Thornton Cleveleys Fire Brigade ...

I have added a new photo to the Gallery section showing Thornton Cleveleys Fire Brigade outside the Council Offices.


Please visit our Forum to keep up to date with the latest additions to the website.

A

Oct 18th Sunday Quiz ...

I've just put the Quiz on the forum here


A

The Sunday Quiz ...

This weeks Sunday Quiz is now on the forum ... you don't need to register to enter the quiz



A

Thornton Power Station Demolision ...

I've added new information to the site regarding the TPS Demolition.

More information can be found on the Thornton Through Time Forum

A

The Sunday Quiz ...

Evening all.

Firstly I'd like to say how pleased I am that people have started to move across to the new forum .. I was worried you might all 'blogger' off so to say!

I've been working on the website today but you probably wouldn't notice as it looks exactly the same. The main problem with the site was that I am limited to the number of pictures I can have so I have been very sparing with them. Since I set off on my journey into the world of websites and such I have learnt quite a bit along the way. I've now discovered that I am clued up enough to edit the 'code' of the site and can now link to pictures stored elsewhere online so am in the process of changing all the ones on the site. After that I can start adding photos that I have had to store on the other Thornton Through Time Documents site

Now for the Quiz

The answer to this weeks quiz is ...












The old Station Masters house at Thornton Centre.

In 1st place .. Mike
In 2nd place .. Cyril
In 3rd place .. Andy
In 4th place .. Mike P

Don't forget next weeks quiz will be posted on the forum.

All Change ...

Evening all.

It's all change at Thornton Through Time!

I'm going to take a bit of a break from the blog as life is getting in the way at the moment. In the meantime I've decided to add a forum to the site so that people can post questions, topics or just share history. I think it will work better for the site instead of people having to wait for me to post. I'll be popping in to the forum every day and joining in but it means I don't have to come up with topics twice a week on here (which I haven't been doing much of lately I hear you cry!). It will also mean I can go back to working on the site 'as and when' and remove the guilt of not having something exciting to report twice a week.

I hope you will pop over and join me ... Thornton Through Time Forum

If you want to discuss more up to date Thornton news then pop over to Mike's Thornton Cleveleys Forum where you'll get a friendly welcome.


I'll be posting the answer to this weeks quiz on here and on the forum and next week it will be posted only on the forum. You don't have to join the forum to do the quiz .. you can still look and then email the answer but it would be nice if you did.


Melanie

A

The Sunday Quiz ...

Evening All.

Its a flying visit tonight but don't want to get threatening emails about spoiling peoples weekends by not putting the quiz on on a Sunday ! lol


The Sunday Quiz ...

Where in Thornton Am I ?


















Answers here as usual
or email here

A

Holmes Farm ...

Evening all.

So I was wrong about the building on Fleetwood Rd .. it wasn't a works but indeed a farm. Originally it owned land which is now covered by Sacred Heart School and Church and also Trunnah Gardens. The land for Sacred Heart was compulsary purchased. I don't want to say too much as I hope to add something to the memory section so keep your eyes peeled.


Now for the Quiz ... Where in Thornton Am I ?
















And the answer is .. Treasure City (previously The Ashdell)

In 1st place .. Brenda
In 2nd place .. Mike

A

The Sunday Quiz ...

Tonights quiz is 'the I thought it was Saturday' Quiz. It's a good job I had a few pics in stock !!!!

I've had some more news about Holmes Farm which turns out to be the building opposite the end of Holmes Rd and was farmed by 3 generations of the gentlemans family. I will write it up and post more on Thursday.


Now for the Quiz ...

Where in Thornton Am I ?

** Clue - Not connected to a church

answers here as usual
or email here

A

Duplicate

duplicate

Duplicate

duplicate

Duplicate

duplicate

Duplicate

Duplicate

The Sunday Quiz ...

Bloggers gone mad !!!

The Sunday Quiz ...

Evening all. Sorry for the delay .. have been entertaining mother tonight.

Now I've decided that this week I'm going to take 2 different answers to the Quiz so I might have told you you were wrong but actually under the new rules you were right. The reason is that I'm not sure which one is the correct answer and as they are next to each other .. it's near enough. See thats clears as mud !!!

Where in Thornton Am I? ... and the answer is

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

The old barn at the corner of Stanah Road and Underbank

Now I had it as Stanah House Farm but a lot of you thought it was Stanah Hill Farm so I'm going to take both answers.

.

In 1st place .. John

In 2nd place .. Brenda

In 3rd place .. Mike

.

Now I have to give a special mention to Mike's answer as he told me where it was but also the time and date it was taken and what it was taken with !! Turns out he has some software to find it out but he had me going there for a bit.

