At last! Something is being SAVED!!
 

Its not all bad news - the Karrimor building is def. being SAVED!!! The scaffolding has already started to go up. The derelict mill, once "Walmsleys Leather Works", then "Mastabar Beltfasteners" then "Karrimor's", (who moved out in 1980), has been bought in a joint venture, and the four storey, Accrington brick faced building is to be transformed into offices and shops. Work has already begun on the adjoining building, which fronts Water Street. Photograph kindly taken by Owd Bert

It is good to see that the building is going to be restored, the council should make more effort with the rest of the old buildings. Keep the old places going.

Yep its definately good to see the old Karrimoor building being re-vitalised at last. I actually live on Avenue Parade and so pass it quite often, my mum even used to work in it all those years ago, so its been disappointing to see it deteriorate over the years. Will be good to see some life in it again. Now if only the same can be done for many other buildings and areas of land across the town.

here
 

here is another pic for you

Karrimor rises from the ashes
 

Hi, this photo was taken Sunday 18th as the scaffolding was being taken down. Its looking good! Wonder what the up to date story on it is.

Re: At last! Something is being SAVED!!
 

Thanks Atarah, Any sign of anything else good happening out there..

Re: At last! Something is being SAVED!!
 

Well it's good to know that everything in Accrington isn't automatically demolished but does anyone actually like this building? Does it have any architectural value?

My Dad and my Uncle worked there when it was Mastabar but I don't feel any personal attachment to it. It's a shame that we have lost far more interesting things than this.

Old Karrimor building
 

Here is a more up to date photo of the old Mastabar/Karrimor building. I notice Trevor Dawson - the estate agent - is in charge of the property. He's done well, used to work for Duckworths estate agents in St James Street. He seems to have most of the industrial buildings in this area.

I worked for Mastabar at Church many years ago. They had no canteen then, but the Avenue Parade works (which was actually Mastabar Beltfasteners - both owned by Fenners of Hull) had, so the firm provided a bus to get you from Church to Accrington. You then had the choice of either getting something to eat from town OR, you could go to the Accrington branch, go through the side door in Water Street (I always remember this HUGE clocking-in machine on the wall there) and upstairs, to the very top floor, where there was a works canteen. Really decent nosh and very inexpensive it was! Happy memories.

Re: At last! Something is being SAVED!!
 

I took a look at the estate agents board when passing the other day. It is being marketed as 'The Old Tannery' A bit of a leap from leather belt manufactory to a tannery. A touch of estate agent's whimsy there. Incidentally the houses being built on the site of the Redac Brick Works in Huncoat are being marketed as 'Honeycombe Heath'. Again, Strange that the place was neither a heath nor has anything to do with farming honey. But then again the spelling would indicate not a honeycomb which is what beees store honey in, but a short valley running up from the coast. I am confused.

Re: At last! Something is being SAVED!!
 

At least there's a connection there, Bob........what about our new estate at Church? "Spinners Court".....what relevance that name is, I have'nt a clue. The reservoir was there for a good 150 years, so maybe "The Old Lodge" estate would have made far greater sense. As far spinning, then I assume it is a connection with the cotton industry....in which case, Weavers Court would make more sense or even "Dyers Court" (which is what the water in the lodge was used for).