So Well Remembered

Could this be Macclesfield High Street?

Dean Nelson claims: Junction of Market Place/Brunswick Street Macclesfield picture via Google St View. Pavement three times wider? Well, it happens. Shop door in changed position. Mebbee? Building quoins, the corner blocks, gone. Perhaps. Upper windows in the original pic are very long, and on regular single storey building. So don't think this is a match.

Maurice Mottershead says that Capture 1 and Capture 2 are not the Market Place/Brunswick Street junction, that junction appears in Capture 5. See September 2014 Blog article for Maurice's thoughts on this location available via the Header Section.

Macclesfield? With a railway(?) bridge in the background. Brunswick Hill, SK10 1ET, claims Simon Hardware.

Brunswick Hill, Macclesfield, SK10 1ET, Simon Hardware

Could that be a church, back on the right? Brunswick Terrace, SK10 1ET (top of Brunswick Hill). Says Simon Hardware

Brunswick Terrace, SK10 1ET (top of Brunswick Hill), Macclesfield, Simon Hardware

Village Hall?

Brunswick Street, Macclesfield, SK10 1ET, good sleuthing by Simon Hardware. Maurice Mottershead adds that the building to the right of the stone canopy is on the corner of Brunswick Street and the Market Place and that it was at the time of the film the Trustee Savings Bank.(RL)

??Gas Show Rooms. Probably : "Corporation Gas Show Rooms", says Greg.

Market Place, Macclesfield, Simon Hardware

Is that Macclefield church in the background?

Maurice Mottershead disputes Dean Nelson's suggested location which was supported by a Google Image stating that it was from the wrong side of the Church. The Church, St Michael's is showing the Nave on the right of the tower, whereas Dean's proposed location would have shown it on the left (had it been visible). Although not knowing the street name Maurice says that the approximate location allows the two nearest tower pinnacles to hide the two behind and declares an interest in that his first house was just around the corner. (RL) Exchange Street East in Macclesfield. It ran behind the old Liberal club, down to Lower Exchange Street. Mr Mottershead is correct. Support here from John Hudson. (SJ)

And, presumably, Macclesfield again.

Presume no longer, Macclesfield indeed, Lower Exchange Street looking towards Boden Street with St. Paul's top right. Well identified by Maurice Mottershead who sent in the picture. (RL)

And, presumably, Macclesfield again... "I believe this to be Arbourhey St, Macclesfield. All demolished now, to make way for flats, which, in turn, have been flattened for new houses. I spoke to a lady who lived on Arbourhey St. and says the shop sign on the right was Mrs Horsley's grocer's shop. Percivale Street now stands on top of the old Arbourhey Street." John Hudson on the case.

And, presumably, Macclesfield again.

Presume no longer, John Hudson identifies this as Windmill Street, Macclesfield with the man on the bicycle turning out of Knight Street. The buildings on the right have gone apart from St Peters Institute at the top of the hill which is now apartments. (RL)

Macclesfield High Street?

Paul Hibbert identifies this as Park Lane, Macclesfield looking towards its junction with Park Street. Amongst the changes over the years is the Harvest Printers building centre background now apartments and the pub on the right which was "The Hole i'th Wall", became "The Blueberry Inn" but is now closed. Maurice Mottershead sends this NOW shot.(RL)

Is this really a fine Edwardian house, the mill owner's residence, Macclesfield, or a set?

And is this the front door?

And is this the front door?

And is this the front door?

Probably a long gone part of Macclesfield..."Could shot sw015 be the top of Pickford St? If one stood on Mill St and looked down Pickford St, was this on the left?" suggests Kathy Swainston.

H Dennerley, Hairdressing Saloon, says the sign. Anyone got a Kelly's directory for Macclesfield? I discovered the exact location of "H. Dennerley, Hairdressing Saloon" from the old directory website: www.historicaldirectories.org/hd. I searched the name "Dennerley" in a Kelly's Directory of Cheshire, 1914. The exact address is: "Dennerley Herbert, hair dresser, 5 & 7 Park Lane, Macclesfield". Wonderfully sleuthed by Greg.

"H. Dennerley, Hairdressing Saloon" is now called "The Traditional Barbers", 7-9 Park Lane, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 6TJ. This from Greg.

Is this the church shown in the distance in 006, or Macclesfield Council offices? Round to the right of the Chadwick Free Library, in Park Lane, is the former Macclesfield School of Art, built in 1877. It was designed by the local architect, James Stevens and opened in 1879. After the Second World War the school became part of the Macclesfield College of Further Education. The School of Art building was used by the Macclesfield College of Further Education until the 1990s, when it became the Silk Museum. Information from Greg.

Silk Museum, Park Lane, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 6TJ. http://www.macclesfield.silk.museum/visit-our-museums/silk-industry-museum.htm Maurice Mottershead sends this shot to support showing the Museum, Paradise Mill and the road John Mills was cycling down in swr010. (RL)

A local bridge?... For this and below David Martin suggests night scenes were filmed in the Goyt valley near Buxton. The Mills entourage all stayed in the Spa Hotel, Buxton. (SJ)

This is Goyt's Lane, Goyt Valley in the Peak District National Park. The area was permanently submerged by Errwood Reservoir (constructed in 1967), and revealed during the drought of 2025 including the Pack Horse Bridge. With thanks to Jon and, independently, Janette Cotton who obtained permission from the contributing member of Facebook's "Goyt Valley Appreciation Society" for us to use. (SJ)

A local bridge? ... In the Goyt Valley says David Martin. (SJ)

A local bridge?

