BARCLAY HOUSE, SOUTHWAY 2012

by Dave Roberts

A crying shame. Paul Greenwood's photograph shows us Barclay House on the lower part of Southway, close to the shops on the approach to the Tesco Supermarket.
This once beautiful house and garden has fallen victim to planning blight, as have all the properties between Southway and Darlington Street, pending a decision by Tesco on what they plan to do with their existing store and the land they have acquired for its enlargement.
Barclay House is a particularly sad loss. It's a true Victorian gem retaining, as the estate agents would say, many original features including beautiful stained glass in the doorway, now hidden away behind ugly steel shutters designed to keep vandals  away.
That 'To Let' sign by the way, does not refer to Barclay House, but to a 'Deli & Sandwich Bar' - presumably the one in Wheelock Street owned by Johnny McAlinden until his recent untimely death,
It's not clear whether Barclay House will be available to let, although other property in the area has been, indicating that an announcement by Tesco on what they propose to do with the land may not be imminent.

Barclay House in happier days (STP photo)

UPDATE (MAY 2020): Barclay House was finally demolished on the 21st May 2020.

We're grateful to Amy Murray for permission to use her photos of the demolition.

Photo: Amy Murray

Photo: Amy Murray

The end of Barclay House was long, drawn-out and heartbreaking. After many years of dereliction and decay work began on clearing the whole site early in 2020. Progress was very slow and ground to a complete halt when the Covid-19 outbreak meant that work on all such sites was suspended for several weeks. 
Finally, on the 21st May,  the long-awaited bulldozers moved in.
Although Barclay House took its name from the fact that it was the residence of the manager of the nearby bank, we're told that the house actually predated the bank itself.

Facebook Feedback:
Editor's Note: The plight of poor old Barclay House struck a chord with many. It seems to have been everyone's dream house (including mine) over the years and to see it in such reduced circumstances is like seeing an old friend in trouble. Below is the feedback generated by the Facebook link to this entry:

Kath Walklate I used to look at that house over 58 years ago and wish I lived in it

Dave Roberts Yes. I've always loved the look of it, and I know many others have too. It's such a pity to see it as it is now.

Kath Walklate We used to come out of the pictures, which cost ninepence, and get a sixpenny mixed (chips and peas) and walk up 'picture alley'.

Geraldine Williams And everyone used to call at the little sweet shop just to the right of Southway to stock up before the film started! Was the proprietor a Mrs Atkinson?

Kath Walklate I'm not sure, Geraldine. I only recall Torchy. You didn't dare make a noise or he would throw you out!

Geraldine Williams I didn't know about Torchy, but I think he was mentioned in a Diary entry about Southway and how the kids tried to get into the cinema by the rear door and so avoid paying. He sounds like quite a character! Was he from Middlewich, and does anyone know his real name?

Kath Walklate I'll ask my older sister. She might know.

Susan Nugent I remember little Nora and her husband Arthur living in Barclay House. She might have been small, but you never crossed her! She was a good laugh when she worked at the Lily Works!

Geraldine Williams Yes, I remember Little Nora. I wonder what the history of the house is? You'd assume it was originally built for the Bank Manager at Barclays, but the name might just be a coincidence.

Gemma Blower I cannot believe you've featured this! I went past the other day and saw this house for the first time, and it's bugging me who owned it and why they're not doing anything with it. It's a beautiful house!

Wendy Johnson We went in one day when we were considering buying a choccy labrador. A lovely old house. What a shame it will be bulldozed to make way for Tesco!

Rachel Humphreys I totally agree, Wendy. Such a shame. And I bet the owners weren't so happy about the location of the current Tesco supermarket when it was first built. A beautiful house.

Michelle Woodcock I have always loved that house. A proper double-fronted dolls house! It's a disgrace to bulldoze such a beauty.

First published 27th June 2012. Updated and republished 21st May 2020, the day that Barclay House finally fell to the bulldozers.

