Walking the paths of the remembered …..... the new book from Michael Billington

 Mr. Billington’s new book The Churchyards & Cemeteries of Urmston, Flixton & Davyhulme, is more than just a record of gravestone, memorials and churchyards.

It combines fine scholarship, a fascinating collection of period and contemporary photographs, and is easy to read, all of which marks it out as a book to visit.

St Catherine's Church

And not just if you live or lived in Urmston, Flixton or Davyhulme, because the depth of detail about funeral practices the culture of the dead and the stories behind the gravestones make it a book that many will both enjoy and lean from.

For me it is the little additions that make it more than just a list of who died and when.

So included is a fascinating description of how in the 21st century “the use of hammer and chisel to engrave by hand has been substituted by computerisation”, while peppered through the book are short verses drawn from a collection of writers and more than a few which stretch back in time and are anonymous.

Philip Weisberg

Added to which Mr. Billington has written extensively about Urmston Jewish Cemetery, drawing on his own deep research and assisted by the Jewish Historian and Genealogist Dr Rosalyn Livishin and Dr Sharman Kadish.

As ever it is the stories he draws out that make for riveting reading, so here is a description of the war memorial commemorating the twenty-eight Jewish servicemen who died in the two world wars and is a salutary reminder in a period of rising antisemitism of the contribution they made to the protection of our country.

The window of three Worthington Wright children 

Talking to Michael about the book just before its publication he told me just how moved he was by so many of the inscriptions he encountered in all the graveyards, and particularly the awful record of child mortality.

So included in the memorials is "the stained glass window in the church of three Worthington Wright children who all died during the month of November 1858. The first two died of scarlet fever and measles and the last one just of scarlet fever".

Along with this was his determination to tell all the stories not just of the “great and the good”, but those who history has forgotten and in some cases  who history didn’t even both to notice.  Which is a nice lead into the epitaph of Robert Phillip of Kingsbridge , Devon which Michael includes 

“Here lie I at the chancel door

Here I lie because I’m poor

The farther in more you’ll pay

Here lie I as warm and they”

Leaving me just to include the publisher’s notes 

“The townships of Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme have a rich and diverse historical heritage. This richness and diversity are reflected in how the townships honour their dead from the burial grounds themselves to the cenotaphs and stained glass windows, and plaques in the churches.

Cenotaph with poppy wreaths, St Mary's Church Davyhulme

This book looks at not only the grand statement tombs of the wealthy but also the final resting places of vicars, churchwardens, sextons, choirmasters, church organists, journalists, actors, teachers, pub landlords, architects, policemen, servants and paupers”.

It costs £16.99 and is available from the author at epona publishing, www.eponarecords,com, J Parkers Garden Centre, Urmston Books, Trafford Local Studies, and Salford Museum and Art Gallery

Location; Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme

Isaac and Leah Samuels

Pictures; from the collection of Michael Billington, 2025

*Billington, Michael, The Churchyards & Cemeteries of Urmston, Flixton & Davyhulme, 2025

**ibid, page 276

Tomorrow in Urmston ........ Mr Billington presents ........

 Now long before text messages Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter, there was the picture postcard.

For a small price our great grandparents, could write home to family and friends reporting on a holiday, passing on birthday wishes or just arranging to meet up.

And because they included a picture on the front the cards have become the stock of local historians to illustrate “how we lived”

All of which brings me to the new book, “Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme: A Postcard Heritage”, by Michael Billington.

The press release says“The Golden Age of postcard collecting, known as deltiology, was between the years 1902 and 1914, an era when collecting became hugely popular.

With regular and efficient collections and deliveries it was common to see messages such as “See you at 2pm this afternoon”; the text message of yesteryear? 

Also “Here's another for your collection” and “one more for your album”.

This book looks at the development of the publication of postcards in the Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme area. E. Mather of Flixton Post Office and J. Wride, who had a stationer's in Urmston, photographed the streets of the area as well as landmarks such as the pubs, churches, grand houses, parks, hospitals, railways, cenotaphs, canals and bridges.

"A Byeway, Flixton", date unknown

All are here in this book contrasted with more recent photographs taken by the author.

Michael Billington is an Urmstonian and this is his third book about the area”.

The official launch will be on Thursday October 27th at  7.30pm in Urmston Library and will be il-lustrated by a powerpoint presentation by Mike featuring highlights of the book.

