A Stroll down memory lane in old St Ann’s
I’m outside the Palais, with time on my hands
I’d stroll with my friends, where I lived in St Ann’s
From the top end of town we decided to go
In Central market with stalls row by row
We’d walk through just browsing, so much to se.
Materials, pots and confectionery
There was lots of stalls selling clothes
In the fish market, I’d hold my nose
Out of the doors on to Huntingdon Street
Visit Bath Street Park, an extra treat
We’d sit near the lion on Bendigo’s grave
Read all about him, wasn’t he brave?
Back at Empress Cinema, too late to go in
Ah, missed the latest, it was tales of Tin Tin
Up St Ann’s Well Road, it was bustling with folks
The barbers were busy cutting hair for the blokes
Saturday everyone seemed to be out, or just doing weekend chores
Opticians for glasses, jewellers for rings, and even perambulator stores
Snack bars ...shoe shops ...dry cleaners (about four)
Back in two minutes was a sign on the door
Bamfords large windows, don’t look inside.
In those days it was hushed if someone had died
Gents and ladies outfitters at Plunketts or Deans
Then Cavendish Pictures films on the big screen
Olive’s sweet shop, where all the kids queued
Getting ready before the film they viewed
There was fancy goods, grocers, fishmongers and more
Drapers and fruiterers and Boots Chemist store
Eric Bishop, your boots he’d repair.
Scrimshaw, pork Butcher, get your meat there
Bendix launderette, get the weekly wash done
Do them by hand and get them spun
Pownalls waste merchants we took our rags, extra coppers for wools in bags
Then McCarthy the decorator he does a great job
Make your room nice, spend a few bob
School headmaster Mr Salt, a lovely man who didn’t pick fault
Headmistress was Mrs Hayes, always kind and giving praise
The school was juniors and infants we studied the three Rs.
Playtime was exciting, playing on the bars
Oh Albert Lover sold sugar in little blue bags, butter out the barrel and packets of fags
Mr Peace, Waydecor. Norland Road, my abode
Mr Cook our beer-off, where Shipstones horses would unload
Rawson’s local chippy, Saturday were a treat
Fish, chips, pies, roe, they queued out in the street
Mr Ayres newsagent sold papers, comics, books
While Mrs Trott next door sold ornaments and cups
Lotus Street, the Queens Arms pub, plus another drapery store
Holmes was the tobacconist ...bonfire night we saved with him for
Sanderson’s, Beightons, Bramley’s, Tracey’s chips you’d adore
Co -Op George Smith, Reg Jones, Henson’s, the bus terminus near their door
Having reached Westminster Street I’ll have to rest my aching feet.
Across Ransom road to Flo Woods cafe, Tizer, Vimto ,have a laugh
I cross to the other side, oh how I love this road
Barber Bullocks .Lees and Alec Millers machine shops, Miss Exton’s shop was old
Bombay, Ronald Martin, Speed Electrics, Coxs, to name a few
Streaker’s pork butchers, who everyone knew
Meadow dairy, Public baths, Douglas White hardware
The Post Office, Marsden’s, Frank Tetley were all there
The Church, Kings Hall local Police and pubs
We did have parks, and fun at youth clubs
MY MEMORY"S been back to when I was young
St Ann’s Well Road, Oh wasn’t you fun
At Quality House I got my shoes, The Havelock the nearest booze
Lily Wakelin for your hair, Northampton Street, get your bath there
Mr Chettle the Dentist took out my Dad’s teeth
Next door was Dewhurst’s, get the braised beef
Taylors Opticians it is the last one.....but you know there’s more
Let your memory live on!!!!
Written with fond affection love Jean Morley Taylor x
I’m outside the Palais, with time on my hands
I’d stroll with my friends, where I lived in St Ann’s
From the top end of town we decided to go
In Central market with stalls row by row
We’d walk through just browsing, so much to se.
Materials, pots and confectionery
There was lots of stalls selling clothes
In the fish market, I’d hold my nose
Out of the doors on to Huntingdon Street
Visit Bath Street Park, an extra treat
We’d sit near the lion on Bendigo’s grave
Read all about him, wasn’t he brave?
Back at Empress Cinema, too late to go in
Ah, missed the latest, it was tales of Tin Tin
Up St Ann’s Well Road, it was bustling with folks
The barbers were busy cutting hair for the blokes
Saturday everyone seemed to be out, or just doing weekend chores
Opticians for glasses, jewellers for rings, and even perambulator stores
Snack bars ...shoe shops ...dry cleaners (about four)
Back in two minutes was a sign on the door
Bamfords large windows, don’t look inside.
In those days it was hushed if someone had died
Gents and ladies outfitters at Plunketts or Deans
Then Cavendish Pictures films on the big screen
Olive’s sweet shop, where all the kids queued
Getting ready before the film they viewed
There was fancy goods, grocers, fishmongers and more
Drapers and fruiterers and Boots Chemist store
Eric Bishop, your boots he’d repair.
Scrimshaw, pork Butcher, get your meat there
Bendix launderette, get the weekly wash done
Do them by hand and get them spun
Pownalls waste merchants we took our rags, extra coppers for wools in bags
Then McCarthy the decorator he does a great job
Make your room nice, spend a few bob
School headmaster Mr Salt, a lovely man who didn’t pick fault
Headmistress was Mrs Hayes, always kind and giving praise
The school was juniors and infants we studied the three Rs.
Playtime was exciting, playing on the bars
Oh Albert Lover sold sugar in little blue bags, butter out the barrel and packets of fags
Mr Peace, Waydecor. Norland Road, my abode
Mr Cook our beer-off, where Shipstones horses would unload
Rawson’s local chippy, Saturday were a treat
Fish, chips, pies, roe, they queued out in the street
Mr Ayres newsagent sold papers, comics, books
While Mrs Trott next door sold ornaments and cups
Lotus Street, the Queens Arms pub, plus another drapery store
Holmes was the tobacconist ...bonfire night we saved with him for
Sanderson’s, Beightons, Bramley’s, Tracey’s chips you’d adore
Co -Op George Smith, Reg Jones, Henson’s, the bus terminus near their door
Having reached Westminster Street I’ll have to rest my aching feet.
Across Ransom road to Flo Woods cafe, Tizer, Vimto ,have a laugh
I cross to the other side, oh how I love this road
Barber Bullocks .Lees and Alec Millers machine shops, Miss Exton’s shop was old
Bombay, Ronald Martin, Speed Electrics, Coxs, to name a few
Streaker’s pork butchers, who everyone knew
Meadow dairy, Public baths, Douglas White hardware
The Post Office, Marsden’s, Frank Tetley were all there
The Church, Kings Hall local Police and pubs
We did have parks, and fun at youth clubs
MY MEMORY"S been back to when I was young
St Ann’s Well Road, Oh wasn’t you fun
At Quality House I got my shoes, The Havelock the nearest booze
Lily Wakelin for your hair, Northampton Street, get your bath there
Mr Chettle the Dentist took out my Dad’s teeth
Next door was Dewhurst’s, get the braised beef
Taylors Opticians it is the last one.....but you know there’s more
Let your memory live on!!!!
Written with fond affection love Jean Morley Taylor x
Webmaster: Mavis Baker (co-admin of St Ann's Well Road Pre-Demolition (1970) Online Community)