The Preston Magazine - Issue 26

7/23/2019 The Preston Magazine - Issue 26

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Issue 6Issue 26

SupportedSupported &

Printed by:Printed by:

F R E EF R E E

Preston Street NamesPreston Street Names

Preston Unemployed FCPreston Unemployed FC

Dominics Milk BarDominics Milk Bar

enworth m

D E M Y

Penwortham

A C A D E M Y


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Contact Details - Heather 07733 321 911121 Broad Oak Lane, Penwortham, Preston, PR1 0XA

Email: [email protected]

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR LOCAL ADVERTISERSThe Preston Magazine accepts no responsibility for any transactions, goods or services,entered into with or provided by advertisers within these pages. We wish to apologise if anyitems cause offence, they relate to times gone by, and are not necessarily the views of theeditor.

WelcomeWelcome to the 26th issue of The Preston Magazine, our free monthly magazine containingsnippets of lesser-known history articles relating to Preston.A big thankyou to our advertisers, without them we could not produce this magazine. Pleasesupport them whenever you can. If you would like to help us by advertising, please docontact us.

Our thanks to Penwortham Priory Academy for their help and support in the production ofour magazine. A link on their websites community pages allows you to read all issues online,as well as our sister magazines, The Penwortham Magazine and The Lostock Hall Magazine.www.priory.lancs.sch.uk you can also access The Preston and Penwortham Magazines viawww.blogpreston.co.uk

Included this month are A Poem from Preston born Canadian poet Robert Service, fromhis book of poems entitled Rhymes of a Red Cross Man, which was dedicated to his brother,Albert, who was killed in action, in France in August 1916, Our ongoing serial A Preston Lad

by Arthur Eric Crook (1917-1997) is now onto Volume 2 which are memories from his earlyworking life and memories from the 1930/40s around Preston.

If anyone has any family memories, photographs or any items of trench artrelating to the First World War that could feature in our magazine please do getin touch.Also if any of your family members are named on a Preston or South Ribble WarMemorial and you have any information about them we would love to hear from you.

Should you require a copy by post each month, please contact us. We can also email you apdf version of the magazine. If I have missed you lately please do let me know.

The Preston flag seen on the front of the magazine was designed by Philip Tibbets,copyright has been waived to allow it to be used by anyone.

Take a look at the Preston groups on Flickr, there are thousands of images, old and new.Preston Digital Archive is always on the look out for old photos of Preston andsurrounding area, please get in touch at the number below if you would like to contribute.We can scan any images for you and give you a digital copy.

A copy of each issue of all the magazines will be kept at Lancashire Records Offi ce.

Front Cover Image Preston Flag Market by kind permission of Paul Melling.Morris Dancing groups from across Britain came together in Preston to set a newGuinness World Record for the greatest number of Morris Dancers performing onedance. 145 dancers beat the previous record. www.paulmellingphotography.com


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Photographs from Preston Past

Preston Market Place 1893Sepia cabinet photograph by George Reade, Market Place, Preston

Photo from Preston Digital Archive, kindly provided by Tarquin Scott from theestate of the late Henry L. Kirby, courtesy of Paul Swarbrick.

Preston from Penwortham Hill c.1832Image taken from The History of the Parish of Preston in Amounderness in the

County of Lancaster (1900) by Henry Fishwick


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LUNE STREET

FISH & CHIPS(Opposite The Corn Exchange)

34 LUNE STREET

ALL DAY SPECIALS

Mon Sat

Small Chips and gravy 1.00

Small Chips and curry 1.00

Take away only

01772 411228


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Football Club For The Workless

Prestons lead to the Country. Aiding the men to keep fit.Superintendent Garths Scheme The first football club for the unemployed in thecountry has been formed at Preston. It has been admitted to the Preston ThursdayLeague. With more than 8,000 men to chose from there should be little diffi culty in

obtaining players, and possibly a footballer with the artistry of Kelly, the vigour of Harper,or the skill of Crawford might be discovered. At all events, Preston Unemployed shouldhave no cause to grumble about lack of support if all their comrades attend matches.It was hoped that the services of Mr Tom Roberts, the former North End internationalcentre forward, as team advisor, and Mr George Clay, the former Dick, Kerrs centre half,will probably act as trainer. Clubs Aim. The man who has organised the formation ofthe club, and the first president and treasurer, is Superintendent Garth, of the PrestonBorough Police. Always a good friend to the unfortunate, the Superintendent talkedover the with one or two unemployed men three months ago, and this week, as a leadto the rest of the country, the club has been formed. Inspector Rowcroft has also givenmuch of his time to the scheme, which is intended to help those unemployed interestedin sport to keep fit without expense to themselves. Any unemployed man may join theclub, and if he later obtains work he may continue in membership. Practice Games.The ground for the new team will be Ashton Park, the headquarters of Dick, Kerrs club.Green jerseys and white knickers have been chosen for the teams. Due largely to theappeal for playing kit recently published in the Daily Post, the team have now 13 shirts,13 pairs of knickers and five footballs. Fulwood Corinthians have offered to play theunemployed in a friendly match and arrangements are in progress for a charity matchto be played on the North End ground. Offi cials of the club would be glad to hear from

