Favourite Watering Holes

[Lisa]

Hi Bodzy, In that case I'd better hurry up and organise this reunion that I've been talking about for so long. Want to try to get all the ex-Seymour Road schoolpals together at the school before they pull that one down, also to do a tour of the area visiting all our old haunts. For example. Clayton Hall and where the playgrounds was. The Conservative Club (especially the fire escape where we often played). All the area around the New Road where all the shops were near Wright Hyde Chemist. The old Co-op Hall, the canal and the bywash and the locks........to name but a few. I've been back to visit my old house which is still there but friends' houses have been pulled down. Parts of it look in a sorry state but it was HOME once and I have very special memories of it.

bodzy3 said:

Lisa I still go in the Greens Arms ,only its not a pub anymore its a Indian retaurant not the best on but its OK All Those terraced houses at the back have just got the ok to be pulled down they are building 400 new houses there and 400 where Clayton Aniline is ,cos thats comin down as well

[Casso]

First up I want to thank Bodzy for his photographs of the Gorton pubs, it takes a while to sink in but they slowly bring back some great memories.

Secondly ... earlier on (above) Lisa and Babs mentioned the Rochdale Canal ... Last Christmas my son bought me a MEN book called Around Manchester in the 50s and 60s, and there are some telling photographs in its 140-odd pages. Unfortunately it bears the usual "All rights reserved" warning, so Alan would be honour bound NOT to reproduce anything from it on this site.

The inside front cover has a sepia picture of the Rochdale canal
along Redhill Street, from 1952. It's a cracker! You could have thrown a Morrie Minor in there and it'd have floated.

I think most of us on here are driven by nostalgia, and this sort of book is enough to bring tears to your eyes. For instance, there's one of the mums of Walter Street, Harpurhey, on their hands and knees scrubbing the PAVEMENT, prior to a street party for the coronation in 1953 ... and some of the blocks of flats that replaced the two up, two downs in the 60s were atrocious, more like prison blocks some of 'em.

The book's worth getting, but I'd be happy to send a jpeg to anyone who's interested.
Cass

[frankwalsh]

HI, Cass i lived two streets away from walter, st in leyland st, i well remember those days all the gable ends of the houses, were painted with either the Union Jack ,or the Royal Standard. There was just one telly that i knew of at that time ,belonging to Jim Kelly, he invited all the kids in to watch the coronation, we all sat there for hours ,gobsmacked, watching a very grainy 9'' screen, oh happy days. regards Frank Walsh.

[Casso]

Hi Frank, the only graffitti I recall, apart from the usual goalposts, was on the corner of Newton/Gloucester streets.
It was put there in 1945 and was still there in 1960 when I emigrated. One of the family had been a Jap POW, and it read
TOJO YOU GO, NO COME BACK, YOU STINK YOU OLD YELLOW b*****d.

It's partly a catchphrase from ITMA, and although it's a bit weak by todays standards, the sentiments were strong. Who'd have thought we'd end up with a houseful of Jap electronics, and a Jap jam jar in the street? ...

[frankwalsh]

Does, anyone remember a pub in town called the FATTED CALF,i was taken there by an older workmate. I would have been about 16, he said it was full of crims, dead exciting i thought.If i remember right, you had to go up a spiral staircase, and it wasn't very big. I will have to give this site a miss for a while, the memories just keep flooding back. Frank Walsh

[frankwalsh]

Cass, talking about the Japs, i well remember reading in the MEN about my mothers cousin, Francis Chapman, died as a result of the treatment he received a t the hands of the Japanese.that would have been about 1949. WAR is a terrible thing yet we are stil doing it. regards, Frank Walsh.

[Lisa]

Hi Casso, Would love to see the photo of the canal, if you have the time to send it. I'm going back to Clayton next week to look at the canal as its the only place we weren't able to get to when we last went to Clayton. I doubt if I'll be able to climb the fence (made up of railway sleepers) that was there in the 50's. We usually visit Clayton Hall & Park, our old school, St. Cross church and my old street and house that is still standing. I will take some photos this time so watch this space.

casso said:

First up I want to thank Bodzy for his photographs of the Gorton pubs, it takes a while to sink in but they slowly bring back some great memories.

Secondly ... earlier on (above) Lisa and Babs mentioned the Rochdale Canal ... Last Christmas my son bought me a MEN book called Around Manchester in the 50s and 60s, and there are some telling photographs in its 140-odd pages. Unfortunately it bears the usual "All rights reserved" warning, so Alan would be honour bound NOT to reproduce anything from it on this site.

The inside front cover has a sepia picture of the Rochdale canal
along Redhill Street, from 1952. It's a cracker! You could have thrown a Morrie Minor in there and it'd have floated.

I think most of us on here are driven by nostalgia, and this sort of book is enough to bring tears to your eyes. For instance, there's one of the mums of Walter Street, Harpurhey, on their hands and knees scrubbing the PAVEMENT, prior to a street party for the coronation in 1953 ... and some of the blocks of flats that replaced the two up, two downs in the 60s were atrocious, more like prison blocks some of 'em.

