Your Letters

Dear Mr Boardman

My name is David North and I live in Preston Lancashire. My wife found your Longsight website while researching family history and as I lived in Longsight for a while she suggested I look at it. I did so and found it vary interesting. You said that you have not received much information about certain parts of Longsight so I thought I would write to you. I was only 12 when I moved away from Longsight in 1963 so my memories are a little fuzzy to say the least. However, you may find the following of some use so here goes.

I lived at number 46 Slade Grove Longsight which as you probably know is off Slade Lane. Number 46 was the last house before the junction with Hamilton Road and I lived there for about 10 years. The house was a large 3 bedroomed end terrace house with a large cellar. Our next door neighbours were Mr and Mrs Powell and I used to play with their son Dennis. Just up the street at number 36 lived Mr and Mrs Wood who had 2 daughters, Linda and Janice. My sister Susan and I often played with Linda and Janice and our parents became good friends although we have long since lost touch.

I attended St. Agnes Primary School on Hamilton Road but I am afraid that I cannot remember any of the names of my teachers. I remember going to St Agnes church many times and the vicar at that time was called Mr Whittaker, a very nice man. I took part in the Whit walks on a couple of occasions and there are some photographs of those events lurking somewhere but I am not sure where. I also took part in the School May Queen ceremony on at least 2 occasions and my Mam was very proud when I was selected to dance around the May Pole. Again there are pictures somewhere but I am afraid I don't know where.

At the corner of Slade Grove and Hamilton Road, there use to be a Fish and Chip shop which was run by a man who I think was called Mr Pugh. It was a regular Saturday lunchtime treat to go to the chip shop for some chips and a bottle of Tizer or some other fizzy drink. On the opposite side of Slade Grove was a shop which was a "Co-op" and I well remember going on there with my Mam to buy various things. My Mam would always give her co-op number so that she could collect her "divi". I have a vague recollection of a supermarket opening in Longsight while I lived there. If my memory is correct, it was on Stockport road not far from the junction with Slade Lane. I think it was called Lennons and it was the first shop of its kind that I had seen. I also remember Ashworth's butchers on Stockport Road and a tobacconist who had a "penny tray" which as the name implies, contained various types of sweets all of which cost a penny.

On Slade Lane, just past the junction with Slade Grove, I think that there was a Billiard and Snooker Hall. I was not allowed to go in there because at that time, snooker was still the sign of a misspent youth. Looking back it seems a pity, if I had gone in the Hall and practiced I might have made as much money as Steve Davis although judging by my skill (or lack of it!) at snooker now, I doubt it. I well remember my Mam taking me and my sister to Crowcroft Park during school holidays. That seemed really exciting at the time and the park always seemed so big as did the railway bridge over Stockport Road.

We always seemed happy in Longsight but My sister became ill in 1959 and sadly died in 1961. As you would expect, this affected My Parents quite badly and they decided that they did not want to remain in the house because it held so many sad memories. As a result, we moved from Longsight to Reddish in 1963. My Dad still lives in the same house in Reddish although my Mam died 4 years ago. I married in 1972 and lived in the Manchester/Stockport area until 1986 when I moved to Preston with my job.

I have some happy although vague memories of living in Longsight and I hope you find the above of some use and interest. Good luck with your web site.

David North

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G'day David

Just a quick note to say how impressed I was with your website about Longsight. I'm originally from Dublin and was told about your site by a friend of mine originally from Manchester. Although I've never been to Manchester in my life I can see a lot of similarities with the area in which I lived for the first 23 years of my life in Dublin. Many thanks again for bringing back the memories and your website now occupies a place on my bookmark list.

Best regards
Tom Bruen

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First of all congratulations on a first class web site..I am located in Burnaby ,British Columbia,and am amazed at the attention to detail you have attained on this web site..Thank you for being a proffessional and the joy you give to old longsightonians.

I am paticularly interested in the southwest corner of longsight as thats where I grew up and loved my time there.

