This is how you honour a shop with history

Today over eighty people gathered on an indifferent morning to commemorate and indeed celebrate one of our local Co-ops.

Gathering for the event, 2026

What makes this Co-op as special is that it has retained its public hall which for nearly a century has acted as avenue for a variety of local community events.

So it was fitting that Chorlton Civic Society should erect a blue plaque to honour its place as a centre for education, social events and  home to the Co-operative and Labour Movement.

The plaque was unveiled by Kathy Lee who as a member of the Co-op Party was active in promoting the ideals of co-operation.

Kathy about to unveil the plaque, 2026

Unveiled, 2026

Many of those present will also remember that Kathy's husband, Lawrence Beedle played a unique role in recording the history  of all things co-op and retold the stories in his  blog.*

Sean, Cll Shilton-Goodwin

So much so that when Angela Downing began to explore the possibilities of a blue plaque it was to Lawrence that she first turned and much of what we now know about the hall and its activities is due in no small part to Lawrence's knowledge. 

Which leads me to thank Angela for liaising with Chorlton Civic Society's blue plaque committee and the Co-op who funded the plaque.

The shop was opened in 1929 to serve the new housing estates which were being built along and behind Barlow Moor Road.

Lord Bradley

At the time most of the shops had their own hall but sadly most have now gone and ours may indeed be the last in the Greater Manchester area.

Some of the Hall's friends

The Hardy Lane Co-op Rooms can boast a rich and diversified series of events which have taken place in its room.

They range from meetings of the Wood Craft Folk and Co-operative Guilds to pollical assemblies of the Labour and Co-operative Parties doubled up as election committee rooms and the venue for  heaps of social events from film nights to whist evenings.

All of which made today's unveiling very special, and so along with Kathy we had Lord Bradley who as Keith Bradley was elected in 1987 as the first Labour MP for Withington, and the present MP Jeff Smith, both of whom spoke of their vivid memories of the hall.  Cllr Mandie Shilton-Godwin and Shaun Fensom from the Co-op were also present and I think the ghosts of  all those who have in some ways been part of the hall over the last century.

Jeff Smith, MP

Shaun from the Co-op

The Friends gather

Location; Hardy Lane Co-op

Pictures: on the day from the collection of Andrew Simpson and Peter Topping, 2026

*Hardy Lane Scrapbook, https://hardylane.blogspot.com/

More stories ….. from that Co-op shop on Hardy Lane … a carpenter and a blue plaque

Now for anyone who delves into the past there is one over arching observation and that is the simple one that the work is never done.

And that is particularly so of the Hardy Lane Co-op store. 

It was opened in 1929 to cater for the new housing estates which were being developed on either side of Barlow Moor Road, and like all co-op shops it was built with a public hall.

Ninety-seven years on that hall is still at the heart of the community, and during that near century it has been a venue for heaps of educational, social and political events.

Many people will have their own fond memories of “doing the hall”, and on Saturday I discovered a chap who added another story.

I didn’t catch his name, but he described his own connection with the venue, which was that as a carpenter and trade unionist he attended branch meetings of his union in the hall in the 1980s.

It was a snatched conversation and I missed the name of the union but I think it might have been the Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers (ASW) which merged with  the Amalgamated Society of Painters and Decorators (ASPD) in 1971 and later became known as the Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians.

I should have pursued the conversation but didn’t, which was a great pity.

That said someone may remember being in the same union and attending branch meetings in the rooms above the co-op.

We shall see.

Suffice to say that the conversation was occasioned by the unveiling of a blue plaque sponsored by Chorlton Civic Society and supported by the Co-op.

The event was of special significance because our hall maybe the last still in use across Greater Manchester.

So, with that in mind fifty or so “friends” gathered to see the plaque unveiled and listened to some of us who had memories of meetings and social events in the hall.

Leaving me just to say if you have your own memories and want to share them do make contact.

Location; Hardy Lane Co-op

Pictures; the Hardy Lane Co-op, 2026, courtesy of Peter Topping, the carpenter and the unveiling, 2026 from the collection of Andrew Simpson

Watching the Meadows change ......... June 1965

I wonder just how many people remember this scene?

