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DarwenAllan Allsopp a Darrener Who Conquered Many Mountains. By JW Darwen has been the birthplace of many important men and none more so than Allan Allsopp, born in Walmsley Street on the 9th of April 1914. He attended Darwen Grammar School, and then went on to Manchester University, entering the Honours School of Botany where he obtained his B.Sc. degree in 1934, a year later under T.A. Bennett-Clark gained his Master’s and in 1938 his Ph.D. also during this time he held the Grisdale Scholarship for Biological Research, this he shared with many distinguished botanists and zoologists. Shortly after the outbreak of World War II Allan joined up, attaining the rank of Captain in R.E.M.E. and contributed to the development of radar. After the war he was appointed Assistant Lecturer in Cryptogamic Botany at Manchester University, by 1959 he was Senior Lecturer. The University recognising his high standards and dedication to research bestowed on him the D.Sc. degree in 1961. Dr Allsopp was well respected at the University and contributed to and wrote many research papers himself, in particular on that of blue-green algae and considerable thought to the evolution of cellular organization. When not doing research or lecturing the mountains, hills and countryside became Allan’s retreat, but not content with just walking and climbing Allan both edited and contributed to many mountaineering publications and it was in a 1937 Mountaineering Journal that Allan Allsopp wrote an article on Cadshaw Rocks, one of the first references to Lancashire climbing, he also contributed to the Gritstone Guide Books on the Yorkshire & Derbyshire areas in the 1940-50’s. He also wrote articles for and was heavily involved with ‘The Rucksack Club’. http://www.rucksackclub.org/history.php It was during 50’s and 60’s that he spent time in the Alps; particularly around Chamonix & Zermatt, in the latter area he climbed all the 4,000m peaks except Dent d’Herens. At Chamonix he made one of the early English ascents of the Mer de Glace face of Gr`epon. He climbed the Matterhorn via three different routes without a guide and excelled so well at climbing he was shortlisted for a place in the John Hunt Everest expedition of 1953. Dr Allan Allsopp died while on a field trip to the Isle of Man, with Manchester University students in 1971. The 1983 edition of the Lancashire Area Guidebook was dedicated to Allan as 'Father of Lancashire Climbing' and as an important contributor to both the academic and sporting world a Darrener that should not be forgotten. VALDEREE By Pauline Hodkinson. Many years ago, when I was a child, there was a rag and bone man (rag tatter) by the name of Valderee. He went around the streets of Darwen and Blackburn and as far as Chorley with a hand cart and a little black and white collie dog called Flash, which would jump in the cart when it was tired. Everyone knew him and would shout out ‘Valderee’ after him and he replied ‘Valdera’. He wore an old raincoat and on the belt were old army badges. He also had a knife and a bayonet tucked into the belt. He wore a trilby, sometimes tilted to one side, sometimes with one side folded back. He had a military style moustache, was very tall and carried himself very upright. His real name was Thomas Thompson and he lived at the bottom end of Kay Street in Darwen. He had a wife and a couple of children. He served in the second world war with the Royal Marine Commandos in North Africa, Sicilian and Italian campaigns and was recommended for the Military Medal. When his death notice appeared in the paper in 1989, his nickname appeared alongside his real name of Thomas Samuel Thompson because he was known to hundreds only by his nickname. He was so popular that, when in October 1967, a rumour started that Valderee had been knocked down and killed trying to save Flash when the dog ran in front of a car, he made front-page news. We lost a colourful character when Tommy died. BILL HUNT – Strongman By Pauline Hodkinson. Bill Hunt was born in 1909 and became known as the world’s strongest man at his age and weight which was 11 stone. He became a British Olympic weightlifting champion at 21 years of age while serving as a physical training instructor with the Royal Air Force. He later earned a living on the variety theatre circuit as a member of a strongman and balancing act trio. One of his specialities was to swing a 42lb mallet with one had in a backwards circle from a dead rest on the floor and bring it to an instant stop just against his nose. This was a feat that required not just skill but tremendous strength to stop the hammer from smashing his face to pulp. He became famous for many other feats of strength but it was for his Guinness Book of Records entry that he will be remembered. At the Great Harwood’s Unity Working Men’s Club at the age of 46, he stood six billiard cues together and gripped them near their tips between two fingers and then lifted them up to the horizontal position, smashing a 30 year record of a five cue lift. He spent hours training and always