My family moved there to Beresford road (155) in 1949..There were 5 kids in our family at that time 2 were born later when we moved to Stockport in 1959. We were the last house to rent from the Turnbull family who had built most of the houses in Turnbull road and Reynell road..Mr Turnbull asked my dad to buy it from him in 1952 which he did with a Halifax mortgage. Our house was in the middle of a terrace called Derbyshire terrace 1904. most of the houses were built of Derbyshire brick which is still looking good to this day. I went to St.Agnes school until 1954 and then to Birchfields Secondary modern school. St, Agnes was a good school,the teachers were dedicated proffessionals . Thier goal in life was to further the pupils into as much as they were capable of and some more..They spoke of pride of how many children from that school went to grammar school etc. Music was very important , if you could not sing you were a growler, you were also expected to read and sing music as though you were an expert. I was taught to write in old english script and I still do today especially when I write to customers in Canada ,I get thier attention.......The teachers especially Miss Jones and Mrs Hill were the best of friends and tough ladies..That boy was "abominable" or a dreaded "growler"....they would say...Ex-pupils would always be coming back dressed in forces uniforms and looking smart and it astonished me the admiration and love they had for these Edwardian Ladies who were so strict to the rest of us ...Some of my peers would also caution us that these 2 ladies would be remembered as having done thier very best for each one of us. Iwas left with an indelible impression from them to this very day and I know they loved us. Mr. Moles gave geography lessons in the "prefab". I was taught to be aproud Mancunian and was regaled with all the famous people from Manchester.Dalton<Whitworth<etc even Engels....We read Howard Spring and the classics, all in all a good all round early education. Many of my pals went to St. Roberts school. The local families were the Maloneys, Gaskell, Moore, Wade, Sears, Whiteheads, Greenwoods, Cathcarts, Bryce, Taylor,Jones, Scudder, Chungs, Wrights, Payne, Cook, and Vassieres. St,Agnes had a vibrant mothers union. The rector Freddy Templar was made Dean of Hong Kong. I would like to write gain on the local American churches in Longsight and Birchfields School. Anyone may contact me at my E-mail

rowlandian@hotmail.com

Thank you ,again David
Ian Rowland.

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David, sorry to have taken so long to reply to your email.I attended St Josephs RC Primary School and have a number of photos which i will scan to you when i get the chance.One is a photo of the football team with a sign saying 1957 cup finalists and league champions.Another one is a football photo and written on the back is 1958 league champions played at greenbank.Another is a class photo but I would not have a clue what the year is probably 1957 or 1958.Gee arent we getting old.The secondary school i went to was Nicholls secondary modern which at that time was an all boys school.I have two class photos in one the teacher is Mr Dunckley the other is Mr Atkins I hope i have spelt them correctly.Two others I have are of the cricket and football teams with i think Mr Rogers is in the photo.In one of the photos a lad by the name of Dave Farrar? i think thats how you spell it actually went on and played for England School Boys.I really enjoyed your web site on longsight having lived in Dalby St for most of my younger life.As you picked up from the message I wrote I went into the Merchant Navy at an early age and after travelling around the world three times before the age of 19 got the bug and I emmigrated to Australia on my own at the age of 21. It was the best move I ever made and have now been married for 27 years and have two boys[young men] and live in Adelaide which is down South.Keep up the good work with the web site and as I said I will scan off the photos the first chance I get.Have a great Xmas and New Year.

Sincerely Brian Simpson.

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Hi ,
I am Peter Kelly and was born in my grandma's parlour on the corner of Richmond grove and Foxbank street on the 1-5-1945.
My family and I lived at 3 Foxbank street and I went to Plymouth Grove School from 1950 until 1960. All of my Photo's from school have long gone but I still have some I took from my bedroom window overlooking St Joseph's school, I will somehow let you have a copy of them in the near future.
I like lots of others have lots of memories of my early life in Longsight and anywhere the gang from the street could ride a bike to.
I live in Swinton now I left the area when I married in 1966 and have been here since then.
Again Thanks For A Great Web Site And Some Old Memory's

peter kelly

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Dear David.