Mike adds, “the guest of honour, who will say a few words, will be Joanne Harding, Labour councillor with responsibility for culture, leisure and strategic partnerships in the Urmston Ward. She also has responsibility for Trafford Poverty Strategy and Domestic Abuse.”

"You may expect me tomorrow", 1910

Free glass of wine and admission free but booking required at the Eventbrite link below.

Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme: A Postcard Heritage Tickets, Thu, Oct 27, 2022 at 7:30 PM | Eventbrite

And that is it.

Location; Urmston, Flixton, Davyhulme

Pictures; from the collection of Michael Billington

“See you at 2pm this afternoon” …. stories from postcards

Now long before test messages Face book, WhatsApp and Twitter, there was the picture postcard.

For a small price our great grandparents, could write home to family and friends reporting on a holiday, passing on birthday wishes or just arranging to meet up.

And because they included a picture on the front the cards have become the stock of local historians to illustrate “how we lived”

All of which brings me to the new book, “Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme: A Postcard Heritage”, by Michael Billington.

The press release says“The Golden Age of postcard collecting, known as deltiology, was between the years 1902 and 1914, an era when collecting became hugely popular.

With regular and efficient collections and deliveries it was common to see messages such as “See you at 2pm this afternoon”; the text message of yesteryear? 

Also “Here's another for your collection” and “one more for your album”.

This book looks at the development of the publication of postcards in the Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme area. E. Mather of Flixton Post Office and J. Wride, who had a stationer's in Urmston, photographed the streets of the area as well as landmarks such as the pubs, churches, grand houses, parks, hospitals, railways, cenotaphs, canals and bridges.

"A Byeway, Flixton", date unknown

All are here in this book contrasted with more recent photographs taken by the author.

Michael Billington is an Urmstonian and this is his third book about the area”.

The official launch will be on Thursday October 27th at  7.30pm in Urmston Library and will be il-lustrated by a powerpoint presentation by Mike featuring highlights of the book.

Mike adds, “the guest of honour, who will say a few words, will be Joanne Harding, Labour councillor with responsibility for culture, leisure and strategic partnerships in the Urmston Ward. She also has responsibility for Trafford Poverty Strategy and Domestic Abuse.”

"You may expect me tomorrow", 1910

Free glass of wine and admission free but booking required at the Eventbrite link below.

Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme: A Postcard Heritage Tickets, Thu, Oct 27, 2022 at 7:30 PM | Eventbrite

And that is it.

Location; Urmston, Flixton, Davyhulme

Pictures; from the collection of Michael Billington

"Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme: A Collection of Antiques and Curios" ...... the story of the book ..... today at Central Ref

So for anyone who has ever wondered how a history book is written or how two authors with a love of the same place and with heaps of local knowledge to share, worked together,  ..........this is the talk to attend.

My old friend and co author, Michael Billington says, 

"Just a last reminder that I shall be giving my powerpoint talk at Manchester Centrel Reference Library just opposite the Metrolink stop in St Peter's square tomorrow, Wednesday, at 10.30am. 

The subject will be "Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme: A Collection of Antiques and Curios", the book that I co-wrote with my late friend Bob Potts.

Do come along, it would be lovely to see old friends and some new ones".

Now you can't say fairer than that.

Location, Central Ref, today at 10.30 am

Pictures; courtesy of Michael Billington, 2022

Bob Potts ……. the generous historian

Now there will be many who are better placed than me to write about Bob Potts.

Bob with his Reminiscences of a Flixton Boyhood

I only really got to know him about a decade ago, but during those ten years his visits on a Sunday were most welcome, as were our chance meetings in Morrisons, where over a basket of shopping we would exchange news of each other’s projects.

Bob was one of those generous historians, who was most happy when he could offer up pictures and information from his vast collection of material.

Added to which he was equally keen to proffer advice and the occasional correction which I always accepted from a man whose local historical knowledge was boundless.

So, when I was writing a book on Manchester and the Great War, Bob provided me with some fine picture postcards of Red Cross nurses, and even more generously lent me his records relating to the history of Manchester pubs.

These pub records consisted of the dates when the pubs were first granted a license, included the names of breweries as well as the date when the houses closed.

Bob's pub book on the pubs of Hulme and Chorlton-on-Medlock

And they were collected the old fashioned, way from the records held at the Greater Manchester County Office as well as the Archive and Local History Library in Central Ref,  involving long hours with huge musty volumes, which few had ever used.

