Harry Kemp was one of those local figures who has faded somewhat from Chorlton’s history, and that is a shame.
For more than half a century his name was used for the corner of Wilbraham and Barlow Moor Roads, now occupied by the HSBC.
So, for anyone born in the 1950s or earlier this spot was Kemp’s Corner, which in that pre mobile age was a recognised meeting place, not least because above the door of Harry Kemp’s chemist shop was a giant clock.
And as we all know a clock is an important part of any prearranged meeting, if only as a measure to judge how late your companion will be.
But there was more to Harry Kemp, that just that spot on the corner of a junction.
He ran two Chemist shops, one on Wilbraham Road and the other down on Beech Road, and was responsible for the Chorlton-cum-Hardy District Almanack and Handbook for 1910.
I can’t be sure if this was a one off or a series, but alas I have only been able to track the one copy for that one year.
It offered up a lot of local information, including the various sporting clubs and cultural societies which were active, as well lots of local information on posting times and council offices.
And as useful as it was back in 1910, a century and bit later it is a fascinating historical document, which I regularly trawl.
Added to this document there is Harry Kemp’s election address for 1904, which includes his fellow candidates, and a statement of their joint programme if elected.
What marks the election address out as particularly interesting is that it was the first time that the people of Chorlton-cum-Hardy had participated in elections for the Manchester City Council.
In that year the rate payers of the Withington UDC, which comprised Burnage, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Didsbury and Withington voted for incorporation into the City having been made offers which many couldn’t turn down.
Now, all of this I have written about on the blog and elsewhere, but today I got to see something rather special, which is the ceramic top of a tub of Otto of Rose Cold Cream, from the collection of Jay Hurst.
And in that way that those of us who are involved in local history share material I have my old Facebook chum Bill Sumner to thank for sharing it with me.
Just on its own this item is a wonderful connection with harry Kemp, but of course there is so much more.
First, there is that simple observation, that like the Alamanck, Mr. Kemp was never backward at promoting himself and his business. So, the top includes the locations of both of his shops, just in case there was any doubt as to where to obtain this product.
And then there is the product itself which was made from the essential oil extracted from the petals of various types of roses, and which is still the most widely used oil in perfumery.
The process was and is expensive, but by the time Harry Kemp was marketing his rose oil, I suspect some producers were adulterating the oil with cheaper ones.
That said, I am in awe of how it was produced, given that like many kids I soaked rose petals in water, assuming that the result would be scented water, only to discover what you got was best just thrown away.
All of which just leaves me to thank Jay and Bill and reflect that Harry Kemp and his corner had not quite been forgotten by 1978, judging by this newspaper article.
Location; Kemp’s Corner, and Beech Road
Pictures; Harry Kemps’ chemist shop, circa 1900, from the Lloyd Collection, the 1904 election address, courtesy of Lawrence Beedle, Chorlton-cum-Hardy District Almanack and Handbook for 1910, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, Otto of Rose tub top, date unknown from the collection of Jay Hurst, and news story from the Stretford & Urmston Journal, April 12, 1978 from the collection of Andrew Simpson
 |
| Kemp's Corner, circa 1900 |
So, for anyone born in the 1950s or earlier this spot was Kemp’s Corner, which in that pre mobile age was a recognised meeting place, not least because above the door of Harry Kemp’s chemist shop was a giant clock.
And as we all know a clock is an important part of any prearranged meeting, if only as a measure to judge how late your companion will be.
But there was more to Harry Kemp, that just that spot on the corner of a junction.
He ran two Chemist shops, one on Wilbraham Road and the other down on Beech Road, and was responsible for the Chorlton-cum-Hardy District Almanack and Handbook for 1910.
 |
| The Almanack, 1910 |
It offered up a lot of local information, including the various sporting clubs and cultural societies which were active, as well lots of local information on posting times and council offices.
And as useful as it was back in 1910, a century and bit later it is a fascinating historical document, which I regularly trawl.
Added to this document there is Harry Kemp’s election address for 1904, which includes his fellow candidates, and a statement of their joint programme if elected.
What marks the election address out as particularly interesting is that it was the first time that the people of Chorlton-cum-Hardy had participated in elections for the Manchester City Council.
 |
| Election Address, 1907 |
Now, all of this I have written about on the blog and elsewhere, but today I got to see something rather special, which is the ceramic top of a tub of Otto of Rose Cold Cream, from the collection of Jay Hurst.
And in that way that those of us who are involved in local history share material I have my old Facebook chum Bill Sumner to thank for sharing it with me.
Just on its own this item is a wonderful connection with harry Kemp, but of course there is so much more.
First, there is that simple observation, that like the Alamanck, Mr. Kemp was never backward at promoting himself and his business. So, the top includes the locations of both of his shops, just in case there was any doubt as to where to obtain this product.
 |
| Otto of Rose tub top, date unknown |
And then there is the product itself which was made from the essential oil extracted from the petals of various types of roses, and which is still the most widely used oil in perfumery.
The process was and is expensive, but by the time Harry Kemp was marketing his rose oil, I suspect some producers were adulterating the oil with cheaper ones.
That said, I am in awe of how it was produced, given that like many kids I soaked rose petals in water, assuming that the result would be scented water, only to discover what you got was best just thrown away.
 |
| Kemp's Corner, 1978 |
Location; Kemp’s Corner, and Beech Road
Pictures; Harry Kemps’ chemist shop, circa 1900, from the Lloyd Collection, the 1904 election address, courtesy of Lawrence Beedle, Chorlton-cum-Hardy District Almanack and Handbook for 1910, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, Otto of Rose tub top, date unknown from the collection of Jay Hurst, and news story from the Stretford & Urmston Journal, April 12, 1978 from the collection of Andrew Simpson
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