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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: Barbara.H on Sunday 13 January 08 21:10 GMT (UK)
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Having wandered off-topic on the Wedding Photo for Kooky thread, thought I had better start again here.
Around the end of WW2, my mum and her parents moved, or were moved, into the 'temporary' prefab housing built in the grounds of Heaton Park. Grandad was still there when he died in 1960!
Does anyone have photos of the prefab estates there, or has anyone encountered websites with references to the prefabs? I couldn't see anything on the Manchester Image Collection, or on Heaton Park's own website apart from a short mention. I have fond memories of visiting Grandad in his prefab but they are a bit hazy as I was only 4 when he died.
It's as if the prefabs never existed, yet hundreds of people must have lived there. Would be delighted if anyone has any memories of them to share.
:) Barbara
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Hi Barbara,
Sometime around 1962\4 i went to an 'experimental school' in Heaton Park, from Hulme, St Lawrence's primary ??? Not sure if I was gifted and talented or in need of special needs ;D
I remember some prefabs off Sheepfoot Lane where the experimental school was, Round ones like you said, but I don't have a clear image in my head, just a hazy memory, perhaps it was the 'experiments' they did on us. Do remember the food though, and the smell of cabbage and mashed potatoes, but I seem to recall it tasted good. Also having a nap in cots in the afternoon ::)
I've looked on images manchester but can't find pictures.
Will keep searching ;D
Tony
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I have seen a faint outline of the estates on an old inch to the mile map, and I think there were two; one off Sheepfoot Lane and one off Bury Old Road. I have my mum's last ration book (about 1952) saying Erlmere Drive, off Bury Old Rd, Heaton Park. So yes, they were around that part of the park. They were little round metal-roofed huts with plots of garden fenced off with wire, so they looked like allotments.
I think I've heard of that school (in hushed whispers, in our playground in Longsight... ;D) No really, was it one of those outdoor ones where you had lessons outside to get the fresh air or something like that?
Our infant teachers used to make us put heads on desks and 'nap' too, I think they just wanted to go out for a smoke..
:) Barbara
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Picture of your old school notice board in the image collection Tony!
http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk Ref: m64467.jpg Parkside School
Sounds like one of those Summerhill-type places, says "learning by discovery situation motivated by the environment"
and here's another one of the children! m64473.jpg
they could visit you as follow-up, see how you turned out ;D ;D
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I don't think I've ever seen "round roof" ones !! ... I can't even imagine them !! ::)
http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/story/printer_friendly.asp?StoryUid=44&totSlides=15
http://www.maraid.co.uk/blog/category/architecture/
Annie :)
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Heaton Park as seen by Google earth
Tony - Dot went to Parkside as well (small world)
Ken
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Hi Pal !
Haven't "seen" you in a while !! :) :) :)
Do you remember round roofed prefabs too ??
Annie :)
PS Poor Dot ... if she went to school with TH !! :P
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Wow Ken, that probably is where they were - thanks very much!
Round arch-shaped things like Nissen huts, Annie - I think Heaton Park was given over to military training during the war, and these were left over, so they used them for council housing.
Like this one :) I think they put more windows around the sides. I used to think it was like a gypsy caravan when I was little, I loved it!
Barbara
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OK Barb !
I haven't seen those ... but we had little huts in the garden that we used as coal sheds !! ;D
I have a picture somewhere ... and I can't find it !! :P
I'll post it when I do ! ..... my Mum was thrilled to bits with ours ! some time ago we had another thread about prefabs and Pat Reid lived in one in Ireland .... so they were all over the place !!
I just came across this .... there's a book just out about ours in Belle Vale !! :D :D
I have to see how to get a hold of one !! .... I've just spend the last hour on here ! :)
sorry off topic AGAIN !!!!!!
http://www.thescousehouse.net/index.php?act=idx
Annie :)
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Barbara/Annie
Cannot say I do remember the prefabs Annie, had to ask my mum the location and yes it was used by the military during ww2.
Heaton Park was our play ground for years as kids, there cannot be a inch of the park I have not explored as a youngster. Collecting golf balls in the lake, working on the boating lake, digging up bullets, climbing through underground drains "think that was dangerous" looking for coins after the fairs have left "we knew where the lads took the girlfriends" so change was often dropped on the floor - nudge,nudge, wink,wink say no more
Use to go running round St Margarets Church, which was only a couple hundred feet from the school, but doing my family research have found rellies in it.
My mums family line (Hilton) go back hundreds of years in the St Margarets area then called Rooden Lane
Looks like the challenge now is to find some photos of them houses ;D
JPEG REMOVED "BREACH OF GOOGLE EARTH COPYRIGHT"
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I was brought up in the prefabs at the bottom of Sheepfoot Lane and I can assure all of you they didn't have 'round roof's with windows let in and both estates had the same prefab design. I know because my Uncle and Aunt lived in the ones at the top of Sheepfoot Lane. They were rectangular boxes with pitch roofs and a small 'coal shed' which had a round roof in the garden and you could tie rope to the top over the door and make a swing. They consisted of a lounge with an open fire, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms with a large hallway.
The kitchens were 'fitted' and had a boiler for washing, a gas cooker, a 'drying rack, and a fridge. The bathroom had a conventional 3 piece suite. As you entered the bathroom from the hall there was an 'airing' cupboard on the right. The sink had cupboards underneath as well. There were two bedrooms the largest had fitted cupboards on the right as you went through the door with drawers underneath. The other bedroom I don't think had any fitted cupboards.
They were cold in the winter and warm in the summer but I have lots of happy memories playing in the park both winter and summer.
I am sure I have got a few photo's somewhere showing most if not all of our prefab I will see if I can find them.
The military camp was close to St Margaret's but had disappeared by the early 50's and wasn't near the two estates. The estates were built and opened in 1947 onwards for ex-WW2 soldiers and those dislaced by war time bombing.
Margaret
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as an ex-prefabby meself I find the subject of these dwellings emotive and Margarets description of them is spot on.
old rowley
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Great minds Ken,
I was going to Google Earth tonite to see if footprints would be visible 'a la time team' ;D
Was also remembering this morning what we did at the 'experimental' school and a pattern emerged. We made hot air ballons out of coat hangers and tissue paper, and used cotton wool and meths burners to send them up. Seem to remember some geography projects and other 'making bits' activities. So perhaps it was experiments we were doing rather than experiments on us ;D ;D
What does Dot remember :)
You can see the school, right and down from prefabs and below the left tip of the lake. EDIT silly me, you've already marked it up ::)
Sorry Barbara, off topic again ::)
cheers
tony
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Sorry Barbara off topic
Tony google earth at this location 15*25'33.33*S & 49*40'55.59*E (amazing close up)
Lets keep fingers crossed Margaret can find some photos of the prefabs
Ken
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S'all right Tony & Ken, you're still in Heaton Park so it counts! ;D
Wow Margaret, I guess I must be remembering the 'coal sheds' and inflating them (mentally speaking) to be the entire house! I do remember the front door opening into a fairly spacious room (or maybe the large hall) and Grandad's bedroom was off to one side. The fitted kitchen I also remember with boiler, cooker and fridge; my mum replicated the arrangement in her own home later and did not replace her boiler with a modern washing machine until the mid-1990s! She had the wooden tongs for lifting the washing out as well.
The family moved there from Moston. Langworthy Road I think; that was their address before the war anyway. We never visited Heaton Park much after Grandad died. Ooh if you could find a photo I'd be made up! :D :D :D :D
Barbara
Oh and the race track, was that for horse racing? As opposed to dogs or people? Seem to recall a painting of a horse race in Heaton Park in the Mosley St Art Gallery.
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Here's the ones we lived in !! ;D
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just like the ones that I lived in as a nipper Annie
old rowley
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The prefabs were pulled down circa 1961 and families from both estates moved into new houses that were built in Moston, Blackley, Langley etc.
I think the race track you are talking about was part of the 'White Heather' Camp which was near to what is now the end of the tram track. It had a running track, open air swimming pool (which I think is still visible in the wooded area close to the tram track)
At the top of the hill there was an arched wrought iron frame with the name on it and I think it was built between the wars as a Health Club for the benefit of local people. I tried to find out a little more about it when I did an MA but there is no documented evidence still in existence unfortunately.
Margaret
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Hey!! Annie you've never said you were a prefabby like me. What a small world.
Margaret :o
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Oh dear Ken's memories have opened up a whole new can of worm's ::) St Margaret's and places where he grew up :) But not for tonite ;D
Cheers everybody
Tony
:)
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Hey!! Annie you've never said you were a prefabby like me. What a small world.
Margaret :o
They were my "wonder years" Margaret !! ::) ::) ::)
Lots of wonderful memories ..... I didn't realise till I started reading that Scouse site that we were the largest prefab estate in England !! :)
You don't think of these things when you're growing up !!
My sister was the Rose Queen one year ..... and my Dad was in the Gardening Club !! ..... we always had dahlias and roses in our garden ..... and I used to love sitting on the back step when it was raining 'cos of the noise it made on the tin awning !! :)
Playing rounders in the street ..... ticking off Mrs Reid .... 'cos the ball ALWAYS went in her garden !! ::) ::) ::) ......... walking for miles in the summer with a jam butty and an old milk bottle of water ..... ( with no top .... !! ) to last you all day .... we used to play games in seasons did you ? I don't know exactly WHO decided it was time for skipping or go carts or a book on a skate down the hill or two balls or " the big ship sails through the alley alley o " !!
Lovely days ..... everybody helped everybody else ..... people shared what they had .... without being in everybody's business !! All Catholics and Protestants together .... which was unusual in Liverpool then !! ....... Sunday school treats .... parades .... any excuse for a parade !!
I had a wonderful childhood ! ..... I'm so lucky .... we didn't have two pennies to rub together and not the easiest of lives but we had a lot of love in our house and we made it through !!
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Was also remembering this morning what we did at the 'experimental' school and a pattern emerged. We made hot air ballons out of coat hangers and tissue paper, and used cotton wool and meths burners to send them up.
Reminds me of a tale I was once told of the school chemistry lab and gas mask filters being used to remove the dye from red diesel during WW2.