encouraged others. When he died in 1989 the council recognised his place in Darwen’s hall of fame by naming a canal narrow boat after him. Bill Hunt was a quiet, unassuming gentleman and a true ‘Darrener’. CHRIS HOWSON (The Mighty Atom) By Pauline Hodkinson. Little Chris Howson was a member of Darwen’s weightlifting club which was founded in 1947 by Jack and Maurice Ainsworth and Chris. They first met in the cellar of Yana’s coffee in Bolton Road, now a hairdressers and then they moved to another cellar in Foundry Street near to the Sadlers. They moved around quite a bit but had a few years in Vernon Street School. Around 1958, Allan Kershaw and Luigi Staffa joined together with Peter Cooper, Ken Aspden and Franco Mazzafiore. They later moved again into another cellar underneath Gibsons ironmongers in Duckworth Street. Over the years the weightlifters raised thousands of pounds for charity and became regulars at Darwen Gala setting world team dead-lift records in 1978 and 1981. Their feats of bending pokers, six inch nails and breaking horse shoes was the talk of the town as was their feat of blowing up and bursting hot water bottles. Chris worked tirelessly for a number of charities and he was well loved and one of Darwen’s best known characters. He spent a lot of time at Darwen Leisure Centre passing on his technique and his enthusiasm to youngsters. When he was out and about he always had time for a little chat with anyone and cheered people up with his lovely smile. Everyone knew ‘Little Chris’ and it was a sad day when he died in April 1995. He was an inspiration to all and he was a giant among men. A Short History of Astley Bank By Pauline Hodkinson It appears probable that Astley Bank was built about the beginning of the nineteenth century. It was built by Richard Kershaw Smalley, son of Robert (Young Parson) Smalley, a well known figure in connection with Lower Chapel Congregational Church and Ann Kershaw of Astley Bank, Little Bolton, after who the house was named. In 1827, the house was sold by Richard Kershaw Smalley to a Mary Finch and in 1836 was resold to William Woods, about both of who little or nothing is known. Although R. K. Smalley sold the house, it appears that he continued to live there until his death in 1839 since he appears in the electors’ list of that time as being of Astley Bank and also in the Directory for Darwen of 1825 as being of Sough and Astley Bank as a Coal Proprietor. In 1855, the house came into the hands of the Shorrock family who were well known in Darwen. Indeed Eccles Shorrock, who bought the house from Ralph Shorrock Ashton in 1869, has been referred to as the ‘founder of Darwen’. He was the son of a small tradesman, who, having acquired some education became manager of cotton mills in Hoghton and Chorley and was later taken into partnership by his cousin, Bannister Eccles, a large spinner and manufacturer in Blackburn. In 1830 he severed this partnership with his cousin when he bought the Bowling Green Mill, often referred to as ‘Top Factory’. With great energy and industry, he proceeded to convert Darwen in to a cotton manufacturing town and built mills at Tockholes and Waterside. He also built ‘New’ and ‘Darwen’ Mills and purchased Brookside Mill shortly before he died. During this period of the town’s industrial growth, Samuel Crompton established a business in 1822. He built a house at Low Hill, quite near Astley Bank which was later occupied by Eccles Shorrock. Although Eccles Shorrock owned Astley Bank, he did not live there himself. During this time, the house was occupied first by James Shorrock, his brother, and then by Charles Kendall, a local solicitor to who Mr Charles Costeker (Darwen’s first Town Clerk) and Mr. F. G. Hindle were articled. In 1872, the more important part of this history begins, when Eccles Shorrock sold the house to James Huntington. James Huntington came to Darwen in 1864 to work for C & J G Potter, a paper manufacturing concern. At this time, he was a well known freelance designer and it was quite a feat to induce him to come to work in Darwen. After his death in 1878, his estate passed to his younger brother, Charles Phillip Huntington. In 1910, after Astley bank had belong to the Huntington family for 50 years, it was sold to F. G. Hindle who died in 1915 and his son, Sir Frederick then inherited Astley Bank. The house and the field to the north were leased to I. C. I. and in August 1952 were sold to I.C.I. Sir Frederick died in 1953. Astley Bank has played a very important part in the life of Darwen with 3 Members of Parliament, 3 Mayors and various other social benefactors having lived there. In May of 1997 Astley bank was purchased from I.C.I. by a local family business and is run by two of its Directors. It is now a Hotel and Conference Centre. William Street School By Pauline Hodkinson William Street Factory School was the first ‘operatives’ children’s free school’ and was erected by Eccles Shorrock & Co. at a cost of £1000 in 1843. It was Over Darwen’s second Factory School. Eccles Shorrock had previously built Astley Street School. The new school was built of