The Dentonian
Issue 55
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We have recently been given the photographs reproduced below, by Mrs D.Mason, and as always, we are grateful for this addition to our archive collection. Those who walk through Jet Amber Fields from time to time, will have seen the remains of the cottages across the River Tame. The notes below each one are Mrs. Mason’s. I have often wondered what the cottages looked like when they were inhabited, and Front view of Jetamber Cottages probably taken during the early war years
We have recently been given the photographs reproduced below, by Mrs D.Mason, and as always, we are grateful for this addition to our archive collection. Those who walk through Jet Amber Fields from time to time, will have seen the remains of the cottages across the River Tame. The notes below each one are Mrs. Mason’s. I have often wondered what the cottages looked like when they were inhabited, and was therefore very pleased to see these snaps.
Lucy PollitThis is my great-aunt Lucy PoIIitt (nee Swindells), my grand-father’s sister. My abiding memory is of her as she appears - never varying. Possibly the cottages were Wthe’ as one of her three sons worked for a farmer - maybe Phillips’ accamodation -2 up/2 down with outside lao. Usual slop-stone sink, flag floors, black-leaded grate, peg rugs. Grand-daughter clock ticking away the hours. There were always two or more cats on the hearth but as she hated cats they had to accept being shovelled up & put outside as & when necessary. Poultry wandered round the yard & a couple of pigs were housed in the sty. Small wonder I thought I was way out in the countryside!
I take this to be the rear view of the cottages but it is a bit of a puzzle as it puts the terraced houses as those before the bridge on Hyde Road. The other way round -the factory on the left is too large for Nathan Wilde’s hat factory near the church and schooll The object in front of the ten-ace could be the large house which was demolished prior to Freeman’s having their first nursery!
Now you will need to get your thinking caps on! It looks to me as if the third photo is taken looking down from the St.Anne’slNasmyth Street area, towards Hyde. If so, then the cottages look to be too far away from the line of the river. The photos may well have been taken some years apart. There Is no tree near the gable end on the 3rd snap, and it shows an enclosure Which is not apparent on the first. And am I right in thinking that the chimney pots look abit different? Are these Jet Amber or some other cottages? I believe that ‘Farmers Fold’ stood where Freeman’s first nursery was built. Any ideas?
Finally, one more photograph, of my own, which shows one of the Pollitts, Tommy, ready to go out delivering milk from Haughton Hall Farm, with his helper, Albert Arrowsmith, my late uncle.
Allan Arrowsmith
Jet Amber Cottages proably taken during the early war years. |
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FROM THE MINUTES OF THE HERITAGE CONSULTATION GROUP, FEB 28TH 2005
Denton St Lawrence, Development of Alms Houses — This project was
ongoing, however, a few difficulties were being experienced regarding
the acquisition of one remaining property. Mrs Marlor stated that she
understood that it was proposed to have two storey alms houses on the
site and expressed concerns regarding this matter. The Chair advised that
once the problems regarding acquistion had been resolved then attention
could be given to the proposed buildings.
Jet Amber Cottages
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Front view of Jetamber Cottages probably taken during the early war years |
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We have recently been given the photographs reproduced below, by Mrs.D.Mason, and as always, we are grateful for this addition to our archive collection.
 |
Those who walk through Jet Amber Fields from time to time, will have seen the remains of the cottages across the River Tame. The notes below each one are Mrs. Mason's. I have often wondered what the cottages looked like when they were inhabited, and was therefore very pleased to see these snaps.
Front view of Jetamber Cottages probably taken during the early war years
This is my great-aunt Lucy Pollitt (nee Swindells), my grand-father's sister. My abiding memory is of her as she appears - never varying.
Possibly the cottages were 'tithe' as one of her three sons worked for a farmer - maybe Phillips' accomodation - 2 up/2 down with outside loo. Usual slop-stone sink, flag floors, black-leaded grate, peg rugs. Grand-daughter clock ticking away the hours. There were always two or more cats on the hearth but as she hated cats they had to accept being shovelled up & put outside as & when necessary. Poultry wandered round the yard & a couple of pigs were housed in the sty.Small wonder I thought I was way out in the countryside!
I take this to be the rear view of the cottages but it is a bit of a
puzzle as it puts the terraced houses as those before the bridge on Hyde
Road. The other way round - the factory on the left is too large for Nathan
Wilde's hat factory near the church and school! The object in front of
the terrace could be the large house which was demolished prior to Freeman's
having their first nursery!
