Abbey Grange?

WillowTheWhisp · 26-09-2005, 13:14

What's all this about then?

A couple of strangers in town asked me where the "Abbey Grange Shopping Centre" was as they hadn't been able to find it.

I asked if they meant the Arndale Centre (we were on Broadway) but they said no, they'd been in those few shops and they'd followed the sign posts up Infant Street but not been able to find "the other shopping centre".

Curiouser and curiouser I wondered if they meant that bit where Netto is on Eastgate and told them that it's only a couple of shops and a supermarket.

I really couldn't work out what they were looking for as they kept repeating "The Abbey Grange Shopping Centre" and I kept telling them we'd only got one shopping centre which was the Arndale.

It wasn't until I was standing in Peel Sreet waiting for a Fern Gore bus that my eye alighted upon the signpost of many wonders outside Mannings and it does indeed have one arm pointing up Infant Street with the legend ""Abbey Grange Shopping" Now if it had said "Abbey Street shops" it might make more sense.

I wonder how many more unsuspecting visitors to the town have gone off on a wild goose chase looking for a non-existent shopping centre?

chav1 · 26-09-2005, 13:35

this must be a new trick to get people into accy

simply make a place sound posher than it actualy is then hope they give up looking for wherever it is they want and spend cash in the town center

Tealeaf · 26-09-2005, 14:00

I think its just a marketing scam dreamt up by some clown in Lancashire County Council's tourism section; another bureaucrat with nothing to do but dream up crackpot ideas at great public expense.

http://www.lancashiretourism.com/dis...plore.asp?id=6

WillowTheWhisp · 26-09-2005, 14:12

Wow that makes Accrington sound positively fantastic with its wonderful Victorian market. What a disappointment it must be for people who are tempted to visit when they actually see the mess we've been left with.

Gayle · 26-09-2005, 14:14

No it's not. It's been called that for about thirty years. It's the big shop at the top of Peel St that used to be a collective of smaller stalls and shops inside - it used to specialise in school uniforms and really cheap stuff. I haven't been in it for years.

cashman · 26-09-2005, 14:18

never heard of it,never noticed that sign, makes me wonder how those people heard about it? unless as willow they came across the sign! or have these dingbats @h.b.c. been advertising our NEW shopping center? the mind boggles, lol

accymel · 26-09-2005, 14:40

Well its one way to pee off potential customers & make us look stupid!!

Only thing abbey wise is the abbey st stores

Tealeaf · 26-09-2005, 14:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle Knight

No it's not. It's been called that for about thirty years. It's the big shop at the top of Peel St that used to be a collective of smaller stalls and shops inside - it used to specialise in school uniforms and really cheap stuff. I haven't been in it for years.

OK Gayle....do you think you could possibly elucidate as to why a dump like that can justify an entry on a publicly-funded website and it's own signpost in Accy town centre?

Gayle · 26-09-2005, 14:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

OK Gayle....do you think you could possibly elucidate as to why a dump like that can justify an entry on a publicly-funded website and it's own signpost in Accy town centre?

Nope, can't! Just because I know it exists doesn't mean that I think it's worth visiting.

Tealeaf · 26-09-2005, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle Knight

Nope, can't! Just because I know it exists doesn't mean that I think it's worth visiting.

Well, you don't think its worth visiting and I don't think its worth visiting and alot of people on here & in Accy don't think its worth visiting; so on what basis has this establishment been able to obtain its taxpayer-funded signpost and website entry?

chav1 · 26-09-2005, 15:36

i hope we find out how soon coz i would realy like sighn posts to my house so that royal mail can get my mail to me instead of the scroat at the bottom of my street

lettie · 26-09-2005, 16:10

Sorry folks........ I can't help myself........... I've just read the link that Tealeaf posted and I'm wondering if there may be another Accrington out there. Maybe in some lovely shopper's paradise, well preserved parallel universe....

chav1 · 26-09-2005, 17:37

my favourite quote from that site tealeaf posted

Quote:

Indeed, Hyndburn is a shopper's paradise!

if one only has £1.00 in their pocket then yes i would be inclined to agree

Gayle · 26-09-2005, 18:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tealeaf

Well, you don't think its worth visiting and I don't think its worth visiting and alot of people on here & in Accy don't think its worth visiting; so on what basis has this establishment been able to obtain its taxpayer-funded signpost and website entry?

Signposts aren't necessarily taxpayer funded. For example, I've been trying to get one in Burnley for Mid Pennine Gallery and it would cost £2,000 to do (before you start on one - we're not going to have it done). My point is that you have to apply to the Council for permission, if they grant it you have to pay them before they'll put it up.

Abbey Grange has been there a really long time, so I can only assume that the sign has been there a long time too! It used to be a fairly big shopping area before the Arndale was built so perhaps that was how it became eligible.

garinda · 26-09-2005, 18:26

I call that place Ray Lindens, which I think it was thirty odd years ago.