We are on the Meadows, and according to the caption this was “June 16, 1965, Clearing Water Street Cleansing Department, View of Hardy Depot”.

It is one of the photographs generated by Neil Simpson who “ worked on the Town Hall Photographer's Collection Digitisation Project, in the Central Library, which currently is Volunteer led and Volunteer staffed.

The negatives in the collection are dated from 1956 to 2007 and there are approximately 200,000 negatives to be digitised at three minutes a scan.

This is an image I have never seen before and I am guessing the building must be Hardy Farm.

That said I am puzzled by the bit of the caption referring to Water Street and am not too arrogant to admit to being stumped by it.

I have never come across the name during all my years in Chorlton, or in the research I have done.

So this is one to turn over to anyone who remembers the scene, walked that bit of Hardy Lane or can offer an explanation to the name.

Of course there might be a clue in the buildings in the distance which don't suggest we are looking at where Hardy Lane runs out on to the Meadows.

I wonder whether were instead on Turn Moss with Stretford in the distance.

And that just leaves me to open up the debate, which no sooner had I posted the story and Bill Sumner replied, with,

"I think the view above is taken from the bottom of Bradley Lane next to the water treatment/sewage works. the line of electric pylons is correct and is still there today, but the gas holder is not the one at Gorse Hill Stretford but the one at Dane Road Sale. 

Looking on Old Maps I cannot find a Water St either. The Dane Roadd Gas Holder was built in 1935 on the old sewage works site and was built as an extension to Stretford Gas Co that also supplied Sale and Ashton on Mersey. 

The gas holder in Stretford would have been out of sight to the left of photo. The old cottage would have disappeared because the Stretford Works was enlarged and a row of staff houses built here in the 1960's, probably the reason this photo was taken. Thanks for the new view"

And quick as a flash Neil also responded with "I can answer some of your questions Andrew. 

This image was in a set taken for Manchester Corporation's Cleansing Department, who were based at a huge site on Water Street near MOSI in Manchester. 

They had a Destructor on that site (is an incinerator) and roughly sorted the refuse collected into 'for burning' or 'tipping'.

Some of the refuse for tipping was taken to Hardy Lane Farm as they were using it to 'reclaim' land.

Bill Sumner was quite right in saying that the Gasholder was the one at Dane Road as I worked that out earlier."

And the final word goes to Ann who spotted the obvious, "have just read your comment, think the quotation should read ' Cleaning water, Street Cleansing Dept' Comma missing. Explains why there isn't a Water Street in Chorlton."

Not much more to say than thank you,  Bill, Neil.and Ann

Location; the Meadows

Picture; June 16, 1965, Clearing Water Street Cleansing Department, View of Hardy Depot, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass

Stories from our Co-operative past ………… no. 1 Chorlton and Manley Park Women’s Guild

1948

For years this banner took pride of place on a wall in the Committee Rooms above the Hardy Lane Co-op store on Barlow Moor Road.

In those quiet moments during meetings I would stare at the banner and ponder on its history.

I can’t date when the banner was made but according to Lawrence Beedle the photograph was taken during the Chorlton and Manley Park Women's Guild 25th Annual Party.

At the meeting the "Freedom of the Branch" was presented to Mrs. Lomas the Secretary and Mrs. Scott for being associated with the Guild for a quarter of a century.

The cake was presented by Mrs. Mayo who received a cake stand for her services.

And it is well worth remembering that that making the cake would have been a real challenge, given that in 1948 when the event happened, food was still being rationed.

Circa 1986

The banner which is blue is now held by the People's History Museum in their banner archive.

It has stitching on a royal blue background.

The Co-op Hall has since it was opened been a venue for meetings of the Labour Party, the Co-op Party, along with Chorlton and Manley Park Women's Guild, the Woodcraft Folk and has regularly been used as committee rooms.

And as ever, soon after the story went live, Dave King sent me these two certificates which belonged to Alice and William Lomas who were his grand parents, commenting, "Mrs. Lomas was my grandmother and she  lived at 21 Provis Road.  "She was something big in the Mothers Union and a Teetotalers organisation. 

