During the time that I have spent on this planet I've lived in Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme. What I want to do here is to remember the local area as it was in times gone by. Let's see how it goes, if this section gets a good enough response I will expand it and add a database. I really want to trace the history of all the shops.

The Co-op Late Shop on Flixton Road
used to be Hanburys.

Hanburys (now Coop late shop) used to be a Tesco. Then on mentioning this to my wife, it seems that Tesco took over the shop from Adsega. She remembers this because it was cheap but the only one that had a late night closing of 7pm, which seems very early closing with what we have today.
<<<Thanks To Herbie Booth>>>

GB Models on Church Road
used to be Frank Clarks Newsagents.

Before this it was another newsagents owned by Harold Royle and his wife , Pat and before this it was (still a newsagents) owned by Charlie Howe, who emigrated to Canada.
<<<Thanks to Mike Mitchell>>>

Mr. & Mrs. Royle didn't own the shop but were managers for Frank Clarks Newsagents. Their daughter, Denise, was my "best friend" when I was in primary school and I used to deliver newspapers for them on Sundays. My route was down Southgate and down the street that ran along Urmston Meadows.
<<<Judy (Hubeny) Larkin - Northern Virginia, USA >>>

153 Church roadThe property on the right-hand corner opposite the Roebuck

The frontage of the video shop opposite the Roebuck Hotel that used to be a butchers is presently being rebuilt and will be a domestic residence when completed.
<<<Thanks to Carol Gilfoy >>>

used to be a Video Rental Shop

Before this it used to be Williams the butcher

Before this it was Mr Parkin's butchers
<<<Thanks to Mike Mitchell>>>

Need some help with this one. Can anyone remember the shop on Barton road near the Nags Head which I think used to be a type of general store back in the 60's (now a cycle shop). Does anyone remember the name? Does anyone have any pictures? I remember as a small boy visiting the shop with my Mam. Does anyone have any info on this?
<<<Thanks To Ken Zielinski>>>

Throughout the war (1939-1945) years and for some years after, this was a Greengrocer's run by Mr. and Mrs. Shaw.
<<<Thanks To Thomas Roy Daniel>>>

Stones's Arm & Navy Store

One shop that I'm working on is the old 'Stone's' army and navy surplus store. Now they had a very small outlet on Flixton road somewhere near the small cobblers/key cutters shop. The main one was, bit hazy here, origionally located where J&A Sports was, if not it was damned close.
<<<Thanks To Dave Etchells>>>

The Stones 'army n navy' shop was opposite Woolworths and close to where the gap is was Bennett's the Jewellers...again, opposite Woolworths. There was also The Maypole store along there
<<<Thanks To Wilson Carmichael>>>

There used to be a newsagents on the corner of Brook Road and Flixton Road, by the traffic lights. Anyone remember the name of the shop?
<<<Thanks To Basil Simonenko>>>

The newsagents shop on the corner of Brook Road & Flixton Road, by the traffic lights was Stimsons. They had an Agency for Cash's coaches and my sister & I used to travel to United's away games with them.
<<<Thanks To Linda Close>>>

Originally this was "Jumps".I think two sisters owned it.I remember getting my first Rupert annual from them.About 1946/7.
<<<Thanks To John Oxley Dean>>>

J & A Sports - somewhere on Station Road near the Balti Exotica.

'J&A Sports' used to be in the end shop opposite 'Woolworths'. I'm sure of this as I used to get the dartboards from there when we had a darts team in Yates's around '82 to '84.
<<<Thanks To Dave Etchells>>>

J&A Sports was on Station Road opposite Woolworths and
sold Trophies and dice, darts , games etc
<<<Thanks To Wilson Carmichael>>>

J&A sports was on Station Road, and used to sell a wide array of gear, including cut price scout uniforms, as the owner was involved with 2nd Urmston at some point.
<<<Thanks To Bill Wood>>>

Duttons - It was a really handy sweet shop when I was at Urmston County Junior school but it was destroyed by fire. It used to be situated directly opposite from Wycliffe Road.

