We are on the meadows, when people still worked and lived there.
Now everyone knows about the sewage works which were first established here in the 1870s, continued well into the last century.
Less well known perhaps is that two families of those who worked on the plant lived close by, and their houses stood by what is now the footbridge over the Brook.
The rest as they say belongs to Catherine Brownhill who sent over these pictures and the accompanying story.
“Hi Andrew, Malcolm (my husband) lived at No. 1 Cottage, Withington Sewage Works. Hughie and Lily Edwards lived next door. Lily was 90 last October and Malcolm & his brother went to visit her.
He has taken some pictures of photographs from her album.
Over the next few days I’ll send them to you with as much info as I can. This picture is likely Lily and a friend at the Sewage Works. Ivygreen Road houses are in the background. The 2 cottages would be to the right of this picture. The tree is still there today.
This is the same tree with the ‘cottages’ in the picture. They were sturdy brick built semi-detached houses.
Malcolm’s Dad, Jack Brownhill can be seen bowling in a game of cricket.
The cottages were at the end of the cobbled road just where the bridge is.
Below are the four Brownhill children. Jack and Irene were their parents.
Over the years Irene worked in the laundry on Crossland Road and in three chip shops, on the Green and Beech Road. She attended the school on the Green.
Pictured are Jeanette, Malcolm, Graham and Ray with the air gun.
The last one for today.
These buildings were in front of the cottages and to the left and the buildings behind housed the engine room and various sheds.
Back to the photo, where the car/van is this was a barn where straw was stored for the sheep in the fields and chickens were kept in one of the rooms to the right. Malc’s Dad had a Morris Minor and all the lads would take turns to drive it, Malc could only just see above the steering wheel.
It was chopped up at the end of its life and was put over the bank of the brook.
Bits of it may still be there, though we think that when the banks were reinforced in recent years the motor debris may have been cleared. This would have been to the left of where the bridge is now”.
Location; the Meadows
Pictures; living on the Meadows, circa 1950s-60s, from the Brownhill Collection
Less well known perhaps is that two families of those who worked on the plant lived close by, and their houses stood by what is now the footbridge over the Brook.
The rest as they say belongs to Catherine Brownhill who sent over these pictures and the accompanying story.
“Hi Andrew, Malcolm (my husband) lived at No. 1 Cottage, Withington Sewage Works. Hughie and Lily Edwards lived next door. Lily was 90 last October and Malcolm & his brother went to visit her.
He has taken some pictures of photographs from her album.
Over the next few days I’ll send them to you with as much info as I can. This picture is likely Lily and a friend at the Sewage Works. Ivygreen Road houses are in the background. The 2 cottages would be to the right of this picture. The tree is still there today.
Malcolm’s Dad, Jack Brownhill can be seen bowling in a game of cricket.
The cottages were at the end of the cobbled road just where the bridge is.
Below are the four Brownhill children. Jack and Irene were their parents.
Over the years Irene worked in the laundry on Crossland Road and in three chip shops, on the Green and Beech Road. She attended the school on the Green.
The last one for today.
These buildings were in front of the cottages and to the left and the buildings behind housed the engine room and various sheds.
It was chopped up at the end of its life and was put over the bank of the brook.
Bits of it may still be there, though we think that when the banks were reinforced in recent years the motor debris may have been cleared. This would have been to the left of where the bridge is now”.
Location; the Meadows
Pictures; living on the Meadows, circa 1950s-60s, from the Brownhill Collection
I remember bird watching on the sewerage farm, back in the sixties.
ReplyDeleteA barn owl used to roost in the barn with the van. Used to play football with Malc Brownhill on the Rec! He used to be a big Hendrix and Bob Dylan fan, as well as Man Utd!
Great memories Catherine. I will show this to Dave, he always tells me stories of playing with Malcolm down there when we walk the dog. My Auntie Doll lived at 1 Crescent Road next to the Queens laundry and worked there for many years. It was lovely back then. Walking down Beech Road and popping into Richardsons. My nanna B was their cousin so me and Lesley were always treated to an iced bun by them! Fab!
ReplyDeleteWalked around the sewage farm rating open sewage beds dangerous to the younger lads
ReplyDeleteI remember attending 2nd Chorlton cubs and scouts on the access road to the sewerage farm with Malcolm, Ian Black, Trevor Bedder, Brian Wooller and Tony O'Brien. Happy days !!!
ReplyDeleteI remember those names from my teenage years living on Beech Road. And Roy Buck, I think.
DeleteRemember Ian Black well,think he lived on hurstville rd,opp Mike Knowles
ReplyDelete