Bakerlite.co.uk

Photo Album-England

Winewall, near Colne, Lancashire

Winewall is a cluster of houses at the top of the steep hill leading south out of Cottontree. I used to try and cycle all the way up. Try being the operative word.

	This is a picture of New Row taken by John Brown-Kenna who lives in the area. This is the track leading down to Wellhead behind New Laithe Cottage.
Cottontree and Colne seen from Winewall, clouds, dark Satanic mills, chimneys and all.		Tea break at my uncle's farm around 1960: Barrett and Spencers, egg producers at Winewall, nr. Trawden, Colne Lancashire. Graham Laycock, Eric Barrett, Bertha Davidson and Douglas Barrett. Sadly, Eric and Douglas Barrett are no longer with us.
	My uncle Fred and his business partner, friend and next door neighbour, Alvin Barrett. Together, they founded Barrett and Spencer in the early post war years. The business is, I believe, now run by Alvin's grandsons. Uncle Fred did not have any family.	Today's view towards Colne from Winewall
I received this picture from Lesley Barnes. It was taken from the Mire Ridge outside Trawden cemetery in May 1974. It shows amongst other things the Winewall Inghamite Chapel which has now been converted into apartments and also New Laithe Farm and my Auntie Muriel and Uncle Fred Spencer's cottage.
Wellhead	The picture here is of the cottage which was once a shop at the top of Winewall. This is the one referred to in the e-mail below. I remember it well as a small child as I used to pass it on the way to my best friend of the time, Stephen Hartley.		. I would love to hear from Stephen again if he is looking in!
		This is a picture of the Inghamite chapel taken (and the one of the shop) in about 1998 by Gillian Greenwood.

In March 2007 Valerie Watson wrote:

Hi Mike, I was interested to see your web site, and this brought back a lot of memories.

My name is Valerie Watson, { nee Miller } and with regard to Dianne Mathers who writes from Spain, her Father Walter was my Uncle.

I never knew that he had any children. My Father was Henry [ Harry ] Miller, who was Walter's brother. Walter also had another brother called Richard, and two sisters, Gladys, and Christie. My Grandmother was Mary Jane Miller, [nee Thexton ] and lived next door to Bessies shop at the top of the hill in Winewall. Later, she went to live with my Auntie Gladys, and Uncle Jim on Gorden street Colne. My cousin Jennifer, and Reggie also lived there. Jennifer went into teaching, as did Reggie.

Unfortunately I haven't kept in touch with my side of the family, and it must be over thirty years with the exception of my Father's funeral, where I met up with Brian Titherington, who also attended along with my Uncle Jim.

I still live locally, and would love to hear from them, so that we could reminisce.

I was interested to note that Colin's wife is a nurse; so am I.

In March 2006 I received this e-mail from Keith Mitchell

I have just discovered the Winewall Website and read with interest the contributions and reminiscences. I remember almost all the names mentioned. My name is Keith Mitchell and I will be 70 years of age later this year. My father and mother were Thomas and Lena Mitchell and we were living in New Row in 1936 and then moved to 16 Hilltop about 1938, where we lived for the next 20 years. My parents then moved to Buckinghamshire.

My Grandfather William Edmonson Mitchell was the Choirmaster at the Inghamite Chapel for many years, and my father used to occasionally play the organ there. The Inghamite Chapel shown in the photograph and now apparently converted to dwellings, was in fact the Inghamite Chapel Day School. The actual Chapel was about 50 metres behind and was demolished many years ago, my sister Connie was married in the Chapel in the 1950's.

I was great friends with Reggie Dixon for many years and I am sure that he will remember me. The shop referred to in the photo was at my time run by Martha Poole and later by sisters Bessie and Jenny and their brother. Reggie and I spent many hours sat in the sunny corner by Martha's shop planning our next adventures, perhaps to Wycoller or into the Quarry.

In August 2004 I received an e-mail from a lady who now lives in Spain and last visited Winewall when she was just four years old. Local people will recognise the route that she remembers so well. This is part of her memory of that occasion:

'I would like to thank you for a wonderful short time sitting on the edge of my chair. I will explain. First I am sorry I have nothing to add to your collection of photo´s I only wish I had. My name is Mrs Diana Mather and live with my husband on the Costa del Sol in Spain. (Forgive me for rambling):

My maiden name was Miller. My grand parents lived in Winewall..... I last visited there as a 4year old. So I do not have addresses or much else. But a little memory. One never knows maybe you can enlighten me about my own family. Maybe I am expecting too much.

Here goes, my memory-

We went up a long hill, fields and low walls on either side . At the top of the hill turn left. A row of houses on your left. I think one was a little shop. Anyway, my grand mother and grand father lived around the middle of the row. Also living in the house were Uncle Jim and wife Gladys and their son. Gladys was my Fathers sister. My father was Walter Birket Miller. There was a long garden with chickens and the privvey was down there too.

