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Lancashire / Re: astley arms. gt ancoats street
« on: Tuesday 25 January 11 12:46 GMT (UK) »
Hi micky,
Recently picked up on the notes regarding Astley Arms . Yes my uncle held the licence for approx two years.My grandfather Domenico ran a patriarchal family and all the businesses were in his name. He was unable to hold the licence because he remained an Italian citiszen. Whilst he enjoyed a social drink, as a devoted family man he could not come to terms with drunkenness whilst the children ran about with shoes. He took over the pub because Antonio Valvona opened up an Italian grocery shop in competition with my grandmother and he saw this as retaliation because Valvona ran a pub. This is how the family started to manufacture wafers and cones as The International Wafer Co in Salford 1912.
The business was very successful so by 1916 the Barrel Piano(not organ or Hurdy Gurdy two different instruments) Factory closed and reverted back to furniture. Domenico contrary to much incorrect history was the only barrel piano manufacturer in Ancoats( the only other Manchester manufacturer's were Wright and Holmes Bros. and Varreto Bros who only built barrel organs).
In 1926 a green field site was purchased and a new factory was built and the members of the family moved out of Ancoats into south Manchester. Domenico with his two daughters remained at 55 Great Ancoats Street until 1934 when the shop was closed to move to Ayres Road to be nearer the business and family.
Recently picked up on the notes regarding Astley Arms . Yes my uncle held the licence for approx two years.My grandfather Domenico ran a patriarchal family and all the businesses were in his name. He was unable to hold the licence because he remained an Italian citiszen. Whilst he enjoyed a social drink, as a devoted family man he could not come to terms with drunkenness whilst the children ran about with shoes. He took over the pub because Antonio Valvona opened up an Italian grocery shop in competition with my grandmother and he saw this as retaliation because Valvona ran a pub. This is how the family started to manufacture wafers and cones as The International Wafer Co in Salford 1912.
The business was very successful so by 1916 the Barrel Piano(not organ or Hurdy Gurdy two different instruments) Factory closed and reverted back to furniture. Domenico contrary to much incorrect history was the only barrel piano manufacturer in Ancoats( the only other Manchester manufacturer's were Wright and Holmes Bros. and Varreto Bros who only built barrel organs).
In 1926 a green field site was purchased and a new factory was built and the members of the family moved out of Ancoats into south Manchester. Domenico with his two daughters remained at 55 Great Ancoats Street until 1934 when the shop was closed to move to Ayres Road to be nearer the business and family.