Now you will need to get your thinking caps on! It looks to me as if the
third photo is taken looking down from the StAnne's/Nasmyth Street area,
towards Hyde. If so,then the cottages look to be too far away from the
line of the river. The photos may well have been taken some years apart.
There is no tree near the gable end on the 3rd snap, and it shows an enclosure
which is not apparent on the first. And am I right in thinking that the
chimney pots look abit different? Are these Jet Amber or some other cottages?
I believe that 'Farmer's Fold' stood where Freeman's first nursery was
built. Any ideas?
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Finally, one more photograph, of my own, which shows one of the Pollitts, Tommy, ready to go out delivering milk from Haughton Hall Farm, with his helper, Albert Arrowsmith, my late uncle.
Alan Arrowsmith
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE
PLANT DEPARTMENT IN BICTON GARDENS – 1842
THE FOLLOWING RULES TO BE STRICTLY ATTENDED TO AND FINES TO BE PAID EACH PAY-DAY. THE AMOUNT SO PAID TO BE DIVIDED EQUALLY AMONGST THE MEN AT THE END OF YEAR, OR PUT TO SOME USEFUL PURPOSE. AS SHALL BE AGREED ON.
1 |
Coming to work on a Monday morning vita a dirty shirt |
3 |
2 |
Coming to work morning without shoes being laced or tied |
3 |
3 |
any person employed in these departments found gathering fruit with unwashed hands |
4 |
4 |
Going into any hothouse, greenhouse &c, or walking on any gravel walk with dirty shoes |
3 |
5 |
Taking a wheel-borrow with a dirty wheel on the walks, or in my other way making dirt and not immediately cleaning the same up |
3 |
6 |
Leaving any door or gate open in any department of the garden |
3 |
7 |
Leaving door or gate unlocked, after opening the same, and not returning the key to its proper place |
3 |
8 |
Leaving any stoke-hole dirty, and not keeping the ashes cleaned out from under the grate, not sifting the cinders once a week |
3 |
9 |
Leaving any fire at night not in proper trim or order |
3 |
10 |
Leaving anything dangerous in or about the stoke-holes or furnaces |
12 |
11 |
Leaving a job unfinished in an unworkmanlike manner |
3 |
12 |
Making any waste of coals, dropping them about, or not keeping them swept clean up together |
3 |
13 |
Leaving open the cover of any 6-oiler or cistern |
6 |
14 |
Smoking a pipe of tobacco in the hours of work |
4 |
15 |
Neglecting to grease a wheelbarrow when requisite |
3 |
16 |
Leaving any tool; wheelbarrow, steps, ladder, water-pot, &c., out of its proper place or putting it away dirty |
3 |
17 |
Leaving rubbish in any hot house or greenhouse, or in any way making dirty and not immediately cleaning the same up |
3 |
18 |
Leaving heaps of grass,weeds,leaves or any rubbish whatever about the pleasure-grounds, borders walks,&c for each heap |
3 |
19 |
Carelessly breaking any plant, pan. grass, tool &c. |
3 |
20 |
Breaking any flower-pot with plants in it, and not immediately potting the same plants properly |
6 |
21 |
Neglecting, to do ajo6 after having been once told of it the second time |
3 |
22 |
Neglecting to attend to water fountains &c |
3 |
23 |
Any man found at his work intoxicated shall forfeit his days wages, and be otherwise dealt with as thereafter shall be considered- just |
|
24 |
Swearing or making of bad language, for every separate evil-expression |
3 |
25 |
Damaging or in any mutilating or defacing the above Rules |
12 |
J. BARNES; HEAD GARDNER
BICTON GARDENS SEPT 26 1842
A Dog's 'Tail'
Do you remember the story below, which appeared in Issue No 38, Autumn
2001?