Mrs. Lomas is awarded the Freedom of the Branch, 1947

Her husband was William (Bill) Lomas who was a builder/plumber. I have included his certification picture  .

Alice is the lady in your picture holding the knife, and the 1947 certificate was when the Co-op was on Beech Road and the one on Manchester Road next to the Royal Oak was relatively new".

And for now that is it, but given Mr. and Mrs. Lomas's involvement in the Co-operative and Labour Movements  I think with David's help there will be much more to come.

William Lomas, 1917

To which Lawrence has added, "Chorlton & Manley Park was a Women’s Co-Op Guild founded 1922 and Barlow Moor was a Mixed Guild founded 1931. Both had different banners and met in different co-op halls. The 1986 picture with you, Tom, Dave Black is at a Labour Party meeting- it might be a selection or shortlisting meeting.

I’ve not looked at the local Co-Op Guild history for years but am now inclined to write a small article about them with some photos for your blog.

I have a box of old 78 rpm records rescued from Hardy Lane before a refurbishment. They had gramophone nights and hired a record player from the Co-Op head office".

Research; Lawrence Beedle

Location; Chorlton

Picture; of the banner and the presentation, supplied by Lawrence Beedle the Manchester & Salford Herald Co-Operative Herald January 1948 page 21 and some of the Co-operative Party, circa 1986, and two certificates for Alice, and William Lomas, 1947 & 1917 courtesy of  Dave King

Lawrence Beedle ... my friend

 I have been thinking of my friend Lawrence who died recently, and as you do I have been reflecting on over 40 years of friendship.

Lawrence

We shared an interest in history and particularly the Labour Party and the Co-op movement which for Lawrence translated into a deep knowledge which was a product of years of research.

Co-op Spring fashions, 1939

I always remember the time he compiled a complete collection of local election results for Chorlton stretching back to 1904 which also included all the MPs elected for our bit of south Manchester charting the complicated journey of boundary changes. 

Nor was it just the obscure.  

His knowledge and understanding of Co-op history was so detailed he could talk with authority on the founding of Co-operation in Manchester, the advance of the Manchester and Salford Equitable Co-op Society not to be confused with Marks and Spencer’s which carried the same initials on their shop fronts.  

And Lawrence could offer up the dates for the opening of the stores and exactly which Co-op store was best for buying furniture. 

Lawrence recounting when the Co-op went Self service, undated

Equally Lawrence was his blog on just one Co-op store … the one on Hardy Lane.   *

The blog ranged over all sorts of history from food to retail stamps, old 78 gramophone records and the story of Sanatogen that “Tonic and Restorative Wine”.

As he once said “before Lucozade there was Sanatogen”.

Now that blog is still live and is well worth a visit.

And all of this was done with joy as if the discovery and retelling was the fun.

And the fun also came in testing the past like the time he announced he was going to recreate some now forgotten war time dishes using the same rationed ingredients.

Orange curd, 1940

He started with the National Loaf from 1941 and accompanied it with Woolton Pie which consisted of diced cooked potatoes, cauliflower, carrots and turnips to which were added rolled oats chopped spring onions and vegetable stock which formed the gravy.  

Both the loaf and the pie were met with derision and even hostility during the war and so Lawrence just wanted to taste them himself and see what the fuss was all about.

I brought to the table a bowl of orange curd made from a 1940 recipe.  

We sat back and reflected that as vegetarians all three dishes were pretty dammed good, and the project was the perfect example of reenacting history.

And along the way we had touched a bit of the past even if it was a tad silly.

That silliness could also be the academic challenge, like the day he found a card of fuse wire, and challenged me to turn it into a history story, commenting,  “We’ve all got things at the back of a drawer. This must be 40 or 50 years old. Fuse wire in three different amperages. When did you last use fuse wire?

Winfield was the brand name for own label goods from Woolworths”. 

The Lawrence fuse wire challege

Of course there was so much more to him, from his days with Rabid Records, his fascination with the possibilities of the early internet, his contribution to the Unicorn Food Co-op, along with his impish sense of humour, his rabbit hole interests and much more.