dressed grey stone and was oblong in shape with two storeys. For its’ time it was considered palatial. The lower room was for the school and the upper floor was used as an Assembly room for the Wesleyans and later by the Baptists. An organ was installed and the upper room was let off by Eccles Shorrock to different musical organisations for practising. Later, the rooms were used to hold balls and concerts. The schoolroom was large and it was built for the half-timers of Union Street and Brookside Mills which were owned by Eccles Shorrock and the children had their fees paid for by the company. The school was used for further education from 1871 until 1876 and went under the name of ‘Darwen Grammar School’ . It later became ‘The Science and Technical School’ until in 1894 the Higher Grade School was opened in Union Street. This later became the Technical School. William Street School was used as the Central Meals Kitchen and supplied the children of various schools with a good mid-day meal. It was situated in Back Duckworth Street. Gleaned from the books Darwen’s Old School Tie by Annie Proctor and ‘Absque Labore Nihil, Historical and Contemporary Jottings on Darwen 1889-1993’ by Graham Groom. 'Old Aggies' By Pauline Hodkinson It is widely believed in Darwen that ‘Owd Aggie’ was murdered in 1860 at Stepback Cottage on Darwen Moors. This myth was perpetuated by an article in the Darwen News in 1930 and by another in the Lancashire Evening Telegraph in November 2000. Owd Aggies or Stepback Cottage was situated on Darwen Moors and was popular for the locals who liked to picnic around there. It is believed that she provided ale and refreshments. Agnes married John Singleton late in life and was a handloom weaver. She was alive and well in the 1861 census, a year after the ‘murder’ took place. On November 5th 1860, the elderly occupants of the cottage near Stepback were woken by a noise and John Singleton lit a candle. Three men entered the room, one with a gun and one with a hammer and they threatened to kill them unless they handed over their money. They would allow Agnes Singleton five minutes to pray. Agnes showed them a box containing a five pound note and the old man gave them a purse. The three men, previously known to be poor, were later seen to have money in considerable sums. A £5 note was found on one of the prisoners. The day before the robbery, they were served with beer at the Greenway Arms and had no money to pay. The Next day, they had plenty of money. John Doran, 20, Thomas Atkinson, 22 and John Warden, 23, were charged with committing assaults on John and Agnes Singleton. Doran and Atkinson were sentenced to 20 years penal servitude and Warden to 10 years. The Census held the following year, 1861, show that the cottage at Stepback was still occupied by John and Agnes Singleton. The cottage was shown as unoccupied in the 1871 census. A full copy of the court reports and copies of census records are held in a bound volume in Darwen Reference Library. Darwen’s Original Castle on the Hill (Workhouse) By Jayne Waring Little is known about the workhouse in Darwen or when it was built, however we have a few clues as to its whereabouts. Looking on old maps of the area we can find Darwen Workhouse at the end of Union Street, formerly ‘Chapel Lane’ this was part of the old packhorse road running from Chapels across the river Darwen, eventually picking up the old track on the moors. After the workhouse was built, Chapel Lane was changed to Union St, after the ‘Union Street Mill was established. Union Street was split when the Turnpike Rd was built and the top half re-named Police Street; the workhouse was built at the top of Police Street on the site of the new Health Center. Vagrancy has been a problem of society for many centuries and there have been many attempts at rectifying it. In 1697 paupers were required to wear a letter ‘P’ on their clothing and the parish from where they came, this enabled them to obtain work outside of their own parish but only with the agreement that should they need monetary assistance their old parish would take them back. Generally the poor had to remain within the confines of the workhouse either breaking bones for the production of china or breaking rocks. The latter would have been advantageous to ‘John ‘O’t Knowles’ publican of the White Lion, who also ran the Darwen Workhouse he owned land in between the two properties, this included the Knowles Plantation to the west of the town, near Punstock. Mr Knowles was involved in quarrying in the area so would have taken full advantage of free labour. Conditions in the workhouse were made to be as unpleasant as possible to discourage people and only to use the workhouse as a last resort. It is possible that ‘Knatchbull’s General Workhouse Act’ of 1723, was the reason for the building of Darwen’s Workhouse, as there are records of an earlier building on ‘The Green’. Knatchbull’s Act allowed parishes to build workhouses and by 1776 there was around 2,000 in England. By 1834 poor laws were administered by a local board of guardians, these would be made up of the