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)

The Guernsey Evacuees

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

264 Buxton Road

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.

Wartime Child Evacuees

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

The Yeardsley Players

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

The Furness Vale Bank

The Furness Vale Bank

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, for many years this branch had been open just three days a week between 10am and 2pm.
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. The Antique Shop is still of course, in business.    Here is a re-creation using 3D computer modelling software.

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

note: The first bank premises appear to have been in one of the shops opposite the school, perhaps 116 Buxton Road, moving two or three years later to 47 Buxton Road.

Bahamas and Furness Brickworks

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.

The Furness Vale Co-op

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 Society had in fact opened its first store in 1861 as an unregistered Co-op, seemingly at 47 Buxton Road before moving to the purpose built store opposite.

For The Right Of Light 2s 6d per annum

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

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

Tickets Please

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

Murder January 1868

Joseph Dixon and another man had been drinking in the Soldier Dick on Saturday night. At closing time they started fighting outside the pub and Thomas Ainsworth intervened. Dixon hit Ainsworth who then took out a knife and stabbed Dixon twice in the abdomen. Dixon died from his wounds and Ainsworth, a 23 year old miner was charged with wilful murder.
Ralph Horsefield a fellow miner, gave evidence at the inquest. He stated that about a fortnight earlier he had said to the accused "Joe Dixon and you have a sore time of it." Ainsworth replied "Aye, but I'll do him his job the first time he says anything to me again." Horsefield then said, "Nay Tommy, don't do him no harm" the answer was "Well, but thou'll see."
The verdict of "wilful murder" was given and the prisoner committed for trial. Ainsworth was jailed for 14 years.

Lady Pit, The Beard and Bugsworth Colliery

In 1949 a 100 foot high brick chimney still stood at Lady Pit.   Lightning struck on the 5th December bringing down the 80 year old structure.  Bricks were scattered up to 300 yards away.  

More solid is this stone air shaft still standing alongside Dolly Lane.  The only other evidence that this was a busy coal mine is the old railway embankment stretching across the field on the other side of the road. 

Lady Pit in 1896 employed 36 miners and closed in 1903. 

Ringstones

Ringstones Colliery closed in 1896 although some workings had been abandoned in 1878.

There were three pits; the "top pit" is shown on the 1875 OS map at the head of the clough. The "bottom pit" at Ringstones, is still very evident and the capped shaft is surrounded by caravans.  Further down the clough was a third shaft near the masonry which still straddles the brook.

The mine was connected to the canal wharf at Bridgemont by a tramway and until recently a raised embankment was to be seen running down the middle of the field below the caravan site. 

In 1875 the works at the foot of the clough was a tannery. The site was occupied later by the Blandola Seaweed works.

The Fox At The Paragon Garage

A LETTER FROM PETER THOMPSON REGARDING THE PARAGON GARAGE

Not sure about the spelling but the owner was Joel Bold followed later by his son Edwin, the fox was his pet and I saw it often. In fairly recent years Edwin still lived in one of those quite nice houses on the right heading toward Furness just after Bank End.  He had a couple of dogs with him last time I saw him out walking.  Used to be very much an outdoor type ,shooting etc. seriously dressed for it.  Probably shot the fox cub's mother.

Joel had a plaque on the garage, which read something like –

“You are now in Derbyshire;  Strong in the Arm Weak in The Head”

 For a short time the Paragon was owned by Jim Riddick Senior's brother, I think his name was Jack. 

Errwood Hall Web Site

Whaley Bridge Local History Forum has embarked upon a new project.  A Posting on the Forum concerning Errwood Hall located in the Goyt Valley in it’s heyday the home of a wealthy local family the Grimshaw’s now just a few ruins has accumulated a great deal of interesting information and pictures.

 

The members felt that the information should be kept in an orderly fashion for the interest of future researchers it was proposed that a website be set up to attain this aim.  Members are now collectively building the site;

Now in early stages but you might find their work to date interesting, address below.


Peter Thompson

http://www.whaleybridge.net/errwoodhall/

Furness Vale Brickyard

A 3D digital model of the brickyard under development.  The main buildings are yet to be added.

Manchester Street Scene (1901)

The Devonshire Hospital, 1916

Buxton Skyline 1901