I lived in a prefab in Blackley quite close to Heaton Park. Of course it is just a field now. I revisited the site about 10 years ago and was astonished how small the field was, as I remember it there were plenty of prefabs erected there. The site is at the end of Elbourne Road which in turn is off Blackley New Road and the Google Earth ref is lat=53.5272952782, lon=-2.24101418697. Margaret’s description of the prefabs is very accurate. Like probably everyone in those days we could not afford fitted carpets so my mum polished the wood floors, except the lounge where we had a very large rug and around the edges the flour boards were stained and polished. The kitchen and bathroom had a good old fashioned linoleum covering.
One Birthday I got a Mechano set and because our prefab was a little higher than the one at the back of us, my Dad rigged a line and pulley system from the kitchen window to our neighbour’s kitchen window in order to carry a device “he” made with my Mechano set. The system was rigged with a bell at each end so messages could be passed back and forth, the fun came on bonfire night when ripwraps and bangers were delivered much to my mums horror as they landed in the sink while she was washing up.
I originally went to school somewhere in Heaton Park, alas I can’t remember exactly where it was. A bus collected us at the end of Elbourne Road went up to Prestwich before turning down to the park somewhere near St Margaret's Church, Prestwich. I think the headmistress was called Miss Hampson.
At some point we were transferred to a brand new primary school on Sheepfoot Lane. An interesting point, I was the very first kid to be punished in that school! I had just got off the bus and stood in line but was caught talking to my mate and got a slap across the legs and told to stop talking! Sad old days when you got the strap for talking in class. I used to take great delight in moving my hands out of the way so the teacher would catch her legs, always worth the extra slap!
Around 1952 we left the prefab and moved into a new house
Robert
