BONFIRE NIGHT
A proud moment on Twells St
Remember remember.. The 5th of November?
I can still taste the bonfire toffee.. And see the toffee apples glistening in the sunlight, in the opened window.. Courtesy of our next door neighbour ..Margaret Keena
Ada Wass. What fun and excitement was had.. Making a guy! Very competitive time.. Who's was best? The most realistic guy we had one year was our Pete. Can't believe how still he was for sooo long. We pushed him in the pram down to the cattle market on Saturday morning, and outside the pubs at night. Money was pouring in. . Although he nearly came a cropper.. When some grebo's decided to prod him with a knife! Still he never stirred. We decided in future we will stick with a stuffed guy. Bonfires in the STREET! How good was that.. The week before we would go take a look at the built up pyres. Some were magnificent.. Our jaws would drop, and we would try to outdo our neighbours. Lots of skulduggery went on.. In an attempt to reduce theirs and increase ours.. "Bombed buildings" (as we called them) demolished areas between two streets, was our favourite spot. It was less likely to draw the attention of the fire brigade. Unlike some, in the streets.. too close to properties. When I am browsing antique furniture these days.. My thoughts are turned to all those dressers and tables and wardrobes and pianos, that people would drop off, to keep our fire going. Oh happy days.. Kids today missed something quite special there.
Peter Palmer
I remember being on guard duty looking after our bonfire rubbish so the next street wouldn't nick it haha
Rita Campbell
loved bonfire night and the weeks leading up to it xxx
Tony Ann Miller
Bonfire Night....what a night it used to be ...most Streets had two fires one at the bottom & one at the top...and every one came out young and old to share the fun & excitement....thanks Margaret for lighting up the memories for us all to share.
Mick Gossling
Watching the Paint on the doors and windows melt with the heat! strewth, wicked times though.
Margaret Keena
Poking tar in the road... Whilst sitting on the edge of the pavement..and getting told off cos u got it on ya clothes.
Margaret Keena
Oh and feeding spiders with dead flies, and waiting for the spider to come out onto the web and snatch the fly! We knew how to have fun.
Tony Ann Miller
Margaret...That brings back some memories...our out side toilet was the home to some of the biggest spiders known to man kind....with my two little sisters I would go big game hunting, first catch the bait... a huge blue bottle if possible the ones that went iszzzz.when you caught them..now not for the squeamish...pull the wings off...and then very gently pop it on to the very outside of the web...and just wait....then it was like something out of "JAWS".......dum dum,dum,dum...then he would appear....huge hairy monster with shoes & socks on ..with a smile on his face.......screams from our Pat & Jackie as they fell off the toilet seat...screaming with excited laughter running to the back door ....Mam....Mam.....Mam...."you know what our Tony's just done"......Marvellous fun.....
Tony Ann Miller
Sorry if it upset you ladies re. cruelty to animals & insects etc...but I was only 9 or 10 at the time....and normally, as you well know... "I wouldn't hurt a fly"
Mick Gossling
I used to get some soft road tar wrapped around a match then strike it and throw it to see the smoke trail, what a saddo, lol or follow sucker sticks down the road in the gutter when it was raining, boy we had fun in those days eh?
Kay Burford
My brother and I, liked to burn insects under a magnifying glass, terribly cruel when you think about it the poor little things...
Elaine Walker
There was always a bonfire on our street. The cobbles remained unharmed, my mother always complained about the mess to her windows and curtains though lol!
To continue this conversation in facebook, click here
I can still taste the bonfire toffee.. And see the toffee apples glistening in the sunlight, in the opened window.. Courtesy of our next door neighbour ..Margaret Keena
Ada Wass. What fun and excitement was had.. Making a guy! Very competitive time.. Who's was best? The most realistic guy we had one year was our Pete. Can't believe how still he was for sooo long. We pushed him in the pram down to the cattle market on Saturday morning, and outside the pubs at night. Money was pouring in. . Although he nearly came a cropper.. When some grebo's decided to prod him with a knife! Still he never stirred. We decided in future we will stick with a stuffed guy. Bonfires in the STREET! How good was that.. The week before we would go take a look at the built up pyres. Some were magnificent.. Our jaws would drop, and we would try to outdo our neighbours. Lots of skulduggery went on.. In an attempt to reduce theirs and increase ours.. "Bombed buildings" (as we called them) demolished areas between two streets, was our favourite spot. It was less likely to draw the attention of the fire brigade. Unlike some, in the streets.. too close to properties. When I am browsing antique furniture these days.. My thoughts are turned to all those dressers and tables and wardrobes and pianos, that people would drop off, to keep our fire going. Oh happy days.. Kids today missed something quite special there.