A

A Beautiful Thornton Day ...

Evening All. It was a red sky this morning so was expecting it to be a less than perfect day but it has been glorious. We went to the Nature Reserve behind the tip with the dog which was really nice but the smell was a bit ripe. Well worth a visit if you are of the dog walking fraternity.

I've been contacted by a gentleman whose family farmed at Holmes Farm in Thornton who may have some old photos to send me. I hope he can dig them up as they would be great for the site. Going off subject does anybody know the name of the building which stands right opposite the entrance to Holmes Rd on Fleetwood Rd? I think its empty at the mo but looks like it might have been a farm or more likely some kind of work place ie. a wood yard or similar. Its shown on the 1892 map and a building is shown there on the 1841 map to but isn't the same footprint. It also has a well. It intrigues me so I hope you can help.

Now for the Quiz ...

Where in Thornton Am I ?

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Answers here as usual

or email here

A

The Quiz ...

Evening all. I've had a new postcard in from Andy which I will have on the site later tonight ..it needs a bit of touching up (don't we all!) It shows Woodlands Ave and is another view I've not seen before. There are a couple of shops on there and it must have changed beyond all recognition so will have to go and have a look see to try and spot whereabouts it was taken from.


Now for the Quiz ... and the answer is

The Gate posts of Sacred Heart Church Hall on Crabtree

In 1st place .. Brenda

In 2nd place .. Peter

Just for fun...

( a slightly rude joke .. no swearing ) fun

The Late Quiz ...

Better late than never folks ... This life thing just keeps getting in the way!

Firstly I've had an enquiry from a lady who is asking for information about a shop on Anchorsholme Lane in Cleveleys which was owned by a relative in the 1950's/60's. The shop in question was Dixon & Ismay, a decorating shop located at number 7. Hopefully somebody will have some info (I don't doubt you for a minute!). I need to go and have a look as I'm not sure what is there now but would like to get a pic to send.


Now for the Quiz ...

Where in Thornton Am I ? - That dodgy camera's back!




















Answers here as usual
or email here


Heres a clearer image for you

Just for fun ...

Have you ever been this tired ?

A

Apologies ...

Am running late tonight. The Quiz will be on later with a twist.

see you later!

The Sunday Quiz ...

It's a flying visit tonight as am up to my eyes making plum chutney.

The latest word from the demolision squad is that they planned for the TPS building to fall that way as they didn't want it to hit the chimney. Yeh right !!! We believe you.


Now for the Quiz ...

Where in Thornton Am I ? .. and the answer is













Burnaze School

In 1st place .. Mike
In 2nd place .. Mike P
In 3rd place .. Peter

A

Going .. Going .. No it's still there!

For those of you who missed it ...

Going ...

Going ...

Nope .. its still there!

I was intending to video the whole thing but as the sirens go off is not a good time to find out you haven't used your camera for anything other then pics for a while. I couldn't get the video to work and only just managed to get the snaps above at the last mo. I looked around to see if I could recognise anyone but quite how I was going to do that I don't know.

The event itself didn't go exactly to plan. From what I could see the explosives across the back of the building didn't go off so the building colapsed down at the front at an alarming angle. The result is probably a bigger mess than when they started. The chimney is 91 meters high so judging on the expertise shown when it comes down I will be standing 92 meters away!!!

Now for the Quiz ...

Where in Thornton Am I ?

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Answers here as usual

Or email here

A

Going with a Bang ...

After months of stripping out the old TPS main building/boilers at ICI will be demolished by explosion (sounds exciting) this Sunday 6th September at 11am.



















I am reliably informed by James that you will be able to watch from the playing fields opposite the Burn Naze Hotel which is outside the exclusion zone.

The Chimney is pencilled in for Sunday 1st of November but will keep you posted nearer the time. Where's Fred Dibnah when you need him .. the best chimney feller that ever lived. I do hope that people find out about it or it will just be us lot looking shifty :-)

I don't know how I've missed it but I've had an email from Andy with 2 great old postcards attached which I've never seen before. One is of Church Lane (now Meadows Ave) and the other is of Raikes Road. I will get them on the site tonight so have a look later in the Gallery.


Now for the Quiz ...

Where In Thornton Am I ? .. and the answer is













St John the Evangelist on Stanah Road

In first place .. Mike
In 2nd place .. Mike P
In 3rd place .. John
In 4th place .. Brenda

A

Thornton Map 1845 ...

Evening All ... I have finally managed to get the Thornton map on the site at last. I tried to fit it all back together but no matter what I tried it wouldn't fit so have gone for the section option. I'm not happy at all by the quality of my pictures but have decided to put it on anyway until I can come up with a different solution.

