Distracted

Not been working on the Hardy Lane Scrapbook having come across information for my other history project which is "The Manchester Football Ground". This is one that has been simmering for a couple of years. The ground was in Whalley Range and was home of Manchester Football Club, which is still playing as Manchester Rugby Club. Back in the 1870's - 1890's there was football and you played either Association or Rugby Union rules, and sometimes your club would field teams in either code.

It's a fascinating story in that all the leading players of the era turned out at a ground that could hold a maximum of 10,000 in a suburb of Manchester. Internationals were staged, teams from Scotland and New Zealand played friendlies, and local sides like Newton Heath FC and Hurst FC met in cup competitions. That later two are better known by other names now...

Normal service resumes next week.

Had a trip to Salford Local History Library the other day. It's in the old Art Gallery next to the University. Small, comfortable and a friendly place to visit. One of the advantages of going is that it is never too busy. Another is that there is collection of Kelly's Street Directories that you can just pull of the shelf and browse. A bit battered but they do the job. The job was to see what other shops there were when the Co-op Stores opened in 1929.

Here is the answer:
Barlow Moor Road
343 Draper, Mrs. Margaret Duncan
345 Confectioner, George Smith
347 Florist, Joseph Cusick
349-351 Butchers and Grocers, M&SE Co-op
Here is Hardy Lane
355 Grocers, Brown & Clay
357 Confectioner, P Parker & Sons
359 Newsagent & Post Office, Mrs. Ethel Kelly
361 Draper, Mrs. Julia Fairbrother
363 Hardware, Mrs. Minnie Smith
365 Grocers, Mrs. Annie Forrest

Note there is no number 353. This has remained as an empty plot of land next to the Store and is now a car park for the Store. There was also no number 341, this site was built upon in the 1960's.

Back Seat

History has taken a bit of a lull at the moment due to other happenings. A trip to Salford Local History Library got cancelled last week. However with the weather going into the autumn phase there will be no distractions to spend time outdoors or on trips. The picture is of some handwritten minutes from the M&SE Co-op Grocery Committee back in 1929. I think for future generations the ability to read hand writing will be a skill that will be very uncommon. It's becoming a struggle for me - you need to get used to it again.

Use of piano

There used to be two pianos upstairs in the Hardy Lane rooms. They've gone now and it must have required some effort to move them both upstairs and downstairs on the steep narrow stairs.

Here is a report of one of them being used. There might only have been one in the room at that time. It's Saturday 16th March 1946, just after WWII and rationing is still in operation. There was a pooling of goods collected from members and over 60 members and friends sat down to a "splendid tea and were serviced by the Committee".

Later "under the efficient direction of Mr.Dean, with Mrs.Horton at the piano, the dancing commenced."

Before then there was Mr. Best of the Guild Committee "performing clever conjuring tricks" which put "everyone in good spirits". After the tea and before the entertainment there were several speeches. Mr. Rutter, President does the cordial welcome and introductions. Mr.Dale of the Education Committee, Mrs. Ashton from the District Council, Mr.Hill of the Co-operative Party, Mr.S.Coombs of the Publicity Dept tendered congratulations and best wishes.

The evening continues with Miss Gilman demonstrating the art of elocution with some monologues "which received great applause". Refreshments and ices served during the interval, plus singing "Auld Land Syne" at the end of the evening.

Report, M&SE Co-op Herald Pg 91 April 1946.

Trip to Archives

An afternoon looking at old archive material in Central Reference Library, Manchester. The good part was I found what I wanted in two hours. The bad part was it was a warm sunny day and the last place you want to be is indoors. There are so few great summer days you don't want to squinting over old handwriting and old typewritten reports.

What I did discover was the timetable for building the Hardy Lane store which was originally for two shops with flats above - not a co-op hall. Also the costs for construction and fitting out. The shops - grocer's and butchers were opened before all the work was complete because of competition being built nearby.

Now feel I can get the story written in booklet form which was the original intention.

New Pitches

The Hardy Farm Playing fields haven't been used for years but they might get a new lease of life. They want levelling out first

West Didsbury & Chorlton FC have agreed to join with Oswald Road Junior FC to form a new Charter Standard Community Club to be based at Hardy Lane on the former playing fields adjoining their Brookburn Road ground.

Proposals for new junior and adult pitches with a full size 3g pitch and related changing facilities are being finalised and will be submitted to the City Council in the coming weeks. Interesting devlopements, might be ready for the 2010-11 season if all the approvals take place.

Gramophone Records

I recently was shown a box of old gramophone records, the 78rpm shellac variety that were allegedly played at the Hardy Lane Co-op Rooms in years gone by the Co-op Guild. Most are dance band records by people such as Jack Hyland, or Joe Loss. I made an inventory of the contents. However unable to play them as I've no player that does 78rpm speed so never checked their condition.
The M&SE Co-op used to hire out gramophones in the 1920's and 1930's to organisations that wished to use them for a social, and there were such gramophone concerts held in co-op halls. The most intriguing were a couple of discs by Billy Williams. He was a famous music hall artist who recorded cylinders and gramophone records - one of his most famous tunes was "When Father Papered The Parlour" which was still being played on BBC radio into the 1960's. The video on You Tube is "Old Grey Coat" which was one of the titles on my list. If you like such old tunes you should go to Archive.Org because they have lots of his material.

In the Archives

A hectic Wednesday but managed to make my appointment to look at the archived minute books of the M&SE Co-op Society. It is more an arrangement. They are in Central Reference library, Manchester but not held on site. So you have set a date when you want them available at the desk to peruse. Then it's handed over one item at a time.

Managed to find a few nuggets in between reading about the price of eggs, literally the monthly price of eggs in 1930 as the market was competitive with falling prices.

Found information about the stables at the back which cost £1,000 to build along with a yard. However not completed until after February 1930 after they had to complain to the builder to finish the work. By which time they had advertised internally for a charge-hand to run milk & egg deliveries. A weekly wage of 70/- (that's £3.50).

Now I know what they look like - ledgers with ink pen writing, and if you're very lucky typed sheets - I can find the answers to the questions. The problem with history is that answers only beget more questions.