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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Cheshire => Topic started by: littlej on Friday 11 April 08 16:09 BST (UK)
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Does anyone have any info on the Berry Family of Altrincham in Cheshire? William Berry was the Manufacturer of Cherry Blossom Boot Polish, in Manchester. My Grandmother was in service in their house, I have only just found this out, so I have little or no knowledge so far. The company was said to be named after his daughter. (Cherry Berry, the mind boggles!!)
Jac
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Hi Jac
I could be wrong but I thought they lived in Hale. Cheshire.
My mum used to have a ladies underwear shop in Hale in the late 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s and she used to have customers who were part of the Cherry Blossom Boot Polish Company. She also had Mrs Timpson (from Timpson shoes) and other such people. This was in the days, when people used to have a monthly account and mum used to have to send out a statement at the end of each month, listing the invoices and items bought. All the book-keeping done by hand. I know the rich people were the ones who used this system. The more normal people paid cash as they bought things. I often added up the amounts on the till roll at the end of the day.
Unfortunately, mum died last May, so I can't ask her about the family. I'm sure she would have known any of the staff of these families as they all came into her shop.
Lizzie
ps. Modified - just had a thought, they could have lived on The Downs, Altrincham there were lots of large houses there too.
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Hi Lizzie,
Funny you should say that, one of my family contacts originally told me exactly the same, but at that time I didn't know the surname, so wouldn't have known if I had found them. I know roughly whereabouts on the Downs. I'll check the local directories.
Thanks ever so
Jac
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There's a history of Cherry Blossom polish on their website at
http://www.shoe-polish.com/
which states it was developed by the Mason Brothers of the Chiswick Soap Company; which later acquired William Berry Limited.
http://chiswickpolish.homestead.com/
for similar article.
There are some biographies of Altrincham notables on the local history society's site at
http://althistsoc.users.btopenworld.com/biogs.html
but there's no Berry listed.
You've already mentioned directories - if those online don't help you may want ot contact Trafford Local Studies Library at Sale - they have some there as well as other "local" items.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/0376/
There's also an online photo collection Trafford Lifetimes at
http://www.trafford.gov.uk/content/tca/
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From the Historical Directories website:
Cheshire (Kelly's 1902)
William H Berry lived at Wilton Villa, The Firs.
I could not find William Berry on the The Firs in the 191x Directory.
I may pop along afterwards and see if I can spot Wilton Villa :)
Reiver
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mshrmh
Thank you for the link to the biographies of Altrincham notables. Although I'd heard of most of them, the one that stands out for me is Bill Speakman VC. I remember when he came back from the Korean War with his VC, we all lined Hale Road, I stood on the railway bridge, and we were given Union Jack flags to wave for him.
Lizzie
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Lizzie - re Bill Speakman - the have re-named the bridge over the railway at Woodlands Road A 560 between Barrington Road & Stockport Road, Speakman's Bridge in the last few years in his honour (I think that's a relatively new bridge - maybe replacing the one you were on waving your flag). At the time the local papers reproduced the reports from the time of his VC - perhaps you were in one of the pictures! They have a framed copy of his VC citation together with that of an earlier Altrincham VC in Altrincham Library.
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The bridge we stood on was on Hale Road, which on a Google map is the A538. It runs through Altrincham (Stamford New Road, Railway Street, Ashley Road) and then takes a left hand turn and becomes Hale Road.
Lizzie
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Lizzie - I know the one you mean - used to be a Quick's garage near there (modern offices now) - still generally called Hale Road Bridge (creative?).
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When Bill Speakman came to Altrincham with his VC and Lizzie waved her flag alongside her classmates on Hale Road Bridge, the new Woodlands Road Bridge and the associated roads were probably a gleam in someone's eye. Hale Road I think is the A580.
At that time the only way into Altrincham from the Stockport direction (A560) was across the level crossings. With a twenty minute train service between Altrincham and Manchester the crossings were often closed to road traffic for a long time. Once across the crossings thru' traffic would go up Kingsway, passed the Axe and Cleaver on to Chester Road.
I was able to pop along to The Firs this afternoon to look for Wilton Villa on the gateposts but with no success I'm afraid. Could not find William Berry in the 1911 Slater's directory which is on'line. They probably have different years on open shelves at Trafford Local Studies, Jac as I think has already been suggested.
Best wishes
Reiver
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I remember it took forever to get to Stockport or Wythenshawe, from Altrincham, going across the level crossings, now it's a stone's throw.