Thank you ever so much for showing me your website of longsight it brought back very happy memories. I lived in Martindale St, late Mason St. I also have photo's of the outings from the Grove Pub in Gomm St, I remember eagerly waiting for the coach to get ready to leave usually to pickmere. The men had a whip round and all thier loose change use to be thrown in the street for us kids, the scramble to collect as much as we could was the highlight of the day.

The washhouse in South st was another recollection, as I got older I was allowed to go in and help my mam to press and fold the sheets. The photo's have brought it all back.

The skating rink was another place I used to go I took lessons in dance. I still have my certificate from then for passing my first exam.

I will check through all my photo's to see if there is any that may be of interest for the website I will scan them and forward them on to you.

Thank you again

Christine Iwancz (Late Christine Graham)

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I was both excited and fascinated when i came across your site afterExploring spurley hey school. I've recently purchased my first computer and So i am up till all hours becoming familiar (it can be a tad overwhelming Though!). In any case i was scrolling down your longsite memories page and Came across a letter from a linda meir (holt) who i believed attended Spurley hey school about the same time i did. She also lived just a couple Of streets away from me and she mentioned a mutual friend in her letter. I Also thought it was interesting to see that she now lives in victoria Canada. I live in vancouver, canada which is just a 2 hour ferry ride (if That) to that bc capital! Anyway david it would be wonderful to contact This lady. She didnt have her email address on that site but here is my Info: my name is now gail samuels (nee parry). I came out to canada in April 1967. I also attended gorton mount as well as spurley hey. I lived On norfolk road just off mount road at the very end of the street just a Five minute walk to the train station. My e mail address is
gsamuels@telus.net

THANK YOU DAVID.

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david -

great site - brings back some memories the picture taken of crowcroft school by Les Cotton in only 1999 is exactly the same picture angle of the school - i always have in mind when i cast my mind back to school and when they used to (in the summer) sometimes let us go in the park and run wild,
all that freedom as a kid, no worries, no mortgage, no bills - i'd do it all again tomorrow but now I have my own kids i can watch them with the same freedom...
thanks for the flashback - saved it in my favourites -
ill have a quick browse when nostalgia calls!!!

regards
paul kilkenny

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Hello Mr Boardman.

I must thank you so much for bringing back so many memories of Longsight where I spent a part of my childhood prior to 1947. I was looking for sites on Belle Vue and that's where I found your site. The cinemas were an important part for me - the Kings, Queens and the Shakespeare. Wonderful memories.

Best wishes from Isobel Swade

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Hi David,

Just thought I would drop you a line to say thank you very much for your wonderful web site on Longsight. My husbands great grand parents, Tom Thompson Hardy & Margaret Quayle were married at St. Clements Church, Longsight in 1900 (no photos sorry). At the time of their marriage the Hardy's were living at 8 Cobden Street (you describe the houses wonderfully) & the Quayle's were living at 385 Stockport Road. Tom's Occupation was a
'Maker Up'. I don't suppose you would know what this means please?

Anyway, thank you,
Vanda & Andrew Hopwood
(Isle of Wight)

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HI! Ihave just found your web site and I must say it's great.I was born in West Gorton and went to St Marks I also played football for Ryder Brow and Gorton Boys club.Iived on Pollitt St .My wife was born in Beswick and lived on Beaumont St her maiden name was Joan Massey we would love to here from anybody who remembers us.please enclose our e-mail address cheers!

alan003@sympatico.ca

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Hi David,
This is a short note to say hello and to tell you about something interesting that recently happened to me.

A gentleman about my own age telephoned me from Melbourne Vic. Aust., he and his wife had seen my contribution in Longsight Memories and were intrigued by the similarity of our backgrounds as read in "Our Memories". We exchanged email letters and discovered we are second cousins both of us having attended the same school, Openshawe Technical College.

My new found cousin is as delighted as I am in having made contact, and it is all entirely due with grateful thanks to you and Longsight Memories.

Best wishes to yourself and your family,
Yours,
James Darlington, (N.S.W. Aust.) Longsight Memories contributor.

