Labour HQ at Hardy Lane

The Labour Party election headquarters is in full swing at the Co-op Rooms. Popped in the check out what is happening. Nice use of cycle leaning on the big plastic posters. Lots of paper to push through letterboxes.

Camapign HQ

Hardy Lane Co-op Rooms are currently the head quarters for Lucy Powell the Labour candidate in the forthcoming General Election. The rooms have been used for Labour campaigns since at least 1964, and as HQ since at least 1987.

Picture is of Lucy (left) with Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions who dropped by to meet constituents and called into the Hardy Lane rooms. At least the background looks like that.

Co-ops in Salford

Took time out to trek over to the Working Class Movement Library in Salford for a talk on Co-operatives in Salford. It is not a trek since I realised you can do shopping in central Manchester and then take a seven minute train journey - Manchester Oxford Road to Salford Crescent station which a two minute walk from the Library.

The talk was by Gillian Lonergan from the Co-operative Archives at the Co-opsUK building. A muster of over 30 punters for an excellent picture presentation follwed by tea and custard cream biscuits. Always like a history talk when it informs me of new facts. Co-ops in Salford go way back to the days of the Rochdale Pioneers with hand loom weavers, and cloth dyers forming a few co-operative enterprises. The Manchester & Salford Society got a fair mention even though despite its name it didn't have many branches in Salford.

The talks are part of an Invisible Histories series over the next few months at the WCML.

Back on the History Trail

The People's Museum has re-opened in Manchester. So why not take a look and see what is on offer. This I did on Monday last with fellow amateur historian my old mate Andy. Actually the exhibits is much of what was there before it closed. Bigger co-op display with the replica or more like re-created imaginary co-op store. You always wonder what is tucked away in cardboard boxes that never gets seen.

Before the Co-op Car Park

Hardy Lane, Chorlton
Originally uploaded by Gene Hunt

Taken in 2007 just before the new car park was built. Looks like the building work is about to start with the metal railings erected beyond the croft on the corner. The billboards which brought in thousands of pounds (GBP) for United Co-operative are still in place.

Hardy Lane in the Snow

Not often you see scenes like this. The second day of the snow and before it turns to icy danger. Photo shows Hurstville Road off to the left, and the refuse collection hasn't taken place because of the weather.

Hardy Lane Cottages

Hardy Lane Cottages were in a previous post called Slum Clearance Order. Reading this story by fellow Chorlton historian Andrew which I didn't realise was on the web until this week you realise that the cottages were so unfit for modern living. On the other hand there will still be buildings of this type of cheapest construction in Manchester and the other parts of the UK. Let's hope they arn't damp and do have adequate plumbing.

See Annie Gresty and Hardy Cottages

Ladybarn Branch

Took a detour through Ladybarn in south Manchester. There are some great old buildings in the district and then there is this former M&SE Co-op branch on Ladybarn Lane dating from the 1920's. Until it closed, it held the meetings of Withington Co-operative Party from the 1930's until the store and hall were closed in the 1970's.

Withington Constituency Labour Party issued a ‘Year Book’ in March 1968. Year book is a bit of an exaggeration. It is a mere sixteen pages slightly bigger than A5 printed on a Roneo or Gestetner machine. A copy survives in Manchester Central Reference Library. It includes some Withington Divisional Co-operative Party details. The membership was approximately 10. The meetings were held on the 2nd Friday of the month in the Ladybarn Co-op Hall, Ladybarn Lane at 7.45pm. Chair - Mrs. Willoughby 41 Lindleywood Road: Secretary Miss H.F.Messenger 8 Westbourne Road (which is the side street by this Co-op store), and Treasurer Mrs. D.Crivat 245 Manley Road. Cost 1/- per year (shortly to rise to 2/6d). That year seven speakers were booked and there were two social events. Contact with the Labour Party was been maintained through Mr. J. Lilley, a sponsored candidate.