Altham

rtbarton · 23-10-2008, 15:49

I have an address 32 Rock Mount, Altham from the 1936 phone book. Will this be the Altham on the A678 Burnley Road out of Clayton-le-Moors or Altham West on Whalley Road?

flashy · 23-10-2008, 15:57

Rock Mount is in Altham West, Whalley Road, Clayton Le Moors

rtbarton · 23-10-2008, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashytart

Rock Mount is in Altham West, Whalley Road, Clayton Le Moors

Cheers, Has that always been called Altham West, just wondering why it appeared as just "Altham" in the phone book.

flashy · 23-10-2008, 17:32

i dont know, i do know that It's definately in Altham though, its right next to the Greyhound pub(just up a bit)

MargaretR · 23-10-2008, 18:44

A house on that block (large terraced) was bombed out of existence in WW2
Is that why you are seeking its whereabouts?

pipinfort · 23-10-2008, 18:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretR

A house on that block (large terraced) was bombed out of existence in WW2
Is that why you are seeking its whereabouts?

Its not far from me , i know exactly where you mean Margaret

MargaretR · 23-10-2008, 19:04

My dad was in the AFS (auxillary Fire Service) and I recall him saying that it was the only house that was bombed round here - all other bombs fell on the moors, which just shows that 'the blackout' was effective. The germans were trying to bomb Howard and Bulloughs and ROF

rtbarton · 23-10-2008, 19:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretR

A house on that block (large terraced) was bombed out of existence in WW2
Is that why you are seeking its whereabouts?

My mother used to work for Riley's Chemicals and Colours in Clayton-le-Moors just before and during the war and her boss Conly Riley lived at number 32. I'm trying to find out about this firm (archives, members of the Riley family &c).

From what I can find out Conly lived there in 1936 and a Mrs C. Riley (presumably his widow) was there in 1954.

MargaretR · 23-10-2008, 19:21

This is the place where the bomb dropped - looks like the gap has been partly built on now
Altham West Accrington UK - Google Maps

glasgow guy · 23-10-2008, 19:32

I know where it is too...about 5 mins from my house...

Alan Gilmartin · 24-10-2008, 08:42

Go to Observer website, there is an article with photo of the bombing, in the history section.

rtbarton · 24-10-2008, 08:58

Any chance of a link to the History Section please? - can't see it on the home page.

MargaretR · 24-10-2008, 12:40

I struggled to find it too - but found via the Community section - then 'Looking Back'
Two die in first air raid on World War Two - News - Accrington Observer
The article says 'Clayton' - dont let that put you off - we are used to bad reporting in our local rag

rtbarton · 24-10-2008, 12:53

Thanks Margaret!

Retlaw · 24-10-2008, 13:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by MargaretR

My dad was in the AFS (auxillary Fire Service) and I recall him saying that it was the only house that was bombed round here - all other bombs fell on the moors, which just shows that 'the blackout' was effective. The germans were trying to bomb Howard and Bulloughs and ROF

There was never any bombing raids on Howard & Bulloughs. The nearest Royal Ordnance Factory was at Chorley.
It was the Germans on the way back from bombing Manchester, clearing the bomb racks, two incendiaries dropped on those houses, I saw them the day after. Chief Officer Crabtree was in charge at the fire.

I used to see and hear the Jerry planes flying over during night, then a few minutes later the sky would be lit up by the search lights around Manchester and all the ack ack guns would start up. A lot of those shells went up to 20,000 feet before they burst, and the fragments from some landed in Accrington, I still have some of those bits of shells.

Retlaw.