Anyone who has trawled such documents will know that mix of excitement and tedium, as the day rolls on broken by the odd coffee break, in lonely seclusion punctuated by some fascinating discoveries.

Bob sharing happily his knowledge

Added to which when Bob undertook this bit of research it was done pre computer, so the records were handwritten and the process of ordering them was done without the aid of an electronic database to sort, edit and represent the information.

These records were invaluable to me, and of course were the basis for three books he wrote on Manchester pubs, written in the early 1980s and published by Neil Richardson.

But his historical interests and writing extended way beyond public houses.  

According to Michael Billington, who was his friend and co author he “started writing in 1970 when he wrote an article about the Roman road from Manchester to Ribchester for The Ribchester Archaeology Group’s magazine” and going on to write for other publications about his passion for digging up old Victorian and Edwardian bottles which had been discarded in ash pits.**

This in turn led to that interest in pub history and marked him out as a historian rather than just a collector.

Bob in his 20s

He was also active in local history groups and was a welcome guest speaker, especially when he gave talks on the Red Cross.

He had been born in Flixton in 1936 but spent most of his life in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, where along with his wife Joyce he raised a family of two sons and two daughters and was blessed with two grandchildren.

During the time I knew him, he was still working, and often would divert from his delivery rounds to drop off some “interesting thing” from his collection, and the presence of Bob on the doorstep, bicycle clips in hand often on a Sunday morning was always a welcome surprise.

The visit was never a short one as Bob described the object in detail, offered up a context to the piece and then slid off on several fascinating anecdotes, before suddenly closing the conversation and disappearing on his bike.

And that more than anything is how I will remember him …… a historian who was keen to share his knowledge and passion.

Sadly Bob died in February 2021, just before the publication of the book he co wrote with Michael Billlington.

Pictures; Bob, courtesy of Michael Billington 

* The Old Pubs of Hulme 1983, The Old Pubs of Chorlton On Medlock, 1984, The Old Pubs of Rochdale Road, 1985, & Reminiscences of a Flixton Boyhood, 1986, are available from Neil and Sue Richardson publishers, 01204 578138, wattywalton@btconnect.com  

**Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme, A Collection of Antiques and Curios, Michael BIllington and Bob Potts, Epona Publishing, 2021, www.eponarerecords.com and is also available from Urmston Book shop, https://www.urmston-bookshop.co.uk/ 0161 747 7442

Things they didn't tell you about Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme ....... the new book

 I like the way that local authors Michael Billington and Bob Potts have fallen back on an old tradition in publishing their new book, Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme, A Collection of Antiques and Curios.*

It is that simple but unique practice of inviting subscribers to donate in advance the cost of the publication and in return get both a copy and their names listed in the book.

It is a neat way of calling up some capital to fund the printing of the book, but for the historian offers up some fascinating insights into who supported the project. 

So, my copy of Reminiscences Manchester Fifty Years Ago, by Josiah Thomas Slugg, published in 1881, has an interesting list of the good and not so good who felt the book was worthy of support.

Bob Potts

And no doubt Michael and Bobs book will do the same, after all it takes “a look at the quirkier side of life in the area over the last hundred years and beyond”, and reveals things that other local history books have not deemed appropriate but are they stepping stones of history.

So here are the stories of  Lillicrap's Hone, Leeming's concrete incinerator made in the shape of a tree trunk, the reason why the local policeman  paid children for sparrows' heads and crows' legs.

And sets out to answer the questions of  “Who was the Davyhulme Yank? 

What are the “Seven Sisters”? Where was the concrete map of England and Wales? 

What was Push Plough Field? Who was Tim Bobbin? What was a “tin tabernacle”? 

Micahel Billington

And what is the connection between Hollywood actor George Coulouris (star of Citizen Cane and Murder on The Orient Express) and Urmston?” 

The book costs £15.99 and is available from Urmston Bookshop, Flixton Road, and at www.eponarecords.com  on ebay and from the Michael Billington.

Sadly Bob Potts passed away in February 2021 and the book is dedicated to him and it is to be hoped that his invaluable contribution to the book will serve as a testament to his passion and dedication for local history.

There is a list of subscribers and interested readers can contact the author to be included in this list. 