LAST REMNANTS OF THE ROYAL OAK circa 2012

Photo supplied by Malcolm Hough

Following on from Malcolm Hough's early 20th century photograph of Lewin Street showing the long-lost Royal Oak public house, here's a modern snapshot, taken from Google Streetview, which shows the last remnants of the pub, demolished in the 1950s (?), which are to be found at the rear of the site of Niddrie's bus garage, next to the famous toyshop which itself bit the dust in 2012. The last remains of the pub, according to Malcolm, who had the information from local resident Trevor Williams, are the walls in the middle of this shot, underneath the modern wooden fence. To the right is the left-hand wall of the toyshop, complete with security camera and signs warning that the premises were under 24 hour surveillance - a testament to the vandalism and crime which plagued the business in its final days.

And now we seem to have another mystery on our hands. We recommend that this Diary entry is read in conjunction with the earlier one showing the Royal Oak,

Here are a couple of photographs of Niddrie's shop taken during its closing down sale in 2011:

Photos: Peter Cox

And here is the title from an earlier Diary entry about Niddrie's, called The Beginning Of the End

Photo: Salt Town Productions

It is evident from these photos that Niddrie's actually consisted of two parts - an old part and a new part, the left hand side being older than the right hand , which, presumably, was the portion of the premises built in the 1950s.  Beyond the old part of the building (out of shot to the left in the third photo) was the bus garage, the site of which is shown in our top photo.

If the walls behind that garage were those of the Royal Oak, how do we fit that building into the space where Niddrie's was, and what was the 'old' part before it became part of Niddries? Was it part of the Royal Oak? Or was it built separately? Or was that the part built in the 1950s, to be followed later by an even 'newer' part?

And where was the three storey house with the steep steps? Did that become part of Niddries in the 1950s? Or was it  originally part of the Royal Oak? Malcolm Hough and Trevor Williams are of the opinion that the Royal Oak was demolished 'in the 1950s when Niddrie's was built'. Did part of it survive?

How do we account for the whole space between the still extant houses, and the White Horse?

To make the problem clearer here, again from Google Earth, is the entire site as it was in 2011 during Niddrie's closing down sale. As can be seen from Malcolm's early 20th Century picture, the Royal Oak was very close to the White Horse, which can be seen on the right, with, at most, a small alleyway between the two. If the wall underneath the modern wooden fence in this picture formed part of the Royal Oak it must have been a truly enormous building. 

Surely the truth must be that the Royal Oak disappeared long before the 1950s. Geraldine Williams and her husband certainly seem to think so, as evidenced by this comment;

My husband and I have been comparing notes. We both remember the house with the steep steps (and John Maddock, Bill) which we think was in the space to the left of The White Horse and was sideways on to the road. Neither of us remember any pub-like building and think it must have been demolished long before the 1950s.

- Geraldine Williams

Whatever the truth of the matter, the site is in a sorry mess these days, after Niddries was rather unexpectedly demolished when it was, apparently, on the verge of becoming a plumbers shop.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thank you for your patience.  We appreciate that the whole Middlewich Diary Royal Oak saga is highly confusing, in the good old traditional Middlewich Diary style. Here's the final chapter in the saga in which, we hope, all is revealed:

ROYAL OAK - THE TRUTH REVEALED

The last remains of Niddries shop in Lewin Street, January 2015

In 2015 one last reminder of Niddrie's remains on the site in the form of this advertisement for Philip's luxury car business.

SEE ALSO: NIDDRIES - THE BEGINNING OF THE END
                     GOING, GOING...
                     THE END OF AN ERA
                     ROYAL OAK - THE TRUTH REVEALED

FIrst published 17th January 2015
Re-published 18th January 2018
Re-published 15th January 2019

WHEELOCK STREET 1987

(First published 4th January 2013, updated with additional information 5th January 2013)

by Dave Roberts

Our forays into Middlewich 'twenty-five years ago', with material supplied by Carole Hughes and Diane Parr, have taken longer than was anticipated. So technically we're talking about twenty-six years ago now, but I don't suppose anyone will mind too much. 

The photo above poses something of a puzzle.

That shop, tucked away at the back of what is now Gallery Finance towards the top end of Wheelock Street, seems to be selling all kinds of things from cardboard boxes and plastic tubs out in the sunshine. Can anyone remember what that shop actually sold? Or is that outdoor display of goods perhaps independent of the shop itself? Can anyone enlighten us?

