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Sharing our memories of Heald Green
Last Updated 19th Jan 2025
217-223 Finney Lane
By Helen Morgan
First Published on Facebook 22/10/2022
Last Updated 13/01/2025
From a Methodist meeting place to the departing Lloyds Bank.
It was the coming of the railway in 1909 that altered our small hamlet. Back then our residents used whatever district was nearer to them to do their shopping, as well as buying the fresh produce on offer from the surrounding farms.
House building began, radiating away from the train station, for people who now wished to live in the fresh air of our Cheshire countryside and commute into the daily grime of Manchester.
In the 10 years from 1928 to 1938 the population went from 1250 to 3822. To accommodate the new commuter residents and their stay at home housewives, shops were built on both sides of Finney Lane, again leading away from the station.
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Fig. 1 Finney Lane, 1930s
from Joan Heinekey's Heald Green in Wartime
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Joan had dated the photo around 1930. However, if that is Skerratt’s the butchers as she has suggested, on the end of the row, then it would have to be later than 1935.
In this next photo, the Methodist meeting House can be seen next to Hargreaves with a cross above it, c.1930
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Fig. 2 The view of the shops from Neal Avenue, 1930s
from Joan Heinekey's Heald Green in Wartime
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217
217 Finney Lane
In the Kelly’s directory of Manchester dated 1929, Mrs Gertrude Hargreaves a confectioner, traded from this shop as Hargreaves cake shop and cafe, also selling bread like Hovis. By 1935 she was classed as a pastry cook, and as the advert below shows, was now also selling pies and meats.
Behind the shop was a room used by the Methodists from July 1930, as their church on Brown Lane had not yet been built. Plans for that were not drawn up until 1934. Prior to this they had worshipped in the Institute further along Finney Lane, where the social club stands today. Mrs Hargreaves’ daughter was the first child to be baptised in the new church.
Fig. 3 Advert from Shadow Moss School Centenary booklet of 1935
Courtesy of Caroline Dumville
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Note the telephone numbers. Only 8 in Wilmslow! Plus, we had no telephone exchange yet, so all the phone numbers for this end of the village ran from the Gatley exchange.
Later in the 1930s Hargreaves became Lee’s Bakery. The 1939 register states that Charles Lee, aged 45, a baker confectioner was married to Annie, aged 39 and they had a son at school called Charles too, who was 13.
"At the end of the row was Lee’s Bakery, with a bakehouse at the back, from which came that most wonderful smell of freshly made bread, all made with National Flour- a mixture of brown and white grain which resulted in the bread looking rather grey, but the taste was alright. A large 2lb loaf cost 41/2 d -equivalent to 2 pence today.”
- Anne Rushton Memories for St Catherine’s of her life in the 1930s
By 1950 W Nixon had taken over and the shop became Outwood Dairy selling cakes and bread.
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Fig. 4 Rose Queen parade passing by the shops c.1950s
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Fig. 5 Advert from St Catherine’s Dedication Booklet, 1956
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"Frances Nixon, connected to Nixon’s farm, had a shop where Hargreaves café had been. She sold bread and cakes. Frances had a land rover and we’d all pile into it and go to friends’ houses.”
- Interview with Bob Downs, August 2021
From 1961 this was a Co-operative vegetable shop. On the other side of the Lane was their grocery and butcher’s shop. By 1975 this had become a Norwest Co-operative Society shop, classed as a “green fruit” shop until 1976.
In July 1976 GT Spares and Cycles opened, remembered by many, until August 2002.
"My Dad's name was Gwyn and I’m Trevor and GT means a Grand Tourer..”
- In conversation with Trevor Adams, 2022
Fig. 6 This is Trevor stood outside their shop, c. late 1970s
© Trevor Adams
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Fig. 7 GT Cycles c. 1986
© Trevor Adams
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This must be c. 1986 as Hung Wan is there.
Note the slight name change too.
"I remember going to GT spares and cycles to get a cotter pin for my bike on a regular basis. Many memories of Trevor and his mum, plus an elderly Labrador.”
- Mark Jackson, Facebook 2021
"I recall buying tape from GT spares to put on my racer’s handlebars, as the original was peeling off.”
- Carl Roe, Facebook 2021
"GT spares and cycles sold us many an inner tube for our bikes!”
- Paul Wade, Facebook 2021
"I got all my cycle speed way bits from there back in the early 80s. Last week sat there having a few beers. Great to see the village evolving.”
- Steve Rowles, Facebook 2021
I can remember toning tables being in a building around the back. They were the latest fad where you literally lay on a machine that opened and closed your arms and legs whilst you tried to resist! At the same time, you could be wrapped up in plastic from head to toe to lose even more weight, until you had a drink. I can also remember being wrapped in bandages and smothered in some sort of clay. The things you do to try and lose weight without proper exercise!!
Trevor remained the landlord after his shop closed.
In April 1989 the Council agreed that the garage at the back could be used to store carpets for Woodford Discount Carpets who were trading on the other side of the road. In January 1991, permission was given to demolish the garage and a single storey extension was built on the side and the back, to extend the shop and create new office accommodation.
