Nowadays we call them “slums” and they did need to be updated or cleared, but have you noticed how, in your photos how beautifully clean and cared for they are with no litter cluttering the pavements and streets. I was born and bred next to Christ Church near Bradford Pit and photos of streets there up to the 1950’s show similar tidiness. However, in the 1960’s official photos were taken with an eye for historical reference, but these photos were taken during the time when families had gone, or 🏚️were being moved out of Bradford, Beswick and Openshaw etc and those photos that were taken at that time don’t reflect the pride of the generations of earlier previous tenants. I could cry when I see photos my old street that were taken after we left. And for those of you who weren’t even born then, I can assure you that, Yes, nearly all housewives really did wash and stone their doorsteps and flags (paving slabs) each week.😮
I was born and grew up next door in Openshaw during the 60's. Great memories of playing on Blacky Brook at the end of Clayton lane. The White wall which was the railway and the college. How we were blessed to be born during that era, We did not have much, but we were happy and safe.
I remember those days. We lived in Gorton (Peacock Street) and I went to Peacock Street School until I was 7/8. Manchester Council demolished our house and moved us out to Heald Green, near Wythenshawe. My Mother, crying when we went into the new house and she had a proper kitchen, hot and cold running water, a garden front and back. indoor toilet and a seperate bathroom with a bath and sink. A big difference to the old cold outside toilet, no hot water, except a small gas burner above the old Belfast sink in the kitchen, the tin bath and no green spaces. I didn't see a Cow or Sheep until we had moved, never seen an open field. All we had seen was the animals at Belle Vue. Now I am 56 and show my kids (and Grandkids) the old houses we grew up in and they think it was the Stone Age, not only 50 years ago. These days they expect central heating, double glazing, internet, etc as a right. We, growing up were just glad of being warm(ish) and fed, maybe we were not totally clean.
I lived in a 2 up 2 down in Salford. Cockroaches came with the house. When I told my grandson that our toilet was out the back he said “what, in the garage” 😂😂
I enjoyed this film; it reminded me of my childhood but I do wish your video wasn’t called slum clearance. The school children in your photos were obviously well cared for, content and maybe with less anxieties than today’s youngsters. So many streets were inhabited by residents who kept their little two up two down houses warm and cosy, Neighbours could be your friends and in those times most people had relatives living nearby. Memories are about summer evenings spent sitting on your doorstep, chatting with your neighbours while watching the kids playing in the street. In fact it was a true functioning community. It’s also a pity that the last minute effort to record the streets meant that some photos in Manchester archive collections were taken during the demolition period and don’t reflect the proud tidy streets with their washed doorsteps which were so common a few years previous to the demolition.
This was exactly as it was in the 1950s and although not Manchester born it wasn't too far away. I was 18 years old before we had a bathroom. I did not like the toilet inside I thought it was insanitary. 👍 Lovely photographs by the way.
@@stevescamera I have a photograph somewhere of our backstreet and one of the neighbours is stood on the toilet roof. I remember climbing up on the roof to get nearer to the sun. Our toilet was a long drop and I was a bit scared of falling down it. My mum would scrub the wooden seating every week. 👍
@@stevescamera Indeed. In fact Tommy who used to come round in his horse and cart shouting Rag/Bones/ Donkey stone is still alive!!! He is 95. He still has horses and a small bit of land and still in his caravan. His daughter is my age and she moved into a house about 10 years ago. Her son in law now comes around for scrap metal. He is really nice, really polite, turns up on time, takes your stuff etc. Won't take any money for petrol. Very honest and hardworking. That's why I know Tommy is still alive. Tommy also brought fruit and veg on his horse and cart and you could just buy 1 apple or an orange. Everyone knew Tommy. And the horse muck was shovelled up and put on the allotments if you had one.
Hi I worked in systems commissioning during those exact dates, then moved back to W. Gorton to join the design dept. Lived in Openshaw up to age of eight, without a bathroom too. Happy days though.
@bobt6598 Hi Bob, my father Henry Pollard worked in commissioning too. He was a power supply engineer on 1900's, I was in supply chain in the old building
@@Bucina62I worked in power supply test, when I started, and worked closely with Henry. He was a great mentor. If I remember correctly, we shared the nighttime and weekend telephone standby rota for supporting the S3 OCP. Bought my first old banger car with the proceeds from that.
those place should have been demolished a 100 years before they were.. they were awfull .. a disgrace.....great people but please... there was NOTHING nice about those slums
Nowadays we call them “slums” and they did need to be updated or cleared, but have you noticed how, in your photos how beautifully clean and cared for they are with no litter cluttering the pavements and streets. I was born and bred next to Christ Church near Bradford Pit and photos of streets there up to the 1950’s show similar tidiness. However, in the 1960’s official photos were taken with an eye for historical reference, but these photos were taken during the time when families had gone, or 🏚️were being moved out of Bradford, Beswick and Openshaw etc and those photos that were taken at that time don’t reflect the pride of the generations of earlier previous tenants. I could cry when I see photos my old street that were taken after we left. And for those of you who weren’t even born then, I can assure you that, Yes, nearly all housewives really did wash and stone their doorsteps and flags (paving slabs) each week.😮
I remember our stones came from the rag & bone man. A very different era for sure.
So true.
@@susanroberts2289 I’ve done a few reminiscing videos if you look back. Re- 11plus, work etc
Regards
Absolutely wonderful
Thank you - over 60 years ago - where does the time go?
I was born and grew up next door in Openshaw during the 60's. Great memories of playing on Blacky Brook at the end of Clayton lane. The White wall which was the railway and the college. How we were blessed to be born during that era, We did not have much, but we were happy and safe.
The were better times for sure. I took my 11plus at Openshaw Technical College.
lived on store street next to the drovers pub, hello brother.
