A LOOK AT 1955
The Macclesfield Times and Courier were covering the local news in 1955. The first headline of the year pictured Mr Cyril Corbishly of Macclesfield clearing snow from the number plate of his Daimler car before leaving Glasgow on the first lap of The Monte Carlo Rally, accompanied by a good luck message from the Mayor of Macclesfield.
Financial crisis was hitting English football clubs and it was thought that only a miracle would secure Macclesfield Town’s future.
North Western Gas Board
Cooking Demonstrations
2.30 And 7.30 pm
9th 10th February Baking with Self Raising Flour
16th 17th February Recipes from Abroad
24th February Menu Winners
2nd 3rd March Savouries with a Difference
Demonstrator Ruth Tudor-Jones |
Plans and Artists impressions were pictured of the main group of buildings to be built at Alderley Park, the former Estate of the Stanley Family. Now owned by ICI Ltd, the site had been purchased as the company’s research site to develop pharmaceutical products. The architects were Harry S Fairhurst and Sons, and the builders were John Laing and Sons.
The mayor elect of Macclesfield Borough was in the railway service for 46 years. Councillor W Smallwood, aged 66, was pictured at his Nicholson Avenue home. Although born in Batley, West Yorkshire he had spent most of his life in Macclesfield, joining the London and North West Railway Company as a clerk in the Hibel Road Goods Yard in 1949 and retired after 46 years from his post as Chief Delivery Clerk.
Pictured on her 88th birthday, Mrs M Moores, of 77 Park Lane, was the town’s oldest news agent – a business she had started 43 years earlier.
“There’s a stampede on for Weston’s Wagon Wheels, the richer sweeter, bigger chocolate thrill at just 3d”
Hundreds of people had signed a petition organised by anglers against the proposed closure by the Government of close to 800 miles of canals, including the Macclesfield canal.
A series of advertisements in the weekly newspaper by Ind Coope Beer highlighted the local pubic houses that sold its product “from the wood”. The first to be spotted made fascinating reading:
“There’s no better beer in town, says Charlie Lomas of the Castle Inn. The Castle Inn is particularly popular among people who like their pub small, quaint and cosy. Built over 200 years ago, the Castle Inn is one of the oldest houses in Macclesfield. Recently the entrance to an underground passage leading, it is believed into St Michael’s Church, was found in the cellar. Mr Lomas is a keen supporter of Macclesfield cricket and football teams and played for Bollington in his younger days.
In May, the Macclesfield Equitable Provident Society celebrated its centenary year.
By the summer of 1955 Capesthorne Hall had been opened to the public to ensure its preservation. Faced with heavy taxation and ever increasing maintenance costs, Colonel Walter Bromley-Davenport, Conservative Member of Parliament for Knutsford, decided to open up the hall to the public at 2 shillings a head. Advertisements later in the year invited visitors to Sunday concerts in the Capesthorne Theatre.
Pictured in the town hall with the mayor of Macclesfield were visitors from Macclesfield’s German twin town, Ekenforde. Amongst the visitors was Burgomaster Dr. Schmidt who was staying during the visit with Town Clerk, Mr Walter Isaac.
Macclesfield Rural District Council “showed off its all” to four leading newspaper editors from Egypt. They were studying all aspects of life as guests of the Foreign Office.
There were numerous entries for Macclesfield’s second Agricultural Show, held on August 31st in the South Park. The programme of events began at 9.00am and continued until 9.30pm. Competitions were held for horticulture, fruit and farm produce, hunter and riding classes, cattle, shire horses and rabbits. The Women’s Institutes put on displays, whilst local businesses with stands included The North Western Electricity Board, T Simister Land Rover, Quicks for Ford, The National Provincial Bank and William Deacon’s Bank. Large crowds were attracted to the tented town.
Local electrical retailers reported that the demand for radio sets outnumbered the demand for television sets by three to one.
Pictured up ladders painting the woodwork of St Oswald’s Church was Rev R Spencer, curate of the church, with his helpers Councillor A Kirkham and Councillor G Thompson.
Redman’s, the good bacon shop in the Market Place, advertised juicy prunes at one shilling and eight pence (medium) and two shillings and six pence (large)
Showing at the Majestic Cinema in September, Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave were appearing in the film, “The Dambusters”.
Newspaper photographs in September showed an almost empty Ridgegate Reservoir at Langley, in which it was thought that there was just 25 days supply of water was left to supply Macclesfield.
Late in October, Macclesfield held a Music Festival at the Large Sunday School, Parochial Hall and the Town Mission.
Make this Christmas last all year with Hornby Dublo Trains
From Arthur Whiting, 43 Chestergate.
Meccano, Trix and Roxex electric trains, Triang Toys,
Dinky Toys. Hornby Clockwork Trains, Bayko Building Sets. |
A new Vauxhall Velox motorcar could be purchased from Holland’s Garage in King Edward Street for £794.