Peter Palmer
I remember being on guard duty looking after our bonfire rubbish so the next street wouldn't nick it haha
Rita Campbell
loved bonfire night and the weeks leading up to it xxx
Tony Ann Miller
Bonfire Night....what a night it used to be ...most Streets had two fires one at the bottom & one at the top...and every one came out young and old to share the fun & excitement....thanks Margaret for lighting up the memories for us all to share.
Mick Gossling
Watching the Paint on the doors and windows melt with the heat! strewth, wicked times though.
Margaret Keena
Poking tar in the road... Whilst sitting on the edge of the pavement..and getting told off cos u got it on ya clothes.
Margaret Keena
Oh and feeding spiders with dead flies, and waiting for the spider to come out onto the web and snatch the fly! We knew how to have fun.
Tony Ann Miller
Margaret...That brings back some memories...our out side toilet was the home to some of the biggest spiders known to man kind....with my two little sisters I would go big game hunting, first catch the bait... a huge blue bottle if possible the ones that went iszzzz.when you caught them..now not for the squeamish...pull the wings off...and then very gently pop it on to the very outside of the web...and just wait....then it was like something out of "JAWS".......dum dum,dum,dum...then he would appear....huge hairy monster with shoes & socks on ..with a smile on his face.......screams from our Pat & Jackie as they fell off the toilet seat...screaming with excited laughter running to the back door ....Mam....Mam.....Mam...."you know what our Tony's just done"......Marvellous fun.....
Tony Ann Miller
Sorry if it upset you ladies re. cruelty to animals & insects etc...but I was only 9 or 10 at the time....and normally, as you well know... "I wouldn't hurt a fly"
Mick Gossling
I used to get some soft road tar wrapped around a match then strike it and throw it to see the smoke trail, what a saddo, lol or follow sucker sticks down the road in the gutter when it was raining, boy we had fun in those days eh?
Kay Burford
My brother and I, liked to burn insects under a magnifying glass, terribly cruel when you think about it the poor little things...
Elaine Walker
There was always a bonfire on our street. The cobbles remained unharmed, my mother always complained about the mess to her windows and curtains though lol!
To continue this conversation in facebook, click here
BONFIRE NIGHT - Memories shared November 2017
Philip Angus Who had Bonfire in the street? I know I did
Patricia Bird We had two in Simkins Street, one near the top and one near the bottom. Can you remember the Jumping Jacks and the Catherine Wheels? No health and safety in those days, was there?
Dorothy Davies Dickinson Street certainly did
Barbara Gawel Loasby Bloomfield Street and Rose Street
Michael Rigby Lotus Street did
Philip Angus Ours was on Northville Street
Christine Skillington My grandparents lived on Northville street 27.the Bell family, went there every year for bonfire night.
Trevor John Wightman We had a bonfire on crown st. I’ve seen paint bubbles on windows and doors. Council cleaned up next day. The street was cobbled then. You wouldn’t do it today because of the tarmac.
Philip Angus What about jacket potatoes did you have them at the end of the night
Maureen Pusey Yes and roasted chestnuts.
Pauline Richards Always.....lol
Maureen Pusey St Mathias Road did. I hated Jumping Jacks and Catherine wheels.
