THE HAGANS OF 33 CROW LANE
This Section contains information about
a) the Hagan Family
b) Description of the house
click here for Photographs of the Hagan family
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A) JOHN AND ANNIE HAGAN from early 1900s tp 1965
Annie Hagan lived in the house until she died in 1965
JOHN AND ANNIE HAGAN Married at St Joseph's Church on 26th Sept 1908. Date they moved to Crow Lane - not known As was often the custom, John's spinster sister Catherine (Kitty) lived with them until her death 6th Nov1951.
JOHN HAGAN Born 2/2/1879, Back Ramsbottom Lane Worked as a Jig Dyer at Turnbull and Stockdale. As a Union representative he used to pay out support to workers at a pub on Bridge St. He received a clock from the NW Textile Workers - Ramsbottom Branch on Sept 30th 1933 Died 14/2/1956
ANNIE HAGAN Born 21st Dec 1877 at Carr St, Ramsbottom She was one of the 9 children of Patrick "Paddy" Dunne She did not work She did crochet and made a lot items for the house including the "net" curtains. Died in 1965 ? exact date
THEIR ONLY CHILD John Patrick Hagan, (the sisters father) was born 13th Oct 1909 He was born at 33 Crow Lane
GRANDDAUGHTERS Mary McGrail , Joan Mercer & twin sister Margaret Adams who have given this account
These three sisters went for "Sunday tea" every other week
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B) DESCRIPTION OF 33 CROW LANE - UNTIL 1965
THERE WAS NO ELECTRICITY OR INSIDE TOILET
Two-up, two-down. End terrace Next to the ginnel
No electricity until after it changed hands in 1965 It only had gas, which as Joan remembered, seemed to give an eerie yellow glow to everything when the gas mantel was lit.
GROUND FLOOR All the floors were flagged on the ground floor
FRONT ROOM The front door opened straight into the front room, there was no double door or lobby The front door always seemed to be open and a large heavy black door stop (shaped like either a cat or a dog stopped it front closing.
FLOOR Stone flags covered by a carpet square and rag or peg rugs which were very colourful The peg rugs were made by Granny out of strips of material. She later also made "Redicut" woollen rugs.
CEILING - There was a wooden tooled beam
WINDOWS There was a very wide windowsill - probably 16 to 18 inches The curtains were crocheted by Grandma
GAS LIGHT The Gas light hung in the centre of the room Like the attached picture except that it only had a single mantel 2 chains to turn the gas on & off
FIREPLACE In a very deep chimney breast The black leaded range looked much like the one in the attached picture Unlike the picture it had a black canopy above (on which was thought to be the Grant's Crest). Above the range was a very high (possibly 6ft) mantelpiece with a red velvet frill hanging over the edge. John Hagan kept his pipe up there and had to reach up to get it. There was a simple fender (probably black)
The range was used to heat water which had to be ladled in and out warm clothes, heat a big black kettle and the flat iron. make toast (using a long toasting fork)
BUILT-IN CUPBOARD In the alcove to the right of the fireplace was a built in cupboard The cupboard went right up to the ceiling, with 3 draws underneath it. The best china was kept here The shelves had a "plastic covering" which hung down in front like doilies
OTHER FURNITURE IN THE FRONT ROOM 1) Chaise Longue against the back wall, with the high end towards the doorway into the kitchen
2) Rocking chair (wooden) where Annie Hagan sat
3) Chair for John Hagan to the right of the fire
4) Dresser large made of dark wood - heavily polished - mirror along it's back On the dresser there were statues of The Sacred Heart and St Theresa, Our Lady, each in a glass dome.
On it stood 2 large Chinese porcelain vases, filled with sand to to keep them firmly in place and to stop them being knocked over.
There were several crocheted mats made by Annie
A very charming clock which chimed every quarter of an hour (was this the clock given by the union) - was it on the dresser or elsewhere ?
5) A square table in the middle of the room with a chenille (burgundy) tablecloth There were draws underneath where the cutlery was kept.
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THE KITCHEN Flagged floors
SINK Deep white porcelain sink on brick pillars
LARDER The larder ran the full width of the kitchen and had a small window The old tin bath was kept in the larder Was there a meat safe or a cold slab ? There were big hooks on which hung the pots and pans The coal was kept in the larder under the stairs
Was there any other cupboard space ? WOODEN SHELVES in the larder or in the main kitchen ?
Pot pop bottles for sarspirella - used as hot water bottles.
GAS STOVE between the sink and the back door BATH This was in the corner of the kitchen, It had a wooden cover over it.
OTHER ITEMS IN THE KICHEN A very large mangle stood near the larder Weighing scales with a set of weights Flat metal warming pan (with a screw top in the middle) --------------------------------------------------------
STAIRS, These ran up between it and the front room. There was a curtain in the doorway out of the front room leading to the stairs and kitchen
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FIRST FLOOR
NO BATHROOM OR TOILET A porcelain potty or "Jerry" under the bed
FRONT BEDROOM Double bed with a brass bedstead Large, very dark wood wardrobe with a mirror on the door Wash bowl and jug - kept on the widow sill
Probably no lighting - may have had a cast iron fireplace
BACK BEDROOM Heating - may have had a cast iron fire place
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OUTSIDE BACK OF THE HOUSE Open yard with no wall or fence Small outhouse with a flushing toilet. Midden where the dustbin was kept
FRONT OF THE HOUSE There was no garden as there is now. The path ran immediately in front of the houses and between this and the road there was a communal area of rough ground.
MAPS show that this house had a communal backyard and no front garden And this is how it remained until 1965. It now has a garden back & front