Duttons was a newsagents on Flixton road, next to Cornish's builders and acted as the local distribution point for daily papers. It was a rather large, detached building but burnt down in about 1977, when the Fire man's strike was in full swing. My mate and I watched the whole thing burn down as a bunch of inept soldiers tried to unravel their hoses.
<<<Thanks To Bill Wood>>>

Corkers - before it was Corkers it was a Restaurant but what was it before this. Remember when Corkers used to have phones on the tables so that you could talk to people at other tables.

Another little fact I remember is about the origins of Corkers. The corner of Corkers next to the old Electric showroom was actually, at one time, a little cafe called the 'Teapot'.
<<<Thanks To Dave Etchells>>>

Before Corkers was Corkers it was a little wine bar called "Spurellies" I am not quite sure of the spelling.
<<<Thanks To Malcolm Jones>>>

CORKERS - This used to be a barber's shop run by Mr. Page.
<<<Thanks to Nora Upton for the info' and to Margaret Carroll for submitting it>>>

The chippy on Church Road (Tony's Fish Bar) used to be a double fronted shop; one half was a takeaway and the other half a cafe. In 1977/78 a lorry ploughed into the cafe part which was later rebuilt as a separate shop.

Used to be Baxter's Chippy
<<<Thanks to Mike Mitchell>>>

What about the swimming pool on Princess Road, or the 'Baths' as we used to call it?
I used to go to urmston baths whilst at Our Lady of the Rosary primary school. I can remember the glass from glass dome falling into the pool whilst we were swimming. It was shut down shortly after this.
<<<Thanks To Paul John Nesbitt>>>

I bet there's not many remember the mortuary that was next to St Michaels' church yard?
It was alongside the church yard wall that still stands between the Chuch Yard and Lumms farm (Hughes). I remember peering into it through a slightly open window on my way to school Scary! It was demolished about 25 yrs ago.
<<<Thanks To Malcolm Jones>>>

I do remember this also old Shaw Hall.Going to explore the hall freightened the life out of me.
<<<Thanks to John Oxley Dean>>>

Wallpaper Land on Station Road
used to be Shannons Audio/Video Store.
<<<Thanks to Lawrence>>>

The Pound Shop on the corner of Crpftsbank Road/Flixton Road
used to be Greenwoods but was (up to early 60's) Burgons which was an old fashioned grocers.
<<<Thanks to Herbie Booth>>>

The Brittania on Flixton Road
used to be Gas show rooms.
<<<Thanks to Herbie Booth>>>

Wetherspoons
used to be the Electrictity Showrooms.
<<<Thanks to Herbie Booth>>>

Woolworths
is still where it has always been.
<<<Thanks to Herbie Booth>>>

Cuthberts Buthchers
is still where it has always been.
<<<Thanks to Herbie Booth>>>

Smethills funeral directors
used to be Ridings furniture store.
<<<Thanks to Herbie Booth>>>

Kwiksave
occupies the site where the the Empress cinema used to be.
<<<Thanks to Herbie Booth>>>

Direct Carpets on Gloucester Road
used to be Smiths, it was a double fronted grocers, also next to it was Fildes the Butchers.
<<<Thanks to John Stokoe>>>

Direct Carpets did indeed use to be Smith's ( my parents' grocers/cooked meats/cakes & general store ) ( from 1955-6 through to their retirement in late 1983 ) - it was a single fronted shop until 1961 when the house next door was acquired and the double fronted shop came into being; Direct Carpets came in in 1984. Next door ( 64 ) where Shelter now is used to be Jones travel agency and next to that ( 60-62 ) was Fildes the Butchers & further down still was a Pet Shop. At no. 70 stood a launderette which was opened by Bernard Bresslaw and beyond that ( in no particular order ) were places like Van Radio ( TV & Radio repairs ), David Morison Estate Agency before it moved to Flixton Road and became the Halifax agency, a fireplace showroom which Denis Law had an interest in, a wool shop and at the end of the row where the Furniture/Upholsters now are was Barnes's greengrocery shop ( They still have a storage area at the back of that shop ) Behind the row was the builder's yard of P. O'Connor and the electricians workshop of James Ridehalgh Opposite the row where National Autocare now stands used to be Smileys Tyre and for many years before that was Grange Garage And next to that was Meakins the opticians.
<<<Thanks to Douglas Smith>>>

