As the lockdown continues, it’s more important than ever to stay connected with your loved ones, whilst observing the government led social distancing guidelines. We hope Archives+ can help you to do this by publishing our popular memory boxes online which can be used as a starting point in discovering your family history, find out what their childhood was like, look back at the area where they grew up, discover their fondest childhood memories and maybe uncover some hidden gems in your family’s story.
Whilst children are off school and many adults are at home, why not take this opportunity to find out about those important stories thus ensuring this history is passed on to the next generation which can often get lost or put off for another day as we lead our busy lives. Sharing memories of days gone by can bring families closer together, listening to elderly relatives can be a comfort for families as they gain an insight into their life stories.
Each week Archives+ will publish a memory box for an area in Manchester, this week our archive collections cover Levenshulme. Below you will find a collection of images from Levenshulme, alongside 6 worksheets. The worksheets are set around 6 themes: Industry, Place, Health and Living Conditions, Pastimes, Notable Levenshulme, and Communities. Using the worksheets as prompts to start up a conversation, write down your findings on a piece of paper, or if you prefer type into a tablet or PC.
In addition to this blog, the online memory box will be published on the Archives+ Facebook page. Dig out your old photos too, these can also be a brilliant resource to trigger fond memories of family times.We encourage you to share your findings on social media, either as comments on our Facebook page or on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #ArchivesPlusMemorybox
Instagram manclib_archives
Twitter @archivesplus
Facebook @archivesplus
If you are unable to share your photos and stories online, when the libraries reopen bring copies of your family memories into your local library. In the coming year we will produce an exhibition in your local library of selected submissions, shared both online and in person.
Please make sure that if you share any information with us that the person you have spoken to is happy for you to share it with Archives+. When sharing your findings try to avoid sharing too much personal information such as surnames and date of birth as these details can identify your loved ones.
Resources:
Unlocking Your Sound Archive have produced a blog about conducting oral history interviews with family members. The audio clips included in this online memory box have been kindly supplied by Unlocking Your Sound Archive.
Manchester Local Image Collection
Archives+ Flickr
NSPCC Staying safe online guide for children.
Age UK Staying safe online guide for older people




PICC/660
Copyright Piccadilly Radio















no longer with us today! “Baths? We never had baths, only if we went to the public baths…”


















