Happy Valentines Day From Manchester Archives! #LoveHeritage

Since it’s Valentine’s Day today (oh you hadn’t noticed?) we have picked out an interesting trio of 19th Century letters from our archive which tells a story that wouldn’t be out-of-place in a Jane Austen novel (set in Manchester of course).

It’s a tale of bold declarations, unrequited love and mischievous snoops. 

Mr Tubman's Love Letter - Ref: M478/9/1/10

The story begins with a love letter (above) from a Mr Michael Tubman to a Miss Elizabeth Lomas sent on 14^th February 1849 in which he states:

 “Many a day and many an hour ‘av I longed to express to you the feelings of my bussum. Yes many a time as I ‘av seen your luvley face in chapel ‘av I thought you more a angel than a woman and oh how I ‘av longed to whisper in your ear that unutterable affection which I have endeavoured so long in vain to banish from my ‘art.”

The boy is clearly smitten. Unfortunately Miss Lomas does not feel the same way:

Elizabeth Lomas' Reply. Ref: M478/9/1/11

“Up to the time of receiving his letter, I had not been aware of the existence of such a person as Michael Tubman. He cannot therefore have deluded himself with the idea that I could take an interest in a young man with whom I have had no acquaintance. Upon reading his strange letter I felt not only amazed, but, at first, greatly annoyed at the presumption which could address to me an entire stranger, and quite apart from his walk in life, such ardent expressions of misplaced feeling.”

Ah…never mind hey- plenty more fish in the sea and all that. However the story does not end there. Miss Lomas goes on to explain that she was “called away for a minute and thoughtlessly left the letter on the table” and when she returned she found a woman called Priscilla Pepperton purveying it’s contents.

Miss Lomas ended her letter saying that “This morning Priscilla came with a letter she had written begging me to enclose it in mine to Mr Tubman, as she had a great esteem for that gentleman.”

Priscilla Pepperton's Letter. Ref: M478/9/1/12

The letter from Miss Pepperton (above) is a poetic reply to Michael Tubman offering herself in place of Elizabeth. Miss Pepperton is 63 and I don’t think her intentions were entirely genuine:

 “My dearest Michael I am afraid you’ll scorn a lowly parlour maid nor e’er believe that cupids dart has pierced my poor distracted heart yet so it is at sixty three I love thee Michael only thee. How can the girl you were addressing refuse so rich so rare a blessing. She merits not to be your wife and share with you the joys of life. That pleasure is reserved for me. I love thee Michael only thee.”

…and she goes on:

“I’m short but stately as a queen

I’ve all my teeth, except sixteen

My tresses are not very grey

And tho I’m rather dark they say

Affection no defects can see

I love thee Michael only thee

I’m sure I do not totter much

I sometimes walk without my crutch

My spectacles I’ve cast aside

My silver muff box long my pride

I part with all thy bride to be

And love thee Michael only thee

All vulgar follies I eschew

I long have worn a cap ‘tis true

I’ll cast it off and thee to honour

I’ll braid my hair a la Madonner

Tis right that all the world should see

I love thee Michael only thee”

She signs off the letter stating her name and address as:

“From your devoted

Priscilla Pepperton

Rheumatism Row

Paralysis Place

Gravesend”

To view the rest of the letter’s and more Valentine’s Day treats from the archives visit our Flickr page:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/manchesterarchiveplus/sets/72157629314051183/

CAN YOU HELP? There are some words in these letters that we can’t make out so if you think you know what a word is or think we’ve got it wrong please let us know! Leave a comment on here or on our Flickr Page.

Manchester’s Music Scene Remembered Film Screening at Wythenshawe Forum Library

Come down to Wythenshawe Forum Library on Saturday 4th February to watch a FREE archive film screening.

For directions to the library visit: http://www.wythenshaweforum.co.uk/download/directions.pdf

Man’s Best Friend

A little Friday afternoon treat for you all (if you like pictures of dogs that is) with much love from the Manchester Archives. Pick a favourite and tell us why in the comment box below or via our twitter page @McrArchives. Captions welcome too!

Images from the Manchester Local Image Collection: http://images.manchester.gov.uk

 

 

 

Blue Monday

The last of the mince pies have been scoffed, you have 12p in your bank account, your alarm clock rudely awakes you at what seems to be 3am and it would’ve helped to actually turn the kettle on before you made yourself a brew this morning. Sound familiar? Don’t worry you’re not alone….this is Blue Monday, officially the most depressing day of the year.