When I first saw this picture I couldn't recall whether the shop we are talking about was still there. Our modern-day shot (below), taken in the Autumn of 2012, shows that it is, though it seems to be empty.

On the other side of Wheelock Street can be seen two shops (although I think they were linked together and were both dedicated to the sale of greengroceries).

They've both since been incorporated into that fascinating shop called Temptations which seems to have grown a little bit bigger every time you visit it. To the right of these shops, the house with the green windows was, at the time, being used as a kind of antique shop by Ian and Margaret McQueen. It's now been turned into flats and is linked to the large housing development on St Michael's Way next to the telephone exchange.

This is the best I could do for a modern comparison shot, as the green iron railings rule out any attempt at taking a picture from the same angle. Our mystery shop lurks despondently at the back, dreaming of better days.

The railings are fencing off what used to be the car park for Pace, an offshoot of the old Cheshire County Council, which was just out of shot to the right, next to the Co-operative Travel Agency.

This area of Wheelock Street will change radically once Tesco implements its plans for a large new supermarket on land behind the trees in the background.

UPDATE: Sadly not. Tesco announced in the first week of January 2013 that they had abandoned plans for the new superstore, leaving a large tract of blighted land filled with dilapidated former luxury homes right in the middle of the town. See BROKEN DREAMS...

UPDATE - 5th JANUARY 2013

Well, I may not remember this shop, but many people do, including those who posted comments on Facebook after reading this entry.

Sammi Hatton says, 'I recall this being a card shop at one time, run by Barbara Wells and called, I think, 'Best Wishes'. I used to baby-sit for them when they lived in a flat above the Co-op Travel Agency for a while. I also recall a dry-cleaning business being there too. Hope this helps?

Well, it certainly does.

Brendan Conlon  remembers the shop as 'Kev's Corner'.

This is confirmed by Emma Louise Brown who says, '...it was called 'Kev's Corner and it sold all sorts of stuff - gifts, toys crockery and cards - in fact I think it later became a card shop. I think in 1987 it would still be Kev's Corner. They sold all kinds of gimmicky stuff and when I was a child it was one of the few places you could spend your pocket money on rubbish such as water pistols, trading cards and  those things you threw on the floor which went BANG!

Stuart Warren Twigg has been studying the photo itself and says, 'I think that the items outside of the shop are indicative of what was for sale inside (there certainly appears to be a rack full of greetings cards in the picture -ed) Didn't the shop belong to Barbara Wells, the wife of Steve who had what is now Chisholm's Newsagents?'

Jenny Hatton says, 'I can't remember the shop like this, but I do remember a dry-cleaners at some point. I went to school with Simon Wells, so I do remember the family. I've got a really vague memory of his Dad running a fishmonger's from the shop in front of it - or at least fish in freezers? - can anyone else remember this, or have I made it up? I would have been seven or eight then, so it's a bit fuzzy! I do remember that fruit and veg shop which is now part of Temptations - didn't they have a sweet shop to the side of it as well?'

So it would appear that during the period of this particular photograph this little shop was called 'Kev's Corner', selling all kinds of items, including cards, but later concentrated on cards, probably under the name 'Best Wishes'.

Stephanie Burton actually worked in the shop. She says,: 'I'm not sure what it was in 1987 but in 1985/6 it was called 'Kev's Corner' I had a Saturday job there. It sold all sorts from stationery to household bits and bobs, as well as things for kids to spend their pocket money on.'

Going back to the 1987 photo itself, Chris Koons has a theory about all the goods outside the shop: 'It looks to me like they're having a clearance sale.'

I wonder if this was the time of transition from 'Kev's Corner' to 'Best Wishes', and all the surplus stock was being sold off?

Geraldine Williams says that she does not remember this particular shop from the time when she lived in the area: 'The shop with the sun canopy that you're enquiring about didn't exist then. It seems to have been tacked onto what was always a private house.'

Geraldine goes on to say, 'It's lovely to see Carole's picture showing the two shops across the road. This was our family home from the late '40s to the late '50s as my parents ran a business from the shop on the left. My bedroom was the one over the small-paned shop door but the other bedroom also belonged to our property and the lock-up shop below was rented by an optician who came to Middlewich twice a week.'