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David,

Came across your Website by accident and am now completely hooked! I lived in the Birchfields area during the 30's, and Longsight seemed miles away then to a youngster, though of course, no distance at all.

I went to St James' Birch School in Rusholme (Big Birch) which was fronted by the Church and Infant's School (Little Birch) The Gore Brook ran along one side, an allotment on the other and at the bottom of the playground the Nico Ditch and playing fields of Manchester Grammar School.

The headmaster was a Mr. E Bowkett - a lovely man - mad keen on morris-dancing and the countryside.The classrooms had big open fires and every morning we assembled outside, weather permitting, for a hand and shoe inspection before entry. A record on a wind-up gramophone - generally a rousing Souza march - "marched" us in. It was a pleasant ritual, usually accompanied by ditties the boys had made up!

I recall fondly many of my old school friends, but sadly lost touch with them all as the years passed. Stuart Gordon, Ron Guard, Cyril Fielding, George Corless, Dorothy Hughes, Muriel Whaite, Golda Black and Gladys Neal to name but a few.

Most of us went into the Forces as this was the late 1930's. In fact, I doubt whether many of us are still alive of course.

We spent many good days together on the Birchfields and Platt parks, and at the Casino and Trocadero cinemas on Wilmslow Road.

I believe that St. James' School was eventually demolished during the 70's, but that the Infants school remains, also the Church. If anyone remembers Noel, Joan or Betty Webster, or indeed, any of my other elder brothers and sisters, we would love hear any news or share memories. Here's hoping ...

Joan Webster

malwinder@reeves14.freeserve.co.uk

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I have been reading your Longsight memories site for a while now. Just the other day I noticed that you had updated some of the pictures etc. Imagine my surprise when I clicked on Crowcroft park School and on the photograph of the Class of 1960 I saw my brother Dennis Rubinstein. Dennis and myself both went to Crowcroft Park School. My name is Alvina. My sister Sandra, Dennis and I all lived on Slade Lane from about 1954 to 1966. My mother (Alvina White) and stepfather Joe White owned the greengrocer's shop at 41 Slade Lane and we have many memories of our life in Longsight. Dennis married Maureen Buckley who lived in Cringle Road, Levenshulme and I married Tom Murphy who lived in Dilworth Street, Chorlton on Medlock.

Sandra and I and our husbands emigrated to Canada in 1971 and Dennis and his family came here about five years later. We now all live in Edmonton, Alberta.

I did not have a school picture of my brother Dennis from Crowcroft Park so I was absolutely delighted to see it on your page. Keep up the good work.

Alvina Murphy (nee Rubinstein)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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Hi David,

Just found your website and it brought back a lot of memories. I am not a Longsight lad but born in Gorton, lived in Blackley and now live in
Stockport. I attended Central from '62 until '67, but cannot remember yourself. What I do remember though is the woodwork teacher. He was called Harry Caldbeck, correct? His assistant was called Pedlar, and yes he was not behind the door in dishing out pain!

I also had Mr Thomas for a couple of lessons, a bit soft wasn't he, do you remember he used to take Rambling Club into Derbyshire every other Saturday from the old Central Station.

You state that you were the first years to attend Kirkmanshulme Lane, I thought that we were, we were certainly the last year to attend Whitworth Street.

A couple of guys that I have met socially since those days, to my surprise were brothers and both attended Central at the same time as I did, but 1 and 2 years below.

The ABC Minors took me back, we used to sing that every week at The ABC on Victoria Avenue, Blackley. The first line I do not remember either, but maybe my mother or sister will, I will make enquiries for you.

Thanks for a little look back and some great memories, keep up the fantastic work.

Stan Jackson

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Being new to the Web I was delighted to stumble across your Wonderful sight .My husband Derek Ravenscroft lived in Ardwick terrace and I Iived in Ellesmere Place off Halsbury St.I have a few old photos including one of Derek and I taken in 1950 when we were just 17.and one of a group of Girls Life Brigade members .I believe Iwas about 13 at the time of the photo.
We have lived in Sydney Australia since 1970 and will soon be celebrating our 48th wedding anniversary .
we would appreciate any news at all about our old stamping ground

Regards Margaret Ravenscroft (nee Matthews).Resident of Longsight 1933-1953.