I've also added a picture of John Croft who held some of the first Methodist meetings in Thornton in his kitchen. He apparently lived in The Little Cottage on Fleetwood Rd opposite the junction with Trunnah Rd. Thanks to Mike P for giving permission to use the photo.

Apologies for the short post tonight but I was at a party yesterday and am feeling a bit worse for wear.


Now for the Quiz ...

Where in Thornton Am I ?





















Answers here as usual
or email here

A

Thornton Maps ...

Firstly I'd just like to bring to everyones attention that James on the Thornton Cleveleys Forum has thrown up plans that have been submitted for a new Tesco Express store in Thornton. Now where could this be ? ... Thornton Centre ... are they converting an existing shop on Victoria Road somewhere. No. The proposed plans are for the store to go on the carpark at Marsh Mill opposite to Seniors Chippy. You can view the plans here. There is limited parking already at the Mill and they intent to take away even more. I feel an objection coming on!

Andy has very kindly leant me some maps this week that a friend of his owns and I have been copying them like a daemon as I only had them for a short time. Now the problem with the old maps is the size of them and how to copy them. I started off trying to scan them .. so took the lid of my scanner to allow better access and to get to the middle bits but then I had nothing to press the map to the glass so the quality was poor. I tried placing my Beano Album (I'm classy me) on the map but as it was sticking out on all sides I was scared of damaging it. Again no good as my scanner did not like the old paper/canvas and the scans were even poorer.

Time to change tack. The stationers at Fleetwood has an A3 size photocopier so still not big enough but I could photocopy large sections. Even with photocopies in hand I still would have had the problem of how to get the images back onto my pc. I would have had to have celotaped all the sections back together and then cut them into bite-sized pieces to fit on my scanner and it wasn't cheap.

After wracking my brains (it didn't hurt too much) and a prototype made from a takeaway box .. I decided on a frame. I went to the craft shop at Marsh Mill and bought some thick card and cut out a 'picture mount' type thingy. I put this on the map .. took a pic .. and then moved it along to the next section. This gave me the same size each time which would make trying to piece the map back together easier. It still isn't the perfect solution as unless the camera is exactly in the centre and exactly the same distance away each time the picture distorts out of shape but it is the best I can come up with. The quality isn't as good as a scan and some of the 'joins' are a bit out but until I can find someone with a bigger scanner (story of my life) it's the best I can come up with.

So basically all the above has been an excuse for some sections being slightly out of focus and the joins being a bit pants .. but hey where else are you going to see an original 1845/6 map of Thornton. Well on Mario actually .. but mines not got 'Lancashire County Council' written all over it. I will hopefully have it on for Sunday if I can get the blasted thing to not look like a 3 year old has done it :-)

Now I've had en enquiry from somebody who has located a rellie on the 1910 Barrat's directory and is trying to find where the address is. The gentleman in question is Mr J Smethurst with the enviable address of 'Bungalow castles'. I have never come across this on a Thornton map so am thinking it must be Cleveleys as at the time it was still part of Thornton (please insert a smug - "we were here first" here). Does anybody know where this is?

I've also had a request from a gentleman trying to locate a current photograph of Harry Feeney. If anybody can help please can they email me and not post in the comments section please.

Talking about the comments .. here is a quick 'how to' guide to posting .. don't be shy!


Now for the Quiz ...

Where in Thornton Am I ? ... and the answer is














The Sunday School of Fleetwood Rd Methodist Church.

The church is currently up for sale but I am reliably informed that it can only be used for the same/similar use and has to be approved by the church. So no plans for demolision at the moment.

In 1st place .. Peter
In 2nd place .. Mike

I have a feeling there was another correct guess but I've had problems with emails in my ongoing saga with my pc so if I have left you off .. apologies.

A

Quiz update ...

Here's the next clue ...




















Answers here or email here

A

Interesting Developments ...

Evening All ... I am still having a few problems but fingers crossed I'm back online. I've added a page on the website today about the Knife and Dagger (finally I hear you say).

From now on I'm going to post the quiz on a Sunday and then give the results and a further post on Thursday. I'll post an extra picture/clue to the quiz on Tuesday to give everyone a chance.

Firstly our very own Andy has found somebody who collects local history items and has very kindly leant them to me to scan and photocopy (I am now unmasked). The majority are not of Thornton but very interesting non the less. I'm going to copy them and then put a section on the site along the lines of further afield. There are some fantastic original plans for a bridge across the Wyre at Garstang at somewhere called Cleveley Mill in Nether Wyresdale. I got excited for a minute thinking we'd discovered a new Mill! I'll give you some more details when I've copied them.

