Commercial Yard

John Boltons hardware store (at the top of the Little Arcade) had a warehouse in Commercial Yard where they stored fire grates, a display of fire places and lawnmowers.

I think there was Magregers wallpaper shop,. I also remember Shannons for yeast and flour, the shop had a lovely smell, can we have it back?

Jack Lathom, the landlord of the Commercial pub bought his red Jag with the famous chrome badge bar from Clifford Davies the son of William Davies the Fishmonger situated in the Commercial Yard. Clifford had bought himself a new E-Type, also in red. Ted Whittle ran the Moot Hall hairdressers in the Commercial Yard up the steps. My mother-in-law was the cook at the Conservative Club where many people have written that you could get a very good, inexpensive meal.

I used to drink in the Commercial in the 60s. The landlord was Fred Latham. When he died his son Jack and his wife Kay ran the pub. Three barmaids I remember where Annie (from Beech Hill), Rose and Margaret. At the top of Commercial Yard was a gents outfitters called Greenwoods, to the right of this was the Corporation Transport Office. Then if you turned right down a passage you could enter the old Fleece Pub the back way. I think the landlord was Frank Wright.

YEEAH I REMEMBER FONDLY GOING INTO SHANNONS PET FOODS SHOP,WHEN I WAS A LAD WITH ME MAM AND DAD,GETTIN YEAST AND STUFF FOR MAM TO MAKE BREAD,AND CHICKEN FEED FOR DADS CHICKS REMEMBER DIGGIN ME ANDS INTO THE BAGS OF PROVIN AND LETTIN THE GRAIN RUN THRU ME FINGERS,AND THE SMELL OF WHEAT AND CORN,VERY MEMORABLE

Remember the old Conservative club. Where they did inexpensive lunches. You could gain access to it via Market street and by some wooden steps from the bottom end of the Commercial yard. Best of all the Commercial Pub. What a great atmosphere, and a smashing pint.

There was also Greenhalghes barbers shop in Commercial Yard.

Shannons was a pet food/drygoods shop, more than a pet shop. I remember going there for strong flour & yeast for my mother to bake bread. Later Shannons moved to Petticoat Lane, mentioned in another part of this website.

The tobacconists on the corner of commercial yard was ashtons tobacconists, and the pet shop was shannons.

Up the steps there was a conservative club and a cafe were they did inexpensive lunches. I remember the landlord of the commercial inn had a minted "S" type Jag in red with chrome wire wheels and a badge bar. As a teenager that was a car i could only dream of.

Commercial Inn run by the Lathom Family was also there plus Boothes Engineers and McGregors decorating shop.