I remember those days. We lived in Gorton (Peacock Street) and I went to Peacock Street School until I was 7/8. Manchester Council demolished our house and moved us out to Heald Green, near Wythenshawe. My Mother, crying when we went into the new house and she had a proper kitchen, hot and cold running water, a garden front and back. indoor toilet and a seperate bathroom with a bath and sink. A big difference to the old cold outside toilet, no hot water, except a small gas burner above the old Belfast sink in the kitchen, the tin bath and no green spaces. I didn't see a Cow or Sheep until we had moved, never seen an open field. All we had seen was the animals at Belle Vue. Now I am 56 and show my kids (and Grandkids) the old houses we grew up in and they think it was the Stone Age, not only 50 years ago. These days they expect central heating, double glazing, internet, etc as a right. We, growing up were just glad of being warm(ish) and fed, maybe we were not totally clean.
Let is a lot different nowadays for sure. Not always for the better I might add.
This reminds me of liverpool it looks just like it 50s 60s and 70s with the terraced house's. It brought back some old memories. Great video 👍
Thank you.
Great days. Born and brought up in moston 1960. First job, operating ICL system 4-72 😊
They certainly were fella !
I lived in a 2 up 2 down in Salford. Cockroaches came with the house. When I told my grandson that our toilet was out the back he said “what, in the garage” 😂😂
Made me chuckle that 😂 I remember the house had a fumigation because of that problem!!
I had family before I was born moved out of back to backs and into flats in Hulme
My gran lived 4th floor Brook house
Rise flats were a common design around Manchester
Heywood House, Brook House, Greenwood House etc
I enjoyed this film; it reminded me of my childhood but I do wish your video wasn’t called slum clearance. The school children in your photos were obviously well cared for, content and maybe with less anxieties than today’s youngsters. So many streets were inhabited by residents who kept their little two up two down houses warm and cosy, Neighbours could be your friends and in those times most people had relatives living nearby. Memories are about summer evenings spent sitting on your doorstep, chatting with your neighbours while watching the kids playing in the street. In fact it was a true functioning community. It’s also a pity that the last minute effort to record the streets meant that some photos in Manchester archive collections were taken during the demolition period and don’t reflect the proud tidy streets with their washed doorsteps which were so common a few years previous to the demolition.
Nicely done
Thank you! Cheers!
This was exactly as it was in the 1950s and although not Manchester born it wasn't too far away. I was 18 years old before we had a bathroom. I did not like the toilet inside I thought it was insanitary. 👍 Lovely photographs by the way.
Thank you Denise
The bath & toilet pics were examples from elsewhere but portrayed our back yard.
Regards
@@stevescamera I have a photograph somewhere of our backstreet and one of the neighbours is stood on the toilet roof. I remember climbing up on the roof to get nearer to the sun. Our toilet was a long drop and I was a bit scared of falling down it. My mum would scrub the wooden seating every week. 👍
I remember the “donkey stone” as everyone was very proud of their front door step!!
@@stevescamera Indeed. In fact Tommy who used to come round in his horse and cart shouting Rag/Bones/ Donkey stone is still alive!!! He is 95. He still has horses and a small bit of land and still in his caravan. His daughter is my age and she moved into a house about 10 years ago. Her son in law now comes around for scrap metal. He is really nice, really polite, turns up on time, takes your stuff etc. Won't take any money for petrol. Very honest and hardworking. That's why I know Tommy is still alive. Tommy also brought fruit and veg on his horse and cart and you could just buy 1 apple or an orange. Everyone knew Tommy. And the horse muck was shovelled up and put on the allotments if you had one.
Great memories for sure. How fast time flies !!!
Cracking video!
Cheers - such a long time ago!
Fabulous video.
Thank you Brenda
Regards
Steve
Brought back some memories, dead right! I recognised Central Grammar (I was there in the sixties), was the primary school the one in Varna Street?
Hi there Robert
The school was Armitage St in Ardwick.
Great video 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Cheers Mike - as I’ve got older I do like reminiscing 👍
The photo of the football team at 2 minutes. I assume its Central grammar ? Is that Rod McCord back row third from left ?
No it isn’t ⚽️
@@stevescamera do you know the guys name then . It definitely looks like Rod. Thanks
@@mikemorrow2184 his surname is Lichfield, our goalkeeper, and he went on to play semi pro with Droylsden FC - he was a top rugby player too.
Thanks Steve . One more question. What year was it ?
It’s 67/68 - about the time I left. The name had changed from grammar school to comprehensive around that time
it wasn't a slum clearance, it was the biggest property grab in history, this happened across the country.
Replaced by system-built junk that became uninhabitable within 15-20 years. The contractors got away with it.
Steve, When were you at ICL West Gorton, I was there 1974 to 1979 when we then moved to Ashton
1971 - I worked for the University but was based there whilst the Computer Centre was being built opposite Manchester Museum fella.
Hi I worked in systems commissioning during those exact dates, then moved back to W. Gorton to join the design dept. Lived in Openshaw up to age of eight, without a bathroom too. Happy days though.
@@bobt6598 life is much different nowadays
@bobt6598 Hi Bob, my father Henry Pollard worked in commissioning too. He was a power supply engineer on 1900's, I was in supply chain in the old building
@@Bucina62I worked in power supply test, when I started, and worked closely with Henry. He was a great mentor. If I remember correctly, we shared the nighttime and weekend telephone standby rota for supporting the S3 OCP. Bought my first old banger car with the proceeds from that.
those place should have been demolished a 100 years before they were.. they were awfull .. a disgrace.....great people but please... there was NOTHING nice about those slums
As a kid I always thought Brook House Flats looked decent enough
Agreed, and they were all that most people could afford to live in on the low wages of the day.