teams who are willing to meet the team in Saturday afternoon friendly matches. Allunemployed desirous of signing on for the club should report at 3 o clock any afternoonon Castleton Moors, when practice games will be held. Compensation For TheInjured. Collections will be taken at the home matches. The club is affi liated to theLeague Football Association and accordingly players who are injured while playing willreceive adequate compensation. All players are expected to give a guarantee that theywill keep themselves physically fit throughout the season. In the selection of players forfriendly matches preference will begiven to those who have not secured

a position in the Thursday Leagueteam. All unemployed are invited toattend a meeting of the club which willbe held in the Lyric Rooms, Avenham-street, tomorrow night. Offi cials havebeen appointed as follows President,Supt. Garth; chairman, A Wiseman,secretary, A Biggins, treasurer, Supt.,Garth; financial secretary, Inspector

Rowcroft; assistant secretary, FrankHodgkinson; team committee, JGreenbank, T McWilliams and J Hall.The Lancashire Daily Post 31stAugust 1932


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DESIGNING A LIVESEY MEMORIAL TABLET

Preston Artist engaged oncommemorative work

Preston has as yet, no memorial

to Joseph Livesey, the famousadvocate of total abstinence, butin view of The Seven Men ofPreston celebration in the townnext month, it has been felt thatsomething should be done. Ahappy idea, seeing that manyoverseas and other visitors areexpected is the placing of tablets

on buildings with which Liveseywas associated. Mr WH Simm,assistant curator of the Harris

Art Gallery and Museum, Preston, has been commissioned by the Livesey MemorialTrustees to design a bronze mural tablet from which replicas, with suitably differingsuperscriptions, will be placed on those buildings where Livesey lived and labouredas the apostle of temperance and reform. The illustration shows the artist at workon the first rough draft of his design. In the central plaque of the upper half of thetablet is a head of Livesey, set against a background symbolising his active work inour public parks. The finished work may differ greatly from the sketch, but the boldsimplicity and dignity of this initial sketch is pleasingly effective and apt.

The Lancashire Daily Post August 1st 1932.

LIVESEY MEDALLIONS15,000 Centenary mementos for Preston School ChildrenPreston School Children have been placed first in the plans for celebrating theJoseph Livesey Centenary. At each of the Day Schools a special lesson of the

historical significance of the day will be given, and the story of the Seven Menand their mission will be told. The actual form of the celebration will vary at eachschool, in accordance with the plans of each headmaster or mistress. A neatcommemorative medallion of gilt metal has been struck, with a bust of JosephLivesey on one side and National Centenary Celebrations of The TemperanceMovement, 1832-1932 on the other. The Livesey Memorial Trust and the EcclesTrust have offered 15,000 of these medallions to the school authorities for freedistribution to the scholars at each school as a memento of the centenary.

Arrangements have been made for supplies of the medallions to all headmasters

and mistresses applying for them. Coin like in design, only slightly larger than ashilling, the medallions are of durable metal, and are fitted with neat brooches forconvenient wear.

The Lancashire Daily Post August 31st, 1932


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WE BUY AND SELL

Scooters WheelchairsElectric Rise & Recliner Chairs

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Part Exchange Welcome

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Walter Rocky Thompson 1918-2015

Walter was born in 1918 andwas an ex-Preston engine driver.He began work on the railwayat Preston in 1933 and worked

there as a fireman and thendriver until his retirement in1981 (48 yrs service). He alwayslooked younger than his age. Onhis retirement he only lookedabout 35 years. Sadly Walterat the age of 97 died on 16thSeptember, 2015. He leavesbehind his wife, Margaret,

daughter and two grandchildren.

Picture 1 shows Walter at thecontrols of an inter city electriclocomotive

Picture 2 shows

him standing byDiesel loco 47462at Dock Street,Preston on July18th 1981. He isphoning control totell them he hasparked up his locofor the last time

before retirement.Bob Gregson.Photos courtesy of

Alec Mayor.


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ACTING RSM Edward Nicholson MC DCM

Edward Nicholson was born on the 2nd May 1891at 1, Ormside Street, Preston. He later movedto Great George Street, Preston and attendedSt. Ignatius School. He worked as a weaver at

Moor Brook Mill until joining the army at FulwoodBarracks in 1909 at the age of 18 yrs where hewas attached to 2nd Battalion, Prince of Wales

Volunteers ( South Lancashire Regiment.)

