Tommy Sowter's loaf - A Wartime tale of Newton

This was a post from 2013, I'm using it again today as it came up in conversation today when I was asked if I'd ever found out anymore about it. I hadn't which is a shame but by showing it again today it might jog a memory of two.. hope so!

We just had to post this great local story from Newton in the war years, sent in by Jacqueline and Colin Ridgway !!

"Reading Roger V Chapman’s interesting memories of his boyhood in Hyde during WW2 reminded us of an aftermath of a Bombing Raid in Newton. The large ICI works in Talbot Road which produced leather-cloth known as “Rexine” in peacetime, was switched to Munitions during WW2. As a result it became a target for the Luftwaffe, and Bombers regularly flew over Hyde on raids. They would locate the Reservoir near the Werneth Pub in Gee Cross then aim for the Reservoir at Godley which put them on the Flight Path to the ICI Works.

The factory walls were heavily camouflaged as was the roof and must have been difficult for the German aircrews to spot from the air, although several “drops” of incendiary bombs had fallen on the works and hit houses opposite the Clarence Hotel on Talbot Road.

On one such raid a German bomber was hit by a Hurricane plane, possibly from RAF Calveley, and flew in over Newton very low and on fire. It came down in the fields behind St. Mary’s Church and the crew luckily escaped. My Husband Colin Ridgway and his friends (all very young), were playing football nearby and saw the Germans run into the wood near Saville’s Farm.

The boys ran home to get their toy guns in order to capture the airmen and on the way to the wood they were met by a friend Tommy Sowter who had been queuing at the bread shop for his Mother’s ration and had a loaf of bread in a bag, he joined them and they went into the wood only to be confronted by the Germans! Toy guns not being a Sitha, bravery soon evaporated and the boys fled, but not before a German had pinched Tommy’s loaf off him.

Er' Sithe, wurs ma bleedin loaf

In the flight the boys ran into Constable Jackson and the Newton “Dads Army” who were on their way to search for the downed Airmen. The boys told them where the Germans were and ran back home and safety. The airmen were soon apprehended and marched off down Talbot Road. A large crowd of Mothers had assembled near the Post office and as the column passed by much hissing and catcalling took place; by the women against the Germans as their husbands were away fighting in the war. However, one mother was more concerned in giving her errant son Tommy a “good hiding” for letting the Germans steal their loaf. Nothing for Tea tonight!!

Many Thanks for sending this in to us, Jacqueline and Colin !

It's always great hearing such stories. :)

George and Dragon 1953

Thanks once again to 'Tony Downend' for these pictures his father took many moons ago. 

They are from 1953, taken in the George and Dragon, Bennet Street, Newton. They show the Landlord, Albert Cropper, and his Landlady Alison, with a few of the then regulars and the 'Card School'. Fantastic pictures capturing the era perfectly.

I imagine the brass hand pumps would shine like gold. 

Beautiful bit of woodwork on the bar surround. 

Notice the meat pies on the bar covered with a tea towel..

Shiny classes polished to perfection

Would love to put names to these chaps.

Few prices from 1953 & 2015

British sirloin beef (without the bone) £0. 2s.11d = £3.75

British beef brisket (with bone) £0.1s. 6d = £1.93 

• Mutton leg (British) £0. 3s 1d = £3.32
• Pork, leg (foot off), Home killed £0. 3s 1d = £3.32
• Ham, cooked and sliced £0. 6s 2d = £8.25
• Bacon, streaky £0. 2s 6d = £ 2.79
• Fresh cod cuts £0 1s 6d = £ 1.71
• White loaf unwrapped £0. 0s  3d = £0.32
• Loose tea (125g) £0. 0. 7d = £0.75
  Sugar granulated £0. 0. 7d = £0.75
• Pint of milk £0. 0. 3d = £0.32
• Butter £0. 0. 9d = £0.96
• Cheddar cheese £0. 2s. 0d = £2.57
• Margarine £0. 0. 8d = £0.86
• Lard £0. 0s 9d = £0.96
• Eggs (size 4) £0. 2s 4d = £3.00
• Potatoes £0. 0s 2d = £0.21
• Green cabbage £0. 0s 3d = £0.32
• Onions £0. 0s 4d = £0.43
• Eating apples £0. 0s 11d = £1.18
• Oranges £0. 0s 9d = £0.96
• Cocoa £0. 3s 9d = £4.18
• Pint of beer £0. 0. 9d = £0.96
• Coal (50kg) £0. 2s 3d = £2.89
• Electricity (per KWH) £0. 0. 1d = £0.11
• Gas per therm £0. 0s 8d = £0.86
• Soap (per lb) £0 0s 10p = £1.07
• 20 cigarettes £0 0s 18d = £1.93

Unapealing Ring O` Bells

I was contacted by Dave Lambert yesterday and thought it worth sharing his picture and his message as I'm sure others will find what Dave is doing of interest.. 