The book's worth getting, but I'd be happy to send a jpeg to anyone who's interested.
Cass

[janurse123]

What a brilliant site, I was born in Manchester (barton upon urmston) and along with my two sisters adopted in 1961, i wonder if anyone has information that could help, before we were adopted we lived in many differerent areas of manchester. particularly Trafford area. i am trying to trace family in the area, in particular anthony flanagan brother of veronica flanagan (who was notorious in manchester i believe). My father died in 1961 following a brain operation he was convelesing in St Alphonsus nursing home when he died aged 52. He was i believe a lorry driver and pub pianist, maybe some of you drinkers may remember him, his name was John Swift, born in chorlton. Veronica was the sister of anthony, her mother was elizabeth flanagan formally Gladwin. One of my memories was of visiting my adopted grandmother Mrs Faulker who had a boarding house she regularly had wrestlers from Belle Vue stay with her. Mick McManus always gave me a pound when i saw him ! steve Logan also stayed there, both lovely men.

[lin]

Janurse123....Hi and welcome ..Glad you like the manmates site, everyone very friendly and welcoming here...sorry I can't personally help you with any information, but I wish you all the very best of luck with your search.

Lin

[Mike]

Hi there and wecome to manmates, the people you are looking for in that area may have moved by now?

ANTHONY FLANAGAN 38 EAST STREET AUDENSHAW MANCHESTER M34 5BX 0161 320 5215

ANTHONY J. FLANAGAN 59 HOLLINEY ROAD MANCHESTER M22 5JJ 0161 436 7350

A FLANAGAN 150 WENDOVER ROAD MANCHESTER M23 9JX 0161 973 7024

A FLANAGAN 37 NEARCROFT ROAD MANCHESTER M23 1BS 0161 998 0030

All of the above taken from www.192.com
there are more name on there but you have to pay.

England & Wales, Marriage Index: 1984-2004
about Veronica M Flanagan
Name: Veronica M Flanagan
Spouse Surname: Harrison-Scott
Date of Registration: May 1990
Registration district: Bolton
Registration county (inferred): Lancashire, Lincolnshire
Volume Number: 38
Page Number: 230

Lancashire Marriage indexes for the years: 1956
Surname Forename(s) Surname Forename(s) Church / Register Office Registers At Reference
FLANAGAN Veronica BIALOWAS Jan Oldham Register Office or Registrar Attended Oldham MIDD_RM/22/118


Thats all i could find at the moment hope it helps you a little

Migky

[janurse123]

Thank you, the site has triggered lots of memories, i recognise many of the old photos. Live in Yorkshire but still very proud to be a Mancunion !!!

[janurse123]

MIGKY, WOW THANK YOU, YOU ARE VERY QUICK OFF THE BALL.
Dont want to bore you but I have found information about Veronica Flanagan, she was our mother, she actually moved to London in 1961 after we were adopted. She married a man named Robert John and went on following their marriage to have a further 5 children !!! I have found 3 of them as they were taken into care following her death in London 1977 aged 42 !!! We now have a wonderful relationship with our London rellies. I am looking for Anthony her brother born 1940 but had no luck with BDM. i will try 192 as you suggest, i have tried before and not been sucessful. I am trying to find Michael C John born in London 1971 to veronica (my brother) and again have not been successful. we have found out many facinating details of a sad tragic life, it has been therapetic for all us children to find each other. we would like to find uncle Anthony though. I have heard that he may have had a fish and chip shop in salford but i am not sure. thanks again jan

[Lisa]

Hi Janurse123, Have you tried After Adoption? They are excellent at tracing birth relatives. You can contact them on 08000 568 578 or 0161-839 4930. As you are in Yorkshire, they will be able to tell you if your Area Health Authority has 'bought' into AA's services. In which case they will be able to do the searce for you for a small donation. They may in fact have an area office in Yorkshire. Its worth a phonecall just to see if they can help you. It looks like you've done most of your searching yourself with great success, so WELL DONE !!! How wonderful for you to have found most of your 'lost' relatives. Good luck.

[Belinda]

Hi,It wasnt actually my watering hole,but my granddad used to take me with him in the school holidays.He worked at the "Temple pub on cheetham hill road,cheetham hill.Hed light the fires in the snug and the tap room,they had a bowling green at the back which he also looked after.I think he must have given them back anything he earned when he went back in the evening someone on here mentioned the log end dart board,my husband plays log end,hes just won a trophy for least arrows.I can hardly see a normal dart board,id need a massive magnifier for a log end,and then id miss ;D x Belinda

[moonshine]

Does anyone remember drinking at any of the pubs in Burnage? Seems this area is unknown to most.