I've had a piece go in the Thornton Community News this week asking for more information although unfortunately they missed the website address off. Hopefully it will lead to lots of new information coming up. I've already been contacted by a gentleman who is an architectural historian and has compiled a dossier on buildings in Thornton which is extremely interesting to find out. Its nice to know that there are people out there recording things for future generations. His work has meant the Sacred Heart Church is now listed which is the first listing in Thornton for 23 years.


Now for the Quiz ...

Where in Thornton Am ?




















Answers here as usual
or email here

There are some really good aerial photos of Thornton and further afield on Brians Forum which are well worth a look.

A

Pesky Virus !!

Apologies for not posting much over the last week but I have had (could still have) a virus on my computer. I think I have now got rid of it but it has messed up my settings and taken some files with it which are now also causing problems.

Everything I have tried to go on has 'encountered a problem and had to close' .. especially the tinternet which is very annoying. My anti-nasty programs have not been updating and being disabled but I have managed to fix that now .. with a lot of uninstalling and re-booting I might add. Have almost redone the whole pc now (whilst mumbling obscenities under my breath).

I've decided I'm going to invent something called 'La Boom' which when a virus is found on your pc backtracks back along the mysterious interhighway to the computer which created it and blows the ******* (fill in as appropriate) up !!!!

Fingers crossed I'll be back on Sunday night with the Quiz.

The Sunday (Monday) Quiz ...

Am having problems with my internet at the moment it keeps cutting me off so I will keep it short.

The Answer to this weeks quiz was ...
















Christ Church, Thornton. I will try and find out why it was erected and get back to you when I get my browser sorted.

In 1st and only place is Andy.

A

Gone but not Forgotten ...

Evening all. Apologies for the delay in the Quiz but just ran out of time yesterday. Russ is off work this week so am not spending quite so much time on the tinternet at the mo.

Firstly tonight thanks for everyones help regarding Dish Dolls both here and on Brian's Forum. I went for a drive that way yesterday and the only place I could see still standing was the Poachers Pocket which (thanks to Chris) turns out to be where Dish Dolls was originally. It's now a house but I remember it being a restaurant. I love solving a mystery and with the team on here and brian's forum I don't think there's much we couldn't get to the bottom of.

I've added a map below (click to enlarge)


















I've also started a new section on the website called Gone but not Forgotten. The title is unashamedly nicked from Brian's forum but I couldn't think of a better way of describing this section. I am working on a page on the knife and dagger to put in but am still typing it up at the moment so the final link is not active yet.


Now for the Quiz ...

Where in Thornton Am I ?

















Answers here as usual ... or email


** HERES A BIT MORE OF THE PIC **

















Just for Fun

This is amazing

A

Ooops ...

And the lack of a vehicle .. the Sunday Quiz will be the Monday Quiz this week.

A

Dish Dolls ...

Whilst enjoying a spot of lunch today at Thornton Lodge my mum got talking to couple who had very admirably cycled from Preston. The gentleman was asking my mum if she remembered where Dish Dolls was. It wasn't in Thornton but was a cafe and was apparently the 'in' place years ago. My mum has an idea that it might have been around where The Ranch House is now in Pressall. Now not one to pass up a challenge I've looked and can't find anything so does anybody else know where it was? I gave them this site to come and look for the answer so hopefully we will be able to solve the mystery.

**UPDATE **

More Here

As for the Knife and Dagger .. I haven't even been able to find anyone who even remembers it being a pub so am not doing very well on that one at all.


Now for the Quiz ...

Where in Thornton Am I? .. and the answer is




















The steeple on Wignall Chapel

It's actually quite an intricate steeple with gargoyles to boot!

In 1st place .. Mike
In 2nd place .. James
In 3rd place .. Brenda


Just for fun

It's a dogs Life!
















A

The Sunday Quiz ...

The Quiz .. Sunday 2nd August ...

Where In Thornton Am I ?









Am going back to the original entry via contact page on the website

So Answers here as usual

Here's an extra clue for you ...

A

What a Beautiful Day ...

I hope everyone has had a nice weekend. I've spend a lovely day today down on Fleetwood Beach with Russ playing football and rounders at Kite Club and me sat watching. It was lovely to see so many people enjoying the beach on a sunny day.

I've added the final photograph's re Baines Endowed now that I can post .. so fingers crossed for the rest. I hope to have another piece going in the TCN shortly which should drum up some more information from the good folk of Thornton. Nice uncopyrighted photo's for everyone to enjoy.

All the pictures on the Thornton Through Time website are copyrighted. I have this as when people have kindly donated photo's specifically to the site I don't want to have them being distributed elsewhere willy nilly. If anybody wants to have copies for their personal use please feel free to contact me and I will gladly email them to you as I have a 'no right click' set up on the site.


Now for the Quiz ...