I often used to catch the electric train from Altrincham to Manchester and wander around, Piccadilly, Market Street, Deansgate etc. when I was only about 9 or 10. My grandchildren of that age are not even allowed out of the house by themselves. How times change.
mshrmh - Quick's that's right, Quick's for Fords if I remember was their slogan.
One of these days, I'll have to return and drive around the area to see how much it's changed. My cousin who lives in Lymm, says we wouldn't recognise the place now.
Lizzie
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Lizzie - your friend is probably right (I remember taking my dad around the area that he worked about 15 years after he'd retired - it took a while to convince him we were in the right place as there'd been so many changes). There's still a level crossing in Hale, by the Cheshire Midland (trains) and another at Navigation Road (trains & trams), though as Reiver says the others have gone.
Apologies jac - for veering off-subject on your thread, hope you manage to find something of use in your search.
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Don't worry about going off subject, it's nice to be on familiar ground and be able to help people with info about my home town. The remarks about Speakman bring back memories.
The Berry question is a little confused, Basil Morrisons book 'Looking Back at Altrincham' says that his daughter lived at Parklands on Charcoal Road. I've found a William Berry in Knutsford Road Dunham. There's also the Firs Road address, and one on the Downs which Lizzie suggests and my family seems to favour. Still, it all adds to the fun!!
By the way, I entirley agree about the changes in Alty, more's the pity. The place used to have character, now it's fast becoming just another clone town.
Jac
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How superb :) :)
A lovely puzzle to solve :) :) :)
Best wishes
Reiver
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Off topic but couldn't resist when I saw the mention of the level crossing at Altrincham, one of my most exciting memories as a child, was being asked into the crossing operaters hut and helping him change all the levers and turn the wheel to open and close the crossing gate. Of course being a child in the 50s, we didn't get the chance of going to Disneyland or other exotic places, so level crossing boxes were exciting.
Another thrill for me was to ride in the milkmans float and help deliver the milk and how about buying a goldfish from the rag and bone man, they barely lasted a day, usually.
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OK, way to go! as they say.
How about riding on your Dad's crossbar (elf and safety would have a fit) and being able to go out all day on you bike with a bottle of pop and a bag of broken biscuits?
Jac
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Sorry Jac.
Have been away a couple of days. My Dad didn't have a bike but I can imagine it would have been fun. I was back in the UK in January and February, its hard to envision what the old Altrincham was like, it has changed so much. It seems like that has happened to a lot of places, I didn't recognize Atlantic Street and the area around it, aha the old days.
We used to take the bus to the Bleeding Wolf and then walk along by the Bollin and pick blue bells, it was so beautiful, or that's how I remember it. We also used to ridde our bikes to Castle Mills outdoor swimming Pool, that was a day out for us in the summer.
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Hi - what amazing stories!
Has anyone come across a Joseph Berry b: 1812 in Tadcaster, Yorkshire who married Sarah Harper b: 23 Jun 1805 in Haughton, Staffordshire, England. They were married on 30 Aug 1834 at Knutsford, Cheshire? I am trying to find out how they came to be married in Knutsford and what their occupations were. Any assistance greatly appreciated - thankyou.
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Just put the phone down after quizzing my 85-year old aunt .
She came up with the unbelievable name of "Cherry Berry" and the connection with Cherry Blossom boot polish .
Evidently Cherry B was a friend of my late aunt , Blanche Statter , and her brother Willie B married a cousin of my late mother , Dorothy Haslam.
Keep on keeping on !!
Best wishes
Pat Oliver
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Hi sorry this is nothing to do with Berry, but thisbrought back memories of my dad coming back from work on his bike from Kearns in Atlantic Street. The buzzer sounding when it was time. I also used to bike down Atlantic Street to work.
When I was young used to go to Navigation Crossings and watch the trains. In the school holidays going to Manchester on the train and having lunch of fish and chips in Lewis's top floor restaurant. Oh how it has changed I went back there in March.
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William Berry Blacking manufacturer lived at Parklands Dunham Road Altrincham.
His brother was Thomas Berry. He had a son William Henry Berry. The Cherry Berry link came through this line
The Cherry Blossom story is just folklore as Berry senior was in manufacturing.
If you chk the link re Cherry Berry Polish this will confirm this.
In Hale Cemetry there is the Berry plot!