Edward acquired several education certificatesduring 1909 /1910 and served in various places inEngland and Ireland. He also received a numberof promotions before sailing to France from

Southampton in 1915. He was involved in heavyfighting in Flanders and France and in June 1916was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for

Constant Gallantry and Good Work throughout.( featured in the Preston Guardian June 17th1916.) Shortly after this Edward was promoted tothe rank of Acting Regimental Sergeant Major.

On 3rd September 1916 the Battalion suffered many losses including theCommanding Offi cer and Acting RSM Nicholson displayed exceptional gallantry andinitiative in rallying the men when the Company Offi cers had been put out of action.He made three attempts to enter the enemys trenches although he had been badlyshaken by a shell burst early in the attack. For this action he received the MilitaryCross.

The Battalion was involved in further heavy fighting during 1917 and they wereinvolved in an offensive at Railway Wood Ypres which began on 31st July. The night

after the battle commenced was particularly unpleasant for them as they were in fullview of the enemy. During that time Acting RSM Nicholson was hit in the neck by apiece of shell and was killed instantly. He was 26yrs old, close to the front line andin a trench just captured from the Germans.

Edwards body was never recovered but his death is recorded on the Ypres ( MeninGate) Memorial. He is also (I believe,) named on the WW1 Memorial in St. IgnatiusChurch Preston.

By Barbara Dyer September 2015

The Story of Edward Nicholson is also on the Preston Remembers websitehttp://www.prestonremembers.org.uk/. It was shared with us byBarbara Dyer, who is his distant relative.


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Prestons New Milk Bar

Diet is playing no small part in the nations drive for physical fitness. Without beingin the least faddist about food, the average person is taking a deeper and moreintelligent interest in his meals and those heartening things, snacks in the middle

of the working day. For thisreason the new milk bar, inChurch-street, Preston, whichwas opened by Garland Wilson,the famous broadcastingpianist, who is appearing atthe Kings Palace this week,will appeal to those who arein need of a nourishing pick-

me-up, a drink, or an ice. Theowners are the firm of Pirolli,who are well known in EastLancashire, and the moderndcor is arresting to the eyes.From Church-street the bar hasa Coronation aspect. Whiteand blue form the backgroundfor scarlet letters. The sign

Dominics Milk Bar is modernin construction and purpose.Inside the colour scheme ofice blue has been repeated forthe walls of the bar, and abovethree horizontal bars bands ofcolour, icy mountains range tothe ceiling. Polar bears frolic by

Artic pools, fairy castles providea note of colour, and chaletspresent a picture reminiscentof Switzerland. But the mostinteresting thing to be found atthe premises is the chromium-plated bar, which is constructedon the most up-to-date lines.

An array of taps bear the names

of the different milkshakeswhich it is possible to order.Deep containers hold quantitiesof ice cream, milk is stored in


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concealed kits and drawn up by pumps, soda water is to hand, and mixing beakersfor malted milk stand along the top of the counter. At one end four porcelaincontainers, contain nourishing milk soups, under which water is constantly boiling.The latest types of urns ensure that freshly coffee is of the right consistency.

Attractive though the premises are, their chief asset is the absolute cleanliness ofworking arrangements, and whether standing at the bar, or seated on smart highstools, sipping a milk cocktail or taking soup, customers know that they are buyingpure food spotlessly served. Many workmen were engaged day and night gettingthe new premises ready for the Coronation Day rush, and within a short spaceof time additional accommodation will be provided in an equally attractive roomunder the presentbar, which will beserved by meansof a lift from themain service. The

refrigerated milkbar and its alliedequipment isultra modern indesign, hygienic,and electricallyautomatic inoperation. This,we understand

is manufacturedby Messrs LedaElectrical Ltd.,supplied andinstalled by MessrsHolt and KippaxLtd, of Newtown,Burnley, underthe personalsupervision of Mr

AE Kippax. Theindoor decorationsand furnishingswere carried out byR Rawlinson andSons.

Lancashire DailyPost May 13th 1937


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TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRESTON CHRONICLE

Sir, I was much interested in reading your paper entitled Preston Forty Three YearsAgo and can fully confirm was how Preston was at the period referred to. Myrecollection carries me back to the year 1796, when the father of the present Earl ofDerby was first elected MP for the borough. At that time the Market-place with two

or three exceptions, was composed of places of business. These exceptions werethe residences of E Pedder, Esq., adjoining the Cross Keys Inn, and that of AldermanFisher, at the corner of New-street. The alderman was a retired watchmaker andsomewhat of a pedagogue in his way; his incorrect mode of pronouncing certainwords, especially America, which he called Ameri-ca, earned for him the cognomenof Judge Fisher. The principle tradesman of the Market-place then was Mr Richard

Atherton (father-in-law of Sir Jas. Allan Parke) who bought the Greenbank estate,and built thereon a neat residence, surrounded with gardens and shrubberies, whichhe laid out in a tasteful manner. Spittals Moss was then a waste piece of ground.