Both Geraldine and Stuart Warren-Twigg were interested in the house with the green windows:

Stuart remembers it as 'Cobweb Antiques' and mentions that it was the former home of Reg Taylor.

Geraldine goes back even further: 'it was owned, prior to Reg Taylor, by G F Pugh who ran his joinery business from outbuildings at the back of the property. He also made coffins! The shops, and his house, had long gardens which ran down to the corner of Pepper Street and Webbs Lane.'

So another gap in my knowledge of Middlewich has been filled! Many thanks to everyone who sent in this information.

THE FOODAMENTALISTS!

(first published, September 2012, updated January 2013)

Opening in Wheelock Street just in time for Christmas 2012 was the Foodamentalist Gluten Free Bakery, situated in the shop recently vacated after many years by Reid's.

Photos by BILL ARMSDEN

Apparently, a complete redesign of the shop's frontage has been ruled out on grounds of cost.
You can find out more about the  shop and the people behind the new bakery by visiting their Facebook page.

Facebook Feedback:

Karl Jamieson: The Foodamentalists have been a real positive addition to Wheelock Street.

Jenny Hatton: I can vouch for their cakes - very yummy! An excellent purchase in exchange for displaying our RAMP poster! Take a closer look!

Karl Jamieson: The pork pies are rather good with my home made tomato chutney.

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THE MIDDLEWICH DIRECTORY: THE FOODAMENTALIST GLUTEN-FREE BAKERY
SEE ALSO: REID'S BAKERY 1987 and 2012
                     CHATTY DAISY DAYS (BLOG)

FLOODING AT CROXTON, SEPTEMBER 2012

The meeting of the waters...Croxton Aqueduct in September 2012

by Dave Roberts and Bill Eaton
Throughout the year the weather in Britain has been, to put it mildly, somewhat extreme. The early part of the year saw an unseasonal heatwave, leading to hopes of a pleasant warm summer.
Instead we had a traditional British summer with more rain than sunshine (although Middlewich's annual events and festivals were lucky and escaped almost unscathed).
Towards the end of the summer rainfall records had begun to tumble and talk was of 'the wettest September for a hundred years'.
On the 21st of the month the BBC was forecasting that parts of the North-West, including Cheshire could expect 'two weeks worth of rain in twenty-four hours'.
Locally, one sign that the amount of  rainfall, even by Cheshire standards, was becoming exceptional, was, as noted here by Bill Eaton, when the Trent & Mersey Canal was breached near to Croxton Aqueduct (though things were even worse near the top end of the canal where it joins the Bridgwater near Preston Brook - a massive breach in the bank there caused massive flooding and meant that the entire section of the Trent & Mersey between the Big Lock and Dutton Stop lock was out of action and many boats were left marooned.
The Canal and River Trust, successor in England to British Waterways, immediately put out an appeal for funds to repair this massive damage to the local waterway infrastructure).
Observing that something truly out of the ordinary was happening, Bill Eaton took a walk down to Croxton Lane and took the above photograph.

Here's his report to go with it:

'I had a walk down to the canal to see the floods. Bullock's Meadow and the Flint Mill were well under water. This was caused by the aqueduct bridge (where the canal narrows to half its normal width) being unable to cope with the amount of water flowing into it.
The aqueduct was closed off when the canal breached its bank.
To make things even worse, at the point where the Rivers Dane and Wheelock meet the water had backed up to make one mass of water from both sides of Chester Road back to the aqueduct.' - BILL EATON

UPDATE (NOV 27th): As November drew to a close, the work to repair the breach at Croxton was nearing completion, although the bad weather continued, with severe flooding in many parts of the country.

TOWPATH TALK REPORT ON THE CROXTON REPAIRS

MIDDLEWICH SALT EVENT 2012

FULL LEAFLET (pdf)

SEE ALSO: MIDDLEWICH HERITAGE CALENDAR 2012 (MIDDLEWICH AND THE ECOSAL-ATLANTIS PROJECT)

MIDDLEWICH WARTIME WEEKEND

At 2.55pm on Saturday 22nd September one of the enduring symbols of Wartime Britain, a Spitfire, flew over Middlewich as part of the Wartime Middlewich Weekend and Steven Doyle was on hand to capture this excellent picture of the iconic plane.