From the ' REPORTER' Saturday January 14th 1933
The Dog that knew Denton Why the Court Laughed
"That's something" remarked
Mr. R. Harrison, the presiding justice, and Denton Police Court,
on Friday last, in reply to a compliment paid to the police by Edward
Jones, of 102 Ashton-road, Denton, who was charged with allowing
a dog to be at large and also keeping a dog with no namer and address
on the collor."I will give the police their due They are telling
the truth: remarked Jones. Police testimony was to the effect that at 8 p.m.
on Friday , December 9th, the dog - a brown mongrel - was running
at large on Stockport-Road. |
I recently received the message below, from Mr Stuart Hill, who now lives in Surrey. Stuart told me in a further message that a relative of his, Alan Yates, of Haughton Green, had passed to our Frank Brown a copy of his (Stuart's), mother's reminiscences, entitled'Mabel's Memories! I have reproduced the first part of it in this issue, and will complete it in the next. Our thanks to Stuart and Alan.
Just read some of this issue on the net and as an old Dentonian from the
early 20's I' like to bet that the Jones and the dog was old Ned Jones
who kept builders yard nearly opposite Milton street and the same bloke
who gave me my second dog when I was about 8 years old ! He used to have
a old horse called vinegar. The story of the bells of St Georges church
in Hyde .My grandfather was a planker at Wilsons at the turn of the century
was also a bell ringer at St Georges (he died in the early30's) was also
a member of a winning team of ringers for a peal and I still have his
trophy, a pewter Tea Pot, and the names of the fulls members of the team.
Wilton Street Palatine street Milton Street Clare street and around was
my playing ground. Going back to Wilsons My Grandmother worked there as
did my mother and my aunt all were trimmers both in and out workers as
the situation demanded. Interested? Stuart Hill
Mabel's Memories.
I was born on June 1st. 1901. The family were, Father, Mother and Sister who was seventeen years old when I was born, my brother WILFRED had died two years earlier from diphtheria. We lived in Hyde where my parents had been Steward and Stewardess at the Labour Club. On my birth they left the club. Later they had a confectioners shop for a while, and then moved on to a chip shop in Denton. We had nice neighbours on either side, one a drapers owned by Mrs. Mee. They had a daughter and a son. The other side was a tobacconist called Lomax. I remember my Mother and Mrs. Lomax going one night each week to the Music Hall. There were several in those days. Father looked after the shop and his Son - in - Law used to come to help him. My sister had of course married by then. She was a hat trimmer and her husband was also in the hatting trade. I attended Christ Church School. Later both my Mother and Father took ill. Mother with sciatica, Father with rheumatic. I remember. a nurse coming each day, and my sister opening the shop for two hours each night. I had to help and one of my jobs was to stone the flag floor and do any errands. The Dr. said standing in the yard in all weathers brought on my Fathers illness. The peeling machine for the potatoes was in the yard and there was no cover. The machine was a barrel type with blades inside. You had to turn a handle and the blades peeled the potatoes, this job was not done in five minutes, there were several buckets of potatoes to be done each day which meant standing in the yard for quite a few hours, then they had to be washed ready for the shop at night. This was not the age of electricity. We had gas for lighting. There was no room to build a shed so my parents decided on Dr's. Orders to go into a private house and back into hatting.
Denton was full of hat manufactures. We had moved to Osbourne Road and
I attended St. Anne's School. Soon my parents decided to try a shop again
especially as the hatting trade was very slack and money scarce by then.
They got a shop in Beswick Manchester. It was very run down and they were
to try to bring business back. In this they were very successful. I then
attended a private school run by two sisters. There were less than a dozen
pupils and the fee was sixpence (2 1/2 p) per week. It suited us all,
as I didn't have to go until 10 a.m. so my parents could have extra rest
after being open in the shop until 12-30 each night. I came home at 3-30
p.m. I don't think I learned very much. When in the Denton shop my Grandfather
used to come from Flowery Field to help (2-1/2 miles), but on going to
Manchester he couldn't go so far. He was 83 and used to walk to Denton
and back at least two to three times a week. He used to have his dinner
with us and my Mother gave him 2/6d (12-1/2 p) for himself as there was
no pension then, and his daughter whom he lived with had a family to keep.
So times were hard. I made three friends in Beswick. Amy and Bessie Emmons?
Their parents kept a hardware shop, and Bertha Dawson, whose parents kept
a greengrocery shop. On Whit-Monday morning there was a fire at the hardware
shop it was always exciting to see the fire engine and the big lovely
horses. Again on Whit-Friday morning there was a fire at the baker's shop
that was kept by an old man who just baked loaves and muffins. How he
made a living I don't know, for loaves were only 3d (1-1/2 p) and muffins
were one halfpenny each, the loaves weighed 21b full weight.