Kath Whitham Yes Maureen we all used to love it didn't we love x
Maureen Pusey We certainly did Kath. Good times. Seems only yesterday.. until I look in the mirror lol. Hope you are keeping well. x
Kath Whitham Yes l know what you mean young at heart . keeping well thanks hope you are too x
Gail Smith Wainwright st we had them
Sid Wheeldon Cathcart Street had them
Jenny Ireland We had the most amazing bonfires on the junction of Bangor Street and Conway Street. We saved stuff for burning up the bottom passage (sorry about the terminology) which was halfway down Bangor Street between Egerton and Conway Streets and went on raiding parties to Marple Street to nick their stuff. We took it in turns to guard our stuff. Mrs Kennedy (Jenny Richardson's mum) put potatoes around the fire to bake for us to eat. Mrs Rainbow called the fire brigade every year without fail to put the bonfire out. Lowater's garage miraculously never did catch fire, in spite of the dozens of empty wooden fruit boxes left there. Our dads bought and lit fireworks out front so that everyone could see them. I loved it. It's a shame we can no longer do this.
Brenda Maw A real community fire,
sounds good. My mum told me about the bonfire's and how they used to try and pinch each other's. I can remember because we had a garden we had one in our own garden. In Wakefield where I live now, we've had some great community bonfire's
Barbra Hendry Always remember those bonfires
Jenny Richardson Yeah Jenny we did have great bonfire nights, everybody was out on the street & me mam always had jacket spuds, mushy peas & hot dogs on the go. We as kids them had some great times didn't we, and loads of great memories. Xx
Jenny Ireland Yes, Jenny, we did. Bonfire Night was the highlight, I think.
Web Karly Kelham green.
Norma Brown I have lovely memories of the bonfires on crown st. If I remember rightly it was nearly outside your house Trevor
Philip Angus Yes it was a big community nearly every street had a bonfire on it
Including old settes to sit on
Yes we had to guard ours and of course raid someone else
Great days
Trudy Drew We had one on Beverley St
Carol Larkin I have a vivid memory of being on Clarence Street and we had our cousin dressed for the role of the guy and she was sat in a push chair while we all did the penny for the guy thing...well this tough older lad comes up giving it the,that's not a real guy! He poked her ,but she never moved,great acting and we had collected a few pennies so he did no more than toss a lit banger at her and we all moved pretty quick and the tough guy took our money and scarpered ha ha,this would be middle 1950s
Ray Walker Yes and the stink of fireworks and bonfires lingered well into the next day, and kids trying to get the fires going again..
Christine Morrison Mushy peas after the fireworks were all used. Bonfire half way up Raglan Street. Happy days.
Trevor John Wightman I used to go school with a lad called ray Everett off raglan st in early 60s
Mercia Lee We had a bonfire every year on Broad Oak Street cobbles - usually at the bottom of the street until one year the only car on the street was parked there so the bonfire was relocated outside our house further up the hill. I hated the jumping-jack fireworks - you never knew where they would jump to next! We used to cook chestnuts in the embers of the fire and the next day our house was full of bonfire 'dust'.
Vivienne Davey We did Ford Street St Marys
Pat Smith Big one on Stretton St
David Seaton Livingstone St. Massive bonfire every one joined in. Parents and children. Fantastic times
Sue Icke Lombardi We had about three on Edwin st
Jean Spooner We had Bonfire on Ball Street it was so near the front of house the paint on the door used to blister and dad had to paint it again. Also it was cobbled st so the Tar would melt ha
Mick Seaton In the big back yard David Seaton everyone used to chip in...hot dogs...burgers...hot peas...potatoes...toffee apples....bonfire toffee. Magic night real community spirit.
David Seaton That was later before was on livo Moffat St junction
Peter Blackham I remember it will we lived on lotus street we used to belters. we used to raid other streets for there rubbish
John David Randall Fires in both terraces at bottom of Dame Agnes st. You name it we burnt it.
Audrey Rusby Low waters,bottom of Bangor street.
Jenny Ireland Across from Conway Street, so about two thirds up the hill.
Pauline Richards We always went to my Uncle Dennis for bonfire night....massive fire across Dickinson Street......We used to put potatoes and chestnuts in the tins baby milk powder came in.....always finished the night off with a feast....
No health and safety back then.....
Maggie Margaret Hobday Havelock Street had one.