Mr John Horrocks having, however, erected a cotton factory thereon, streets ofhouses sprung up, and the spot became a colony for his workpeople. The buildingof this factory was followed by others, in the same immediate locality, principallyby the same enterprising individual and by Messrs Ryley and Paley. There was alsoa worsted factory built in the same neighbourhood by a Mr Barrow, who had forhis partner Mr Richard Raby; but the concern not answering it was given up, andMr Raby removed to Leicester, where he successfully conducted a similar businessfor many years. About this time, too, the canal from Preston to Lancaster wasprojected, and many acres of land, which in the recollection of the writer were greenfields, were converted into docks, and covered with water, warehouses and wharfs.

The Old House of Correction as it was called, was within a few hundred yardsof the same site, and the only building beyond it on the road to the Marsh, was

Nocks Folly, surrounded by some tall trees, from which the cawing of the crowswas no little source of interest to the juveniles, who were wont to pass that way tothe banks of the Ribble. Near Friargate, and not far from the houses now calledMount Pleasant, was Lady well about which the superstitious old women used totell strange tales of Jenny Greenteeth who was said to be occasionally seen riding

on a broomstick, cutting wonderful capers. The opening from Friargate into Lune-street, and thence into Fishergate, was a consequence of making the canal. Theground over which the road now passes was then an orchard, and gardens, fromwhich (across the fields) a view of Fishergate bars, opposite the site of the TheatreTavern, might be had. The occupiers of the last house in that part of the streetwere Mrs Redhead and her daughter, the latter of whom is still living. The presenttheatre was erected about the year 1802, and was opened for the first time duringthe Guild held in that year. Mr Stanton was the manager, who spared no expensein bringing to it the great dramatists of the day. The writer remembers Mrs Siddons

and her son Henry, Mrs Jordan, Miss Mellon (subsequently Duchess of St Albans)George Frederick Cooke, John Bannister, Mundon, Young, Betterton, and most ofthe other celebrities of the day, performing there. The admission was boxes, 6s.;pit, 4s.; gallery, 2s.; and so anxious were the ladies to obtain the best places in the


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boxes, that it was no uncommon thing to see them almost falling over each other inorder to get their names put upon the box plan. Before the erection of this Theatre,the drama was performed in an old barn-like building in Wren and Woodcockstimber yard, where Miss Farron (afterwards Lady Derby) made her appearance inthe year 1796. John Kemble also trod the same stage about the same period. Themiddle and upper part of Fishergate were then private residences, most of the eliteof the town living there. Among the number may be mentioned the two MissesThompson (sisters of Judge Thompson), General Fletcher, and the Misses Fletcher,Mr Hankinson (better known as Snuffy Hankinson from his habit of keeping thatarticle in his waistcoat pocket instead of a box), Dr Lowe, Mr Cowburn, Mr Dalton,Rev H Shuttleworth, the vicar (father of the late bishop of that name) and his threedaughters, remarkable for their tall figures and constant attendance in the stagebox at the Theatre; with many others of the aristocratic class. Subsequently thefamily residences by degrees were converted into shops. The first was openedby Mr Arthur Milsom, an upholsterer from Bath, who was followed by Miss Cox, a

milliner, who occupied part of the same residence. Near to these premises was thehouse latterly occupied by Mr John Taylor, seedsman, and somewhat celebrated asthe home for many years of the unfortunate lady the heroine of the extraordinary

Romance in Real Life which appeared in the Chronicle some ten years ago.Opposite to this house there stood a towns pump in connection with which there isan amusing anecdote related. In the year 1768, during what was called the greatelectionthe Tory mob, composed of colliers from Sir Frank Standishs pits, hadcollected in large numbers in Fishergate and were committing all sorts of mischief.The Mayor and the half dozen constables to whom the peace of the town was then

entrusted, made their appearance and commanded it to disperse. The mandateof his worship, though at all times respectfully listened to by the townsfolk, availednothing with the strangers. With so little terror did they behold the chief magistratethat they actually laid him upon his back and pumped upon him an incident thatso amused them, that on a neighbour Mr Bradley (father in law of the lady abovereferred to) courageously coming to his assistance, they removed his worship andsupplied his place with the valorous old townsman. Another incident, in which thesaid old inhabitant was the chief actor, has been handed down traditionally to thewriter, viz., that when the Pretenders army reached Preston in the year 1745, abouthalf a score of his men where quartered upon him during their stay in the town, andthat on their retreat from the south, an offi cer whose duty it was to enquire howthe men had conducted themselves in his house, besought his aid to save him fromhis pursuers. Mr Bradley, though by no means sympathising with the Pretenderscause, yielded to his entreaties, and after supplying him with a disguise, conductedhim through his garden into the foot road from the Waterworks, along the Syke-road to the Marsh, where he left the fugitive to find his way to Scotland. The poorman, grateful for the assistance thus afforded him, broke off the hilt of his sword, a

valuable one, and earnestly entreated his acceptance of it.