On Whit-Monday I walked with the church procession to Manchester's Albert
Square, where there was a service. Then it was back to school, it was
a very hot morning. On Whit-Friday the Catholics and the Italians walked,
and they were a sight to see. The Italians carried a statue of the Virgin
Mary and Child, this was life size and adorned with Madonna Lilies. It
was something you could never forget. Whitsuntide in the north was a very
special
week and was marked by the churches Whit Walks. Each church had the walk
round the streets of its own parish, calling at special places to sing
hymns, and all had their own Banner, which the men carried. Four older
girls held ribbons from the banner top. These banners had some Bible pictures
on to represent a story. There was also a brass or military band, which
made the walks very jolly and helped you along if you were feeling, tired.
It really is amazing how a good stirring march helps keep tiredness fade.
On success in the shop the owner wished to sell and gave my parents the
first offer, but they had not the money to buy, so left, and returned
to Denton. For a time we lived with my sister but as it was only a four-roomed
house it was crowded with six people living there. It only lasted a few
weeks as my Mother got a house in Taylor Lane. These houses had been especially
built for the workers who were brought from Ireland to build a reservoir
at 0, Audenshaw. One Sunday evening while having a walk my parents saw
a house in Milton St.
to let. First thing Monday morning Mother went to ask for it and got the
key. The rent was 4 shillings (20p) per week. Life settled down from then
on no more moves. I went to school and my parents to work. There were
some very hard times and no dole or relief. I can remember my Father going
to pawn his overcoat one winter morning for we had nothing in the house
to eat. As he came to the pawnbroker's shop he felt he couldn't go in,
it was a place he had never been in before so he decided to walk on and
try to get his courage up. As he walked along Stockport Road and was just
passing St. Lawrence's Church he found a shilling (5p). He hurried home
and my Mother bought a loaf, margarine and cheese, so for another day
we had food and Father's coat was saved. So the struggle went on. We got
through somehow and at last the hafting trade bucked up and money again
came into the house, but arrears for rent and the grocers bill had to
be paid at a certain sum each week. So life never came easy. I attended
Wilton St. Day and Sunday school. Another time when the hatting was slack,
it was near Whitsuntide, my Mother was worried how to fit me with clothes
for the Whit Walks. She managed get some muslin for a dress and my Sister
made it. The hat was a problem, however, a draper on Ashton Road had some
old stock in straw hats and was selling them off at 6d. (2-1/2p) a hat.
We went for one and it was so big it had to be packed out with cotton
wool to fit me, the draper then found a wreath of buttercups to fit round
the crown, and they were 3d. (1-1/2p). So I had a new hat for 9d. (4-1/2p)
and a dress for 1/6d (9p). I was all right for the Whit Walks and hoping
it didn't rain.
Holidays I never knew, a walk round Reddish Vale or through Hulmes Wood
were the extent of holidays in those days. Hulmes Wood was lovely and
used to be a large carpet of Bluebells and Mayflowers. Another time that
the hatting trade was on short time, my Mother got a job cleaning at a
large house in Debdale Lane Reddish. She was there when the 1914 - 1918
war ended. I was working by then. First I had a job in a tailors shop
in Hyde but there was a difference of opinion by the boss, Mr. Marsden
and the lady who was teaching me and neither would give way. Then my friend
Lily Axon told me a girl was wanted in the warehouse. I went to apply
and got the job. At that time so many men had been called up for war service.
I loved that job and was very happy there. One day there was a fire in
the stock room and four of us girls helped to remove the stock of silks
and satins to safety. I remember I was given a white felt hat as a reward.
Time travelled on and the war drew to a close. My friend Hannah Booth
and I used to go on Saturday night to the Stamford Picture house and there
met the pianist George Hill. We always walked home together. Eventually
George and I were keeping company, but he had at last to join the forces.
After the initial training he was sent to France, not in the front line
but was at Etapes. He was in the Tank Corps. And being a musician was
soon included in the band as a clarinet player also as a violinist in
the orchestra. When the war was over and the returned to England they
were in big demand for garden parties. After the war ended and as the
men returned to home life, naturally they wanted their jobs back, so where
possible the women were asked to return to home life.
I was 18 years old and was offered either box making or hat trimming.