Due to a hitch a new quiz is now shown in the post above .. I'll let it run until Wednesday this week.

A

The Knife and Dagger ...

I still haven't managed to find anything out about the old pub featured in the Sunday Quiz. It's beginning to look like it was only a pub from c1900 to 1940/5. On the Land Registry document it shows a change to the deeds on 31st December 1940 so perhaps this was when it changed. Andy is hot on the heels and is going to do some more digging to see if he can come up with an answer. I've found a doc listed at the Records Office which lists all the licencees in Amounderness from 1896-1958 so maybe that will be able to throw up some more details. It seems strange that they built it and then it went out of use so quickly though. I know there was another pub at Burn Naze but in those days there were enough people to fill them. I have got my heart set on it being some kind of intrigue with smugglers and murderers (that's what too much tv does to you) .. so hope it didn't just fizzle out.

I've added some more Baines photo's onto the site. Now your eye's don't decieve you .. the 1965 and 1966 pages show the same photo but as it said on the back 1965/66 I put it in both. I'll have the remaining ones up by Sunday.

Now it's been over a month now since Brian from Wyre Archaeology parted company with BT and still no news! Am beginning to think he has done a Lord Lucan. It's strange how his pessimistic sarcasm is missed ;-) I think in the time it's taking he could have set up his own broadband company and floated it on the stock market. I get twitchy if my internet is down for 24 hours!

Just for Fun
Anyone fancy a Stroll ?

A

The Sunday Quiz ...

Evening All ... Sorry for the late post but have been doing some digging since I started typing this.

I've finally managed to sort through the photo's of Baines Endowed and have put some on the site here. I've got some more ready to go on for Thursday .. I can't put them all on at once or I'll run out of material! I've noted the photo's which have names written on the back but am not going to list them on the site as not everyone wants their name splashed on the internet. Us ladies are well know for knocking the years off so don't want to 'out' anyone :-) If anyone recognises themselves and wouldn't mind me putting their name on then let me know. I still haven't heard back on the other copyright but don't want to pester anyone as am still hoping.


Now for the Quiz ...

Where in Thornton Am I? ... and the Answer is




















The Gym building at Burn Naze .. near BEK Motors

(Now I know it's the same picture but I forgot to take the full photo)

In 1st place ... John
In 2nd place ... Mike
In 3rd place ... Brenda
In 4th place ... Andy

As some of you may or may not know this building was originally a pub (or so I'm told) and a bit of a mystery. It was built some time between 1892 and 1912 but most likely to be 1900. I have checked the Land Registry and there is a conveyance of land between Alfred Nuttall and Thomas Tattersall on 26.10.1899. The name which has been suggested on Brians Forum is the 'Knife and Dagger' .. not a family pub then! It was also mentioned by Andy in an email recently as the 'Hand and Dagger'. Apart from that nothing is known which is surprising as it isn't that old. You would think there would be a photo or somebody would remember it. I don't even know when it stopped being a pub. I do remember my Dad saying that when he first started working for Fleet Builders as a youngish man that they were based there and in the same document from above it lists Fleet Builders in 1968.

Am off to raid Phil's Rossall Beach Site to see if there are any pics on there that can shed some light on it.

A

Thornton Photos .. it's complicated

I've now finished scanning in the photo's of Baines Endowed or I should say photographing them. Some of the pictures haven't scanned very well so ended up taking pictures of them which were clearer. The only problem with this was that the pics turned out black and white so have had to edit them individually to tint them back to sepia to keep the original look.

I'm still looking into the copyright but to honest it's not looking good. Copyright on photo's lasts for 70 years from the death of the photographer or the publication date. I still haven't heard back from the Evening Gazette and have sent a letter off today to the other company whose name is on the majority of the albums. If they refuse to allow me to reproduce them then as I understand it I can't pass them on in any way .. even by email which is a crying shame. I was hoping if I couldn't put them on the site that I could put a list up and people could contact me and then I could send pictures to them. Fingers crossed they will both come back and give the go ahead. It would be criminal for me to have all these lovely class photo's with many having all the names written on the back and not be able to share them. I will let you know as soon as I hear anything.

The good news is that a few of the pics have no copyright on the back and I will try and get them on before Thursday.


Now for the Quiz ...

Where in Thornton Am I?





















Click photo to enlarge

Answers here as usual folks

A

Baines Endowed and Copyright ...

I'm still scanning in the school photo's from Baines Endowed but unfortunately I'm not sure how many of them I am going to be able to post. The copyright on photo's lasts for 70 years from the death of the photographer which pretty much rules out most of the pics 1940 onwards.

