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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Cheshire => Topic started by: Loretogirl47 on Monday 03 March 08 19:36 GMT (UK)
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Does anyone remember this pub in Altrincham, relatives of mine ran the pup, the surname was Brookes. If anyone has pictures of the pub or the owners/managers I would appreciate seeing them.
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Hi
here is one photo of it
http://www.altrincham-living.co.uk/axe_and_cleaver.htm
ricky
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For photos - 3 anyway - try the following
Google Trafford Lifetimes
(This is a site of photographs of Trafford which includes Altrincham and Dunham - where the Exe & Cleaver is.)
Choose Dunham under the heading Location
and enter as Keyword Axe.
You should get three photos.
At what period were your family there?
Reiver
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Hi,
Be careful about pictures of the Axe & Cleaver Pub - there are two in the Altrincham area. The one sent to you in a previous post is not the one which was in Altrincham Town Centre, it is a few miles away in the village of Dunham Massey.
The Trafford Lifetimes Picture will be the right one, I have lived in the area all my life and passed it every day on my way home from school. Unfortunately it no longer exists, it was demolished in the early 70's to make way for a new development in the main shopping street. You may be interested to know that the short hill which led up from the pub was always called the 'Axe & Cleaver Brew' and although only a small part of the road remains, most native Altys still refer to it as the 'Axe & Cleaver'
Jac
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Jac
Which street was the Axe and Cleaver on in Altrincham? Which school were you going home from when you passed it? The pub name rings a bell with me, but it's amazing how once you move away from a place you begin to forget the landmarks and it is 45 years since I left the area.
Lizzie
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Lizzie,
I've just replied to your post re the Berry family, but now for the Axe & Cleaver pub.
It was at the bottom of Kingsway where it joined George Street. Kingsway runs down from the Old Market Place (where the black & white buildings are). I used to ride all the way down George St on my way home from Altrincham Grammar to my home off Barrington Road. After I married in 1967 I moved away for 8yrs and then returned to live in Sale where I still live.
My Mum was born, lived all her life and died in the same house in Altrincham. I never really got into FH until after she died in 2002. Don't you just always want to tell your Mum what you've found out?
I find it so frustrating.
Jac
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Thanks for the link to Trafford. I believe my relatives would have been owners of the pub, in the early 1900s, or possibly right around the turn of the century. I walked past the pub on my way to school at Loreto almost every day and never knew the history until the past couple of years.
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Jac
I know where you mean now. I have on my wall a sketch of the Old Bank, one of the black and white buildings, which I got from my mum's place after she died. Was/is there a theatre on Barrington Road, called The Garrick? We used to go there on Saturday mornings for drama school, not that we were any good.
I thought you might have gone to Altrincham Grammar, so did I but I left in 1958 after the Lower VIth form as it was called then. I see you are about 4 years younger than me, so I guess you would have been at the end of your 2nd year.
Did you find The Downs on your map. I imagine when you came out of school and turned left, down the Higher Downs, you then turned left somewhere to get to Kingsway and George Street. If instead you had continued down the hill, that is The Downs. It takes you down to Stamford New Road, which is where the Manchester buses used to turn round.
Inprincegeorge - Oddly, I remembered where Loreta Convent was more easily than I remembered where George Street was. Was North Cestrian School next door? My brother went there.
Lizzie
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Having blotted ny copybook with forgetting that there was an Axe and Cleaver in Altrincham, I just wondered wheher it was worth adding this memory.
My memory of the Axe and Cleaver is of the stone(?) steps which were alongside it allowing people to climb from the George Street level up to the Chester Road level. I never saw anyone using them though :)
Reiver
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Lizzie
Was/is there a theatre on Barrington Road, called The Garrick?
- it's still there. There was a big refurbishment a few years ago, so you may not recognise it
http://www.altrinchamgarrick.co.uk/
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Lizzie,
I was at ACGSG until 1960 when I left the Vth form to work in Manchester. Did you know Miss Okell died only a few years ago? It was reported in the local Messenger. I think she was living in North Wales.
We came straight down the Downs and then usually turned into George Street via a little link road which was an extension of Railway Street. I used to get all my comics from a little newsagents at the bottom end of George Street right near the Axe & Cleaver.
Does anyone remember the Stamford Hall?
I lived very near to the Garrick and Reiver's right, the refurbishment has made a great difference, it's much more professional looking now.
Jac
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Jac
I do remember Miss Okell. We didn't like her (to put it very mildly). In our first year we had a lovely old headmistress called Miss Drought. When she retired, we were all expecting someone just as nice, instead the Governors appointed an old girl of the school who came from a well off local family The first thing she did was start to change the school uniform, which had been very traditional, and I know after I left the girls had green duffel coats. There were other reasons we didn't like her and one or two other teachers, which I won't give.
