So Well Remembered
Maurice Mottershead has spent much time reviewing the locations used in this film with the result that there follows a comment, detail and sometimes an updated NOW shot for many of the stills. He has also highlighted that there is one unknown location in the film that appears a number of times and he has called it, ‘Location A’, assuming that this is a location and not a film set. Comments regarding ‘Location A’ formed a Blog in October 2014 wherein he sought the help of others to hopefully identify the location. The contents of that Blog is reproduced here followed by a summary of his evaluation and local knowledge.
October 2014 Blog:
There is one unknown location in the film that appears a number of times and he has called it, ‘Location A’, assuming that this is a location and not a film set. Maurice seeks the help of anyone with a knowledge of Macclesfield and proposes the following:-
The ‘T’ junction between Nicholls Close, assuming this is not fictitious, (Capture 37) and an unknown road forms two corners; a pub called The Miners Arms is on one corner and The Browdley & District Guardian newspaper office is on the other. The film either side of Capture 22 clearly shows the pub is called The Miners Arms and also shows a steeple behind (which can just be seen in Capture 22). The area behind the pub looks like a churchyard. If anyone knows the location of The Miners Arms then we will know the location of many of the scenes in this film.
He states that ‘Location A’ occurs in the film at (time stamp hh:mm:ss): (00:02:12) (Captures 1 and 2), (00:03:05), (00:03:19), (00:08:37), (00:29:22) (Capture 22), (00:34:35), (00:44:22), (00:45:42), (00:49:31), (00:58:19) (Captures 37 and 38), (01:12:37), (01:15:18), (01:48:40), (01:48:51).
Additional comments and information from Maurice to those included in the film listing:
(00:02:19) Capture 3
The location, as identified by Simon Hardware is Brunswick Hill, which is in fact, a flight of stairs. The updated Now shot (excluding the earlier temporary fencing) does reveal a railway bridge at the bottom.
(00:02:51) Capture 4
No church in this scene. This is just a few metres up the hill from swr002. It is where Brunswick Hill changes into Brunswick Street. An updated Now with the temporary fencing removed.
(00:02:55) Captures 5 and 6
This is just 100 metres up Brunswick Street from Capture 4 as identified by Simon Hardware. The building to the right of the stone canopy is on the corner of Brunswick Street and the Market Place; it is (was) the Trustee Savings Bank. The building next to the Trustee Savings Bank in the Market Place, as identified by Greg is the Gas Show Rooms. An updated Now showing both Captures 5 and 6
(00:08:17) Capture 8
John Mills has now cycled into Lower Exchange Street.
(00:08:17) Capture 9
The film would have you believe that John Mills has simply turned the corner, a few seconds later he is in Park Lane, about half a mile away and travelling in the wrong direction!
(00:08:17) Capture 11
Adding to the information shown on the film page Maurice further describes Park Lane, as was.
Working downwards from the pub there is a double fronted shop – this was Dorey’s Green Grocers. The next small shop window and door he doesn’t know. Next there is a single door which he presumes was an entry to the rear of the properties – now its access to a flat above one of the shops. Next, another double fronted shop; this was Ernie Hulme’s Grocers. After Ernie Hulme’s shop was Walter Naden’s fish and game shop (again double fronted). Maurice’s (paternal) grandparents both worked at Walter Naden’s shop for (approx.) 50 years.
One of Maurice’s Now shots is shown for ease of reference.
After Naden’s shop there was a collar laundry (they just washed collars at the time when men had collar studs!) owned by Mr Woodman. The other side of the junction, beyond the pub, was a newsagents, Miss Capper’s hat shop, Speakman’s shoe shop, and John Jackson’s jewellers (not necessarily in that order).
