On Wilbraham Road with a couple of litres of diesel, a bag of crisps and the ghost of Tom Mix, the Whips and garages dating back to the 1960s

It is one of those things that within a few years no one will ever remember the history of the site that now boasts Morrison’s new petrol station.

So when Peter painted his picture the place was almost open for business, and by now as the petrol flows and the early morning commuters stop for a bag of crisps and bottle of water I doubt they will give a seconds thought to the previous garages stretching back to the 1950s or for that matter that once here stood our first cinema and variety theatre.

Of course that story has been carefully recorded on the blog along with Andy Robertson’s portfolio of photographs which document the changes over the last year to the site and some vintage pictures dating back to 1904.*

There are those who can remember family stories of seeing the Whips variety troupe and Tom Mix performing at the Chorlton Theatre and Winter Gardens and a few more who will have bought the odd can of petrol from the first garage back in 1960 and I bet soon a few more will be posted.**

Yep, the blog has got it all.

Painting;  Morrisons Petrol Station, Wilbraham Road  © 2015 Peter Topping

Web: www.paintingsfrompictures.co.uk

Facebook: Paintings from Pictures https://www.facebook.com/paintingsfrompicture

*The story of a garage, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/The%20story%20of%20a%20garage

**Tom Mix, memories of cowboy films and the Holmfirth Picturedrome, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Tom%20Mix