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Dear David.

Thank you for your reply. Actually, you or your web site readers may be able to help me? My GGG Grandfather, Thomas Armitage played professionally for Longsight Cricket Club in 1869. An article on him was recently included in the Manchester Evening News (4 July) because he went onto become the first ever player to be capped for his country.

Anyway, an Australian film company has recently contacted me asking for information on Longsight CC, as they are doing a documentary on the Australian Aboriginal tour of 1868; a tour where the aboriginals played at Longsight CC twice.

Longsight CC have told me that there was a fire at their old ground in the late 19th Century and their ground was located somewhere between Longsight Station and Belle Vue Gardens. I have also been told that their ground was located somewhere between North Road, Northmoor Road, Bickerdike Avenue and Pink Bank Lane.

To complicate matters, I know that KirkmanHulme CC played at a ground on the corner of Pink Bank Lane. Was this the same ground? Also, I know that there was a cricket ground and Archery ground laid out and located between the junction of Hunters Lane and Redgate Lane. Does anybody know what this was used for? A practice ground maybe?

One thing I do know was that there was a bowls ground next to the Cricket Club.

Could anybody help me locate the original ground of Longsight CC? I have looked on old maps but cannot find where North Road, Northmoor Road, Bickerdike Avenue or Pink Bank Lane was.

Any help would be much appreciated

Yours sincerely

Lindsay Toulson

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David, many thanks for the site and giving people like me to chance to go back in time, I spent all afternoon just going through the site and chuckling to myself about the memories and the photos, I will get down to updating my contribution for you to consider including on your site. I was born in Rose View off Grey street and went to Ross Place and then Ardwick tech and I have enjoyed the history of those schools, My family moved to Suttons est Gorton when I was 10 (1954) and I used to cycle to school but I must admit when I got to Belle Vue I often turned right and cycled around Marple and as far as Hayfield that was until the wag man called at our house and I ended up standing between those two pillars outside Mr Boardmans office in Ardwick Tech.

Thanks for the memories Vic Cliffe cliffecliwz1@btinternet.com.uk

hi:
I have to tell you that I have visited hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Internet sites and your is one of the most beautiful I have ever encountered. It is superbly executed, as much art as science. Are you a professional? I have a reason for asking. Also, where are you located?

Rick Eaton

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I grew up in Longsight in the 1970's and it was a great place to live I left my mums home in kingfisher close in 1998 and moved to Sussex I went back last year for a visit and how it has changed but not all for the better. That's why your site is so good

thanks
Andrew O'neill
p.s. did you know that the dad out of American TV show Frasier was born in Ardwick

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My name is Terry Morley, once head choirboy of St Clements. I am on both pictures of choir, I was a member for 14 years from 1953. I knew Brian Ferguson, also Alan his brother, and their mum and dad. For years i've wondered where I can find pictures of the church, as sadly I don't have any myself. Thank you for these memories.

Terry. ---- TerrySMorley@aol.com

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G'day

What a great site! I wonder if anyone can help me?

I am tracing the family of a friend; on the 1881 census they were living at 9 Grey St Ardwick, which seems to form the northern border of Longsight. William WILLIAMS, his wife Mary Hannah nee GRIME, their 3 chn Frederick 8, Albert 6 and Mary A 5. William is a beerhouse keeper; number 5 was also a beerhouse and No 3 may also have been a club of some sort. By 1891 my William WILLIAMS is gone of course; but nos 1-3 is a public house, as is no 5 - I cannot read the name on the 1891 census but it looks something like Bus Inn? No 9 no longer seems to be a beerhouse. Can someone tell me whether these establishments in 1881 would have had names; or what they may have looked like?

Please include my email address; I do hope someone will be able to help.

Regards

Kaye Purnell

kayepur@ozemail.com.au

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Dear Mr Boardman:

You cannot imagine my delight, as I searched for the name of the carver and engraver who made the frame on an ancient piece of cloth for my family, when I found a website devoted to the history of Longsight, and then--a page for Stockport Road!

