Old Accrington
- Thread starter Retlaw
- Start date
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- heritage and history
Glad you put that photo on Retlaw. Has made me at last get round to giving some information I have intended doing for a while. Its sad that sometimes people are mis-led about historical information, not always intentional.
Your photo shows a rounded building (in the centre of the photo). This was the Toll Bar (Manchester Road and Grange Lane being on each side of it). At the other side of the road, between Grange Lane and Wellington Street, was another rounded building. This, many years ago, was known as Bew's Shop, then it became Riley's shop, then it was used as a small nursing home, then North Lancs Training Group used it, now its a house I believe. But ... somewhere along the line, someone has probably looked at pictures such as the one you have shown here Retlaw, and .. assumed ... it was the Toll bar and have now had a lovely plaque put on the wall saying it is the Toll House. WRONG!
Its the premises of Bew's shop. The sad thing is, people moving into the area will accept that this once was the Toll bar/house, cos they wont know any different.
But .. at least WE all know now, eh?
Your photo shows a rounded building (in the centre of the photo). This was the Toll Bar (Manchester Road and Grange Lane being on each side of it). At the other side of the road, between Grange Lane and Wellington Street, was another rounded building. This, many years ago, was known as Bew's Shop, then it became Riley's shop, then it was used as a small nursing home, then North Lancs Training Group used it, now its a house I believe. But ... somewhere along the line, someone has probably looked at pictures such as the one you have shown here Retlaw, and .. assumed ... it was the Toll bar and have now had a lovely plaque put on the wall saying it is the Toll House. WRONG!
Its the premises of Bew's shop. The sad thing is, people moving into the area will accept that this once was the Toll bar/house, cos they wont know any different.
But .. at least WE all know now, eh?
Attachments
Glad you put that photo on Retlaw. Has made me at last get round to giving some information I have intended doing for a while. Its sad that sometimes people are mis-led about historical information, not always intentional.
Your photo shows a rounded building (in the centre of the photo). This was the Toll Bar (Manchester Road and Grange Lane being on each side of it). At the other side of the road, between Grange Lane and Wellington Street, was another rounded building. This, many years ago, was known as Bew's Shop, then it became Riley's shop, then it was used as a small nursing home, then North Lancs Training Group used it, now its a house I believe. But ... somewhere along the line, someone has probably looked at pictures such as the one you have shown here Retlaw, and .. assumed ... it was the Toll bar and have now had a lovely plaque put on the wall saying it is The Old Toll House. WRONG!
Its the premises of Bew's shop. The sad thing is, people moving into the area will accept that this once was the Toll bar/house, cos they wont know any different.
But .. at least WE all know now, eh?
Your photo shows a rounded building (in the centre of the photo). This was the Toll Bar (Manchester Road and Grange Lane being on each side of it). At the other side of the road, between Grange Lane and Wellington Street, was another rounded building. This, many years ago, was known as Bew's Shop, then it became Riley's shop, then it was used as a small nursing home, then North Lancs Training Group used it, now its a house I believe. But ... somewhere along the line, someone has probably looked at pictures such as the one you have shown here Retlaw, and .. assumed ... it was the Toll bar and have now had a lovely plaque put on the wall saying it is The Old Toll House. WRONG!
Its the premises of Bew's shop. The sad thing is, people moving into the area will accept that this once was the Toll bar/house, cos they wont know any different.
But .. at least WE all know now, eh?
Attachments
I thought the picture would have explained that the property at the top of Wellington St and Grange Lane was NOT the "Toll House" It was Bews Shop, old folks home etc.
The TOLL House was demolished when they built the Fire Station Houses.
Look at the pictures again, the frontages are entirely different.
Retlaw.
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I doubt it is mentioned on their deeds, all that land surrounding the Christ Church area was part of Grange Farm, which belonged to Lawrence Duckworth.
The farm buildings were situated where Kemp & Murrays butchers shop was.
The word Cow House Post was only mentioned in the 1841/51 census directions, for the census takers benefit.
Retlaw
Much fun and amusement with this thread! I am the current owner of the wrongly attributed Toll House!! Very appreciative of the comments and the fact that my husband let you, Retlaw, see what state its in at the moment. We are trying our best to be sympathetic to the buildings former uses and hope to have some exciting plans for it in the future. We will not be removing any original features. If anyone can help with any further history of the building, as I really do love it, it would be great. NLTG left behind some framed articles and pictures - of which have been posted on here- but it would be nice to hear locals stories. Thanks again for clearing up mistakes. It's a pain to know that we will have to take out the etched glass which states 'The Toll House' in the outside lamp though!!!
Don't know but might be something to do with PP, over to our sleuth Kate
Don't know but might be something to do with PP, over to our sleuth Kate
You raise me to higher levels of knowledge than I have, Jaysay.
Possibly to do with safety or maybe valuable. Mind you, if valuable, would have disappeared years ago ..
Sure Bekibird will know why ... they will have asked of course.
Went and had a look again at your property, if you look at the width of the pavement on the Grange Lane side, it should be that width all the way round to Wellington St, the previous owners were ordered by the council to reinstate, the original pavement and to remove that wall. The lamp with the etched glass, is not an original type of street lamp of that era, and is stood in what used to be the pavement, it is an ornamental lamp, probably purchased from a garden center, also the plaque on the wall. There are photographs on this thread showng what it used to be like.
You need to watch out now, you may get lumbered with that pavement problem.
I don't think your husband was the one who let me take photographs in the basement, it was over 30 years ago.
Retlaw.
You need to watch out now, you may get lumbered with that pavement problem.
I don't think your husband was the one who let me take photographs in the basement, it was over 30 years ago.
Retlaw.
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We've had the building for about five years now ... I think!! Haven't heard anything from planning dept about the pavement but I will keep it in mind (thank you). Shame about the street lamp too (the age and probable provenance!!) I will one day get around to taking down the 'Toll House' signs as I don't like to have the property identified as something that its not.
I thought you might have been inside recently, Retlaw, as my husband was working on the ground floor last year and someone called around to ask if they could have a look inside. Might have been a former owner or just an interested passer by.
I am assuming PP refers to Planning Permission? I was going to take out the etched glass as it clearly and proudly states the house is The Toll House!! Might be a while before I get round to that though as the place needs other pressing works. Thanks again everyone.
I thought you might have been inside recently, Retlaw, as my husband was working on the ground floor last year and someone called around to ask if they could have a look inside. Might have been a former owner or just an interested passer by.
I am assuming PP refers to Planning Permission? I was going to take out the etched glass as it clearly and proudly states the house is The Toll House!! Might be a while before I get round to that though as the place needs other pressing works. Thanks again everyone.
It is a good few years since I was in that property, I was passing the building on the Grange Lane side, when I heard some one working in the cellars.
Those cellar widows are almost covered by the pavement, which happened when Grange Lane was raised to join with Manchester Rd, before that they were at ground level. I asked the chap who was working there if I could have a look, and took one or two pictures, which I've attached.
Retlaw