September 29th, 1852. Your Constant Reader and A Prestonian.


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Preston Now and Then (cont.)

It is indeed ornamentum perennius a joy for ages, and a lasting honour to the designer.For this magnificent building we are indebted to the late Mr E R Harris, solicitor andprothonotary, who died on the 27th June, 1877, aged 73 years. He bequeathed the wholeof his property and money to the town of Preston, amounting with interest to the enormoussum of 285,350, the disposal of most which was left to the discretion of trustees, of whom

Mr CR Jacson was chairman, and foremost in this and other great benefits that Mr Harrissbequest has enabled them to confer upon the town The Harris Orphanage in GarstangRoad, the Technical School at Avenham, munificent grants to the churches and schools &c,.For the Free Library and Museum alone the trustees granted 105,000, of which 75,000were devoted to building and furnishing, 15,000 to endowment, and 15,000 for books ofreference, works of art, &c,. The site of the building has cost the corporation 30,000, as itinvolved the demolition of all the valuable places of business on the east side of the Market-place. Eight public-houses were razed The Blue Anchor in Anchor-court; the ShakespereInn and Swan-with-two-necks in Strait Shambles; the Cross Keys, the Wheat Sheaf and

White Hart in Gin Bow Entry; and the Shoulder of Mutton and Bull and Butcher in LancasterRoad, at the east end of Gin Bow Entry. The licence of the Cross Keys Inn which stoodat the corner of the Entry and facing the Market-place, was removed to the corner houseadjoining, occupied in old times by the Pedder family. Eighteen months ago it was proposedin the Town Council by the Streets and Buildings Committee that the thoroughfares northand south of the Harris Free Library should be named respectively Harris-street and Jacson-street. Alderman Hibbert objected that this would be to belittle the structure bearing theformer name that it would be a ridiculous gilding of refined gold, and most people wouldagree with him. He moved, and Mr Yates Booth seconded the motion, that that portion ofthe Committees proceedings be referred back for reconsideration, and the proposition was

carried by eighteen votes against ten. It is a matter of surprise that not a single voice wasraised in the Council Chamber at the time in favour of a commemoration of the name of thelate Richard Newsham, who bequeathed to the inhabitants pictures and objects of art valuedat 17,000. Besides this splendid bequest Mr Newsham in the course of his long life was amost generous benefactor to various churches and schools. He was one of the gentlemenwho bought a Dissenting Chapel in Avenham Lane, and converted it in 1841 to a chapel-of-ease to the Parish Church, when it was named St. Jamess. It has since been rebuilt fromthe design of Mr Hibbert, the cost, 2,000, of the upper portion of the tower being defrayedby Mr Newsham who had previously contributed 3,000 to the building fund. Contiguousto the church in Knowsley-street, stand the Commercial Schools, built at the expense of Mr

Newsham in 1844, as a memorial to his parents. With these benefactors we must name MissRoper, to whom we owe the Catholic Mens Club, in Friargate; Mrs Maria Holland who builtand endowed the orphanages in Theatre-street and Mount-street; and Mr Joseph Livesey whoerected six drinking fountains in various parts of the town.

Not far from St James Church on the opposite side of the road, the old cottages formed outof an ancient workhouse built more than 200 years ago, gave way in 1850 to a lodge forAvenham-street Mill of Messrs Horrocks, Jacson and Co; but it was afterwards filled up andthe site is now covered with shops and houses. The workhouse on Preston Moor erectedin 1788, and those also at Woodplumpton and Penwortham, were closed when the palaceat Fulwood was opened in 1868, but the workhouse at Ribchester has been retained for theimbecile poor only. Divirging into Glover-street, we must mention the Blind Institute, thefoundation stone of which was laid by the late Ald. JJ Myres (Mayor) and was opened in1874; and making another deviation from Avenham-lane, we see Bairstow-street, built on