The spirit of wartime returned to Middlewich over the weekend of September 21st -23rd 2012 as  the second Middlewich Wartime Weekend hit town.
Details of the events organised can be found here.

SEE ALSO:

 MIDDLEWICH GUARDIAN REPORTS:
 TURNING BACK THE CLOCK
 MIDDLEWICH NEEDS YOU

CLIFF ASTLES PHOTO ALBUM:
MIDDLEWICH WARTIME WEEKEND

BILL ARMSDEN'S TRIBUTE TO THE 'MIDDLEWICH SPITFIRE':
THANK YOU FOR OUR FREEDOM

Facebook Feedback:

Chris Frost: I have to say that I'm immensely proud of the efforts that Middlewich people put in to events like this. Organising something like the Middlewich War Weekend and the other events is no small feat and it says a lot about the dedication of those who work so hard to make these things happen. Outstanding. Thank you!

Jim Moores: I would just like to express my appreciation to all those involved in organizing this and all the other festivals (FAB, Roman, Norman etc) that we are very lucky to have in Middlewich throughout the year. Thank you very much!

Bill Armsden: Just thinking about the weekend we have just had in Middlewich! 
Wow, wow and wow again. To the hard workers who were responsible for planning and staging the event.... thank you. To all the people who took part and made it a success.... thank you. 
To the weather, thank you for a great Saturday and most of Sunday.
To a great big band night at The Legion with The Wych Band, stompin' heaven!!! 
And to all the venues in Middlewich putting on 40's entertainment...... Thank you.

Can we do it again? Soon....

PEAK FOREST & BUXTON via MIDDLEWICH 11th AUGUST 2012

UK Railtours' special train from Basingstoke to Buxton passes through Middlewich on the morning of 11th August 2012. Our sister site, the MRLC website, features some superb photos of the train by Neil Cundliffe.

MRLC WEBSITE: PEAK FOREST & BUXTON VIA MIDDLEWICH

SEE ALSO: THE LIMESTONE COWBOY RIDES THROUGH MIDDLEWICH

MCRUA CHAIRMAN'S BLOG: SPECIAL ON THE MIDDLEWICH LINE

Facebook Feedback:

Jenny Hatton: In over thirty years I have never ever seen a train on that line - I thought it was shut!

Diane Russell: There are trains using this line every day. Mostly goods trains, but there is sometimes a Virgin passenger train, if it gets diverted.

Jenny Hatton: I may have to take some sandwiches and camp out next to it - seeing is believing!

Diane Russell: I live about fifty yards away from it, so I can see them from my kitchen window.

Dave Roberts: The shiny rails are evidence that the line's being used quite frequently at the moment. Neil, who took the photo, tells me he lives close to the line and frequently hears trains rumbling through, particularly at night.

Bill Armsden: On a quiet night with the bedroom windows open and a breeze in the right direction, I can hear trains rumbling along the track.

Diane Russell: You can more or less set your clock by them, Dave. One about 5pm most days, and then again between 10 and 11pm, and just lately there have been quite a few during the night. I have got used to them now, and it's quite nice hearing them going past, even in the night.

Dave Roberts: It brings back memories for me. When I was young and lived across the road in King Street I'd often hear trains running in the night - steam trains from 1959 to 1968 and then diesels. I sometimes hear trains in the night now, but they're mostly on the West Coast Main Line, which isn't too far away.

MIDDLEWICH TRANSPORT FESTIVAL 2012

The worst Summer weather for a hundred years has meant a slight change of format for this year's transport festival. Because of the immense amount of rain which has fallen on Market Field only cars, motorbikes and other relatively light vehicles can be accommodated.
Stephen Dent tells us that there is no need to phone him if you want to bring your vehicle along; just turn up on the day.
 The Middlewich Transport Festival is now in its fifth year.

TOWN COUNCIL WEBSITE LINK
2011 TRANSPORT FESTIVAL 'BEST IN SHOW' PHOTOS

MIDDLEWICH ROSE FETE SAVED!