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Its a wonder you survived your school days Aulus & Tony - Annie's dahlias and roses sound a bit safer! ;D ;D
I remember at my school, you were allowed a sparkler each around November 5th We all stood in a circle in the hall with them. One boy got bored with his sparkler and put it in the bin. Trouble was, it was a wicker bin ... No sparklers allowed and only metal bins in school after that
Doesn't the prefab photo look like a sort of holiday village though - makes you feel happy just to look at it :) Its as if the planners had a moment of collective sanity. Then it left them and they went and built concrete blocks instead :(.
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Margaret, i think you were right about the shape and design of them. My uncle and his wife lived in one around late1950's Early 60's. My mother lives across the road from where they were, that been from half way down Sheepfoot lane to the corner of Middleton road. There still is a sort of school in Heaton park on Sheepfoot lane side again. I think they use it for a day nursery? I believe there were also some prefabs along Princess parkway around the same time frame and know we had a relation who lived in one, but i am not 100% where they were i just know they could have been around Mauldeth road?
Migky ;)
Oh! forgot , there use to be a cycle speed way there too, but i am not to sure if it is used any more? In Heaton park that is ;D
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The Princess Rd ones are pictured in the Manchester Image Collection, it does say they were by Mauldeth Rd. I don't know that area so well. There's several photos of that estate and one in Moston too, but not the Heaton Park one!
It s clear from all these fantastic replies that my memory is up the swanee and my grandad did not live in a nissen hut :-[. Sorry grandad. It must have been the round shaped coal sheds that Annie & Margaret mentioned that I was thinking of. Daft thing is, I have a memory of looking out of his prefab toward the neighbouring one. I can see in my mind that hers was a rectangular shape, so why I thought grandads was different ::) ::) ::) must be going barmy
Thanks everyone, keep the memories coming!
:) Barbara
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Still in Heaton Park, could I ask if anyone knows about the tram museum?
Kooky
I won't go on about sailing round the lake on the Heaton Belle!
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Kooky
This site might help you
http://www.mtms.org.uk/
Another good read
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaton_Park
Ken
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Talking of lakes, which you weren't going to do:
The Grandad of mine that lived in the prefab is supposed to have fallen out of a rowing boat into the lake while a bit merry. ;D ;D
Barbara
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Ooops! I fell into the lake when I was 5 and my Dad jumped in to save me. They took us to the boat house and gave us blankets to wrap round us while they dried our clothes off round a massive open fire. When my Dad heard that they had sent for an ambulance he dressed us quickly and I remember running home with him. I have still got a phobia about water and never learned to swim.
Just had an idea. I wonder if I knew your Grandad. If you PM me with his name I will get my thinking cap on.
Margaret
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Hi
When the prefabs in Newton Heath (the ones near Brookdale Park school) were taken down it was done very carefully. Everything was taken out and loaded on lorries and then they were taken down section by section.
We were told they were being taken to Spain to be reconstructed as holiday homes. :)
regards
Linda
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We were told they were being taken to Spain to be reconstructed as holiday homes. :)
Hope that's true!
Margaret, thanks, I will PM you. The family's name was Goodwin, originated in Derbyshire.
:) Barbara
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While we are not discussing the lake, can I remind people about the lions I used to sit on outside Heaton Hall. Also the ice cream etc we used to buy in what I know is the orangery?
Kooky
PS I was born in Heaton Park road, clearly visible from the Bell Tower in the park. :)
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If anyone wants any up to date photos of the park - drop me a PM. I only live 10 minutes away from it
Some may and some may not know but the park had a serious upgrade/restoration project done to it a couple of years ago. The only thing that did not get touched was the hall "it's still a disgrace" for a historical building
The old paddling pool has gone, the pets corner has moved, the tennis courts have gone, the fountain outside the hall is now in Albert square Manchester, New buildings at the boating lake, new kids play area near farm, new bowling greens (ex commonwealth games) by the St Margarets entrance, old bowling greens now a massive lawn area.
It is still a great place to collect conkers, my fav (secret) conker tree still produces them.
Kooky I think every kid in manchester/bury must have sat on them lions, they went for repair a few years ago.
Attached a few photos taken during restoration
PHOTOS TAKEN BY ME, SO COPYRIGHT FREE
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The small feeder pond to the paddling pool - what a mess
Now a job for the Time Team crew - tennis courts buried
PHOTOS TAKEN BY ME, SO COPYRIGHT FREE
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Oh dear!
Are there any pictures of the bell tower?
Indeed is it still there?
Kooky
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I take it you mean the Temple?
* 1 I took during restoration and 1 after ( http://www.heatonpark.org.uk/HeatonPark/Default.aspx )
Ken
* PHOTO TAKEN BY ME, SO COPYRIGHT FREE
other
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Thank you, at least that looks OK!
Kooky
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In hope of jogging Margaret's memory, here are photos of Grandad Arthur (taken 1934- best I could do - so mentally age him 20 years!) and mother Vera (taken 1955).
And at the risk of sending anyone off topic again ;) ;) , the lake in Vera's photo is Platt Fields lake, not Heaton Park.
:) Barbara
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I lived in a prefab in Blackley quite close to Heaton Park. Of course it is just a field now. I revisited the site about 10 years ago and was astonished how small the field was, as I remember it there were plenty of prefabs erected there. The site is at the end of Elbourne Road which in turn is off Blackley New Road and the Google Earth ref is lat=53.5272952782, lon=-2.24101418697. Margaret’s description of the prefabs is very accurate. Like probably everyone in those days we could not afford fitted carpets so my mum polished the wood floors, except the lounge where we had a very large rug and around the edges the flour boards were stained and polished. The kitchen and bathroom had a good old fashioned linoleum covering.
One Birthday I got a Mechano set and because our prefab was a little higher than the one at the back of us, my Dad rigged a line and pulley system from the kitchen window to our neighbour’s kitchen window in order to carry a device “he” made with my Mechano set. The system was rigged with a bell at each end so messages could be passed back and forth, the fun came on bonfire night when ripwraps and bangers were delivered much to my mums horror as they landed in the sink while she was washing up.
I originally went to school somewhere in Heaton Park, alas I can’t remember exactly where it was. A bus collected us at the end of Elbourne Road went up to Prestwich before turning down to the park somewhere near St Margaret's Church, Prestwich. I think the headmistress was called Miss Hampson.
At some point we were transferred to a brand new primary school on Sheepfoot Lane. An interesting point, I was the very first kid to be punished in that school! I had just got off the bus and stood in line but was caught talking to my mate and got a slap across the legs and told to stop talking! Sad old days when you got the strap for talking in class. I used to take great delight in moving my hands out of the way so the teacher would catch her legs, always worth the extra slap!
Around 1952 we left the prefab and moved into a new house
Robert
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Hi Robert and welcome to RootChat !! :D :D :D
Well all I can say is .... you prefabbies in Manchester were posher than ours in Liverpool .... we just had "lino" throughout !! ;D ;D ;D
I love the idea of the message line .... Dad's were so inventive then weren't they ??
My Dad made me a record player out of the turn table of an old wind up record player and me Mothers electric foot pedal from her sewing machine .... she wasn't very happy .... she had to go back to using the treadle !!
but I was happy !! ;D ;D ;D ;D
Annie :)
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My son wants to know, did you use an engine on your meccano? ( he's plotting something...)
And rip raps, they were great you put them on the ground & danced around out of their way! Health and safety?? Nah ;D
Some kids used to boast about putting them through people's letterboxes, but I don't know if they really did or not!
:) Barbara
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Just to digress slightly, Did you know that the cherry blossom trees at the entrance to Heaton park (Bury old road/ Sheepfoot land end ) were planted by school children? There was a man who lived a few doors down from my mother who was one of the children, sadly he died last year.
Migky ;)
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Migky
I am sure they have just dug some up to widen the road at the point
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Migky
I am sure they have just dug some up to widen the road at the point
No Ken, i don't think they have touched them but got close.
Migky
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Phew
They look fantastic in flower, shame it only last's a few days
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Young Cheery trees 1959
Before the cherry trees pre 1947
http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/
JPEG REMOVED "BREACH OF COPYRIGHT"
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I still havent found a photo of the prefabs themselves, but I did find this link to The Trolleybus Museum in Lincolnshire :o, which has a virtual tour of a refurbished prefab.
http://www.sandtoft.org.uk/tour/prefab.htm
Love the kitchen!
:) Barbara
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Taken outside prefabs.
Been waiting for my husband Brian to find this .Does anybody recognise him ?
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What a loverly picture , thanks for sharing it with us ( posh prefabs in Manchester much better than the lino lil ones in Liverpool ) ;D
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Brilliant, a picture at last, thank you so much :D :D
Barbara
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Great picture, kindles a lot of memories!
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Hi all, new guy here. It was great to find a site with info about the prefabs. I lived there until they pulled them down. Absolutely brilliant place to be a child. I went to the junior school and played in pets corner. We lived in the Sheepfoot lane end prefabs and I was about 9 when we left, I can remember crying my eyes out that morning. I very recently found a girl we lived opposite to on the internet and my wife and I and my Father had a day out with her and her husband last Sunday, great stuff, I hadn't seen her for nearly 50 years! I have a few photos and will post them. I also have a copy of a page from an old A-Z showing the prefab estate.
Cheers,
Bill (Billy) Hartley.
The first pic is my brother on a bike with a cousin, the second is me and our mam.
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Oooops, sorry, wrong way round.
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Wow! just noticed the caption on the photo at the top, we lived at 94 Broardmere drive, NEXT DOOR!!! The girl I traced was Angela who lived opposite us.
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Welcome to rootschat Bill (Billy) ! :D :D Which do you prefer, Bill or Billy?
I probably said at the beginning of the thread, my mum and her parents lived at 45 Erlmere Drive.
Would love to see more pics AND the A-Z page please!
If you have an A to Z from that time, we will be after you for the Old Manchester Map threads ;D ;D. Only map I have that shows them is a half-inch to the mile ordnance survey, so not very detailed.
:) Barbara
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Hi mrbothered, i have resized your picture for you if you wish to copy it and replace yours with this and it will fit the size of the thread and screen?
Migky ;)
Images removed as it may infringe copy rights
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Hi Bill
Thanks for the posting the photos.
My husband left 96 for a Blackley Council house about 1951 when he was 7.He can't remember who lived next door but will ask his older sister Pauline who was 9.Geoff is younger.When did you live there?
Sue Farrington.
