Kens Books Website celebrates its 2nd Anniversary!

March 2002-2004

......and how very interesting some of your feedback has been.

Here is a glimpse of some of the fascinating responses that Ken has received.

Farnworth E-mails have come from Pennsylvania, Southern California and Canada reflecting how families have emigrated from Farnworth. For instance Shirley’s maternal Grandmother was on board the Majestic, which sailed to the USA in 1904 (Click here for original advertisement in the 1904 Farnworth Journal). Jane from California’s family lived in Gladstone Road, a discovery made from the 1901 Census.  Number 4 Albert Place was the home of May from Southern California’s grandfather. This was in New Bury and part of the first wave of slum clearance in the 1930’s.

Tonge Street with Albert Place, 1930

Rob wanted photos of the Vitriol Makers Arms in Albert Road and the Golden Lion, as members of his family were licensed victuallers there in the late 1800’s. Finally, the photos of Mr Pickford, Manager of the Farnworth Journal, feature in the book. I was pleased to hear that his entire collection of photos is lovingly preserved and collated by a man to whom Mr Pickford was Great Uncle Jack. And somewhere on the coast of Lancashire is a collection of diaries of life in Farnworth kept from 1920 to 1980.

Westhoughton enquiries have been received about Radcliffe House Farm, Fourgates School, and the Naval Gun Factory. Kathleen 79 years young used to work at Wigglesworths and has lots of memories and photos.  Radical Nursery is mentioned in the book which made Phil curious about it’s location. It was near Scot Lane colliery, probably where Wingates Industrial Estate is today.