Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

The smallest house in Great Britain can be found on the quayside at Conway, N Wales. Bet not many of you know that here in Accrington we also had such a tiny house.

Any of you remember Pitt Street, which used to be the name for the stretch of road behind the shops on Abbey Street, the side where the Arden Pub is. Eastgate is the name you will know it as. You will all know the alleyway now blocked off on Abbey Street (it faces the top end of Warner Street) - next to a dentists and a butty shop. That alleyway took you through to Pitt Street. We always used it when coming into town from Accy College (after having been studying shortand and typing!!! :)). I really dont know how long this tiny house survived, but I dont think I would have liked to live in it (easy to clean though! :)).

Anyone any memories of this area of town?

(There was also a very tiny house on the bend on Nuttall Street. It was "tucked back" from the road and was more of less facing the bottom windows of the Star Pub)

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

There was also Higher Pitt St, from Plantation St to the junction with Pinch Belly Rd.

Retlaw.

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

Just found out that this small house was built inbetween the old block and the newer block of cottages. Originally there was a dyke here that divided the lands of the Peels and the Lee-Warners. The house in the photo was no 22 Pitt Street and at one time lived in by John Parkinson, once a Treasurer of the Accrington Naturalists Society. Here also was born Mr Henry Parkinson, "Accrington Friend and Wellwisher" - a great benefactor to our town. He was responsible for, amongst many others, the gardens and lily pond in Oak Hill Park c1932. Maybe you are a Parkinson? They could be your family!

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

Don't recall that house, assume was on right hand side going up towards Plantation st. was a strange owd chap lived up top end on right in a large house, possibly was Higher Pitt st, which i'd forgot about until Retlaw mentioned, used to shout n chase us kids away if ever we were near his house, he also had "George Thompson" the local bobby after us on his pushbike, only memories i have atarah.:D

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

Do you mean that strange chap who wore a pork pie hat, there was one who never spoke but was muttering to himself.
We used to think he was German spy.
Turns out he was a WW1 vet who suffered from shell shock.

Retlaw.

Ps I did a typo when I mentioned Pinch Belly Rd,
it should have been Pinch Belly Row.

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

My great grand parents live at No. 26 at the turn of the century and later at No.40 and my great uncle and his family live at No. 37.

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

always he seemed to have a blue top coat on, did wear a hat, what kind i can't remember now. n wouldn't have known anyway at that age.:)

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

If we are talking about the same man, he lived in the Flea Pit at the end of Bunny's Back.

Retlaw.

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

not sure about bunnys back,would that be the raggy back? with "Readers Rag shop half way up? if it was yon, that was "Owd Henry" who lived in the Rag Shop, different chap.:)

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

Sure I have seen another photograph of a very small house in Accrington .. can't remember where though ... tucked in a corner ?

In the meantime, whilst I ponder .. here is a 'photo of my bother and myself outside the house in Conway. That lady peering out of the door must have been quite small... probably why she got the job as the guide..:D

Attachment 14808

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

No Reiders Rag Shop was actually 1/2 way up Back Water St, on the right. Bunny's Back ran from Birtwistle St to Higher Pitt St.
Retlaw.

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

And now look at you. Thats what time does. My father used to say every woman gets the face she deserves by the time she's 30, and you've earned yours. :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Retlaw

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

Ah know the one ya mean now, used that back frequently when i lived at "Black Annies" on Birtwistle st.:D

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

OK, so now were both singing from the same hymm sheet. When you came out of Bunny''s Back and turned left into Higher Pitt St, the Flea Pit was on your left. What was that building originally called.

Retlaw.

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

Dunno but was the owd guy n eastern european or summat?

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

It used to be a pub called the Prince of Wales.
The chap was I refered to with then pork pie hat,
I was led to believe that he was a WW1 vet who suffered from shell shock.
When we were kids we did'nt realise what was wrong with them.
I came into contact with a few over the years until
the mid 1960's, its impossible to imagine what it must have been like to be tormented like that, for over 40 years after WW1 ended, unable to speak properly, trembling all the time and the fear of a sharp noise, and no counselling, no proper social services, or help like todays pampered lot.

Retlaw.

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

know what ya mean retlaw, used to work in 70s wi n owd polish guy,who lived oer arrod or rishton way, if a plane flew oer he used to dive flat on floor of the yard, yeh don't understand how rough it was when yer young.:o

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

I have been in touch with "Owd Bert" and he has kindly loaned me a coloured photo from a few years back, which I can share with Accywebbers. I wish I could visualise all of Pitt Street, but I cant. I have read that the higher part of the street was blocked by houses which formed almost a cul-de-sac but connected with Birtwistle Street by a passage which went by the name of the "Mouse Trap". Here was The Prince of Wales hotel, kept at one time by a William Mitchell. (The one from Owd Bert will help you visualise the area of town we are discussing). It is said that William M. once went out to Australia during the gold rush. There is supposedly a street named after him in Melbourne (wonder if there still is?). After returning to Accrington (hopefully, rich!) he became host of the hotel. Any Mitchells tracing their family tree? He could be related!

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

If you look at the old maps, you can see where they demolished the end house on Higher Pitt St and two houses in Birtwistle St to make it a through street to connect with Hargreaves St.
Think it was done just before WW1.
The picture which shows the Prince of Wales still standing, also shows the remains of Bunny's Back along side.

Retlaw.

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

The rear of the buildings in picture 2, is this the rear of Abbey Street ?

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

Yes it is:)

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

yeh should remember that view mate, i do n you lived nearer. the owd chap lived in that large house.:)

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

Brain doesn't function as quick as it used to and it's difficult to visualise when most of it has been knocked down.

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

Do you remember the buildings in picture 1 Cashy - you are older than me.

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

My Mum was born at 45 Pitt St in 1947, i'll show her this when i see her at the weekend, see what she remembers.

Re: Anyone any memories of old Pitt Street
 

My great-uncle Wilfred Burton lived with his wife Esther on Pitt Street. He died in 1956.