Mandy Shanahan Amazing photos
Brian Glover Pym st was huge xx
Bill Obermeyer The last one we had on Rose street. The fire service put it out
Barbara Gawel Loasby I seem to remember one bonfire quite close your mums house
Bill Obermeyer what a memory you have xx
Sid Wheeldon 3 of us lads aged 10 on Cathcart Street went hunting for extra Rubbish later around the back yards locally and found at the Back of the Local Grocers shop Dolly Calladine's on Cathcart street, some Wooden Pop Crates, not knowing that she got a deposit on each Crate of 2/6d we threw them on the fire about 7 in total, Dolly was away apparently that night (she never joined in any celebrations we had on the street) and was not happy the next day but no one owned up or snitched .despite her offering a 5 shilling reward for the names of the Culprits. a lot of money then She wasn't d by many on the street anyway. lol
Tina Hall I so want a toffee apple right now........
Philip Angus Kids with fireworks
No health and safety issue's then
Philip Angus Parent's was just excited as us
June Walker we did in Massey Street mum & dad used to go mad frightened of the windows cracking with the heat oh dear !!!!!!!! but brilliant we used to go round the shops for cardboard for the bonfire
Philip Angus Did anyone have Bonfire toffee
Denise Parkinson We did. Those smells of past memories. Our mums were awesome xx
Philip Angus You are so right the smell of Bonfire toffee my nan used to make was out of this world nothing today's
Paul Margeson We did on Stretton Street, I remember the tar between the cobbles melting, and the state of the doors opposite the fire the next day, with the paint blistered.
Philip Angus Who had Bonfire in the street? I know I did
Patricia Bird We had two in Simkins Street, one near the top and one near the bottom. Can you remember the Jumping Jacks and the Catherine Wheels? No health and safety in those days, was there?
Dorothy Davies Dickinson Street certainly did
Barbara Gawel Loasby Bloomfield Street and Rose Street
Michael Rigby Lotus Street did
Philip Angus Ours was on Northville Street
Christine Skillington My grandparents lived on Northville street 27.the Bell family, went there every year for bonfire night.
Trevor John Wightman We had a bonfire on crown st. I’ve seen paint bubbles on windows and doors. Council cleaned up next day. The street was cobbled then. You wouldn’t do it today because of the tarmac.
Philip Angus What about jacket potatoes did you have them at the end of the night
Maureen Pusey Yes and roasted chestnuts.
Pauline Richards Always.....lol
Maureen Pusey St Mathias Road did. I hated Jumping Jacks and Catherine wheels.
Kath Whitham Yes Maureen we all used to love it didn't we love x
Maureen Pusey We certainly did Kath. Good times. Seems only yesterday.. until I look in the mirror lol. Hope you are keeping well. x
Kath Whitham Yes l know what you mean young at heart . keeping well thanks hope you are too x
Gail Smith Wainwright st we had them
Sid Wheeldon Cathcart Street had them
Jenny Ireland We had the most amazing bonfires on the junction of Bangor Street and Conway Street. We saved stuff for burning up the bottom passage (sorry about the terminology) which was halfway down Bangor Street between Egerton and Conway Streets and went on raiding parties to Marple Street to nick their stuff. We took it in turns to guard our stuff. Mrs Kennedy (Jenny Richardson's mum) put potatoes around the fire to bake for us to eat. Mrs Rainbow called the fire brigade every year without fail to put the bonfire out. Lowater's garage miraculously never did catch fire, in spite of the dozens of empty wooden fruit boxes left there. Our dads bought and lit fireworks out front so that everyone could see them. I loved it. It's a shame we can no longer do this.
Brenda Maw A real community fire,
sounds good. My mum told me about the bonfire's and how they used to try and pinch each other's. I can remember because we had a garden we had one in our own garden. In Wakefield where I live now, we've had some great community bonfire's
Barbra Hendry Always remember those bonfires
Jenny Richardson Yeah Jenny we did have great bonfire nights, everybody was out on the street & me mam always had jacket spuds, mushy peas & hot dogs on the go. We as kids them had some great times didn't we, and loads of great memories. Xx
Jenny Ireland Yes, Jenny, we did. Bonfire Night was the highlight, I think.
Web Karly Kelham green.