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what was formerlythe garden ofAvenham House,long occupied by thefather of the late MrNewsham. At theend of Avenham-

lane stands theHarris TechnicalInstitute, erectedas the Institutionfor the diffusion ofknowledge fromthe design of MrJohn Welch. Thefoundation stonewas laid by the

late Mr ThomasGerman, in 1846, and the building was opened in 1849, at a cost of about 6,000, raised bysubscription and donations, with a grant of 250 from the Corporation. In 1882, the buildingwas transferred by the Council of the Institution to the Harris Trustees, who granted 40,000for the purpose of converting it into a technological college. The beautiful Avenham Walksin front of that building were largely extended in 1846. Previously, at the end of the presentupper walk, there was a rough declivity to the river, where now there are steps and terraces.From these terraces the old Prestonian would barely recognise the landscape of his youth.The Ribble still winds through the valley; the woods beyond, the Old Tram bridge, the villageof Walton, and Hoghton Tower are all still there, but trades unfeeling train has been busyhere also; it has thrown three railway bridges across the valley and river. The North UnionRailway spanned them in 1838, the East Lancashire Line in 1846, and the West Lancashire in1882. When the East Lancashire brick-built arches that carry the line from the south end ofthe bridge to the high ground beyond were finished, one of the labourers had a marvellousescape, or rather a series of escapes, from death. He was engaged on an arch near thebridge when he felt it giving way, and jumped onto the next arch, which also fell, and thenext, and the next,until he reached asafer foothold, 13

arches having fallenbehind him as heran. A few yearsago these archeswere filled in andbuttressed with soil;so that now the lineseems to have beenconstructed on asolid embankment.

Lancashire DailyPost 25th March 18


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Preston Streets Named After Writers, Artistsand Adventurers

By John Bannister

Poets, Playwrights, authors andartists figure greatly in local streetnames, especially in Ribbleton. Here,the older streets are ShakespeareRoad and Tennyson Road, bothrunning off Acregate Lane. Thereare followed by Bard Street andThompson Street, the last namedafter Francis Thompson, Prestonsown poet. Newer streets built by the

Council and private builders on bothsides of Ribbleton Avenue have keptup the trend with Chaucer Street,Burns Street, Wordsworth Road,Emerson Road, Browning Road andBrowning Crescent. Rydal Roadand Grasmere Road are names fromplaces associated with Lakelandsbest known poet. Grasmere Roadformerly ran off Ribbleton Road and

Wordsworth Road was the roadbetween Ribbleton Methodist Churchand the school.

Off Ribbleton Lane are Poynter Street,Landseer Street, and Ansdell Street all famous artists. Liverpool bornRichard Ansdell, who painted TheStag at Bay needs no introduction,nor does Sir Edward Landseer, R.A., the celebrated animal painter and designer of the lionsthat grace the base of Nelsons Column in Trafalgar Square. Sir Edward John Poynter, R.A.,was famed as an artist in water colours and as a designer in fresco, mosaic, stained glass,and pottery. In 1896, he was elected President of the Royal Academy. Also off RibbletonLane is Fitzgerald Street, Edward Fitzgerald is best known for his translation of the worksof Omar Khayyam. Moving over to New Hall Lane are Waverley Road and Waverley Park,which together with Ivanhoe Terrace, refer to the works of Sir Walter Scott. Scotts Courtwhich connected Mill Bank, Church Street, with Edmund Street also referred to Sir Walter. Itis in the Edmund Street district that the person who was responsible for naming the streetsshowed that he knew his poets and writers but slipped up on the spelling. While Edmund

Street and Spencer Street were named after Edmund Spenser, while Carlisle Street andCarlisle Terrace have nothing to do with the Border city but are intended to refer to ThomasCarlyle, the Scottish writer. In this same group of streets was a Homer Street and a DrydenStreet, but together with Spencer Street, they have been swept away to make room for highrise flats and maisonettes.


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Other early streets that favour poets and writers are Milton Street and Byron Street, both offMoor Lane. A loner is Ruskin Street at the southern end of Manchester Road as is GrasmereTerrace on St Thomass Road. High up on the frontage of the terraces, the stone faces of theLakeland poets stare out across Moor Park. Elliot Street off Aqueduct Street takes its namefrom Ebeneezer Elliott, a Yorkshire born poet and social reformer. He was greatly concernedabout the exploitation of children, especially orphans, in the cotton mills.

An early 19th century street is Newton Street, originally running from Park Road to DeepdaleRoad, but since realigned to fit in with the new Council estate. Sir Isaac Newton is wellknown for his scientific work and observations, although most people associate him only witha falling apple. There is also a Newton Road in Ashton, but this possibly refers to the nearbyhamlet of Newton rather than to Sir Isaac.

Slightly beyond the end of Newton Street on Deepdale Roadis Stephensons Terrace, an impressive row of Regency-styleresidences. They honour George Stephenson, the pioneer

of steam locomotion. Behind the Terrace is the originalterminal station of the Preston to Longridge Railway, one ofPrestons earliest railway ventures, on which work startedin 1838 and the line offi cially opened on the 1st May, 1840.The station was later sited further along Deepdale Roadafter the line was connected to the main Preston Stationby a tunnel from Maudland to St Pauls Road. The originalterminus became the Deepdale Sidings.

