[tara]

Does anyone else have any memories of these places.- in the 60s.
I remember going with my mum to the wincobank one. the poor loves would have to scrub the clothes in giant sinks, and then rinse and twist them about six times, then put them on these burning hot metal rods .
The heat was unbearable.(women had to be tough in those days.)
my mum only went a few times then she got a twin tub.
But my grandma had been going for years and she had about 11 kids.
can you imagine all the washing for that lot.

In the same building was the slipper baths where you would pay so much to have a bath.
Usually people like us who didnt have a bathroom , living in the back to back houses.
Only alternative was the tin bath which if you were lucky and lived in the yard ,could hang it up on a big nail on the wall.
(as previously mentioned on 70s thread.)
Also remember catching a train at wincobank to go to belle vue zoo.

[kirky]

we used to use the river don my mum said that new fangled washing powder could cause skin cancer.

[Trekker]

Now thats unconstructive Mr Kirky

[kirky]

Originally posted by Trekker
Now thats unconstructive Mr Kirky

soz i'm in a daft mood

[timo]

Tara,
I must be a "posh" ex-Wincobanker [if such a thing can exist], as we always had a bathroom. Our Standon Rd house was built circa late fifties. However, I certainly remember older people from the terraced houses on Fife Street etc using the Wincobank "Wash House".
You refer to catching a train to Belle Vue from Wincobank. I remember going to the zoo there in the early 60's [I'm 43 now], but in the car. No disrespect intended here Tara, but are you certain about the train stopping at Wincobank? I always thought it stopped at Brightside, and then went past Wincobank. Nice to think that it stopped there though. Regards.

[Trekker]

Hi timo. Wouldn't that train have stopped at Brightside and then gone onto the back line at Wincobank?

[timo]

Hi Trekker, not sure really. I just don't remember trains ever stopping at Wincobank. Tara is probably right, and I've no reason to doubt my cyber-pal's memory.

[tara]

IT was brightside station but not too far up barrow rd.
sort of wincobank come brightside.
Anyway remember bellevue zoo.?

kirky was probably still a twinkle in his dads eye when that was still open.

whats the old wincobank washhouse building used for now.
is it some sort of community centre.
wasnt there some sort of works next to it .

[kirky]

i used to go to bellvue zoo quite often.......i always remember the the two wax works figures as you went in....one was chopping the other ones head off.........i was **** scared of them..i was about 4 or 5

[gettingon]

I remember occasionally catching a train at a small platform across the road from the bottom of Limpsfield road or thereabouts. Is that Brightside?
Used to ride it non stop as I remember to Rotherham and back.

[mauricejag]

Rememer it well, lived in Blackburn fron 1938 . (Born then) don't tell everyone!! until 1987. Can put right a few things Dr Wynnes surgery was 11 newman road,has drive alongside, before him was Dr Firstenburg who was married to Dr Nalaiha's daughterof Dr Nalahia who was there from 1930 till late 60's, am looking for info on family via church records help would be nice, Other docs surgery was opposite wash house look forward to any replies, am a golden oldie, now reside in Derbyshire, but happy to converse with interested parties on subject of area, Blackburn, Hill Street, Wincobank, Blackburn Old school Kimberworth School etc

[timo]

Mauricejag,
Dr Wynne was the nicest, kindest GP imaginable. Any idea which part of Ireland he came from; I'd say the south, judging by the accent ? My family and paternal grandparents had a great regard for him. He was a wonderful character, and I can see him peering over his half-moon spectacles in my mind's eye, saying, "Dis is what you must do, son. Take da medicine twice a day etc". God bless him.

[wendy]

Originally posted by tara
whats the old wincobank washhouse building used for now.
is it some sort of community centre.
wasnt there some sort of works next to it .

Not sure about this Tara but I think it is still used as a laundry and yes there is a works next to it. I live abit further up just off Newman Road so don't really go down much but I think it's called "Wincro Industries" or something like that - engineering company I think.

[mauricejag]

Yes indeed, he was a truly wonderful man,brought all 3 of my children into the world, and my grand-daughter sadly I only have a daughter still around. He smoked like a chimney always ask me for a cigggie when I had an appointment with him, A real old fashioned G.P. for children you could call him anytime day or night Peter James were his name and yes he related about southern Ireland often, sadly can't recall precise area, senior moments I'm afraid, wintertime there was that very aged gas fire in the waiting room, with a notice would 1st patient please light it and last turn it off, heady days. such doctors sadly are simply not around today . It was so intersting to read your message, thanks for bringing times past to mind Maurice my e mail address bythe way is mauricejag@aol.com

[tara]

