Sixties Burnley.

[tim_noone]

Cannot remember a knocker up in the fifties or sixties and I am probably older than most coming upto 80 in March. One thing not mentioned is National Service when at 18 you had to do two years military service or get a deferment until 21 if you were an apprentice etc.

My dad worked as a postman and we lived on south st in the sixties where dhss is now.and I remember it well.previously stoneyholme.

[Silkyskills1]

Presumably the advent of the alarm clock put paid to the knocker-up. I was born in 1952 and so the later 50's and the 60's are my early memories in Haslingden but I can't recall them ever being used amongst the lines of terraced streets around us.

[tim_noone]

I think the alarm clock saw the demise of the knocker up...

[Bfc]

FCBurnley, I remember you getting your first car a Mini around 1964/65 One day we parked near the old market. I went back to your car without you. While sat waiting for you, I thought something didn't look right about the interior, so I got out and soon realised I'd jumped into someone else's car. Yours was parked just lower down. You could leave a car unlocked and it wouldn't be stolen. Imagine that today, a teenager being caught sat in someone's else's car.

[Brunlea]

Remember the old Central Baths used to be walked there from primary school. There were other baths at Gannow and Barden I think. My memories were that they were all pretty impressive buildings which I am sure were all flattened. Also remember the old doss house at the end of Trafalgar Street despite being what it was it was still quite an impressive building oh and yes the smell from the Massey brewery!

[Siddo]

I started work in 1971 and we had a knocker up. I lived on Stoops and he knocked with a walking stick handle and didn't stop until you opened the door. All the time he was knocking he would shout "Tommy!" At the top of his voice. I hated him coming as there was no chance of an extra 5 minutes in bed.

[Lord Rothbury]

Born in Stoneyholme in 51 .Anyone from that area and era will never forget the distinctive aroma from Buckleys bone yard on a warm summers day I doubt you could now replicate that smell now . You cold gain access from the recreation ground to the area of the paperwork’s where they stored tha bales of waste paper awaiting recycling .Local kids would scour the bales for something of interest if you were really lucky you could find a part copy of Parade a magazine considered quite racey at the time .

[Chobulous]

Me and a mate once found a huge bundle of uncut Civil War bubble gum cards in there. Them and Mars Attacks cards were the things to collect in the 60s. Didn't find any copies of Parade though.

[tim_noone]

Born in Stoneyholme in 51 .Anyone from that area and era will never forget the distinctive aroma from Buckleys bone yard on a warm summers day I doubt you could now replicate that smell now . You cold gain access from the recreation ground to the area of the paperwork’s where they stored tha bales of waste paper awaiting recycling .Local kids would scour the bales for something of interest if you were really lucky you could find a part copy of Parade a magazine considered quite racey at the time .

Yes I used to climb the fence...picture cards of pop stars and footballers amongs the paper..the "little chap" would chase you off!! Looking back a very dangerous place to play!

[Chobulous]

Plenty of dangerous places to play in Stoneyholme.
Jumping the swift
Running across the black pipe
Jumping off the tips
Going down the rat tunnel
Playing on the swing in "Dead Man's Valley"
Just a few I could mention.

[duncandisorderly]

Oilcloth
Silverfish
Gas chap
Coal chap
Rent chap
Pipe TV
Tippler
Radiogram
Epilogue
Pictures
Selling out shop

Just a few of the words used in the sixties that you rarely hear today.

To the tune of Only Fools and Horses.

[Hipper]

We paperboys (here in the South) used to deliver Parade in the paper round. It provided some interesting viewing for an inquisitive young lad!

[Lord Rothbury]

Me and a mate once found a huge bundle of uncut Civil War bubble gum cards in there. Them and Mars Attacks cards were the things to collect in the 60s. Didn't find any copies of Parade though.

You must not have looked hard enough .

[bob-the-scutter]

Safeways

Yes. With the inland revenue offices above. It was bloody criminal knocking down the Odeon!

[Vino blanco]

Not just the Odeon, they should never have destroyed the beautiful, Victorian Market Hall. Had that been kept the whole market market square would be fabulous with that building as a centre piece.

[ClaretTony]

The demolition of the odeon was a big mistake.

The worst of the lot was getting rid of the old market hall

oldbly4.jpg (124.3 KiB) Viewed 2898 times

[tim_noone]

So solid im sure they used dynamite!

