturday June 20th 1964  "The Kinks"
with supports "The Warriors" "The Electones"

Saturday June 27th "The Four Pennies"
plus supports "The Pilgrims" and "The Dawnbreakers"

Saturday July 4th 1964 "The Pretty Things"
plus supports "Mustangs" and Chapters"

Saturday July 11th 1964 "The Warriors"
plus supports "Mr Smith and Sum People" plus "The Dappers"

Saturday July 18th 1964 "The Mojos"
plus supports "The Beatmakers" and "Ian Dean and the Brystals"

July 25th 1964 Closed for Holidays

August 1st 1964 Closed for Holidays

Saturday August 8th 1964 "The Animals"
with supports "Stirlings" "Steve and the Suspects"

Saturday August 15th 1964 "The Escorts"
plus supporting "Silhouettes" and "Mutineers"

Saturday August 22nd 1964  "The Zombies"
with supports "Kris Ryan and the Questions" and "Mustangs"

Saturday August 29th 1964 "The Paramounts"
plus supports "Pilgrims" and Ian Dean and the Brystals"

Saturday September 5th 1964  "Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders"
plus supports "Elders" and "Fourways

Saturday September 12th 1964  "The Honeycombs"
plus supports "The Electones" "Dawnbreakers"

Saturday September 19th 1964  "David John and the Mood"
with supports: "The Beat Boys" and "The Vincents".

Saturday September 26th 1964  "The Long and The Short"
plus supports "Mustangs" and "Mutineers"

Saturday October 3rd 1964  "The Kinks"
plus supports "Ian Dean and the Brystals" and "Curts Creatures"

Saturday October 10th 1964 "Kris Ryan and The Questions"
plus supports "Vicki and the Kordettes" and "Footsteps"

Saturday October 17th 1964 "John Lee Hooker" and "The Groundhogs"
plus supporting "The Dappers" and "The Stirlings"

Saturday October 24th 1964  "The Wackers"
plus supporting "The Pilgrims" and "Flames"

Saturday October 31st 1964  "The Poets"
plus supports "Deltas" and "Blues by Four"

Saturday November 7th 1964 "The Takers",
plus supports "The Peddlers" "The Mustangs"

Saturday November 14th 1964  "The Rocking Vicars"
plus supports "Dawnbreakers" and "Fourways"

Saturday November 21st 1964 "Sounds Incorporated"
plus supports "Mutineers" and "Electones"

Saturday November 28th 1964 "Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders"
plus supports "Beatmakers" and "Dean Antony and the Meteors"

Saturday December 5th 1964  "The Soul Agents"
plus supports "Mustangs, Curts Creatures

Saturday December 12th 1964 "The Rockin Berries"
plus supports "Ian Dean and the Brystals" and "The Pagans"

Saturday December 19th 1964  "Dave Berry and the Cruisers"
with supports "The Dappers" and "The Atoms".

Christmas Eve Thursday December 24th 1964 "The Four Pennies"
with supports "The Mustangs" and "The Fourways".

Boxing Day Saturday December 26th 1964  "The Warriors"
with supports "The Mutineers, "The Vincents"

New Years Eve Thursday December 31st 1964 "The Moody Blues" 
plus supports "Deltas", "Footsteps" and "Flames"

1965

Yardbirds (features Eric Clapton)

Spencer Davis Group

Photo: Them (features Van Morrison)

Photo: The Pretty Things

Saturday February 20th "Rhythm and Blues Incorporated"

plus supports: "Mr Smith and Sum People" and "The Tremmers"

Photo: "The Beat Merchants"

Photo: The Nashville Teens

This is the true poster used for the "Zombies" appearance

This is a copy of the original poster for "The Who"
who appeared at the Astoria on May 22nd 1965.

Saturday July 3rd 1965 "Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders"

plus supports "Electones" and "Tom's Rigg"

Saturday July 10th 1965 "The Birds"

plus supports "Mr Smith and Sum People" and "Pilgrims"

Saturday July 17th 1965 "The Hollies"

plus supports "Beatmakers" and "The Invictas"

Saturday July 24th 1965  Closed for holidays

Saturday July 31st 1965 Closed for holidays

Saturday August 7th 1965 "The Walker Brothers"

plus supports "The Avalons" and "Gideons Ways"

Saturday October 16th 1965 "Pretty Things"

plus supports "Mustangs" and "Saracens"

Saturday October 23rd 1965 "David John and the Mood"

plus supports "The Nevadas" and "The Black Arrows"

Saturday October 30th 1965 "Alan Price Set"

plus supports "Pilgrims"

Saturday November 6th 1965 "Hedgehoppers Anonymous"

plus supports "Electones", "Sounds 5"

Saturday December 4th 1965 "Clayton Squares"
plus supports "The Mutineers" and "Reflections"

Christmas Eve Saturday December 24th 1965 "Wayne Fontana and the Lads"
plus supports "Ian Dean with Mondo Kane" and "The Mustangs"

Christmas Day Sunday December 25th 1965 "Mike Sax and the Idols"
plus support "Sidewalkers"

December 27th 1965 "The Four Pennies"
plus supports "Wynder K. Frog" "The Habit"

New Years Eve December 31st 1965 "Tony Jackson and the Vibrations"
plus supports "Toms Rigg" "Electones" "The Exceptions"


New Years Day 1st January 1966 "Toggery Five"
supported with "Outer Limits" and "Baskerville Hounds"

This is a true copy of the original poster used for the Measles concert on Jan 8th 1966

Saturday 15th January 1966 featured "Fontella Bass with Just 5"

and supported by "The Rogues" and the "Seatroots"

Saturday 22nd January 1966 featured "Spencer Davis Group"

and supported by "Estelles" and the "Eddie G. Martin Combo".