Ethel Austin
used to be "Big D" supermarket
before that it was "Liptons" Supermarket
<<<Thanks to Stu Sneddon>>>

I think before that, from when it opened following the general rebuilding of the station carpark, it was briefly Maypole, which had moved from further down Station Road. Both it and the larger supermarket facing it (Stanley's/Kwik Save etc.) seemed to change their name every couple of years.
<<<Thanks to David Tracey>>>

Global Videos
used to be Titles
<<<Thanks to Stu Sneddon>>>

(Before Titles it was called Budget Video and used to be based over the road, somewhere near HMK Wools I think. Before this, the guy that owned Budget used to operate from the backroom of a furniture shop on Brook Road, near the Garrick. I think he was the first person to rent videos as a service in our area. Dave).

Hills Pharmacy across from RBS
used to be Kershaws
<<<Thanks to Stu Sneddon>>>

Aspen Travel
used to be Burts Menswear
<<<Thanks to Dominic Headford>>>

The building on the corner of Hazlemere Road and Church Road
used to be a Tile shop, before that it used to be a grocers called 'Bradbury'
<<<Thanks To Malcolm Jones>>>

The Diving shop on the corner of Cambridge road and Church Road
used to be 'Aby Fields' the chemist
<<<Thanks To Malcolm Jones>>>

'Urmston Hire' on Church road
used to be a record shop (called anyone?)
<<<Thanks To Malcolm Jones>>>

'Irene Neaha' Hairdressers on Southgate
used to be a Hardware shop... possibly called Rogersons or "the hardware shop"
<<<Thanks To Malcolm Jones>>>

Irene Neahas used to be Mr. Greenwood's, the ironmongers.
<<<Thanks to Mike Mitchell>>>

Trafford Retail Park
used to be home to 'Buxted Chickens', now the corner of the car park (just up from KFC) & there was 'Watts Tyres' just behind Buxted. While on the same site, there used to be a petrol station & Coop Late shop where the Macdonalds is now, & behind that was Cascade Motors
<<<Thanks to Herbie Booth>>>

Nags Head Circle (Davyhulme Circle)
Can anyboby remember there being underground toilets at the Nags Head roundabout, behind the bus stop. There was also a Natwest Bank at the Nags Head, but this was closed after it was rammed at the rear, I consider this was just an excuse to close it, but we lost the one & only ATM at the Nags Head
<<<Thanks to Herbie Booth>>>

The aquarium (& pets?) shop next to the chippy (Sealand) where you can get proper chips, on Old Crofts Bank Road, which is now a very small (but excellent) florists. And somewhere along there used to be a good old hardwear shop (Mr Brooks ?) where if you could not see it, you only had to ask & he could find it. Just up the road from there was a Coop (complete with butchers) which is now a heating engineers. La Piazza used to be a tyre dealers (& inside that was Davyhulme car hire, which is now behind the Elf? petrol station. Remember this place collapsed when they were gutting the place & part of it ended up in the Nags Head pub.
<<<Thanks to Herbie Booth>>>

Various Shops on Old Crofts Bank Road
The aquarium (& pets?) shop next to the chippy (Sealand) where you can get proper chips, on Old Crofts Bank Road, which is now a very small (but excellent) florists. And somewhere along there used to be a good old hardwear shop (Mr Brooks ?) where if you could not see it, you only had to ask & he could find it. Just up the road from there was a Coop (complete with butchers) which is now a heating engineers. La Piazza used to be a tyre dealers (& inside that was Davyhulme car hire, which is now behind the Elf? petrol station. Remember this place collapsed when they were gutting the place & part of it ended up in the Nags Head pub.
<<<Thanks to Herbie Booth>>>

The Left side of the Brittania
used to be called "Rumbelows"

