Redferns Rubber Works

Sorry about not posting yesterday, and being late with it today, I have had problems with the PC and my Printer, then yesterday my grandson was taken into hospital... He's home now and all seems well. Sometimes things pop up and they have to take precedence over anything else. 

Redfern's Rubber Works and environs 

I will hopefully be showing more of this area tomorrow, so please call back and view the superb aerial views from Britain From Above. www.britainfromabove.org.uk  

Queen Street - Before and After

The two photos below show the same view of Queen Street about 20 years apart.

How different it is now compared with when James North factory stood there.... Looks much nicer and cleaner now but I loved the factory as I grew up playing round there when I stayed at my Nans house. The shadow of my Nans house can be seen on the top photo.

 The old Queen Street view


This part of Queen Street had its name changed to become a continuation of Douglas Street.

Thanks to Dave and Beryl for the top photo.

Much appreciated. :)

Aerial map of James North and area

We received this message and photo from Brian H  via email today

Over to Brian...

"I have just come across this photo which may be of interest.

 In the early 1990's a guy spent a couple of days flying around in a light aircraft taking aerial photos of the town

We bought this picture from him and put it in a 'safe place' ,so safe in fact, we forgot that we had it. What a pleasure it was to find it again earlier today. 

Of particular interest are Bell's on Dowson Rd and, of course, the James North premises.

Hope you like it... keep up the good work with the website..."

Thumbnail for bigger view !

Many thanks for the great photo, Brian !  :)

Nelson and Queen Street views

Playing Out

Here a great picture sent in by my good friend Gianni (Jon) Zazzarino riding his bike on Nelson Street. Over his shoulder can be seen a gable end which is at the top of Travis Street.

Here he is again, this time on Queen Street near to the James North Factory. Note the walkway from one part of the factory to the other.
I can remember when I, too, had knees like that.

Still on Queen Street, but across the road now, and more of the Norths Factory can be seen. Jon tells me this bike could well have been bought from Oldham's on the corner of Nelson Street and Market Street. 

Air Raid Shelters.

We recently received this email from David Mills who is looking for any information or photographs of air raid shelters around Hyde.

If anyone has any info, please contact us :)

Over to David,

"Hi There,

I now find myself checking the Hydonian blog everyday as it brings back so many memories to me and the site/content is excellent.

I was wondering if you had managed to find anything on Air Raid shelters in Hyde, as these  intrigued me as a kid in the late sixties/early seventies.  I remember there being two or three at the back of the scout hut on Dukinfield Road and also one in the woods (we used to call Jackson Woods/blue dye woods) between Flowery Field House and Dukinfield Road.  I heard there was one in Hyde park/woods, but we never found this.

I expect these Air Raid shelters were provided by Ashton Brothers for their workers, but there must have been lots of Air Raid shelters and I was wondering if any still exist or if there was an inventory in existence?

Going through your blog, and the topics, you just can't believe what has happened to Hyde and what's been taken away, particularly the motorway and the houses and shops that went.

I am sorry, I don't have any photos, but I am sure somebody has! "

Here are a few photo's courtesy of John Hopwood.


Queen Street Air raid shelters located next to (and under?) the James North Bowling Green.

Many thanks, John :)

Demolition of Queen Street,

Here is a photo that is quite dear to my heart as my Nan lived on Queen Street.

I spent most of my childhood playing around this area.
She lived in one of the three houses that were attached to Norths Yard at the Lumb Road end of Queen Street.( The far left of the photo)





A similar view, looking down what was Queen Street and is now home to Greenfield Primary School.

Courtesy of Google maps.

James North Clock

Here are two photos of "Norths Clock" which now stands at the roundabout next to the Ring 'o' Bells public house. It used to be within the confines of James North Factory before its demolition to make way for a housing estate circa 1998.


Where it used to stand.


Where it stands now.


The plaque on James Drive.

   

A map showing the location of the roundabout where James North Clock stands.  

Thanks to Dave for the first photo :)

Disappeared Mills

James North Factory formerly Slack Mill.
Now demolished.
The photo is taken from the top of Bradbury Street.



Photo supplied by Dave.

An Aerial view 4

This Aerial shot shows St Georges Church which is overlooking the municipal rubbish tip that used to be here. If any child ever wanted a bike, they could be found here scavenging for wheels and frames which they would then take home and make up their own style of bike. Mothers everywhere had heart failure as non of the Home-made bikes possessed any form of brakes! Harndens can be seen middle of the photo ,complete with chimney! Top left to middle is the "Rec" which was a green oasis in the middle of much industry, Queen Street and Slack Mills or James Norths as it was later known. Next to James Norths coming further right you can make out Redferns Rubber Works. The Railway lines off Osborne Road , now the "Pennine Trail" can be seen top right.

The James North Company

James North started life as a family business. It began as a chamois leather firm in Colne in 1868 but moved to Hyde in 1876. The first place they operated from in Hyde was a disused stable in Robert Street but soon expansion into the glove making industry meant they needed bigger premises and they moved to Godley Mills.



James Norths' Bottom Street works during the Hyde Flood.

Heavy flooding caused extensive damage in 1900 and 1906 - in the latter year a large part of Godley Mills was destroyed. But the firm fought back from these, several fires and the 1930s depression, to become a highly successful multi-national safety apparatus and clothing manufacturer, patenting the PVC glove in 1947.


James Norths at the Market Street Premises just before demolition.

James Norths were commissioned to make gauntlet gloves for Sir Ernest Shackleton's great Antarctic expedition.
(With thanks to the M.E.N.)

There is too much to write about James North in one post so this is just a short history. Look out for more photos in the future.