One branch of my family, Brownson, lived in and around Manchester from the late 1700s to my Great Grandfather's death between the great wars. James Hague Brownson operated a tailoring business, the last generation of the family to do so. He was born in Ashton, lived later in the city, and latterly in Cheadle Hulme.

At some point, a family member had this ancient embroidery framed or re-framed at a shop whose label is torn, leaving only part of the name but most of the address. It reads only:

A. J. Milb_____
540 Stockport ___
Longsight ___
Carvers and Engravers

If you can tell me, when was the business founded and how long did it operate? I do hope this is in your history. It would be most helpful to us.

Many many thanks for having such a fascinating website.

Marianne King-Wilson
Parry Sound
Ontario Canada

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Hi there:

Came across your web site today and enjoyed it so much. It brought back wonderful memories though I was not born in Ardwick I lived on Blantyre Street, Hulme. I came to the US in 1965 I attended St. George's school which was in with City Road School. My name was Mavis Flanagan , My Mother's name was Ada Flanagan. Among my class mates were Beryl Jeffries, Ann Stelfox, Mavis Dean I wonder where they are now. If any of you see this please e-mail me at mavismatt@aol.com

I loved all of you information and it brought back wonderful memories,
Woolworth on Stretford Road which was the place to go shopping on Saturday afternoon. Stewarts clothing store at Ardwick Green. Thank you so much for pleasant reminders of day gone bye but not forgotten.

Mavis Matthews (nee Flanagan) mavismatt@aol.com

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Dear David,

This is an incredible site. I found it by accident and enjoyed your old pictures and history of the area before most of the changes came in
the seventies. Brings back great memories of the area of Stanley Grove, where I lived and went to primary school, and also Belle Vue, where I worked sometimes and the parks of Crowcroft and Platt Fields, Thanks and keep up the great work.
I live in the USA now and so I look back with rose coloured glasses. Would appreciate hearing from anyone who went to Stanley Grove school when I did in the fifties, until about 1960, I think.

Thanks and Regards,
Peter C. Nithsdale
pnithsdale@gifservices.com

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Dear David

I have enjoyed your websights so much and the memories they have brought back.

I now live in Victoria, Canada but grew up in Longsight, Gorton and then Mottram-in-Longdendale. I was born the same year as you (1947) and went to Plymouth Grove School where I still remember the Coronation celebrations and the Coronation mugs we received. I then went to Gorton Mount School followed by Spurley Hey. I lived for a few years on Windsor Street which backed onto the Belle Vue Station with regular summer weekend holiday queues of people returning home from a trip to Belle Vue.

My fondest memories are probably of the Top Ten Club at Belle Vue. Jimmy Saville played such wonderful music and there were always well-known groups performing. I wish my own kids could have experienced such a great place.

I have lost touch with all the old friends and since most of the girls have married and changed their names it is hard to find them. I remember Alma Wilcox, Marilyn Cliffe, Ann Sinclair, and especially Carole and Paul Smith who used to live on Hyde Road opposite Woolworths. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers me.

Linda Meir (Holt)

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Dear David

My brother put me on to your site and I love it I was born on Newbank St. 1952 My fathers name is Ken Knowles and he ran the speedboats and helterskelter at Belle Vue for over twenty years, and my mother worked at Longsight Station we all now live in Melbourn Australia

With my friend Dianne Mos 1958 on New Bank Street

Pat Caldecott
mpcalder@netspace.net.au

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David,
You are doing a great job, I wish I could help in some way, will you please ask on your web site if any of my old friends from Longsight are still in circulation and would like to get in touch with me they are Jean Brown(nee) Joyce Smedley(nee), Barbra Jones(nee) and Edith Senior (nee) They are so much part of my life I would very much like to meet them again

Eric Pillinger.
eric@ime.net.au

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Hi David,
This is just a short word to say hello again, trust you are well, the Web Site looks better than ever, you must feel very proud of your achievement.

Okay that's it, best wishes to all you family.

