This photgraph was probably taken just before the Second World War. The boy in the third row who is looking directly at the camera is Colin Mycock who was born in 1929. Can anybody identify any of the other children ?  The picture is courtesy of Joanna Carr, granddaughter of Colin Mycock.

Derek Marshall has painted the steam special "The Buxton Belle" which passed through Furness Vale earlier this year.  Derek and his wife Elaine have a studio at Bridgemont and details of this and other local scenes can be found on their website : http://www.bridgemontstudio.co.uk/

This school photograph has been loaned by Francis Footitt.  This may be Furness Vale School but we are unsure. Can anybody help with identifying any of these people or in dating the photograph ?

We have been advised of the Autumn programme of New Mills Local History Society. This can be found under the heading "FURTHER PAGES" on the right hand side of this web site.  Visitors from Furness Vale are always warmly welcomed. Meetings are held at New Mills Town Hall.

Members will recall the fascinating talk earlier this year by Gillian Mawson on the subject of The Guernsey Evacuees.  Gillian now has a web site on this subject which includes a fascinating diary which is updated daily on the life in 1940 of an evacuee in Stockport.
http://guernseyevacuees.wordpress.com

Alongside 264 Buxton Road, there was once a narrow lean-to shop.  Before WWII this had been the haberdashers shop of the Birchenall sisters. Also sold were items of clothing such as scarves, gloves and hats.  The premises later became the hairdressing salon of Jean Lomas.  In 1978 it re-opened under the name of "Cutter's Cabin" having been vacant for some time.

This is a computer generated reconstruction.

The cast of the Furness Vale Methodist Church Play of 1927 pose for the photographer in the garden of "Garswood", Diglee Road, one of the Australian bungalows.  Can anybody fill in the missing names or identify the play?  Thanks to Joan Wild for the loan of this photo.

A bus waits at the corner of Station Road.  One of the boys by the front wheel is Norman Bennett, Mabel Townend's father and later owner of the ironmongers shop. The date is c1912. The bus is perhaps on an excursion.
Photo courtesy Mabel Townend.

A view of Furness Vale Station. Zoom in to the picture for some interesting detail. Furness Row in the background. Note the advertisements for Hudson's Soap and Sutton's Seeds. Photo courtesy of Mabel Townend.

The following drawings are from the collection of a local railway enthusiast. These represent the schedules for positioning display and poster boards on the station. The drawings are undated.

The May meeting of the Furness Vale History Society was addressed by Gillian Mawson who told the fascinating story of the children evacuated from Guernsey durning the Second World War. Gillian has now written a follow up story.


CHANNEL ISLAND EVACUEES IN NORTHERN ENGLAND, 1940-1945
by Gillian Mawson, History researcher at The University of Manchester


In June 1940, thousands of Channel Island evacuees, mostly school children with their teachers, and mothers with infants, came to Northern England, just prior to the German occupation of their islands.  They left a quiet rural island and settled in the industrial areas of Lancashire, Cheshire and Yorkshire.They owned only what they had in their suitcases, and remained in England for five years. Over 1,000 arrived in Stockport, with hundreds more arriving in Oldham, Bury and Wigan.


A number of the evacuated Guernsey schools re-established themselves in empty buildings in in order to keep the teachers and pupils together for the duration of the war. The attached picture shows the children and teachers of the Guernsey Forest School in their wartime school premises at Cheadle Hulme Parish Hall in Cheshire.


The evacuees had many different experiences, but one thing that many in the Bury area had in common was the memory of a local man, Mr J W Fletcher.  Mr Fletcher was a retired travelling salesman.  He took a keen interest in helping the evacuees, arranging parties and outings for the children and fund raising.  After the war Mr Fletcher travelled to Guernsey to be reunited with the families he had been so close to,  and a party of thanks was held for him.


With funding from the Beacon Trust, which enables university researchers to share their knowledge more widely with the public, I was able to work with Bury Archives Service to create a short documentary film. This captures the memories of three individuals impacted by the Guernsey evacuation in Bury in different ways.  On 28th October this film was launched at Ramsbottom Heritage Gallery and  gave many individuals an opportunity to be reunited after 70 years. The contributions of memories and photographs which we received from evacuees and local people provided a great deal of new information about this period in Guernsey’s and Bury’s history.
I have been interviewing Channel Island evacuees since 2009 and organised a three day event in June 2010, with Stockport Council, which marked the 70th anniversary of the Guernsey evacuation.