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One more request to the prefabbys on this one please -
Map extract here is from a 1957 OS inch-to-the-mile sheet and is the only one I have that shows the two estates. Can anyone identify which streets were which please? I think Erlmere Drive, my grandad's street, was in the left-hand block, near Bury Old Road and the tunnel. Mrbothered also mentioned Broadmere Drive
If you scroll back to Kenhar's fantastic aerial views of the park in replies 5 and 9 of this thread, that should help as well
:) Barbara
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Hi all,
so sorry for not replying sooner. About the picture size, I'm not sure how to resize it once it's posted, if anybody wants to, please do.
Here is a copy of an A to Z page showing the roads on the prefab estates. I only have this and the adjoining page but can post the whole thing if anybody wants it.
Cheers all.
PS. I am named after my father so he always got Bill and I got Billy. I am Billy in the family but Bill to everybody else. :)
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Sorry if the pic is a bit large, again. I scanned it at quite a high resolution so the street names would be clear.
And BarbaraH, the girl I used to live opposite told me her Aunty used to live on the next road at the back of their prefab, which would have been Erlmere.
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You're the man Bill, thank you so much, and to everyone else who has contributed to the thread.
I'm a bit hazy about resizing pics myself - found a way to do it with my photo managing software but then sometimes they come out too small.. ::)
We are now top of the list on googling for 'Heaton Park + prefab' :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
Thanks again
Barbara
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Hi all,
so sorry for not replying sooner. About the picture size, I'm not sure how to resize it once it's posted, if anybody wants to, please do.
Here is a copy of an A to Z page showing the roads on the prefab estates. I only have this and the adjoining page but can post the whole thing if anybody wants it.
Cheers all.
PS. I am named after my father so he always got Bill and I got Billy. I am Billy in the family but Bill to everybody else. :)
I wonder, could you do me a favour and scan your other page which I hope covers the area a little bit further along Blackley New Road. With a bit of luck it might show my old address Wern Close.
P.S. For quick and simple method of resizing pictures I use a little program called “Shrink Pic”, it works really well especially when send pictures via email. It might help.
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Inkwise, no problem sending the page but I could do with your email address. The file is 1.7Mb and is too big to attach here. If you send me a PM I'll send it you.
I have no problem resizing pictures, what I don't know is how to resize them on the forum after the have already been posted?
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You cant resize once the photo is on the forum page, you have to modify that page by removing the overlarge photo and uploading the new version you have resized on your pc
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Hi, After looking at the last photo I can confirm it was taken on Broadmere Drive at the top of the walk where I lived from 1953- 1960, when the prefabs were pulled down. I think there were 8 prefabs in each walk (out of shot to the right of the children) our prefab was 96 (Broadmere) It was last in the row and as kids we used to climb over the garden fence in the park. The estate was situated at Grand Lodge.
The telegraph pole just above the lads head was a regular meeting point!
With regards to the prefab shown in the distance It was occupied by a lady named Drew we used to have the bonfires in her garden on 5th November. Next door to her to the left was the Simpson family, Tommy was a great friend, If you continue on in the direction the car is pointing the road drops away into a circle which was a dead end for cars but there was a gate on the right that led into thee park.
Just where the car is parked there is another entrance on the right to another walk with another eight prefabs last one on the right was another friend Peter Stringfellow.
Well that’s brought back a few memories!! Shame there is no more photos.
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Sent you a PM Barry
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Hi e....r Margraret Sorry but I am unable to reply until I have made 3 posting.
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try the chat room
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Hi, After looking at the last photo I can confirm it was taken on Broadmere Drive at the top of the walk where I lived from 1953- 1960, when the prefabs were pulled down. I think there were 8 prefabs in each walk (out of shot to the right of the children) our prefab was 96 (Broadmere) It was last in the row and as kids we used to climb over the garden fence in the park. The estate was situated at Grand Lodge.
The telegraph pole just above the lads head was a regular meeting point!
With regards to the prefab shown in the distance It was occupied by a lady named Drew we used to have the bonfires in her garden on 5th November. Next door to her to the left was the Simpson family, Tommy was a great friend, If you continue on in the direction the car is pointing the road drops away into a circle which was a dead end for cars but there was a gate on the right that led into thee park.
Just where the car is parked there is another entrance on the right to another walk with another eight prefabs last one on the right was another friend Peter Stringfellow.
Well that’s brought back a few memories!! Shame there is no more photos.
The lady occupying the mentioned prefab was Drew(cilla) Roscoe. I lived directly opposite her and her family at 120. I remember the bottom end where Broadmere drive terminated but unfortunately, I only vaguely remember the Simpsons. The exit down there incidentally led to our primary school (Parkside County Primary School) and I remember our head was a Mrs. Walton. I remember lots but would like to remember more.Hi all, new guy here. It was great to find a site with info about the prefabs. I lived there until they pulled them down. Absolutely brilliant place to be a child. I went to the junior school and played in pets corner. We lived in the Sheepfoot lane end prefabs and I was about 9 when we left, I can remember crying my eyes out that morning. I very recently found a girl we lived opposite to on the internet and my wife and I and my Father had a day out with her and her husband last Sunday, great stuff, I hadn't seen her for nearly 50 years! I have a few photos and will post them. I also have a copy of a page from an old A-Z showing the prefab estate.
Cheers,
Bill (Billy) Hartley.
The first pic is my brother on a bike with a cousin, the second is me and our mam.
You cant resize once the photo is on the forum page, you have to modify that page by removing the overlarge photo and uploading the new version you have resized on your pc
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Welcome to rootschat Bobchip, and a belated welcome to you too Barry! :D :D :D
Small mention of the prefabs in this 2003 article about guitarist Vini Reilly of the Durutti Column, apparently he was born in a park prefab!
http://www.citylife.co.uk/music/news/2963_durutti_column_man_speaks_out
:) Barbara
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Just to digress slightly, Did you know that the cherry blossom trees at the entrance to Heaton park (Bury old road/ Sheepfoot land end ) were planted by school children? There was a man who lived a few doors down from my mother who was one of the children, sadly he died last year.
Migky ;)
I was also one of the children who planted the trees. Our teacher, one Mr Edwards remarked on the occasion that in around fifty years time some of us would return to see the young saplings as mature trees and remember the outing. What a very strange feeling. I still live local and pass the "Grand Lodge" quite often so frequently experience what must be described as the "definitive" cherished memory. I would be very interested to know the name of your mothers neighbour. (If at all possible).
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Posting this to say thanks for the greeting Barbera and also, it qualifies me I think to send PMs.
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I have recently remembered that my mother used to have a friend called Hilda who lived in the prefabs. Her husband was in the RAF and was called Sam. They had a little girl about 5, I used to go and play with. This would be about 1948 ->1954.
Anyone remember this family?
Kooky
I think they may have been called Whelan.
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Hi Barbara
This has been a fantastic posting, but why dont you and the other "prefabbers" put your heads together and generate a local interest story and see if the M.E.N would be willing to take it up.
I am sure many more people would come forward with stories and photos.
I bet most people in the heaton park area dont know about the two sites, I for one was one of them, yet the park was my playground in the late sixties. We did find the remains of an old swimming pool down by the boating lake, I do think even today it can still be seen.
Ken
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This would mean revealing to the world the embarrassing fact that to start with, I could not even remember what shape the prefab houses were :-[ :)
And Ken, do you really want the world to know the location of your best conker tree? (reply 8 I think)
But yes, I was wondering about something like that. Haven't read the MEN for ages, it doesn't get up to my bit of Lancashire!
:) Barbara
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lots of memories of living in heaton park prefabs please get in touch for a chat
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Yes, I'd like to share recollections Sheila. Which of the two estates were you off?
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hi bobchat i used to live on bury old road estate went to parkside primary school and plant hill comp moved to marple in 1962 did you live in the prefabs?
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Yes I also lived on the Bury Old Road estate. Used to sit on the park wall on Saturday afternoons waiting for my dad to come out of the Ostrich.
I lived on Broadmere Drive, went to Parkside and like yourself, on to Plant hill so it seems we have much in common.
I still take out my swimming "length certificate" every few years or so to invoke memories. Signed by Mrs. Walton. Do you remember her?
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hi would you mind me asking you how old you are ? i am 60 also your name ihave been on friends reunited some schoo photos are on there back to the prefabs our family lived on erlmere dr. my dad also frequented the ostrich do you remember the local shop nellie whitelegs also heskeths paper shop near the train station do recolect any names of familes where do you live now regards sheila hughes nee ryan ps please excuse my pronunciations . iwill have miss walton on my tail ha ha
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Lovely to see you reminiscing and sharing your memories, but please be careful about posting anything about people who may still be alive.
If you wish to talk about the people you remember you can always use the private messaging system to exchange information. See Help-Page: http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
Enjoy! :)
Jean
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Just wanted to say what a GREAT thread this has been to read.In the 60's my parents managed The WoodThorpe Hotel which was/ is ? at the corner of Sheepfoot Lane/Bury Old Road.I too spent many a happy day playing in the park.
Remember Solomon King? His daughter used to run a dance school from the hotel ,and Pat Phoenix and Robert Browning used to meet in secret there for a drink occassionally :P
Down the bottom of the drive was a bus stop with a bench.I remember waking up one morning after it had snowed to see a couple covered in snow huddled together on the bench.
Horrified we all raced down the drive only to find some one had built them at some point.
THAT was a relief I can tell you *grins*,but it gave us all a laugh,and I think it even made it into the papers that evening.
I know lots of people build 'snow figures' nowadays,those two were the first Id ever seen though.
All your fantastic tales brought so many memories back to me.
Thankyou so much
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The woodthopr hotel today. Once you have clicked on the link click on the image to get a really big picture of the place.
Migky ;)
CLICK HERE (http://www.infotel.co.uk/hotels/united_kingdom/gtr_manchester/manchester/woodthorpe_hotel)
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Talking about the snow reminds me of my brother and I sledging on the hill at the side of the paddling pool and going home cold and wet from snowball fights and having homemade soup to warm us up.
Margaret :D
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The woodthopr hotel today.
Migky ;)
CLICK HERE (http://www.infotel.co.uk/hotels/united_kingdom/gtr_manchester/manchester/woodthorpe_hotel)
Many thanks for that MIGKY. It hasnt changed at all apart from the low wall outside.Its still as grand a building.
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Tis very different these days in side there as they modernized it a couple of years back. The wall is for disabled access.
Migky ;)
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Tis very different these days in side there as they modernized it a couple of years back. The wall is for disabled access.