I couldn't stand the smell of glue so choose the trimming. So became a
soft hat trimmer at Wilson's for the next three years. I was never very
happy with the job. At that time there were 140 soft hat trimmers and
over 70 hardhat trimmers. It was a trade that fluctuated and you could
be on overtime one week and put on three days the next. It was hard to
plan. I've earned £5 one week and dropped to 30/- (£1-50)
the next week, now in 1985 folks think they are badly done too, even though
on good wages and more regular wages. So life carried on. When George
came out of the army he had to return to finish his apprenticeship to
joinery
although he had only three months to do. In those days it was a seven-year
apprenticeship and although George was 21years old it had to be served
to make up the seven years. Army service did not count. When the apprenticeship
was finished the apprentice was sacked and had to find work elsewhere
for further experience. Life began to settle down again. We were out one
night and as we passed the Scala Cinema the manager was stood on the steps
and for devilment George asked him if he was in need of a pianist? He
said come in and to give an audition, which he did and got the job. The
old pianist had to have a weeks notice. So the following Monday saw George
taking his place at the piano. He was there for four years. Mr. Wolfe
the manager was a real gentleman. When we married the staff bought us
a silver egg stand with four eggcups, this I still have some 65 years
later, Should say my son has it. Mr, Wolfe died suddenly and the new manager
decided to have a six-piece band, and as they had their own pianist George
got the sack.
When we got married houses were scarce and we lived with my parents. The
back bedroom was very small and when our baby was born we looked for somewhere
with more room. It was not right or fair on my parents to crowd them.
It was twelve months before we got two rooms with a widow and her daughter
at Guide Bridge. This lady had a six-roomed house. She was being kept
by the Guardians who allowed her 13/- (65p) per week, but every so often
they stopped the money and she had to rent two rooms in the house to live.
When she got tired of having lodgers in the house, she gave you notice
to leave so
that she could have the house to herself and go back to the guardians.
We had the two rooms and I had to cook on a small sitting room fire. I
was only allowed to use the oven on Sunday after she had finished with
it. The same for washing, I had to manage on the table. On Monday I could
have the use of the boiler in the kitchen for one hour. We were there
for a few months then found four rooms behind a shop, two bedrooms, and
two downstairs rooms. The shop was a gent's outfitter owned by a family
of Jews, and a nicer family you never met. We were there until our son
was three years old. In the meantime George got a building grant from
Waterloo Council to build two houses in Ney St. one to be ours and one
for sale. We had a very rough time during the next few months. Money was
very scarce so I sent Stuart to school although he was only three years
old and in those days it was exceptional to be accepted less than five
years. It was a church school then returned to trimming at Wilson's in
Denton. I had to leave home at 8 a.m. and did not return till 5-45p.m.
George had to see to Stuart's meals and a neighbour's daughter took him
to school with her. George played the piano at the Denton Palace and for
weeks we used to pass each other on the buses, he going to work and I
coming home. We only met at weekends. Then Stuart took cold through sitting
on the doorstep waiting after school for his dad to get home. This developed
into measles and I was forced to stay home. We had a hard time even with
my wage which never passed 40/ (£2), now that was stopped. Being
winter there was no building work and after struggling to pay bills we
went bankrupt and lost everything. We went back to my parents, and I was
able to go back to trimming. Stuart went to Wilton St. School founded
by the minister Russell Scott. It was a crush as the house was only a
four-roomed cottage. Stuart and I shared a single bed and dad slept on
the couch downstairs.
My friend told me of a house empty in York Road and I applied for it and
got it. It was quite funny really; there we were in a six-roomed house
and nothing to put in it. Mother gave us a small table and three cups
and saucers and a small pan; my sister gave plates, sugar bowl and jug,
two knives, forks and spoons, a small hearthrug and a wooden bowl for
washing the pots in. She paid 3d (1-1/4p) for this and you had to keep
it filled with water or the strips of wood dried up and the water ran
out. It served for all kinds of jobs, from washing pots and clothes to
making pastry in. My Mother also gave us an ash pan cover with the words
Home Sweet Home on it and it certainly was home sweet home but it was
only to last for six weeks for the rent was 26/- (£1-30p) weekly,
paid fortnightly. When the owner came for the first payment she also wanted
the rates added. This floored us, as we had not got it. She agreed to
leave it to the next payment. In the meantime we tried to get another
house, as we knew this was impossible for us to rent, and we were lucky.