Yours,
James Darlington ( contributor ) Longsight Mems.
N.S.W. Australia.

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Dear David

very interesting looking at your Longsight material, I myself am a Longsight (lad?) and was born on Clitheroe Road M13. This is the next road up(or down) from Slade Grove and I was interested in your e-mail from Sue Griffiths(nee Szczepanik) I have some vague memories of a lad called "bishop"? Szczepanik who used to live on Slade Grove, who me and some friends used to have a bit of banter with as they visited the off license in "our" area. would love to have a chat with Sue, therefore I would be grateful if you passed on this message .Good work, keep it up.

Kind REGARDS.
Graham Downey

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Hello David

My name is Gill Wright and I am from the Friends of Victoria Baths and the Victoria Baths Trust. I have just been enjoying your website of Longsight Memories, especially the section on Victoria Baths. The Baths have been closed for 8 years now, but the Friends and the Trust are still working to try and get restoration underway.

The most pressing issue at the moment is to get some work done on the rooves so that the building doesn't deteriorate further. We have drawn up a programme of urgent works and are hopeful of financial support from English Heritage. But we will need to match fund this. If any of your viewers remember the Baths and could help us in our efforts to save the building - that would be great. The Victoria Baths Trust is running a public appeal [Donation to Manchester Victoria Baths Trust, 3 Birch Polygon, Rusholme, Manchester, M14 5HX]

We are also researching the history of the Victoria Baths. We have produced a short history leaflet (costs £1, post free) and plan eventually to publish a book. We love to hear from people who used the Baths over the years and are incorporating their memories into the book.

Please could you publicise our e-mail address Victoriabaths@aol.com and our daytime telephone number 0161 224 2020

We are working on a website of our own and would obviously like to link up when we are ready. The A6 have agreed to host the site.

We open the Victoria Baths several times a year because people love looking around. Our next open day is a Summer Fair on Saturday 30th June form 12 noon to 4pm. As well as guided tours of the building, there will be history displays, and various stalls and activities. For more information on this or to be added to the mailing list, please e.mail us or ring 0161 224 2020 / 224 8437

Thanks again for your really interesting site.

All the best

Gill Wright
Friends of Victoria Baths

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Hello David,

Came across your website by chance today. Although not from Longsight I hope you don't mind me making contact.
I was born in Ross Street, Ardwick ( 1946 ) which was just at the back of Grey street and attended Ross place School until 1957 when I was in the first year to attend the new Central Grammar School in Kirky Lane. I moved to Denton in 1960.
The tin bath in front of the fire. the first TV program I ever watched was the Coronation. This posh house had a TV and we all crowded round the window outside to have a look.
I well remember the Sand Park ( Joe the parky who didn't like us playing footy in the shed end which was at the Grey St end ).
I worked as a paper boy for the shop on Grey street and attended the sea cadets ( TS Trafalgar ) in the building on the opposite side of the Road.
The chippie on South street. Crown Green Bowling in the park. The Grey Horse pub where Dad used to drink.
We would walk from Ross Place to High street baths for swimming and call at the bakers shop on the way back for stale cakes and bovril.
On saturdays my job was to take the radio battery to the shop on Hyde Road and call at the coalies on the way to pick up coal bricks. I used an old pram for the job. Sometimes I would also go to the Pork shop on Stockport Road - not far from Ardwick Market - and get Savoury Ducks as a treat.
Remember the mobile showers that used to park in the playground ? The smell of that soap still comes back sometimes.
I loved to go to Birch Park skating Rink - my gran used to take me on Saturday Mornings.
At 14 I was working at Belle Vue at weekends and during school holidays. First on the boating lake ( the one near the Bear Pits ) then on the Dodgems and waltzer at night ( I think the family owners were Woodcocks / Wadbrooks or something similar ).
As a teenager I went to the Top Ten club and I met the girl who was to become my wife at St Matthews Church on Devonshire Street. She lived in Richmond Street Ardwick and we were both christened, confirmed and eventually married in that church.

I am now the Operations Director of a £20million Company employing over 1000 people in the UK, Morocco, Tunisia, Slovakia and Ukraine. I see quite a bit of the world but I will never forget my roots.