Migky ;)
Yes I bet the inside is totally different from when I lived there.Have they kept the wood panelled fire place in the room that would of adjoined where the photo was taken ?
Does it still have all the woodland around the side and behind ?
Tabbitha
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No the land has been sold off to make a Jewish sport center.
The inside has been changes about a lot, and i not that sure for the better either?
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Ah, well as we all know,nothing stays the same.
Thanks for the info MIGKY.
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Was in the Woodthorpe for a meal a few weeks ago - it was B***dy fantastic ;D
Had a walk round Heaton Park today so took camera to find the old swimming pool next to the boating lake ;D
Did anyone going swimming in it?
Ken
Photos Taken by me so Copyright free
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Ohhhhhhhhh what a shame to see it in such a bad way.I am shocked the park hasnt been tended to better than that :o
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I am so glad I found this thread, my mother Janice Comrie lived in the prefab houses on Perrivale Avenue in the estate off Sheepfoot Lane with her 6 siblings and parents. My mother passed away in 1998, so researching her side of the family tree is a bit more difficult, I am sure she had told me lots about her family etc, But I would have been too young to remember.
She did however tell me that Heaton Park was where she lived and that they played in the whole park like it was one big backyard. This would have been in the mid 1950's and early 1960's.
Thank you for posting photos of the prefabs...I found some old photos of my mum outside some buildings that I assumed were holiday homes, now I have realised that they were photos taken outside the prefabs.
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I lived on the same estate. What were the names of all the children? You can PM me with them if they are still alive as I don't think they would want their names published on-line.
I think you have to leave 3 messages on here before you can send a PM but if that's the case just say on reply here and I will PM you my email address and hopefully I will be able to help you start searching your family tree if you like.
Margaret
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Thank you for posting photos of the prefabs...I found some old photos of my mum outside some buildings that I assumed were holiday homes, now I have realised that they were photos taken outside the prefabs.
Hi mrshodges
Any chance of them being scanned and uploaded to this thread.
Ken
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I lived at 24 Reedsham Avenue until 1951. We were the last prefab before the railings round the Army Camp and faced the wall that ran along Sheepfoot Lane.
At the other end of Reedsham Avenue were the Nissan huts from the war.
My husband, who is 21 years older than me (I hasten to add) was a young pilot in the RAF and was stationed in the huts, in 1942-3, along with Jimmy Edwards and Sir Richard Attenborough whilst waiting to be allocated to an RAF station.
As a child, whose playground was Heaton Park, I remember Sunday nights at the bandstand in summer was always 'Go as you please' night. I think it was a talent show. You could pay to go in the enclosure and sit in a deck chair or just stand at the railing and watch it all for free.
Although I attended Victoria Ave school I remember going to the school near the top of Sheepfoot Lane on a Saturday Evening to some sort of social evening. Parents were in the hall and the children in a classroom drawing and crayoning etc.
We had to leave in 1951 because we needed three bedrooms, but I remember the prefeb days very fondly. At school we were the envy of the children who didn't live in a prefab because we had a fridge. It was run by gas and got quite hot on the top near the back - perfect for drying out your gloves after a wonderful morning snowballing.
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hi i lived on the other prefab estate until 1962 went to parkside primary then went to plant hill fo about 18 months til we moved to marple i was friendly with a couple of girls off your estate janet degning and stella freer do they ring any bells regards
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I used to live next door but one to Janet and her family when we moved from the prefabs and her parents still live in the same house now.
Margaret
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I have some pictures of Grandparents stood outside the prefabs in heaton park as my uncle used to live in them. The are in the background. hope this helps.
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I have a few photo's of a prefab taken at a museum near Cardiff. I also have a few more of the interior if anyone is interested.
Margaret :)
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It would be great to see the inside of any of the prefabs, please post them.
Migky ;)
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Sorry no help with your search but just noticed your avatar. Spent a fab evening there for there 3rd birthday thursday night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4lAxBHGRcs
good luck on your search.
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So usually do this this nowadays "upload pictures" up came across this news report and pictures.
Please grab it if you want it - it may get removed (now removed)
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The reporter has got his dates wrong. They were pulled down 1960/61. Wonder where he got his dates from?
Margaret
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Brilliant Ken well spotted, thank you so much! Made my day! :D
Found a link to the article - just in case - but I don't know how long they keep stuff on the news site, so yes, grab it while you can
http://www.rootschat.com/links/07tz/
The prefabs were still there April 23rd 1960, address was on grandad's death cert - I thought they had gone well before 1967 though.
:) Barbara
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They were cleared by about 1961. The article was written by a local historian who took most of the article from Manchester City Council's official web site about the park. Whoever wrote that had got it wrong but he didn't check his facts which all historians should do.
If you look at the first picture you can see that the estate is new. The photo wasn't taken in 1967 but 1947. It's obvious the photo was not taken when the prefabs were being pulled down because most of the houses had privet hedges and/or fences as can be seen by the photo's that people have put on this link and were more individualised as you would expect after 13 or 14 years.
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Hello,
I came across your posts whilst trying to find some pics of Heaton park for my dad. Since my son has been Manchester Uni he keeps referring to this park as he was stationed there for 4 or 5 weeks in 1943. I took him there on Sat. He was there with the RAF whilst he waited to be sent abroad and has told me one or tales about his short time there! ;D
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LOL. I thought the prefabs were demolished 1963-65 ish. I didn't live there but lived in the Heaton park area and played on the site as an early teenager as it was being pulled down. Our bonfires on the 'Big Back' (Behind Nelly and Hermans off licence , where Walter Hale's coal yard used to be)were fuelled by the woodwork and furniture left behind as people moved out. Some of the prefab kids attended St.Hilda's school on Whitaker lane. I remember going to a birthday party in the prefabs when I was about 8 or 9. It was for either a brother or sister called Hulse who were schoolfriends at the time
Does anyone remember when the Water main in the park facing the Off licence burst. It took down the park wall from the Ostrich pub to the Railway cutting and flooded the houses facing on Bury old Road and the Ogden street/Park street area. I think that happened about 1960 but am not sure. It was a major event for a young kid at the time though.
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Hi Mrs V
Welcome to Rootschat
http://www.images.manchester.gov.uk/
Type Heaton Park - hundreds of photos to look through "not all the park" but a great look.
As a kid in the 60's & 70's we us to go dig up the used bullets, used at the WW2 camp shooting range between the golly pond and the golf course "good days"
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Hi Billy hows your Colin and to all the great people who lived in the best place in the NorthWest
My Name is John Holden I also lived in the park at 84 Broardmere drive it is good to hear all the experiences you all had cheers
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I'm afraid that I don't know anything about the Prefabs, but the "Parkside experimental Centre" off Sheepsfoot Lane was experimental ( in the early 1970s when I did a short stint there, at least ) in that groups of primary children were brought in each day from different Schools for a couple of weeks at a time, and worked with staff from the centre and their own schools together, as "Teams"on fairly free-form cross-subject projects round a basic theme, culminating in a display /exhibition at the end of the time, showing all the work. I seem to recall that parents may have been invited to this. Each team was based in one or two of the rooms grouped round courtyards. I seem to remember some flowerbeds, and a lot of use made of the Hall and Gardens. I think the Head then may have been called Miss Langden or Longden? I had the impression that the Schools invoved were deliberately socially diverse
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Wow, haven't been here for a while but then a post from John and a PM from the lad we used to live next door to, brilliant. I have just got in from a night shift but I recently got hold of a school photo taken at Heaton Park Primary school, around 1960. I'm on it and I recognise many of the other kids. I will try and post it later.
Thanks all.
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Sorry, can't do. Even if I scan the pic at the lowest resolution and crop the outside edges off it's too big. The forum limit of 500K is way too low. The smallest I can get the file size and still have it decent is 1.6M. If anybody would like to see it PM me and I'll send it you.
Edit, pic may be here soon. By the way, I am the hansom little devil on the front row left.
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Sorry, can't do. Even if I scan the pic at the lowest resolution and crop the outside edges off it's too big. The forum limit of 500K is way too low. The smallest I can get the file size and still have it decent is 1.6M. If anybody would like to see it PM me and I'll send it you.
Sent you a PM
Migky ;)
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Photo posted for mrbothered
Migky ;)
(http://i55.tinypic.com/muzpfa.jpg)
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Wonderful, thank you. The next picture is the same school but my younger brothers class which was the year below mine, same year. If anybody recognises themselves in here please let us know.
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Second image from mrbothered
Migky ;)
(http://i53.tinypic.com/ndsinp.jpg)
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Having wandered off-topic on the Wedding Photo for Kooky thread, thought I had better start again here.
Around the end of WW2, my mum and her parents moved, or were moved, into the 'temporary' prefab housing built in the grounds of Heaton Park. Grandad was still there when he died in 1960!
Does anyone have photos of the prefab estates there, or has anyone encountered websites with references to the prefabs? I couldn't see anything on the Manchester Image Collection, or on Heaton Park's own website apart from a short mention. I have fond memories of visiting Grandad in his prefab but they are a bit hazy as I was only 4 when he died.
It's as if the prefabs never existed, yet hundreds of people must have lived there. Would be delighted if anyone has any memories of them to share.
:) Barbara
I don't have pictures of the prefab estate on Heaton Park unfortunately, BUT I do know that my aunt and uncle - RICHARD TAPLEY SLACK and HILDA SLACK (both now long gone) lived there after they married towards the end of WW2.
I also think that they still lived there when their first child was born.
Shortly after this they moved to Northern Moor, Wythenshaw and stayed there in the same house on Healey Close until my uncle died in 1994.
Mike :)
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I've only just found the site as I was looking for info. about the prefabs. I was born in 1949 (at home) at 91 Broadmere Drive. We were near the bottom - known as the frying pan. On our small avenue there was Whalley's Mc Loughlans, Mrs Morris, Skinkis's, Morrisons, Mrs Flynn, us Kelly's (Bernadette, Maureen, Colette and Rosemary) and Mr and Mrs Mathews (Mr Mathews was a policeman.) At the back of us were the Murray's
We didn't go to Parkside School as we are catholic, we had to go, be train, to Our Lady of Grace in Prestwich. There were a few families who went there Roach's, Riley's, Dorans, Pluples. There must be more but I can't recall them. When we were rehoused we moved to Riverdale. Quite a few of us went there and many went to Darn Hill as well.
