A beautiful town
IT
WAS 11 years after we moved to Canada before we took our first trip back
"home", and it was only then that we appreciated what Nantwich has in
the way of history. As a kid I walked past all the Tudor buildings
to and from school every day and then to and from work every day and just took
it all for granted. It really
is a beautiful town, something to be quite proud of. We think the website
is AWESOME.
Cecilia (nee Perlman) and Malcolm Tomlinson,
Canada
Cecelia later
commented:
. . . with
informative website
"A Dabber's
Nantwich"
is the most informative website about Nantwich.
We love it and check the pages every day.
Cecelia Tominson,
Qualicum Beach, Vancouver Island, British
Columbia, Canada.
OCTOBER 2013
Thanks, Cecelia. (This
comment is part of a fuller letter to the
Ask Andrew feature).
Describing what Nantwich
is all about
I LOVE your web site. I
point people to it frequently when they ask me what
Nantwich is all about !
Mark Wilcox,
Webmaster, Holly Holy Day Society (www.hollyholyday.org.uk)
JANUARY 2013
Can't find a negative about Nantwich
MY wife and I are planning to move to Nantwich, we
think we have found the house we want.
We are originally from London but have lived in Poynton for the past two years.
Every time we go to Nantwich we try to find a negative, thankfully
we cannot.
Your website has helped, so a big thank you from us.
Terry, Laura and children, Poynton
JANUARY 2013
THANKS for that Terry. Glad to be of some use to you.

Great informative website
I LOVE your website and look fondly at it
occasionally.
Nantwich holds dear memories to me and
although my parents are now both dead I like to keep in touch with the town.
17 The Gullet was my old family home - I am (was) a Shakeshaft.
It's a great informative website -
there's something new every time I look.
Julia Whitaker, Ayr
DECEMBER 2010

Andrew Lamberton provided an
advertisement placed in the 1913 Nantwich Trades Directory by William
Shakeshaft (above) for Julia's interest. Julia replied: "Thanks for the
advert. I knew of William Shakeshaft but although he was a relative he was
not close. I believe that 17 The Gullet, until we sold it, had always
belonged to Shakeshafts. I enclose a copy of a business card of another
relative [Henry Shakeshaft, carriage builder] from even longer ago (left)."
The captions on the card say: "Painting, Show Rooms and Residence, Hospital
Street. Works, Mill Street."
Andrew Lamberton writes:
I was interested to see the business card of
Henry Shakeshaft that Julia sent in.
I recognised the premises immediately as what I knew as Welch's Coach
Works in Hospital Street, next to Kiltearn House.
I wondered when Henry ran the
business and found out that he followed the Welch family and was in
business around 1880 and 1890. His works, as he said, were in Mill
Street and this, of course, became the engineering firm of Clarke and
Shakeshaft which had its base at the mill at the bottom of Mill Street.
I was interested to see a
drawing of his house at the rear of the Hospital Street premises. Of
course, that has been demolished (that's another lost house in
Nantwich!)
I enclose a current photo of
the same frontage (right). We know it better as being P.
Williams, Chemist, and then more recently the Co-op Chemist.
JANUARY 2011
17 The Gullet
Thoughts of cosy evenings by the fire
Barbara Skillen of Castle Court - the block of apartments
overlooking the River Weaver by the Waterlode - sent me this picture of
wintry weather. She said: "Thought you might like to
see this picture I took during the worst snowstorm in 2010. It is
from our balcony overlooking Bower's Row car park." The fact that she
also said: "Love your website on Nantwich" had nothing to do with my
decision to use the picture!
I was intrigued by Barbara's reference to
her balcony as it seems to be on the same level as the car park rather
than several storeys up. But, then again, what else would you call it? OCTOBER 2010
Virtual tour of Nantwich via website
JUST wanted to say how useful I have been finding
your website. I have started looking at my family history and found out that my
paternal grandfather, John James Downing, was born in Nantwich in 1872.
