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The Streets Where You Lived
This page is intended to be a resource for the Streets, Avenues, Roads, Drives, Lanes and other byways where people lived in Levenshulme. Each street had its stories, personalities, happy times & sad times. I hope to include some memories on this page as the site grows. to start with I will include the street where I lived for most of my time in Levenshulme. Crayfield Road Memories. Crayfield Road was originally called Station Road because it was adjacent to South Levenshulme Railway Station. The station was located in a cutting below the road level. The name changed to Crayfield Road after the station closed at the end of the 1950s. How the name was chosen is anybodies guess! The road ran east to west between Stockport Road & Broom Lane. It consisted of late Victorian 3 storey terraced houses, numbered 1-20, at the Stockport Road end. I lived at number 14.At the Broom Lane end were two rows of newer two storey houses probably built in the 1930s. All these houses, both old & new, had front & back gardens, with walls & hedges. The top of Gordon Avenue divided the old houses from the newer ones. In the 1950s the road was still cobbled and the pavements were flagged. The road was upgraded in the early 60s. Gas lights were still in place in the 1950s. In the back entry, behind my house was Poysers Scrap Yard. They broke up old cars & lorries for parts & scrap metal. We used to play in the cars & trucks that were dumped at the yard gates. Poysers had a shop next to Levenshulme Town Hall. Also behind the Town Hall was a council yard where Refuse Trucks were garaged. There was also a weigh scale at the yard gates. The only commercial business on Crayfield Road was the London & Manchester Assurance office on the corner of Stockport Road
Crayfield Road from Stockport Road corner 1994. Note all the parked cars . In the 1950s there would have been few, if any vehicles!
This photograph taken in March 2004 shows nos 13, 14 & 15 Crayfield Road. A definite improvement on 1999! New garden wall & gates. A real sense of pride. Well done to the present occupiers! If you know who lives there now, it would be really nice to connect with the owners. ( Photo Carole Daniels )
December 2007. Standing outside 14 Crayfield Road. I last lived here in 1973.
The Stockport Road end of Crayfield Road with the older houses, 1959, taken at the corner with Gordon Ave.(Photo Manchester Libraries)
The " newer" houses in Crayfield Road at the corner with Broom Lane. There were two seperate rows divided by an entry. The houses were much more modern than my house. When were they built? ( Photo. Manchester Libraries) The neighbours that I remember from the 1950s were:- Masters @ No 1, Ashtons @ No 13, Dempseys @ No 15, Rennies @ No.16, Braithwaites @ No 17 & Bolshaws @ No 18. We also played with the Stringfellow boys and my sisters friend Christine Pollock in the newer houses. Neighbours came and went frequently during the time that I lived there, but some people probably lived on Crayfield road all of their lives.
This photo supplied by Patrick Dempsey, probably taken around 1956, shows Me, Patrick & James Dempsey sitting on the wall at No 15 Crayfield Road. Mrs Dempsey is standing in the doorway.
The two photographs above were taken in the early 1960s. The first shows me and my friend & neighbour Patrick Dempsey. The "decapitated" girl is my sister Rosemary. The second photo shows me and my friends/neighbours James Dempsey, Kevin Dempsey, Laurence Dempsey & Paul Braithwaite. This would be around 1961-62 as I am wearing my Didsbury Tech. school uniform.
The above picture shows Crayfield Road looking from the Broom Lane end in 1965. You can see the Co-op building, Levenshulme South Station and houses on Stockport Road.
Another view of the same corner at a later date. Some nice period advertisements. ( Photo Manchester Libraries)
Back entry behind Crayfield Road, looking west to the back of the Town Hall. Photo taken February 2004 by Andrew Barber. The house nearest to the camera is my old house No 14. Poysers scrap yard was on the right hand side of the entry.
