T61 – Summary – Ramsbottom Heritage Society

The transcript is an interview with Doreen and Fred Bardsley as transcribed by Microsoft Word and summarised by ChatGPT and subject to errors.

Doreen Bardsley (née Bowers): Born 1934, grew up on Crow Lane. Attended Crow Lane School from 1939 (age 5) until 1949 (age 15).
Fred Bardsley: Born 1931, also local to Ramsbottom. Left school at 14 and went straight into work.

Teachers: Mrs. Cook (strict), Miss Hassell (kind, long-serving), Mr. Lindley (headmaster, remembered for discipline).
School Life:
- Lessons focused on basics: arithmetic, English, reading, and singing.
- Plays and concerts were performed; children were proud to take part.
- Sports days were big events, with races and community gatherings.
- Evacuees from Manchester and Salford joined the school during WWII. They were “different” in behaviour and dress but soon blended in.
- No school meals—children walked home at lunchtime, returning for afternoon lessons.
Atmosphere: Teachers were firm but fair. Children respected them and expected discipline.

Shops & Street Traders:
- Local shops included Richardson’s (grocer), butchers, bakers, and other general stores along Crow Lane and King Street.
- Regular visits from rag-and-bone men, donkey stone sellers (for whitening doorsteps), and coalmen.
Household Life:
- Homes typically had outside toilets (tipper flush) and ash pits.
- Heating and cooking centred around a large kitchen range with oven and boiler.
- Washdays involved dolly tubs, rubbing boards, and clothes lines strung across the street.
- Families often made their own entertainment indoors, with radio as the main medium.

Children’s Play: Nuttall Park was a main playground. Children also played in fields, near railway sidings, and in the street (which had far less traffic).
Entertainment:
- The Empire Cinema was hugely popular, especially Saturday matinees for children.
- Dances and concerts in local halls were key social events for young people.
Neighbourliness: Families knew one another well. Mothers took pride in scrubbing steps and keeping the outside of houses tidy. It was common to borrow and share with neighbours.

Doreen remembers carrying a gas mask and blackout curtains at home. Rationing shaped everyday life, but the community pulled together.
Evacuees broadened the children’s horizons, bringing new accents and ways of life.

Community spirit: Both Doreen and Fred stress how strong it was in the mid-20th century—neighbours looked after each other and knew everyone on the street.
Physical appearance: The buildings and streets of Crow Lane haven’t changed drastically.
Modern contrasts: Interiors of houses have been modernised with bathrooms, central heating, and fitted kitchens. However, the close-knit neighbourliness has faded, with people today being more private and less connected.

T61 – Summary