So there you have it, my friend Lawrence.

Pictures; Lawrence, courtesy of Kathy his wife, and other images drawn from his blog, Hardy Lane Scrapbook

*Hardy Lane Scrapbook, https://hardylane.blogspot.com/

Looking at the familiar ………… Barlow Moor Road

Now I like the way that what looks a familiar picture of a place quickly offers up a host of period detail.

So here we are, almost at the junction of Barlow Moor Road, and Mauldeth Road West with just a hint of Hardy Lane.

It comes from the collection of Andrew Holland and will date from the 1960s, although the more observant may be able to find clues to push that date back into the 50s.

Until recently this spot didn’t look that different.  To the right is the school and beyond it is the park and the tall elegant streetlamps resemble the present one.

But look more closely and there is much that places this I the past.

Today in front of the school is the modern admin block, and even more recently has come the metro stop and the tram lines.

All of which is obvious, but because I remember them well, there on both sides of the road are the Belisha Beacons, introduced in the 1930s, and way off in the distance is the cinema.

Someone I am sure will remember the telephone kiosk on the left of the picture and may even remember when it was taken away.

Location; Chorlton;

Picture; Barlow Moor Road, circa 1960s, from the collection of Andrew Holland

Back with the Block on Hardy Lane in the winter of 1912

Just occasionally I like to revisit a past story, more especially when there is a new photograph in the collection.

And so here is another image of the farm cottages on Hardy Lane which survived into the 1950s.

The date is 1912 and from the look of the trees it must be late winter, and we are looking up the lane towards Barlow Moor Road.

They were nicknamed the Block and appear in different photographs and post cards. They consisted of  eight and sometimes nine dwellings.

Annie Gresty was born in 1871 and grew up at number 2.

During the last quarter of the nineteenth century they stood as a lonely outpost of the community on the edge of the flood plain which led down to the Mersey.

Looking out of an upstairs window Annie would have seen a landscape dominated by meadow land, gardens and orchards. She may have played in Barlow Wood to the south east of the cottages and surely would have walked across the fields to the river.

Beyond her home there was only Hardy Farm before the river with Barlow Hall and Barlow Hall Farm some distance away.

The cricket ground and golf course which had been laid out behind the cottages were a recent development.

Before 1900 the Gresty’s and their neighbours would have had an unobstructed view from their cottages across to Barlow Woods.

But there is no getting away from the truth that here the residents of the Block were out of the way.  Apart from the farms they were very much on their own, and the walk up to Barlow Moor Road would then involve a hike to Beech Road and the village or further north to Martledge.

And in the summer this stretch of the lane took on a magical feel as the tall hedges and trees hid you off from the fields on either side.

And there will be some who mutter more romantic tosh, because by 1912 there was a cemetery on Barlow Moor Lane and with in a few years a regular tram service.

Still I like the remote and lonely idea.

Picture; from the Lloyd collection

For the Friends of Hardy Lane ......... a gate post

Now for those who have fond memories of Hardy Lane from a time before today, here is the last of the short series on the road that for some will rival Route 66.

Hardy Lane, 1966

It started as a small lane at Barlow Moor Lane and ran off on to the flood plain, passing a group of cottages and Hardy Lane.

And yes once Barlow Moor Road was called a lane and not a road.  The cottages were known as the Block and 1907 the lane had acquired a cricket ground which also boasted a Pavilion.

And then just after I posted, Catherine got in touch and left this comment which of course had to be included.

Hardy Lane, 1907

 "Andrew, not only have you found the gate to the cricket club, the small gate on the left of the picture at the other end of the hawthorn hedge is our gate, 55, Hardy Lane. 

The gate ....... and beyond

The tennis courts were behind the hawthorn hedge. The courts had their own pavilion/changing rooms.

Tennis was very popular being played all weekend and night matches during the week in the summertime. 

There were grass courts and hard surface ones. I too played on the 'bars' with my friend. If you stepped over the white marker line of the cricket pitch the groundsman would be after you! 

Just to the right of the gate is the corner of what was my aunt and uncles garden. 