?..ers Arms? Skinners, Weavers, Drovers?..? Greg says: There are these three ?...ers Arms pubs in Kelly's Directory of Cheshire, 1914:1. Brewers Arms, 139 Bridge Street, Macclesfield.2. Gardeners Arms, 2 Parsonage Street, Macclesfield.3. Weavers Arms, 76 Bank Street, Macclesfield. The Brewers Arms still exists on 139 Bridge Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 6QE, but it's unlikely the same pub from this film. The area around Gardeners Arms and Weavers Arms had been extensively redeveloped and probably these two pubs were demolished. Maurice Mottershead states that footage either side of this grab shows it to be The Miners Arms, so is it a set?

Now this looks like the Church, St. who, Macclesfied? Maurice Mottershead says that the storyline suggests that this is the terrace of the House of Commons.

Is that the church again? Chadwick Free Library, built in 1874-6 as a gift from David Chadwick, MP. It was designed by the local architect, James Stevens, and opened on 27 May 1876. The library closed in 1994 and the building is now the Register Office. Greg discovered this.

Chadwick Free Library (1897), Park Green, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 6TW. http://www.francisfrith.com/macclesfield/photos/the-free-library-1897_40451/ and another old photograph from Chadwick Free Library (1903). http://www.francisfrith.com/macclesfield/photos/the-free-library-1903_49466/. From Greg.

Nice house.

Channing's factory? Macclesfield? Greg thinks Channing's factory in reality could be...Victoria Mill, Windmill Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 7HQ.

Victoria Mill from Knight Street looking west. Found by Greg. Maurice Mottershead send this shot from a similar location as the screen grab. The Mill, he says, is now Grade ll listed with the address 55 Waterside, sounds much more desirable! (RL)

Channing's factory? Macclesfield? Greg thinks this factory is Victoria Mill, Windmill Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 7HQ... possibly shot from Davenport St. looking down to the large mill on George's St., & across to the left in background Park St. suggests Kathy Swainston.

Victoria Mill from Waterside looking southwest. Google Image from Greg. See also swr023n from Maurice Mottershead. (RL)

Same as swr021? Chadwick Free Library, built in 1874-6 as a gift from David Chadwick, MP. It was designed by the local architect, James Stevens and opened on 27 May 1876. The library closed in 1994 and the building is now the Register Office. Info from Greg.

Register Office, Park Green, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 6TW. http://www.thornber.net/cheshire/htmlfiles/macclesfield2.html. Another find by Greg.

Macclesfield's mean streets? ... "Could these be the cottages opposite Whalley Hays car park on the corner where traffic lights now stand?" suggests Kathy (see no15)

Macclesfield's mean streets?

Macclesfield's mean streets? We are no nearer to finding the location but Paul Hibbert advises that this is Mrs Brough and her son Marshall who were "extras" in the film being asked to "carry Marshall to see the doctor (John Mills) urgently. Presumably Marshall was too young or "ill" to remember where this was filmed!

Macclesfield High Street?

Maurice Mottershead locates this as Brunswick Street, the one people are walking up in swr003 and swr004. He says that John Mills is cycling down towards Brunswick Hill with the Library over John Mills' right shoulder. (RL)

Nice alleyway.

Macclesfield smoke stacks?

Maurice Mottershead says that this in the playing field on Windmill Street and remains as such. Whilst Health & Safety has no doubt had a hand in re-organising the play area Maurice is firmly of the opinion that swr032 and probably swr033 are all in the same place. (RL)

A park? The park?

Maurice Mottershead states this to be the playing field in Windmill Street and sends this shot with the same two chimneys aligned as in swr031n. (RL)

Another park view. Maurice Mottershead proposes this also to be the playing field in Windmill Street.

A real street?..or a set?

There's a clue in the picture.

This could be Gravesend in Kent. Johnny Mills was there, you'll remember, in Long Memory.

This could be Gravesend in Kent. Johnny Mills was there, you'll remember, in Long Memory.

Yes, yes, never mind the pretty girl, what's the building? According to Greg it is Macclesfield College of Further Education in Park Lane, to the right of the picture swr017.

Silk Museum, Park Lane, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 6TJ, looking south/southeast towards Paradise Mill. Greg found this.

Now this has to be the Town Hall, Macclesfield, Mayor an' all. Margaret says; this is the Register Office for Macclesfield, at Park Green

Maurice Mottershead send this picture of the Library entrance showing the stanchions either side the door. The steps have been removed.(RL)

Now this has to be the Town Hall, Macclesfield, Mayor an' all. Margaret says; present Register office - formerly the Library. There are two doors set at right angles and this picture seems to be taken at the left hand one - the figure lower right is leaning on the balustrade at the side of the right hand steps. The building in the background is no longer there

Maurice Mottershead sends this photo from which it can be seen the background building has been removed. (RL)

The lads going on shift. Into Channings?

Maurice sends another picture showing the entrance from which can be seen that access is over a bridge over the River Bollin that runs along the front of the the building. Railings are visible in swr039.(RL)