Half of the photo's are copyright to the Gazette and after initially contacting them they have said they will not give permission. I have now sent an email to the editor to see if there is any way round it. The other half are copyright to a company in Blackpool who just produce school photo's and are still going so it's not looking good.

Even if I can't post the actual images I will put a list on the website of the photo's I have and if anyone wants a copy for personal use then I can email it. The restrictions would mean that they couldn't be published anywhere but at least it would help if someone was looking for a specific photo.

The copyright of items is a complete nightmare and I could understand if I was wanting to sell them but I can't see the problem with my just putting them on a local history site. Hopefully the Gazette will come back and giver their permission and I can at least put some on.

I've added some more pics to the Marsh Farm Memory .. in part 3 there is a link at the bottom to some additional photo's.

I'm doing an online backup of my pc at the moment as I have so many files that I would be devasted to lose. It looks like it's going to take a long long time .. almost a month! but it can run in the background. It just means things might be a bit slow when I'm using the pc so please bear with me.

The Sunday Quiz ...

I'm still scanning pictures in but have come up against a bit of a copyright issue. Hopefully I will know by Thursday and will be able to update you a bit more.

Bit of a short one as am puppy sitting tonight and it's like Fred Carno's circus in here. I'm only used to 14 year old Tinka now!


Now for the Quiz ...

Where in Thornton Am I? ... and the answer is ...












Baines Endowed School

In 1st place .. Mike
In 2nd place .. James
In 3rd place .. Brenda
In 4th place .. Andy

A

Scanning ...

I hope you have all had a good weekend whatever you may have been doing. Well the weather came good for our bbq on Saturday. They always say the sun shines on the righteous and they must have been having a barbie in the same street as us :-D

I haven't got much more news to report as am scanning pics in like mad at the moment. I'm adding them to the other site so have got nothing to show for my efforts as yet. Will have some more on the main site by Thursday so will be able to report more then.

There is a nice new shop opening in Thornton opposite Senior's chippy called The Little House of Cup Cakes. It's nothing to do with me although I look like a girl who likes her cakes (blush) and am hoping that Russ might treat me to something if he reads this :-) I'm also pleased that a) it isn't a takeaway and b) is something a bit individual from a local girl.


Now for the Quiz ...

Where in Thornton Am I?




















Answers here as usual folks

A

Marsh House Farm ...

Well I think that normal service can now be resumed after my break.

I posted a piece in the memory section about a gentleman growing up on Marsh Farm a while ago. His daughter has been up from down south and has called round and left a big pile of old photos for me to scan. The majority of them are class photos of Baines Endowed School during the 1950's which I am going to link to from the Document Website when I manage to get them scanned in. I know they are not really old photo's but am grateful for any photo's to make the site better.

I also have some old photo's of Marsh Farm itself which are great as they are ones I haven't seen before and they really bring the story to life. I've started to add them on the site but am having to do a bit of reshuffling because I can only fit so much on each page so am having to take it from a 2 part story to a 3 part. It's all a bit higgeldy piggeldy at the moment but I've managed to get 2 on at the moment here.

I have to be careful as I've mentioned before I can only have 250 pictures on the site in total and when I post a pic in the gallery the small 'index' picture counts as 1 and also the larger picture inside so I am using them up faster than I would like. I will try an post as many as I can across in the gallery as well. I'll keep you updated.

A

The Sunday Quiz ...

Evening all. Looks like we might be getting some more thunder tonight by the looks of all those dark clouds out of the window.

I've had an e-mail today about the Last Orders Pub which is interesting. It's recently been purchased by Amber Pubs and when it is reopened it is going to be called The Sandyforth. I think that's great and as the emailer said it will come full circle back to it's (almost) original name which was of course Sandyforth Bank.. I really like that. It re-opens on July 31st.


Now for the Quiz ...

Where in Thornton Am I ? ... and the answer is ...












Somerfield in Thornton Centre and the windmill used to be just inside the doors of the old precinct. To quote James I think you all should go to specsavers this week. LOL.

In 1st and only place .. Mike

A

I might just possibly be back ...

I am just about done with go buzz now and can get back to Thornton Through Time. I should be back to posting normally on Thursday and I have been kindly given a big pile of old photos so I'm going to leave you in suspense till then (don't get too excited!).


Now for the Quiz

Where in Thornton Am I ? ...




















Answers here as usual folks.

Or use TTT contact page.

A

The Sunday Quiz ...

Woo hoo .. gone from page 5 to page 1 with go buzz.


Now for the Quiz

The answer to this weeks quiz is ...












The gate post at the Illawalla.

It actually says the name on the post so that is what I removed or it would have been a bit too easy me thinks ;-)

In 1st place .. Andy

In 2nd place .. Brenda

A

It's Oh So Quiet ...