[clancy]

hi moonshine, yes i have had a drink or 2 in the Burnage area but its so long ago and i didn't go that often i cant remember the names of the pubs so sorry i cant help you tommy

[clancy]

sorry but there is no such thing as a successful diet it has to be a life style change with a change of which foods we eat and what we drink. what an amazing man Charles is with losing all those pounds i couldn't believe it tommy

[louisa]

Hi I remember the plough it was on the corner of wellington street, and the Landlord when I left gorton was a retired Policeman Mr Hallsall not sure if thats spelt right, he used to live on Oldhall drive and I was a friend of his Daughter Pat, I also used to go Hiking to Hayfield and we used to finish up in the Bull or the george for a good old sing song . someone mentioned Ken Austen and Billy Redfern they were Two of the gang who used to meet up at Belleveiw Station to go hiking

[Lisa]

Hi Louisa, Welcome to the Manmates Chatline. I'm sure someone will remember the pubs and people you mention. We have members from all over the world who are ex-Mancunians and we have had quite a lot of success in finding people for members so keep logging on to see if there is a reply to your questions. When you first log on, make sure you log on for longer than you think you will need as its addictive on here. Also its best to go to the Last 100 Postings to catch up on whats been said after your posting. Any questions, just ask. Good luck.

[Casso]

Hi Louisa, welcome aboard. I feel I should know you but can't place any Louisa around Sunnybrow, although the park - and the summer shed - were popular haunts around 1946-50.

I was also in Derbyshire most weekends, and in Hayfield on Sundays. We visited some great pubs, slept in some strange places and even did a bit of hiking and climbing now and again.

I lived in Gloucester St - off Cross St - and also went to Sacred Heart for about a year in 1945, before going to St Gregs.

Hope you get the information you're looking for.
Cass Cassidy

[louisa]

Hi, I used to get the horrible name Louie Millbanks My best friends were Jean Ashton and Silvia Buckley I dont recognise your name but We must have met we spent quite a lot of time in the Milk bar on cross street where Maria used to sell us " ciggys My friends and I went to heyfield most weekends

[bodzy3]

louisa said:

Hi, I used to get the horrible name Louie Millbanks My best friends were Jean Ashton and Silvia Buckley I dont recognise your name but We must have met we spent quite a lot of time in the Milk bar on cross street where Maria used to sell us " ciggys My friends and I went to heyfield most weekends

Hi Louisa I dont remember your name but the name of your friend I think I do Silvia Buckley where was she living in them days ??, as I used to go hiking to hayfield and go in siv's in Cross St and I knew Maria but I knew Rose better , I used to Live Off Chapman Street and go to St James and knockabout in the summer shed in Sunny brow Park, Small world eh
bodzy

[OLLY]

HI LOUISA/BODZY.....I CAN STILL SEE THE PINBALL MACHINES ON THE RIGHT HAND WALL WHEN YOU WENT IN THAT CAFE...THE COUNTER ON THE LEFT.....COUPLE OF TABLES AT THE BACK....
...AND THE LOO...FOOTBALL MACHINE NEAR THE FRONT WINDOW
WHICH I WAS NEVER OFF....IM SURE IT WAS DROYLSDEN WHERE THE WOMAN WENT TO LIVE.....

louisa said:

Hi, I used to get the horrible name Louie Millbanks My best friends were Jean Ashton and Silvia Buckley I dont recognise your name but We must have met we spent quite a lot of time in the Milk bar on cross street where Maria used to sell us " ciggys My friends and I went to heyfield most weekends

[louisa]

Hi Bodzy, Silvia Buckley lived in a street just off wellington street, she had a brother called Keith, I think she went to Peac*ck st school, she now lives in spain,

[bodzy3]

louisa said:

Hi Bodzy, Silvia Buckley lived in a street just off wellington street, she had a brother called Keith, I think she went to Peac*ck st school, she now lives in spain,

Hi lou yeah I knew Keith Buckley, now i remember ,I went to St Jimmys

[louisa]

Thanks to everyone for the welcome, Loux

[Casso]

Hi again Lou, Sylvia's name sounds familiar but that might just be my decrepit memory.

You'd have been a couple of years behind me, and the only names I recall from Sakie are Anita Morris who lived in Oakfield Grove, and Sheila Cannon from Suttons. Ring any bells?

Siv's was a favourite spot in Cross St, hot Vimto was the order of the day I think, but when we were about 16 we gravitated to Johnnies which was about opposite the Speedway entrance.

Shortly after that it would have been a pint of Chesters when we could afford it ...
Cass

[bodzy3]

Hey Cass please correct me if I'm wrong but Olly said the counter was on the left hand side as you go in but I seem to remember it being on the right hand side ,the same side as the plate glass window, its not a big deal if you dont remember !! its just funny how peoples memories seem different

[Casso]

You're right Bodzy, Siv's counter was on the right as you walked in. Don't forget Olly's from Suttons so he'd have been dropped on his head a few times ...

Just remembered one horrible memory from Sivori's. A group of us were sitting round a table when Les Wildgoose came in, put his arms round our shoulders and breathed, 'How ya goin' lads?"
His breath was atrocious ... it was our first experience of someone who'd eaten garlic ... and since then I've only liked garlic in small doses. Very small.
Cass

[OLLY]

ERRRR....SORRY LADS ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE MILKBAR IN CROSS STREET OR HYDE ROAD [BELLE VUE]....

bodzy3 said:

Hey Cass please correct me if I'm wrong but Olly said the counter was on the left hand side as you go in but I seem to remember it being on the right hand side ,the same side as the plate glass window, its not a big deal if you dont remember !! its just funny how peoples memories seem different