More info contact hale civic society= halecivicsociety {--at--} hotmail.com
I'm sure the society would be interested in all information that people have. They love to collect local stories and publish themn in their newsletter
Moderator Comment: e-mail edited, to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please replace {--at--} with @
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mshrmh
Thank you for the link to the biographies of Altrincham notables. Although I'd heard of most of them, the one that stands out for me is Bill Speakman VC. I remember when he came back from the Korean War with his VC, we all lined Hale Road, I stood on the railway bridge, and we were given Union Jack flags to wave for him.
Lizzie
Regarding Bill Speakman VC, I used to live in one of the houses on the railway bridge and Bill's mother lived 2 doors away from where I lived. He used to give me "aeroplanes" when I was little - aeroplanes are when you hold one hand and one leg and swirl you round. See also my response # 26 below.
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Don't worry about going off subject, it's nice to be on familiar ground and be able to help people with info about my home town. The remarks about Speakman bring back memories.
The Berry question is a little confused, Basil Morrisons book 'Looking Back at Altrincham' says that his daughter lived at Parklands on Charcoal Road. I've found a William Berry in Knutsford Road Dunham. There's also the Firs Road address, and one on the Downs which Lizzie suggests and my family seems to favour. Still, it all adds to the fun!!
By the way, I entirley agree about the changes in Alty, more's the pity. The place used to have character, now it's fast becoming just another clone town.
Jac
Strange you should mention Basil Morrison - my grandmother's sister (whose maiden name was BERRY) lent a Mr Morrison photos which were never returned of olden years. Could this be the same man? My grandmother's sister has since died but I do remember her telling me this.
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Does anyone recall the Radium manufacturing company on Bridgewater Rd in Broadheath.
We lived across from it in the 50s, I believe it made polish and we used to play with the off-cut pieces of metal, they were like a Frisbee, we threw them and they would glide a good way. We got many cuts from them but they were great fun.
We used to have a bonfire on Guy Fawkes night on the spare land which I think belonged to the Radium company. That was real community spirit, we collected for weeks prior to Bonfire night and the local people would provide, cocoa, parkin and treacle toffee for all and bake potatoes in the fire, nothing tasted better.
It was such simple times then, people seemed to watch out for each other and nobody had very much.
What we got for Xmas presents the children of today would scoff at, mostly clothes for the year and if we were lucky a toy. I got a pedigree walking doll one year, which I still have.
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we used to play with the off-cut pieces of metal, they were like a Frisbee, we threw them and they would glide a good way
Try doing that today and "Elf and Safety" would be after you, not to mention the police.
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Strange you should mention Basil Morrison - my grandmother's sister (whose maiden name was BERRY) lent a Mr Morrison photos which were never returned of olden years. Could this be the same man? My grandmother's sister has since died but I do remember her telling me this.
Yvonica,
I have the Basil Morrison book "Looking Back at Altrincham" which is always on sale in the area. My Mum is in two of the pictures which is why I keep it, that and the nostalgia! Do you know which pictures were lent to him, maybe they are in the book.
You also talk about the houses on Moss Lane Bridge, I knew them well, my aunt lived in Mayor's Road for many years, and I knew that Bill Speakman's Mother lived there. Did you know they have pulled them down now? there is now an Ice Rink there, and opposite, a Tesco Superstore.
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Jac,
Sorry don't know exactly which photos he borrowed, all I know is that they were probably ones of the coronation & views of Moss Lane Bridge. I'll know them when I see them because she used to show me all her photographs when I was little and the few remaining photos are in an album which I have. I was born in one of those houses on Moss Lane Bridge - I was born at No.23. Bill Speakman & his mum lived at No.27. His mum's name was Hannah, she had Bill prior to her marriage & had Bill's half-brother and half-sister after her marriage. His half-siblings names are Anne and Bert. I know the houses have been knocked down because, last time I was visiting family in the UK, I went to look. It looks so small there now - it's amazing how much used to fit in such a small area. The people who used to live at No.29 also live here in Australia about 10 minutes away from me. Whereas the people who lived in No. 25 - half are still in the UK and the other half are in Canada. My gran's sister lived at No.21 and the people who lived at 19 still live in the UK. The rest of the street are no longer with us.
Spoke to my other relative who lives 10 mins from me (she's a bit older than me) & she remembers the parade for Bill Speakman. She says we were all in the coach behind Bill's car going through Altrincham with the parade, because we were his neighbours. So must have passed you waving your flag.