I still go in the park with my grandchildren and feel so proud to say that the Pope said mass almost on the spot I was born.
I remember trains going under the ground. we once started digging a hole so we might see them!
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Hi Maureen, I remember a lad called Murray, Gerald I think. I remember they had a quite mangy looking dog. Gerald dropped a Bengo match down my brothers wellie once and caused a small burn on his foot. Wonder if it was the same Murray?
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It sure is the same Murray. Ged still lives in the Blackley area. His sisters, Carol and Lynn both died at a young age.
Do you remember the mobile library and the mobile clinic that stunk of meths? What address were you at?
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Friends reunited have a forum on on the Parkside Primary School.
http://www.friendsreunited.co.uk/School.page/Parkside_Primary_School/379043/Details
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Hi Maureen, we lived at 94 Broardmere drive. I lived opposite Angela Hilton who I tracked down a couple of years ago. We had a brilliant day out in Blackpool with her and her husband.
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Were you in an avenue on the right, we were on the left.The bottom of our back garden looked out towards the lake. Were there 2 lads called Rudd, don't know their 1st names but they were very quiet.They were rehoused near us, on Riverdale in Blackley There was a family called Ladkin who my mum rented a caravan from (in Morecambe) I remember the Simpson's (bus driver?), Chadwicks (they had a tortoise!), Roscoes who went to Darn Hill, Jean was in my class at school.
other names I remember are Thornicroft, Lynn Kane, Gary Mitchell?, Duncan Jones, Ian and Geoff Taylor.
Isn't if good how after all the years we all have such happy memories. Did you have a doctor called Mac Callum on Whittaker Lane? Remember Harry Ogden's off licence and a shop on the next block, run by 2 very old ladies, we called it the herbalist and it had a penny box with 1d sweets.
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Hi to all Prefabbers,
What a great thread this has turned out to be! Lovely to see so many people sharing their memories :D :D
I wonder if any of you remember the statue of the 'Running Man' that was put up in Heaton Park in 1960 (sadly stolen in 1968)?
Rootschatter Spanton is looking for info about the sculptor, John Longden of Ashton-u-Lyne and later Clydebank, but also would like to see photos of the statue. Can any of you help at all? If so, post on this thread:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,537227.0.html
there is also a request for help on the Scottish board regarding John Longden
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,537573.0.html
Thanks!
:) Barbara
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Hello All,
Just found this terrific thread, as I was searching for info about Heaton Park Prefabs where I was born in 1960 at the bottom end of Sheepfoot Lane (! now live 2 streets away on Windsor Road !!!)
I do not remember anything as my parents were told at the time that they were going to improve the estate ! and moved us all to Bantry Drive, Blackley in 1961. Then they pulled them down according to my mum in 1962 !
I will find out more information and pics and post them in the future.
Not sure if anyone remembers my family, My parents are named John and Gina, from the Ukraine and Italy. I have 2 brothers and 1 sister Olga who attended Parkside school in the late 50`s.
I remember the running man which was sadly stolen in 1968 and never recovered >:(
I noticed nobody has mentioned the bandstand, or was it a figment of my imagination !
Hope to have some pics or more info on which street we lived soon.
George
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No George the bandstand wasn't a figment of your imagination. I'm sure that there are many of us remember sitting on the hill and watching the brass band contests and the talent competitions.
I don't remember the running man though what was it and where?
Margaret
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Hi George
Welcome to Rootschat :)
You might like this website http://images.manchester.gov.uk just type in Heaton Park Bandstand
What I would really like to find are photos and information on the swimming pool which was located next to the boating lake, was it part of the prefab development?
Ken
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No George the bandstand wasn't a figment of your imagination. I'm sure that there are many of us remember sitting on the hill and watching the brass band contests and the talent competitions.
I don't remember the running man though what was it and where?
Margaret
Hi Margaret,
The Running Man sculpture pictured on this thread:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,537227.0.html
What I would really like to find are photos and information on the swimming pool which was located next to the boating lake, was it part of the prefab development?
Ken
Hi Ken,
The swimming pool is shown on a map dated 1937, before the prefabs were built, so it seems to be older - perhaps built same time as the Boating lake?
Old Maps have it on a map labelled '1923-1938' - shows boating lake, swimming pool and the White Heather camp (my 1937 map does not show the White Heather, so Old Maps version will be earlier)
http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html it won't do a link straight to the map, sorry!
:) Barbara
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Hi Barbara
I can't recall the Running Man but I must have seen it.
The swimming pool was linked with the White Heather camp at the top of the hill. I can remember the running track as a small child but over the years it disappeared. It was only a grass track with markings on so they must have still used it in the early 50's.
There were two cottages at the side of the swimming pool. Long gone now but I can remember they were very old and had large open fires and an old slopstone sink.
Margaret
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Hi Ken,
Thanks for the link to pics of the bandstand.
Follow this link http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/1607233.stolen_park_statue_on_tv/
for news on the running man which had a surprise appearance on the Antique roadshow !
I do not remember the swimming pool neither does my sister who is 57 now, but many years ago i stumbled across some tiles at the edge of the pool i think ! today i went there but could not find anything, was`nt sure i was in the right place. Found a map now so will have another look next week.
I have attached some pics of my family when we lived at no.12 Buttermere Drive before leaving in 1961.
I'm the little baby in my Italian Grandmothers arms (awwwww!) the one and only time I met her before she sadly died in 1968.
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OOPs! having problems trying to upload pics.
I have them in the correct format and file size !
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OOPs! having problems trying to upload pics.
I have them in the correct format and file size !
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Great pictures George :)
We all had problems when first uploading photos so you are not the first or the last ;D
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What I would really like to find are photos and information on the swimming pool which was located next to the boating lake, was it part of the prefab development?
Ken
Hi Ken,
The swimming pool is shown on a map dated 1937, before the prefabs were built, so it seems to be older - perhaps built same time as the Boating lake?
Old Maps have it on a map labelled '1923-1938' - shows boating lake, swimming pool and the White Heather camp (my 1937 map does not show the White Heather, so Old Maps version will be earlier)
http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html it won't do a link straight to the map, sorry!
:) Barbara
Hi Barbara
Forgot all about old maps, thanks for the prompt ;)
So by the look of 2 of the maps c1939 and c1956 we seem to have three villages in the park - first was White Heather camp, which according to the maps was totally replaced and a TA Centre built next to it, and the larger village on the top field.
As for the swimming pool, a 1922 map shows it as a different shape, but going back even further to 1894 before the boating lake we still have them, so they may have just been ponds for the timber yard cottages --- all very fascinating
What I find so strange is the lack of information about the whole project in the park ???
Regards
Ken
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There are so many people now who are interested in the history of this area of the park I wonder if we could pool ideas to find out a little more. When I did my MA many years ago I wanted to research that area of the park for my dissertation from 1900 to the demolition of the prefabs and I found very little other than maps and photo's.
I contacted every repository I could find and even spoke to Heaton Park staff and no one knows where the records are (if there are any) especially for the White Heather Camp. They could be catalogued under a different name or subject or as I suspect are in private hands. Obviously over the years more records may have surfaced but where are they?
The more people who add information to this thread the better because it will open up new areas to search and I'm sure and at some point it will reach the person who holds the answers.
Margaret :D
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Hi Margaret
What was White Heather camp in the first place?
Ken :)
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Sorted :D
Today, a few people still remember the park for the White Heather Camp, a charity that offered a break for children from the poorer areas of the city in the 1920s. It was also used as an RAF transit camp during the war when young airmen staying there included Tony Benn and author James Herriot.
http://www.gov-news.org/gov/uk/news/heritage_registers_high_in_the_heart_of_the/73992.html
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Hi Margaret and Ken,
Have you got a Manchester library card to access the Guardian and Observer newspaper archives? If so, do a search for 'White Heather camp' and 'Heaton Park'
I just did, and there is a piece dated 10 Feb 1917 that describes a 'hydrotherapy' pool at Heaton Park in 1917, used for the treatment of convalescing soldiers. I knew they trained the Manchester Regiment at Heaton Park, but apparently there was a convalescent hospital set up there as well. Its fascinating, apparently they had a sort of early Jacuzzi - in Heaton Park, in 1917! They were about to build an extension called the White Heather Military Hydro.
Could this be the origin of the swimming pool?
There's another article, 7 October 1916 about the hydrotherapy treatment, says there is a photo on another page of the paper but I haven't found it yet :'(
If you can't find the articles, send me a PM and an email address. I'll try and make time to transcribe a bit of them later
:) Barbara
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I've seen that link before but it still doesn't give any clues as to how long the White Heather Camp existed, how large it was, what facilities other than the swimming pool and maybe the athletics track were available and it's that specific information that we need. What areas did the poor children came from were they local or from outlying areas? Which charity opened it or was it mulitple charitable agencies? All we need is that one clue to open up the search. There must be people still alive who stayed in the camp but how do we find them?
The transit camp wasn't only used for the RAF but also the army. My father was billeted there during the war for a short time. Where would we find out more details? Maybe a local military historian might know.
Margaret
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Barbara this is fascinating thank you. I do have a library card and hadn't thought to use it.Old age has a lot to answer for. I'll have a look later and if I get stuck I'll PM you.
Margaret
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Link - not much to it but a date
http://www.worldcat.org/title/signature/oclc/225842021
Ken :)
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The more people who add information to this thread the better because it will open up new areas to search and I'm sure and at some point it will reach the person who holds the answers.
Margaret
I have left a posting on a facebook group called "Save Heaton Park" it has near 7000 members.
Ken :)
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Thanks for telling me Ken I'll register my vote now.
Margaret :D
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Here's something from the Guardian/Observer archive again;
30 August 1913
"The Manchester Sunday School Union has a holiday and convalescent home at St Annes on Sea, and funds are now needed to extend the existing premises. One plan for raising the money was suggested and put into practice last year, when white heather was sold in the streets on one day. Five hundred pounds was made out of the sale, and it was then decided to establish a Manchester White Heather Society and to institute a White Heather Day. The President of the Society is Mr Matthewson Watson and the honorary president is Mr Harry Lauder.."
it goes on to announce a benefit concert for the following week, performed by Harry Lauder.
White Heather Day sounds vaguely familiar to me, would it have continued into the 1960s? I'm wondering if I heard about it at my Sunday School..