Two interesting views of the rear of Crayfield Road, December 2007. The first shows the backs of the houses, including no.14. The second shows the old Poysers yard. This yard and building now house an antique store and architectural salvage business. They are part of the Levenshulme Town Hall Antiques Village. The Other Streets Where I lived Windsor Road
When I was born in September 1949, my parents lived at79 Osborne Road. I believe that they rented the property. My maternal grandparents lived nearby in Windsor Road. This is 79 Osborne Road in December 2007. Thorncliffe Grove
The second house that I lived in was at 20 Thorncliffe Grove. I believe that my parents bought this house, but we only lived here for a couple of years. I have very vague memories of this house. Especially of being terrified of a male neighbour who used to wave a broom at me. This photo shows 20 Thorncliffe Grove in December 2007. Lime Street/Langthorne Street Memories My wife Mavis was born in Longsight in 1951, and moved to 11 Lime Street in 1956. Lime Street, situated off Clare Road near the Zion Congregational Church , was a typical South Manchester street of neat terraced houses with small walled front gardens. A step up from the terraced houses that had doors opening right on to the street, a la "Coronation Street". Its name changed to Langthorne Street in the "60s. Strangely for such a short street it boasted two shops! The Shops were Willis's bakers and Jacksons grocers in the 1950s.
The above photo taken in Lime Street in the late 1950s features Christine Blackburn, Mavis Arnold, Auntie Doreen Shurmer, Susan Whitehead & cousins Stephen & Lynn Shurmer. The second photo shows 11 Langthorne Street in 2007.
The above photos were sent to me by Roy Peak, who lived next door to my wifes family in Lime Street. The first shows Roy in the 1940s, off for a game of tennis at Errwood Park. The second shows Roys nieces, Sandra & Jean Kearn, in the back yard at 13 Lime Street in the 1950s.
Outside 11 Lime Street 1957, ready for the Whit Walks. Jean Kearn, Mavis Arnold, David Arnold & Sandra Kearn.
David Arnold on the corner of Lime Street & Livesey Street. Clare Road & Griffin Grove in the background. Looks like David got the gun for his birthday. Note the flagged pavement & the corner of the old Zion Church in the background. Barlow Road Memories. The following group of photos were E-mailed to me by Laurence Halstead, an old friend from Chapel Street School. They were taken around the Barlow Road area in 2002.
The photographs are as follows:- 1) Typical Levenshulme back entry, off Barlow Road, looking south to the rear of Levenshulme Baths. 2) Looking south from Manor Road corner of Barlow Road. 3) Levenshulme Baths, on the corner of Barlow Road & Cromwell Grove. 4) Levenshulme Public Library. This building was erected due to the generosity of the Andrew Carnegie Foundation. The Andrew Carnegie Foundation was an American philanthropic institution set up by the Scots born American Industrialist to fund such buildings worldwide. Chapel Street Memories Chapel Street ran from Stockport Road to Broom Lane, and was probably one of the original streets in Levenshulme. It housed residential , industrial & commercial premises. Also, it had a large school and a well kept park At the Stockport Road end, a familiar landmark was Sivories Cafe & Ice Cream Parlour. This later became Johnnies Cafe. Next to the cafe was a motor coach company, where you could book coach tours or day trips to the seaside. I believe that the company was called Hartleys Tours. Further along Chapel Street there was a bakery, a pharmaceutical company and two engineering works. There was a row of shops opposite Chapel Street School.
This photograph, taken in the early 1960s, shows the Wesleyan Chapel which probably gave Chapel Street its name! The chapel, built in 1797, was a simple and unremarkable building. It fell into disrepair, and was unceremoniously demolished in the 1970s. In more enlightened times it would probably have been restored, and could have made a fine local history museum. I don't know when it last served as a place of religious worship. I seem to remember that in the early 1950s it may have been used as a dining hall for Chapel Street School. Can anyone confirm that? The chapel grounds was a graveyard, and had many well worn grave stones, covering the graves. There was also a large tomb, surrounded by an ornate fence, by the main gate. Obviously the grave of an important family. Again, does anyone know who was buried there? I have to admit , as a child, I used to climb on top of this tomb and rock the large tombstone back & forth! In the background of the photo you can see the end of Robinsons Bakery on Ethel Terrace, and also a communal air raid shelter.( Photo: Looking Back at Levenshulme & Burnage )
The same corner December 2007. Not a pretty site!! Was the ground ever de-consecrated? Are there still graves there? Burdetts Bakery Burdetts original bakery once operated out of these premises before moving to modern premises in Farmside Place during the 1920s. Strangely the "new" premises were demolished some time ago, but the original building still exist . Now part of the general dereliction that is Chapel Street, I doubt that they have any future use!!
The Atlas Engineering Works on the corner of Stanhope Street and Chapel Street. I remember looking into this works through the open loading doors. Lots of wheels and pulleys, and the distinctive sounds and smells of an engineering works! What did they actually manufacture? ( Manchester Libraries)
December 2007. Still standing, but for how much longer? Could part of this be saved , are there any plans?
