My sister Pam and I were evacuated to Ashton in Makerfield somewhere around 1941 or 1942. We lived (I thought) in Lee street but I may have a 'failed memory' and that Lee was the family name.

There was a daughter Nellie, and they had a black pony that pulled a cart with hay or something in it. Must have been hay as Pam and I played on top of it in the cart while it was going to and from wherever!!

We were in the May Day parade through the 'village' as it seemed to be then, and we were flower girls, and some of the local boys were dressed as baker boys. There was a bakery or flour mill, something like that within easy walking distance, and there was a school also walking distance, and a shop that sold tripe and onions.

I was only five at the time and can't quite remember it all, but I would like to know if my few memories are correct if anyone can tell me.

Town: Australia

Excellent stuff Virginia. Do you have any more memories? Would love to hear them.

Andrede

Not very many more memories from that time. I was only about five years old. i do recall though that every Friday evening was bath and hair wash ( that yukky but necessary green soap in those days). After that there was a lovely rice pudding for supper while we listened to Ramsbottom and Enoch and Me on the radio.
We were taken one time to the Hippodrome(??) Wigan, and were fascinated by the chorus girls. For weeks afterwards we played at being the chorus girls. Pam was always the ones in pink dresses and I was the ones in red dresses.
Going back to the Mayday parade again, we had on crepe paper skirts over our dresses, and the long handled basket we carried was full of crepe paper flowers. we had to toss them out as we walked along in the procession. The May Queen was on a horse drawn cart if i remember correctly. I am not sure if there was a Maypole at the end of it all as there had been visits to one in London's Kensington Gardens before the evacuation, and so the timelines become a little blurred and the maypole I recall could be the London one.
All the people I knew in Ashton were very happy friendly people. It was a marvellous place to be and I am very sorry indeed that I didnt keep in touch. Had I been few years older, I certainly have, but the war keeps even childrens minds on other things and just a few months later, my grandmother (who was my guardian) brought us back to London, and then my mother and Pam (who was eighteen months younger than me) went to Torquay and I didnt see either of them again until I was about twelve.

Town: frankston, australia

Virginia
I think the family your are talking about that you were with were the Lowes. Their daughter, Nellie was my Mum, sadly passed away now. She often wondered what had happened to the two little evacuee's they had with them. I'm just sorry I didn't find this post earlier, as she died in 2008.Her father was Henry and mother Bertha , three brotheres Frank, Alfred and Willie. willie , known as Bill is still alive, he was the youngest, but was probably away in the army when you were in Ashton. Father Lowe, as we called my grandad, though he died before I was born, was a market trader, that was what was on his cart, fruit and veg.The tipe shop was real.
I do hope you reply, as I'd love to know more about those times.
If this lady is no longer in this forum, could anybody point me in her direction please.
Pete

Town: Kings Lynn

There is a street called "Legh Street" in Ashton and is pronounced "Lee". It is quite possible that there were the things you talk about near tho there in the 40's.

It is quite close to the town centre.

Town: Stubshaw Cross

Yes, it could well be the street if that is how it was pronounced. I get the number 13 coming up in my mind and wonder if that was the number of the house we were in.

Town: frankston, australia

Hi Virginia -

I'll take a photo of Legh Street and send it to you. It can't have changed much.

- David -

Town: Ashton

Many thanks for the photos of Legh Street. I don't actually recall a bay window in the house. Maybe it was the occupant's name that was Lee/Leigh.

From the house I would run across the road and down to the left to get to school. The shop that we bought tripe and onions from (in a bowl or container) was also to the left from the house.

The bakery or flour mill (it was a plant of some sort not a retail shop) was in a street somewhere behind the houses opposite, and where we went with the horse and cart was to the right from the house and up to a road that ran across the top and then right again.

These are about all the memories I can bring to mind, but I definitely would have remembered a bay window as we had one at home where I loved looking up and down the street, so I would have done the same at the house in Ashton had there been a bay window there.

Thank you anyway. I have tried looking on Google maps but can't reconcile the area. Must try again.
Regards,
Virginia.

Hi Virginia -

It could have been Heath Road, on the north side near Butcher's Lane. That would fit your description, apart from the tripe shop, whose location I don't know.

If so, there would have been a pub (the Commercial Hotel) nearby on the same side of the road.

Can anyone recall where the tripe shop was?

- David -

Town: Ashton

Now that rings a bell David. I do remember "the day of the tripe" (sounds like the triffids!) that Nellie's Dad had taken us for a walk down the road and we waited outside what I thought must have been the tripe shop, and there were a few men outside talking and Nellie's Dad had this bowl of tripe and was talking too and then he went back in with the bowl and then we walked back home. Would he have got the tripe from in there? I know some of the London pubs sold all sorts of foods including bowls of jellied eels at one time.

Town: frankston australia

Don't know about the pub selling tripe, but I was talking to someone today who said about 45 years ago there was a tripe shop on Gerard Street which would have been behind the houses on Heath Road. Access to Gerard Street would have been down Butchers Lane, or down 'A' Court and through an entry known as 'Squeezebally Entry'.

Opposite the houses in Heath Road is Church Terrace, and to the right, St Thomas's Church.

- David -

Town: Ashton

Thank you so much David. I am really pleased to know that my memories were fact and not imagination. Thank you all for your help.

Town: frankston australia

Thank you, Virginia, for starting an interesting thread!

- David -

Town: Ashton

Yes it was 13 Legh Street.

Town: Kings Lynn

I could be wrong but was there a women called Mary known as Nelly Francies who had a small farm at the top of heath road,on the left just before the old iron bridge.The one that goes to Haydock Park race track.The school could be the old school on Heath road that is now a gym,the bakery may have been Mosses just at the back of the school.

Town: Ashton

Do you mean Mary Fairhurst? She must have been in or close to her nineties when she died last year. A remarkable woman. I remember her pitchforking hay by Ashton Heath a few years ago when she was in her eighties.

- David -

Town: Ashton

I suppose it could be but I cant place a farm although we certainly went somewhere on the haycart, but we were staying in an ordinary house in a normal street not actually staying on a farm.

Town: frankston, australia

Same area as Legh street.

Town: Stubshaw Cross

Yes my ex wife and kids live on legh st

Town: Ashton

Am I right ? Do you pronounce it "Lee"?

Town: Stubshaw Cross

Yes it is the street at the back of Robinsons sadlers

Town: Ashton

>>Am I right ? Do you pronounce it "Lee"?

I would think so. Does anyone know when the houses in Legh St/Park View/Flora Street were built? I would guess the 1930s. They must have represented a significant expansion of Ashton at the time.

- David -

Town: Ashton

Last year they put new drives on all the houses and as they were digging the gate posts dozens of old bottles were dug up and loads of clay pipes,it must have been a tip at some stage.Ive got some of them at home.It is pronounced lee.

Town: Ashton

Hi,

if you have a look on www.wiganworld.co.uk you will find pictures of ashton's streets and also some old photos of ashton, hope that helps.

Thank you Mark for the website of Wiganworld. Had a lovely couple of hours exploring it and all the marvellous photos, especially the Hippodrome which I remembered and left a comment.

Town: frankston australia