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The transcript is an interview with Jack Isherwood as transcribed by Microsoft Word and summarised by ChatGPT and subject to errors.
Jack Isherwood was born in 1932 on Armistice Day (11th November) at King Street, near where the Co-op is now. He had three sisters, all older; only Alice survived into later life. All four siblings attended Crow Lane School.
School Memories
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School Structure & Facilities: The school had around 3–4 classrooms, some upstairs. There was a stage for plays with scenery and lighting, and children put on productions such as The Merchant of Venice (Jack played the Prince of Morocco).
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Teachers: Mr. Lindley (headmaster, stern), Mrs. Cook (remembered as an ogre), Miss Hassell (lived long, died in her 90s), and Mrs. Whittaker (well liked). An earlier head was Mr. Harry Price, described as very strict.
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Classrooms: Partitioned rooms with wooden desks, lids that opened, inkwells, and small chairs. Classes had around 20 children.
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Lessons & Activities: Standard subjects such as “sums” (maths) and English. Younger children had rocking horses, a sandpit, and sometimes naps in the afternoon. Children went home for lunch, as there were no school dinners.
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Evacuees: During WWII, evacuees from Salford and London joined the school. They were “rough and ready” but mixed in with local children.
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Discipline: Punishments were usually writing lines rather than harsh measures.
Life During WWII
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Jack attended from age 4–5 until 13 (1936–1945). He recalls carrying a gas mask in a box but does not remember major disruptions at school. He was too young to fully grasp the war’s impact, but his older sisters may have noticed more.
Crow Lane & Local Community
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Shops:
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Richardson’s shop (remembered for its bacon slicer and wooden floors).
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Mr. Parry’s shop (later a coffee shop) and next door a pork butcher’s.
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Other shops in King Street, including Huey Cosgrove’s.
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Street Traders: Rag-and-bone men and donkey stone sellers came around. Families used donkey stones to clean steps and windowsills, and mothers mopped flags outside homes.
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Public Buildings:
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Old police station (later replaced). Policemen were visible and respected.
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Drill hall (cadets trained there).
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New Jerusalem Church near Factory Street.
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Recreation: Children played in Nuttall Park, railway sidings, and the Empire Cinema on Railway Street (where they saw Saturday “penny rushes” films).
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Daily Life at Home: Houses had shared outdoor toilets (“tipper” style buckets with water flushes) and communal ash pits. Heating and cooking relied on big bungalow ranges with boilers for hot water. Eventually, in later life, Jack recalled having these replaced with indoor bathrooms.
People & Characters
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Jack remembered childhood friends like Doreen Bowers (later Bardsley), Bill and Alan Richardson, and twins Jeffrey and Alan Blaine.
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Mr. Hibbert was the caretaker of the school.
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A local character, Jack Toppin, became a cart driver for Whittaker’s, transporting goods by horse and cart from trains.
Reflections
Jack notes that outwardly, Crow Lane has not changed much, though the insides of homes have modernised. In his youth, it was a close-knit community where everyone knew one another, with strong traditions around cleanliness and communal life.
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