But do not fear! Here are 10 tips accompanied by archive photos to help you combat those blues:

1- Try and catch some of that elusive sunlight. Sunlight provides us with Vitamin D and also improves your mood:

Piccadilly, Workers Sunbathing in Gardens, 1955. Ref: m04735

2- Avoid binge drinking like these lovely ladies…

Taken at the 'Beehive' c.1970. Ref: GB124.DPA/958/12

3- …and drink more (nonalcoholic) fluids like these charming ladies:

Taking a break from rambling, 1929. Image Ref: m07679

4- Exercise! (Although preferably not with guns) :

Prisoners in the exercise yard, Strangeways, 1890. Ref: m57069

5- Avoid fast food shops:

Interior view of Fish and Chip Shop in Wythenshawe, 1949. Ref: m45209

6- Book a holiday or something you can look forward to:

Boy at Butlin's, Skegness, 1938. Ref GB124. DPA/584/25

7- Go for a walk in the country (avoid puddles):

Rambling, 1921. Ref: m07673

8- Organise a dinner party with your best friends (and why not wear a paper hat?):

King Street Club, 1953. Ref: m62202

9- Treat yourself to a day at a spa:

Turkish Hot Rooms, 1905. Ref: m51809

10- And finally…SMILE!

Smile Competition, 1973. Ref: m07871

Ghosts, Poltergeists & Archives

Happy Halloween from Manchester Archives!

Here are a few spooktacular images from our Local Image Collection which we’ve dug up relating to a few well known Manchester ‘haunts’, along with some other frightening images from the past.

The Ghost of  Reverend Collier

If you’ve lived in Manchester for any considerable length of time you would’ve no doubt heard about the haunted Branningans bar on Peter Street which was once The Albert Hall (below) and before that a Methodist church where a Reverend Collier (above)  used to preach against the dangers of alcohol in 1910.  Bar staff have reported strange goings on within the building, one claimed that a presence has tried to push them down the stairs and others have reported strange noises, cold spots and smashed glasses.

The Town Hall Corridors

The corridors of the Town Hall are reputedly haunted by the ghost of a Victorian policeman who roams them at night.

The Boggart Hole Clough Poltergeist

The family who lived in the farm house at Boggart Hole Clough told of a strange spirit who would sometimes help out with the washing and cleaning, while other times throw items around, pull bedcovers from people’s beds as they slept, and laugh loudly while banging around at night. When the family threatened to move out, the spirit told them it would go with them, so they stayed.

The White Lady of Ordsall Hall

An apparition of a white lady is often spotted in the Great Hall, and is said to be the ghost of heartbroken Margaret Radclyffe. Locals have also seen this White Lady in the grounds at the front of the Hall. A monk and the figure of another lady has also been seen here.

“There is the occasional smell of roses and lavender in the Great Hall, even when no-one is around. Dragging sounds have been heard coming from area under the stairs of the Entrance Hall. In the Agecroft Gallery, Footsteps have been heard and one night the security camera (activated by movement sensors) kept pointing at the area where portraits of the ladies are. In the temporary exhibition area visitors have heard the sound of a door being opened and closed. In the attic, people have reported feeling uneasy and unwell – the feeling then passes quickly. Dragging sounds are occasionally heard in what used to be the Oak panelled room.” *

Strange Goings on at JW Lees Brewery

“A lady has been spotted sitting in the JW Lees boardroom, facing away from the table, while another woman in a long, brown dress has been glimpsed coming through the staff kitchen door. While walking past the boardroom, a night watchman once claimed that he was hit across the face by something or someone never seen. He was so scared he waited outside the building until more staff arrived at 6am. One staff member claims that while she was sitting eating her lunch, she felt as if someone had come through the door, walk up behind her and then stand next to her. When she turned around, there was no-one there.”*

Other Frightening Images from our Collections

The stereotypical scary graveyard of All Saints Church, Manchester in 1910

Taken on Halloween 1939. Is the lady on the right in normal attire, wearing a fancy dress costume or the evil witch from Snow White? You Decide.

