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Arley Hall

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The big freeze of 1963 (55 years ago) near Arley Hall.
The big freeze of 1963 (55 years ago) near Arley Hall.
Photo: Barrie.
Views: 2,980
Item #: 30668
The Leeds-Liverpool Canal near to Arley Bridge.Crane & barges stuck in the thick ice.
The big freeze lasted over 3 months. (Compare to this year 2018)

Comment by: Veronica on 28th July 2018 at 16:17

I remember The Big Freeze and how long it lasted- but it never kept me in! I still went out in my high heels in the snow! That's how daft I was!

Comment by: . Ozymandias . on 28th July 2018 at 20:31

I think the severe winter of 62/63 may have been the final nail in the coffin for commercial traffic on this country's canal system. I remember that winter quite clearly. It was brutal. I seem to recall that it lasted well into March. Although still at school, I had quite an extensive evening paper round at the time, but fortunately for me I'd squandered my savings on a Royal Australian Air Force flying jacket, purchased for ( at that time ) the eye watering sum of twelve pounds if memory serves, from Slater's shop in Wallgate, which protected me from the prolonged sub-zero temperatures. They all said that I was daft at the time, but then, they all laughed at Christopher Columbus when he said the world was round. I had the last laugh in '63 though, and no danger.

Comment by: Barrie on 29th July 2018 at 12:48

The photo was taken on Sunday 17th February and despite the big freeze was sunny & warm that afternoon.I had walked from Standish to Red Rock bridge before walking on the tow path to Adlington and back to Standish via Platt Lane and Heinz factory at Bradley.According to my diary, didn't meet many people on my travels.I can also remember other craft stuck in the ice at Red Rock.

Comment by: DTease on 31st July 2018 at 10:17

I left school in 1962 and that winter I was working at Skull House Lane, Appley Bridge. Being the new starter I was awarded the highly dubious honour of being in charge of fetching the workers dinners. This entailed making up a list of all the fish and chips, barm cakes etc required, borrowing somebody's bike, riding up to Shevington and then riding back with a cardboard box full of dinners balanced on the handlebars.
Given that the snow and ice didn't melt for months that year, and also bearing in mind that there were workers with cars sitting on the car park, it didn't take long for me to get fed up with this. So I went on strike!
It took a good deal of nerve for a fifteen year old me to tell these grown up workers that they would have to go without their dinners unless one of them gave me a lift to Shevington, but I stood my ground and three dinner less days later they gave in and organized transport for me until the weather improved.
Later it was jokingly suggested that I stand for Shop Steward.

Comment by: . Ozymandias . on 1st August 2018 at 10:51

You've got me thinking now DTease. Apart from Finch's, the Bonio, Bullen & Davies and the oilcloth factory, the only other substantial employers that I can come up with in the Appley Bridge area, apart from the outfit that make weighbridges, would be the long gone Jack Berry's plant yard, that was in Skull House Lane, and Conway trailers, although it's doubtful that Conway would have been there in 1962, so how about a clue?.....There may have been more, no doubt there were, but It must be taken into account of course, that I only emigrated to this area a mere 35 years ago and my status as a Wiganer is merely probational, my application for permanent residency still being considered. Lord only knows where I will stand if and when this Brexit business ever comes to fruition. Still, the way it's been dragging on of late, I reckon I should be safe for at least another couple of years eh?... What do you reckon?

Rock on...Ozy.

Comment by: DTease on 1st August 2018 at 12:43

Captive chickens and caravans Ozy, that's the clue.
As for Brexit, I had hoped that the country would have gotten over its collective nervous breakdown by now but sadly it seems the madness goes on. People keep telling me that we are going to beat the rest of the world when it comes to trade but when I ask them how we are going to manage that when British management can't even sort out a timetable for the Railways they just give me a blank look and tell me to "Shurrup"
I'll bet the Chinese and the Indians are licking their lips at the prospect.

Comment by: John on 3rd August 2018 at 13:18

Taylor made engineering made battery cages for hens and parts for Conway caravans next door .iworked there early sixties

Comment by: DTease on 3rd August 2018 at 18:56

That's right John.

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