Children’s play time in the good old days was quite different to how it is today. There were no screens; no Minecraft or Pokemon Go, no Peppa Pig to keep the little ones entertained. The lucky children got one gift on their Birthday and at Christmas, and that was it – that one, lone gift was what they played with all year round. Children’s play time in the good old days required youngsters to use their imagination, to use their friends, and use the environment around them to have the best of times.
These photographs aim to remind us what life was like when the child’s favourite toy was a conker, when a child was allowed to run free until 9pm on a school night, when life was simpler, in some ways.
Boys happily play conkers in Bury, photograph from our Bury, The Golden Years book.Summer holidays in the Bury area. 2 young chaps are having a great deal of fun in their racing motor car which is beginning to fall apart at the wheels! Another lovely photograph from our Bury book: Bury, The Golden YearsGirls playing with their dolls on the streets in Liverpool in the 1950s. The one at the back is taking her play time very seriously! Photograph from our Liverpool, The Golden Years book.Fun and Games on Ancrum Street, Newcastle in 1928. From our Newcastle and Tyneside, The Golden Years publication.Two Youngsters have a disagreement on Cowesby Street, 1968. From our Nostalgic Memories of Manchester book.Young motorist in Cardiff fixes his car while his passenger waits impatiently for her ride, June 1936. Lovely photograph from our Cardiff Memories publication.
Holidays by the sea in the good old days were what many families spent their whole year looking forward to. It was popular to get in the car, or board a train and travel an hour or more across the country, to sit in the sun and wind on the sandy beaches, occasionally splashing in the water, ice creams at the ready. Seaside towns in England were the place to go, for families of all walks of life. In more recent years, this idea of the holiday by the sea or the ‘staycation’ has returned in popularity. Here’s some photographs from our books which summarise just why ‘holidays by the sea’ were and still are so very popular.
Beauty Contest on Redcar Beach, Teesside in August 1960. These girls not only had to turn out in their swimming costumes, they also had to hurdle a swimming rope whilst having their picture taken! Beauty contests became the standing dish at seaside resorts up and down the country after the Second World War. They were a new kind of entertainment for holiday makers, as the country moved on from the greyness and austerity of the 1940s. Photograph taken from our Nostalgic Teesside book.The sands at Marske, Teesside, look truly like some sort of perfect paradise in this photograph. The boats are in and the waves are crashing down in the distance. What a great way to spend a summer holiday. Photograph taken from our Nostalgic Teesside publication.Wow. We can only admire the craft of the sand artist as he creates marvellous tableaux from sand, on the 4th July 1936. He mostly made sand sculptures of animals and human figures, and my, they were fine pieces of art! The family in this photograph gaze in delight as their summer holiday is filled with art, ice cream, and sun bathing. This photograph is from our Southport book, Southport and Formby Memories.Here is a shot of Southport pier, the second longest pier in the UK after Southend. We can all remember those holidays by the sea where we spent our days strolling down the windy sea, looking for rides, donuts and candy floss. Another photograph from our Southport and Formby Memories book.Families gather on their holidays in Southport to watch this dapper gentleman on the beach. He a living out of playing upperclass twits and cads on his donkey, Gertrude. Photograph from our Southport and Formby Memories book.Holidays by the sea in Blackpool. A man wades through the water with his suit and tie on, trousers rolled up, while youngsters dive into what looks like very shallow water! Ouch! Photograph from our Blackpool Memories book.Do you remember being swung by your ankles on the beach? Too much fun is being had here on this beach in Blackpool…Happy faces all round on this lovely photograph taken from our Blackpool Memories nostalgia book.Line up Line up! A crowd of excited people queue up to go the Circus in New Brighton, Liverpool. This was a popular event after the second world war. Inside the arena the circus master cracked his whip and cracked our sides with laughter at the antics of the clowns. Photograph from our Liverpool Memories nostalgia book.Possibly one of the best things ever to exist in the world – ice cream on the beach! No day was complete without a cold sticky ice cream cooling you down after a hot and sunny day. We remember licking ice cream from around our mouths and that overwhelming feeling of satisfaction. We also remember feeling overwhelmed with devastation when we didn’t finish our ice creams in time and they melted, and fell, into the sandy abyss below. Delightful photograph of an ice cream seller on the beach in Blackpool. Photograph from our Blackpool Memories book.
In our beloved good old days, summers were long, hot, sunny and joyful. We can remember long days spent at lidos and paddling pools in the town centres, ice creams in hand, suncream on our noses, toes dipped in the cold and fresh water. Those were the simple summer pleasures. These days, we’re glad to get a day or two of sun in the summer time. Sometimes, with frost on our toes and icicles rather than ice cream dripping from our noses, we can’t even tell what season it is! Surely it’s wrong to have the heating on full blast the middle of July?
However, today, for once, we have sunshine! The sky is blue, the grass is green and the sun is shining down. And it’s hot! We know it won’t last long but we’re trying to enjoy it while we can. We have our sun hats on, our sunglasses at the ready and smiles imprinted onto our faces. It would be great to have a big splashy pool to jump into…
Lidos and paddling pools, summers and splashing, ice cream and sun cream. We’ve found various lidos and paddling pool photographs from our books, for you to dip your feet into. Jump in with a splash and enjoy!
