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Post by jonesg on Dec 23, 2010 2:00:11 GMT -1
Does anyone remember pauldings dept store going up in flames, around the late 1950's. It was located on loyd street not far from downtown m/c.
We lived near Loyd st and Claremont rd , we walked to the fire.
Fire embers were falling out of the sky around chorlton medlock on the walk home. Just wondering how old I was at the time.
That location seemed to remain vacant for decades.
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Post by cabbyjohn on Dec 23, 2010 3:43:04 GMT -1
Hi. Jonesg.
If you mean the Pauldens store that was on Stretford Rd Hulme? The fire was on a Sunday in 1957, but I'm not sure what month it was.
John
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Post by jonesg on Dec 23, 2010 6:39:55 GMT -1
Yeh thats the one, 1957?
So I was only 5 yrs old and walked all that way, I'm gonna have to shout at mum again. hahaha
Now I have the correct spelling I should be able to find something on wiki. Thanks.
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Post by jackaitch on Dec 23, 2010 12:09:32 GMT -1
Does anyone remember pauldings dept store going up in flames, around the late 1950's. It was located on loyd street not far from downtown m/c. We lived near Loyd st and Claremont rd , we walked to the fire. Fire embers were falling out of the sky around chorlton medlock on the walk home. Just wondering how old I was at the time. That location seemed to remain vacant for decades. I remember a Manchester Corporation double decker bus ending in the "what was the basement" cannot remember the year, |
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Post by elainegregory on Dec 23, 2010 20:34:48 GMT -1
My mam once told me that dad came home and asked her how she had blown all the fuses, he didnt realise that all the electric had been turned off !
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Post by southampton on Dec 25, 2010 19:46:19 GMT -1
Hi. Jonesg. If you mean the Pauldens store that was on Stretford Rd Hulme? The fire was on a Sunday in 1957, but I'm not sure what month it was. John I was just 11 years old and whilst living in Crumpsall after passing my 11+ I was sent to a school in Wythenshawe ( St Columba's Roundwood Rd) and I do remember the bus ( No 103?) having to make a detour due to the fire, this was on a Monday morning which was if not my first day at the new school it was within the first few weeks, so whatever month kids in those days started their new schools the fire would have been the same month, March ?? as I was born in 1946 I would have been 11 in 1957 so the year was as John says 1957 |
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Post by anneomalley on Jan 11, 2011 19:06:42 GMT -1
As a new member i was so intrested to read about the fire after all these years. What memories it brings back.My Mother worked at Pauldens in the office. She left when i was born i can remember her taking my brother and i with her to do her shopping.I can still remember all those years ago going down with her and all her friends and the local people standing round in shock and the terrible state that had once been such a part of our growing up.The new store was never the same.
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Post by southampton on Jan 17, 2011 18:22:38 GMT -1
[quote author=anneomalley
=.The new store was never the same. [/quote]
did they move into what was called 'Henrys' Store on Market Street? later to become a BHS store?.
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Post by cabbyjohn on Jan 18, 2011 11:00:40 GMT -1
[quote author=anneomalley =.The new store was never the same. did they move into what was called 'Henrys' Store on Market Street? later to become a BHS store?.[/quote] Yes I'm fairly certain that you are right. I seem to remember going in there after the fire. |
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Post by sapper on Jan 27, 2011 16:34:19 GMT -1
Talking of "Big Fires" who remembers the Casino cinema fire of 1959. Pauldens moved into the building opposite Lewis's store in Market Street Manchester.
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Post by Lisa on Jan 28, 2011 7:45:18 GMT -1
Hi Sapper, I remember the big fire in Woolworths on Piccadilly...wasnt there a casino over Woolies? Is that the one you mean. Such a shame that we no longer see Woolworths on our High Streets.  |
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Post by cabbyjohn on Jan 28, 2011 9:24:47 GMT -1
Hi Sapper, I remember the big fire in Woolworths on Piccadilly...wasnt there a casino over Woolies? Is that the one you mean. Such a shame that we no longer see Woolworths on our High Streets. The Woolworths fire which claimed the lives of 10 people took place on May 8th 1979. there were horrific scenes of people trapped on the upper floors by iron bars across the windows preventing their rescue. As a result of the fire new legislation was brought in concerning the improvement of fire proof materials in furniture stuffing. From the day of the fire until Woolworths finally closed its doors for good, there was never another Woolworths store in Manchester City Centre. Another direct change because of the fire was that until recent years you would always see a mechanical high lift hoist attending all fire alarm calls in the city centre which was capable of reaching most of the higher windows of the buildings in town. I remember another horrific fire in Manchester City centre some time later. The fire was in an upper floor office block where a number of women were working the evening shift in a computer punch card processing office when the fire broke out. A number of women were trapped and died in the fire. I think that the fire was in an office block lower down than Woolworths, possibly in China lane close to Piccadilly station. I think that the fire was in the late 70s or early 80s, perhaps somebody on here can enlighten me? |
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Post by Charlie Hind (Female) on Feb 17, 2011 13:59:12 GMT -1
I remember the Woolworths fire. It was horrific I was 21 on my way from work on the bus into Lewis's for my wedding shoes & weekly browse for clothes in the shops. My mother was a little worried when I didn't get back until nearly 7pm that evening because of all the traffic & carnage and the shops closed around 5 then. My tea was a bit dried up in the oven too. R I P the people who lost their lives on that tragic day. It was awful. Charlie
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Post by jonesg on Mar 2, 2011 2:30:53 GMT -1
Theres a bit of a history of bad fires around m/c no?