This is a replica showing the very last dance at the Astoria,
which featured The Clayton Squares with support of Mike Hurst
with the Trekkers and the Firing Squad. (1966)

"Ironical or what "THE FIRING SQUAD"

The sad closure of the Astoria and the protest etc:

Thanks to Rawtenstall Library for providing scan of newspaper cutting

Thanks to Rawtenstall Library for providing scan of newspaper cutting

This photo shows the building being offered for sale (Click over to enlarge)
Thanks to Peter Fisher for kindly sharing this photo with us

And when John Myerscough finally closed the doors in 1966, he moved to Southport and took over that very Agency (Lewis Buckley Entertainments) himself.


Lovely emails received in regards to the Astoria:

Mail added 
February 2009, which was kindly received from Joyce Whelan (Nee Newton) with some notes about the Band especially about her dad who was the saxaphone player and whom had also been responsible for most of the musical arrangements of the band:-

I have just enjoyed looking at the Astoria ballroom newspaper cuttings, in particular the Jimmy Heyworth articles, I was just a child in those days but my father Mr Eric Newton was a saxaphone player in the Jimmy Heyworth band during the fifties and sixties, he also did a lot of the arrangements for the band and I have seen photos of the band winning the melody maker cup, also photos of my dad taken with John Dankworth, Ted Heath etc. It is even more nostalgic to me and my family as my father died on January 14th of this year (2009), after a short illness. He was 87yrs old when he died, but he remembered the happy days of the band at the Astoria and often talked about the people and the music. I do vaguely remember going to the Old Astoria as a child, but my memories are mainly with the new building, especially a couple of re unions the band did in the eighties for charity. My brothers and I have copies of the Decca record that the band won the championship with, of course this record is very precious to us, as my dad is mentioned for the arrangements.Thank you for printing the cuttings on your page, it has been a lovely trip down memory lane for myself and my family. Regards. Joyce Whelan (nee Newton).



Mail added 18th February 2009 kindly received from James Heyworth:

Dear Bryan,

I am James Heyworth son of Jimmy Heyworth and Margaret ( nee Myerscough)

I just wanted to send you a note to say how appreciative I am for your feature of the blog on the Astoria which I discovered on the internet. Dad died in 1994 and Mum died in 2006. Her brother John Myerscough is still alive and lives in Ainsdale Southport. I have many fond childhood memories of the old Astoria and your blog enabled me to show my children nephews and nieces what the old Astoria was like.
I am currently researching the Myerscough Family tree and have got back to the 17th Century. They hail from Kirkham and were blacksmiths, John Robert arrived in the Rossendale valley as a blacksmith journey man and as you probably know set up one of the first motor car sale rooms in the country selling Chryslers. The show room was converted to the Ball room.
Thank you very much for your photographs
Regards
James Heyworth

Mail added: 18th March 2009 from John Myerscough:
Dear bee jay,
I much appreciated your article about the Old Astoria in Rawtenstall. I have been passing some of my memories on to James Heyworth (son of the famous band leader) and he is planning to send some of it on to you.
I am John Roy Myerscough, son of John Myerscough and grandson of John Robert Myerscough, the blacksmith who became a motor dealer in quite a big way. I was running the ballroom for quite a time, and booking the groups who appeared. I now live in Ainsdale. Anyone who would like to contact me can do so at john-myerscough@uk2.net.
Keep up the good work, and I may try to add more info later.
Regards,
John Myerscough.


The photo below shows the great floods of the early 60s, and just shows the Astoria with their billboard advertising the Mojo's..- please click over photo to enlarge. (Thanks to Dave Haworth (Goodshawlad) for the photo).





John Myerscough "remembers that day well. A Saturday, heavy rain, and water overflowed from the river and poured down the road at the side of the Astoria called The Fold. It started to come into the basement, where the boiler room and the gents cloakroom and toilets were. It came in through a manhole, which must have originally been for the delivery of coke, and in later times was used for delivery of heating oil. It must have got to 12 or 18 inches deep in the basement during that afternoon. Eventually it subsided, and we tackled the clean-up operation to be ready for the dance in the evening. Amazingly, a member of the public came downstairs and offered to help us with the clean up. I can't now recall who else was there helping.
Anyway, we were able to open for the dance - I see from the poster outside that it was The Mojos appearing, though I would have said Unit 4 + 2, but my memory must be wrong".

Showing the Astoria in 1967 after demolition

All gone now! and this below is a more recent photo showing the Old Fold Garden on the actual Astoria Ballroom site and also a plaque to commemorate.......