Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

An interesting article by Neil Sayer, L.C.C.'s senior archivist, about Italians in the north west, and in Accrington, including an amusing account of bicycling Horrace Bacigalupo.

News from the Archives edition 57 (Dec 2006

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Very interesting rindy, I especially liked,

"Good God Sir! what can we expect? This tyke comes from a background of culture that conquered the known world while we were still living in the historical equivalent of bicycle sheds, make an example of him immediately or next thing you know we'll have hoards of his kind and perhaps worse coming over and stealing our jobs".

We should have more of this swift Justice.
:p

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Aye, the cops should start by rounding up these drunks found staggering out the Railway Hotel most weekday afternoons.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Nowadays he'd more likely be given a hug by the policeman, and presented with a new a bike, to encourage him from breaking the law again, instead of finding himself before the magistrates, and named and shamed in the local paper for committing his heinous crime.

:D

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Distant memory - a Joe Bacigalupo, married to the daughter of Nellie Renshaw - lived on Countess St I think and at one time in Fielding Lane, way up the top.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

In the 1950s there was a Bacigalupo who had a barber shop on, I think, Richmond Hill Street near to its crossing with Ormerod Street. I seem to remember hearing that he had a daughter who became engaged to Bob Scott who played football for the Stanley at the time.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Don't you mean Bert Scott- that lovely tall slim winger I had a girly crush on at the time:o

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Bert is still batting Top bloke n friend of mine,was talking to his son just the other week.:)

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

There was a Bacigalupo at the Grammar School during the time I was there 1941-1945.Cant remember his Christian name though. Bob Dobson might know.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

No I don't know. There have been at least two Bacigalupos with barber's shops I think. I was under the impression that darwen was the Italian capital of Lancashire. Maybe they are left-overs from the constipation camp in Ossie during the war. There was a book about this published about 5yrs ago.

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

There was a lad barry bacigalupo attended the art school within the accrington grammer school round about 1949/50 lived in baxenden think he went on to the barrow print works as did most of the art students round about that

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Hi Bob,
Why 'constipation' camp? is there an interesting story or was it just a 'slip of the lip'?
Actually I can remember my mum taking me up to see what was left of the camp and also mentioning that many of the Italian prisoners actually married Ossie girls at the end of the war. Also she told me that at Xmas /Easter etc... some of the prisoners were invited to local homes.
Any info anyone??

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

In post 52 of this thread I've put the link on to the programme (part 1 of 5) about the camp.

Interviewd are some former (German) prisoner who married local lasses.

I hope you find it interesting.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/f...l-31151-4.html

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

And .... going back even further ...... around Warner Street area we had an Italian Ice Cream vendor! In 1889 Warner Street was classed as "the most demoralising place in the town". Mr. Louis Brown, the ice cream man, had premises in Warner Street, where he had an ice cream parlour. (not sure on this, but a possibility we are talking the bottom property of Warner Street/Cross Street)- where once Key Joe's, used to be, then it was lastly Red Rose Paints I believe. Two guys were charged with obstruction. They had been seen on the Sunday evening, drinking and dancing in the street, directly opposite the ice cream parlour! The Chief Constable said the house was a frequent resort of youths and young women on Sunday evenings, the boys for the most part being found smoking. On one Sunday there were seen to be 57 youths in the house - 45 lads and 12 lasses! Another day 30 in total. On another occasion, 99 lads and 5 lasses! Reports had been sent to the Watch Committee and the Chairman said it was necessary that members of the public should be aware of this "den of iniquity" and parents should take need of what was happening in the street. He said he regarded the house as the most demoralising place in the town. He did not think there was any beerhouse in the town that suffered this type of behaviour. This was in 1889! Things never change, eh!

Re: Accrington's 'Little Italy?'
 

Thanks so much, I did enjoy it, and seeing old Ossie almost brought a tear to my eye!!