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Barbara you are an angel. I've just spent an hour looking at the archives why the heck I didn't think about using my library card before I don't know. I can see that there's plenty to research and names and dates galore.
It's very interesting how the charity expanded from St Anne's to Manchester and into Wales. I am particularly interested with the link to Henshaw's School for the Blind I wonder how many charities actually used it?
Woo hoo I know what I'm going to be doing over the weekend.
Margaret :D
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It's very interesting how the charity expanded from St Anne's to Manchester and into Wales. I am particularly interested with the link to Henshaw's School for the Blind I wonder how many charities actually used it?
Margaret
If you have an interest in Henshaws, this is a must.
I know this pre-dates the White Heather Society, but I have a small pdf document dated 1895 entitled "Fifty-Sixth report of Henshaws blind asylum"
It is a stunning and fantastic read and names everybody and everything to do with Henshaws even down to how much they spent on matches in that year, just wish I could get hold of more.
If you would like a copy just let me know your email addy via PM
Keep the info flowing Barbara I don't have a library card ;D
Ken :)
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ROFL Ken what would we do without people like Barbara? Why don't you get one you can register online and they arrive pretty quick.
I'll PM you my email address I would love to see the document.
Margaret
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ROFL Ken what would we do without people like Barbara? Why don't you get one you can register online and they arrive pretty quick.
Barbara uuurmmmm what can I say "classic vintage wine" "classic vintage car" or should I stick with a bl**dy good ROOTER ;D
Library card "done" now looking at the Gale NewsVault - yep that quick.
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ROFL Ken what would we do without people like Barbara? Why don't you get one you can register online
I'm assuming you mean a library card! ;D ;D ;D ;D but you're very kind, thank you both for the nice words.
I Dare Not go back into the archive today, spent too long on it already, so enjoy yourselves
And lovely photos from GeorgeK - I had a hat just like your sisters when I was that age!
:) Barbara
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Hi Ken,
Thanks for the link to pics of the bandstand.
Follow this link http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/1607233.stolen_park_statue_on_tv/
for news on the running man which had a surprise appearance on the Antique roadshow !
I do not remember the swimming pool neither does my sister who is 57 now, but many years ago i stumbled across some tiles at the edge of the pool i think ! today i went there but could not find anything, was`nt sure i was in the right place. Found a map now so will have another look next week.
I have attached some pics of my family when we lived at no.12 Buttermere Drive before leaving in 1961.
I'm the little baby in my Italian Grandmothers arms (awwwww!) the one and only time I met her before she sadly died in 1968.
Hi, I am Elaine Pilkington was Davies, I lived in Thornhurst Avenue which was the Middleton Road end, I left in 1960 moved to Bantry Drive and lived next door to GeorgeK!!!!!! I remember your mum, dad, Olga i used to play with, I am 58 years old now, do you remember me?
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Hi Ken,
Thanks for the link to pics of the bandstand.
Follow this link http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/1607233.stolen_park_statue_on_tv/
for news on the running man which had a surprise appearance on the Antique roadshow !
I do not remember the swimming pool neither does my sister who is 57 now, but many years ago i stumbled across some tiles at the edge of the pool i think ! today i went there but could not find anything, was`nt sure i was in the right place. Found a map now so will have another look next week.
I have attached some pics of my family when we lived at no.12 Buttermere Drive before leaving in 1961.
I'm the little baby in my Italian Grandmothers arms (awwwww!) the one and only time I met her before she sadly died in 1968.
Hi, I am Elaine Pilkington was Davies, I lived in Thornhurst Avenue which was the Middleton Road end, I left in 1960 moved to Bantry Drive and lived next door to GeorgeK!!!!!! I remember your mum, dad, Olga i used to play with, I am 58 years old now, do you remember me?
Hi Elaine, I dont remember, but i have the worst memory ever ! I will ask my sis who still lives in Prestwich.
Do you remember my brothers (*) ? I`m 51 now.
My Mum lives Prestwich too but my Dad died in 1983.
Do you still live local ? Have you any pics from Bantry drive ? I remember the Dougans,(*) (think they had a sister !!)
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Hi George, sorry i do not have any pictures from Bantry drive, I'm sorry about your dad! I slightly remember your brothers. I remember your mum (*) is it was always sewing at home!
I now live in Leigh, I remember the Dougans (*) and they still live there! I also remember the Palmers, the Bryants and the kirks.
What year did you leave Bantry Drive?
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Hi George, sorry i do not have any pictures from Bantry drive, I'm sorry about your dad! I slightly remember your brothers. I remember your mum Gina is it was always sewing at home!
I now live in Leigh, I remember the Dougans Billy and Tess and they still live there! I also remember the Palmers, the Bryants and the kirks.
What year did you leave Bantry Drive?
Yes Gina and your right always at the sewing machine !. She is here with me right now and remembers the Kirks, slowly coming back to her !
I think we left 1967/1968, moved into 47 crab lane next to the school, my parents split up, so for the next 14 years we lived between mums house in cheetham hill and crab lane.
After my father died Peter bought the house and lived there until about 2005.
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Does anyone remember the wrought iron gates that said White Heather Camp at the top of the hill. I'm sure there were gates as well that disappeared.
Margaret
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Margaret, i think you were right about the shape and design of them. My uncle and his wife lived in one around late1950's Early 60's. My mother lives across the road from where they were, that been from half way down Sheepfoot lane to the corner of Middleton road. There still is a sort of school in Heaton park on Sheepfoot lane side again. I think they use it for a day nursery? I believe there were also some prefabs along Princess parkway around the same time frame and know we had a relation who lived in one, but i am not 100% where they were i just know they could have been around Mauldeth road?
Migky ;)
Oh! forgot , there use to be a cycle speed way there too, but i am not to sure if it is used any more? In Heaton park that is ;D
I remember the cycle speedway track, in the 70`s a bunch of us use to use it often.
George
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I HAVE ONLY JUST FOUND THIS SITE RECENTLY AND AM DELIGHTED SO MANY PEOPLE REMEMBER THE HEATON PARK PREFABS SO FONDLY. WE LIVED AT 81 BROADMERE DRIVE ALMOST FACING THE KELLYS
(*) ARE THE NAMES I REMEMBER AND I THING THERE MUMS NAME WAS
(*) THE SAME AS MY MUMS. ALSO REMEMBER THE SIMPSONS WHO LIVED AT THE BACK OF US. WE USED TO SPEND ALL DAY PLAYING IN THE PARK DURING THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS IT WAS LIKE OUR OWN BACKGARDEN.
THE FAIR USED TO COME TWICE A YEAR EVERY YEAR AND WE USED TO GET REALLY EXCITED AT THE FIRST SIGN OF THE CARAVANS ARRIVING.
SOME OTHER NAMES I REMEMBER ARE (*)
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WE LIVED THERE FROM UNTIL 1961 WHEN THEY STARTED PULLING THE PREFABS DOWN. MY MUM AND DAD WERE GEORGE AND ALICE MCLOUGHLIN AND I WAS THERE ONLY CHILD MARGARET
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It sure is the same Murray. (*) still lives in the Blackley area. His sisters,(*) both died at a young age.
Do you remember the mobile library and the mobile clinic that stunk of meths? What address were you at?
[Hi! my name is Gerard Van Hecke and I also attended Our lady of Grace Primary School at the same time as you. I had a friend called Thomas who lived in the prefabs opposite the Ostrich pub on Bury Old Road. (*)? Do you have any knowledge of him?
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[Hi! my name is Gerard Van Hecke and I also attended Our lady of Grace Primary School at the same time as you. I had a friend called Thomas who lived in the prefabs opposite the Ostrich pub on Bury Old Road. (*)? Do you have any knowledge of him?
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[Hi! my name is Gerard Van Hecke
Now there's a blast from the past, Bit off topic, but you were a Carr clough wallah ( And if I remember correctly, the youngest councillor ever to be elected to the old Prestwich Borough council)
Bout 1970ish?
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Wow! I am flatterred that anyone remembers me. Yes that was I and perhaps we could begin another thread for this topic. The Heaton Park prefabs must have gone sometime in the late sixties but I think most of the people I knew had moved before the prefabs went. As Maureen has already posted there is very little archive material about them but the Prestwich and Whitefield Guide has some photographs and there is a local historian called
(*) who would be a good source of information.
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Maureen, i know this request is off topic, but can you please confirm if you have a sister called Collette. I believe she and my sister, Eileen (nee Van Hecke) were close friends>
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Hi,
I lived at 80 Broadmere drive from 1947 until 1952. from being 2 until 7 years old.
Our house was adjacent to the park, therefore I considered the whole of the
park to be my garden.
We had a " nissen hut " type garden shed.
My parents name was Woodier and we lived next to mrs Swift who had 2 sons.
The house opposite, probably 79 or 81, had a little girl who suffered from
scarlet fever.
I attended St. Hilda's School in Prestwich and I am told that I decided to walk home alone at the age of four. The road was obviously not so busy in those days.
The only other thing of note that I can remember was that a large green lorry with
the logo " Digger Tobacco " was frequently parked nearby. I recall no cars.
Ref 'Maureen 720 '15 May 2011. I remember Doctor MacCallum and I thought it was strange that he lived in a house with 2 floors. I believe he had a son named Sandy.
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Hi Everyone,
I delivered papers to the prefabs - the ones across the road from the Ostrich Pub, every weekday way back in 58/9, I think the name of the news agent was Halfords corner of Bury Old Rd and Whittaker Lane. On Saturdays I delivered meat to the prefabs, that was for the Co-op butchers down Whittaker Lane.
Some of the posts refer to the 'swimming pool' in Heaton Park, Well I can tell you exactly where it still is! if you stand with your back to the boathouse then head off to the left, you can walk round the lake - turn right, walk about 100 yds somewhere there is the water outlet for the lake which runs under the road and off the other side, the swimming pool is down in the hollow - just follow the stream I think it fed the pool. You can still see a part of it - steps if I remember, it was there 3 years ago I do know but over grown.
Hope this is of some help
regards Baz
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Hi baz1947
Welcome to Rootschat.
You are correct in the location of the pool, page 6 of this thread will help as well as it shows you a plan of the park and page 9 will show a couple of photos taken of the pool a short time ago and what to expect when you find it.
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Hello
I write fiction for women's magazines. This thread has been great for research - trying to capture the feel of those times and what it was like to live in a prefab.