Atlas Engineering and Atlas Mill fire, March 23rd 2005
This dramatic photo, via the Manchester Metro News, shows the devastating fire that recently gutted the old Atlas Mill and Atlas Engineering works on the corner of Chapel Street and Stanhope Street. The four story Atlas Mill was for many years home to Hough Hoseason Manufacturing Chemists. Another piece of Old Levenshulme sadly gone! Does anyone know the age of Atlas Mill, and what its original use was. Apparently there was another mill called Albert Mill adjacent to this mill at the turn of the 20th Century. Albert Mill produced carpets. There were also two reservoirs on the site, located where St Marys Church and rectory now stand.
December 2007, looking like a scene from the Manchester "Blitz". What is to become of this site?
St Marys Rectory in Elbow Street, with Atlas Mill in the background. Compare to the above photograph. Does the single story brick building still exist? What was its purpose? This photo was taken in 1965, before the new St. Marys church was built. ( Manchester Libraries) The Labour Exchange. Corner of Chapel Street and Gordon Avenue This familiar landmark was recently demolished, after serving the Levenshulme community for over 80 years. Originally built as a "Labour Exchange", where you could find work or collect the infamous "dole". For more on its history see Jez Halls account in the "Memories" page.
Part of the "Labour Exchange", Gordon Avenue 1959 ( Manchester Libraries)
Going-going-going-going!!! And finally!!!
GONE!!! December 2007. Any plans for this site, other than bonfires and fly-tipping??
Broom Lane Memories Broom Lane is one of the major roads in Levenshulme , starting in South Levenshulme by the Wheatsheafe Hotel it meanders north until it joins Barlow Road. For most of its length it is lined with rows of houses and shops. It has very little commercial use. As a child I always felt that Broom Lane had "one foot in the countryside" , because of its proximity to the farms & smallholdings that lined the area to the east . From my house we could see the Pennines to the east which also emphasized that country connection! I have included a few photographs taken in the Broom Lane area. I would be interested to see more views of this important Levenshulme road.
Barbers cart on Broom Avenue. Barbers removals owned the yard on the corner of Broom Ave and Broom Lane. Note the carts behind in the yard & houses in background on Bristol Ave.
Early 18th Century cottages on Cradock Fold. This picture from the 1950s shows the cottages & the similar cottages on Broom Lane. They were all demolished in the 1960s. They probably needed to be, but another example of the lost chance to preserve local historical sites!
Broom Lane 1910. This photograph shows the "very" narrow beginning of Broom Lane in the early part of the 20th Century. It is not much wider today considering the volume of traffic that now uses this corner. Note cobbled road surface, narrow pavement on west side which is still there!! Also two tier pavement on east side, also still remaining to this day.
The Broom Lane prefab site after they were demolished. Note Barbers removals vans. (Manchester Libraries)
Closer to the corner showing the garden walls of the demolished prefabs, taken in 1965. ( Manchester Libraries)
The corner of Broom Lane & Stockport Road in 1959. Note the pre-fab bungalows just beyond Barbers Removals. My friend Brian Carter lived at the farthest bungalow until the early 1960s when these were all demolished, and Grasmere Old Folks Home was built on the site.( Photo Manchester Libraries)
Albert Road Memories. Although Albert Road was, and still is, a fairly narrow road. It is one of Levenshulmes busiest roads. It provides the main East/West route through central Levenshulme. In the early 20th Century Albert Road was the area where middle class families settled because of its easy access to Manchester from Levenshulme North railway station.
The shops on Albert Road, near the railway station. Photo dated 1913.The shops look well stocked & prosperous, an indication of the middle class nature of this area prior to the First World War.( Photo Via Cliff Garratt)
A very nice photograph of Albert Road Post Office in the early 1950s. This was Levenshulmes main post office. Broadleys Travel Agency was located in the premises beyond the post office. Note the early TV aerial on the chimney. Also little evidence of street lighting.
Albert Road Post Office December 2007. No longer in use as a post office. Hopefully some use can be found for this fine building.
Still standing, and in use, a double pillar box outside the old Albert Road Post Office.
The house on the left of the photo was the home and surgery of my dentist, George Armitage. George Armitage built a number of hovercraft at these premises ( See the aviation page). I would like to find out more information on his exploits!1
This is an interesting view of the corner of Slade Lane, Albert Road & Moseley Road. The building on the corner was a Co-op store. View probably from the 20s or 30s. ( Photo via Les Cotton).
