Never refuse a tea chest …… you may not have them for long

I grew up with tea chests.  

In south east London and I guess pretty much everywhere they were what passed for storage.

Often used during house moves, and in some cases never quite emptied and always smelling of tea.

My Wikipedia tells me that they were “a type of wooden case originally produced and used to ship tea to the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The conventional tea chest is a case with riveted metal edges”*

They were only ever used the once and then passed on to general use, and tended to be handed on to family and friends.

And in the 1950s began to be used as basic basses in skiffle groups.

I had quite forgotten about them until I came across three on offer outside Ken Foster’s Cycle shop on Barlow Moor Road.**

They were selling for a tenner each which is cheap.  A quick trawl of the internet came up with prices ranging from £30 up to £80.

I was tempted to do the aroma test, but that might have seemed a tad odd, so I took the picture instead.

Leaving me to reflect that l will await their reappearance in the new themed bar specialising in tea, tea infused gin, whisky and Guinness and  tea posters soon to open in Chorlton.

In the great sweep of history the story ain’t worth much, but with modern container ships and new methods of storage in transit, I suspect the tea chest will become a little bit of history along with the picture cards which were given away by Horniman and J Lyons.

Location; Barlow Moor Road

Picture; tea chests on Barlow Moor Road, 2025, from the collection of Andrew Simpson and Cetlon, 1944, from the collection of Bob Ward

*Tea Chest, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_chest#

**Ken Fosters Cycles, https://www.kenfosterscyclelogic.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOoqBNA7vgLA0y8JTEXkgfX1QAp1NS3Be_n3PJ4vBQf_CSvsx5a4x 

Happy 70th birthday Foster's Cycles

So how do you celebrate 70 years of service to Chorlton selling and taking care of bikes, giving cycle advice and supporting charities?

Well a a new edition  of the The Story Of Ken Foster's Cycles is one way.

A giant cake is another.

And a cycle run from Ken Foster's to Fallowfield along the Loop has got to be up there too.

Its got the lot.

Location Chorlton

Pictures; heaps of birthday celebrations, 2024, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

A shop, a blue plaque and …… lots of Chorlton history …. today at midday

 It is a truth universally acknowledged, that any place in possession of a past, must be in want of a  blue plaque.*

At which point some readers will mutter “clever blighter” and others will be appalled at the misquote from the opening lines of Pride and Prejudice.

But it does its bit in introducing Chorlton’s second blue plaque which will be unveiled at Ken Fosters cycle shop on Barlow Moor Road on today at midday.

The idea of a blue plaque trail has been floating around for a while, but the impetus came from Stephen Smith who wanted to record those people in Chorlton who in some way have made a contribution to where we live, coupled with buildings or events that are part of our history.

Ken Foster and his dad and grandfather, 1950s

They are not necessarily looking to remember the conventional “famous person” or the most elegant property, but people and buildings which are significant in our own history.

The scheme is one of the initiatives sponsored by Chorlton Civic Society which has begun to collect suggestions for further plaques and has already attracted a group of keen supporters.

All of which brings us back to Ken Fosters which is the oldest cycle shop in Chorlton, and which has also engaged in heaps of activities for the community as well as acting as a venue for exhibitions, and hosting a diverse mix of cultural events.

So, come and join us at Ken Fosters Cycles, 374-376 Barlow Moor Rd, Chorlton, Manchester M21 8AZ today at 12.00pm.

After the unveiling there will be a short history talk from Andrew Simpson on Chorlton stories followed by light refreshments in the shop.

Location; Barlow Moor Road

Pictures, Ken Foster and his dad and grandfather, 1950s, from the collection of Ken Foster

*"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife”, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen, 1813