This Diary entry was originally published on June 28th 2012

MIDDLEWICH ROSE FETE SAVED!

Here's a link to the Middlewich Guardian's story on how a new committee got together with former organisers of the Rose Fete  to breathe new life into this much-cherished annual event:

ROSE FETE SAVED BY PARENTS

One of the organisers, Carole Moore, says, 'this is fabulous news for our town but now we need people to actually come forward to participate. No child or young person is excluded and we would love to hear from parents and children NOW to keep them 'in the loop' ready for the Rose Fete 2013.

We can't do it without you, so please get in touch and let's make next year the best one yet!!!

How amazing would it be to see all the children of Middlewich taking part in the parade?

And what an amazing memory it would be for them!

PLEASE get in touch and get involved!

If you contact us here at The Middlewich Diary, we'll put you in touch with the Rose Fete Organisers.

Does anyone have any photos of a lady who was Rose Queen in Middlewich in 1953?
Her name is Jean Sandbach, and she was the Grandma, or possibly even the Great-Grandma of one of the girls who entered the competition to become the 2012 Rose Queen in March.
Her parents would like to show her some photos, if any still exist.
If anyone can help it would be most appreciated. Please contact us here at The Middlewich Diary, and we'll pass the message on

Middlewich Rose Fete 2011

SEE ALSO: MIDDLEWICH ROSE FETE 2013

MOCOCO CAFE TO CLOSE on July 25th (ARCHIVED)

ARCHIVED

(DIARY ENTRY ARCHIVED 25/7/2012)

(This diary entry, announcing the closure of the Mococo Cafe facility has been left unaltered as a historical record - Ed)

It has been announced that the Mococo cafe in Wheelock Street will close on the 25th July.

Here's the full text of a statement from Middlewich Community Church.

After a strategic review of the life and ministry of MCC it is with some sadness that we find ourselves closing Mococo. 

In the present economic climate we have decided to concentrate all our youth and community work at our Brooks Lane facility.. All of the community Groups currently hosted / operated by MCC at Mococo (youth work, knit and natter, IT training, craft classes) will move up to the church complex over the summer months. This facility has more space and better parking, and brings all our work under one roof. For the time being the CAB (not a ministry of MCC) will still operate at Mococo on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Unfortunately the coffee shop in its present shape cannot be accommodated on Brooks lane at this time. We appreciate that our loyal customers ( young and old) will really miss Mococo. We wish to take this opportunity to thank the community for the privilege of serving them as MoCoCo (and previously Microchips) over the last 11 years. I also wish to thank our loyal staff: Amanda, Richard (Chocky), Jude and George who have provided our customers with far more than just food and coffee. We have helped the homeless find accommodation, prayed for people in times of need and distress, cried with them, laughed with them, counselled them and helped many people on their spiritual journey. It has been a privilege. 

I know all the mums and children who use the coffee shop as a meeting place are saddened at this news and will really miss our facilities. Can I encourage them to visit MCC where they will find a warm welcome at our various community and toddler groups, art classes, craft days, kids and carers days, fun days and IT training centre. We will be developing new groups that will cater for the whole family and our coffee machines will be moving too to serve all our various groups and conference guests. Watch this space for summer activities at MCC. 

With regards to the future use of the MoCoCo building it is our intension to seek planning permission to convert the building into starter flats for young people. Over the years our youth centre has helped young adults, especially the vulnerable, needy and carer leavers find accommodation. We hope to be able to provide six or seven flats within the building for local young people along side practical support and guidance that will help transition our clients into adult life.

As you may already know MCC own  a large field (9.5 acres) opposite the Salt cellar. We will be seeking outlining planning permission for this site in the coming months as our long term desire is to build a new church and community facility on this site that will provide the people of Middlewich with a modern community and  conference centre that will eventually accommodate up to 1000 people. 

David 

Pastor David Moore

Middlewich Community Church

01606 835928

 5 Jul 2012

Facebook Feedback:

Peter Cox So sad to see yet another good facility, which helps a lot of people, close.

Stephen Dent The proposed community and conference centre sounds really exciting, though. I look forward to seeing the plans.

Jain Talbot I know that turning it into flats is beneficial for those in need, but it will be a major loss to the community.