Woodsend Road from the early 80s
There was Stanleys on the corner of Irlam Road which suffered an arson attack. Later there was a property development and Tilby Close. Jacksons the Newsagents which is still a newsagent, Lincoln the Butchers which became an in car Hi-Fi shop. Kongs Chippy has been there for years, it was a chippy before then but I can't rememeber the owners. There was New Wave hair design, the Greengrocers owned by a lady called Babara now a discount store. There was Turn Around Ladies Fashions owned by Flo Scott who now lives in Banbury. That later became Flixton Carpet Supplies then Peter Knott ex KFM Radio Presenter opened a Radio Jingle type affair. My ex girlfriend used to work there. There was also Styles Hardware Shop which later became Tipplers Off Licence which is now Bargain Booze. And who could forget Dorothy at Woodsend Pet Supplies, she used to play Johnny Mathis all day and have Bicardi and Coke behind the shop counter.
<<<Thanks to Roydan Styles>>>

The Chinese just off the nags head used to be my uncles.
Iit was a greengrocers for many years called Ogdens. He, Tom, died about 8 years ago, the shop I'm refering to was the one next door to Wareings, (not sure how you spell that) I used to buy my 78s from there. On Canterbury Road there was Masons on one end (corner of Hartford Road) there was also an ironmongers, a paper shop, chippy, greengrocers, and at the other end, a ladys clothes shop and a grocers. There was a bad fire sometime in the late 40s? I think over that shop, you may probably know all these already but if you don't I can find out the names of these & many other shops that were around Davyhulme & Flixton quite easily. my mums always talking about them, for me... well it has to be Grimwoods, nobody ever made ice cream like them. & Terrys, we used to play truant from school & go there... well I won't say how many times, when it was the Roller rink.
<<<Thanks to Keith Roberts>>>

The shops by Hartford Road
Masons,Todds, [who at one time owned about 3 shops] Drapers, Butchers, Confectionist, a chemist called Roseborns, the Ironmongers was called Umbers, owners name being Fred, a chipshop, & at the far end was a greengrocers called Brennans, [stan]. In Urmston there was Mcgraths which was a big electrical, toys, prams shop, there was Ridings Cycle shop, Armstrongs jewlers, oh yes don't forget Carsville coaches, remember them, green/white coaches, [I do] the old Victoria opposite Woolies, & the underground toilets right by there, with the Journal shop next door. Also on Station rd, there was Roses chemists, a pork butchers, there was the Palace on Railway Road, at the nags head there was Wilsons paper shop next door to Grimwoods, Falkners grocers was also at the nags head, & there was a shop not many may remember on Mossvale Road before they built the motorway or M62 as it was at first. The little shop was called Stansfields, I remember it well. When I was a kid there was no Winchester Road at all. Who remembers Seymore Baileys farm on Lostock Road? The rag n bone men with horse n cart, gas lamps, & as I said I'm only 56 years old, but remember them well. There was Silcoks on the corner of Higher rd & Station rd, Dickensons greengrocers next door to Ridings. Opposite the Post Office on Higher Road as you know was the Empress, then accross from the Empress was the bus station yard, not far from Armstrongs, which was next door to the post office. Then Sparks's yard,[timber yard] where once a week there used to be a PDSA van for sick animals,..& oh yes the little Maypole,oposite Woolworths
<<<Thanks to Keith Roberts>>>

The Palace picture house
used to be the building that was Nyssen Bulbs before it was knocked down to build flats. I saw my first 'carry-on' film there
<<<Thanks to Michael Fox>>>

Terry's stores
Used to be a roller rink back in the fifties/sixties.
<<<Thanks to The Tinsleys >>>

Terry's Stores, before it was a roller rink was actually a temperance billiard hall.
<<<Thanks to Bill Outhwaite>>>

Terry's Stores was also used for a snooker halll.
<<<Thanks to John Oxley Dean>>>

Shops on Flixton Road
Goldtime Jewellers, was a fish shop for a very long time, and before I took the shop over it was called Mayo,s Fish Shop, originally it was called Finnigans Fish Shop. The building on the corner of Grosvenor Road, incorporating the Bradford Building Society, Paddisons Sandwich Shop, second hand shop Just Handy, plus the next small shop that used to be an upholsterer, was originally a walk through shop from the right hand side of the B.B.S. on Flixton Road to the second hand shop on Grosvenor Road, being some sort of market area. Above the B.B.S. where their are now flats, used to be a Photographers business, and a millinery shop called STONES, of which I still have a coat hanger with this name still on it, in my shop.
<<<Thanks To Mike Day>>>