Bury’s Clarence Lido in the late 60s, from our Nostalgic Bury book.Overstone Solarium Lido on the outskirts of Northampton. From our Memories of Northampton book.Southampton paddling pool, taken around 1965 from Memories of SouthamptonGrotton Lido in Oldham. We can hear the shrieks and splashes from here. Photograph can be found in More Memories of Oldham.Children pose for the photograph at Montem Open Air Swimming Pool, Slough, in the 1930s. See more Slough photographs in our Slough, Maidenhead and Windsor Memories book.Southlands Road Lido, Bromley, 1963. This fantastic photograph is taken from our Memories of Bromley book.
True North Books: Providing a special gift for Father’s Day.
Father’s Day is coming up very soon. It can sometimes be a struggle finding the right gift for your dad that isn’t the same gift that you get him every year.
‘Happy Father’s Day, Dad.’ You say shyly as you hand him over his yearly socks. The same socks that you get him for Father’s Day, Christmas, and his Birthday, these particular ones say each day on the week per pair. Truly exciting. He is grateful, he has to be, and it’s the thought that counts. But on this Father’s Day you want to give him a gift he is truly pleased with.
Here at True North Books we have the perfect Father’s Day gift option for those of you who want to get your dad something really special this year.
Get your dad one of our treasured nostalgia Books.
Here are are few fantastic father’s day related photographs from some of our most popular nostalgia books. Enter code: Fathers1 to receive a 10% discount on all our books.
Pleading for the ice cream money from your dad has finally paid up as you queue up to get your tasty treat. From Bury, The Golden YearsLarge Cargo in Leeds… From our latest Nostalgic Leeds book.Norwich Carnival in July 1931. Do you remember attending here with your mum and dad? Photograph taken from our stunning Norwich nostalgia book: Norwich, The Golden YearsDad’s and son’s day out at Manchester Race Course, 1941, taken from our brilliant Manchester Memories nostalgia book: Manchester MemoriesThe dads are working in the Dockside in Hull, 1956. From our fantastic Hull nostalgia books: Hull nostalgia
Fantastic News, our gorgeous new Bury book is finally with us. At 12.99 only, and filled with some of the best Bury black and white photographs you’ll ever get a chance to see, this book is one for your shelf. Page after page of pure Bury nostalgia, with a section that includes the company histories of some of the most reputable and well established companies in Bury. This book is incredibly interesting and will leave you with that warm, hazy glow of nostalgia that is often so hard to retrieve.
Take a look at this photograph. This photograph is of the Bury Market Hall Fire, November, 1968. The fire in Bury which destroyed the Market Hall was the subject of many photographs, when it lit up the sky in that crisp and dark November, over 30 years ago. Misery was caused to dozens of small business owners, who saw their livelihoods go up in smoke on that winter’s night. Bury folk were sad too; after all, the market had served them well for almost 70 years, and to many it seemed like a passing of an old friend, when the news spread around the town on the following day.
We have been lucky enough to get hold of this fantastic, nostalgic poem surrounding the fire.
With many thanks to Vera Kirkby. This poem is taken from her late mother’s collection and was in the Bury Times after the fire took place.
Bury Market Hall Elegy.
A mass of twisted girders where stalls were bright and gay;
How sad we are for Bury this bleak November day.
Chocolates, biscuits, tinsel, crackers; ready for December.
Laughter round the toy stalls,and hot sweet cups of tea;
Tripe, pigs feet and trotters, now just a memory.
Glacé cherries, candied peel, fur hats and cut glass.
“Move along there! Mind your backs! Let the trolley pass”.
Queues three deep for bacon; a stall with fancy cheese.
New and old together,all trying to please.
Clothes,shoes all and slippers; aprons,wool and lace;
Lampshades, carpets, mops and buckets, creams for the face.
Daily bargains, Eccles cakes, material by the yard;
To all of who loved you, this blow is very hard.
Fresh meat, bread and frozen foods, towels and plastic ware;
Buttons, bobbins, China …EVERYTHING sold there.
Pet foods and polish. “Keys cut while you wait”.
Nothing to much trouble. What a dreadful fate!
Our tears may not help you, but we have wept for you.
Dear Bury Market. We pray you’ll pull through.
For more Bury nostalgia check out our Bury books: Bury Nostalgia
A while ago we published a post on where to visit in Yorkshire if you’re in the mood for some seriously nostalgic nostalgia. Now don’t worry Lancashire, we didn’t forget about you. We have gathered together lots and lots of places to visit in the lovely luscious land of Lancashire for our friends in Lancashire, wanting some good old Lancashire nostalgia in their life. Read on and see where you should visit in Lancashire, when you just want some reet good beltin’ nostalgia.
Bolton – Bolton, by gum Bolton. Renowned for a rich heritage which includes canals, coal, cotton, railways and famous names such as William Hesketh, Samuel Crompton and the Duke of Bridgewater, Bolton has a rich industrial history and many great sites to be enjoyed by tourists and its own habitants. With a range of memorable experiences to offer such as the Bolton Industrial Heritage Town Centre Walking Trail and the Crompton Trail, you’ll gain a much more insightful understanding of how Bolton became the place that it is today.
