Droylsden and Audenshaw (Images of England)

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Of course we had a Guy Fawkes, once we’d collected enough wood we would go around to neighbours houses begging old clothes and anything to stuff him with. He was placed right on top of the fire and a big cheer went up once he had succumbed to the flames. Just a short story about when my mother, brother and I had an unusual day out in the 1970’s. When the producers of a film set in wartime Lancashire were looking for a town in which to film they chose Stalybridge. Maybe you could take offence that the town hadn’t changed much in 35 years but we weren’t all that bothered. The film was called “Yanks” and starred Vanessa Redgrave and Richard Gere (Shame I was only 7 years old!) and we were chosen as “Extras”. Astonishingly, the tunnel sees approximately 3,500 boat passages each year, keeping it alive with activity. It remains a hidden gem, offering a serene and historic passage for modern boaters and tourists. 3. Resilient Community: Droylsden’s Spirit of Unity Our Shelly B was the most amazing, loving, selfless and funny daughter, mother, mother-in-law, sister, auntie and most recently a nanna. Hello Skid! It's really exciting to read your response - thank you! I hope that we can begin to share some memories together.

I had always regarded my life in Openshaw as merely different from what came after, and if I’m honest, I didn’t particularly enjoy living there, and was glad to leave. In recent years, though, I’ve realised that it was a special place in many ways. I’m not sure I have ever known a flushing dunny to freeze, but then it’s not likely to happen where I live, is it? (Australia). If the one we had in England ever froze, I can’t say I remember it.THE MARKET GROUND- The stalls have been arranged and rearranged over the years but many of the regulars still 'stand the market'. In Greater Manchester, Droylsden boasts a rich tapestry of history and culture. Did you know that this charming town has a thriving football legacy? The Bloods Football Club was founded in 1892. The journey has been filled with thrilling matches and passionate fans. The church is a testament to Droylsden’s history, bearing witness to the town’s growth and evolution. Its stained-glass windows and ornate interior tell a story of faith and tradition. I remember that inside the Market Hall, the floor was not flat or even but had slopes of various degrees between the stall "Islands" and then flattening off higher into the center of the hall.

It is home to unique museums that celebrate its musical heritage, offering a fascinating journey through its melodious past. The city has produced numerous famous musicians and composers as a result of this. 2. Secrets of The Ashton Canal Tunnel GeographIf I needed a new pair of sandals we went to Harry's stall. I'd always have to have the same T bar Clark's sandals, brown ones. Last year's sandals would have the toes cut out and be for 'playing out in'. The new ones were strictly 'for best' !

In the heart of Droylsden lies a spiritual cornerstone that’s not just a place of worship but a symbol of the town’s deep-rooted history and community spirit. Behold, the Christ Methodist Church. Beyond its religious significance, the church plays a vital role in the community. I remember Manny Showman’s the gent’s tailors at the bottom of Penny meadow, a little Jewish fellow. I bought a crombie coat from there in the early 70s. Jones Music Shop was in a little side street that ran between Old Street and Bow Street, by the side of the George and Dragon. Tommy Sizer kept a pawn shop on Market St. There was a toy shop in the Avenue that used to have a Hornby train set running in the window. It had a coin slot where you had to put a penny (the old sort!) to keep it going round again. Imagine my surprise once inside to see old photographs of St. Gabriel’s. I was even more surprised when I realised I was on one of them – taken during the annual “scholars walk” at Whitsuntide. I remember the dress, white, long, organdie and very itchy. Ugh! I passed my bronze and silver medal tests but after that, Bob told my Mum that to continue towards gold was really more for those with talent! Subtle ...! I remember that we used to pay six shillings for a half-hour private lesson so it was probably a relief to my Mum to learn that I was no Alesha Dixon! Besides, I was doing 'O' levels then leaving Fairfild High School by then. I remember that soon afterwards, Bob moved his school of dancing from Openshaw to Droylsden. I am assuming that it was to the Droylsden class that you went. TheTop Twenty Club, was it? Incredible to think that Jimmy Savile was the regular dj there. I used to catch the number 19 (later the 169) bus to Ashton Old Road to go to that Alhambra Palace, as I lived in Droylsden, in Abbey Road, just off Springfield Road, off Greenside Lane. My bus fare, three halfpence, one way.

I served an apprenticeship as a Plumber and one of our jobs was to look after some tippler lavatories owned by my uncle. When it rained the tippler used to work like mad and was prone to shearing the hinge pins, it was our job to replace them and as I remember it wasn't a very savoury job, they smelled a bit and were very slimey due to the sink waste running into them. My family lived at 145 Union street Ashton-u-Lyne during the war years and beyond. There were six of us in the family Mam and Dad and four children all boys. I was the youngest born in 1938. my brother Edward was born in 1936. Ronald was born in 1934 and Sidney the eldest was born in 1929. We Brits (Ashtonians, in particular) are a funny lot. Wherever we go or wherever we are, we seem to have a preoccupation with lavatories. We can ROFL when it comes to jokes about lavs and we can have in-depth discussions about them. We even discuss the attributes of foreign lavs and how they compare to our own. In my experience no conversation escapes the ultimate topic, the lav. Or is it just me?! Anyway it goes on to say that they were made from powdered stone quarried in Wigan and Northampton. One of the biggest manufacturers, Eli Whalley, was in Ashton. They produced 2.5 million donkey stones per year (that's a lot of doorsteps)!! and closed in 1979. You didn't have to buy donkey stones as the rag and bone man gave them you in exchange for old clothes. Now you can buy them at Bailey's Hardware in Ashton Market- they cost 65 pence! Christ Methodist Church, built in 1890, has been a steadfast presence in Droylsden for over a century. Its stunning architecture and serene ambiance make it a cherished local landmark.