Things are going to be a bit quiet on the blog and site at the moment. As some of you will know I run 2 sites and on the Go buzz site I have just affiliated with Ticketmaster to sell tickets online. I am working long hours trying to get all the information on but it's taking a long time.

I love the history of Thornton and the Thornton Through Time site but at the moment I am having to spend my time on the site which is going to make me money. I should have finished in a week of two and then things will be back to normal and I can make my trip to the Records Office which I am itching to do. I will still be doing the Sunday Quiz and putting bits and bobs on where I can. So please keep popping back as I don't want to lose anyone.


Now for the Quiz

Where in Thornton Am I ?...




















* I have removed something from the picture

Answers here as usual folks


Just for Fun ...

For those of us of a certain age (You Tube - Sound On!)

A

If you can't stand the Heat ...

Well tonight I don't actually have anything new to add to the site as I am being slowly boiled .. from the inside!! Each day I am wearing less and less to keep cool and am starting to alarm small children now :-D

I usually make a trip at least to the library once a week to dig up something of interest for the site but It's just too dang hot to go and look. I was also hoping to go the Records Office this week .. apply excuse above. My recent purchase of a genuine leather-effect computer chair (I'm posh me) is now not looking so great. I won't alarm you with the unpleasant side effects of sitting in it as it's nearly tea time. Lets just say I haven't been on the computer much this week.

I know we always complain about the weather but I just wish it would cool down in the evening so I could get something done. I've just been accepted to offer Ticketmaster tickets through the Go buzz website which is great but I haven't even been able to get that set up yet either. Fortunately it is forecast to rain all day Friday and Saturday and the temperature is supposed to drop drastically .. I hope they are right this time.

I remember the summer of 1977 and the heatwave. We used to spend all summer camping at a farm in the Lakes and spent most of the summer in the nuds splashing around in a pond there. If you hear on the news tonight about someone being arrested in the Towers .. it might just be me :-O

A

The Sunday Quiz ...

Evening all .. well probably not all if Brian is still trying to get back online (I just have this picture of him trying to make something out of a radio and a soldering iron muttering away about BT).

I've added some info on the site today about Huck de Singleton. I was positive he owned land in Thornton but it turns out I can't actually find a record of him having done so. I know his son did and after 3 days of trawling through latin translations from the 12th century I'm putting him on anyway (you can imagine the 'so there' at the end of that sentence).

I've put off my visit to the Records Office this week due to the heat .. I couldn't think of anything worse than sitting in a boiling hot room. I wish it would thunder to clear the air .. I'm not built for heat.


Now for the Quiz

Where in Thornton am I? ...












The Answer was ... The Last Orders Pub.

The posts can be seen from the road and must have been the main gate posts at some point although they are now at the back of the car park.

In 1st place .. Andy
In 2nd place .. John
In 3rd place .. Mike


Just for Fun ...

This is a new blog belonging to Phil from Rossall Beach.

Phil's Fun Stuff

A

Been to the Pub ...

Well in the interests of historical research I have been to the Bay Horse for my lunch today with a bit of light refreshment included. I suppose somebody has to do it ;-) I'm pretty sure I can see where the building mentioned on Thursday was but at the moment the brambles and nettles are so high I couldn't get a pic. The lager was good though .. bonus!

I haven't done much on the site (nothing actually) for the past 2 days as I've had a bit of a break so nothing to report new .. back at it tomorrow for Thursdays post.


Now for the Quiz

Where in Thornton am I ? ...

I'll add another pic tomorrow for another clue.

Answers here as usual folks.

2nd picture added below ...

A

The Bay Horse Blacksmiths Perhaps ? ...

Firstly a lady on the Thornton Cleveleys Forum is trying to locate Rose Bud Cottages in Thornton. They seem to be between Gaskells Farm and Marsh Mill and any help would be great.

I’m doing another page for the Knights, Noblemen and Landowners section of the site at the moment .. Roger de Poitou is now on. I was going to look at Earl Tostig but some records (and Brian) correctly state that he died in 1066 at the Battle of Stamford Bridge whilst others clearly mention him after this. Have decided to do Huck (de Singleton) instead he seems much easier to trace and couldn’t resist after seeing him referred to as Huck (Fuccus) de Singleton. Well it tickled me.

I’ve been contacted by John after mentioning a blacksmith at the Bay Horse and he remembers a building which used to stand just behind the pub which he and his mates used as a den. It was brick built and looked very old and was covered in Ivy.

Click on the pics to enlarge them.

This is a 1960’s aerial photo courtesy of John and Mario Maps.















And a modern map with where I think the building was .. ish.



















This is John’s excellent drawing of the layout of the building and it’s a very strange layout. There were no obvious steps down to the lower floor so perhaps a ladder was used.

