I am quite prepared to accept that a picture of a pile of rubbish behind a block of shops, may not fire everyone’s imagination or advance our knowledge of Didsbury’s past.
But in its way it has as much a part to play in the story as any old period photograph, dusty history book, or fading memory.
And these rubbish trollies are not new. I came across a similar one back in 1967 on King Lynns Close, but then I suppose as a way of shifting a lot of boxes and assorted paper, a wooden platform with wheels and wire sides is a pretty neat idea.
Leaving me just to reflect on refuse collection as it used to be.
Long before the big noisy vehicles, and multi coloured wheelie bins, there was the metal dustbin, into which went everything.
Of course, back, then there was a lot less packaging, and what there was tended to be recycled at home.
So baked bean tins and the larger dried milk ones, ended up as containers for assorted screws, nuts and bolts, and those waxed Sunblest and Hovis wrappers, went back out into the world wrapped around sandwiches.
And in the 1930s the Corporation actively encouraged householders to burn as much rubbish as they could on their open fires and make good use of compost heaps.
But what was left in those metal dustbins, could still offer up unpleasant surprises during the summer months, which involved excessive use of that powdered disinfectant which went under the name of Flit, and came in a small white and red tin, complete with a picture of a 19th century soldier armed with a spray.
Which was all to the good, given that in our house in south east London, the bin had to be carried through the house on collection day, from the back garden, and left by the front doorstep.
A task which when I was old enough fell to me, not that I was ever expected to clean it out afterwards, but only to check for signs of rust along the bottom, which might weaken the bin, and run the risk of the contents spilling out over the hall way.
A disaster which happily has never happened with our range of coloured wheelie bins and I doubt will ever happen to that paper and cardboard laden trolley.
Location; Didsbury
Pictures; that rubbish trolley in Didsbury, 2020, from the collection of Andrew Simpson, and refuse collection in 1969, Courtesy of Manchester Archives+ Town Hall Photographers' Collection,
https://www.flickr.com/photos/manchesterarchiveplus/albums/72157684413651581?fbclid=IwAR35NR9v6lzJfkiSsHgHdQyL2CCuQUHuCuVr8xnd403q534MNgY5g1nAZfY
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| Behind a shop in Didsbury, in 2020 |
But in its way it has as much a part to play in the story as any old period photograph, dusty history book, or fading memory.
And these rubbish trollies are not new. I came across a similar one back in 1967 on King Lynns Close, but then I suppose as a way of shifting a lot of boxes and assorted paper, a wooden platform with wheels and wire sides is a pretty neat idea.
Leaving me just to reflect on refuse collection as it used to be.
 |
| Taking the refuse away in 1969 |
Of course, back, then there was a lot less packaging, and what there was tended to be recycled at home.
So baked bean tins and the larger dried milk ones, ended up as containers for assorted screws, nuts and bolts, and those waxed Sunblest and Hovis wrappers, went back out into the world wrapped around sandwiches.
And in the 1930s the Corporation actively encouraged householders to burn as much rubbish as they could on their open fires and make good use of compost heaps.
But what was left in those metal dustbins, could still offer up unpleasant surprises during the summer months, which involved excessive use of that powdered disinfectant which went under the name of Flit, and came in a small white and red tin, complete with a picture of a 19th century soldier armed with a spray.
 |
| Cleaning the bins, 1969 |
A task which when I was old enough fell to me, not that I was ever expected to clean it out afterwards, but only to check for signs of rust along the bottom, which might weaken the bin, and run the risk of the contents spilling out over the hall way.
A disaster which happily has never happened with our range of coloured wheelie bins and I doubt will ever happen to that paper and cardboard laden trolley.
Location; Didsbury
Pictures; that rubbish trolley in Didsbury, 2020, from the collection of Andrew Simpson, and refuse collection in 1969, Courtesy of Manchester Archives+ Town Hall Photographers' Collection,
https://www.flickr.com/photos/manchesterarchiveplus/albums/72157684413651581?fbclid=IwAR35NR9v6lzJfkiSsHgHdQyL2CCuQUHuCuVr8xnd403q534MNgY5g1nAZfY
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