The Cambridge Diet was launched in the UK in 1984. A lady called Ruth Clement brought it to the village in 1988 and she ran her franchise from here.
Fig. 8 Heald Green Methodist Church.
Summer 1992
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Over the years different companies have rented the office space to the side of the row. Enigma Research in 2000, Viewpoint Research in September 2011 and Madson Office Services from July 2013.They vacated the premises in July 2022.
Above on the first floor there was Enigma Research from 2000. From 2009 Sterling Accountants, that are now a Limited Company called Gilbert and Co Accounting Solutions Ltd, are there.
Fig. 9 Photo taken August 2022
© H Morgan
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In 2002 Going Dutch the florist, moved from the old post office building over the road, into this unit. Over the years it has had different coloured signs and awnings.
Fig. 10 © Google Maps 2009
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In May 2020, permission was granted for the florists to be turned into a wine and coffee bar. This became The Brew, run by the Glendon family, who live in the village.
Using both indoor and outside space, they have created a meeting place for socialising and relaxing and serve alcohol along with coffee and cake. They have worked hard to create an ambience for all to enjoy and have special nights for things like quizzes and cheese and wine evenings.
Recently they donated a month’s worth of tips, totalling £431.12, to St Ann’s Hospice, a lovely gesture. As a family they have continued their support for our hospice, by having a St Ann’s collection box for customers to contribute to, if they so wish.
Fig. 12 George and Karen Glendon, son and mum, in The Brew October 2021
© H Morgan
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Fig. 11 The Brew October 2021
© H Morgan
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219
219 Finney Lane
In the Kelly’s directory of 1929, Misses Emily M and Minnie V Bell are listed. This was a tobacconist and Post Office shop. The 1939 Register shows James Wilkinson, aged 37, shopkeeper of sweets and tobacco married to Alice, aged 36.
"The Post Office was managed by Mr Wilkinson and had its red post box and telephone kiosk on the pavement outside.”
- Anne Rushton Memories for St Catherine’s of her life in the 1930s
Fig. 13 Advert from Shadow Moss School Centenary booklet of 1935
Courtesy of Caroline Dumville
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Yet funnily enough their advert shows no phone number for their shop! By at least 1953 the shop had become Cardwell’s newsagents and at the back of this was a small lending library too. Many residents recalled their memories of the shop and Mr Cardwell himself.
"I remember Mr Cardwell. He was a kindhearted man who really tolerated us kids. He would sell us cigarettes and fireworks.”
- Ian Mann, Facebook 2022
"Prior to the chippy the shop was Cardwell’s, who sold sweets and cigarettes (could always get 5 Park Drive, even though we were underage). The back of the shop was a district library before the “new library” was built. Ron Cardwell had a large boxer dog, and he would walk it usually to the Heald Green Hotel. I never used the library. I never saw anyone use it and to me the books looked old and unused. Maybe they were second-hand books for sale, it always seemed odd to me. I never liked going in Cardwell’s, he always seemed a bit cross, and I didn’t like the smell of it. I only went in for cheap fireworks, sweets and cigarettes. Probably late 50s, early 60s.”
- Mick Hankinson, Facebook 2021
"I remember Cardwell’s, never saw him smile and I remember the till drawer always being open. He actually threw the money in the till and never missed.”
- Lynda Jackson, Facebook 2021
After 1968 I could find no trace of Cardwell’s and the search was on for the chip shop! Eventually I found one with different spellings, Heald Green Fryer and Heald Green Friar but not until the 1970s. However, residents recall one being there earlier than that.
"“I am sure it was there in 1968. I had to get the 44 bus to school in Didsbury, so walked past it from Queensway.”
- Anne Ryder, Facebook 2021
"I remember queuing up on the first night it opened for chips. I think it might have been 1968/69.”
- Debbie Grogan, Facebook 2021
"I’m pretty sure it went straight to be the chippy. We moved to Heald Green in 1968 and it was a sweet shop. I used to work at the chippy after school. I would say that was 1971. It was owned by two brothers, Brian and Geoff. I used to work in the café at the back on a Saturday.”
- Joan Sharp, Facebook 2022
"My friend Janet and I would pay 6d each for chips.”
- Gillian Hollingworth, Facebook 2021
From the archives at Stockport’s heritage library, I found Hung Wan in January 1986. There was also a planning application for an illuminated sign for the same date which ties up nicely. As of 2024, this Chinese chippy continues to trade. Over the years it too has had different coloured doors and windows.
Fig. 14 © Google Maps 2009
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221 Finney Lane
In Kelly’s directory of 1929, JJ Williamson Ltd grocers was here. He was one of two brothers who had fallen out, so they both had a grocers shop on either side of the Lane! By 1935 Burgons Ltd, another grocers was trading from this unit. The business classed themselves as Provision Merchants and their Head Office was Ackers Street, M13. This shop remained until 1967 and was remembered by many.