Great great memories. thanks for the site.
If i can be of help or if you have had contact from any old Ardwick folk let me know.

Ta Ra
Ray.

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David,I was round and about your site.I must congratulate you on the work you have done since I was last around it.I hope to spend more time visiting some of your places of interest in the near future.I mentioned it on the ex-lancs site when I sent my little ditty to the gang tonight.
Keep up the good stuff.

Peter Foy

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David,

Just a note to say how much I enjoy your excellent web site about Longsight. I was born in Longsight in 1949, the middle of two brothers. We lived in Portland Road and attended St. Roberts primary school. I left Longsight in the early seventies to move to the warmer south (Levenshulme, Heaton Moor, Heaton Chapel - and for the last 16 years semi tropical Disley). My parents remained in Longsight until my father (former plumber, soldier in World War II) died in 1993. My mother, who had developed dementia, had just moved to a nursing home near the site of the old Belle Vue where she remained until her death in 1997. My contacts with Longsight were, therefore, maintained
until very recently.
I remember Longsight mainly with affection, but post war Manchester could be a very drab place - although as kids I'm sure we did not bother too much. As a teenager the view from my bedroom window, where I studied many years for my O and A levels, was of the Cooperative Printing works on Stamford road which dominated the sky line. I prefer the view of Kinder Scout which I can see from my eldest daughter's bedroom. My elder brother - who has a PhD in Physics from Salford University (not bad for a Longsight lad) - was, and still is, a great railway enthusiast. He has the last passenger ticket ever issued from Longsight station. He is due to get 'on line' later this year and I shall point him immediately to your site. Perhaps he can scan the 'last ticket' for you to display. Personally, I was very much into sport and played for St Roberts adult team for a number of years and created a web site about my own amateur career some time ago. Obviously, a web site with limited appeal but I enjoyed creating it immensely. It's a excellent way to capture memories!

Anyway, best wishes for now. Keep up the good work.

Regards,

Philip Drinkwater

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David

i was most interested to find your website - I had heard about it from some of the residents I know in the area. I moved to Elgar Street five years ago with my daughter who is now 9 years old.

I am currently Secretary of the Residents Association which is in the process of settingup a Community Association which will manage the new Community Centre which is being developed on the ground floor of the old Beswick Coop Building on northmoor Road. I thought I would drop you a quick line today and let you know that I have a selection of photographs of the area which I found in the archive of Manchester library, ranging from 1900 to a collection that ws taken in the 1960s and some that I had a friend take for me. I also have access to more recent photographs which are charting the development of the renewal area and some of the events and parties that we have held over the last few years. I will endeavour to get some of these to you within the next couple of weeks.

In connection with this, my connection with the area actually goes back to my paternal Grandfather, who when he was released from a POW camp in Italy at the end of the war, was barracked at Belle Vue Zoo before being rehabilitated and sent home - he was unfortunately blinded during action. We thought it was strange that I had ended up living down the road from the old site without knowing about this until I visited.

I will contact you soon with some of the photographs and details of some of the community projects and events that I am involved with in the Northmoor Road area at the moment - we are also in the process of setting up a website for the area and the Community Association and will let you knwo when it goes online.

regards
Jane Miller

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Hi David,

Just browsed through your Longsight website......wonderful to see familar street names and the maps plus other Longsight information. I used to live on Longridge St, opposite Stanley Grove School . From the letters I found that there was nobody who lived there at about the same time as I did, the writers are after my time there . I was attending St. John's school on Church Rd until the outbreak of WW11 in September 1939 when I was evacuated to Ipstones, Stoke On Trent. My teacher at that time was Mr. Hartley. I didn't find St. John's School on your website It would be great to locate any of the St. John's School classmates.
I left England in 1959 and now reside in Arizona, U.S.A.

Your website is terrific and it sure brings back a load of memories

Just in case there are St. John's school classmates out there I am giving my
e-mail address........

Didtron2@aol.com

Cheers

Irene Minkler (formerly IRENE ROBERTS)