Come back out the front door and turn right. Go past the top of the lane you came up from Colne and straight on, on the left was a Church [Inghamite] a Quaker church and Grandma Miller used to clean in there. Keep on going up the lane with cottages on the left. My fathers other sister lived in one of them: my Auntie Christie. She her husband, and a son called Brian. If he were alive now he would be at least in his 70´s. Further on up the lane I think there was a split in the road (not sure anyway down there was the cotton mill. In which Gladies and Christie worked. And talked with only signals and moving mouths.

I just wonder if you ever heard or new any of this family. I wish I did. Not sure why I have written this, but it has released something in me which has been there for many many years and I feel good about it. For this I thank-you.'

I telephoned a friend of mine, Margaret Barret who lived on New Row for many years and she offered to contact the Brian in question. A few days later I received an e-mail from Brian's son Colin:

'....I am pleased to tell you that there are still plenty of your relations still living in the Colne area.

Your memory from being a 4 year old is quite incredible. I could follow exactly who and where you were writing about. I lived most of my younger days in Winewall.

We have never met, my name is Colin Titherington. My father is Brian Titherington (yes he is in his 70's he is 73). His mother was Christie - Walters sister.

The little shop at the top of the lane is where I spent many a penny as a child on sweets. It was owned by Bessie and Jenny when I was young. Alas it is now just a house.

Your grandparents (my great grandparents) William Henry Miller and Mary Jane Miller (nee Thexton) lived next to the shop as you remember.

I never knew that Jim and Gladys and son Reggie lived there until I read in your letter. My father Brian has confirmed they did. Reggie is still well and living a good retired life with many trips around the world. He has a fascination with long lost and distant family, so you can expect to be contacted by Reggie before too long. Reggie remembers you, he would be 7
when you were 4.

My own memories of your father are quite fond. He often came to visit my grandmother Christie when I was being looked after by her, and as a young child I often went to visit him in Colne with Christie. Walter, my father and me regularly went to watch the football at Burnley.

I never realised he had Birket in his name until your letter. Walters grandmother was called Ann Birkett.

If you are interested, I have quite an extensive family tree for Walter (part of which supposedly goes back 30 generations to before the Battle of Hastings to a Danish chieftain). The Millers are a fascinating branch of the family and were tinker types who
dealt in horses and pots and were travelling hawkers)

All of Walters ancestors came from the Kendal area, including his mother and father. More about all that later if you are interested.

Several family members still living locally still carry the Miller name, children and grandchildren of Walters brother Richard.

I think that is enough for now. I'll put you in touch with Reggie and Brian after your reply.

Best wishes

Colin Titherington
(your first cousin once removed!)'

It was so pleasing to be a small part in bringing back together two parts of a family with such strong connections to Winewall. The power of the World Wide web.

For some reason I was thinking about Winewall and decided to look on the Net, and came across your website. I couldn't believe it especially when I read the Feedbacks. One was from a Diane Mather. She talked about her Family the Millers. I am 72 yrs old now but in 1941 I was evacuated to Colne and lived at 5 Lane Top Winewall with a Mrs Miller. I was there for about 2 Yrs and attended Trawden Council School. Living in the House at the time was Mrs Miller (I don't remember a Mr Miller) her daughter Gladys and her husband Jim Dixon also their son Reggie Dixon, he would be about 2 yrs old at the time. Her other daughter Christie and her son Brian lived close by as described by Mrs Mather. I would dearly love to contact Mrs Mather if this is at all possible Thank you for your Website you have brought back many Happy Memories.	Ena Booth (formerly Bradley)
My name is Philip Mclardy it was my house on your site at the top of winewall lane it looks a little different but my family has confirmed. It is wonderful to live in Australia and see on your site my birth place ,Thank you.	Philip McLardy Service Manager	(Perth Western Australia)
Hello my name is Philip Mclardy I was born near and lived from 1967-1972 in an old double story house at the top of the hill on Winewall lane .The house then had a small store attached but my parents never had success in operating it ,I don't know the street number but it was on the corner (a t Junction) and across the road was two steel gates with stone walls and the rear garden had a stone wall which dropped down to the road .the house across the road sat much higher up supported again by a stone walls ,I was only 4 years and 11 months when I left to Australia but I remember so much of it even some very specific detail about a grave yard which was only a small walk for a 4 year old .The grave yard and church was located up the hill turning right at the t junction ????,would you have any recent photos to email or display on your site to show my children and wife hear in Australia .	Philip McLardy	(Perth Western Australia)
Thank you for sharing your great pictures of Winewall. My family used to live at 23 New Row, Winewall, next door to Douglas and Margaret Barrett, we knew a lot of people mentioned in your editorial. It brought back a lot of memories. My Father was Chairman of Trawden Forest, Winewall and Wycoller from approx 1955 - 1960 .	Anne Anderson	Canada