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Blackburn Street, MANCHESTER, M26 1NQ

Steeplejack, TV personality and raconteur Fred Dibnah had a life-long interest in steam power. This 1910 12-ton Aveling and Porter steamroller, which had once been operated by Flintshire County Council, had been kept in a barn near Warrington and was in a poor state when Fred purchased it. Restoration took many years as he had to create his own replacement parts using Victorian engineering techniques and equipment he built in his back garden. Once it was restored, he used it to take his family around local steam fairs. I don’t know why he was visiting Radcliffe on this day but he and his steamroller generated plenty of interest amongst the passers-by. Blackburn Street has changed significantly in the 37 years since this photograph was taken. The spare land on the left (on which Fred parked his steamroller) is now occupied by a block of shops. The Natwest Bank is now a karaoke bar (having previously been a restaurant and wine bar since it ceased to operate as a bank). The Leicester Building Society is now a fast food outlet. The two shops (Radcliffe Carpets and the Sewing Box) next to the building society are now occupied by the RSPCA charity shop. The other shops (whose names I can’t make out) are still there but have all changed hands since this photograph was taken (https://goo.gl/Y3VxWs Streetview image).

Steeplejack, TV personality and raconteur Fred Dibnah had a life-long interest in steam power. This 1910 12-ton Aveling and Porter steamroller, which had once been operated by Flintshire County Council, had been kept in a barn near Warrington and was in a poor state when Fred purchased it. Restoration took many years as he had to create his own replacement parts using Victorian engineering techniques and equipment he built in his back garden. Once it was restored, he used it to take his family around local steam fairs. I don’t know why he was visiting Radcliffe on this day but he and his steamroller generated plenty of interest amongst the passers-by. Here, a policeman (note the 1980s style uniform and helmet) is stopping the traffic whilst Fred reverses the steamroller onto the waste land (which is now occupied by a block of shops).

Shops on Blackburn Street.

The Morning Star public house on Thomas St.

Looking down Blackburn Street towards the piazza.

The Homemakers DIY store at the corner of Blackburn Street and Railway Street. In the 1960s, this was a Woolworths store but it closed in the 1970s(?) and has been a DIY store for at least the last 30 years.

The Morning Star public house on Thomas Street, Radcliffe.

Onlookers inspect Fred Dibnah's famous 1910 12-ton Aveling and Porter steamroller which he had parked on waste land at the side of Blackburn Street (Image]). This piece of land is now occupied by a row of shops.