M.SMYTH PEAS,CHIPS,FISH SHOP - Manchester Part One

[dotty]

Try this site www.merciacinema.org.uk/gaz

Dotty

[DS]

Hello again Dotty

Thank you for that information. 

The link itself did not work (it took me to an error page) but I used the first bit of it in a search and then found the site from there.

I will have a look at it later and see where it leads.

It was you who first suggested trying to read what the notices in the shop window said and a year later we have eventually managed to do it (to some extent).

Thanks again

DS

[cathaldus]

Just to add further info.  there was the Victoria Theatre in Salford,  the building I believe is still standing!!

Bill

[DS]

 
 
Hi Bill

Thanks for the information.

My sister and I will look into it.

Cheers

DS

[Barbara.H]

Hi there, wonder how you are getting on with this?
I was browsing the net as you do and found this link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/48/a4519848.shtml

memories of wartime Manchester, in the Moston/Failsworth area where my mother grew up.  Toward the end of the article it mentions several old cinemas including the Popular Picture Palace and the Grand, both on Oldham Rd. There is also mention of another cinema on Victoria Avenue.

It rang a bell because I had read your post and thought how unusual 'Poplar' was for a cinema/theatre name, so it stuck in my mind. Could Poplar actually be Popular?

I was actually looking for my gt grandfathers pie shop, but there you go!
  Barbara

[cathaldus]

Dear Barbara,
The Popular cinema was also in Hulme.  It was on the corner of where Jackson Street became Boston Street and a little bit further on (not on Boston Street) was the Crescent cinema.  At the back of the "Pop" was the Hulme Hippodrome and the Junction Cinema (which latterly became associated with the BBC)

Bill

[DS]

Hi Barbara

Thank you for the information and the link. It looks very interesting and promising.

I personally cannot see the writing on the photograph but my sister, who lives quite a distance away from me, has been able to do so to some extent.

I will pass on your information and thoughts to her. I must admit that I also wondered generally about "Poplar" and "Popular".

She has been in touch with a Local Studies Librarian in Manchester about the photograph. So far they have not come up with anything positive to identify where it was taken but the general views about it are.....

...The picture was probably taken between 1900 and the end of WW1.

...The area is not a run down place i.e. not a slum area.

...There is a strong possibility that it is a suburb of Manchester, not central.

When she is next in contact with the Librarian, I will ask her to let him know what has been suggested on here and see what he thinks.

Thanks again for your interest and suggestions

Cheers

DS

[bursy]

Hi DS,

I have just received back my copy of 1913 Trades Directory and found this, which may be of interest.

Mrs Margaret Ellen Smyth
Fried Fish Dealer
5 Bexley Square
Salford

Also the theatres mentioned are all local to Bexley Square

Victoria was in Great Clowes St, Salford
Poplar was in St Simon St, Salford
Grand Theatre was in Peter St, Manchester

Hope it helps
Regards, Dave

[DS]

Hi Dave

Thank you very much for that extremely interesting information.

I have already forwarded the details by email to my sister and she has written back to say that she will contact the Salford Local History Library as soon as her work commitments allow. She is also planning to go to look at the actual places. I have sent her the link to the online street map to show where they are.

Until now she has been dealing only with the Manchester Local History Library who have been very helpful although they have not been able to identify any likely locations for the shop.

It now seems very possible that you may have provided the answer as to why that should be.

From your own extensive knowledge of the area, would you think that the shop in the photograph looks as if it might have been located in Bexley Square ? Is that what the properties in that area looked like ?

I have just checked the 1901 census and the occupants, then, were an Agnes Carruthers, Widow, aged 62, two sons and a lodger. They were all Boot Repairers, working on the premises. I did not hold out much hope that it would be Margaret Ellen Smyth, at that time, but I had to look

Many thanks again for the information, Dave, and for taking the trouble to pass it on.

Best wishes

DS