Places in my Past
Somewhere on the internet I came across some photographs of the seige of Stalingrad with 'windows' that allowed you to peek through from today to the past. Hard to explain really and I've been unable to find the link since but I thought I'd try it with some pics from my local area.

The Crown and Cushion in 2007 and late 19th century.

The Co-operative Industrial Society Grocery store and opticians. Now a carpet shop.
6 comments:
Steve, was it Leningrad? If so... it's probably this one.
http://fima-psuchopadt.livejournal.com/2564781.html
That's the one Bob. Absolutely marvellous technique that somehow - to me at least - brings the past alive so much more.
It's a bloody difficult technique to make it look so seamless. Hats off!
Great idea - very creative. The past does seem to linger like that anyway. At times, when you close your eyes, you can almost touch how it used to be in the land of yesteryear.
I came across your photo of the Crown & Cushion while searching google. My great grandparents had a pub by that name and I have not been able to pin it down in terms of location or current existence. But then I saw your later reference to Collyhurst. That was where they were married, St. Oswald, Collyhurst, residing at 46 Whitley St. I don't suppose you have any information about the history of your pub and/or photograph? All of the places you mention in your post about the gangs of Manchester are part of my family tree and there is a family story passed down about a scandal at the pub that caused them to leave the area (no real confirmation of this though). Their names were James Farrington and his wife Annie Williamson. They emigrated to Canada in 1918. Any insight into the history of your photo would be a treat for me. As I am in Florida, US I cannot drop in the pub, though I'd very much like to!! Thanks! Beth Farrington
Hi Beth,
The pub in the picture is actually in Failsworth which is about 3 or 4 miles from Collyhurst so I'm not sure if it's the right Crown and Cushion. There is another one on Cooperation Street near the centre of Manchester.
The Failsworth pub is part of the town centre heritage area and sits next to Failsworth Pole - currently a clock tower that has replaced earlier poles. There is a detailed history of it here: http://www.failsworth.info/downloads/polebooklet.pdf
If you think this is the correct pub you should look at the rest of the site http://www.failsworth.info/index.htm as there is quite a lot of Failsworth history related stuff. There is also a book for sale here: http://www.mlfhs.org.uk/Bookshop/richard.htm (item 4684 Failsworth Pubs 1731-1995 which has a listing of all landlords and landladies with stories and folklore as well.
Let me know if it's the right pub. You can email me at steve.garry(at)gmail.com.
Beth - Amazon UK have got a copy of the book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Failsworth-Pubs-Their-Licensees-1731-1995/dp/1852161027/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242484111&sr=8-1
The Crown and Cushion is the pub on the cover.
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