[CrispyClaret]

I wonder if someone can give a definitive answer to this?
All agree that the Odeon closed in 1973.
According to an article in the Burnley Express it was demolished in 1974, but the Express is not infallible.

Summer of ‘74 it was demolished. We went on a school trip to Switzerland and can remember being shocked that had it had gone when we got back. Indecent haste to get rid of such a great building. Going to the pictures there was like entering a different glamorous world.

[lesxdp]

Safeways

Spent the first twelve years of my working life there. "Safeway" without the s at the end , from packing bags at the checkout and then carrying shopping to the customer car parked at the side of the Mecca, to manager before moving to a store in Liverpool and them many more.

[Siddo]

Remember the old Central Baths used to be walked there from primary school. There were other baths at Gannow and Barden I think. My memories were that they were all pretty impressive buildings which I am sure were all flattened. Also remember the old doss house at the end of Trafalgar Street despite being what it was it was still quite an impressive building oh and yes the smell from the Massey brewery!

Gannow baths is still there but is now for sale. Nelson baths is still there but is now a second hand office furniture warehouse. You can still smell the chlorine after all these years.

[yorkyclaret]

It could be a Corsa.

EDIT :- Not Corsa, Corsair !!!!

Not pointy enough at the front.

[Hipper]

Me and a mate once found a huge bundle of uncut Civil War bubble gum cards in there. Them and Mars Attacks cards were the things to collect in the 60s. Didn't find any copies of Parade though.

Those Civil War cards were pretty gruesome. Google images 'Civil War Bubble Gum Cards.

There was also Man from Uncle cards including getting a membership card.

[BFCmaj]

When did the knocker uppers come to an end?

Who used to wake the knocker uppers up?

[Hipper]

We had an Odeon where I lived that was also used for wrestling - Jackie Pallo, Mick McManus etc..

[RingoMcCartney]

Who used to wake the knocker uppers up?

The same bloke that used to get the snow plough driver to work.

[Joe Buck]

And it was the law that you had to go to chippy after a visit to the baths

[Pimlico_Claret]

We paperboys (here in the South) used to deliver Parade in the paper round. It provided some interesting viewing for an inquisitive young lad!

Anyone remember finding random 'gentlemans magazines'(Fiesta, Razzle etc) abandoned in strange places, bus stops, side of the road, under a bush in the park. Such things that will never happen again.

[yTib]

i know memory is fallible but i certainly remember the odeon and i remember when it was knocked down.

i simply cannot understand how i can be wrong as i remember looking through the windows.

[Dazzler]

Surprised nobody has mentioned the Culvert Fiĺling Station.
Think that was still open in the early 90's..????

[Jimmymaccer]

I remember going to a special “Premier” of The Battle of Britain” movie at The Odeon......just about. I seem to remember a big staircase from the entrance area. May be wrong though.

[tim_noone]

I remember going to a special “Premier” of The Battle of Britain” movie at The Odeon......just about. I seem to remember a big staircase from the entrance area. May be wrong though.

No you were right. One used to pay in and a group would wait by the exit doors to be let in!! "We come along on Saturday morning greeting everybody with a smile" was the theme song blaring out!

[addisclaret]

Ralph, i'd forgotten several other regular visitors to the house;

the electric chap
the co-op Insurance man
the Hornimans tea man
the pop chap
the catalogue men (Grattans, Freemans)
the chimney-sweep who would come when the chimney caught-fire.
The doctor. The doctor would come to the house, sometimes daily if you were badly until you were better. There was no A and E as such, you went to the chemist for 'a bottle' or the the herbalist for a 'pick-me-up.'

And people left their doors unlocked and the front door open in summer.


proudsville circa 1960

The pools chap

[Funkydrummer]

I recall a car sales garage next to the Odeon, on Church Street, which I think was called
Kennings, with the service area to the rear. I assume it was demolished at the same time
as the Odeon.

From my memory, I think they sold British Leyland cars but probably
others before my knowledge of the place.

[Dazzler]

Pop man
Not forgetting the Nosy neighbour who used to grass me up.

[tim_noone]

Empty gas meters ...... : )

[cricketfieldclarets]

Surprised nobody has mentioned the Culvert Fiĺling Station.
Think that was still open in the early 90's..????