(00:17:36) Capture 17
In this shot John Mills is in Park Lane as identified by Greg. No 1 and No 3 Park Lane are out of sight round the corner, over John Mills right shoulder. At the time the film was being made Maurice’s maternal grandparents, Harold and Annie Savage, lived at No 1 Park Lane with their daughter Joan (Maurice’s Mum). They bought the property and its business before WWII off Mr Harrison; it was a ham shop. Unfortunately, when war broke out no hams were available, so they converted it into a snack bar. Whilst the film was being made, John Mills and his wife had use of a ‘caravan’ over the road, and were served tea and cakes from the snack bar by his grandma.
No 3 Park lane was Dennis Earlam’s fish shop. Nos 5 & 7 were Herbert Dennerly’s Hairdressing Salon: ladies upstairs and gents downstairs. Herbert’s son, Wilf, also worked in the saloon and cut Maurice’s Mum’s hair. Next in the row was Norman Mitchell’s shoe shop – he sold Lotus & Delta shoes (as can be seen later in the film). The word “Norman” can be seen at 1:09:30. Next came Rhodes china shop.
In the background, behind John Mills, there is Miss Kearsley’s clothes shop. For interest and record purposes Maurice provides a photo showing the short row of shops as they are now.
Another point of interest is that although Park Lane was the official name of the road in this shot, Maxonians of the time referred to it as Old Park Lane. The food bags at Maurice’s grandparent’s ham shop had No 1 Old Park Lane on them; and his mother is sure her wedding invitations had No 1 Old Park Lane on them.
(00:19:03) Capture 18
As already identified by Greg, this in the now the Macclesfield Silk Museum, just a few metres down Park Lane from Capture 11. This location is across Park Lane from Capture 17. Paradise Mill is in the background and appears later in the film with Patricia Roc standing in front (01:09:40). (For interest Maurice provides a photo showing the Silk Museum entrance, Paradise Mill, and the road John Mills was cycling down in Capture 11.) To see inside of the mill visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DruqK9rV46g&feature=youtube
(00:41:52) Capture 26
Maurice makes some interesting observations as a result of initially having trouble convincing himself that it was indeed Victoria Mill despite some hints in the landscape. Trees on the horizon to the left of the mill ridge in both the “then” and “Now” shots, being exactly where the South Park trees would be as well as the foreground landscape which is also similar taking into account the fact that there are now houses where the men in the foreground are sitting.
Other evidence is the Mill itself which is examined in Capture 27 below.
(00:42:13) Capture 27
This is a close-up of John Mills and clearly in the same location as Capture 26. Whilst not visible in the screen shot, in the film can be seen three skylights in the roof of the mill. From the left, the first and second skylights are closer together than the second and third. If you look at Greg’s or Maurice’s photo the same pattern of spacing for the three skylights can be seen. in fact, he thinks the windows might have been removed.
In addition, there is another piece of evidence. Capture 44 shows workers going into Channing’s Mill. Whilst not visible in Capture 44 the scene begins by showing much more of the Mill, enough, in fact, to count the number of windows (13) to the left of the entrance. This is exactly the same number of windows to the left of the entrance ‘now’ as shown in Maurice’s photo below for comparison purposes.
Finally, it appears as though the workers are walking on a structure to enter the building. They are, because the river Bollin runs along the front of this building (see Capture 44). There is a scene at 00:01:53 that shows the Mill with the Bollin running along the front of it and if one looks carefully the bridge can be seen. It was obviously taken before the ‘Channings Mill’ sign was put on.
(00:43:48 Capture 28 and
(00:42:57 Capture 24)
The library on Park Green as was identified by Greg which was across Park Lane from Maurice’s grandparent’s snack bar. The road to the right of the building is Park Lane and leads to the entrance in Capture 18 and where Patricia Roc stands in Capture 41 and where John Mills cycles in Capture 11. Maurice’s grandmother remembers the filming of this scene and recalls two local fire engines being brought in to provide the rain.
Where the people in the foreground are standing in Capture 24 Maurice says was the site of an ornate fountain that was taken down for its metal during the war. The fountain, that could be seen from Maurice’s grandparents front window, can be seen at this link: http://www.francisfrith.com/macclesfield/macclesfield-park-green-1903_49465
Thanks for all that hard work and support detail that adds to our location database.