Trafford General/Park Hospital
Was the first NHS hospital in the country.
<<<Thanks to The Tinsleys >>>

Shops on Carrington Road
The two shops that are on Carrington Road, at the bus stop, just adjoining Hampstead Avenue, was an old Co-op Store, this is now a vacuum repair shop and the shop next door used to be the Co-op Butchers. The telephone box used to be situated on the junction of Carrington Road and Church Road, up against the original Jubilee Tree which was planted there for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. The phone box, as I remember, had an old Bakelite phone and those infamous A and B buttons, and it also gave change as well! If you were to walk down Church Road, on the left hand side where those houses are now, that used to be my old junior school called St.Michael's. Across the road from there on the right hand side, and next door to the Greyhound public house, although it is now a house, it used to be a sweet shop called 'Rattles'. Mr. and Mrs. Rattle had two sons. One was called Andrew, I do not know what became of him, and the other was Simon, who indeed went on to become a famous musical conductor.
<<<Thanks To Bill Outhwaite>>>

The two shops on Carrington Rd were C.W.S. Eccles branch. My father was branch manager there for a time.
<<<Thanks to John Oxley Dean>>>

Goldtime Jewellers on Flixton Road
used to be Mayo's Fish Shop, before this is was Finnigans Fish Shop
<<<Thanks to Mike Day>>>

Various Shops in Urmston
STONES - The shop was opened as a Gentlemen's Bespoke Tailor shop. Stones was on Station Road. If you have your back to Woolworth's on the opposite side of the road there is an entry. Stones was the shop to the right of the entry. The shop to the left of the entry was a tobacconist shop called BENNETT's.

RIDINGS - before Ridings was built on the corner of Station Rd and Higher Rd it was Sparks Builders yard. Sparks office was on the bridge. You went into the office and down wooden steps into the builders yard. (1930)

SMETHILLS - Smethills used to be opposite North West bus garage on Higher Road.

FOOD MARKET - Railway Road - This used to be the British Legion. Before that it was the Post Office before the new one was built on Higher Road.

Corner of Flixton Road and Croftsbank going down Croftsbank Road - The shop on the corner used to be Burgons Grocers. Next door Lindsays barbers then Cuthberts butchers then Tilleys jewellers. Bone - Ladies gowns. Sweetshop then Urmston Conservative Club with the Public Hall upstairs. There was a chemist - a Ladies hat shop - Ironmongers - Silcocks - Allen's Creamery on the corner of the road then Greenwillow Cafe and the Council offices.

Corner of Flixton Road and Croftsbank going down Flixton Road - Burgons on the corner - then a paper shop, bread shop, Boots the Chemist then the Co-op Shops ( Greengrocer, butcher, furniture, ladies clothes, bedding, gents outfitters, shoes) Then Minton's wallpapers. Longs sweetshop. Timpson's shoes. Webbs (underwear). Stuarts Chemist. and on the corner Marsdens ironmongers. Across Park Road then Wills cakes. Andrews stationery. Robinson grocers. Arthur's greengrocer. Baby clothes shop. Stones. Ladies hat shop then Grosvenor Road.

Across Grosvenor Road then Gents wallpaper. Wharton's greengrocer. Trapps -Ladies outfitter. Storeys - electrical goods.