I am currently collecting the memories of evacuated Guernsey mothers and teachers in order to write about their experiences. For information on purchasing the film, or to find out more about my research, including public events, workshops for schools, publications etc, please visit my blog and website at:-
http://guernseyevacuees.wordpress.com/


or email me at  gillianmawson@btinternet.com


The following is a news report from Channel Islands Television:
http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_guernseynews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=494109

Do you remember The Yeardsley Players ?  Dudley Garratt has found a programme from the 1981/2 season.

The branch of National Westminster Bank at 99 Buxton Road closed in August 1974.  For many years this branch had been open just three days a week between 10am and 2pm.  The bank, originally Manchester and County Bank was first at 47 Buxton Road at the corner of Station Road.  It became in turn, District Bank and moved in about 1933. The Antique Shop is still of course, in business.    Here is a re-creation using 3D computer modelling software.

Jack Hardman has sent the following story of the maintenance of the locomotive "  Bahamas"   at Dinting Railway Centre: 

In the early 1970's, it was decided that 5596 Bahamas (the loco that was the "cause" of the Dinting Railway Centre) needed a new brick or concrete arch in the firebox. The purpose of this is to ensure more complete combustion, which improves efficiency, and reduces smoke. Obviously in the firebox, ordinary bricks or concrete cannot be used, and so refractory materials are used. The proper materials were therefore acquired from R E Knowles at Furness. I can't remember the names of all the stuff, but Ganister was definnitely one, and I think, something called Grog.

My Dad, and a chap called Cliff Barnes put the concrete arch in, and I laboured for them, so I know this to be true. As the refactory material "went off" quickly, and generated lots of heat, it was mixed in small batches, and carried to my Dad & Cliff in the firebox in buckets small enough to fit through the firehole door,  I know I had to run with the buckets, in order to get it to them in a still workable state.

Knowing my Dad, he had probably persuaded the manager at Knowles to sell the stuff to the Loco Society at cost price (or even gratis!) as some sort of goodwill gesture!

I spoke to my dad, he can't remember what the payment arrangements were, but he knows that he got the fire cement, and the grog from Knowles's.
Grog is crushed-up firebricks, used as the aggregate in making refractory concrete, much as limestone chippings are used in normal concrete.

Jack Hardman has kindly sent a photograph of a steam special headed by locomotive 5690 Leander.  The train was approaching Furness Vale on 29th April 2006

Martha Beatrice Webb was a notable woman.



Born in Furness Vale in December 1863, she was educated privately at Broom Bank in Stockport. At a time when few women enjoyed a university education, Martha studied at Newnham College Cambridge for a tripos in natural science.



In 1890 she was appointed as assistant mistress at Edgbaston High School For Girls and taught there for the next ten years.

Martha was 38 in 1902 when she enrolled at the newly opened Birmingham Medical School, one of the first female students. Her education included training at the General Hospital and Queen's Hospital. Graduation as MB ChB was at Edinburgh followed in 1909 with MD. During this period she suffered a great deal of discrimination from both her male colleagues and patients.



Much of Martha's career was spent as a GP in Birmingham where she gained much influence in the medical profession.  She lectured at Birmingham University on personal hygiene and became medical officer to the Department of Education. Martha started the Women's University Club and the Women's Medical Society and in addition held posts with a number of medical committees and asscoiations.  Research work for the Ministry of Munitions led to the publication of two books "Health of Working Girls" and "On Keeping Well".  Webb was an active supporter of the BMA's campaign for equal rights.



There is no account of her private life and as her name never changed, she perhaps never married.



Martha Webb retired in 1932 and died in Birmingham in February 1951.



Her father Philip Henry Webb was born in Runcorn in March 1839.  He married Frances from Wrexham, seven years his senior and came to live in Furness Vale.  The 1861 census does not include the Webb family so they perhaps arrived shortly after.  Ten years later they were living at "Shirt's Row" which seemed to be a terrace of 6 houses.  Philip was a manufacturer of cotton yarns.  Martha at that time was 7 years old and her brother James Henry Philip, two years younger.  In 1891 the Webbs were living at Bank End where both Philip and his son were stone merchants.  Martha was already living in Birmingham.