I am currently putting together a gallery of closed pubs in the North West of England and photographed the above pub this morning to add to my records. Please feel free to use the photograph if you wish and you can also visit my record of photographs of closed pubs on Flickr using this link:-       Dave's Closed Pubs                                                         
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Samuel Oldham 'White Gates Landlord' Information please

Recently in our emails was a request for information concerning Samuel Oldham, one time Landlord of The White Gates public house.

Over to Andrea:
    I came across your blog today and I thought you might be interested in this photo.  It is my grandfather, Samuel Oldham, standing in front of the White Gates Inn.  He was the licensee or victualler at the time.  I'm not sure when the photo was taken and this scanned version is a little difficult to see details but I have always loved this photo

My grandmother told me The White Gates was in the family for several generations until it was eventually sold.  My father lived above the pub when he was a boy.  I have just started doing a genealogical search of my father's family and that is how I came across your blog.  Maybe someone reading your blog will recognize him or his name.  my grandmother's name is Hannah Chapel.  She was born and raised in Hyde as well.  Born in 1900.  I know that both my grandparents had many relatives in Hyde.  Maybe there are still some living there.  I hope to visit there some day.  I live in Dallas, Texas.

Lowry's Nightclub ..... Revisited.

I recently received an email from John Bennet, the name was familiar to me  but at first I could not put a face to it.... as soon as I started to read the email I taken back 30-plus years to my time as a doorman at Lowry's Nightclub Grafton Street Hyde. 

Lowry's From Clarendon Road

Over to John ...

Hello,

I've just spent many hours reading through your web page on Hyde and Newton. Yours is a fabulously informative site.

 I was even more amazed to find a section on "Lowry's" nightclub, Hyde, in the years I was the club's resident DJ-1979-1980. I am now wondering if the writer of the Lowry's piece, along with the editor of the website, would like some bits and pieces to do with the club, for future insertion.

I chat to Carol, once wife of Alan, and her sister, Lynn a lot and we share great memories on Facebook.

Perhaps you could mention me on site, Lowry's was one of the happiest, funniest and brilliant places to work!!"

Best wishes

John Bennett

sloopjohnrb Radio Caroline North

Lowry's Notepaper with attached 'Radio Caroline Night' ticket 

Lowry's Monday 60s Night Ticket ... Legendary

Advert for Radio Caroline night

Lowry's Very Own Rocking Gran

Thank you John for this trip down memory lane... I'm sure there will be many who recall you and the Monday nights music... I'd forgot all about Rocking Gran.... Lowry's does pop up a lot on Facebook.... and apart from the stickiness of the carpet,  it is recalled with fondness by many.

Lowry's helped other businesses to do well, The likes of The Albion, Jolly Carter, The Queens Hotel, Cheshire Cheese, The Clarendon,  Church Inn, The Crown, Ring 'O' Bells, The Clarks, The Lamb, The Werneth, The Railway, The Ten Houses, The Hallbottom, The Bay Horse, Cheshire Cheese Newton, The Junction, The Ducki Arms... The Four In Hand, The New Inn,  even The Kings Head from Denton all had groups arriving in Tameside Taxi's.. I'm sure many more pubs benefited as well. All the local takeaways and Restaurants did well and started to stay open later. As mentioned Tameside Taxi's did very well.... most night the carpark was like a rank with taxi's dropping off or parked up awaiting a fair. I myself got to know so many of the drivers at this time.... some I am happy to see still behind the wheel... but each of them that worked Hyde rank tell me the same.... Hyde at that time was where the money was. All because one Alan Greenwood (R.I.P.) had the idea of nightclub in Hyde centre.    