wealthiest landowners or highest ratepayers in the district, John Knowles was obviously a wealthy chap. In 1836 the Blackburn Poor Law Union was established, it incorporated Over Darwen, Lower Darwen, Church, Accrington, Tockholes & Pick-up Bank so in 1855 Overseers of the poor in Darwen handed over the workhouse and its lands to Blackburn Poor Law Union. In 1864, a new Blackburn Workhouse was built (now Queens Park Hospital) this replaced the 1791 building erected on Merchant Street, Grimshaw Park. By the 1860’s the former Darwen workhouse building was utilised by Darwen Fire Brigade and in 1881, was used as a temporary hospital during the smallpox outbreak. It was used by Richard Bury, blacksmith and an ironmonger. In 1897 the Model Lodging House was built to accommodate the ‘great unwashed’, prior to this being built the workhouse was used as a lodging house for many ‘Navvies’ and visitors to the growing town of Darren. The building had a varied and somewhat sad history until the 1950’s slum clearances, saw its demolition. There are many old photographs of Darwen and if you look carefully you may be able to spot what would have been a fantastic landmark, highlighted by its four large chimneys. The ‘Oldest Profession’ in Darwen? By Jayne Waring Prostitution the ‘oldest profession in the world’. In the 1900’s selling oneself was, in most cases a sad necessity, either for money, a place to stay or for food, many having families to support after being abandoned by their husbands, these coupled with very complicated & various reasons make it an interesting social issue. But the issues behind prostitution were hardly recognised & very rarely taken into account when women were before the courts & even less when being written about in their local rag, as Bridgett McDermott & Matilda Griffith both found out. In 1881 the two women were described in a report as ‘ugly specimens of the fair sex’ after both were charged with being drunk & causing a disturbance in Water Street, (former slum district near the White Lion & one of Darwen’s notorious red light districts, also known as ‘kennel of the bottom dogs’) According to the health inspector Lumb St, Water St & The Green had lodging houses that were either ‘unfit for habitation’ or unregistered. This did not deter anyone from visiting Darwen & it must have been good for business in1881, otherwise Amy Gregg would not have travelled from Manchester to ply her wares at Long Nursery near Catsaw (Cadshaw?) bridge. So she never quite made it to Darwen and she was sent to stay at Preston goal for a month. One unregistered lodging house belonged to William Houghton, who in1887 was charged with keeping a brothel in 31 Water St? Along with Mr Houghton, George Lomax, Henry Harrison was also charged. Houghton was committed for 2 months and the others for 1 month. Was this the workplace of some of the 22 known prostitutes? Or just Catherine Mclusky, Anne Kenyon & Mary Bowling, who were residing there when they were charged with soliciting, & aiding & abetting Mr Houghton. Many known prostitutes were regularly brought before the courts for what today we would probably consider minor offences and indeed ‘causing people to gather’ is a minor one, however in 1878, Anne Calvey, described politely as ‘a quarrelsome woman’ was charged with a breach of the peace after causing people to gather in Water St and up for the same charge was Nancy Harper for challenging a woman to fight in front of 150 spectators, I wonder who the bookie was? Another ‘lady’ who had a good reputation came off worse for defending or trying to protect others, in this case her family, but no avail as she was charged with ‘causing a disturbance’ by going into a bad house (brothel or lodging house) to order her husband out using bad language (according to the police) although Ellen Chambers insist she did not use foul language she was still charged. Prostitutes were described in various ways from ‘a wanton female’ or ‘a woman of ill repute’ and some more affectionately as ‘nightgowns’ or ‘whisk tails’, today people are not as diplomatic in their description of ‘ladies of the night’. One recent exception was in January 2006 after the raid on a brothel in Pitville St, Darwen where the prostitutes revealed their name as ‘shady ladies’ run by Michelle Teresa Dean, from Preston, the brothel had signs up stating that their services were ‘safe and secure, discreet and friendly’. This came two years after Councillor Andy Kay was quoted as saying about Blackburn ‘It is a centuries-old problem and I think the only real way of getting it off the streets would be to have a legalised brothel. ‘We have tried to help the girls involved but sometimes they just drift back into it. You can't make them stop. Legalised brothels would remove the problem from the street while at the same time providing a controlled environment which could be monitored as the agencies try to help the street sex workers.’ So come on Mr Kay, put your money where your mouth is, no pun intended there? Next best thing to ‘Viagra’, for those that could afford, would have to be oysters & one such lady insisting on getting her fair share was Mary Eccles, a respectable looking lady who had a bit to much to drink, fell into the window of Mr John Wilson an ‘Oyster Dealer’ in Church St. When up before the courts Mary admitted that she was ‘feeling rather fresh’. She was fined five shillings & cost. Its amusing comments like these that give people a bad reputation! see Old Darwen gallery Crime! Its not what it used to be! By Jayne Waring ‘Crime! It hasn’t changed’ well that’s what we are always told, but when you read about the types of crimes committed some 150yrs ago in Darwen, you realise that it is not that much different from today. However if you make note of the types of crimes being committed and the sentencing that is doled out in ‘them days’ there are significant changes concerning the administration of justice. For instance in 1863, Peter Dorkan was charged, along with ten others, of ‘pitch & tossing’ (a form of gambling) in Mill Lane on Sunday, he was fined 2s. 6d and cost. In this day and age you are lucky enough (or rather the bookie is) to have a choice of gambling establishment to visit on Sundays. On 9th February 1867, more Sunday sinners were prosecuted, this time for ‘Jumping’ George Holden & Eli Pierce were each fined 3s. 4d plus cost for jumping and making a noise. In the 1900’s they did not escape punishment for speeding as William Green, greengrocer of Cotton Hall St, was charged with ‘Furious Driving’ into the market place. Mr Green said ‘he was not driving fast as it was an old horse’. Fined 2s. 6d. Even in the Victorian era they had issues with Road safety, especially with the likes of James Croft, carter, who was caught riding his cart without holding onto the reins, he was actually asleep in the back of it. Similarly in 1886, a carter, Ralph Harwood of Queen St was fined for being drunk in Bridge St whilst in charge of a horse and cart. It makes you wonder who is the more dangerous the horse or the carter? Drink and drunkenness was and still is one of the major contributing factors to most crimes, it could not be prevented even with a strong temperance presence in Darwen. But if you couldn’t buy alcohol then why not make it as in 1868, William Houghton was brought before the courts for making illicit whiskey. It was found that on the 20th of June Mr Heath and Mr Arthur, excise officer, visited Houghton at a place called ‘Far Fold’, they found a large tub of wash and other utensils for making spirits and a two gallon bottle full of spirits, a bottle was produced for the court to taste (perks of the job I suppose) Houghton admitted his guilt but because he absconded he was imposed with a full penalty of £100. Could this be the same William Houghton that in 1887 was charged with keeping a brothel in Water St? Along with Mr Houghton, George Lomax, Henry Harrison were also charged. Prostitutes Catherine Mclusky, Anne Kenyon and Mary Bowling were charged with aiding & abetting. The courts described the evidence as ‘the most filthy and disgusting nature’ Houghton was committed for 2 months and the others for 1 month. Many places were used for illicit purposes and it was around Water St and Lumb St where some of Darwen’s earliest and most notorious dwellings were. In Water St, there was a place known as the 'smugglers room', this would have been a meeting point for many of Darwen's criminal fraternity, being used for gambling, drinking and dodgy dealings, in 1789 it was to become a ‘Wesleyan Methodist Sunday School and in 1825 was used by the Primitive Methodist’ settling in amongst the 'hush shops' 'bawds' and boarding houses of ill repute. One hardened criminal converted to Methodism during its time on Water St and he was one of Over-Darwen’s toughest ‘prize fighters’. Burgion Fish had the reputation of being ‘young in years, but old in sin’ in 1788, he was on his way to Turton Fair when he was compelled to listen to the Rev William Bramwell, who was stood on what was known as ‘the riding stones’ preaching to the then described ‘ungodliness’ people of Over-Darwen. Burgion Fish felt the ‘divine spirit, shot from the bow of the preacher, reach his heart’ he was converted into a humbled Christian man and went on for 60yrs converting others from the path of sin. Alas! even the righteous were not above the law in 1845 or thereabouts, Mary Walsh, a staunch Primitive Methodist supporter, was arrested (on what charge it is not known) and put in the cells, Mary sang with religious zeal throughout the night and the arresting officers were only to glad to get rid of her the next morning, needless to say without charges. A sad, but funny case came before the magistrates in August 1886; it commanded the headline of ‘ONE WAY TO GET A NEW SUIT’- Patrick Clarey, charged with begging in Duckworth St. Clarey appeared with nothing on apart from an old sack. Inspector Noblett stated that the prisoner had deliberately torn up his clothes and possess nothing but the ribbons he is wearing- he was committed to Her Majesty’s Prison at Preston 11 days hard labour, in his new Birthday suit! |
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