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We are now on the road to things easing and opening up and we hope Archives+ can still help you to stay in touch with each other and treasure your memories with our popular online memory boxes. These can be used as a starting point in discovering your family history, finding out what your family’s childhood was like, looking back at the area where they grew up, discovering their fondest childhood memories and maybe uncover some hidden gems in your family’s story.
Why not take this opportunity to find out about those important stories, ensuring family histories are passed on to the next generation. These 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.
Since the first lockdown in March 2020, Archives+ has published 17 online memory boxes covering some of the neighbourhoods in Manchester, and this month we’re taking a look at Heaton Park. Below you will find a collection of images and sound files from Heaton Park, including images and stories kindly shared from the staff and Friends of Heaton Hall and Heaton Park Tramway, alongside 2 worksheets. 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.
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
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If you are unable to share your photos and stories online, then the 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.
Image from the Friends of Heaton Hall – “Tricia’s postcard album”Heaton Park north side 1903 M58186Image from the Friends of Heaton Hall – “Tricia’s postcard album”Image from the Friends of Heaton Hall collectionHeaton Hall – Grand Staircase m83941Heaton Hall Music Room, no date m47804Heaton Hall Music Room, no date m83942(1103/14) e01 Mrs. Jennings was in domestic service for the Holt family. She worked in both family homes in Windermere and Manchester. She recalls the house, Woodthorpe, opposite Heaton Park, along with having to travel between the two properties. Courtesy of Tameside Local Studies and Archives CentreThe Orangery, Heaton Hall, Heaton Park 1902 m47772Stables and Coach Houses, Heaton Park 1902 m58176Heaton Park Gates 1900 m58134Grand Lodge, Heaton Park 1902 m58179(1103/662) e01 Mr. Diggle talks about his family background; his grandfather worked for Lord Wilton on the Heaton Park estate. “…my father and his brother’s were brought up at the grand lodge…” Courtesy of Tameside Local Studies and Archives CentreThe Kennels (later demolished), Heaton Park 1939 m58275Image from the Friends of Heaton Hall – “Tricia’s postcard album”Heaton Park cottage 1902 M78517Heaton Park Lodge, Heaton Park 1907 m47777Heaton Park sewing room 1910 M77997Children’s Paddling Pool, Heaton Park 1968 m58351Children’s Pool no date – Image from the Heaton Park collectionCrowd at Besses o’ th Barn Band Performance, Whit Sunday, Heaton Park 1919 m58253(1103/128) e01 Mr. McPherson, a former pupil at Chetham’s school, recounts the time the band were part of a procession up to Heaton Park in protest against a Licensing Bill. “Our band was in the procession to Heaton Park and we walked all the way up Cheetham Hill Road to Heaton Park and at the Halfway House, there’s a pub there, they were sorry for us and brought out lemonade…” Courtesy of Tameside Local Studies and Archives CentreWhit Monday, Heaton Park 1933 m58270Daffodils near boating lake, Heaton Park 1932 m58269Highland Cattle, Heaton Park 1930 m58135BT Tower 1966 – Image from the Heaton Park collectionBT Tower 1966 – Image from the Heaton Park collectionBT Tower 1966 – Image from the Heaton Park collectionThe Heaton Belle, boating lake Heaton Park – Image from the Heaton Park collectionImage from the Friends of Heaton Hall – “Tricia’s postcard album”Image from the Friends of Heaton Hall – “Tricia’s postcard album”Image from the Friends of Heaton Hall – “Tricia’s postcard album”Lifeboat in Heaton Park 1909 M61752Lifeboat in Heaton Park 1909 m61754Heaton Park refreshment tent 1904 M78171Refreshment tent adjoining hall, Heaton Park 1904 m58197(1103/46) e01 Mr. Mills recalls visiting Heaton Park and how there were tenant farmers there before 1914. “I come up here many a time before the ’14 war to Heaton Park, I used to come here a lot…” Courtesy of Tameside Local Studies and Archives CentreHeaton Park Smithy 1901 M59285The smithy, with Smithy Lodge to left in background, no date – Image from the Friends of Heaton Hall – “Tricia’s postcard album”
Trams, Heaton Park, no date – Image from the Heaton Park collectionTrams, Heaton Park, no date – Image from the Heaton Park collectionTrams, Heaton Park, no date – Image from the Heaton Park collectionTrams, Heaton Park, no date – Image from the Heaton Park collectionHeaton Park Metrolink 1995 M48384Heaton Park Crumpsall aerial view 1935 M67678 Heaton Park map 1914 M75280A print of the scene of the Heaton Park Races in 1829 by John Ferneley – Image from the Friends of Heaton HallImage from the Friends of Heaton Hall – “Tricia’s postcard album”Image from the Friends of Heaton Hall – “Tricia’s postcard album”Bandstand, Heaton Park 1907 M77739Bandstand, Heaton Park 1906 m58146(1103/76) e01 Mrs. Petts talks about how her and her friends spent their time at weekends. “…Or there might be a band on in Heaton Park…Sunday afternoon and Sunday evening…we’d go to hear the end of that after chapel…Saturday afternoons there used to be a pierrot show…” Courtesy of Tameside Local Studies and Archives CentreHeaton Park fair 1984 M06229Manchester Regiment Heaton Park Camp 1915 M08700(1103/52) e07 Mrs. Watson shares an anecdote about how a day trip to Heaton Park led to a house exchange for her family. “We walked through this gate and we came upon these huts, which was a community of people living in this area of Heaton Park, where the prefabs of the 1939-45 war, they’d built prefabs after that for these people… they’d built prefabs in exactly the same place as the 1914 war…” Courtesy of Tameside Local Studies and Archives Centre
Restoration
Restoration – Image from the Heaton Park collectionRestoration – Image from the Heaton Park collectionRestoration – Image from the Heaton Park collectionRestoration – Image from the Heaton Park collectionRestoration – Image from the Heaton Park collectionRestoration – Image from the Heaton Park collectionRestoration – Image from the Heaton Park collectionRestoration – Image from the Heaton Park collectionRestoration – Image from the Heaton Park collectionRestoration – Image from the Heaton Park collectionRestoration – Image from the Heaton Park collectionRestoration – Image from the Heaton Park collection
We hope you have enjoyed looking back at the photographs, stories and sound archives of Heaton Park. If you have more photos and stories to share we would love to include them in this memory box. Please add your comments to this blog and we will get in touch with you. More areas will be covered each month 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 .
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