White Hart Football Team

Today's post is by Cliff Ball and is in memory of his uncle George who sadly passed away last year (2012)

This photograph is of the White Hart Football Team with the Reporter Cup

Taken in the late sixties

Back Row
Irvin Swindells – ? – Kevin Swindells – Eric Gregory – ? – Cliff Ball – Brian Parkes – ? – Alf White – Terry Hadfield

Front Row
Graham Chadwick – Lawrence Brady – George Ball – Eric Swindells – ?

Cliff Ball

Blenkinsops Farm

On Wednesday I posted a few of my own pictures taken around Matley,  Barry Lewis who now lives in Australia remembers this area from his youth and left a comment on the post. Barry as been a great source of information and has supplied us with many pictures since this blog was in it's infancy, we are very grateful for his continued support. Barry sent the pictures in which inspired today's post.

Barry remembers this as being called  Blenkinsops Farm, I thought I could just had a cutting from an old map and the post would be sorted, but somehow one thing led to another and the post grew.

If you look on the 1840 Tithe Map below at the plots 284, 285,and 286 buildings are clearly marked, and interestingly on Plot 286 is a Pottery.

Below Plot 286 Information

James Ollerenshaw is shown as owner and occupier of land known as Taylor Field and the Pottery Buildings

Below Plot 285 Information
James Ollerenshaw is shown as owner and occupier of 2 houses and 3 gardens



Below Plot 284 Information
James Ollerenshaw is shown as owner and occupier of house,garden and lane

I have not been able to find any information about the Pottery, so if you can add anything that would be great. It seems that James Ollerenshaw had a number of plots in that area, Plot 295 is called Clay Field which made me wonder if this was where the potter got his Clay from. The use of this field in 1840 at the time James Ollerenshaw owned it was used as a pasture. I noticed on Plot 286 where the pottery is shown that is was called Taylor Field and was being used as a meadow. I don't know if James Ollerenshaw was the Potter, or if maybe someone called Taylor who the field is named after.  

The above Ordnance Survey map of 1910 now shows a building called Pothouses, and the farm is shown as Matley Lane Farm. The Rising Moon now appears but it was not on the 1875 map, but there was a well there then.

I think the building on the right is now called Pot House Cottage, but as for the farm building I'm not sure. As can be seen above it is now an Equestrian Centre. If you own either of these properties and would like to add to this post please get in touch. 

I'm going to have a Virtual Pint  now with Barry as a way of thanking him for today's post, I think we will use the old pub as the prices will be more suitable for our pockets.

Updated

01/10/2013

We have been contacted by Arthur Heywood the Gr. Gr. Grandson of the above mentioned Pot-Maker James Ollerenshaw, Arthur as sent in two scans and has this to say:

"Regarding your article about James Ollerenshaw, he was my great great Grand father, I enclose a copy of the 1841 Census with his brother`s on as pot Makers, and the 1851 Census which is damaged but shows his name, and farmer and as you can see the address as Pot Houses."

Thank you Arthur

Day Trip From The Navvy

Pub Outing

Bill Lancashire sent in this fantastic picture of a morning drive his father went on..

Bill writes: "I assume this is a morning drive from the Navigation Hotel (which is now the Cheshire Ring of course). He is seated on the second from the front row, third in from the left and looking at him (in what I think is his demob suit) and the other people on the picture I would guess that it is late forties or very early fifties. Sitting on my Dad's left is his friend Johnny Brown who worked with him at Watkin's Glove works.  Johnny had been a POW for several years.  My uncle, Bert Parkinson, who was the landlord of the 'Navvy', is the man with the smart suit and white handkerchief in his breast pocket seated three to my Dad's left.  There are certainly some characters on the photograph and some of the other names I can recall are Ralph Wright, Jess Wrigley, Billy Binns, and the dog's name was Micky.  I particularly like the look of the little man wearing the beret sitting on my Dad's right."

Thank's Bill I hope the enlargements are ok!

Haughton Street

Today's picture of Haughton Street came by email from Andrea, this is what she wrote.

"I came across this picture while visiting my dad in Wales recently. My younger brother Andrew is on the front of the 'bogey' being guided by Pat Kelly. The picture was taken on Haughton Street, you can see the Bush Inn on the corner and Kay's sweet shop opposite. I think the white building next to Kay's was the Cheshire Laundry company. I am not sure who else is in the picture.  Happy days."