The off - licence on the corner was called TUNSTALL'S

GEORGE GLASS - This was a shop where you bought bedding, towels and underwear. It was no. 1 and 3 Flixton Road. During the War it was a British Restaurant.
<<<Thanks to Nora Upton for the info' and to Margaret Carroll for submitting it>>>

Irene Neaha Hairdressers, Homewares, Urmston Hire, Ninas
Before they moved to Southgate, Irene Neaha Hairdressers were above " Homeware's" on Church Road for close to 20 years. Homeware's was a hardware store owned by my parents for over 30 years. My Mothers name was Nell Garmory ( Wolstenholme ). The shop next to us was a sweet shop owned by Mr Talon (now Urmston Hire) for many years and next to him was a grocery store owned by Eric Shaw (now Ninas). My Mother sold " Homeware's " around 1981-82, since then there has been about 3-4 different owners. My sister ( Norma ) and I lived at that house until we both married. I believe that the new Irene Neaha's on Southgate is now run by Irene's daughter.
<<<Thanks to Freda Platt (ne. Garmory) from Canada>>>

Costcutters
Costcutters was a doctors surgery for a while .
<<<Thanks to Karl MacFarlane>>>

Unknown - anyone know which shop this is today?
The former newsagent roughly opposite the Carsville Garage I think used to be
an estate agent - in the late 60's it had the name E.Whelan painted in huge
letters on the roof, so you could read it from Railway Road.
<<<Thanks to David Tracey>>>

Various Shops on Railway Road
Talking of Railway Rd, the shops along there (heading from the town centre) between Oak Grove and Granville Rd used to be a dry cleaner's; next door was Mrs. Willoughby's haberdashery shop (she died aged 86 about 20 years ago having tripped and fallen down the cellar steps); then came Mr. Nutt's newsagents (he retired from the shop in the late 70's; he'd been a bus inspector as well while he ran the shop); the chip shop which later became the SingHing Chinese Takeaway, then the 'Blue Shop' which was a general grocer's, name of Kenwood I think, though it was later run as a Mace. On the other corner of Granville Rd was Mr. Pattinson's, more recently a butcher's but then another grocer's shop (APT, which was a sort of small traders' association). It was converted to a house for a number of years following Mr Pat's death from stomach cancer, again sometime in the 70's I think. Round the corner from the Blue Shop was a small cobbler's. A little further along Railway Rd, on the corner of Cavendish Rd, the shop which is now a launderette was variously a greengrocer's and a secondhand shop during the 60's & 70's. No one seemed able to make much of a go of it though. Next to that was the plumber's, with usually an interesting display of toilets in the window.
<<<Thanks to David Tracey>>>

Quadrant Windows on Church Road - opposite Westgate
Used to be the Co-Op butchers and grocers
<<<Thanks to Mike Mitchell>>>

Breakaway Travel, The Pharmacy and Allsorts on Church Road
Used to be an open field... hence the more modern building
(circa late 40's early 50's)
<<<Thanks to Mike Mitchell>>>

Nina's on Church Road
Used to be two shops; Eric Shaw's, the grocer and Barne's Greengrocers
<<<Thanks to Mike Mitchell>>>

Urmston Hire on Church Road
Used to be Mr. Tallon's sweet shop
<<<Thanks to Mike Mitchell>>>

Leatherbarrows
Used to be two shops; Duckworth's, another grocers followed by a leather shop
with Frank Darbyshire, another hairdresser, above it.
<<<Thanks to Mike Mitchell>>>

I used to go to Urmston Council School with a Colin Leatherbarrow. Is he the owner?
<<<Judy (Hubeny) Larkin - Northern Virginia, USA >>>

Moving Right from the corner of Chasen Road/Church road
On the corner of Chassen Road was an old barn converted into a coach garage owned by Cash's Coaches, later to be bought out by Carsvilles... now a residential area. James Anthony Kitchens & Bathrooms used to be a bakery owned by Ken and Molly Cooper and nextdoor was Mason's butchers. The Rainbow used to be a chip shop and next to this was a greengrocers, Fairman's radio shop, and Kenny and Hollis, a ladies outfitters.
<<<Thanks to Mike Mitchell>>>

We were always told that the old barn was originally the Tything Barn for the area. When I was growing up there was a small field behind it where my sister's friends kept their horses.
<<<Thanks to Judy (Hubeny) Larkin - Northern Virginia, USA >>>

The new houses on the corner of Chassen Road/Church Road used to be a Total Petrol station and before that it sold caravans.
<<<Thanks to Sharon Wright>>>

