FORGOTTEN CORNERS

[Stanley]

Cracker Kev, thanks to Gus for saving it and you for posting it.



School Lane Earby. Grove Shed has gone and the Grammar School is getting a new roof. Year?

[Wendyf]

It would be sometime in the 1990s when the Earby Mining Museum received grants from English Heritage and the National Lottery Fund to restore the building and bring it up to modern day standards.

[Stanley]

Thanks Wendy!

[Stanley]

Henry Brown cobbler outside his house in Kelbrook Main Street around 1900.

[Stanley]

Johnny Pickles' magnificent model of a cross compound mill engine in the Moorside Museum at Bradford. It was originally in the museum at Cliff Park Keighley but when that closed it was transferred to Bradford. A few years later I got a call from Moorside asking me if I would go over and have a look at the engine as it was not turning over as it should. I refused because I had already heard that they had been running it on compressed air without precautions and the pistons had rusted in the bores. I was so angry with them but kept quiet. I suppose it's still seized up..... what a shame...

[Stanley]

The engine in Johnny's workshop at Federation Street when it was ready to go to Keighley.

[Stanley]

Harry Hill always known as 'Ticker'. Harry was foreman of the BUDC road gang for many years and a well known character in Barlick.

[Stanley]

Loading cloth onto Jackson's wagon at Bancroft Shed in 1976. This was the essence of what made Barlick successful. Loom state cloth being exported from every mill in the town. Now a totally forgotten corner.

[Stanley]

The old police station on Manchester Road in 2018 by which time it was a private residence.

[PanBiker]

I remember when I was a little lad about 8 years old I reckon, handing in a multi bladed scout knife in that I found when wandering up Letcliffe. "Now then what have you there lad", said the Sergeant on duty, filled in a lost property form and eventually inherited it 3 months later. I remember the local beat bobby brought it round, mum thought I was in bother! Lucky to see a copper in town now.

[Big Kev]

I remember when I was a little lad about 8 years old I reckon, handing in a multi bladed scout knife in that I found when wandering up Letcliffe. "Now then what have you there lad", said the Sergeant on duty, filled in a lost property form and eventually inherited it 3 months later. I remember the local beat bobby brought it round, mum thought I was in bother! Lucky to see a copper in town now.

You'd be lucky if you'd got the knife now either

[Stanley]

I think these days of a morning parade to check truncheon and whistle have gone!

[PanBiker]

You'd be lucky if you'd got the knife now either

Indeed, I like most lads at the time we were always properly tooled up. Chubbing time for bonfire night, I had a Sheath Knife on my snake belt, the Scout Knife in my pocket and an Axe. Thoughts never crossed our minds to stick them in anyone. We always had a fire on the go as well.

[Tizer]

And fireworks too. In my early teens I was standing watching a large bonfire burn when I was hit on the chest by a rocket fired, accidentally or intentionally, on a flat trajectory across the fire. Fortunately it was one of those basic ones that whizz up then fizzle out rather than explode like a supernova! I was wearing layers of thick clothing to keep me warm and it was only my scarf that suffered burns. It gave me a shock though!

I used to open the top of a basic rocket and the top of what I think we called a `snowstorm' (a static firework that burnt slowly like a volcano emitting brilliant white light, probably due containing magnesium). Then up-end the snowstorm over the top of the rocket and wrap some sellotape around to seal them together. Then fire the rocket as normal. It made a wonderful white flare that lit up a wide area.

[Stanley]

In 2005 an old lady fell asleep in an armchair whilst smoking a cigarette. The ensuing fire killed her. Here's the scene in East Hill Street just before the fire brigade arrived. Always be careful, fire is a good servant but a very bad master.

[Stanley]

I think I am wired up differently than 'normal' people. This reversing mechanism on the Green's economiser at Bancroft Shed always fascinated me. It's such a clever and efficient mechanism and is of course now a forgotten corner.....

[Stanley]

A forgotten piece of Nelson History.

[Stanley]

Remember Freddie? Definitely a forgotten corner. 1979 air transport.

[Stanley]

The lake at Bracewell Hall in the 1930s when it was being run as a country club. They held dances there as well......

[Stanley]

Jim Pollard looming (Preparing a warp for weaving by installing the healds and reed) at Bancroft Shed in 1977. This was a very skilled job as it needed knowledge of cloth construction and design as well as manual dexterity. Jim was a master of the craft and could draw more than 10,000 ends a day. Just one of the skills needed to produce cloth.... A totally forgotten corner in Barlick now....

[Stanley]

Jack Larkin, steeplejack, posed for this publicity shot round about 1900. This was before the days of Photo Shop! He actually is perched on that finial. I doubt if this would be allowed today so we can safely say it is a forgotten corner!

[Stanley]

You shall go to the ball! I tripped over this snap this morning and it really is a forgotten corner. The Lad scrubbed up and ready to go to the Ilkley Rotarians Ball in 1988. Hard to believe I know, and definitely a forgotten corner!

[Cathy]

Yes Stanley, you did scrub- up well.
… Was it a good night, was it a night of networking?

[Stanley]

Just simple enjoyment Cathy. Only 37 years ago, amazing how things can change.....

[Stanley]

The stacks at Dunnet Head, the most northerly point of the British Isles. Mary and I were going round the Scottish lighthouses in a camper van in November 1991 and it was one of the best holidays I have ever had! It doesn't look bad but this pic was done in a full SE gale and it was very hard to stand up....
(In case you're wondering, the line across the image is a fault my camera had developed.... )