We hope you have enjoyed looking back at the photographs of Levenshulme. More areas will be covered each week and if you would like to see more images, don’t forget to check out the photograph albums on Flickr and the Manchester Local Image Collection .
Thank you for this … Levy Lad … Henderson Street … one of your photo’s shows the back of our house where we lived and in the far background is St. Andrews Church distinctive tower. The School of St. Andrew was attached to the Church where I attended… St Andrews Scouts met in the ‘Institute’ behind the church and the Wolf Cubs in the School rooms … Many photographs I still have … I can name every neighbour in 40/50 houses in Henderson Street from 1960/70 consecutive to this day (2020). I lived in 3 premises in Henderson Street!! 1955 to 1973
Hundreds of happy memories … many friends … simple street games… good fun and occasional mischief but nothing never that would hurt anyone ( such as tying string to door handles, lurking and running away – great fun).
Hi Paul, it’s fantastic to hear memories of your time spent in Levenshulme, thanks you for sharing this with us. Kind regards Siobhan
born & reared in Levenshulme – i always call my self “A Levvi Girl” when asked where i am from – i have a family fotograph on my fridge door – the only one taken together as a family – sat in our front garden (strip of concrete 6’X3′) – it must have been an occassion of priviledge to have an official photographer back in 1951!
Thank you for your interesting comments… Where did you live in Levenshulme please? School ? We may have mutual friends?
Can anyone remember Jackson’s Bricky – a large area that had been dredged for clay for its bricks?
•Tonbridge Road Allotments?
•St. Mary’s Convent, Clare Road
•the little Greenhouse sweet shop in Errwood Park- Davenhill/Daventry Road
•the 246th Manchester wooden scout hut – Highfield Road Allotments (also another entrance to Jackson’s Bricky)…
•UCP Levenshulme
•Cringle Brook
•Levy Fair, every November, Errwood Road
•Stockport Road veranda/Albert Road
•Saturday afternoon films at the Palace for the youngsters…
•do you have anymore memories of Levy out there?
That last one of mine… re bullet points can be have comments and emails sent… I forgot to tick the two boxes below… apologies
My husband Peter Fisher lived at 1194 Stockport Rad I the 1950s he had a brother Roderick now lives in Shropshire ,Does any one remember them
The only two persons I can remember along that row in the middle 1960’s to middle 1970’s were the Whittle brothers … one was definitely called Robin who I occasionally knocked around with. He had a younger brother brother/step brother…
Across the road was to the right of your husbands home prior to the Bus Station was Robinson’s Newsagents. They had one son only called Hayden who went to Burnage High Schools (Lower and Upper locations). He was younger than me but we were both in Saint Andrews Scout Group on Lloyd Road opposite the Monarch Laundry, and went to the same school.The Cubs and Scouts used to meet in the 40/50/60’sin the Institute on Nall Street next to the school airaid shelter and behind the Church betwixt Dowson and Masons. This may help???
Peter moved down to the Stiperstones to be with me we got married in 1961 . His whole family then decided to move here in 1963 .He had friends in Manchester ,who came to our wedding ,Barry Gilbody Ian Johnson Jack Brindley who I think became a police man and Peter can’t remember his surname
I really enjoy looking at photos of Levenshulme, there was one of the police station on Stockport road I remember it being the School Clinic Ah ! Memories
More on Stockport side of Levenshulme … Opposite Broom lane … Sam Grimshaws Newsagent shop. Sutton Bros TV and repair shop next door but one … next to them George Jacksons Chippy, wife Betty … home made pies and gravy …sit in the front of the shop either side of the front door or inside up the step from the serving Counter. George always wore white lab coat. A wonderful knack of flicking his wrist when dipping the fish into the batter …two flicks and the fish was covered … more to follow …
More reminisces from Levenshulme in the 1960’s …
St. Mary Scout Group, on Clare Road near to Errwood Road roundabout (grass in the centre) met betwixt the St Mary’s School’s grounds and the Nuns Building … the Scout Groups colour neckerchiefs were all white (All white … All white …apologies for the pun!) Terry Murphy, and Eric ?? were the Cub Scouts Leaders and Mike (with a beard!!) was the Scout Leader…
246th Manchester Scout Group met on Highfield Road pass UCP Tripe Works/Abattoir at the very top more or less in the Allotment. This was one of the many legal (!) entrances to the Allotments and the Bricky!! Their HQ was a fabulous wooden building which was pre WW2 RAF. Two of the Leaders were Raymond (Ray) Beckwith, Group Scout Master/Leader (Boss Man) and Ian Graham, Scout Leader. The Neckerchief was two colours which were Yellow and Red I believe…
More ramblings to follow …
Another ramble …
The Old Police Station (Lancashire Contabulary keystone chiselled above the entrance) (this was b4 Manchester Police then to become Greater Manchester Police) strangely enough then to become as you rightly said the School Clinic where another link with me was my Mother Joan Chapman was one of the Stare Enrolled Nurses NIT Nurses that visited the schools …she had other roles as well ….which I will not mention in polite company!
JACK BARBERS removals on the corner of Broom Lane and Stocky Road …what a fire they had there one evening …another mucker of mine Robert Higginson/Higginbottom?? whose Dad worked at the Removals. Jack’s son was Andrew Barber who was another mate of mine in the sixtys/seventies and we use to play Daleks …dont ask! Happy Memories… WE ALSO WEN TO BURNAGE high School … He was one year older than me and the first to wear long trousers for senior school …they were posh a family!!
Doctor Joseph, a kindly Jewish GP Doctor was next to Barbers Removals in the big house on the main Stockport Road betwixt Broom Lane and Cringle Road… opposite John Deardens ‘National’
Garage next to George Jacksons Chippy!
More to follow…I’m on a run now!!!