For further details contact …..Michael Billington, 07772318058,  m.billington90@btinternet.com"**

Location; Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme

* Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme:, A Collection of Antiques and Curios, Michael Billington and Bob Potts, Mike Billington and Bob Potts, publishing date, May 1st 2021

**Press release, April, 2021

A Simpson’s pie, a fond memory and a place in history

I hope Simpson’s Ready Foods in Urmston will endure, even though the factory has closed and soon the site will be an estate of smart town homes.

For almost a century the company provided employment for the people of the district along with a range of food products which will linger in the popular memory.

That memory has been enchanced by a detailed account of the company which has been told in an excellent new book on the history of Urmston, Flixton and Daveyhulme.*

To which can be added one of Andy Robertson’s projects which has recorded the story from the close of the factory, through its demolition and the present work to build those new homes.**

Andy has been chronically similar development across Greater Manchester over the last decade and a bit, and his work is an important contribution to how our landscape is changing.

So that is it.  For all those who remember Simpson’s pies, or who worked  in the factory, continue to watch this space.

Location; Urmston

Pictures; the site of Simpson's Ready Foods, 2019, from the collection of Any Robertson

* The story of Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme, Michael Billington, 2018, the History Press

**And will there be no more Simpson pies from Urmston? https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/2018/06/and-will-there-be-no-more-simpson-pies.html

Queuing for the new history of Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme

Now, the audience was large and expectant.

The large and expectant audience anticipating a good night

After all it is a long time since there has been a new book on the history of Urmston.*

And not just Urmston, because Michael Billington’s book, also covers Flixton and Davyhulme, and is very much a history for today, because as well as all the usual things you might expect, there are some detailed case studies of people and places, like Simpsons the Ready Made Food business.

As an Urmston lad, Michael was keen to tell the story of the people of the three townships, celebrating their common past and uncovering the bits that other historians missed out.

Michael talking about the book

It involved a lot of research, plenty of conversations with the locals, and a trawl of his own extensive picture collection.

So I was not surprised that over 140 people turned out last night to share the book launch.

We were treated to an introduction from the Reverend Karen Marshall, and an extensive talk by Michael on the book and his own connection with Urmston finishing with a question and answer session.

Michael and Ildikó

And along with the presentation Michael, and his Hungarian friend, Ildikó Csige performed a selection of tunes from Hungary.

One lone voice questioned the connection between a book launch and the music, which most in the room thought churlish, and was nicely explained away by the chap who pointed out that after the
Uprising in 1956, Urmston became home to Hungarian refugees.

The pensive author

Not that there really had to be a justification for an entertaining fifteen minutes.

Book launches are meant to be fun and so why not have music?

Especially given that we were not in a familiar venue for such an event, but instead had been invited in to St Clements’ Church, which was built in 1867, just as Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme were on the cusp of change.

And there is a nice sense of continuity in being in the church as some of those referred to in the book will have had their own connection with St Clement’s as did many of the audience.

So it was a good night.

The book sales went well and the selection of wines and nibbles were excellent.

The book

My only regret was that I didn’t have time to talk to the staff from Urmston Bookshop who helped organise the event, but I have their address and web site and as I collect book shops like other people collect souvenirs, I will catch the 25 from Chorlton and pay them a visit.

All of which just leaves me to commend the excellent book by Michael, extend a thank you to Ildikó Csige for the music, and to Paul Sherlock who took the pictures and kindly let me use a selection.

But that is not quite the end, because Jenny, Michaels’ partner told me she already has his Christmas present, which he had already signed and which will be instantly recognizablable from its blue and black cover, with photographs of Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme.

Now that I like.

For the rest of us the book can be bought from Urmston Bookshop, online from the History Press or direct from Michael.

Location; Urmston

Pictures; the book launch, 2018, from the collection of Paul Sherlock

*A new book for Urmston; https://chorltonhistory.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20new%20book%20for%20Urmston

**Urmston Bookshop, http://www.urmston-bookshop.co.uk/

And will there be no more Simpson pies from Urmston?

And of course the answer is no there won’t be, ....... Simpsons Ready Made Food Ltd, closed a while ago and the site is being readied for a proposed housing estate.