I did know she had died. My friend (who died recently) who was also an old girl of the school, had a younger sister who worked in an old peoples' home, along Dunham Road or that area I think. She told us about Miss Okell. I got the impression she had died in the nursing home, but perhaps not. I know we were told that a garage door had fallen on her head. Was that right?
I remember the Stamford Hall. My dad used to take me to wrestling matches there when I was about 9-10 years old. Also the swimming baths, which were nearly opposite the station. I used to be outside waiting for them to open every morning during school holidays, but that was before I went to the Grammar School.
mshrmh - Thank you for the Garrick website. I was interested to note that they started a Young Garrick Club in 1958 for 15-18 year olds. When I used to go with my friends, all dragged along by one girl who wanted to be an actress, it was around 1954/5 and even if it was a group for young people, it didn't have a special name. I've a photograph of me on the stage - I've no idea what the play was, I was only an extra near the back - but from the clothes must have been something set in the 19th century.
Lizzie
ps. Sorry to hijack your thread inprincegeorge
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Did any of you go to the Tuesday and Saturday night dances at the Stamford Hall. I saw some wonderful groups and artists in the 60s, it was a great night out for a few shillings.
I remember the old Altrincham Baths, I learnt to swim in them, I recall being dragged around on a rope by the instructer, I think it was a case of learn to swim or drown!!!!
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YYou know it's great talking to someone who remembers. Did you ever go to the Locarno on a Saturday night?
Jac
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Hi
That all brings back memories. I went to Culcheth Hall on Ashley Road but my best friend went to Altrincham Grammar and I remember her mentioning Miss Okell frequently. Our head was Miss Ruth Brownson and she was like a 2nd mother. My cousin went to Loreto Convent and Mum was always going on about how much better mannered she was than her own unruly daughter ;D
Also went to Altrincham Baths. We had to form a "crocodile" and march very nicely through the town. Nearly drowned - we had to form a line, ready to jump in from the side and I was at the wrong end! Thought I'd never surface.
Gill
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inprincegeorge - That's how I was taught to swim too - probably the same teacher.
I never went to dances at the Stamford Hall, but did go to the Locarno, although I always had to leave early as my parents insisted I was on the last bus home from Altrincham to Hale Barns which was 11pm. Often I missed it and used to run along Hale Road to Hale Barns, whilst wearing stiletto heeled shoes hitching a lift from anyone who would stop. I was more frightened of my parents than any driver.
Liz
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Lizzie,
I agree about the fear of parents' wrath. You remark about stilettos made me think about sitting on the bus going to the Locarno, my friend & I had so many petticoats on, we could hardly fit on the same seat!
When I returned to Altrincham in 1975, it was like going to a different town altogether. The development at the lower end of George Street was a bit of a shock, gone were the Axe and Cleaver, library, Stamford Hall, Swimming Baths, Bus Station, Co-op etc, etc. I was looking at what remains of the Station Buildings the other day, they're looking decidedly worse for wear now. I assume that they're listed, so can't be touched. I wouldn't like to be occupying one of them now. It's such a shame, they would look fantastic renovated.
Jac
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Jac
When my eldest son was a teenager (18-19 not a young teenager), he was going out one night about 10.00pm and my dad told him that when I was his age, at 10.00pm I had to think about getting ready to go home. My son told him that he must have given me an awful time. My dad thought a bit and then agreed with my son that he had been far too strict.
In later life, I realised that the strict one was actually my mum and that she just used my dad to back her up. On his own, he would have been much more lenient with me.
Lizzie
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I remember the dances at Stamford Hall and the Locarno (usually Thursday nights at Locarno) plus I remember Altrincham Baths (nearly drowned there too). Remember Flash Gordon at 11:00 am Saturday mornings at Altrincham Picture Theatre - next to the baths?
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Did any of you go to the Tuesday and Saturday night dances at the Stamford Hall. I saw some wonderful groups and artists in the 60s, it was a great night out for a few shillings.
I remember the old Altrincham Baths, I learnt to swim in them, I recall being dragged around on a rope by the instructer, I think it was a case of learn to swim or drown!!!!
I was dragged round by the same rope - from what I remember it had a sort of belt on it that was put round your waist to hold you up in the water. Plus I saw the wonderful groups/artists of the 60s at the Stamford Hall. Rod Stewart, Rolling Stones, Drifters, Nashville Teens, Rattles - to name a few. Those were the days.....
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I was back in Altrincham in January of this year. I was shocked by the changes, it was hard to recognize old haunts as so much has changed.
Is it just my impression or is every small town in the UK now filled with charity shops, what's with that?
I expect childhood memories are flawed by time.
Does anyone recall a rather nice shop, in my memory it had a black and white, sort of tudor look to it. It sold gourmet items, special cheeses and jams etc. If I am recalling correctly it was near the Don, fish and chip shop? I think they had a delivery service by a young man on a bike.