I have a story in The People's Friend Spring Special set in an imaginary prefab village - based very loosely on the Heaton Park area. There'll be another story set here in June's Jubilee issue and (I hope) more stories to follow. I think the illustrator has done a fantastic job in capturing the era (1950s), the area and the characters.
I thought some of you might like to see the prefab painting on my blog:
http://writeupthehill.blogspot.com/
Please feel free to leave comments there!
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Thank you for the link Pat :D
So glad you have enjoyed the thread! I haven't read People's Friend for ages, used to buy it for my mum. The illustration is lovely, I'll certainly look out for the story in the Spring Special
:) Barbara
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I hope you enjoy Daffodil Days, Barbara. I've bought the original artwork from the illustrator of that story and the next one (I'll show the second picture on my blog after the story has been published).
So sorry about your lovely cat. It's hard losing a pet. Our old cat was 23 when she went to Rainbow Bridge. We've four dogs there, too.
Best
Pat
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HI I LIVED AT81 BROADMERE DRIVE I WAS A MARGARET MCLOUGHLIN BRILLIANT TO FIND THIS SITE LOTS OF HAPPY MEMORIES
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There's another lovely painting on my blog - the illustration for the second of my stories set in my imaginary prefab village. Please go have a look, and comment if you'd like to.
http://writeupthehill.blogspot.com/
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hi everyone
just found this site.I lived at 44 perrivale ave with my mam,dad and sister.we came there in 1952 I was 1 month old and lived thier till I was about 9,we then moved to moston.I now live in Tasmania but was back in m/c. last year with my eldist son.Had a good walk around the park was not how I remembered it but a smile came to my face when I saw the 2 trees that used to be in our back yard.O almost forgot ime so excited about this site my name is robert foley.I have a few photos from back then will find them and put them up.
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Welcome to Rootschat Robert, and Pat again, and Margaret!
Glad you found 'your' trees Robert, would be great to see your photos
I've just found this photo in the Manchester Local images collection - is that one of the prefab estates in the background of the bowling green? If so, which one would it be? I think its looking towards the houses off Sheepfoot Lane where Perrivale Avenue was?
http://images.manchester.gov.uk/Display.php?irn=60168&QueryPage=%2Findex.php&QueryName=BasicQuery&QueryPage=%2Findex.php&Anywhere=SummaryData|
:) Barbara
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that is "The White Heather Camp"
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Oh yes, the White Heather camp has had mentions on this thread before, thank you Blackburn Fossil :D Margaret (Aggiebagwash) was researching it
I started browsing through all the Heaton Park photos on the Images site, there's a lovely one here of the stature "The Runner" that we talked about one time
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0rpt/
:) Barbara
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Does anyone who lived on Buttermere drive in the 50's remember my Mum and Dad who lived at number 13, Rae (nee McInnes) and Frank Hudson? Rae was the local midwife who had a motorbike to get to her mums to be. My Dad is now 81 and would love to revive his memories with any photos or information you may have, thanks!
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Hi Colin, good to see you on here! One of my favourite sites.
Kooky
ps I have pm'd you.
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Does anyone who lived on Buttermere drive in the 50's remember my Mum and Dad who lived at number 13, Rae (nee McInnes) and Frank Hudson? Rae was the local midwife who had a motorbike to get to her mums to be. My Dad is now 81 and would love to revive his memories with any photos or information you may have, thanks!
? where was buttermere dr I lived on the bury old rd estate and don't remember this one.keek
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Buttermere Drive wasn't on the Bury Old Rd estate, it was on the other Heaton Park estate, the one off Sheepfoot Lane :)
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Buttermere Drive wasn't on the Bury Old Rd estate, it was on the other Heaton Park estate, the one off Sheepfoot Lane :)
Thanks Barbara just found it on an old map should have looked there first.regards keith
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Barbara I lived in Heaton Park Prefabs until about 1962. We lived on Thornhust Avenue, In fact I just met two young ladies that lived there also in Virginia, USA. One was on holiday and the other actually lived here in Virginia. We had such a good time remenising about our childhood even though we had not seen each other in half a century sounds along time I know lol. We lived at the opposite end to you the same side as the school was I think it was Parkside. I have registered in my maiden name so people will know me!
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Barbara just remembered it was on the Sheetfoot Lane side!
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Elaine (Davis) Pilkinson I also lived on Thornhurst Ave. what number did you live at? I lived at 7.
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I remember the Comries from Perivale Ave, I lived at the bottom of the street at 7 Thornhurst Ave.
Pm me if you have any questions maybe I can help you.
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Hi prefabers does any one have pictures of the inside of the houses.I have drawn the out line and included the rooms,when I close my eyes I can walk around the image in my mind but a photo would be better.regards keith
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Hi prefabers does any one have pictures of the inside of the houses.I have drawn the out line and included the rooms,when I close my eyes I can walk around the image in my mind but a photo would be better.regards keith
I hope this drawing brings back some memories of the prefabs.The scale may not be perfect I just did it to keep my memory refreshed.if I got something wrong or left bits out let me know. first pic rubbish to big.
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Are there any prefabs still standing anywhere ?.
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Hi Keek,
I've googled before to have a look. I don't think there any Manchester ones still standing, but there is one here at a museum in Wales, near Cardiff
http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/stfagans/buildings/prefab/
and another at the Avoncroft museum in Bromsgrove
http://www.avoncroft.org.uk/collections/avoncrofts-historic-buildings/
there are pictures of this one on youtube and flickr if you google Avoncroft Prefab
There are a couple of films in the Pathe News archive of prefabs being built (search Prefabs)
http://www.britishpathe.com/
One is being built in what looks like parkland, but I can't tell if its Heaton Park
:) Barbara
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Hi Ken,
Thanks for the link to pics of the bandstand.
Follow this link http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/1607233.stolen_park_statue_on_tv/
for news on the running man which had a surprise appearance on the Antique roadshow !
I do not remember the swimming pool neither does my sister who is 57 now, but many years ago i stumbled across some tiles at the edge of the pool i think ! today i went there but could not find anything, was`nt sure i was in the right place. Found a map now so will have another look next week.
I have attached some pics of my family when we lived at no.12 Buttermere Drive before leaving in 1961.
I'm the little baby in my Italian Grandmothers arms (awwwww!) the one and only time I met her before she sadly died in 1968.
Hi, I am Elaine Pilkington was Davies, I lived in Thornhurst Avenue which was the Middleton Road end, I left in 1960 moved to Bantry Drive and lived next door to GeorgeK!!!!!! I remember your mum, dad, Olga i used to play with, I am 58 years old now, do you remember me?
Hi Elaine, I dont remember, but i have the worst memory ever ! I will ask my sis who still lives in Prestwich.
Do you remember my brothers (*) ? I`m 51 now.
My Mum lives Prestwich too but my Dad died in 1983.
Do you still live local ? Have you any pics from Bantry drive ? I remember the Dougans,(*) (think they had a sister !!)
I lived on Kirkmere Drive next door to the Pluples and across the road from Ian and Geoff Taylor. i was in the same class as you elaine at parkside and remember your brother lawrence. We moved to Elstead Walk off Riverdale Road
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Hi
I lived in the Prefabs in Elmere drive, with my parents.
I went to Parkside school. I used to love the Great Lion & Lioness on the steps of the Heaton Hall.
In the summer my Mum and my Aunty would take myself and my two cousins for picnics down by the swings, and on really warm days we were allowed to paddle in the paddling pool, then go up to the pets corner. We used to love those days and still talk about them .
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Hi Barbara,
Sometime around 1962\4 i went to an 'experimental school' in Heaton Park, from Hulme, St Lawrence's primary ??? Not sure if I was gifted and talented or in need of special needs ;D
I remember some prefabs off Sheepfoot Lane where the experimental school was, Round ones like you said, but I don't have a clear image in my head, just a hazy memory, perhaps it was the 'experiments' they did on us. Do remember the food though, and the smell of cabbage and mashed potatoes, but I seem to recall it tasted good. Also having a nap in cots in the afternoon ::)
I've looked on images manchester but can't find pictures.
Will keep searching ;D
Tony
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Hi there Tony, I too went to the school in Heaton Park called Parkside, would love to hear more about "so called experiments" do remember the cots and the naps. Mother wasent impressed as I caught nits from said cots. Not pleasant. I always thought it was just an ordinary infants school and although hated the school dinners , very unpleasant memories of being forced to eat liver, had quite fond memories of school days there. Have one or two photos taken in the hall during gym lessons but will have to search to find them and will put them on line when I do. All the bestxxx
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Having wandered off-topic on the Wedding Photo for Kooky thread, thought I had better start again here.
Around the end of WW2, my mum and her parents moved, or were moved, into the 'temporary' prefab housing built in the grounds of Heaton Park. Grandad was still there when he died in 1960!
Does anyone have photos of the prefab estates there, or has anyone encountered websites with references to the prefabs? I couldn't see anything on the Manchester Image Collection, or on Heaton Park's own website apart from a short mention. I have fond memories of visiting Grandad in his prefab but they are a bit hazy as I was only 4 when he died.
It's as if the prefabs never existed, yet hundreds of people must have lived there. Would be delighted if anyone has any memories of them to share.
:) Barbara
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I too lived in the prefabs in Heaton Park and was actually born in one in 1948. We lived there until I was about 7 or 8 when we were moved out because we needed a bigger house with more bedrooms for my brother and I. Some say the school called Parkside was experimental but it just seemed like a normal school to me, perhaps it was new teaching methods? Do remember going out for lessons in the park sometimes though. Don't remember a swimming pool but there was a paddling pool near to where the lake is. The bandstand had many happy memories . Seems that all who had contact with prefabs all hold them with extremely fond memories. Wish the planners of today would take a look back. It seems we were moved out around 1955/6 and believe some were still lived in until the 60s. "Would definitely have loved to stay there. Don't remember round roofed prefabs, do remember some had wire fencing and did look like allotments around them, We must have been posh (ha ha) as we had a privet hedge .We danced round the Maypole at school and we had Father Christmas come with presents at Christmas, (you had to take your own spoon for the trifle in small greaseproof dishes) Happy memories. xx
;D
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Winifred fieldhouse you were in my class at parkside, I have two class photos and you are on both - Maggi Dignam nee Margaret Johnson on face book if you want to see the pictures
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I lived in the prefabs which were near to the heaton park train station, I have to say that the huts I remember were just the same as the one in the photo, I was under the impression that they were used by the army in the war.