This postcard view, pre First World War, states that it shows Burnage Lane, Levenshulme. I believe it to show the reverse view of the previous photo, note the fence and lamp post! The House in the background still stands on the corner of Albert Road and Slade Lane. Was Slade Lane originally Burnage Lane at this time?
Slade Lane bridge, October 1949. Not much has changed here in 55 years! The Fallowfield Loop line ran under this bridge. Duchess of York Hospital in the right background. This bridge marks the Levenshulme /Burnage boundary. West Point Memories West Point is situated on the North West side of Levenshulme. Slade Lane widens at West Point, and this was probably to accommodate the tram car terminus which was situated in the middle of the road. The name West Point always had an association in my mind with its namesake in the USA, the military academy at West Point in Virginia. I don't know where the name actually came from!
Two views, probably pre-war, showing the shops & tram terminus at West Point. The tram shelter, was removed sometime in the 1960s, but a similar one still exists at the entrance to Heaton Park. Ratcliffe Street Memories. My best friend, Tony Woodford, lived at 25 Ratcliffe Street. I spent many hours in the playing vicinity of this street. It runs between Chapel Street & Cromwell Grove, and was built on a very gradual incline. It had a shop at both ends in the 50's & 60's. Both were Grocers I seem to remember.
This photograph shows Ratcliffe Street sometime after the First World War, and it shows the residents celebrating Peace Week. Does anyone have any knowledge of this event? The incline in the street is very noticeable in this view. Delamere Road Memories Delamere Road runs east to west, and is situated off Stockport Road in the south part of Levenshulme. It is a residential street, and there are no shops or commercial businesses located on its entire length. It would appear to have been constructed in two phases. The Stockport Road to Gordon Ave houses came first , followed by those between Gordon Ave & Essex Street. There are two streets that join Delamere Road, Stanhope Street running north to Chapel Street & Dalby Street which is a dead end with an archway leading to the back entry that runs at the back of Chapel Street. The archway is an "odd", yet attractive design feature, another one exists at the end of King Edward Street. Are there any more in Levenshulme?
A postcard view of Delamere Road, probably taken in the early 20th Century. The view extends as far as Gordon Ave. Its hard to tell if there are any houses beyond Gordon Ave at this time. During the 50s & 60s, buses would turn down Delamere Road & the service would terminate in Crayfield Road. The actress Dorothy Bromiley lived on Delamere Road.( See the Film & TV page) Apparently at one time Victor Sylvester the famous band leader also resided here!( Photo via Les Cotton) Cromwell Grove Memories. Cromwell Grove ran from Stockport Road to Barlow Road. Although not a very long road it was, and is, a major east west artery in Levenshulme. Mainly residential, it has always been a busy road.
This postcard view of Cromwell Grove, looking west, was taken from the corner of Rostron Street. It shows the Tin Chapel on Mercer Street. Not very busy in this early 20th century scene. ( Photo via Les Cotton)
A view of the Tin Chapel off Cromwell Grove in 1959. Obviously no longer in use as a place of worship ( Manchester Libraries) Cranage Road Memories Dave Wrench sent me the photo below showing Cranage Road in the 1960's Cranage Road was situated off Broom Lane, and backed onto the South Levenshulme Goods Yard & the path to the "Brickie". Dave, his Mum & sister are all in the photograph. ( Photo via Dave Wrench)
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This photo of Numbers 13
& 14 Crayfield Road was taken in September 1994, on my first return trip
to the UK. At that time I had not lived in Levenshulme for 21 years.
The houses somehow seem smaller than I remember them! On a later visit in
1999, there was a car parked in the front garden of Number 14!! Note
proliferation of burglar alarms. A definite sign of changing times!
This Photo shows Maureen
Dempsey ,No15, and Mrs Rainnie, No16, saying farewell to a retiring
postman. What was his name? I believe that this photograph appeared in the
Manchester Evening News. Retiring postmen were newsworthy in those days!!
Yours truly taken
in the back garden at 14 Crayfield Road. Looking very smart for Speech Day
1962 at Didsbury Tech. I was in the school choir, and we sang on stage at
the Free Trade Hall. My one and only appearance there! Dressed like that
it's not surprising that I didn't get a return booking!!
South Levenshulme 1956
Crayfield Road 1965