Does anyone remember the telegraph boys on bikes, you knew if you saw a telegram being delivered to someones house it was probably bad news. Telegrams seemed to suddenly end and it was such a common sight on the streets of Altrincham, the red bike of the telegraph boy.
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Lots of high streets in UK are full of charity shops and, until the recession, building societies and estate agents. Now unless a charity takes them on, many of the shops are empty.
Lizzie
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I still live in the area, in Sale actually, and my granddaughter goes to my old primary school Navigation Road. The old town has changed immensely, and not for the better I think. There have recently been more 'improvements' and apparently still more to come, it will be completely unrecognisable in a few years. There is no longer any character in the place, and anyone who remembers the Market on Saturday mornings would weep to see it now, a shadow of its former self.
To answer Yvonica, I did go to the Locarno and the Stamford Hall, some of the happiest memories of my teenage years are of these dances. I really shouldn't think about he old days, it only makes me wish I could turn back the clock.
Jac
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I know exactly what you mean when you say "wish could turn back the clock" - people don't have the same values nowadays do they?
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Lizzie,
I've just replied to your post re the Berry family, .........
Jac
Sorry must have missed that message - what about the Berry family? I am a descendant of the Berry family.
Yvonica
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Yvonne
I think Jac meant on the other thread called Berry Family which you've already found.
Lizzie
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Hi. Yes I too remember the stamford hall, our school st hughes was in a poetry competition held there-involving other schools in the area- around 1969, (we didn't win!). Also alty baths- I too learned to swim there, got my 'length' cetificate but was dragged along on the tow-rope the last few yards!!!there was a funny cartoon poster on the wall, of the 'rules'-eg- no diving, no petting etc! Does anyone remember the north western bus station with the 'red' cafe at the top of the steps (leading out on to george st?) My mum worked at dorothy perkins on george st (now holland and barrat)
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The 'stone steps' on george st, I remember them, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think they were somewhere near woodhouse furniture store at the bottom of george St.
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This thread was originally mine and I remember the stone steps too. Do you remember the little shops on the terrace? There was a watchmenders, a UCP Tripe shop and a few others I can't recall. I used to cycle down George St every day on my way home from The Grammar School at the top of the Downs.
I've just read one of my earlier posts on this topic about the Station Buildings. They have been renovated at last and they really do look much better. It's a pity the rest of the town is such a dreary mess. Altrincham was always considered the 'Jewel in the Crown' of the South Manchester area, but they gave it all away when the Council allowed the Trafford Centre to be built a few miles away!
jac
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Yes I do remember some shops on that terrace,I can't recall what they were though, I just remember going up the steps sometimes on saturdays with my mum, after we had been in woodhouses furniture store, was there a bannister going up the middle of the steps? Do you remember the wimpy bar? Think it was across from the bus station, and allan dales greengrocers? Yes, I have seen the station buildings recently whilst on a visit, I too agree that the renovation is fantastic, and long overdue!! I used to pass the place evry day on my way to school, wasn't there a jeans shop on the corner?? and yes, alty is just a shadow of its former self- so sad, all the places I knew are gone, can hardly recognise the place now, I left alty in the 1970s to live near bury, I still visit from time to time but each time I go, something else has dissapeared, you are right about the trafford centre- I hate the place-give me alrincham( as it was in the sixties) any day!!!
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To me, as a child, Altrincham meant "Spinks' Cafe". I used to love going there.
I went to school in Altrincham but didn't see much of it as I came in from Sale by bus and left the same way.
I think it was Altrincham Station Café that I found out later they had the best cup of tea. Most Station cafes had good cups of tea.
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Yes, I went to 'spinks cafe' with my parents! It was a treat during saturday afternoons after being dragged round altrincham market and woolworths, other times it would be lunch at 'marys chippy' across from alty market, you could sit inside, I remember the cafe at the bus station,it was a nice warm place to go in, if you had just missed your bus!
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Hmm... Only just found this site when I was looking for some details on the Axe & Cleaver, but I was thinking of yet another Axe & Cleaver.
I remember the original one with the small cobbled area at the side with the stone steps up towards Post Office Street and Market Street. My dad used to park on the cobbles on a Saturday afternoon and then we'd all go up the steps to the market.
And I know about the extant one in Dunham Massey.
But the one I'm thinking of was part of the 1970s redevelopment that included Rackham's. I'm not even sure that it was called the Axe & Cleaver, but I think it was. (My guess was that they 'created' an artificial pub with the same name as a tip of the hat to what they'd destroyed.) It was on Stamford New Road opposite what is now the bus station, and after closing down as a pub it became a rather up-market fish & chips restaurant called Bentley's, which also then closed down.
Can anyone confirm that that place was indeed called the Axe & Cleaver, or am I mistaken?