Bank End

The Furness Vale Co-operative Society was registered as an independent society in 1876.  The store closed briefly in 1890 and re-opened on April as a branch of Whaley Bridge Industrial and Working Man's Co-operative Society following a merger.  A public tea was held at the Board School to celebrate the event.  In 1913 the name was changed to Whaley Bridge and Buxton Co-operative Society to reflect expansion into that Town.  Pre war photographs show that the store only occupied part of the building, the other half appearing to be a private residence.
The Society had it's own education committee and it's members included President Mr.W.A.Bradbury of Yeardsley Lane, Mr Mark Kenyon of Shady Grove and Mr Joseph Carter sen. of Clough Lea

The Manchester and County Bank first opened a branch at 47 Buxton Road, at  the corner of  Station Road in 1908.  This was open daily during full banking hours.  On the 28th April 1930 the branch moved to new premises at 99 Buxton Road but opening times were now limited. 
The bank shortened it's name in 1934 to County Bank and in the following year was taken over by another Manchester company, the District Bank.
The Furness Vale branch closed on 2nd October 1939 for the duration of the War in common with many banks because of staff shortages.  On 22nd October 1946 it re-opened as a sub-branch of Whaley Bridge.
In 1962 District Bank was taken over by National Provincial but retained it's identity. National Provinical and Westminster agreed to merge in 1968 and over the following 18 monthe the operations of the three banks were combined. From 1st January 1970 the Furness Vale branch traded as National Westminster.
The Furness Vale branch closed on 9th August 1974.
47 Buxton Road became a butcher's shop, originally owned by Johnny Jackson, later by Harry Moorcroft.and finally by James Lavin.  This building is now a private residence.   99 Buxton Road which is two doors past the Antique shop going towards Newtown is also now a private residence.


With thanks to the Royal Bank of Scotland archives and Willis Ford for much of this information

29th March 1901 at the Station Hotel, Furness Vale an auction was held by George Brady to sell both the pub and adjoining shop.   The pub had lately been occupied by Samuel Hall and was currently being run by grocer and provisions dealer James Hall.   Inn and shop were in one block and each had the "usual out offices".  The buildings were described as substantial and in good condition.  The ground plot was of 480 square yards, leasehold with an annual ground rent of £4.1s.  The inn was purpose built, modern and commodious having bar, bar parlour, smokeroom, taproom, kitchen and cellars.  Above was  a large clubroom  and 6 bedrooms.  There was a large yard with good stabling. Loose fixtures and trade utensils were to be taken by the purchaser at valuation of the auctioneer.  Further details were available from Mr James Hall on the premises or Elijah Hall of Furness Vale
7th January 1920 Turner & Son were to auction at the Macclesfield Arms a number of Hotels, Public Houses, Beerhouses, Off Licences and Cottages.   The sale included the Station Hotel and adjoining shop.  The shop was let  at £14 6s per annum with the tenant paying the rates.  The 999 year lease had begun on 29th September 1864, the ground rent was still £4 1s.  The London and North Western Railway was paid a sum of 2s 6d per annum "for the right of  light"

Also in the 1920 sale was The Shepherds Arms, Whaley Bridge with the stables &c., adjoining thereto situate between the new and old main road from Manchester to Buxton.

Kelly's directory was the forerunner of today's Yellow Pages.  The business was formed in1799 by Frederic Festus Kelly who first published a London directory This was followed by county editions which were issued periodically.   The 1910 Kelly's Directory for Cheshire lists businesses in Furness Vale and Bridgemont. Unfortunately addresses were not given. 


Furness Vale


Furness Vale Print Works.......................James Hadfield,  Manager
Richard E Knowles.................................Fire Brick Manufacturer
James Williamson...................................Stone Quarry Owner


Station Master........................................William Taylor
Soldier Dick Inn......................................Samuel Bridge
Station Inn..............................................John Joseph Ardern


Manchester and County Bank.................Sub Branch
Whaley Bridge Industrial & Working Men's Friendly Society Ltd.  Furness Vale Branch


Whaley Bridge Co-Operative Society.....Thomas Hallam,  Manager
Mrs Sarah Beard...................................Shopkeeper
Reuben Bennett.....................................Yeast Dealer
James Bowden.......................................Insurance Agent
William Bowden................................... .Draper
Edwin Cook...........................................Fishmonger
Thomas Cook.........................................Ironmonger
Thomas Ford..........................................Boot Repairer
James Hartle...........................................Fried Fish Dealer
James Higginbotham...............................Confectioner
Sam Longden.........................................Grocer and Corn Dealer
Frederick Pearson..................................Insurance Agent
Joseph Prestwich....................................Fried Fish Shop
James A. Worth......................................Postmaster and Stationer
Charles H. Lowe....................................Shopkeeper


Bridgemont


Blandola Company Limited.....................Manufacturing Chemists
Matthew W. Lockett..............................Painter
Jesse Robinson.......................................Joiner


Dog and Partridge Public House............. Mrs Mary Jane Walker


Stephen Edge..........................................Grocer
Edward Rathbone....................................Shopkeeper
Mrs Mary Ann Taylor..............................Shopkeeper

Today, the return train fare to Leeds is £24.20.  In 1945 it was just 11shillings (55p)