Andrew, thank you so much for sharing these Chorlton pictures, it's been a treat seeing them." 

Location; Chorlton

Picture; Hardy Lane, 1966, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass and Hardy lane in 1907

Back on Hardy Lane a long time before now

We are on Hardy Lane again. 

The caption just says “view from Hardy Lane, near Hardy Lane Farm looking across to Jackson’s Boat in the distance.”

I don’t have a date but I guess it will be before the University took over the land and set to developing it as playing fields.

Picture; courtesy of Mr Crossley from the Lloyd collection

Fifty-five years ago on Hardy Lane

Now I fully accept that many people will not find anything very remarkable about this scene.

The picture was taken in the November of 1966 from the junction of Hardy Lane and ahead of us is Barlow Moor Road, with Chorlton Park School and away in the distance the park itself.

But for anyone who grew up around here I think the image will be a little special evoking half forgotten memories of going to school and playing in the park in the mid 1960s.

Added to which they will be able to reel off the shops on our left, starting with Seymour Meads, and taking in the barber’s and the sweet shop.

And despite our youngest going to Chorlton Park my knowledge of its history is woefully poor, but someone will help me out.

I am however on stronger ground with the park which was only forty of so years old when the picture was taken.

And that is all I have to say other than a thank you to Neil and the team and to comment that I used to think those half timbered cars were the bees knees.

And that is all I have to say other than a thank you to Neil and the team and to comment that I used to think those half timbered cars were the bees knees.

It is there parked up outside Seymour Meads.

Location; Chorlton






Picture; Barlow Moor Road, 1966, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass

When little stirred on Hardy Lane ......... October 1966

Now I first came across Hardy Lane on a warm sunny day sometime in the summer of 1976.

I hadn’t long been in Chorlton, had the day off and went exploring.

And if you have to come across Hardy Lane, a warm sunny day is the right time.

Then and now I was struck by just how wide the road is and the way it seems to offer a bit of an adventure as it runs out onto the meadows.

On my chosen day the place was deserted and despite the large number of houses on both sides seemed very quiet.

I now know that once a long time ago it had been much narrower and lead off to Hardy Farm with just a block of cottages off on the eastern side which were popularly called the Block.

There had been plans to run Corporation trams along it and later still a major highway was mooted to take traffic off over the open land across the Mersey and on to beyond.

None of those plans came about and Hardy Lane remained almost a backwater, quite enough for a big street party for the Jubilee in 1977.

I have a delightful picture in the collection which Caroline Standish was kind enough to share, showing the kids, and the long trestle tables beside that grassed island in the photograph.

And I bet there will be plenty who remember Hardy lane as a quiet spot or the road road that took you off to adventures on the meadows.

That said I bet there must have been times when the lane was very busy with the sound of big lorries transporting “stuff” to be dumped on the site of Hardy Farm after it was demolished.

Likewise the major construction work to build the metro line must also have been intrusive.

So instead I prefer to remember it like this, in the October of 1966.

And for the curious the image is one that has been revealed during the course of an exciting new project which  Neil Simpson tells me is from  "the Town Hall Photographer's Collection Digitisation Project, which is Volunteer led and Volunteer staffed, is in the process of systematically scanning the 200,000+ negatives in the collection dating from 1956 to 2007.

The plan is to gradually make the scanned images available online - initially on Manchester Archives+ Flickr and later on other Archives+ digital platforms.""**

And that is all I have to say other than a thank you to Neil and the team.

Location; Chorlton

Picture; Hardy Lane, 1966, courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass

*On Hardy Lane on June 7 1977, https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=Caroline+Standish

**Manchester City Council Archives+ Town Hall Photographer's Collection Flickr Album...
https://www.flickr.com/.../manch.../albums/72157684413651581

On Hardy Lane in the snow, a long time ago

We are on Hardy Lane sometime I think in the 1960s.

The caption just records, “Hardy lane in the snow.”

Picture; courtesy of Mr Crossley from the Lloyd collection

Pictures from a backroom, on a moment of self-isolation ..... a kitchen, the cricket club, and no cricket

Here by popular demand is a return of that series, Pictures from a backroom, on a moment of self-isolation.

