BACK in November 2007 we featured three old cine films shot in the town by Antony Robinson.

The films were discovered by his older sister, Margaret Coates, who lives in Chadderton. She unearthed them following his death.

Tony, as he was known by his friends, was the projectionist at the Empire Cinema, Corporation Street, until it closed. He had screened thousands of films at the Empire and also helped out at the ABC and the Odeon, Oldham. Margaret has now found another Middleton gem.

The film which he made runs for about three minutes, and starts at Oldham Road. Tony recorded the Old Cock Inn and The Nowster, then filmed the roundabout at Market Place and Long Street His old workplace, the Empire also appears for a few seconds.

At the time, around 1974/75, the building still had the stone spheres at the top of the columns. Painted white they are clearly visible on the footage. Central Gardens, The Arndale, as it was then known, and the new civic hall are also captured.

Standing at the bus station he filmed along the footpath of the shopping centre. Harris’s the florist, Jon Migael and MacFisheries are clearly visible.

You view the footage by clicking on the video window.

As an insight for those without the internet, Danny Hardman has cleverly spliced together individual cells taken from the footage, and they are featured this week. Mrs Coates has given her permission for the movie film to be donated to the North West Film Archive at Manchester. No doubt they will restore and preserve our glimpse of the past for posterity.

The Rochdale Canal at Mills Hill was making headlines news around the time Tony’s camera focused on town.

Urgent repairs were carried out following a breach of the banking which sent thousands of gallons of water into nearby fields, causing flooding. A wooden aquaduct 3ft wide and 40ft long was constructed while repairs were carried out.

Down the road at the Old Cock Inn an old clog was found during alterations. It was when J W Lees, the owners of the inn, brought in contractors to carry out the alterations that a workman unearthed a very old child’s clog within the ceiling. They made things to last in those days because the clog was well preserved.

Parishioners at Holy Trinity Church, Parkfield, were angry that the Victorian vicarage, which is situated only yards from the church was to be sold. Rev J Smith said that it was for economic reasons. A modern house on Wentworth Close, Parkfield could be purchased for the sum of £14,000, another £6,000 would be required to build an extension for a study and extra bedroom. The sale of the old vicarage would raise £20,000. Two members of the Parochial Church Council resigned in protest.

A Langley man made the news when he constructed an unusual needle box. Mr John Kirby who lived at Langdale Drive made a box out of 1,700 ice lolly sticks in the form of a model of the Black Bull Inn on Rochdale Road. He passed the pub twice daily on his way to work, each time making a mental note of its exterior. He told the Guardian: "It is for the licensee, Frank Featherstall. It’s his birthday later this month."

Mr Kirby got the idea from some children who were constructing boxes from lolly sticks. John also made a model of St John's Church, Thornham using the same method.

Petrol, which was sold by the gallon was 51p, but ASDA had it on offer at only 50p per gallon at their new store at Nixon Street, Rochdale.

FOLLOWING our recent pubs feature, some readers have had difficulty obtaining the book entitled ‘Middleton Pubs and their licensees, 1737 to 1993’, by Rob Magee. Second hand book dealer, Frank Lamb has two mint condition copies in stock, priced at £5 each. He can be contacted by phone on 0161 7644488.

Click on 'View gallery' for more ...

Tweet