Conran Street, Harpurhey

[ele002]

He was a Pawnbroker. He had his shop in Bradford St., Ancoats, and moved to Conran St. early 1900's and lived above the shop.

It seems there wasn't a enough money in Pawnbroking in Harpurhey at the time and moved his Pawnbroking back to Bradford St late 1910's, but kept a Draper's business going at Conran St.

I know he was very pally with some other Shopkeepers in Conran St. The only name I know of was Storey, who had a Grocers, I think, a few doors away.

So, yes, he may well have known him.

[uk2003]

Hi

I believe this is number 54/56 Conran Street the now "derelict" shop you are looking for.

Reason for this is looking at a copy of the 1929 Kellys Directory No54/56 (McMullens) was on the corner of Conran & Newbury Streets. The next street up was Willow Street with number 68 on the left corner so looking on the right of Willow Street numbers 66/64 which in 1929 was a double front furniture shop so 62 has to be that little showing with Quality above the window

Taken in 1968 just before the slum clearance of the area.

No 54/56 http://images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=31165&reftable=ecatalogue&refirn=38009

No 62 http://images.manchester.gov.uk/web/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=31197&reftable=ecatalogue&refirn=37961

No 62 is the one behind the man as well

[daisynook]

Thanks very much for that information.  At last I'm getting somewhere, shame the buildings have been pulled down.

[uk2003]

Nice slideshow from photos taken in 1959 - showing the shop called Meadows but cannot make out what it is selling (5 minutes & 57 seconds)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0Hc4ZU7Pcg

[uk2003]

Don't know if you knew this but they had a branch on Oldham Road. This is from a 1927 Directory

[daisynook]

Thanks very much BlackburnFossil for the uTube clip.  Pity its 1959 and so much would have changed since 1939 the last time the shops were confirmed in Trade Directories.  Thanks for pointing out the Oldham Road branch, yes they had shops in town Thomas Street, Rochdale Road as well as the 54, 56, 51 and 62 Conran Street properties.  Shame I can't find any photo's of their hey day!

[maxjh]

Hi daisynook and ele02, it looks like my dad's uncle was a neighbour of your ancestors! I'm researching him and his family at the moment and know that they had a bakery at no.48 Conran Street. I am presuming that this was in the 1930s and 40s. His name was John Fairhurst Byers and my dad remembered being taken to the bakery by his grandad as a young lad. His grandad Joseph Byers died at 48 Conran St in Jan 1940 so I think he must have gone to live with his son John. I have also found that his next door neighbour at 50 Conran St was Mary Hornby Byers who died in September later that year.
My dad always described the bakery as being opposite Queen's Park gates, but having looked at an old map I'm now presuming that he meant Conran St was opposite Queen's Park gates.

[daisynook]

Hi Maxjh - Eventually we will know everyone who lived on Conran Street!!  Since my earlier posts I have discovered that many members of the family all lived together at 173 Conran Street, Harpurhey. I had no idea Conran Street was so long.  I now believe this is the house where my Mother was born in 1921 although she used to say she was born above the shop.  Maybe 173 was a shop too.  If your ancestors had a drapers shop I'm sure they would have known my ancestors being tailors.

[uk2003]

A couple of snapshots from the 1929 Kelly Directory