Fig. 15 Miss May Watkins the manageress and Mrs Caudell, outside the shop c. 1948
from Joan Heinekey's Heald Green in Wartime
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"I was in the British Army of the Rhine (B.A.O.R.) in Belgium when my demob came through and, almost at the same time, the urgent appeal for nurses for South East Asia Command (S.E.A.C.) came through. So, in response, I joined the Indian Army for five years, but had to return home after two, because the Indian Government could no longer guarantee our safety and yet I still wanted to carry on nursing disabled ex-servicemen. But because of where I had been, I could not work for six months to eliminate any infection risk.
Unable to remain idle, I answered an appeal from Mr Robinson, the Manager of Burgons to help him out temporarily, as so many of his staff had the flu. During this time, I severely injured my spine, so future hopes of hospital work was impossible. I later became manageress for nineteen years until Burgons closed down.”
- May Watkins, Memories for St Catherine’s of her life
Fig. 16 Advert from Shadow Moss School Centenary booklet of 1935
Courtesy of Caroline Dumville
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The phone number is the same as Hargreaves café!
Fig. 17 Advert from St Catherine’s Dedication Booklet, 1956
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By 1970 the shop had been converted into a launderette run by a company called Automatic Launderette (Mcr) Ltd. It was still a launderette in 1979.
"I lived above the launderette in 1978. It was owned by Mr Watkins who also owned the dry cleaners further up the road on the other side.”
- Karen Tingle, Facebook 2022
In May 1987 permission was granted to change the premises from a launderette into a bank. This became a branch of the Trustee Savings Bank. Later that became part of the Lloyds Banking Group and Lloyds moved across into that unit.
221A
221A Finney Lane
I haven’t found out a great deal about this property above the row of shops. In 1935 this was a dentist’s practice run by John Halliwell dental surgeon. Sadly, I don’t know how long he was there for. I do know that there was a betting office up there in the late 70s.
"There was a bookies above. I had to stay outside, as I was too young, whilst my nan put her bets on.”
- Carl Roe, Facebook 2021
"I remember the bookies above the laundry, my dad used to bet there 2p each way. He wasn’t there for the money, just the thrill of the chase.”
- Gaynor Downes, Facebook 2022
"Tony Barker, a Heald Green lad, had a bookies above the shops in 70/80s”
- Phil Jones, Messenger 2022
"That’s the one. My best mate Tony’s dad, Stan Barker, was in with Gus Oppenheim, who at that time was a course bookie.”
- Michael Richardson, Facebook 2022
Gus operated from behind Skyways in Moss Nook.
"I remember the bookies above the laundry shop. Someone in the Beech Tree was the bookie’s runner.”
- Steven Hough, Facebook 2022
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223 Finney Lane
In the 1929 Kelly’s directory this unit was run by Alex Taylor Worthington, who was a butcher. By 1935 this had become Wm. E Loughton, another butcher. However, it’s the next one, SE Skerratt & Sons, that many remember, trading there. In the 1939 register of residents, the Skerratt family are listed. Samuel, aged 50, was married to Mabel and they had a son George who was 27 and a daughter Ruth who was 22. Samuel had classed his occupation as a farmer and cattle feeder with George as a butcher. Ruth’s entry says butcher assisting brother. It definitely was a family butchers. The unpaid domestic duties of Mabel, aged 51, were noted.
Fig. 18 Advert from St Catherine’s Dedication Booklet, 1956
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"The son took it over when the father died. George Skerratt was at the Methodist church as well; I was frightened to death of him. Later on, I worked for him a lot. I painted the shop and I worked at his house, just round the corner on Outwood Drive.”
- Bob Downs, Facebook 2021
"My friend Linda Skerratt was the first to be married in the new church on Brown Lane when she married the Minister, Rev David Bridge.”
- Marilyn Connolly, In conversation 2022
By 1960 the shop was GE Skerratt butcher, the son. In 1961 the unit was still a butchers, run by R Hall, up until no later than 1963.
In 1965 Lloyds Bank took over and began their long association with the village. In January 1989 numbers 221 and 223 became a single unit of Lloyds Bank. There was then a merger in 1995 between Lloyds and TSB, becoming known as Lloyds TSB Group from 1999. They had already merged with the Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society.
Fig. 19 © Google Maps 2009
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In 2008, a banking crisis was averted by the Government stepping in and the name later changed to Lloyds Banking Group. The Government took a 43.4% stake in the group and the European Commission became involved, ruling that the group must sell some of its business by 2013. Lloyds and TSB banks went their separate ways and the Lloyds Bank brand resumed in September 2013.
It was advertised that in November 2022, the long relationship with our village would be over and all the accounts were being transferred to Stockport branch. The bank continued to encourage internet banking for even our older generation, regardless of whether they could do it or not. That left just National Westminster Bank in the village. However, that too closed in July 2024, leaving no banks here.
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Fig. 20 Lloyds Bank October 2022
© Helen Morgan
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Fig. 21 The back of Lloyds Bank, October 2022
© Helen Morgan
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The sign came down immediately after closure.
Fig. 22 25th November 2022
© Helen Morgan
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The unit was then empty for quite a while before Mega Mart revamped the building and opened in December 2024.
Fig. 23 4th December 2024
© Helen Morgan
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