Oh doctor wynne i cried when he passed away.
He'd only been out to see my baby son a short time before he was ill.
Id had the misfortune to live on the flower estate at that time and wasn't satisfied with the surgery there as my son was very poorly with a severe chest infection and the doctor there would not prescribe anything.
As my son was also born hursch sprungs he needed treatment.
I imediately transfered to doc wynne's surgery as i hadnt experienced his medical care when i lived in lower wincobank ( i had my mums doctor- dr sheehan.)But my dad and all his family swore by dr wynne.
Hey presto dr wynne came out straight away and in a couple of days the antibiotics kicked in and he was on the mend.
my dad also has fond memories of dr Nalahia .
Dr nalahia actually saw one of my grans children behind her when he was called out during the delivery of my uncle dave.
and that child he saw had passed away some years before.
strange experience.
I also have fond memories of blackburn, the royal oak with the famous hot pasties.
and i use to go to a place further up where they had shows on
cant remember the building but there was a bar and a stage but it wasnt a pub.
Also remember the whit marches from wincobank to blackburn
use to start off singing at hallies(wincobank hotel) and go with the brass band down merton lane and through to blackburn and end up in this pig park thing where you could have a picnic.
I remember having my whitsentide dresses all hand made by mrs o hara who lived on barrow rd.
used to also go to newman rd sunday school.(st thomas's)

[stevo]

I can remember the building at the bottom end of Standon road. I cannot remember the name of the road on which the slipper baths was situated, but it was opposite the bus stop where I caught the number 4 to Firth Park.

I lived on Standon Crescent from about 1964 or 5 when I belive these houses were built, to 1973. I'm 43 now.

We must have been posh, because we had a twin tub, which I used to use when me mam was at work.

[timo]

Tara,
your posting was very moving re the good doctor. He really was a wonderful man.
Mauricejag,
ta for the reply. I am a bit younger than you, with respect, [43] but I remember the notice in the surgery! So it was Peter James Wynne- thanks for that. It is really nice that he is remembered so fondly on a forum like this. When I left Wincobank to live at Nether Edge I sent the good doctor a letter of appreciation as he had known me since I was a baby. Dr Wynne told my mother that he would "always keep" the letter. I meant every word of it. I am fortunate in being in good health, but I reflect that I don't even know the name of my GP at the local "Health Centre" in Southport. On the rare occasion that I have needed an appointment, it is a case of "We are fully booked up until next Tuesday". This is not the surgery's fault, I know, but I wish we could return to the age of Wynne.
What this has got to do with Wash houses, I don't know!

[mauricejag]

Both I suppose vital parts of wincobank at the time we are thinking of. I recall a few times when the waiting room was full to overflowing even standing room taken up fully. Dr Wynne would fly in the door and say those who havn't got a seat can go home and come back next day, however he never bothered to do a head count, as to how many he had seen, nice to go back to ones roots now and again, m

[tara]

going off the wash house subject just for this one post.
When i lived at shiregreen we had dr chatergee.
A lot pull him down but he was a dr who would do anything for you.
He kept his own surgery but to this day im sure theres only two dr.s on. -more personal.
the one ive got now at stocksbridge Im not pleased with at all as my eldest son has had this complaint since last dec and we finally
got a dr to get us a hospital appointment months ago well its obvious he never even bothered as we are still waiting.

going back on track is the washhouse street on elmview . or something like that.
I remember the old number 4 route very well.
about the twin tub, it was not so much about being posh or not it was simply because one would not fit in those tiny back to backs.
remember there was only one room downstairs for everything.
and that was small.
there was only one bedroom and an attick. or garret as they were called in wincobank.
and a large celler for coal.
I remember being terrified of our celler as a woman was mudered in it years before.
remember great summers in woolly woods blackberry picking.
and also with the gang at night telling ghost stories.
and making our tarzan swings during the day.
just been looking at old wincobank scouts photo in a book, and noticed chris ogglesby and jim kelly.
Anyone else remember the kelly's.
does anyone remember the big goose that took off for a walk down newman rd and everybodytried to catch it but couldnt.
then it took flight over st thomas's.
it belonged to someone up newman rd and was always getting in to mischief.

[timo]

Tara, I remember Chris Ogglesby; he was a few years older than me, and a scouting/ outdoors type if I recall. The Wash house, I think was [maybe is?] on Fife Street. I think Elm View was the road that the Con Club was situated on- yes, the no4 bus route up Newman Road. I don't remember the Kellys or their geese. I do remember a frenetic chase between a huge gang of boys [including me] and a runaway pig! It had escaped from the allotments that ran up the side of the Standon Road entrance to Woolley Woods. Apparently the chase looked hilarious. The outcome was less funny, depending on one's point of view, as the pig keeled over and died as it turned to run back to the allotments. We were quite shocked and contrite, although my father later claimed that he had seen two of our number with plates, bread and brown sauce under their arms as they ran.