Twin track history is a treat By Rail to the Music Halls By David John Hindle 184 pages (hardback) Pub: Silver Link Price: (Amazon price £17.50) The subtitle of this book sets the agenda: “An historical survey of the relationship between steam-age rail travel and trips to music halls and theatres across the country.” That lengthy description might suggests an academic thesis, but the reality is in fact the opposite. This is a splendidly produced hardback volume popularising linked aspects of history by an author totally on top of his twin topics – trains and old-style entertainment. Bringing up the parallels to be drawn between the origins of railways and the nation’s music halls is an original concept, as Gary Morecambe (son of comedian Eric) points out in the forward. And as he rightly says “long before the age of the automobile it was the railways that conveyed audiences and performers to the music halls that evolved to become variety theatres.” Lancashire-based author David Hindle has been thorough in his research, encyclopaedic in his detail and ludic in his writing style. He’s previously written on the history of entertainment in his native Preston as well as writing excellent books on rail heritage and ornithology. He seems to be on top form whatever topic he tackles. ‘By Rail to the Music Halls’ takes a nostalgic and yet realistic look at the world of train transport and entertainment, from an era which will perhaps be just about within living memory of those who I guess will be among its readers. It might have been tempting for this Lancashire author to concentrate his research on his native North West, but wisely Mr Hindle has painted with a very broad brush, taking in a nationwide canvas rather than a regional one. He is equally at home chronicling Edinburgh theatres as those in London and the south coast. The popularity of the stars of bygone days (eg Laurel and Hardy, Harry Lauder, Joseph Grimaldi, Frank Randle) are detailed, as are those of more recent memory (Hylda Baker, Bruce Forsyth, Roy Barraclough, Ken Dodd) their lives and times, are also outlined. One chapter I particularly enjoyed is devoted to the life and career of theatre architect, Frank Matcham, examples of whose work throughout the country (including in Blackpool) still stand, though sadly, as Mr Hindle records, many of his creations have been destroyed. Prior to the onset of mass car ownership it was public transport, and in many cases steam trains which took folk from both towns and rural areas to the entertainment palaces in the cities and other urban, increasingly industrial, areas. It wasn’t just the masses that travelled by train. Early celebrities such as Charles Dickens, who visited Preston by rail several times, on one occasion in 1867 to read from his ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘The Pickwick Papers’ at the Theatre Royal. As well a great read the book is replete with illustrations culled from a huge variety of sources. Photos of old theatres and music halls as well as old trains feature alongside a marvellous miscellany of pictures of decades old posters (in remarkably pristine condition). This book will find a welcome place on the shelf, and in the hands, of readers with interest in both railwayana and UK entertainment history. Review by AEC (Garstang Historical Society committtee member and railway enthusiast). Images: The book's cover Author David Hindle Title: The notebook of Thomas Noblet; joiner from the Fylde in Lancashire
The cost of family tree tracing for genealogical sleuth Bill McCartney
included getting a bloodied leg when a dog attacked him at the gate of a
farmhouse in Wrea Green. * The book is available from William McCartney, priced £12.99 (plus packing and postage). He can be contacted at: willmccar@gmail.com (The review is an extended version of an article which will appear in a forthcoming issue of the Lancashire Local History Federation Newsletter). ![]() Title:
Dancing to the beat of the tide Angela's
portrait shows a countryside district in
state of transition. She describes the change in character of Knott End
and Preesall, via the 1960s building boom, from separate communities to what is
effectively now one somewhat urban mass. *Dancing to the
Beat of the Tide, is available from Knott End News
and Knott End Post Office or through the author’s Facebook page. Price:
£8.99.
Garstang's southern neighbour, sometimes in the shadow of its northerly big brother has stepped into the limelight with the publication of a book firmly focused on the village of Catterall. While several books with a distinctly Garstang theme have been written in recent years, the new paperback on the life and history of Catterall has recently come off the presses. The simple sounding title "A ramble around Catterall and district" belies the depth of research undertaken by the author, a long-standing resident who is reluctant to be identified and wishes only to be known by his pen-name "Joe Lane." The 136-page paperback is packed with history, geography, topographical facts, old photos, maps, statistics reminiscences, reports from old newspapers and fascinating information about the village's largely forgotten industrial history. The book's sale will help boost the funds of a local memorial fund, the Matthew Hesmondhalgh Fund set up to support the work of the CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young charity). Catterall man Matthew was only 22 when he died on a night out in 2011. Explaining the genesis of the book "Joe" said "As a retired civil engineer specialising in water engineering, I have always been intrigued by the former industries which the Rivers Calder and Wyre supported in the village. "Finding readily-available information about the topic was difficult as Catterall, despite being a major industrial centre for about 100 years from the late 18th century, always seems to get overlooked on historical matters in favour of the bucolic charms of Garstang. "So I decided to research the industry side of things and ended up being drawn into the area's dysfunctional social history as well. And I threw in a few bits about the environs of Catterall which I frequently pass on my cycle rides. Mr Lane does not confine himself to the past. He rightly points out that recent history has proved Catterall to be a strong-minded community - taking on developers and sometimes winning. Few in the district can forget the spirited campaign which defeated the animal waste incinerator plan, or the similar battle against a proposed maggot farm whose would-be developers had links with the West Indies. The publication of the book is timely. Parts of the parish are likely to see more housing development in the coming years - this book will help preserve much of the village's spirit and help Catterall residents remember their heritage. * "A ramble around Catterall" is now on sale, price £8, from Car Care, High Street, Garstang, and Crimpers, Bridge Street, Garstang. The book costs price £8, with all proceeds going to the Matthew Hesmondhalgh Memorial Fund/Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). The charity aims to reduce the frequency of sudden cardiac death in young people through supporting CRY’s screening programme.
