Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 24th December, 2020)

"That's another fine mess you've got me into"!

Another one of my favourite places, until it has been spoiled once again by these houses.In years to come there isn't going to be any greenery left.When I used to go to Aspull secondary modern school this used to be the start of the cross country right up to Toddington and down haigh road back to the school. Thanks Dennis.

The houses look really nice, spoilt by the parked cars. When I am in charge all cars will be out of sight, I haven't worked out how yet! A Safe and Happy Christmas to you all and thankyou for the lovely PaD

Dennis, as a young lad the gang had joint ownership of a little 50cc motorbike, Stanley Lane back then was just a cinder track that went to Toddington, we all took our turn riding up and down the lane. That was until one of the gang decided that the engine had got too hot and poured a bucket of cold water onto it, that was the end. In teenage years it was a lovely walk with friends sometimes during dinner break from school.
Lovely memories, great times. Thanks Dennis.

Why what's up with Council houses, there are some lovely people in beautiful Council property out there.
Not stuck-up folk like some.

I wouldn't like to pay for those houses, not with this present uncertain world we all live in.
All the best.

Don't knock council houses I was born and fetched up in them, we had a great childhood. We don't build enough of them...sadly.

Pristine comes to mind- but not the type of house I would go for. Even if I could afford one.

I don't know that road at all but I can imagine what it was like without the houses when Julie and Walt knew it. Is Toddington an area around there? I seem to recall a Toddington ROAD, but not just "Toddington". I grew up in a rented terraced house in Ince; I'm not sure if it was rented out by the council or a private landlord, but when it was demolished my parents and my brother and I were moved onto a council estate in Platt Bridge. Yes, it had its problem families....what area doesn't?....but there were some lovely people on that estate and my then quite elderly parents were shown nothing but friendliness and respect by everyone.

Walt - your friend with the water on a hot engine. Reminded me of the character who went into R H Iles' hardware shop at the top of Bolton Road, about 1967.
"Ahm gerrin some pidgins an ahm buildin a loft. Hast gor a tin uh black an' white paint?"
You couldn't make it up!

Correct Alan, some of the nations worst folk, ie thieves and vagabonds live in posh property payed for by ill gotten gains. That's not to say my statement applies to the owners of these properties. Salt AND scum of the earth can live anywhere.

Gary, your story made me chuckle, there's no doubt that folks come out with funniest things. Just a little way down Bolton road two teenage brothers were moving a shed that they used to breed small birds. Their younger brother wanting to help was given the job of carrying the perches, after a while he appeared to go missing but was found inside the shed saying he was helping by carrying the perches so that the shed was lighter, like you said Gary, you could not make it up.

Good photo Dennis, Stanley Lane leads to Gorses Farm and Fishery, it also cuts off to the left ,by just a farm cart track, which leads to Toddington Lane, which then leads you to Tuckers Hill Brow.
Before these houses were built the residents in Stancliffe Grove at the rear had a great view of Rivington , but that's gone now , they are beautiful houses ,and very stylish, but in my opinion built in the wrong place.

Lovely houses but out of my price range anyway to everybody on Photo a Day enjoy Christmas the best you can and I hope the new year is a much better one for us all.

I'll drink to that Jean.
Happy Christmas to everyone and lets hope 2021 is much better.
Right, more coal on my fire and plenty sherry for tonight, great.

This type of executive housing is appearing in the open fields where I live, it's happening everywhere. They may be nice to look at, but Council housing from the fifties where I live are built to an exceptional standard. Most council property from that era were well built in most towns. It's in the sixties when standards slipped. I wonder why..
I hope everyone who posts and looks on WW will have a very Happy Christmas and look forward to a better New Year.

David Barker, I agree, and they are too close together, but land price and possible sale price dictates where they go.
Colin Greenall built them (lives next to Boars Head)

I knew Garry would be having a sherry.Well!! It is Christmas eve.I wish everyone a peaceful Christmas, and a much better New year.

I am having a sherry too, Edna! Cheers, Garry....get that fire banked up! Merry Christmas everyone. xxxxx

I too lived on a village council estate in the 1950s, and I could still name all the families who lived in each of the 27 houses. Everyone's garden was laid to vegetables and fruit trees, and potato drills were the favourite hiding place for the tortoise. The houses were spacious and built to last. Most people rented after the war. Always interesting to see how places change with new development. Thanks Dennis.
Best wishes for Christmas to you all, and may 2021 bring good health and happiness.

Veronica and Jean, I wouldn't like to live there either, even if the view at the rear is spectacular, no matter how beautiful the view is - in time you do get used to looking at it.

Happy Christmas all.
I'll join you in a glass of Jerez Xéréz Irene and Garry. Salut, Feliz Navidad!

I'm havin a whisky-a man's drink.
Happy xmas.

With regards to the houses on Stanley lane, and I've ridden past them on many occasions whilst on my way to feed organically sourced carrots to my thorobred racehorses.....
My personal opinion is this ; that people have to live somewhere,...but on the same level, with the rest of the world to choose from, why on earth would any sane person elect to live in Aspull. ( with apologies to DTease of course ).
Furthermore,
I'd be interested to learn where Julie actually lives.
It wouldn't by any chance be in a relatively newly built property in a previously luscious green belt area would it?...no, I can't believe that she'd have the sheer audacity to move into a house that had been built on a greenfield site....
Now in my view, the surface area occupied by the houses depicted in Dennis's photo could quite easily have accommodated shelter for at least two or three dozen families, had they been built in the form of terraced rows, similar to the ones that both myself and Alex woz fotched up in, as opposed to being built as semi detached pseudo mansions
But then, my views are undoubtedly tainted by my politically left wing biased outlook.
I take comfort however in the belief that my views may quite well be supported by numerous portions of society, not least of all the church, as, after all, I was always taught to believe that Jesus Christ was on the side of the poor and the meek,......well wasn't he?......please tell me it's true, as I'm beginning to have my doubts.

Ozy, if Jesus is on the side of us poor and meek, maybe that’s where we are going wrong because while we have been busy being meek and mild all these years the other side have been filling their boots at an alarming rate and living in houses like these.
Maybe it’s time to thank the good fellow for his efforts and point him in the direction of the opposition, that way he could show them the benefits of being meek and mild and we could get on with filling OUR boots for a change.