The newsagent owned some houses and hearing how we had been treated offered
us a four-roomed house next door to their shop on Ashton Rd. for 15/-
(75p) per week clear. We jumped at it; it had only just been decorated
and cleaned. We got together the rent and rates after a struggle and so
paid and moved. We were on Ashton Rd. about four years and with hard work
and patience pulled ourselves together. This house had flag floors so
George had a talk to the man who had a furnishers shop at Crown Point
and he let us have a remnant of oilcloth for the house floor, to pay for
it George had to do some work for him in the shop at weekends, he would
buy the materials and George put shelves and cupboards up in his shop.
What a struggle we had but we won.
When I was a little girl and my sister lived in Peel St. the lady next door had a house window shop and used to sell sweets and I used to do errands for her. She lost her husband and came on very hard times so she went to live with her youngest son in Dukinfield. She was not welcome and had to live in her bedroom, only joining the family for meals. She came to see if I had room and would I give her a home? Well she saw our landlady and got permission and she had a home with us for over two years. She was a good help in the house and our meals were ready for us when we came home from work. We had a gas meter in which you inserted 1 penny to get gas; 6 pennies (2-1/2P) gave us gaslight, one light only and enough gas in the cooker to bake pies and Sunday dinner. Candles were used in the kitchen and bedrooms. One summer evening, having a walk, we saw a house for sale in Clare St. and liked it, strangely its owners were the people we had rented the house from in York Rd., this had 3 rooms down and 2 up newly wired up for electric and decorated. We really liked it. Next morning George went to see an estate agent called Marlor to see if it was possible to raise the deposit. Leslie Marlor was a good friend and had found George jobs many times as he owned quite a bit of property himself. So through him we bought the house. In payment back George had to keep in repair the property owned by Mr. Marlor, he paid for wood and slates etc. and my husband gave his time for the jobs as and when he could and that was how we bought our first house.
We were there a few years then moved into a mixed business in Duldnfield
where our second son was born, Stuart now being twelve years old. He still
attended Wilton St. School in Denton and had his dinners with my Mother,
there were no school dinners then. People had to look after themselves
not expect the state to keep them. It wasn't a happy place and we moved
after about three years. When we bought the business there was a post
- office included but his was transferred to another shop. My husband
carried on with his job and the post - office rule was for two people
always to be in the shop. As the only paid 15/- (75p) a week wages it
was impossible for us. We were young, inexperienced, and thought post
- office business would bring in customers for the other part of the business.
We soon learned different during the month of the transfer. The man and
his son who had lived there over forty years did not tell us the truth
about the business and we did not seek advice so we were sadly let down.
However you live and learn and we survived, but with the birth of our
son Rowland we called it a day and sold out, and lost financially. We
moved on to the Snipe Estate where my husband worked. The houses being
built were of four types and styles from £250 to £375. We
were very comfortable there for fifteen years. The firm McAllen and Able
went bankrupt in the first twelve months but George was able to find other
work. Sometimes only a few weeks, sometimes a few months.
Then war broke out and he worked in the railway depot at Gorton Tank.
I took various jobs of sewing at home. Gasmask cases, identity cards and
children's dresses. After Manchester was bombed, and what a weekend that
was, I took a Pay corps lad in as their building in Manchester had been
bombed to bits. This first lad came from Leicester and was with us two
and a half years, then went to Africa. The second soldier was a doctor's
son from Liverpool. He was, I should say, the biggest chump in the corps,
but we had many a good laugh over him Although he was twenty-six years
old anyone would have years off his age. To quote one Sunday teatime,
our Stuart was in the Royal Signals, was on weekend leave, and had brought
his girl - friend Hilda to tea. We were all round the table when the conversation
turned to the call - up days of the two lads. Arthur told of how shocked
he was to get his call - up papers. On the day it was raining very hard
and he had to travel to Chester where a sergeant was waiting for the trainload
of new recruits. His story was he had never seen so many men getting off
a train. This sergeant lined them all up in the road and marched them
to the camp. It was still raining and he wouldn't let me put my umbrella
up! Well we all burst out laughing and said I'll bet you had your spats
on too. He had. We could just picture him in the middle of two or three
men or more with bowler hat spats and umbrella. It was the best laugh
of the war, and I don't think he tumbled to why it caused us to laugh.