By David Hindle Price: £10 In the early 18th century dedicated Anglican worshippers from Grimsargh would walk the five miles to Preston parish church on Sundays, conscious they were treading in the paths of history. Title: Preston Planes Trains Tramcars and Ships Author: David John Hindle Publisher: Amberley Price: £12.99 Packing hundreds of years of Preston's transport history
into 120 pages is no mean feat, but veteran author David Hindle has achieved
it.
The retired policeman from Grimsargh has authored many books on a variety of topics over the past few years - from birdwatching to Preston's entertainment history to local railways. In his latest contribution to the ever-growing number of good quality local and regional history books, this one on the area's transport history is to be welcomed. It has an amusing starting point...who can imagine sedan chairs being carted, with passenger inside, through the busy streets of the city these day? And yet, that was one of the ways in which people from certain classes of society got around town in the days of yesteryear! Taking a thematic approach to history means strict chronology isn't too important. Nevertheless it is with Preston's early network of trains, trams and canals, and the district's connections with the rest of the country, which dominate the opening chapters. Extensive quotations from 'Bradshaws' guidebook (the Victorian railway 'bible' followed by Michael Portillo in his popular TV railway journeys) sets the scene for understanding how roads, railways and canals all played their part in period between the Industrial Revolution and the ongoing commercial growth of town in the 19th century. Hindle takes his reader from turnpike roads and stagecoach journeys to canals and railways, and, of course the much missed Preston tramway system. It is the story of the tramways which forms one of the most fascinating chapters. Its predecessor were horsedrawn omnibuses, which gave way (in 1879) to horsedrawn trams, linking the town centre to Fulwood. By the early 20th century electric tramcars took over with a fleet of 30 double-decked open-top tramcars manufactured by WB Dick and John Kerr taking to the tramlines. In its first year of operation Preston's tram system carried a staggering seven million passengers. And there were even "green" ideas in those days. Hindle observes: "Trams ran off electricity generated by incinerators burning the town's waste." The routes of the various tramtracks are fully explained, including short links, for example from Preston railway station to Deepdale football ground. Two motor companies have their origins in this part of Lancashire - the (literally) tiny Bond minicar company and the once internationally respected Leyland Motors. Hindle dubs these two the David and Goliath of the area's motor manufacturers! The story of three wheel motor vehicle developed by Lawrence Bond is something of a minor side story in British motor manufacturing history, but for Preston form the 1940s to mid-60s it was an important industry. The Bond could travel to London on two gallons of petrol, making it the most economical car in the country. During peak production around 300 cars a week were made at their base at Ribbleton Lane. Another motor manufacturer now gone, though certainly not forgotten, is Leyland Motors, based in Leyland. It was producing 6,000 vehicles a year during World War One, becoming a world leader in the market for commercial vehicles, notably trucks and buses. Its history is traced from the glory days to the time, within living memory of many Preston and Leyland workers, to the 1970s and 80s when, Britain's industrial decline led to the splitting and sell-off of the company. Hindle's enthusiasm for trains, and steam trains in particular, is well known. His previous books and lectures on long since disappeared railways around Preston and Longridge are deservedly poplar. His encyclopaedic knowledge of the area's steam days is reflected in the book through the judicious selection of many rail photos from Preston, Leyland and Farington, reminding the reader that, as one Victorian commentator once put it, Preston at one time had the most comprehensive railway service anywhere in the country. Preston's proximity to the coast and the passing River Ribble add another transport theme....the role of Preston as a port and a ship building base. The relatively short-lived tale of the rise and fall of Preston Docks has been documented in many places, but Hindle manages to re-tell the story freshly, summarising the developments from the building of the Albert Edward Dock to the end of commercial shipping within living memory. The closing chapters document the links between Dick,Kerr and English Electric and the enterprising developments in engineering and aeronautical science which helped to put Preston and district at the forefront of aviation technology. The stories of aircraft such as the Canberra, Lightning, the TSR2, Jaguar, Tornado and Eurofighter/Typhoon, made at Preston by successive generations of aircraft workers, all feature in this book, along with details of the 'family trees' of the different companies which have been at the forefront of this aspect of Britian's air defence export industry. Preston Planes Trains Tramcars and Ships is a comprehensive documentary of all aspects of the area's transport history. It is equal to Hindle's other excellently-researched books and deserves a place on the bookshelves of anyone seriously interested in local history. Review by Anthony Coppin Click here to return to the welcome page. |