Even I remember this and I was born in the 80s. Its where TK Makks is now and was Sainsburys? Its still boarded up I think!

[Dazzler]

Even I remember this and I was born in the 80s. Its where TK Makks is now and was Sainsburys? Its still boarded up I think!

I wasn't asking 'who doesn't remember it,just that it was there in the 60's and I used it a lot more than I went to the Odeon.
Which was just the once to see "Diamonds Are Forever".

There is one question I wish to ask, Does anybody know in what year the old Ribble Bus Depot was last used ?

[Tribesmen]

Plenty of dangerous places to play in Stoneyholme.
Jumping the swift
Running across the black pipe
Jumping off the tips
Going down the rat tunnel
Playing on the swing in "Dead Man's Valley"
Just a few I could mention.

Goodness that brings it all back , but for the life of me I recall the name but have no idea where is Dead mans Valley .
The swift I loved it when it really rained and standing on the bridge looking down at the mad river below .
Funny what stays with you after all these years .

[Chobulous]

Dead Man's Valley- Start at the Swift next to the rec at the bottom of Holme Road. Climb up the coal tip and walk along the top of the tip. Dead Man's Valley was at the far end of the coal tip. If you looked across the river you could see Joss's farm from there and Jackson's farm which is now Crow Wood Leisure.

[tim_noone]

Dead Man's Valley- Start at the Swift next to the rec at the bottom of Holme Road. Climb up the coal tip and walk along the top of the tip. Dead Man's Valley was at the far end of the coal tip. If you looked across the river you could see Joss's farm from there and Jackson's farm which is now Crow Wood Leisure.

And half moon field beyhond DMV....

[Down_Rover]

The pools chap

That was me! In Padiham.

[ClaretTony]

I recall a car sales garage next to the Odeon, on Church Street, which I think was called
Kennings, with the service area to the rear. I assume it was demolished at the same time
as the Odeon.

From my memory, I think they sold British Leyland cars but probably
others before my knowledge of the place.

There was. Might be wrong, but I seem to recall it being called Hattons before it was Kennings.

[Tribesmen]

Dead Man's Valley- Start at the Swift next to the rec at the bottom of Holme Road. Climb up the coal tip and walk along the top of the tip. Dead Man's Valley was at the far end of the coal tip. If you looked across the river you could see Joss's farm from there and Jackson's farm which is now Crow Wood Leisure.

Yes Yes Yes , now I know , boy just like a light bulb coming on moment . I recall it was some drop off that swing to the bottom and always some amount of junk at the bottom of it . As for the coal tip I had it in my head is was some kind of gray shale type thing . The easy way off it was by the tennis courts but did go right down it a couple of times to the river , now must have been some kind of dare I would think .

[Chip Harrison]

The petrol pump at Kennings where you put a pound note in the slot outside opening hours.

[Hipper]

Anyone remember finding random 'gentlemans magazines'(Fiesta, Razzle etc) abandoned in strange places, bus stops, side of the road, under a bush in the park. Such things that will never happen again.

I used to do litter picking including emptying litter bins for my local council. I once came across some girly magazines that had been torn up and then sellotaped back together. A colleague explained to me that 'the wife' had found these magazines, torn them up and put them in their bin. 'The husband' had discovered this and taped them back together!

[Chobulous]

Yes Yes Yes , now I know , boy just like a light bulb coming on moment . I recall it was some drop off that swing to the bottom and always some amount of junk at the bottom of it . As for the coal tip I had it in my head is was some kind of gray shale type thing . The easy way off it was by the tennis courts but did go right down it a couple of times to the river , now must have been some kind of dare I would think .

That was some swing. I remember one of my mates Paddy Barrett swung out with one hand on the swing and fell off at the highest point and landed on his back on an old mattress at the bottom. Just got up, said "F**K me that hurt", and got right back on again.

We used to run and jump right off the top of the coal tip to see how far down we could land.

The black pipe was a gas main that went from the top of the tip to the road at the other side of the river about 30ft above the river. You had to try to run across that. don't remember anybody falling off that.

Looking back I'm amazed I survived my chidlhood.