References:

*http://www.xmotu.com/haunted_places_in_manchester.asp?offset=0

www.paranormaldatabase.com/hotspots/manchester

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1004/1004437_get_in_the_ghost_tour_spirit.html

Day 5 of our posts for #BlackHistoryMonth

Day 5 of our posts for Black History Month tells the story of Len Johnson, the famous black boxer and life-long Communist.

He was born on 22^nd October 1902 in Openshaw, Manchester. His father was William Benker Johnson, an African seaman, and his mother was a young woman from Manchester, Margaret Maher. After leaving the merchant navy his father worked for a time on boxing booths and, after a spell in engineering, Len followed his father into the profession. He fought professionally as a middle-weight from 1922 and 1933, and beat some of the best British and foreign fighters of the day. However Len was not allowed to fight for official British titles because the British Board of Boxing Control said that only white boxers could compete for titles. After he left the ring he toured his own boxing up and down the country. During the war Len worked in civil defence in Manchester and after the war worked as a bus driver and then lorry driver.

Johnson stood as a Communist candidate six times in local elections in Manchester and also acted for many years as an unofficial representative of the city’s black community becoming noted for his personally interventions in disputes involving racism.  He spoke at Communist Party rallies in Manchester in the late 1950s and early 1960s and is still remembered by many today as a figure who spent a lifetime in a personal battle against injustice and racism. Len Johnson died on 28th September 1974, aged 71. *

See pictures of Len Johnson from our collection here:

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjwyAGAj

*References:

http://radicalmanchester.wordpress.com/2009/08/17/len-johnson-manchester-boxer-and-communist/

http://www.grahamstevenson.me.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=766:len-johnson&catid=10:j&Itemid=111

Day 4 of our posts for #BlackHistoryMonth

Day 4 of our posts for Black History Month highlights the Manchester Carnival which has brought Caribbean culture to the forefront, annually for over 30 years, and is the North West’s largest celebration of Caribbean music and carnival arts. It is a vibrant celebration of Caribbean music, dance, theatre and costume and is held annually at Alexandra Park in Moss Side, Manchester.

Some images of the carnival from our collections can be found here:

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjvHrq8h

READ: Moss Side story: CAROL DIX on the Alexandra Park Festival from The Guardian 22nd May 1971.

Moss Side Powerhouse: Interact with the Past, Thursday 5-7pm #BlackHistoryMonth @MancLibraries

For Day 3 of our posts for Black History Month I’m doing a little self promotion for a BHM event that the Manchester Archives are a part of, where you can see first hand the kind of outreach work we do with our BME collections, both virtually and physically.

Come down to our event at the Moss Side Powerhouse Library TOMORROW (Thursday 27th October 5-7pm) where you can: explore online interactive resources, watch an old film from the North West Film Archive’s collection, find out more about the area you live in and just be generally amazed at all the cool stuff on display. Come and share your stories and interact with your past! There may just be some cake in it for you…

Wanna see some old images of Moss Side? Visit: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjvqBNxN

Day 2 of posts for #BlackHistoryMonth

Day 2 of our posts for Black History Month focuses on the anti-racist demonstrations that occurred in Manchester during the 70’s for which we hold a number of images which can be viewed here: http://flic.kr/s/aHsjwnxdDH

An article from The Guardian on July 9, 1977 entitled ‘Make or break days‘  gives a short description of the day’s events.

You can also view the images on our Animoto video :

See more videos on our YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ManchesterArchives

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

McrArchives Black History Month Posts Day 1

Black History Month (BHM) is held every October in Britain. The aims are to:

• Promote knowledge of Black History, Culture and Heritage
• Disseminate information on positive Black contributions to British Society
• Heighten the confidence and awareness of Black people to their cultural heritage.

Here at Manchester Archives we will blog about material we hold that relates to black and minority ethnic people all this week in order to promote the collections we hold and hopefully encourage people to donate more.

Using Parish Registers are a good way of researching the history of various communities. The registers include information on baptisms, marriages and burials. Some parish collections stretch back to the 1500s.

The earliest reference to black and minority ethnic people in the early (pre-1900) parish registers we could find was the story of one man called Juba Royton.

 

I’ve created an online poster for the Story of Juba Royton:

http://manchesterarchives.edu.glogster.com/juba-royton/

To view the full online exhibition please visit:

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/448/archives_and_local_studies/3359/the_story_of_juba_royton_online_exhibition/1