THE face of Middleton has certainly changed over the years, but has it changed for the better?

Take a look at our ‘then and now’ images this week and judge for yourself.

Since we started the popular Bygone days we have published hundreds of classic images. Have any of our pictures brought back any special memories? Do you have a favourite picture? If so write in and let us know. We will publish your reply and the image.

This week the Oldham Road image reminds me of a story I read some years ago in this newspaper. It concerned a coal wagon at the railway station which ran out of control. It crashed through the barrier, crossed Townley Street and collided with the Brunswick Hotel, demolishing part of the gable wall. Today evidence of the incident is visible by the different coloured brickwork at the rear and side of the building.

Another of our images shows Fountain Street, the area to the right is now on the brink of development with the new Tesco store destined to dominate the area. Part of the development will cover an area once known as the ‘Little Park’. Back in 1930 the Ministry of Health held an enquiry into the poor living conditions of the district. It was the intention of the council to demolish the ancient dwellings, which dated back to the 1850s, and re-house the residents in modern council properties, such as those built in Boarshaw, during this period. A report of 28 April 1934 stated that 44 houses were in course of erection at Hilton Fold Lane and all had the full approval of the Ministry of Health. If the council received the proposed subsidy of £3-15/- (£3.75) per house from the government, the maximum weekly rent would be 8 shillings, (40p) per house.

Dr S T Beggs, medical officer of Health gave general evidence on the poor living conditions suffered by the people living at the Little Park. He said that they fall short of the general standard of working class housing accommodation in the borough. He also stated: "I consider that all the dwelling houses in the area are by reason of disrepair and sanitary defects unfit for human habitation, and that other buildings in the area are for a like reason dangerous or injurious to health of the inhabitants." His recommendation was to demolish them.

The report stated that the buildings were worn out. Other figures were, 86 per cent of the rooms had ceilings less than 8ft high. ‘Back to back houses’, with no back door represented 14 per cent of the total. More than 50 per cent had very poor ventilation, while 80 per cent had serious problems with illumination to passages and stairways. All had no internal bathing and toilet facilities. Porous brickwork, defective rainwater spouts, eves and roofs coupled with floors which were below ground level made 49 per cent of the homes being classed as ‘seriously damp’. Drainage also came bottom of the list with more than 75 per cent of the sinks being defective, with insufficient means of carrying off waste water. Rats were found in 12 per cent of the houses. For this the householder paid five shillings a week on average.

Some fought back. William Wrigley, who owned numbers 15, 17, 19 and 28 Park Street objected to the doctor’s remarks. He said his homes were built using common type bricks, which were by there very nature porous. He went on to inform Dr Beggs: "If you are building your new homes using common bricks then your new homes at Boarshaw will also absorb moisture and will also be damp." Dr Beggs was having none of this type of this talk and stated: "Certainly not. Why should we have porous and damp walls?"

Wrigley replied: "You cannot get away from he fact that common bricks are porous."

Beggs had the last word. He stated: "Bricks are like other things, they wear out, and those at the Little Park have had their day."

Click on 'View gallery to see the 'then' and 'now' images ...