Moved by the absence of sport Tony sent this over, adding, "Morning  Andrew, I'm attaching a  photo of the view from my back kitchen window for your series 'boring pictures --------- isolation.

The fields behind the fence was once the ground of Chorlton-cum-Hardy Cricket Club and is now the home ground of a local amateur football club Chorlton Sports F. C. 

As I write this it is very sad to look out and not see any sporting activity taking place on a piece of ground with such a long history of such".

Location; Chorlton

Picture from my kitchen window, 2020, Tony Goulding 

Watching the trams ...... for the Friends of Hardy Lane and maybe also Mauldeth Road West

Now for no other reason than I can, here are trams 3067 and 3068 on route to and from the Airport.

It was a Friday afternoon and I was sitting on that bench beside the car park of the Co-op.

There will be a few who mutter why two pictures of trams?

And the answer is that they will please the Friends of Hardy Lane, which in turn and set me off thinking about setting up a Friends of Mauldeth Road West.

On that we shall see.

For now, I will leave you with the two pictures, secure in the knowledge that Michael and Andy and others will weigh in with their on tram photos, well I hope so.

Location; Manchester


Pictures; trams 3067 and 3068 passing at Barlow Moor Road, 2018 from the collection of Andrew Simpson 

For the Friends of Hardy Lane ...... one Monday morning in February

Now somewhere someone will have an almost identical view down Hardy Lane towards Mauldeth Road West.

Ideally it should be sometime in the 1950s or earlier, and I if I really wanted to push the boat out perhaps sometime before Mauldeth Road West was cut which would take us back beyond the mid 1920s.

The old lane which ran from Hough End Hall through what is now the park joined Barlow Moor Road a little further south, leaving an observer a view of fields and away in the distance the Hall, Brookfield House and a pond.

Location; Hardy Lane

Picture; Hardy Lane, 2018 from the collection of Andy Robertson

The road with the tram

Now I know that actually there will be plenty of places across the city and beyond that can claim to have a tram at the bottom of the road, but this one is ours.

Andy Robertson took the picture of the Airport tram last week and I rather like it.

Location; Chorlton

Picture; tram on Hardy Lane, 2108, from the collection of Andy Robertson

Chorlton Cricket and the search for its history

Chorlton Cricket Club has a long history but even I was not prepared for just how long.

I first came across the club when I was researching Hardy Cottages which stood on Hardy Lane and were popularly known as the block because of their shape.

The cottages were close to the cricket ground and may have been built sometime in the 1870s.  At that time Hardy Lane was much a narrow country lane which ran from Barlow Moor Road and just petered out a little past Hardy Farm.

My old friend Oliver Bailey had lent me a picture of his uncle with some of the cricket team and I always had a mind to take it further.

And  Philip one of my new face book chums put me in touch with one of the stalwarts of the club.  This was Derek who first played for the club as a junior in 1942 aged 11.

I had tracked the club back to the early 1890s where they regularly appeared in the sporting pages of the Manchester Guardian.  It never occurred to me to push the search back any earlier.

If I had I would have discovered that the club was formed in 1885 and their first home was that wonderfully named Cow Lane.

Cow Lane ran from Edge Lane up on to the Isles, but was lost in the late 19^th century after Wilbraham Road was cut in the 1860s.  The line of the lane is there and today is under Hampton Road.

It is a little difficult to locate exactly where on Cow Lane the club was. The OS map for 1888-93 shows what might be a club house just before Hampton Road bends to the west.

At that time the area was dominated by Hampton House which was set back from both Edge Lane and Cow Lane in its own grounds.

The club moved in 1901 to Hardy Lane and here it stayed.  All of which opens up a whole series of intriguing questions, from where exactly the club was on Cow Lane to why it moved.

Sadly Derek died before I could meet him but our conversations on the phone revealed a rich history of the club and the area.

Pictures; Norman Bailey circa 1919-1920, courtesy of Oliver Bailey, Hardy Lane and Hardy Cottages courtesy of Carolyn Willits, and Cow Lane from the Lloyd collection