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Posted by Editor on 16th June 2010 at 02:45 PM Video: Salford Local History Library
by Tony Flynn
If like myself you have a keen interest in Salford and local history then Salford Local History Library is the place for you.
Set within Salford Museum and Art Gallery overlooking Peel Park, the Library has free resources available to everyone.
It's a paradise for people who have a love of Salford both past and present, so if you are researching your family tree, want to find out about the history of your house, street or school, looking for old maps of Salford, then this is the place for you.
The library's extensive collection includes census returns from 1841 - 1901 for the City of Salford, electoral rolls, trade directories, local church registers, ordnance survey maps from 1848 to present day, newspapers dating from 1858, more than 70,000 photographs of Salford people and places, microfiche readers and large screen readers, computers and most importantly very friendly and knowledgeable staff who are only too happy to help.
The library is open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10.00am - 5.00pm and Wednesday 10.00am - 8.00pm, if you intend to use a micro reader it is advisable to book in advance.
I have spent many a happy hour in there as the staff will testify, so if you have an interest in Salford please give it a visit.
No mention of the library would be complete without mentioning Tim Ashworth who left the library after twenty five years of service, Tim was an expert on Salford and could guide you to whatever book, micro film, map etc within seconds. He must have helped thousands of people over the yearswho were doing their family tree research or wanted help locacting pghotographs, he will be missed by many and will be a hard act to follow.
Finally, Tony Frankland who worked at the library for twenty five years tells us an amusing anecdote about an American ladies confusion over the meaning of donkey stoning!
If you're a bit younger, or not from the area, donkey stoning was a method of cleaning your doorstep with a donkey stone, thus called because of its brand name, Donkey, and was available in cream or brown. It was then a matter of honour to donkey stone your doorstep to a shining clean white or brown several days a week (as opposed to chucking stones at hapless donkeys).
 Comment by Guest 20th December 2010
I am an 'old' Salford lad, my childhood memories are of playing on the 'sand hills off the dutchy road,trying to catch fish in the cannal under cockrobin bridge and going up along the cannal as far as agecroft on our adventures. When I do ever get a chance to go down Brindle Heath Rd(I lived at 57) it breaks my heart to see the state it is now in and all we are left with is our memories of a much happier time and a richer childhood.
Steve Ince |
Comment by Guest 10th August 2010
The rag and bone man also gave away free goldfish along with donkey stones, would come round the street blowing a trumpet shoutin something like, "Ragbonnio!", the goldfish would die within a day or two though, and then flushed down the bog. |
Comment by Guest 8th August 2010
didnt know that tony3 |
Comment by Tony"3" ( member ) 8th August 2010
There's nothing quite nicer than a Pendleton's twicer ice cream with a lolly at each end.
Nothing to do with Pendleton though, they were based in Ormskirk, later to be taken over by Lyon's sad realy
Tony"3" |
Comment by Guest 8th August 2010
id love a pendleton twicer |
Comment by Tony"3" ( member ) 8th August 2010
Dolly Blues were available from Folks shop on Lissadale Street Pendleton they were used in my Mums wash tub combined with a "gadumpher" to get whites white!.Question does anyone remember Noonans ice-cream based just off London Street Pendleton, late 1950s.
Tony"3" |
Comment by Guest 7th August 2010
What about Red Raddle which replaced the Donkey Stone and white wash for the backyard walls. |
Comment by Guest 7th August 2010
there was also a dolly red which i used to get for my gran from delves on crosslane |
Comment by Guest 7th August 2010
My father's family once owned a large house on Sandy Lane, with the name "Crawford" scrolled on the wrought iron gate. I would like to know what happenned to it. Does the history library have any information?Eve Crawford Rizzo |
Comment by Guest 29th July 2010
In my book, Clarrie Hancock, I make mention of both donkey stones and dolly blue. Does anyone remember a street my Dad called "Bloody-good husband street?" My mother always complained that he did not help with the cleaning and always pointed out that the men in this particular street were always out cleaning the windows, etc. Eve Rizzo |
Comment by Guest 28th July 2010
My mother used to get stoned with the rag and bong man, and dolly blue was something completely different I can assure you. |
Comment by Paul Kenny ( member ) 28th July 2010
My mother used to get her donkey stones from the rag and bone man....... when she died I found a pristine donkey stone and a "dolly blue" and they are both now proudly displayed in my studio |
Comment by Guest 21st June 2010
Nice video as this library is the best place in Salford for a walk down memory lane. |
Comment by Guest 16th June 2010
I think I prefer the American woman's donkey stone idea, the mind boggles. |
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