Road that became victim of 'progress'

ONE of the most familiar sights to anyone in the early 1960s when coming from Burnley town centre towards the west end of town, must have surely been Barlow's chemist shop at the Mitre junction.

The shop faced on to both Accrington and Padiham roads, and the colourful carboys of dyed water appeared to have been there since time began.

Inside the shop was like a step back in history with its large wooden counter and the smell of medicine. Mr J. A. Barlow, a native of Church, near Accrington, founded the business.

He came to Burnley in 1874, aged twenty and started in business on his own account at Numbers 2 to 4 Padiham road. One of his sons, Mr J. B. Barlow, took over the business when his father died in December 1931. His other son ran the chemist shop at 159 Padiham road.

Why don't we take an imaginary up walk up Padiham Road as it was in the 1960s, before the motorway sliced through it? All that remains today of this, the old Padiham Road, is a few houses beyond the Barracks Railway station but at one time it took a direct line from here right through to Gannow Top near the Derby Hotel.

Next door to the chemist going up Padiham Road on the left- hand side was the ladies hairdressers at number six Padiham Road, which went under the name of 'Joyce'.

Next came Riley's fish and chip shop at number eight. Then at number ten, Rawsthorn's shoe repair shop followed by the butchers shop belonging to R. Graham.

Schofield's newsagent shop, Green's cooked meats and Bushell's plumbers were followed by the Borough Building Society at the corner of Wilfield Street.

This street, and Wilfield Place just around the corner owe their name to an ancient farm dating from the 1400s, which stood across from the Trinity Church. The large garden-fronted house (Wilfield House) that came next on the left was the surgery of Dr. Gray in the 1960s.

Next came the Station Garage formerly Jubilee Garage, which indicates that it, must have been erected in 1897, Queen Victoria's Jubilee year. Originally though, this was a block of rather upper-class dwelling houses, the garage forecourt was at this time was all a garden area lined with trees.

The first house next to the doctors' surgery, number 24 Padiham Road was at this time known as 'Matlock House' to give an air of 'spa' to what was a Turkish baths.

The baths were run by Mr Bramell, and later by his brother-in-law Eli Seeney. Eli described himself as a 'hydropathic and masseur'. Next door but one, at number 28, was the home of John Fearing, and it was probably he that converted the houses into the garage. Above the garage in later years were a number of flats named 'Garage Chambers'. It was John Fearing who founded the haulage firm of John Fearing and Sons.

John started in business at Gannow Top end of Barracks road as a blacksmith in 1891. In 1902, he took over the trade of a one William Baldwin, a wheelwright on his recent death. Business prospered, and soon the concern had a number of wagons, and coaches. The Station Garage actually was being run under the title of John Fearing and Sons in the 1940s, although John died in February 1936.

The garage was pulled down in 1977 to make room for the motorway and business was transferred to the present 'Looker's Garage at the corner of Barracks Road and Accrington Road. As we proceed up Padiham Road, on the left just before the railway bridge, was an excellent view of the extensive clay pit belonging to Duckett's Pipe Works on Blannel Street.

A tunnel in the 'delph' as we called it, supposedly led to the works on Blannel Street underground. Though we were oft tempted to enter, few dared venture beyond the penetration of daylight or burning bits of paper.

It was, however, an exceptional place to gather frog spawn in the pools that collected at the bottom of the delph, and the huge retaining wall in front of Clare street added interest to climbing, and other daredevil pastimes. Over the railway bridge were two rows of houses up as far as the Barrack's Tavern, which I can just vaguely remember, being pulled down.

The houses were in the main dwellings, though at number 48 was Glady's ladies hairdressers, and number 56 was Newton's barbers. Number 64 Padiham Road was the Barrack's Tavern on the Mitre side of Cavalry Street.

The Barrack's Tavern was always called locally 'The Museum' on account of Edward Mitchell, the landlord of the Princess Alexandra on Colne Road. While at the Princess Alexandra he exhibited various museum pieces that included stuffed birds and animals, and a self-acting organ.

When he moved to the Barracks, the museum was transferred with him, and the name stuck. Mr Mitchell had charge of the Barracks for twenty years up to his death in 1901, and was also a committee man with the Burnley Football Club.

The Barrack's Tavern, Calvary Street, and the next pub across the way, the Garrison, all have obvious military connections. The reason for these names was the Militia Barracks at the top of Cavalry street. The Barracks were built in 1819 during a great deal of rioting locally, and were also the scene of a grisly murder in 1841.

At the top of Cavalry Street, on the right, was a curious concrete footbridge that always seemed to me to be stuck on to the side of the Barracks wall. From here you proceed at either the front or back of Cornwall Terrace to emerge onto Barracks Road, near to Delooze,s sheet metal works.

Back on Padiham Road we cross Cavalry Street to the Garrison Hotel, a compact little pub. Next door to the Garrison were three houses, two of which were occupied by Mrs Eva Sagar and Lily Bradshaw.

Next came the toffee and tobacconist shop belonging to G. W. Harris, and on the corner of Dale Street was Harold Greenwood's mill furnishing shop, who presumably furnished mills.

Tucked away in the corner of Dale Street near the railway was the 'Pleasant Home and Pride Working Men's Club' although we always called it Dale street club, or the top club to distinguish it from the 'bottom club' now named Dicky Pinks. The bottom corner of Zion Street was occupied by Hardacre's Cooked Meats. I'm afraid I can't remember any of the houses or shops from Dale Street, to the few shops that remained following demolition just below the Roebuck Hotel, though they are marked on a map of 1960.

From a directory of 1962, I know there was Ward's Greengrocers shop at number 100 Padiham Road. Slater's chemist, Hayes butchers, and Watson's grocers and cooked meat shop followed.

On the corner of Roebuck Street was the Roebuck Inn. The building we are talking about dates from around 1879, when Hannah Wilkinson was in charge.

The landlord in 1962 was Thomas Cocks, though many will recall Jack Brennan. Jack had an inequitable way of treating regulars, who dared to look, criticise or examine what was on the butties on darts night.

If he spotted you lifting a crust, his usual quip was "What does tha think it is, a fish heed, ger it eaten".

The younger regulars teased him no end, by collecting Park Drive packets and excelling themselves in the art of origami, making them into paper tanks and placing them on various shelves all over the pub. One regular, 'Ticker, took an exceptional liking to the then 'new' felt tipped pens.

His delight was to paint 'Snoopy' dogs all over the pub walls, windows, 'and other places'. Jack Brennan asked one of the customers one night "Whose drawing Snoopy Dogs all o'er pub?"

The customer replied that he didn't know. "Tha doesn't know, what dusta tha mean tha' doesn't know" Jack said, "Thas geet one painted on thi bald heed".

Across Roebuck Street was "Shuffies" Paper shop, belonging to Jack Shufflebottom. "Shuffies" was a haven of glee near bonfire night, with a huge display of fireworks. Penny bangers were all we could afford though.

Next to the paper shop came a cloggers, and then the post office, a dainty shop, a grocers and a second hand shop bringing us to Thompson Street and Gannow Gardens followed by Gannow Top itself.

Going back down toward the Mitre on the other side of the road were many other shops. Beginning at the Derby Hotel, which still stands, there was a toffee shop on the corner of Boat Horse Lane.We had all the shops we needed up Padiham Road. Sadly all gone.