The mysterious thing is that it isn’t shown on any of the OS maps from 1840 – 1912 but quite clearly it was there and as John said it was very old. Perhaps it had been derelict for a while and was just wasn’t noted .. I will have to have a look at the 1932 map next time I go to the Library. I have no idea if this layout would show a Blacksmiths shop but being next to the dyke (which is a main dyke here) would provide water for whatever was going on and the large fire in the corner could have been the forge.

Another theory could be that this was the old brewery for the pub which also would need water (don’t fancy dyke beer myself) and a fire. Perhaps the vats stood on the lower level.

This is one where we’ll probably never know but interesting never the less.

A

The Four Word Story ...

Just for fun ...

Each poster adds four words to the story each time they post .. keep it clean folks.

A

The Sunday Quiz ...

I've just added a new page on the site called Knights, Noblemen and Landowners .. a very grand title indeed. I'm trying to add a bit of background information to the names which keep cropping up in the records relating to Thornton. I started a while back but got so bogged down with dates and names I decided to leave it for a bit (roughly translated as I gave up). I only have the main page up at the mo but hope to have some info linked to Roger de Poitou by tomorrow.

I'm also getting ready for another visit to the Records Office. I was hoping to go this week but need to go through my list again to check the records I want to look at. If I get it done I will go on Thursday. I'm torn between looking at the things which interest me (fields and boundaries) and putting interesting things on the site for those of you who have a life. A 50/50 split seems fair to me.


Now for the Quiz

The answer to this weeks quiz is ...




















As I forget to take a wider shot you'll have to take my word on this.

The Old Council Offices near Four Lanes End.

In 1st place .. Mike
In 2nd place .. Andy (only minutes later)
In 3rd place .. Brian
In 4th place .. Brenda

Just for fun

Have added another post called the Four Word Story.

Thornton's Parish Records ... The Sequel

Part One

Tonight is the second installment of St Chads Parish Records and is looking at Thornton’s best dressed.

I was surprised at the number of people involved in clothing production as I thought at this date most would have been produced at home.

Flax Dresser

1789-1791 – Joseph Wilcock

Now I have to confess when I first read this I thought it as something to do with candles .. shows what I know! A flax dresser is someone who prepares the fibres from the flax plant before they are spun into linen.

The first process is 'thrashing the flax' to remove the seeds which were used elsewhere. The flax is then ready for 'retting' which is where the inner stalk is rotted away to leave the fibres. This is usually done by soaking the flax in water and due to the terrible odour produced was done in running water where possible but ponds where not. Another method was to lay the bundles out in the fields and allow the dew to collect on it .. this took the longest time ( about a month) but produced the highest quality flax fibres.

Dressing the Flax

This is where the straw is removed from the fibres and consists of 3 steps:
Breaking – this is where the flax is beaten to soften it.
Scutching – the flax is hung up vertically and a scutching knife is swung down the fibres to remove pieces of stalk.
Heckling – the remaining fibres are pulled through various different sized heckling combs which get smaller and finer.

After the last comb there are 2 grades of flax: the fibres pulled throught he comb are the finest and the fibres and stalks ‘combed out’ called ‘tow’ produce a lower quality coaser fibre as they still contained some stalks.

Weavers

1784-1787 – Oliver Holden
1788 – ....... Simon Holden – cotton weaver
1789 – ....... William Bullen
1790-1796 – John Gregson
1797 – ....... William Gregson

As some of the weavers have the same surname it is likely that they could have been working together. With the port of Skippool nearby the raw material could have been grown locally or imported. Simon Holden is listed as a ‘cotton weaver’ which at the time also reffered to a type of finish on woolen cloth and did not necessarily refer to the fabric although again actual cotton could have been imported.

Taylors

1783 – ....... Christor Collinson
1783-1787 – Thomas Hornby – Trunnall (Trunnah)
1784 – ....... George Hornby
1784-1790 – Nicholas Hodgson (alias Tully)
1786-1797 – James Cowel

Again 5 taylors is more than I would have thought for Thornton with most of the population being farm/land workers. I do like an alias though.

Shoe Makers

1783 – ....... Richard Greenalgh
1790-1791 – Lawrence Anyon
1797 – ....... William Sharples

I was a little disappointed not to see a clog maker or cobbler amongst this lot.

Cordwainer

1793 – John Pearson

Again I will show my ignorance as I thought this was to do with ropes.

A cordwainer is someone who makes things from high quality leather and especially fine boots for the upper classes and nobility. This is definitely not your common or garden shoe maker unless of course he was just bigging himself up!


Now for the Quiz

Where in Thornton am I ? ...

Answers here as usual

A