Clik here to view.
Celebrating our Municipal Town Halls part 6 .......... Manchester Town Hall*
Well I could hardly leave our own Town Hall out of the collection.*It is a building I have been fascinated by for nearly half a century, although when I first saw it I was not convinced. Back then I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The story of St George, the dragon and Tosspot .... along with much more...
One to do tomorrow.In the hurly burly of this year's Chorlton Book Festival the organisers squeezed me in between the greats back with another history walk, starting on the old village green opposite...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Down on Nell Lane with a smelly story ................... the Destructor Plant
Now I remember the Corporation depot on Nell Lane and think we may even have used it once, but its closure and demolition passed me by.The Destructor Plant in 1925There will be someone who knows and I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Manchester and the Great War to be published in February 2017
Now the book has been a long time in the writing, but Manchester Remembering 1914-18will be in the shops in February of 2017 It is a book I have long wanted to write and draws on official reports and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The silk postcard that spans the ocean
Now I have been meaning to write about this postcard for a long time.It belongs to my old friend David Harrop and comes from his huge collection of memorabilia from both world wars.Embroidered silk...
View ArticleClik here to view.
On parade ...... the missing men and a clue in Colwyn Bay
This is one of those photographs which I suspect will remain a bit of a mystery.The date on the card is 1915 and it was sent to Private Tom Smith of Wellington Road in Rhyl.But who sent it is unclear,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Clik here to view.
Looking for the man behind the book .......... Mr Jefferson and The Woolwich...
Now I have become fascinated by Mr Jefferson who wrote a history of Woolwich which was published in 1970.Woolwich in the 1940sSo far all I l know is that he lived in Eltham from the 1920s and was...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Looking at Salford a bit before today ....... nu 1 Vanfleet
Now I am fascinated by pictures taken of places during the last half century.In their way they can be as interesting as all those old period images of men in tall hats, women in shawls and roads full...
View ArticleClik here to view.
On the green circa 1898
It’s a picture I have shown before, but is well worth a second look.The caption suggests a date around 1898, arguing that this “Prince of Wales Horse bus at the Green. Probably about 1898 before the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A kiss is just a kiss ......... postcards from Italy 1918
Now I have been thinking of the contribution made by the Italian community here in Manchester to the Great War and remembered this postcard from the collection of David Harrop.It was sent by Fred to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
On borrowed time, with tram car 562 in the summer of 1938
I do have to say that this is one of my favourites from the collection not least because there is so much going on in the picture.Now it is August 2nd 1938 and car 562 is clanking its way along its...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A little bit of Manchester in Peckham
Now I went looking for a certain house on Barforth Road which is on the northern edge of Peckham Rye Park.A postcard home to PeckhamThe house in question is an attractive semi on two floors, and I know...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A silk from France .......... postcards from the Western Front
Now I have no idea if the soldier who purchased this embroidered silk postcard was from Eltham.A message from the 8th London Regiment, date unknownBut given that it carried the badge of the 8th London...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Looking at Salford a bit before today ....... nu 2 a bank and a pub
Now I am fascinated by pictures taken of places during the last half century.In their way they can be as interesting as all those old period images of men in tall hats, women in shawls and roads full...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The FA Cup Final, a body and two trips to London
Now I have to give it to my friend Ann, when she introduces a new story she does it with style.So yesterday I received this picture of a ticket for the 1934 FA Cup Final with the simple message, “my...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The silk postcard from France, and a museum in British Columbia
Now a few days ago I featured one of the silk embroidered postcards from the Great War.Souvenir de France, 1917I have been a fan of them ever since I began the book on Manchester and the Great War and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Stories behind a picture, ........... Chorlton Green circa 1904-12
This is one of those pictures which you look at, think about how it has changed and pass on.But that really doesn’t do it justice. The more I look at it the more I seem to see. It is a warm summer’s...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Looking at Salford a bit before today ....... nu 3 painting the showroom
Now I am fascinated by pictures taken of places during the last half century.In their way they can be as interesting as all those old period images of men in tall hats, women in shawls and roads full...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Home thoughts of Woolwich from Italy .......... June 1919
This is the Piazza Vittorio Emanuele in Faenza in Emilia-Romagna sometime in the early 20th century.It is a picture I like and is also one that reminds me of Varese where some of our family live.But...
View Article