[KeighleyClaret]

Remember the old Central Baths used to be walked there from primary school. There were other baths at Gannow and Barden I think. My memories were that they were all pretty impressive buildings which I am sure were all flattened. Also remember the old doss house at the end of Trafalgar Street despite being what it was it was still quite an impressive building oh and yes the smell from the Massey brewery!

When I was at Rosehill we used to have a swimming lesson at Central Baths fist thing, so had to travel there on the bus with a yellow bus ticket, which gave you a free pass.

At BGS we all used to pile onto the Balconies at North St Baths - all 600 of us - to watch the school Swimming Gala. Very steamy and uncomfortable it was too. I also went there for a Lucas Sports day shortly after Anita Longsbrough won her gold medal - probably 1960 ish? She swam up and down for a bit. She married Hugh Porter, a successful cyclist who she met at the 64 Olympics 0 since then she assists him as a Cycling and Speed Skating Commentator.

Sad to see all the old baths go, it was a bit of an occasion. They used to have slipper baths there which were mostly used by families in the old slum houses that didn't have bathrooms. Most of these houses were demolished in the early 60's, especially on the area now occupied by the Bus Station. I suppose that led to the demise of the Victorian Baths.

[KeighleyClaret]

When I was at Rosehill we used to have a swimming lesson at Central Baths first thing, so had to travel there on the bus with a yellow bus ticket, which gave you a free pass.

At BGS we all used to pile onto the Balconies at North St Baths - all 600 of us - to watch the school Swimming Gala. Very steamy and uncomfortable it was too. I also went there for a Lucas Sports day shortly after Anita Longsbrough won her gold medal - probably 1960 ish? She swam up and down for a bit. She married Hugh Porter, a successful cyclist who she met at the 64 Olympics & since then she assists him as a Cycling and Speed Skating Commentator.

Sad to see all the old baths go, it was a bit of an occasion. They used to have slipper baths there which were mostly used by families in the old slum houses that didn't have bathrooms. Most of these houses were demolished in the early 60's, especially on the area now occupied by the Bus Station. I suppose that led to the demise of the Victorian Baths.

[tim_noone]

North street Baths another quality Building destroyed in the seventies the people running the council were clueless. Never liked central baths... Freezing compared to north st.but I did learn to swim there.

[Gerry Hattrick]

Cannot remember a knocker up in the fifties or sixties and I am probably older than most coming upto 80 in March. One thing not mentioned is National Service when at 18 you had to do two years military service or get a deferment until 21 if you were an apprentice etc.

Nah then Lanky.

Cracking thread this, ‘specially for us olduns.
Thee and me ‘must be’, not ‘are probably’ older than most.
I’ll reach the same milestone as you in March. As a matter of interest, what date’s your birthday, …. Mine’s the 7th and I wouldn’t like you to be able to call me a young whippersnapper.
Wonder just how many there actually are on here who are more ancient than us and when they went on their first match. Mine was 1945/46 when my grandad took me on.

Anyway, back to your post.
I can remember the knocker up quite clearly in the fifties although he didn’t come to our house. My mum’s reasoning was that as she was a light sleeper she always heard him banging on the window next door so why pay him? Tight sod were me mum! Mind you, like most folk who lived near t’Turf in those days, we’d nowt much anyway.

Going back to the OP. It was the late fifties when t’coyl and t’milk began being delivered by motor vehicles and there weren’t all that many horse and carts still doing it in the early sixties when I came back from National Service.
Creatures of habit with great memories were the delivery horses. They didn’t need controlling or directing. The farmer’s horse which brought our milk, without having to be told, stopped in exactly the same spot on our back street right outside our house every day and relieved itself. Gallons of ‘yellow water’ ran down ‘the channel’ into the grate and my mum shovelled up a bucket full of droppings which my dad took to his allotment. Grew fantastic rhubarb and roses did mi dad. The back street didn’t smell like roses in summer though!
When the farmer had ladled the milk out of the churn into the jugs the neighbours had brought out, he grunted ‘hup’ and the horse set off, taking EXACTLY the same line every time, so much so that the iron tyres on the cart wheels cut into the cobbles where they sloped down at the ends, eventually leaving ‘tracks’.
There’s an example of this still there less than 100 yards from our house as you can see on the attached piccy.

Reyt, that’s enough of my reminiscing and rambling, I could go on for ever as us old codgers are prone to do given the slightest opportunity.