Con Club - Page 3

jaysay · 14-04-2010, 10:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'erindoors

My step mum was Stewardess when it closed as a Conservative Club, as I remember, it went into Administration! x

I knew the the Stewardess at the time it closed, but I'v lost lots of those little grey since and can't for the life in me remember her name

Barrie Yates · 14-04-2010, 16:20

[quote=jaysay;806268]The Con in its hey day was used by all the community, Saturday and Monday nights in the sixties was choker block, its one problem was all those bloody stares

[/quote

It was always packed on Saturday nights in the mid/late '50s - you often needed a ticket to get in, which used to be on sale from 5 or 6 o'clock - I lived nearer than my mates so i was always elected and then we could go for a few pints before hand - Happy Days, Fantastic Memories

LYNX1 · 15-04-2010, 06:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andym

Thanks for linking to my site at www.theviewfromthenorth.org.

Acquiring a listed building and letting it rot until it's beyond economic repair (especially with the ridiculous demands placed on the restoration of listed buildings by English Heritage) is a tried and tested way of over-riding planning rules. However, it is more above board than finding that arsonists have burnt the place down, which is just as effective.

I think that was the plan all along......it's being done on a regular basis nowadays and I for one think it should be stopped, why should we lose all of these beautiful old building so that these people can make extra money...it's a crying shame

Barrie Yates · 19-04-2010, 15:38

It seems that throughout Brittany the old buildings stay in the towns - in every town there are medieaval buildings - a few of which still bear the scars fom English cannon balls. Shop/house fronts cannot be changed even by repair - must be as original. Internals can be changed to suit the business.
Any new business construction must be in one of the business parks, new houses on the outskirts of towns or in areas with no historical/architectural value.
The majority of towns look good and are a pleasure to walk round.

'erindoors · 20-04-2010, 12:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaysay

I knew the the Stewardess at the time it closed, but I'v lost lots of those little grey since and can't for the life in me remember her name

Marian Cook, and the sec was Joan Scholes(sp?)

Accrington Lad · 10-12-2012, 00:05

Has anyone got any photos of the building when it was open? I have looked all over the internet. I have plenty of shots of the building as it is now because i visit it regularly with friends. But I want some photosfrom its heyday. If anyone has got any please share them, it would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Accrington Lad · 11-12-2012, 12:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by garinda

I presume that's a mistake.

Only other explanation I can think of is it might once had land in front of it, that opened on Blackburn Road, but that seems highly unlikely.

No you are correct, Cannon Street was previously Blackburn Road too!
Ive been doing a lot of research, check out this newspaper article that I found!

Atarah · 11-12-2012, 14:42

Cant read the article, but am very sceptical with what you say. I know its a cutting from Accrington library, I can make that much out, but the writing is all blurred (and too small).

Accrington Lad · 11-12-2012, 16:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atarah

Cant read the article, but am very sceptical with what you say. I know its a cutting from Accrington library, I can make that much out, but the writing is all blurred (and too small).

Click the image above once then it should expand out a bit, then click it again and it should open in a new window and then if you are on internet explorer you can zoom even more by clicking the image again. Hope it help. So to describe that in a short way, just keep pressing the picture and it should get bigger and bigger.

Atarah · 11-12-2012, 18:18

Know what? My first thoughts are, this article is NOT about the Con Club on Cannon Street, but the fine building which is still, as I speak, at the bottom of Eagle St and Blackburn Road. (once owned by Hyndburn Council but unfortunately now empty). I am led to believe that the Con Club we know was built in 1891, 10 years after that article was written. I think a lot more research needs to be done on this matter.

Wynonie Harris · 11-12-2012, 18:26

Yes, I think that too especially with phrases like "on the left towards Eagle Street". Yet another handsome edifice that we all probably walk past many times without really noticing it!

Atarah · 11-12-2012, 18:30

Hi, I have just remembered something. In Accrington library there is most definitely a SKETCH done by Henry Ross, the local architect. I have just searched through my paperwork at home and unfortunately cant just put my finger on it, but ... I WILL! I am more and more convinced the heading written on Accrington Library "paperwork" does NOT refer to what you have assumed is our famous Accy Con. To be continued ...........
ps no way was Cannon Street ever Blackburn Road! Trust me!

Gordon Booth · 11-12-2012, 19:00

It does say ' to erect at the junction of Blackburn Road and Eagle Street, nearly opposite the Railway Hotel'. Is/was the Railway not on the main road?
No mention of steps at the front, just a pointed gateway.
The Conversation room is 'lighted from Blackburn Road' and the Smoke Room 'lighted from Eagle Street'.
I can't see a fine building like that being erected then replaced within 10 years by an even finer one on Cannon Street. Was this a plan which never happened?

Atarah · 11-12-2012, 19:26

bit more to add to the puzzle:-
The Conservative Club, Blackburn Road, is a commodious building, opened in September, 1882, the cost of erection being about £4,000. The club was formerly held in premises in Abbey Street, which had become inadequate for the purpose.

Gordon Booth · 11-12-2012, 19:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atarah

bit more to add to the puzzle:-
The Conservative Club, Blackburn Road, is a commodious building, opened in September, 1882, the cost of erection being about £4,000. The club was formerly held in premises in Abbey Street, which had become inadequate for the purpose.

So in Sept 1881 they had just started knocking down the old building, by Sept 1882 the new Con club was open. That's good going. It does say in the cutting 'The cost, including the site but exclusive of furniture,will reach £2500' so £4000 seems right.
Then 9 years later they move again to a magnificent newly built Cannon Street!
There may have been a lot of muck but there must have been plenty of brass in Accrington in those days.