In the mid- 19th century there were several expeditionsto the Artic Regions, principally to pioneer a North WestPassage to the Bering Straits and the Pacific. Many liveswere lost in these attempts, among them Sir John Franklinwith nine of his offi cers and fifteen men. Captain R Collinson was sent by the Governmentto search for Franklin but apart from finding his winter quarters on Beechy Island, no traceof this ill-fated expedition was found. In a further search that left England in 1850, Collinsonreached Victoria Land within a few miles of Point Victory where the fate of Franklin wouldhave been ascertained. In this last voyage, Collinson navigated the second North WestPassage, a similar passage having been made some months earlier by Captain R McLure.

Collinson Street off Ribbleton Lane honours Captain Collinsons achievements.

An American expedition, under the leadership of Dr EK Kane discovered, among other things,the Humboldt Glacier, the worlds greatest, which is 45 miles wide at its seaward end. In1875, following Kanes discoveries, the British despatched the Alert under Commander AHMarkham and Captains GS Nares and HW Fielden, and the Discovery commanded by CaptainJF Stephenson and Lt. LA Beaumont. Beaumont made discoveries along the north coastof Greenland, while Markham and the Alert reached a higher latitude and wintered furthernorth than any ship had done before. Off Tulketh Brow can be found Kane Street, NaresStreet, Markham Street, Alert Street and a row of houses called Alert Terrace.

Taken from the book entitled The Street Names Of Preston by John Bannister.

George Stephenson


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A Preston Lad - Volume Two

I had my mates, we clicked with girls, and there was always Ingram, in the background,even she had her faults and favoured weepy films, like Garbo in Anna Karina, Paul Mieni inthe Good Earth, Mr Miniver Robert Donat in Goodbye Mr Chips etc, while I liked seeingthe Lionel Atwill and Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney, Mr Moto, Charlie Chan and Tarzan type stuff,but even I was scared by The Face at the Window. I fondly remember Hoot Gibson, Tom

Mix, Jack Holt, Ramon Navaro, Lew Ayres, Wallace Beery with Marjorie Main, Eddie Cantor,Harold Lloyd and screamed with laughter at the Charlie Chaplin and the Keystone Kopsantics. Warner Baxter, Ronald Coleman, Norma Shearer, Mae West, Jean Harlow ConstanceCummings, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Sylvia Sidney, Jackie Cooper, Margaret Sullivan,Shirley Temple, Freddie Bartholomew, marvellous child actors, The Dead End Kids and theother gang of kids, six or seven of them led by a chubby little lad of about six or seven, therewas a little black girl and a white dog with a black ring round one eye. Yes, we had plentyof choice. I can name at least twenty cinemas that were operating in that marvellous eraof Preston in the twenties and thirties. The trams, the trains, the dance halls, massive fairs

and walking days. The years when children of both sexes and of tender years could rompand play in fields, parks and lonely places without a thought or fear of molestations from theevil men who stalk children like prey and suffer at the hands of sick minded morons of thenineties. Amongst all this of which I am enthusing there was poverty and children who sawmore dinnertimes than dinners and all and sundry had to obey the maxim children should beseen, not heard. One thing I cant understand is, in my young days, children started schoolat five years of age, I think I went much sooner, we left at fourteen, had no homework to doand yet we could write and spell better than our present day counterparts and was just aslearned if not more so than children who stay at school till they are sixteen and do hours ofhomework and having little pocket machines to do all their adding up and subtracting. I think

modern youth spends more time in the bathroom, surrounded by bottles, tins and aerosolsof cosmetics that we did at school. Small kids of six and seven years of age with piercedears and high heels. Mind you at the time of writing its all about trainers and jeans. Theyall knock about like myriads of window cleaners. In my younger days if you had wavy hairyou were classed as a pansy, I know. I had plenty of fights about my own hairstyles. A lot offisticuffs took place for someone using a now popular insult such as you stupid bastard thatwas the ultimate offence. It cast derogatory doubts on you parentage and belittled your dadand mums good name. I, of course, had to let it ride, because I was one !

Every group of boys always seem to have a leader, ours was Harry Smith or Mit as we

called him. He was a ladykiller, always seemed to get the nicest girls. He had the gift ofthe gab, had a pleasant manner and was very good looking. When we met in the eveningssome would always say what are we doing tonight, Mit ? and he always seemed to haveformulated our evenings goings on and no one ever said otherwise. Mind you, he was amechanic and he could drive, not many lads his age held a driving licence. I was twenty onebefore I applied for the treasured little red booklet, All Groups and all that. Gordon Liveseywas the next to learn to drive, but then he always tried to be the mirror image of Harry. Notthat he fawned or toaded up to him but seemed to walk in his shadow. I fancied his sisterJenny but she was a little overpowering and frightened me, so even though she would haveagreed, I never took her out. For fourteen to being in my twenties I easily blushed especiallyin the company of the opposite sex. If a girl called my name and everyone looked, I went abright red and would drop something on the floor so I could stoop to cover my confusion. Atschool, if the headmaster during singing lessons picked me out to give the others an exampleof what he wanted, I panicked and always held my sheet music close to my face, but if it


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had been scored on the blackboard that avenue of escape was closed. At least the class hadto look ahead so that eased the tension somewhat. It was just that I could not stand folklooking at me I dont know the reason for it. Could be lack of confidence I dont know. It leftme later in life.