Norma Brown I have lovely memories of the bonfires on crown st. If I remember rightly it was nearly outside your house Trevor
Philip Angus Yes it was a big community nearly every street had a bonfire on it
Including old settes to sit on
Yes we had to guard ours and of course raid someone else
Great days
Trudy Drew We had one on Beverley St
Carol Larkin I have a vivid memory of being on Clarence Street and we had our cousin dressed for the role of the guy and she was sat in a push chair while we all did the penny for the guy thing...well this tough older lad comes up giving it the,that's not a real guy! He poked her ,but she never moved,great acting and we had collected a few pennies so he did no more than toss a lit banger at her and we all moved pretty quick and the tough guy took our money and scarpered ha ha,this would be middle 1950s
Ray Walker Yes and the stink of fireworks and bonfires lingered well into the next day, and kids trying to get the fires going again..
Christine Morrison Mushy peas after the fireworks were all used. Bonfire half way up Raglan Street. Happy days.
Trevor John Wightman I used to go school with a lad called ray Everett off raglan st in early 60s
Mercia Lee We had a bonfire every year on Broad Oak Street cobbles - usually at the bottom of the street until one year the only car on the street was parked there so the bonfire was relocated outside our house further up the hill. I hated the jumping-jack fireworks - you never knew where they would jump to next! We used to cook chestnuts in the embers of the fire and the next day our house was full of bonfire 'dust'.
Vivienne Davey We did Ford Street St Marys
Pat Smith Big one on Stretton St
David Seaton Livingstone St. Massive bonfire every one joined in. Parents and children. Fantastic times
Sue Icke Lombardi We had about three on Edwin st
Jean Spooner We had Bonfire on Ball Street it was so near the front of house the paint on the door used to blister and dad had to paint it again. Also it was cobbled st so the Tar would melt ha
Mick Seaton In the big back yard David Seaton everyone used to chip in...hot dogs...burgers...hot peas...potatoes...toffee apples....bonfire toffee. Magic night real community spirit.
David Seaton That was later before was on livo Moffat St junction
Peter Blackham I remember it will we lived on lotus street we used to belters. we used to raid other streets for there rubbish
John David Randall Fires in both terraces at bottom of Dame Agnes st. You name it we burnt it.
Audrey Rusby Low waters,bottom of Bangor street.
Jenny Ireland Across from Conway Street, so about two thirds up the hill.
Pauline Richards We always went to my Uncle Dennis for bonfire night....massive fire across Dickinson Street......We used to put potatoes and chestnuts in the tins baby milk powder came in.....always finished the night off with a feast....
No health and safety back then.....
Maggie Margaret Hobday Havelock Street had one.
Mandy Shanahan Amazing photos
Brian Glover Pym st was huge xx
Bill Obermeyer The last one we had on Rose street. The fire service put it out
Barbara Gawel Loasby I seem to remember one bonfire quite close your mums house
Bill Obermeyer what a memory you have xx
Sid Wheeldon 3 of us lads aged 10 on Cathcart Street went hunting for extra Rubbish later around the back yards locally and found at the Back of the Local Grocers shop Dolly Calladine's on Cathcart street, some Wooden Pop Crates, not knowing that she got a deposit on each Crate of 2/6d we threw them on the fire about 7 in total, Dolly was away apparently that night (she never joined in any celebrations we had on the street) and was not happy the next day but no one owned up or snitched .despite her offering a 5 shilling reward for the names of the Culprits. a lot of money then She wasn't d by many on the street anyway. lol
Tina Hall I so want a toffee apple right now........
Philip Angus Kids with fireworks
No health and safety issue's then
Philip Angus Parent's was just excited as us
June Walker we did in Massey Street mum & dad used to go mad frightened of the windows cracking with the heat oh dear !!!!!!!! but brilliant we used to go round the shops for cardboard for the bonfire
Philip Angus Did anyone have Bonfire toffee
Denise Parkinson We did. Those smells of past memories. Our mums were awesome xx
Philip Angus You are so right the smell of Bonfire toffee my nan used to make was out of this world nothing today's
Paul Margeson We did on Stretton Street, I remember the tar between the cobbles melting, and the state of the doors opposite the fire the next day, with the paint blistered.