Early Work (1930s)
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Around 1936, James worked at Fletcher Bank Quarry after having previously been a coal miner.
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He quarried reconstituted stone/flagstones used for streets in Manchester and South Manchester.
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He walked from Cheston over Harden Lower to the quarry.
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Work involved splitting and lifting large blocks of stone using wedges, small picks, and grooves. Stones were dressed, cut to size, and transported—initially by horse and cart, later with mechanical help.
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He recalled working with the Keighley brothers and others on the quarrying side near Scout Moor.
Housing and Bombing (WWII Era)
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James lived at Buckhurst Cottage. At one point he tried to purchase it, but the terms (interest rates rising from 3½%) forced him to move back.
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He described an air raid and bombing nearby, when bombs whistled down. He and others sheltered in the cellar.
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He recounted buildings disappearing or being demolished after the bombing, with some confusion over dates (possibly 1944 vs 1948–50 demolitions).
Farming Life (1940s Onward)
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Persuaded by William Thompson (his father-in-law), James entered farming around 1944 at Higher Tops Farm.
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The farm was basic: no toilet initially (a simple outdoor pit system).
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James was the first in the area to own a Land Rover, previously relying on horse and cart.
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He ran a dairy farm with about 16–19 cows and some sheep. Land was gradually paid off with financial help, including a loan from soap manufacturer Jim Platt.
Milk Production & Distribution
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Milk was sold locally, initially in churns, supplying Holcombe village, St. Cullen Street, Bridge Street, and Bury.
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Later, a horse and cart was used for delivery. He described harsh winters (notably 1947), where deliveries had to be made through deep snow.
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Eventually, electricity was installed, bringing electric pumps and milking machines, improving efficiency.
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Before electric lighting, they relied on oil lamps, supplied by local shops.
Community & Neighbours
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James recalled families like the Pickups and Taylors, who were also involved in milk rounds.
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Milk distribution in the area was often very direct: carried in kits or barrels, ladled out house to house.
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After WWII, small-scale farms with just a couple of cows were still delivering milk this way.