He had never known how to clean a pair of shoes in his life and always
had someone to wait on him It was quite an experience for him and I hope
I've taught him some of the other side of life. We had a raid one night
in December and from our bedroom window we could see the explosion of
the bombs in Manchester. It was Christmas and next day we went to see
the damage that was done. On another occasion there was a raid and the
Home guard were out when a German plane was shot down and the Germans
bailed out. Our lads were out 'til 5 a.m. looking for them. The Home guard
at Droylesden found them and they were handed to the military. Mrs. Ashton,
the grocer's wife, and daughter came to our house as her husband was in
the Home guard. Edith, the daughter, slept under the table and I made
up a bed in the front room for Rowland. So at least they lost no sleep.
After that we only had the odd raid as the planes went over to Liverpool.
Food was on ration and you had to queue for any extra that you heard about.
Even after the war was over it was a long time before life was easy again.
I remember once wanting to re-paper our dining room and Rowland and I
went to Manchester and queued for an hour and I got six rolls for the
dining room and Rowland got five rolls for his bedroom, we had to go to
the shop separately, as only one room was supplied for one customer. Mind
you, everyone was up to all kinds of dodges. I remember we went for a
week to the Lake District and had to take our own bread ration for the
three of us for the week. One day we went out walking and called in a
small cafe, there were three cakes on the table that the previous customers
had left. We only got a cup of tea and'they wouldn't sell us a cake even
for a lad who was hungry. Life could be tough although the war was getting
to an end in Europe. The Jap. war was still on. My brother - in - law
was on the Burma Road and saw some terrible sights. He was with the Chindits
but came through all right.
Well! Eventually peace did come again but it had taken its toll and my
husband was to become a sick man. My son came home; he had served his
time in the underground in the south of England, as a telegrapher. He
got married some months after being demobbed and returned to optics. The
younger son went to Ducie Ave. School at Longsight, so he had to travel
quite a few miles each day. He did well and is a lithograph printer. Time
passed by and life returned to normal, sometimes there was work but more
unemployment. When Rowland left school he got work at Williamsons printers
in Ashton. He later met Kathleen, who became his wife, at Levenshulme
Palais Dance Hall. For a short time they lived with us, then got a house
in Audenshaw. Kathleen worked for a time at Denton Co - op. She left to
have her first baby, a girl Susan Marcia. So life took another turn. My
husband's health broke and he could not look after the business. He died
a short time later. I sold the shop and house and bought one in Trafalgar
St. There I lived for fifteen years. I then moved into a council flat
in Hindley Close as my house was in need of costly repair and I had not
the money. The flat is roomy but very quiet. You rarely see anyone except
the odd car with a visitor to one of our flats.
Now for a big jump. I had a fall and had to change my way of life. True
there are other people but it does not compare with a walk to Ashton or
an outing to Manchester. I feel I'm just killing time waiting for the
end. It gets very boring. Stuart and Val came yesterday to clear the house
and get things moving to sell it. I've got to leave everything to others
now. Yesterday they took me to see Wilfred, he has not been well and can't
walk so well, golly, why do we have to carry on when worn out? We are
no use or ornament I wondered if I will see Wilfred again. We have always
been very close. When Stuart and Val came up north they took me to visit
Wilfred and Dora at Haughton Green. How life gives out its knocks.
So far I'm in Daisy Nook House clean and comfortable. At least I have
my own room and don't have to share, which I should hate. Life, if you
can call it that, seems to have run out. Nothing to do and all day to
do it in. Now it seems my eyes are getting too tired to work or see much.
I have a large magnifying glass so I can still see to do a bit of reading,
if big print, otherwise there is a mist over the eyes and all gets blurred.
Life is very quiet and dull. That is why I started this to pass the time.
I wonder at the different paths God sets for people, it's said he only
gives the load to the ones who can carry it. How I wish I had been weaker
so could have passed some of it to someone else but I'm the one saddled
with it. I wonder what morning will bring. Please God, don't take my sight,
and let me keep some.
Mabel Hill 1901 - 1996.
(Editors note - Further to my earlier comment, I have reproduced the
whole article here, except for the last 2 or 3 pages, which make sad reading
as Mrs. Hill's health deteriorated. However, she lived to a grand old
age, and we appreciate having the record of another Dentonian's life.