‘I’ve never forgotten bacon smell’
How I love to see the old photos of Hanley printed in The Way We Were.
I was born in York Street and these photos bring back so many memories.
John Leeke in Town Road always had the smell of smoked bacon.
When I went to Glass Street School in the 1950s we had a cookery class each week and two girls were chosen to do any shopping needed that was not already in the larder.
Leeke’s was one of the shops and I have never forgotten the lovely aroma as soon as you entered. I also recall Thacker’s hardware store. My mother worked at the Vulcan pottery in Clough Street.
Twenty ladies paid £1 for 21 weeks and had what they called ‘a chance’.
They would each draw a number and whatever number was drawn would be the week when they would receive a cheque for £20 to be spent in Thacker’s shop.
Everyone looked forward to when it would be their turn. The money would be spent on household items. I think that it was a shop that sold almost everything.
There was a small herbalist shop at the top of Broad Street near to Bethesda Street.
Every winter my mother had a throat condition and she would go to the herbalist to buy iodised throat lozenges. She swore by these and never went to the doctor.
They did seem to work for her although they were an acquired taste.
Colman Sumberg was, of course, a luxury shop when furs were still acceptable.
Lichfield Street was where we walked every Sunday afternoon to visit my grandma who lived in Austin Street near to Joiners Square.
I remember all of the buildings in Hanley and most have very special memories. Hardly any left now of course and that is why it is such a pleasure to see these old photos.
Thank you for printing them and keeping alive so many happy memories.
Do you remember the shops in Hanley? Let us know by emailing waywewere@ thesentinel.co.uk