One thing that seems to have vanished from the human scene, the old characters everydistrict had one or two and when they passed on they could not be replaced and everyone

missed their banter and quaint philosophy, sometimes it was a mode of dress or theknowledge of certain things and although they were a common breed and perhaps lackingscholastically, people sought their advice on certain subjects for which these charactershad a natural flair and a far seeing knowledge or had, could hold you enthralled with thetales they told. In Walton, Jack Hartley, was one such person. Everyone knew him and hewas affectionately known by the nickname Coppo. He copped everything that came downthe river. He lived at the top of Church Brow, next to or very near St Leonards school. Hisknowledge of the Ribble was phenomenal, he knew every back water and eddy, the deepsand the shallows, the best fishing places. He could tickle salmon and trout, and the policealways came to him when a body was, or suspected of being lying drowned somewhere

along the Ribbles immediate length. He had a boat permanently anchored at the bottomof the steep bank opposite his home. He would venture forth with his grappling irons, andalways found what the police wanted finding. In conversation he was so interesting and drolland could hold us all spellbound but the river was his chief interest in life. Another chap Icame across I never knew him and only saw him on rare occasions. I think he was a knightof the road, and passed through Cuerdale periodically. He nearly always had two pairs ofpants sometimes odd boots and an old muffl er, fingerless gloves and a top coat so what theweather which was fastened around the waist with binding twine. I was walking to Waltonone evening. May it was, an my bike was out of commission, so I left Mallinsons about 6.15pm and was passing Wood Nook farm and this character was perched on a piece of fencingsmoking a clay pipe with a broken stem so that the bowl was practically under his nose andhe was filthy. I stared at him in amazement. Wot tha starrin at lad. Dusta want a smooka mi pipe. No thankyou I replied. Ive brodken stem a mi throoat an stan still when Imspeyken tuthee. Hesta no manners boyo. I shuffl ed uneasily not knowing what to do or say.I hev two pipes he said, one fer twist and he pulled a briar out of his cavernous pocket,and this as Im smookin is fer fag ends, I picks em up an wen Ive have gotten anew, I ramsthowd pipe reet tight and its nod a bad smook un Ill say one thing Id keeps me nooasewarm, and he have off a queer cackle his way of laughing. Es ty ony fags laddie he said.No I replied I dont smoke, sorry. No need to pologise lad off tha gooas un thas bin talking

to Jem Bradley. U to reet un dont luk so freightened Ill nod bite tha. Off I went thinkingthat Jim Bradley would not find so many fag stumps on this length. I saw him once ortwice afterwards but only at a distance. Then there was Jud Fletcher, that kept the Unicornnext to the Blacksmiths, it was a haven for cyclists and thousands must have stopped forrefreshment there. It was also the headquarters of The Autumn Leaves cyclists of matureyears, sixties and seventies. Now the wheel has turned full circle. Plenty of folk seem tothink that I myself am a character and rather an odd book.

More next month Arthur Eric Crook (1917 1997)


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The Stretcher-Bearer

My stretcher is one scarlet stain,

And as I tries to scrape it clean,

I tell you wotIm sick with pain

For all Ive eard, for all Ive seen;

Around me is the ellish night,

And as the wars red rim I trace,

I wonder if in Eavens height,

Our God dont turn away Is Face.

I dont care oose the Crime may be;

I olds no brief for kin or clan;

I ymns no ate: I only see

As man destroys his brother man;

I waves no flag: I only know,

As ere beside the dead I wait,

A million earts is weighed with woe,

A million omes is desolate.

In drippin darkness, far and near,

All night Ive sought them woeful ones.

Dawn shudders up and still I ear

The crimson chorus of the guns.

Look! like a ball of blood the sun

Angs oer the scene of wrath and wrong.

. . .

Quick! Stretcher-bearers on the run!

O PRINCE OF PEACE! OW LONG, OW LONG?

By Robert W Service


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We are proud to announce our

exciting new science teaching

spaces are now open and in

use. Priory also recently won

the Penwortham Best in BloomCompetitition, schools category.

www.priory.lancs.sch.uk


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Documents

The Preston Magazine - Issue 26