A Tin Bath in the Kitchen

Our latest publication, at present only available on Amazon Kindle is "A Tin Bath in the Kitchen"  This is a compilation of the popular accounts by village residents of life in Furness Vale in years past,  together with stories from this website.  The book is available for download from Amazon, price £2.95 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AT2WH46

The Life and Times of Furness Vale Printworks 1794 to 1925

This new book by Chris Bond is published this week by Furness Vale Local History Society. 

W. A. Bradbury died in 1926 aged 67. He was a notable figure in Furness Vale and spent his 53 year working life at the Printworks. He was closely involved in village life and a leading member of the Methodist Chapel.
Mr Bradbury left a scrapbook of some 1000 pages chronicling the history of the mill, the village and events in his lifetime.  This book contains many extracts from the collection including photographs, handbills and newspaper cuttings.
The book is in A4 format, of 77 pages plus index.  Price £5 it is only available at present from the History Society (postage extra by mail order)  E mail furnesshistory@gmail.com to order a copy. 

 

The book is also on sale at Furness Vale Post Office

Download an e-book version for your Kindle - price £1.96 - from  Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ASBP2BI

Tom Middleton

Emma Gaulton, who lives in Sydney, N. S. W. is researching her family history. Her Great Uncle was Thomas Middleton who lived at Shady Grove, 86 Buxton Road. He was killed in November 1917 when fighting in Palestine. Emma would appreciate information about any past members of the Middleton Family or their close relatives the Handford family.

Emma has supplied a number of family photographs, most of which are unidentified. If you recognise any of these people please contact the History Society. Please click on the link at the top of the page to view the images.

More information about tthe Middleton family will soon be added to these pages.

The Lyme Park Bus

Lyme Park was once leased from the National Trust by Stockport Corporation. Gaining popularity after the War, the Corporation provided three "buses" to carry vistors from the gates to Lyme Hall.  The vehicles were Lister Auto Trucks with locally built passenger bodies able to carry between 12 and 14 people. In 1948 the fare was 4d for adults and 2d for children. The speed was just 6 mph and as many as 30 journeys would be
made on a busy day. The Auto Trucks were driven by permanent staff. Tickets were sold before boarding although at quiet times these would be bought from the driver.

Auto Trucks were manufactured by R.A.Lister of Dursley in Gloucestershire between 1926 and 1972. The standard design originally sold for less than £100 and by 1938 more than 10,000 had been sold. These vehicles were easily adapted to customers needs and many different variants exist today.

The vehicles were similar to that pictured below.

The previous year had seen Disley Rural District Council objecting to the plans of Stockport Council and advising the National Trust of their concerns. Stockport planned to establish a cultural centre for the workers of neighbouring towns. The proposals included a childrens playground, a pitch and putt course and a car park.  An electric car service would link the hall with the main gates (trams ?).  Disley R D C objected to Lyme being turned into "a weekend circus"

Mort Brandon has recently come across these photographs of the actual auto truck at Lyme and of the road train that replaced it in the 1950s. as can be seen, this was similar to that pictured above. Our thanks to Mort for allowing us to use these images.

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 Tony Beswick has sent these images of Lyme Hall and Workshop.

 

Bridgemont

Re - The Bungalow, Bridgemont

Used for some time as Bridgemont Mission before the church was built. Once upon a time used for boat building and painting. A good landing stage existed along the canal side. There was also a smithy.  This could have been below the land opposite the Dog and Partridge. The building became unsafe and was demolished).

We think my great grandfather, John Johnson of Carr View, Buxton Road, Whaley Bridge bought this in an auction along with other houses nos 27, 25, 19, 17, 15 and the vacant plot opposite the Dog and Partridge.

In the early 1950's, two sisters lived in the Bungalow. Ms Billy Brotherton cared for her sister who was an invalid and she could be wheeled out of the double doors to enjoy the fresh air. After her sister died, Billy (who had been a music hall artiste) married Mr Grosvenor and they lived there for several years.

Later tenants were Daisy and Bill Fidler and Mr and Mrs Woodward.

A compulsory purchase order was put on the building when the by-pass was built.

Nos 27 and 25
These houses had iron grates with hobs in some of the bedrooms so that people could cook there. No 25 also had a pot sink on the landing. The front room windows were fitted inside with folding wooden shutters which could be closed for warmth. These two houses could have had rooms to let to bargees or workers from the canal.

Frances Footitt.
16.10.2012

The photographs below are of the building to which Frances refers. The people are said to be the founders of the mission. The boatbuilder was Mr Fox who later moved to Furness Vale

 

Reuben

Reuben Bennett was a yeast dealer and flower grower. He ran his business from his home at 81 Buxton Road, Furness Vale. The house has a large garden and here Reuben built a substantial greenhouse. 

Cut flowers and tomatoes were sold mostly at market in Manchester although the business also supplied bouquets and wreaths locally.

Yeast was delivered by train in large hessian bags, was weighed on large brass scales and portioned out on to a porcelain dish before packing. 1 or 2 ounce packs were wrapped in greaseproof paper. Reuben would then travel around neighbouring villages selling the barm, door to door.

 

The Family History Show

This web site is well worth exploring. There is a wide range of articles and videos on the subject of genealogy and also on history in general.  The videos are presented by Nick Barratt and Laura Berry.  http://www.familyhistoryshow.net/

Chorlton History

The blog of Andrew Simpson contains many articles on the history of Chorlton and beyond. It's quite an extensive site with many posts. Well written and with good illustrations this blog is well worth exploring.  http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/

The Guernsey Evacuees

Members will remember Gillian Mawson who last year gave a talk about The Guernsey Evacuees. Gill has written a book on the subject and this is shortly to be published by the History Press at £14.99.

Advance copies may be ordered from Amazon : http://tinyurl.com/7hecjn6

Jim Mycock

The school photograph in the following Furness Vale School topic was provided by Joanna Carr and includes her grandfather Colin Mycock.

Joanna had been carrying out some family history research and looking at a collection of photographs and letters. A number of these concerned Jim Mycock and are in the possession of her Great Uncle. Jim's brother Harold, was Joanna's Great Grandfather. The Mycocks lived at Long Row, Buxton Road in Furness Vale. Harold was born in 1889 and Jim in 1891.

Jim was killed in the battle of the Somme on 16th October 1916. He was serving with the 11th Cheshires. He is commemmorated on the memorial tablet which came from the Methodist Chapel and at the Thiepval Memorial in France.


Joannah has provided a number of photographs, letters and documents concerning Jim Mycock and copies of these are now in the History Society archives and may be vied on request. A few are reproduced below.

 

James Mycock, a studio photograph

 

James with his fiancee, Ida Jodrell of Fernilee.

National registration card

 

Official notification of death

Letter of sympathy from his friend Douglas Shirt (also of Furness Vale)