As the lockdown continues, it’s more important than ever to stay connected with your loved ones, whilst observing social distancing guidelines. We hope Archives+ can help you to do this by publishing our popular memory boxes online which can be used as a starting point in discovering your family history, find out what their childhood was like, look back at the area where they grew up, discover their fondest childhood memories and maybe uncover some hidden gems in your family’s story.
Whilst children are off school and many adults are at home, why not take this opportunity to find out about those important stories thus ensuring this history is passed on to the next generation which can often get lost or put off for another day as we lead our busy lives. Sharing memories of days gone by can bring families closer together, listening to elderly relatives can be a comfort for families as they gain an insight into their life stories.
Each week Archives+ will publish a memory box for an area in Manchester, this week our archive collections cover Cheetham Hill. Below you will find a collection of images from Cheetham Hill, alongside 6 worksheets. The worksheets are set around 6 themes: Industry, Place, Health and Living Conditions, Pastimes, Radical Thinking, and Communities. Using the worksheets as prompts to start up a conversation, write down your findings on a piece of paper, or if you prefer type into a tablet or PC.
In addition to this blog, the online memory box will be published on the Archives+ Facebook page. Dig out your old photos too, these can also be a brilliant resource to trigger fond memories of family times.We encourage you to share your findings on social media, either as comments on our Facebook page or on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #ArchivesPlusMemorybox
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If you are unable to share your photos and stories online, when the libraries reopen bring copies of your family memories into your local library. In the coming year we will produce an exhibition in your local library of selected submissions, shared both online and in person.
Please make sure that if you share any information with us that the person you have spoken to is happy for you to share it with Archives+.When sharing your findings try to avoid sharing too much personal information such as surnames and date of birth as these details can identify your loved ones.
Resources:
Unlocking Your Sound Archive have produced a blog about conducting oral history interviews with family members. The audio clips included in this online memory box have been kindly supplied by Unlocking Your Sound Archive.
Marcus Falk’s Shop, 137 Great Ducie Street c1920, photograph of Rose Myer’s mother’s father’s shop. One of the first to sell Yiddish newspapers in Manchester. The shop faced the Assize Court, and Rose remembers being taken to the shop to watch the judges procession from their lodgings to the court. Falks was bombed presumably along with Assize Courts. Levy’s furniture shop was still there at the time of deposit in 1985. GB124.DPA/2338/01Cheetham Hill Road 1963Cheetham Hill Road east side, view north, Cheetham 1959Brompton Street, Cheetham Hill 1970The Empress, Cheetham Hill Road 1971Cheetham Hill Road east side, View north, Cheetham 1959(1103/245) Mr. Boxer recalls arriving in Manchester from Jamaica and attending an engineering training centre in Smedley Lane, Cheetham Hill before he started work as a Machine Operator at Metro-Vicks. Courtesy of Tameside Local Studies and Archives Centre Kennings, Cheetham Hill Road 1970
Assembly Rooms, Cheetham Hill Road, Cheetham 1965 Museum of Transport, Boyle Street, Cheetham Hill (photo of SELNEC 1972 unknown location)Crumpsall Public Library, Cheetham Hill Road east side, Cheetham Hill Assize Courts, from south, from John Street, Strangeways, Manchester 1945Cheetham Town Hall, Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester 1906Smedley Old Hall, Bottom of Smedley Lane, gate to hall on extreme right, Smedley Old Hall and building to right of it demolished later, Cheetham 1924
Public Baths, Cheetham Hill Road 1903Abraham Moss Festival, Cheetham Area 1977Temperance Billiard Hall, Cheetham Hill Road east side, Cheetham 1959Noel Timpson Centre, Cheetham Hill Road 1965Temple Cinema, Cheetham Hill Road 1965 Top Rank Bowling Alley, Cheetham Hill Road 1965
Elizabeth Wolstenholme Elmy, born in Cheetham Hill in 1833, was a campaigner for social, legal & political equality for women. Photograph shows a group of Suffragettes including Emmeline Pankhurst. Elizabeth is at the front holding flowers, Emmeline is second from left as viewed. Frances Hodgson Burnett, author of popular children’s books “The Secret Garden”, “Little Lord Fauntleroy” and “A Little Princess” was born in Cheetham Hill in 1849. Starting with a market stall in Leeds, Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer opened their first retail store on Cheetham Hill Road in 1894. This photo shows one of their Penny Bazaars in Manchester. (1103/109(2)) Mr. Bracegirdle tells of having to leave the farm he worked at as it was sold “ fella who bought it, you know Marks & Spencer’s…well it was Marks…” Courtesy of Tameside Local Studies and Archives Centre
Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, Cheetham Hill Road 1978Trinity Church, View south, Cheetham Hill Road east side 1959(1103/52) Mrs. Watson recounts how she was brought up to believe punctuality was important; even if this meant setting off early to take part in church parades “…we walked all the way to Cheetham Hill, which, the Sunday school is now the Polish club…” Courtesy of Tameside Local Studies and Archives CentreEast Temple School, Cheetham Hill Road east side 1959Construction of North Manchester Jamia Mosque, Woodlands Road, Cheetham Hill 1990St. Lukes, Cheetham Hill Road / Smedley Lane, Cheetham Hill 1969The United Synagogue, Cheetham Hill Road east side, from Derby Street 1959
We hope you have enjoyed looking back at the photographs of Cheetham Hill. More areas will be covered each week and if you would like to see more images, don’t forget to check out the photograph albums on Flickr and the Manchester Local Image Collection .
