This is one of my favourite pictures of Chorlton in the 1960s which comes from George Cieslik’s collection.
I do like those images of the not so distant past, when much of what you can see is almost like today, but not quite.
And this one is no exception.
There in the distance is the old cinema, and in front, the building which over the years has had many different uses, from doctors’ surgery to a café, an antique shop and more recently a DIY centre and discount store.
Back in the 1940s it was still a residential property and out of the blue a few years ago someone contacted me with the story of when they lived there.
The keen observer will spot that the church on the corner of Barlow Moor Road and Sandy Lane had yet to be demolished, while the parade of shops opposite the cinema had yet to lose their stone ornaments.
But for me it is the very little details that make this photograph so fascinating.
It starts with the building which is now the home of diving club but back then was still the Chorlton Office and looks little different from when it was opened in 1915 as part of the terminus for the Corporation trams.
And that raises the question of just when the cast iron and glass veranda was spirited away.
And then for me there are the tiny personal things, starting with the old bus stop sign, with the Corporation logo, which was still in use when I washed up in Manchester in 1969 and the boots the woman beside the lamp post is wearing.
They will have had a zip up the front, were made of felt with rubber soles, and an imitation fur lining, and were the bees’ knees back in 1962.
Others of my generation will single different things out, from the Belisha Beacons to the Morris Minors, and some like me will remember how the cab of the white lorry looked so modern when compared to others on the road.
And that is, other than to thank George for another slice of 1960s Chorlton.
Location; Barlow Moor Road
Picture; Barlow Moor Road, circa 1962 from the collection of George Cieslik
And this one is no exception.
There in the distance is the old cinema, and in front, the building which over the years has had many different uses, from doctors’ surgery to a café, an antique shop and more recently a DIY centre and discount store.
Back in the 1940s it was still a residential property and out of the blue a few years ago someone contacted me with the story of when they lived there.
The keen observer will spot that the church on the corner of Barlow Moor Road and Sandy Lane had yet to be demolished, while the parade of shops opposite the cinema had yet to lose their stone ornaments.
It starts with the building which is now the home of diving club but back then was still the Chorlton Office and looks little different from when it was opened in 1915 as part of the terminus for the Corporation trams.
And that raises the question of just when the cast iron and glass veranda was spirited away.
And then for me there are the tiny personal things, starting with the old bus stop sign, with the Corporation logo, which was still in use when I washed up in Manchester in 1969 and the boots the woman beside the lamp post is wearing.
Others of my generation will single different things out, from the Belisha Beacons to the Morris Minors, and some like me will remember how the cab of the white lorry looked so modern when compared to others on the road.
And that is, other than to thank George for another slice of 1960s Chorlton.
Location; Barlow Moor Road
Picture; Barlow Moor Road, circa 1962 from the collection of George Cieslik
I remember the corner building being an antique shop but their main business was supplying television companies with props. On the corner of Barlow Moor Road and Beech Road on the opposite side to the police Station was an electrical shop who supplied lighting for television companies.
ReplyDeleteThanks David
DeleteHi Andrew, I love your stories (and photographs) of Chorlton yesteryear. Do you ever upload the images so we can zoom in? Can't zoom on your article ��
ReplyDeleteHello Alan, when you say upload .... where do you mean?
DeleteYes, and those rubbish bins strapped to lamp posts are a thing of the past.
ReplyDeleteI remember the Palace cinema…..we called it the’flea pit’ , in the very early 60’s it closed and became a supermarket……& that was the first self service supermarket I really knew
ReplyDelete