TThank you Andrea, this is just the kind of picture I like to find in our emails... social history at its best, friends playing out in the street with a bogie... shops in the background, the Bush Inn to the right and just look at that van from Beanstalks... 

This must be very early 1970s looking at how Pat is dressed and his haircut. I've known Pat from around the time this picture seems to have been taken. When I worked on the door at Lowry's in the 80s Pat once turned up at the door but could not get in because he was wearing a v-neck jumper... it was a time when the lads had to wear a collar to get in, I told him to come back with a collar on and he could come in... a while after he came back with a red patterned shirt collar showing.. he was let in . As he was walking past I noticed it was not a patterned shirt at all, Pat had left the door and cut through the bus station to the Sylet Indian Restaurant, he went in and grabbed a few of their serviettes.. Red with their logo on... He'd folded them in a way to make them look like a shirt collar... I'm happy to say it paid off... and in a week a two the wearing a collar rule was rightly abandoned.

  

Plans for a 'Bogie'

I used an urban dictionary to check the correct spelling of the above and found out the other Bogey is described thus "A dried and usually tasty snack to be found in ones nasal passage." 

The Mitre

The Mitre Public House was a relatively short lived beerhouse which opened around 1880 and closed down in 1911. It was situated on the corner of Crook Street and Reynold Street' opposite the old Bricklayers Arms.
The first Landlord was Thomas Kershaw and the last was Herbert Knowles.

The Mitre premises in the 1980's 

Many thanks to Paul Taylor for the photo and information. :)

Room with a view.

Here is a photo looking down Stockport Road , taken from the Werneth pub balcony .
Another pub seems destined to bite the dust looking at the for sale sign . Sad times.

Ring O' Bells

Here are two pictures of the Ring O' Bells pub, past and present.

The first shot is around 1910, the second, 2012.

Werneth Low and surrounding area.

Today we have a couple of photos that were sent in to us by Dave Hamilton.

Many Thanks, Dave :)


Werneth Low 1990's


The Hare and Hounds 1990's
In the foreground you can see the brown roof of the Louvolite boxing club that stood behind Hyde Baths on Union Street, in the middle is the  James North Douglas Street Building seen from Nelson Street side and behind that to the right is the back of the main James North (Slack Mills) building as it would have appeared from Queen Street..

If anyone else has any photos they would like to share please send them to us at hydonian@gmail.com with a brief description, date and your name (if wanted).
Many thanks !!

Another sad day !

Below is the latest Hyde pub casualty.
Sadly, the Ring 'o' Bells on Stockport Road has pulled its last pint.
There will be no pubs left in Hyde at this rate !

Postcard from quieter times.

Here is a postcard sent to us by Elsie D.

It shows where Market Street meets Stockport Road. The Ring 'o' Bells pub is on the left and the old Zion chapel in the mist on the middle right.
Four out of the Five shops shown are still with us in some shape or form !

Note the distinct lack of vehicles on the road !!


Postcard view circa 1910


The view as it looks today, courtesy of Google maps..

Many thanks,  Elsie
Much appreciated.  :)

Queen Adelaide,Gee Cross.

 The following picture and email  are courtesy of Bill Lancashire....

 

"Here's a photograph I found amongst a pile of old family pictures.

Don't know the date but would guess late thirties or forties.  Most of the men are dressed in their Sunday best with collar and tie, suit and 'weskit'.  A couple of the men have their shirt collars on the outside of their jackets, while a couple appear to be wearing their 'union' shirt with no collar.  They are all wearing a buttonhole though - I wonder if they are roses and whether the occasion is a St George's Day outing.

I couldn't work out what the family connection was, but having enlarged the picture I think I've spotted my old Granddad Glithero on the back row, second from the left, and maybe my uncle, Bert Parkinson who was landlord of the Navigation, third from the right on the back row.

But who else can readers recognise?

Regards

Bill"

Many thanks, Bill !
My husbands Great Aunt used to be the Landlady of the Queen Adelaide. I think it was in the 1950's. I'll try to find photo of her at the pub !

"Didn't we have a lovely time..."

A day out for the Bowlers from the George and Dragon pub, Newton.
Sometime in the 1950s.

I'm not sure where they are but I'm sure someone may recognise a couple of them.







These 3 photos were sent to us by Colin Critchlow - Many Thanks, Colin !