Heaton Park Prefabs

[uk2003]

Hi George

Welcome to Rootschat 

You might like this website http://images.manchester.gov.uk just type in Heaton Park Bandstand

What I would really like to find are photos and information on the swimming pool which was located next to the boating lake, was it part of the prefab development?

Ken 

[Barbara.H]

No George the bandstand wasn't a figment of your imagination. I'm sure that there are many of us remember sitting on the hill and watching the brass band contests and the talent competitions.

I don't remember the running man though what was it and where?

Margaret

Hi Margaret,

The Running Man sculpture pictured on this thread:
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,537227.0.html

What I would really like to find are photos and information on the swimming pool which was located next to the boating lake, was it part of the prefab development?

Ken 

Hi Ken,

The swimming pool is shown on a map dated 1937, before the prefabs were built, so it seems to be older - perhaps built same time as the Boating lake?

Old Maps have it on a map labelled '1923-1938' - shows boating lake, swimming pool and the White Heather camp (my 1937 map does not show the White Heather, so Old Maps version will be earlier)
http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html   it won't do a link straight to the map, sorry!

  Barbara

[aggiebagwash]

Hi Barbara

I can't recall the Running Man but I must have seen it.

The swimming pool was linked with the White Heather camp at the top of the hill. I can remember the running track as a small child but over the years it disappeared. It was only a grass track with markings on so they must have still used it in the early 50's.

There were two cottages at the side of the swimming pool. Long gone now but I can remember they were very old and had large open fires and an old slopstone sink.

Margaret

[GeorgeK]

Hi Ken,
Thanks for the link to pics of the bandstand.

Follow this link http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/1607233.stolen_park_statue_on_tv/
for news on the running man which had a surprise appearance on the Antique roadshow !

I do not remember the swimming pool neither does my sister who is 57 now, but many years ago i stumbled across some tiles at the edge of the pool i think ! today i went there but could not find anything, was`nt sure i was in the right place. Found a map now so will have another look next week.

I have attached some pics of my family when we lived at no.12 Buttermere Drive before leaving in 1961.

I'm the little baby in my Italian Grandmothers arms (awwwww!) the one and only time I met her before she sadly died in 1968.

[GeorgeK]

OOPs! having problems trying to upload pics.

I have them in the correct format and file size !

[GeorgeK]

OOPs! having problems trying to upload pics.

I have them in the correct format and file size !

[uk2003]

Great pictures George 

We all had problems when first uploading photos so you are not the first or the last 

[uk2003]

What I would really like to find are photos and information on the swimming pool which was located next to the boating lake, was it part of the prefab development?

Ken 

Hi Ken,

The swimming pool is shown on a map dated 1937, before the prefabs were built, so it seems to be older - perhaps built same time as the Boating lake?

Old Maps have it on a map labelled '1923-1938' - shows boating lake, swimming pool and the White Heather camp (my 1937 map does not show the White Heather, so Old Maps version will be earlier)
http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html   it won't do a link straight to the map, sorry!

  Barbara

Hi Barbara

Forgot all about old maps, thanks for the prompt 

So by the look of 2 of the maps c1939 and c1956 we seem to have three villages in the park - first was White Heather camp, which according to the maps was totally replaced and a TA Centre built next to it, and the larger village on the top field.

As for the swimming pool, a 1922 map shows it as a different shape, but going back even further to 1894 before the boating lake we still have them, so they may have just been ponds for the timber yard cottages --- all very fascinating   

What I find so strange is the lack of information about the whole project in the park 

Regards
Ken

[aggiebagwash]

There are so many people now who are interested in the history of this area of the park I wonder if we could pool ideas to find out a little more. When I did my MA many years ago I wanted to research that area of the park for my dissertation from 1900 to the demolition of the prefabs and I found very little other than maps and photo's.

I contacted every repository I could find and even spoke to Heaton Park staff and no one knows where the records are (if there are any) especially for the White Heather Camp. They could be catalogued under a different name or subject or as I suspect are in private hands. Obviously over the years more records may have surfaced but where are they?

The more people who add information to this thread the better because it will open up new areas to search and I'm sure and at some point it will reach the person who holds the answers.

Margaret