The empty shop that used to be J F Davies greegrocers on Church Road
Used to be a greengrocers owned by Vernon James
<<<Thanks to Mike Mitchell>>>

The Chinese Medical Centre on Southgate
Used to be a ladies' and baby shop
<<<Thanks to Mike Mitchell>>>

The shop at the corner of Flixton Rd and Princes Rd, the Flixton side
used to be called The Scotch Fishery in the early 50's. My mum opened it as a grocers at first and changed it to The Scotch Fishery when my dad bought out Hunters. Before it was a grocers I think it was a cobblers, I remember scraping green paint of the windows.
<<<Thanks to Les Burges>>>

Galaxy TV & Video
My dad had the shop next to the shop on the opposite corner (a newsagent & tobaconist in those days, don't know if it still is) , a grocers called "Burges". Before he had it, it was a grocers called Hunters, I think.
<<<Thanks to Les Burges>>>

The shop at the corner of Flixton Rd and Mayfair Ave
Used to be a hardware store in the 50's
<<<Thanks to Les Burges>>>

Next to what was the village post office, on the corner, in Flixton
Used to be was Williams Deacons Bank
<<<Thanks to Les Burges>>>

Anyone know what shop this is today?
I Don't see any mention of Brumwell's Bakery which was one of the new shops (about 1930) on Davyhulme Circle between Crofts Bank Road and Crofts Bank. (I suspect some of the names of roads have been changed over the years. I moved to Davyhulme in 1928 and my family were the first occupiers of number 45 Davyhulme Road. That row of houses was built by Billy and Tommy Mitchell. The Co-op was about a hundred yards up Crofts Bank on the west side. John, I was unable to reply to your e-mail for some reason, my e-mail to you kept being returned with an error (Dave).
<<<Thanks to John Wightman, Tauranga, New Zealand>>>

It's now a house
In the fifties there used to be a little sweet shop between the Church Inn and the Greyhound. Sometimes I would spend my money that was supposed to go into the collection plate at St. Michael's Sunday School
<<<Judy (Hubeny) Larkin - Northern Virginia, USA >>>

The shop on Church road between the Church Inn/Greyhound. I bought my first Ice Lolly abt 1945/6. The Dodds had a daughter called Jennifer,I think went to work for an Airline.
<<<Thanks to John Oxley Dean>>>

Flixton Shops
In the 40's & 50's the Royal Bank of Scotland now on the corner of Flixton Rd and Ambleside Rd was the Post Office, called I think Greenhalgh. Next door was Williams Deacons Bank. The dental surgery now above Malbern Windows was Croppers Dentists. Also in that row was a chemist called either Sandler or Shuttleworth. In between the old St MIchaels school on Church Rd and the Jubilee Tree was Mrs Hardmans haberdashery and Mrs Dodds grocerery and sweets. I bought Uncle Joe's Mint Balls there, which can still be bought at Safeway. Mr and Mrs Dodds lived in one of the old houses opposite, he worked for the Prudential Insurance. When the row was pulled down in the 50's Mrs Hardman had a new shop and flat above build on the corner of The Grove and Flixton Rd next to what was Wilds Garage, now a BP station, and Hardmans has again been demolished. School dinners at St Michaels were served in a house in that terrace.
<<<Thanks to Les Burges>>>

The Post Office on Flixton Rd, was owned by Mr Greenhaulgh. In fact my Mother worked there for a time. Together with another lady that was a very regular attender at St Michaels... a Miss...?
<<<Thanks to John Oxley Dean>>>