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NOW & THEN - LOWER STREET and ST MICHAEL'S WAY

When we first published an old late-60s black & white view of the town centre, seen from the Town Bridge in this MD Entry, quite a few people were puzzled and 'unable to get their bearings' (largely, as pointed out by Paul Greenwood, because the church itself wasn't in the picture to act as a landmark).
So, as promised, here's that view again, together with a 2012 view taken from a similar vantage point.
We can see that, like so many areas of Middlewich, the churchyard has been taken over by trees, and there are many more of them now than there were in 1969. The Town Hall would have been behind that clump of trees.
The curve of Lower Street to the left is still evident, although the only part of that road remaining is a short stub now used as a bus layby.
St Michael's Way goes off to the right of this on a fairly straight alignment before curving off towards the last remaining segment of Pepper Street and then sweeping around to the left to join Nantwich Road close to the old Red Lion..
In between the two - i.e. the remains of Lower Street and  St Michael's Way, are traffic islands and a 'taxi rank' which, as we mentioned here, in another Now & Then feature,does not seem ever to have been used as such.
The black square in the top right hand corner of the modern view, by the way, is part of one of the traffic signals controlling traffic on the Town Bridge.
We had to wait a long time to get the modern view without it being full of cars and trucks and, ironically, in the end managed to take a picture with even fewer vehicles in it than the 1969 one.
 This, it hardly needs to be pointed out, is very far from typical.
You can click on the photos for a closer view.

NOW & THEN: THE OLD CROSVILLE GARAGE 1987 and 2012

Left hand image courtesy of Diane Parr

by Dave Roberts
Today we're looking at an iconic building  at the top end of Wheelock Street.
The 1987 picture on the left is taken from Carole Hughes' collection of images from twenty-five years ago taken by her friend  Diane Parr, and the one on the right was taken on April 27th 2012.
It's rather reminiscent of the Alhambra, further down the street, with a large building flanked by two smaller ones (although, as we saw here, the Alhambra was built after the buildings on either side and replaced an earlier one).
What is remarkable is how the roofline has changed since 1987
It's now much more elaborate than it used to be, and the section of building on the left (the old Crosville office) appears to have been extended.
On the extreme left in both photos is the old Star Cinema, Middlewich's first picture-house.
Just creeping into shot in the 1987 picture we can  make out half of one of the town's long-lost red telephone boxes (or kiosks, if you prefer).
Let's take a closer look at the 1987 photo:

Photo courtesy of Diane Parr

I'm wondering if the old Star Cinema was a shop at this time, or was still used as a car repair business. Certainly there's a cigarette advert on one end of the building, but the roller-shutter door on the side is still in place.
Any information would, as always, be appreciated.
On the right hand side Gator's bakery shop is back in business, and appears to be selling clothes of some kind.
The central portion of the building, where the Crosville Garage once was, was occupied at this time by T&M Autoparts, the 'Complete Brake Service'.
It appears that T&M also used the old ground-floor Crosville office, but the office space on the second floor was for sale (or was it to let?).
Carole Hughes herself worked here at the time, as did Phil Yearsley among, no doubt, other well-known Middlewich personages.
T&M had a contract to supply re-lined brake shoes to ERF Middlewich at this time and, by coincidence, I was the person who received them at ERF's Goods Inwards department in Brooks Lane, and booked them into  stock.
Here's the same location in 2012:

The very much smartened up 'Cabin' (or 'Triffic Togs') is on the left, and the former Gator's shop,looking a little drab but still just as it always was, even down to the wooden gate (now painted black) in the doorway is on the right.
A discreet wall with railings  now screens it  off from the MoCoCo internet cafe, operated by Middlewich Community Church, which occupies the rest of the building.

Many people will, of course, remember this building (or, at least, the middle part of it) as the Crosville garage.
Certainly I do.
In 1957 I used to go down there, accompanied by William Moreton, to catch the single-decker Crosville bus to Wimboldsley School.
So can anyone tell us:
When this ceased to be the Crosville Garage.
What it was after Crosville left.
When did T&M move in and move out
and what was there before it became the MoCoCo cafe?

MIDDLEWICH COMMUNITY CHURCH