I recall wooden floors and wood stairs in woolworths.
A worse firetrap was a warehouse dept store called sylvana's (?)
I think it was located near belle vue but not sure about that.
Went there when I was very young and remember a wooden elevator, it didn't "feel" safe.
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Post by Lisa on Mar 2, 2011 13:40:45 GMT -1
Hi Jonesg, I used to go to a factory called Sylvanas in Ancoats. They sold coats but thought the stairs were made of stone.....I should know because I fell down them once and boy did it hurt.   Theres a bit of a history of bad fires around m/c no? I recall wooden floors and wood stairs in woolworths. A worse firetrap was a warehouse dept store called sylvana's (?) I think it was located near belle vue but not sure about that. Went there when I was very young and remember a wooden elevator, it didn't "feel" safe. |
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Post by lin on Mar 2, 2011 16:37:11 GMT -1
Lisa...I remember Sylvanas in Ancoats, always wondered what happened to it.
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Post by Lisa on Mar 2, 2011 20:27:30 GMT -1
I did hear somewhere that the mill was burned downbut dont know for sure. Jean might know. Lisa...I remember Sylvanas in Ancoats, always wondered what happened to it. |
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Post by bestwest on Mar 3, 2011 12:01:24 GMT -1
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Post by jnealedroylsden on Mar 3, 2011 16:47:17 GMT -1
I did hear somewhere that the mill was burned downbut dont know for sure. Jean might know. Lisa...I remember Sylvanas in Ancoats, always wondered what happened to it. not too sure about a fire, just thought it had been demolished and houses were built.............same time as Ancoats Hospital ceased to be .............. |
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Post by jonesg on Mar 4, 2011 4:38:49 GMT -1
Hi Jonesg, I used to go to a factory called Sylvanas in Ancoats. They sold coats but thought the stairs were made of stone.....I should know because I fell down them once and boy did it hurt. Theres a bit of a history of bad fires around m/c no? I recall wooden floors and wood stairs in woolworths. A worse firetrap was a warehouse dept store called sylvana's (?) I think it was located near belle vue but not sure about that. Went there when I was very young and remember a wooden elevator, it didn't "feel" safe. The wooden stairs were in piccadilly woolies, there was a wooden escalator, I recall wooden slats that I thought would trap my toes. So it did burn down, not surprised. Sylvana was in ancoats? I just don't recall all the names for areas around m/c. I'll have to look on google earth again. |
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Post by Lisa on Mar 4, 2011 6:00:55 GMT -1
Good morning Jonesg, You've triggered off a memory about Sylvanas when you mentioned the scary lift. You are right....there was a lift and it had concertina doors with no outer door. It was an old rickety lift that took you up to the first floor. When you pressed the button, it jerked so badly that you thought you were going to fall. That's why I prefered to use the stairs. If I went with my mum, she prefered to use the lift and I hated that lift. It would be banned by now by our good old Health and Safety. Those little memories are there just lurking in your mind waiting for someone in the USA to trigger them off. Thanks Jonesg.  |
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tomuk
New Member
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Post by tomuk on Mar 30, 2011 17:52:32 GMT -1
Sylvana was just off Old Mill Street, a few hundred yards past Ancoats Hospital, which was also demolished when the area was redeveloped. The main entrance and facade of the Hospital has been preserved as an architectural feature with modern apartments either side. Regarding the Pauldens fire - the www.images.manchester.gov.uk website has interesting pictures of the Pauldens fire. In the 1960s i worked at Warburton's Printers and we had a floor in a mill opposite the hospital on Old Mill Street. It was similar to the Sylvana Mill with timber floors and stone staircases. Various companies occupied the mill. We moved when the mills on that side of the street were demolished to make way for new maisonettes in the mid-1960s. Ironically, these only lasted just over 30 years before they in turn were pulled down and now modern apartment buildings dominate the scene. |
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Post by jackaitch on Mar 30, 2011 18:59:42 GMT -1
Sylvana was just off Old Mill Street, a few hundred yards past Ancoats Hospital, which was also demolished when the area was redeveloped. The main entrance and facade of the Hospital has been preserved as an architectural feature with modern apartments either side. Regarding the Pauldens fire - the www.images.manchester.gov.uk website has interesting pictures of the Pauldens fire. In the 1960s i worked at Warburton's Printers and we had a floor in a mill opposite the hospital on Old Mill Street. It was similar to the Sylvana Mill with timber floors and stone staircases. Various companies occupied the mill. We moved when the mills on that side of the street were demolished to make way for new maisonettes in the mid-1960s. Very interesting read.it appears you are quite knowledgeable about the area..I logged onto the images site as you suggested found a photograph of the arches on Altrincham Street...my father spent all his working life on that very street ......some 48 years!!!!! Ironically, these only lasted just over 30 years before they in turn were pulled down and now modern apartment buildings dominate the scene. |
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Post by rik on Nov 14, 2015 10:09:16 GMT -1
'Silvana' (correct spelling) burnt to a shell on 18th November 1985 and was demolished soon after. Silvana was formed when John Simon who had a clothing business in Phoenix Mill, Piercy Street, Ancoats had a big order of coats etc cancelled by C&A. He decided to sell them off to his staff, their families and friends and they sold out very quickly. He then opened a 'direct to the public' department on the top floor of Phoenix Mill and called it Silvana which everybody called Silvana's. Not long after because of demand he added the lift that was built onto the front of the building that faced Piercy Street. He also used to put on a free bus that went from outside C&A to Piercy Street and back again. I lived at 148 Old Mill Street, Ancoats from 1962 and our house was directly opposite the mill.
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