Bolton Wanderers
Oldham – Oldham is another industrial town in Lancashire, and is often rather windy! With great heritage sites such as the Gallery Oldham and the Saddleworth Museum, you can visit Oldham and leave with a greater understanding and fondness towards its history and heritage.
Field construction workers in the second world war, Oldham
Manchester – Home of the industrial revolution, the computer, the football league and of course, Top of the Pops, Manchester’s heritage is pretty spectacular. Visit the Manchester Cathedral, Albert Square, and the Manchester Town Hall, hit the various old Manchester pubs and you’ve already covered about a day’s worth of Manchester nostalgia entertainment, and yes, there’s heaps more nostalgia in Manchester to enjoy. Take a look at some of the attractions in Manchester here.
Manchester Race Course, 1941
Preston – Originally named ‘Priest’s Tun (farm) and home to England’s first motorway and Wallace and Gromit’s creator, Nick Park, Preston is another area in Lancashire that’s bursting with industrial history. Visit Preston’s stunning town hall or check out the Harris’ Museum and Art Gallery – you’ll be very pleasantly surprised!
The snowy Ribble, Preston, 1940
Burnley – Renowned as the home of the Pendle Hill Witches and the fantastic Ian Mckellen, Burnley, although very rainy and often quite grey, has a rather colourful and quirky history. Take the Pendle Hill walk and relive the notorious pendle witch trial. Visit the Queen Street Mill Textile Museum or the Triangle Visitor Centre, where you can visit the Victorian School room, the Edwardian Bathroom and the Weaver’s Dwelling – and you can actually have a go at weaving! Lots to see, lots to learn, in the land of Burnley.
Blackpool – Famous for the Blackpool tower, its Christmas lights and the lovely seaside it offers, Blackpool is one of those places which became popular through tourism and remains popular through tourism. By 1881, Blackpool was a thriving seaside resort offering the full fun day out – piers, donkeys, candy floss. Fancy some nostalgia in Blackpool? Visit the Blackpool tower, eat fish and chips with your family among the promenade. Get cold in the sea and feel really very nostalgic about swimming in the sea in Britain in the ‘good old days’. See some more Blackpool heritage guided tours here.
Blackpool Pleasure Beach in The Victorian Times.
Blackburn – Blackburn was once the ‘weaving capital of the world’ and is brimming with history and heritage. It now boasts festivals like the Blackburn Heritage Festival, which includes various events, that invite people to relive and revisit Blackburn’s history. Throughout the year you can enjoy various heritage trails in Blackburn and Darwen, these show off its cotton making history and enable you to take a step back into a time so long ago, visit the Anglican Cathedral and the Blackburn museum and art gallery, to be enthralled with Blackburn heritage.
Blackburn Market
Bury – Across the UK, Bury is known for its traditional market and its Bury Black Pudding Stalls. Since the new Metrolink has been developed, it has risen in popularity due to easier access from visitors far and wide. take a ride on the East Lancashire Steam Railway, visit its fantastic market and enjoy some of the lovely historical buildings in Bury while eating its unbelievably tasty black pudding, and we think you’ll leave pleasantly satisfied.
Boxing Day 2015 was a day that will be remembered by many. This was the day that floods devastated the Calder Valley destroying homes, businesses, schools and personal belongings. The bad news kept coming and the day after York, Greater Manchester, and Leeds were all under water.
There is some good news though, and this is it. Flooding is part of our wet and rainy history, and due to a fantastic community spirit we have always pulled through and come back better, stronger, and drier than ever before.
We have gathered together some flood photos from the so called ‘good old days’, mostly from our nostalgia books which show us just how bad the floods used to be.
Derby, 1932. Children seeing the lighter side to floods outside Woolworths on Victoria Street. From our Derby Memories book.
Newcastle, 1941 Chatsworth Gardens, Westerhope. Completely under water. Two boys sail a homemade boat across the street! Taken from our Newcastle and Tyneside books.
Reading. 1928. Floods sink a Thornycroft bus trying to get passengers from A to B. More in our Reading books.
Floods in Macclesfield, date unknown. More in our Macclesfield book.
Princess Street, Blackburn. This area was suitably named ‘Waterfall District’. Photograph of crowds of people and policemen trying to rescue someone stuck in their house! Taken from our Blackburn book.
Boy fishing in the Mytholmroyd floods, in the ‘good old days’. Date Unknown, but what an incredible photograph!
The Day After The Night Before. The day when the water clears after the floods is often the hardest. Dirty water leaves floors and homes and possessions contaminated, so even if they are dry, they are no longer usable. This photograph shows the cleaning up operation of the floods in Bolton, July 1969, on Wolfenden Street. Taken from our Nostalgic Bolton book.
And that’s enough flooding for one blog. That’s enough flooding for one year, for one decade, for one century! Hope you enjoyed seeing some photographs of floods in the good old days…
