Book recommendation: The Gangs of Manchester

[andydavies]

Thanks for the replies, they're much appreciated. Incidentally I took a decision to use real names in the book, since it covers the period before 1900. I'm glad I did, as descendants of some of the "scuttlers" whose exploits are described are beginning to get in touch.

At a recent book signing at Waterstone's on Deansgate in Manchester I met two of the descendants of Owen Callaghan, a "scuttler" who was convicted of manslaughter in 1887. He was sentenced to twenty years penal servitude for the fatal stabbing of a "Bengal Tiger" named Joe Brady. His descendants were able to tell me what became of him in later life, which helps me to fill in one of the gaps in the story.

Andy

[kalasira]

hi Andy
thank you for that reply,i first saw the book advertised in the libray and drove every one mad trying to find it i then went into h.m.v.and there it was ,over the moon i was it is a great book to read because it is true which is hat i like,any way good luck with any more you write.
all the best Jacquie

[Viktoria]

Hi everyone, my mum used to speak of the Napoo gang and she lived off Oldham Road,near the city centre. They had a "uniform" which consisted of  collarless shirt. jacket. flat cap.beetle crusher boots or more often clogs and ALWAYS a white artificial silk muffler -scarf to you and me.I think judging by that description almost everyone could have been mistaken for a gang member!!Nothing changes does it really? todays kids with their hoods up etc all look alike and put the fear of God or the other fella into most people but not all are as bad as the real villains.The Napoo gang however were quite grown-up, not teenagers for the most part. There were no such creatures as teenagers then. Even in the 50`s when I was doing the monkey walk up Oldham Road near the temperance bar at the junction with Lamb Lane later joined to Queens Road near The Playhouse We were either too young or too old for anything we wanted to do. Too young for make up but old enough at 14 to get a Saturday job to help out at home and buy a few bits for ourselves. Never mind I know I am old but as the words of the song said "I`m glad I`m not young anymore`Viktoria.

[Viktoria]

Hi everyone, my mum used to speak of the Napoo gang and she lived off Oldham Road,near the city centre. They had a "uniform" which consisted of  collarless shirt. jacket. flat cap.beetle crusher boots or more often clogs and ALWAYS a white artificial silk muffler -scarf to you and me.I think judging by that description almost everyone could have been mistaken for a gang member!!Nothing changes does it really? todays kids with their hoods up etc all look alike and put the fear of God or the other fella into most people but not all are as bad as the real villains.The Napoo gang however were quite grown-up, not teenagers for the most part. There were no such creatures as teenagers then. Even in the 50`s when I was doing the monkey walk up Oldham Road near the temperance bar at the junction with Lamb Lane later joined to Queens Road near The Playhouse We were either too young or too old for anything we wanted to do. Too young for make up but old enough at 14 to get a Saturday job to help out at home and buy a few bits for ourselves. Never mind I know I am old but as the words of the song said "I`m glad I`m not young anymore`Viktoria. P.S The Bengal Tigers were from Bengal Street also at the town end of Oldham Road.V

[uk2003]

Not got round to reading Andy's book but I have read these, and would recommend them.

Manchester: The Sinister Side
Crime City: Manchester's Victorian Underworld

Andy

Has this event taken place yet?

DATE TO BE CONFIRMED: Borders, Cheetham Hill Road (Manchester Fort)

Ken 

[andydavies]

We're just waiting for Borders to confirm the date. It was originally set for Sunday 30 but that clashed with the Manchester derby!

Ken, if you enjoyed Crime City and Manchester: The Sinister Side, you'll probably enjoy The Gangs of Manchester. It's much more detailed (300-plus pages), and has a lot of background information on the lives of young people in Manchester and Salford in the late nineteenth century, including early versions of the "monkey walk"' described by Viktoria in her post.

These stories of the Napoo gang are fascinating. Does anyone know of someone who was actually a member?

Andy

[uk2003]

Hi Andy

Nothing would make me leave the house on derby day.

Let me know the new date for the book signing and I will be along, apart from family research going to book signings is my other hobby - just wish I could have got to the Keith Warrender book signing for Underground Manchester, what a fantastic read. I had to settle for a signed copy off the shelf 

Ken

[kalasira]

hi mancsman.
have not read underground manchester but will be getting it i have read the other books that you mention ,there is a other one that i got yobs on the doorstep by Linda walker,(it is about the manchester gun teachers story it was on the news,about a lady who took on a gang good read,people say cos i am a girl i should be reading MILLS and BOONS love story's i don't think so.

[uk2003]

Hi kalasira

Sorry that title is a bit misleading and I should have explained 

Underground Manchester is all about the the tunnels, canals, rivers under the city of Manchester - I digressed slightly in this posting 

I just love any type of history stories/books/films/documentaries etc on Manchester

Ken