Planning permission has been granted for the demolition of the factory and the erection of 58 properties, consisting of houses and apartments, of which two are classed as “affordable rent units”, and four “shared ownership units”.*

Andy Robertson has been down to the site twice and his latest pictures come with the observation that there is scaffolding up around the front building, “perhaps they are keeping the outer bit as part of the redevelopment”

Well having looked at the plans it would appear the building will go, and the space will be filled with eight properties.

Location; Urmston

Pictures; the site, 2018 from the collection of Andy Robertson

*Trafford Planning Portal.  Demolition of existing factory buildings to allow for residential development comprising; 58no. new dwellings. Alongside ancillary works including; a new main access from Stretford Road and associated landscaping.  0481/FUL/17 https://publicaccess.trafford.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=OKR1LPQLMZ900&activeTab=summary

Simpson’s of Urmston ........ the story moves on

Now when I first came to Manchester I was intrigued by the brand of ready made foods made by Simpsons of Urmston.

I am no relation and spent long tedious hours in the college bar explaining that there was no connection between me or the firm and that I couldn’t get discount on their pies or find summer jobs for my fellow students.

More recently I passed the factory on the way to the Trafford Centre, but by then it had closed down and was waiting for something to happen.

The story of the firm features in the new book on Urmston by Michael Billington which is due out later in the year.*

And I am looking forward to reading about the company and the part it played in the life of Urmston.

All of which makes the news that the building is about to be demolished all the sadder.  It provided work for local people and allowed the name of Urmston to been on the shelves of shops across the country.

I knew the building was empty but still got a bit of a surprise when Andy Robertson sent over a series of pictures adding that,

“Simpsons ready meals on Stretford Road, Urmston is being demolished. It was established on this site in 1910 by William Simpson”.

I suppose I could go looking in Trafford’s planning portal to find out what will be built on the site, but for once I am going to wait, secure in the knowledge that Andy will be going back at key moments, recording the progress of the demolition team, the moment the builders break the ground and the rise of whatever is scheduled for the site.

And I am fairly confident that there will be people who share photographs of the factory in its heyday and offer up their own stories of the place.

Well, I hope so.

Location; Urmston

Pictures; Simpsons of Urmston. 2018, from the collection of Andy Robertson






* The story of Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme, Michael Billington, 2018, the History Press

The Urmston Three ....... two pubs and an ex police station

Now I freely admit that the blog is out of its comfort zone and that my knowledge of Urmston is limited.

But Andy Robertson keeps bringing me back to the place with his pictures, and my old friend Michael Billington publishes his book on the history of Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme later in the year.

So there will be no excuse but to board that bus that takes me to the Trafford Centre and get off and visit the three buildings Andy photographed today.

I may wait of course for the arrival of the new book which will offer up a history of the area and place the two pubs and ex police station in a context.

In the meantime I shall also wait for contributions from people who will have visited all three and may have their own photographs to join Andy’s images.

My favourite has to be the ex police station which dates from 1904.  It is functional without being drab and still looks the part.

And that is all I have to say.

Location; Urmston







Pictures; two pubs and an ex police station, 2018, from the collection of Andy Robertson

* The story of Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme, Michael Billington, 2018, the History Press

Urmston ............. a new history

Now just by chance I stumbled across my copy of John Gorton’s Topographical Dictionary of Great Britain and Ireland and as you do I went looking for what he said about Urmston.

Urmston in 1833

The dictionary came in three volumes and was published in 1833 and is a fascinating read.  That said Urmston got just three lines.

 “URMSTON, Population 645.  A township in the parish of Flixton and hundred of Salford.  Ten poor children are taught by means of a small bequest.  John Collier, commonly called Tim Bobbin, the author of the ‘Lancashire Dialect,’ was born here in 1708.”

I had hoped for more but that is all you get.  Still it’s a start and offers up some promising areas of research.

Urmston in 1853

On the other hand I could just wait for the new book on Urmston’s history which is being written by my old friend Mike Billington.

Mike is one of those chaps who can multi task with the best of them.  He is a teacher, musician and artist, local historian and bee keeper and is now engaged in writing about his home town.

Over the last century and a bit there have been a number of books on Urmston's past.
There were two which were , both published in 1898 and since then Mike tells me there has been the "very laudable books by Alan Crossland and the joint venture by Karen Cliff and Vicki Masterson who have to the material available on the area. However, Alan’s books was 1983 and the Cliff/Masterson  book in 2000 so there is a niche for an up to date and more substantial book."