Church Road Shops - Flixton
This bit is really about shops on Church Road. I believe the sweet shop to the left of "The Greyhound" was owned by a family called "Racle" - not "Rattle". They had a son named Andrew and an older daughter named Jean. I do not recall anyone called "Simon" who went to become a famous conductor! Before the Racles I think the shop was run by people called called Bertwell. Moving on: On the old Church Road (before the road widening and the loss of playing area from St Michael's School and the stand of beech trees opposite the church) there was a small sweet/grocers shop, almost opposite The Greyhound, run by Herman and Vera Dodd who lived in the black and white cottage opposite. There was a huge horse chestnut tree outside the shop. In the main part of the village: The Post Office used to be at the corner of Flixton Road and Ambleside Road (now a bank?) - having moved (I believe) from the old barn building on the opposite side of the road where the car park is now. I recall there being a cobblers shop in that building in the mid/late 50s. Next door was (I think) a branch of William and Glynn's Bank. Makins (grocers) occupied a double fronted shop in the main parade (opposite the zebra crossing); the barbers was "Gene's Hairdressers" (a hateful experience); what is now the off-licence was a pharmacist/chemist; the car spares shop was Robinsons (bakers and confectioners); Holdsworth's butchers was always there and next door was a greengrocers. Next to that was haberdasher's/wool shop and there was a newsagent's at the end. (I may have missed something out there!) Moving towards Urmston:At the top of Rothiemay Road, what is now the florist was an old-fashioned ironmongers. next door was a cobblers (now a Chinese takeaway?) and the third shop was a funeral directors (it may still be!)
<<<Thanks to John Royle>>>

Flixton Road Newsagents - Corner of Victoria Road... Name anyone?
My Auntie and Uncle Amy & George Stansfield had a Newsagents in the 50 /60's on Flixton Road - on the corner of Flixton Rd and the road that ran between Flixton Rd and the Baths [The Curzon Cinema - my godmother Mrs Mwyvanfy Edgely worked in the kiosk] In reply to Bernadette O'Hara's query on the Baths being a dance hall I used to go with my now wife when we were courting. It def. was a baths and a dance hall. The pool would be drained and a floor put over it. Around Christmas 57/58 - Brilliant floor well sprung perfect for smooching on!
<<<Thanks to Ged Stansfield>>>

Stansfields
Does anyone remember a wooden shack that sold papers [Stansfields] ?Mossvale Rd. just on the road as you go over the railway bridge.
<<<Thanks to Ged Stansfield>>>

Wycliffe Road
There used to be an old Church on Flixton Road where those new flats are to the left of Motorland.
<<<Thanks to Sharon Wright >>>

Allens Fried Chicken
Allens Fried Chicken on Flixton Rd,was previously Urmston Carpets and Cushion Floor Centre, owned by local buiness man,and still trading, Pete Fulton,(I was the fitter there for a few years),and before this it was called the Lino Shop owned by a Cliff Gurling who retired to Anglesey I think. And does anyone remember a little grocers at the bottom of Oak Grove,owned by a Mrs Eidie Niel who was a friend of my nana the late great Ethel Whitelegg.
<<<Thanks to Michael Donohue>>>

Various Shops
david herd motors/j.c.motors on woodsend road used to be a candle factory.propertyon the corner of derwent road that used to be leo exhibitions usedto be queen laundry.does anybody remember the stables a the bottom of woodsend rd. south where longworth close is now? Shops that used to be at woodsend circle; starting at crescent rd. butchersshop,haymes bread shop,boots the chemist,jack bamford bike shop,parkinsons greengrocers,ash and nephew off licence,mrs.deans,shoe shop,hardware shop,jacksons newsagents-used to be a double shop until stan jackson sold the right-hand shop to gus demmys bookmakers,johnsons dry cleaners, ardens chippy,health centre at the end came later.on crescent rd.where blanny motors/crescent cars/family care was usedto be j.j.hough,garage and ford dealer.he also built a showroom at woodsend circle shops next to the butchers.

shops at woodsend circle;starting at crescent road;butchers,haymes bread shop,boots,jack bamford,parkinsons greengrocers,ash and nephew off licence,mrs.deans/wool and wear i think,hardwear shop,jacksons newsagent-used to be a double shop until the right-hand one was sold to gus demmy,johnsons dry cleaners,arderns chippy.the health centre came later.on crescent road where blanny motors,crescent taxis and family care was originally j.hough,garage and ford dealer.he also built a showroom at the circle next to the butchers.between houghs and cheriton road flats was buxted. chicken.david herds on woodsend road used to be a candle factory.the building at the corner of derwent road used to be queen laundry then became leo exhibitions.

<<<Thanks to L.and.L Campbell>>>