I went to Heaton Park school, from 1954 to 1962 it was known as an open air school. I do remember the folding cots, which we had to use every afternoon in the nursary, "not something I appreciated"
But I loved going to school, My favourite teachers was Mr Hargreaves, Mrs Mathews and Miss Walton the Head Mistress.
Does anyone remember a school trip to the Manchester Ship Canal? We went on a barge I think! The smell of the canal was pretty bad. I remember Shirley Whitehead. Barbara. and Roberta
Write soonx
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Hi my name is alyson stringfellow. You mention a peter stringfellow but my dad was called walt and my mum phyllis. I had three brother's mike robin and andrew (who sadly died) I was born in 112 broadmere.
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Hi my name is jenny Comrie and I was born in heaton park my mum is Elsie and my dad is jack. I also have a sister called Brenda Janice, and two brothers Stewart and graham are we the Comrie you know. I was born in 1959. If you are I would love to hear from you.
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Hi Everyone
My mum lived in the Prefabs in Heaton Park, she lived there from being 5 - 13. My mum was adopted and her name is Margaret Gillett, she would always be found playing in the trees. My mums parents were Mary and Fredrick Gillett.
It would be great to hear off anyone who knew my mum.
Thanks Joanne
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Ps. My mum lived on the white heather camp near sheep foot lane.
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Hi Joanne
If your mum went to parkside primary then a few people may remember her it depends which class
She was in,I lived on the estate near bury old road i also went to park side but I don't remember her name.a few people still use this site so you may be lucky.regards Keith.
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Thanks Keith
My mum went to St Clare's Catholic Primary school on Victoria Avenue.
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Hi Joanne
That's ok I hope you get some replys.have you tried school friends reunited.keith.
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My mum was more interested in talking to people who lived in the prefabs but I will tell her about that website. Many thanks
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[/font[/size
My name is Sandra Vilosky. As a child, I lived at 11 Erlmere Drive, Heaton Park. I went to the school in the park. I lived there until I was about 16; and then my mother, Rose, got a transfer to Blackley.
I remember the Phone Box on the corner of the big opening (the other end of the wall, was called the little opening /exit) onto Bury Old Road. I remember the Ostrich Hotel, the Off Licence, Harold's the Fishmonger, (I think); I remember, Sheepfoot Lane. I remember the Terminus Bus Stop at the big entrance gates to Heaton Park. I remember the inside of the Prefab, which I loved; and I can wander around in my minds eye, from the built in cupboards in the bedrooms, to the ones in the lounge room, and kitchen/dining room; plus the cooking range with built in under bench fridge. Outside, was the Coal shed, and a huge back garden, which my father, Harry, tended so lovingly. Later on, I remember a man called Jock, who was a gardener, and who also lived on the estate, showing me a handful of worms; which I absolutely hated, and to this day, cannot stand.
Of the park itself; I fondly remember The Heaton Belle Steamer; my. Wonderful grandfather often took me on for a ride, and even a second ride! Costing 2pence a ride, then an ice cream, and onward past the beautiful Rhododendron bushes; walking slightly uphill to our destination, of the Glass Cafe, with the stone Lions at top of the steps, on either side of the cafe entrance; then a cool Lemonade, and another ice cream, then we would follow the path round past the Bandstand, past the animals; and out through the large gates; then onto a number 35 bus to grandparents house in Waterloo Road, off Cheetham Hill Road.
I remember, some people who lived in Erlmere Drive, I think the name was,Mr and Mrs Bernstein, and opposite Mr and Mrs Peacock, and their daughter Ann. Ann had a record player; and we would listen to records such as Elvis, and Pat Boone, while Mrs Peacock baked Scones and buns. Directly opposite me; was a family with two boys, I think they were Jeffrey and John; I think the family name was Leah. I remember, at one time, a little girl called Mary, who wore a Caliper, lived next door to my right, or left if I was standing in front of my front door. I would climb over the back fence to play with her.
I used to gallop everywhere on an imaginary horse; I remember, a little girl on the estate, called Jean Moran! She had a very cool dolls pram, but her mum would not always allow her to bring it outside.
On the other side of the estate; near the little Opening in the wall; I would visit my mums friend Carmel and Tommy Baker! They had one son called Paul. I loved Aunty Carmel and Uncle Tom. They had a huge Sheep Dog called Cassie. I also remember, a little friend called Rachelle Donna; her father became the Mayor.
I have a brother called Raymond, eight years younger than me; and he used to ride his bike around the estate. Whenever we couldn't find him, we would know, there would be a fair in the park, and that's where he'd be.
The reason I wrote all this, is to maybe jolt someone's memory; but also, I enjoyed my walk down memory lane.
Anybody, who may remember us, or people I've mentioned; and would like to catch up; can write to
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Shi Liverpool Annie; I think the round roofed places referred to, was actually the Coal Shed!
He/his memory is probably fuzzy. There were also long round roofed structures, that were soldiers barracks.
I lived at number 11 Erlmere Drive around 1949 - approx 1960
I can be contacted on (*)
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HI LindaVynne
I lived at 11 Erlmere Drive. Do you remember a girl called Jean Moran?
To all prefab dwellers
I remember the Bandstand at the bottom of a hill; I remember sitting on the top of the hill listening to the brass band.
I also remember the Paddling pool, and the Circus that came once a year.
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Hi Sandra,
I didn't live in the prefabs but I remember the them well... Sheepfoot Lane and Bury Old Road... we virtually lived in Heaton Park in our youth and I can remember thinking how lucky they were to actually live within the Park. I also remember some prefabs at the north of the park where we spent a day from school on a nature day.
What triggered my memory though was the circus you mentioned, I'm writing my sister's Bio ... she ran the 'Pets Corner' for awhile ... and I 'remember' the circus came in at Victoria Station and they walked up Cheetham Hill Road all the way to Heaton Park,elephants and all ! I 'remember' a chap called Heinz ... who I think sis was dating ... who I think was the Owner - Boss ? who drove a huge white Merc and reminded me of Jethro of 'Beverley Hillbillies' fame . All this was about 1958 +- and if you could remember the name of the circus I'd be very grateful and it would also confirm it actually happened !
Regards Chris :) ???
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There is an exhibition of old letters and Photographs of Heaton Park and Sedgley Park taken during the 1930's at Prestwich Library this weekend only 9.30am-1pm if anyone is local.
Regards
Sarah
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Hi Joanne
That's ok I hope you get some replys.have you tried school friends reunited.keith.
x
Hello Keith
I've been trying everywhere, to be able to send you a message! I hope this works.
I hope you are well. All fine here.
Will write more when I can see that this got through.
Best wishes,
Sandra (Vilosky)
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Welcome to RootsChat Sandra,
Keith was online last night, hopefully he has picked up on your message already.
Regards
Sarah :)
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Thank you Sarah
Sandra
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The "Experimental" bit of Parkside School, at least in the late 1960s/early 1970s was to do with shipping pupils and some of their staff in from two different Schools, for a fortnight, to mingle and work together on themed projects with the Parkside Staff.
I seem to recall the schools were usually very different social areas, from places like Stockport, Oldham, areas of Manchester and further afield, shipped in by 'bus each day, and each group had a classroom base with at least one member of staff from a School, and one from the Parkside contingent. The Mansion in the Park, and the tower, and indeed the whole area were used as resources.
I seem to recall some small animals kept on site as well, and the classroom buildings formed the four sides of courtyards. Meals were taken in a sort of canteen type room, again, the children were "encouraged" to mingle. On the final day of each "course" parents were invited to attend, and pupils put on exhibitions and playlets, and displays. My memory is that the vast majority of the parents who came to see the work their little dears had done were - predictably - the more middle class ones, sadly.
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I've just come across this chat room. I went to Parkside school and I lived in Edgeware avenue at the bottom of Sheepfoot lane. Parkside was the nearest school and i went there (1953-61) even though it was in Manchester. Brilliant times in the park. I have all my old school pictures from nursery onwards. Does anyone remember going to Tintwistle for a couple of days. I think we slept in bunks. When I was there it was just an ordinary school, later on when the prefabs were demolished it was used by different schools, then as council offices. I remember planting the trees at Grand lodge when I was about 5. Now my grandchildren point them out and tell their friends. i know my late mother had a picture of me planting the tree - it was from the paper but i've never been able to find it.
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Hello
Is this thread still active? I posted a couple of years ago about my stories in People's Friend Magazine set in an imaginary Prefab Village in the 1950s, based loosely on the Heaton Park and Boggart Clough prefabs.
Since then, Fabrian Books have published 2 "Broome Park Prefab Village" books and I've a new one coming out on October 25th 2018. If anyone would like a wander down a prefab memory lane, the books are available on Amazon.
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Hi my name is alyson stringfellow. You mention a peter stringfellow but my dad was called walt and my mum phyllis. I had three brother's mike robin and andrew (who sadly died) I was born in 112 broadmere.
Ps. My mum lived on the white heather camp near sheep foot lane.
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Hi, Alyson.
I now realise I got the name wrong It should have been Michel not Peter.
Your dad at one time used to drive a Landrover which he parked at the
top of the walk, we used to sit in the back as it was always open.
Michel and I once run wires from our prefab to yours along the fence so we could talk to each other! We also used to play cricket using the trees that lined the path in the park for stumps, god things you remember!
you must have been younger than Michel.
Regards, Barry.
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I remember the prefabs in Heaton Park. I lived on Eastleigh Road and went to Parkside Primary School with many of the children from the two prefab estates in the Park and the prefabs off Blackley New Road. The only name I can remember is Joseph Booth who lived on the Bury Old Road estate.
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Around the end of WW2, my mum and her parents moved, or were moved, into the 'temporary' prefab housing built in the grounds of Heaton Park. Grandad was still there when he died in 1960!
Does anyone have photos of the prefab estates there, or has anyone encountered websites with references to the prefabs? I couldn't see anything on the Manchester Image Collection, or on Heaton Park's own website apart from a short mention. I have fond memories of visiting Grandad in his prefab but they are a bit hazy as I was only 4 when he died.
It's as if the prefabs never existed, yet hundreds of people must have lived there. Would be delighted if anyone has any memories of them to share.
:) Barbara
Hi Barbara
If you use f/b check out this group (Friends of Heaton Park) it is a new group who are trying to put some meat on the bones of all the going on's in the Park as it is still very vague historically.