So Mike’s project is to be welcomed especially as he aims to pick up and focus on some of the people who lived out their lives in what in the early 19th century was still a small rural community just over seven miles from Manchester.

All of which just leaves me to suggest that if any one has pictures, stories or other bits and pieces which might help to contact him on 0161 881 0936.
Location; Urmston Greater Manchester

Pictures; extract Urmston, Topographical Dictionary of Great Britain and Ireland, John Gorton, 1833 Vol 3, p 667 and Urmston from the OS for Lancashire, 1841-53, courtesy of Digital Archives Association, http://digitalarchives.co.uk/

On discovering the pubs of Urmston .......... the Lord Nelson

The Lord Nelson is one of those grand old public houses which you know has a history.

That said I have yet to discover its full story.

I know it was home to both the local Friendly Men’s Society who met there in the 1870s and to the Urmston Social Cycle Club who held their meetings in one of its fine rooms in 1911 and boasted a membership of 62 of who 20 were “ladies.”*

The exact date of its construction eludes me but Peter’s painting is very similar to photographs of the building in 1880 and I am guessing it will date from sometime in the previous decade, although sources point to an early pub.

That excellent site Trafford Lives adds that Urmston was “once one of the local notorious centres for the  cruel sport of bull - baiting and baits were held on the cobbled forecourt.

In the days of the stage coach the inn was a frequent stopping place for travellers who used what was the only road from Stretford from the west. Hot Cross Buns were sold outside the Lord Nelson at Easter.**

And of course the moment the story is posted there will be someone with detailed knowledge of the place and so I wait in hope that they will come forward.

Painting; the Lord Nelson, Urmston  © 2013 Peter Topping, Paintings from Pictures,
Web: www.paintingsfrompictures.co.uk
Facebook:  Paintings from Pictures

*The Urmston Urban District, http://www.urmston.net/urmston_a-z.pdf

**Trafford Lifetimes, http://legacy.trafford.gov.uk/content/tca/search_results.asp?fTown=30&fDecade=*&fKeyword=Lord+Nelson

The Currzon Cinema 1936-2008

Now I know when I am at the reaches of my knowledge and so rather than state the obvious with this picture by Andy Robertson or worse get the facts wrong I shall just post the picture and wait  for someone from Urmston to tell me more.

Anything will do, from memories to pictures and of course stories.

And I expect more from Andy on Urmston so be prepared.
 Picture; from the collection of Andy Robertson

Out on Flixton Road catching the changes in retailing

Now the blog knows no boundaries and nor for that matter does Andy Robertson who was out on Flixton Road earlier last month and decided to take this shot.

There will be those who mutter that this is hardly the stuff of history.

But Andy has a keen eye for catching the moment, and the moment quite clearly is Electro Vapours which market their products as "a quality, non toxic e-liquid smoking alternative.”

Now I am not sure how long they have occupied number 146 Flixton Road but I do know that a few years ago it was a charity shop for the Rescue of Destitute Animals and I rather think may also more recently have sold fireworks.

As Andy mused, it will be interesting to see how e cigarettes fare in the future.

Picture; courtesy of Andy Roberston

In Urmston

The hall in 1988

Now I couldn’t resist using this image of the old Temperance Hall in Urmston.

I passed a few years back and of course didn’t have my camera, and while I promised myself I would go back I never have.

So it’s a thank you to Angie Thomas who posted it recently on facebook.

And for those who compare it with our own hall which is now ironically a pub they can visit my earlier stories, Sedge Lynn, ...... the story behind the picture, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/sedge-lynn-story-behind-picture.html and
From Temperance snooker hall to a Wetherspoon's pub
http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/from-temperance-snooker-hall-to.html

Picture; courtesy of Angie Thomas

Views of Urmston in the July of 1957

I am never too keen on these picture postcards which pack four of five images together.

Now it is true that you do get more for your money but the downsize its that they are smaller, the quality is not so good and you lose some of the detail.

Having said that Joyce decided to use this one to send a message to Miss Ella Hooper in the July of 1957 from Urmston.

She was “having a lovely time and lovely weather at Urmston, making the most of bed and the weather before I start teaching next Monday.”

Picture; Flixton Road and Moss Road, Church Road and Memorial Gardens and Stretford Road by Lilywhite Photographs, courtesy of Tuck DB, http://tuckdb.org/