nearly-midnight

This picture is one from the archives. There is no writing on the reverse apart from my mother's labelling. I called it Loom Women. Clearly though only one or two of them would be old enough to be considered women. These are 2 cotton looms back to back. They were heavy made of cast iron. I presume that the the photograph was taken in the factory. Clearly a national celebration because of the flags there. The ladies in question are wearing what appears to be their Sunday best too. I have to presume my Grandmother or my Aunt kept the picture because it had family on it. There does not appear to be any cotton worker in my immediate family say 1920s, but that's a guess. Have a close look at the sullen "little" girl in the very middle at the front. As usual the picture has been tweaked a little in PS4 to bring out details. Left the sepia tones as they are.

This are 2 old photographs of Market street in Tottington.  The first picture is a hand coloured tinted version of the second one. I have given both of them the Photoshop stuff. The colours in the first are not mine. They were already on the picture. I suspect the colours may be reasonably accurate as the pictures have been in the family quite a while.  My Guess this is at the high point of the Village opposite to where the Coop stands. I do not remember it, I also guess that it is dated about 1900. However I do recall a picture house, Movies to you and me standing in its place. I went once, some sort of soppy film about a man on the run visiting his pregnant wife in hospital. A paper shop stood in its place later and I believe a health centre now stands there. As you carry on to the right the road forks at what was the Printers. The left fork is Turton Road - goes to Bolton, Affetside, Edgeworth. The right hand fork goes to Greenmount, passes Brookhouse and would go...

Facing towards Bolton Facing towards Tottington The Lomax part of my family were brought up in Affetside. They were sheep farmers and hand loom weavers. One of them died of sunstroke I believe. It boast a Pub- The Pack Horse,  and a church which is attached to the local very small school. I believe there was a campaign to save the school which was successful. Many of my Lomax relatives are buried in the local churchyard. It has indeed been really useful in  "unpicking" some of the relationships that were heresay or had got jumbled in my near relatives heads. This cross is sited on Watling Street., a Roman Road. Yes it is straight! As a small boy it was a fearsome ride to the summit on the bike - up the steep side! and an awesome ride down the other side. The view is looking towards Tottington from the village Centre. The top photograph was taken in March 2010. Obviously the picture is facing towards Bolton. From first appearances little has changed in 10...

The Building of the Wesleyan School The reverse of the card  "Dear children,  Just to let you know that Bessie has got her baby, will you come and wash for me again if you cannot let me know Mother" Construction of the Old Wesleyan School. This was the school that my Aunt Irene and Grandpa Tom Lomax  attended. The school is very closely connected with the church. There is a link here to my other blog with the war graves here . There is a picture of her later down the blog. As you can see the Reverse of the postcard has been annotated by mother with the  date 1905. My guess that she is right. Who the postcard refers to is difficult to work out, but I am sure that it relates to family members. The address is clear 135 Holcombe road is Brookhouse, Clearly pictured further down the blog. I will add another picture of Brookhouse and add it next to the other picture. This mug I found on Ebay. This is the web Address of the seller Co...

Understandably never saw it, as it collapsed on the 22nd of September 1944. It was constructed in 1828. There is more information on the Grant family at this site . I have personally never seen a photo of the tower apart from this one. This is not to be confused with Peel Tower which was built to repeal the corn laws, I think. There are many references to the Grant family in Ramsbottom, not least the Grant Arms in the centre of "Tup's Arse". Played guitar and sang several times in the top room at the pub. The landlord must have tried to start a folk club up there. Must have been early '70's. Appeared on the same bill as Bob"I'm nearly famous" Williamson. Very amusing chap, and he did make national TV(Wheel Tappers and Shunters club! ) unlike me!  Grant's Tower has a mention in the Public Monument and Sculpture Association register    However I copy from that site here a reference to Edwin Waugh. He is mentioned in another part of this blog...

This is a mystery. My mother was into singing in a big way. However all I have is 2 photos of her with people who are not really her generation. The people seem similar and the place where they were photographed were similar too.  The only clue on the back is a Stamp with Birkenhead on. My mother was known as Pat Lomax at the time. I don't recall any links with Birkenhead. She is the one that is so obviously youthful as compared to all the others. The date would be late 1940's I guess

I went here in the late 1950's. The primary school teacher was called Mrs Meadley - forgetful woman, once lost her glasses, searched everywhere but were on her head all the time! She also set fire to the Christmas tree. However she taught me to read, not so much success with sums! I recall one of the pupils dying whilst I was at school. Not at school. I do remember a lot of sadness - a girl I think, must have been about 1956. Most of the kids in the class just moved up, all at the same time. Moved to middle school. I think the teacher was called Miss Platt, I must have been about 8 at the time. I remember being taught joined up writing. At the same time the school started to cook its own dinners. I have a feeling our class room was commandeered as a canteen at this time. And a life long aversion to rice pudding was started. The used to keep us in if we didn't eat our dinner - just one spoonful!!! What use is an extra spoonful of rice pudding. The head was called Mrs Sally Cr...

This is a large file- It is clear to see the abject state of the building here Taken on the Playground at the front of the school My Father's class. It must have been the late 50's or very early 60's. I recall him applying for jobs at his time, he had not long since qualified at Huddersfield College. He was certainly at Huddersfield when we were living at Whitelegg Street, but we were at Brookhouse when he was teaching here. The school is still there and I believe little has changed to the outside since. This area is on a steep right angle bend and I think there is quite a drop at the other side. Walshaw was only 2 to 3 miles away from where we lived. He probably walked to school at this time. I recall my father taking and passing his driving test first time. He bought a black Morris Minor convertible, which had the roof renewed. It used to crack on the supports at any speed. It was not possible to have a conversation in the car. I fail to recall any of the name...

This is first photo thats I have. The date unknown. Brookhouse is lower left. The bottom of hill. Peel Tower is the distance. Brookhouse, taken from the Greenmount side. Brookhouse is the furthest building.  The girls are standing on the old bridge. It was replaced with a wider bridge. The nearer buildings were cottages and one looks like a shop. My family remembers these cottages. I feel that the line of the road has not changed. The road widening must have been on the left. This photo is of Brookhouse near Tottington. I moved here when I was 5. Lived initialy with my Grandmother. Jane Lomax nee Dunn(e). The postal address was 133 Holcombe Rd, Tottington. The cobbled road was replaced with a tarmacadamed surface. The view looks towards "Totty" from the Greenmount side of the stream. The upwards slope is called Stormer Hill. There are some steps leading up on the right to Kay's cottages. They were designed by my Grandfather Tom Lomax, Jane's hus...