Never having visited Nantwich I have
been doing a virtual tour via your website, and others. I have bought a reprint
of the 1908 O.S. map of Nantwich but the photographs on your site have enabled
me to put some life onto it. His family appear to have lived in Johnson's
Buildings (or Johnston's as spelt on his birth certificate and various census
listings) between about 1841 and 1881.
To see a photograph of the area and be
able to pinpoint a location from that onto the map was immensely satisfying,
even if the present day area appears to be a car park! I am particularly
interested as to why he would have left to come to Leeds. Perhaps because of a
decline in the Nantwich shoe trade. All his family appear to have been involved
in that. In Leeds from 1901 he is described as a 'boot clicker'.
When I get rather more advanced in my
researches I will be paying a visit to Nantwich and spending some time exploring
the town.
Thanks again,
Betty Downing, Leeds.
NOVEMBER 2009
Johnston(e)'s Buildings in
another letter
Looked at the website - instead of working!
I HAVE just sat down to write my
Nantwich in Bloom
notes, but instead I have whiled an hour away going through so much of your
website.
We came to Nantwich 50 years ago, quite
by accident. It was the only place we could find anywhere to live with our
new-born daughter. Nantwich Urban District Council were offering houses for sale
for at £10 deposit and up to 60 years for a mortgage. We hadn't enough 'points'
to qualify for a council house - built and mixed in with those for sale on the
Millfields estate in the mid '50s - but we could find the £10 deposit!
Many of the people moving into the area were here because of their work, to
do with the electrification of the railway line, I think. They were employed by
BICC. I believe Cllr. Moran's parents [along with Arthur, of course] moved here
for that reason at that time.
I bought all my cleaning equipment from the
Zan shop which stood where the
island between Oat Market and Swine Market is now. Because of its position, the
front was just the door with the windows splaying out, almost forming a
triangle.
It turned out to be a lucky move. I certainly would not choose to live
anywhere else. My children now live away but always enjoy coming back to
Nantwich, as do their spouses. To the grandchildren, it is their second home and
they still are frequent visitors, along with friends, even though they
themselves are now adults.
Better get my notes done now!
Connie Jones, Nantwich in Bloom Committee
JULY 2009
lConnie was
Secretary of Nantwich in Bloom when she wrote this comment.
Bamboozled by so much information
WE visited Nantwich at the weekend with
friends and were bowled over by the buildings and the floral
displays. Just before heading for home we came upon the fabulous
building where Clive Christian has his shop. Do you know who built it
and what it was originally used for? We'd love to know.
Your web site has so much
information and I was bamboozled going through it. Still more to read
and maybe there is information on your site but I didn't find it today.
Caz and
Tony Bowers
APRIL 2009
lThe answer
to the question about Clive Christian's can be found on
this
Old Nantwich Pictures page.
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A popular site
BY all accounts, I am the 14,935th person to
visit your website. Well done, you, for having such a popular site!
The reason for my visit is that, being
an incomer to the town of seven years standing, I now have some historical
knowledge but wish to learn more about Nantwich and I have joined a local
history group.
Maire Pedder SEPTEMBER 2008
lMaire
then went on to ask about a particular feature of Nantwich. A couple of points:
people who come to this site do so more than once, so there haven't been 14,935
individuals visiting it (pedantic point), but I am amazed at what the hits
counter tells me. I subsequently took the counter off the website - partly
because I was told that Search Engine "bots" (website robots looking for website
details) might skew the true figure. Secondly, as a resident of seven years standing, Maire now
qualifies for a share of the Beam Heath dividend paid
to residents. [I have since stopped using the visitors' counter]
Site most useful and
extremely interesting
I am currently
in the process of moving to Nantwich (Keepers Chase). I came across your
site whilst researching my new home - and found this site most useful and
extremely interesting. I look forward to moving here and will keep visiting
your pages to learn more. Well done.
David Gallagher
AUGUST 2008
lThank
you, David. Welcome to Nantwich.
Really interesting
Good job on the website, it was really interesting to go through.
Chris Cadman, Nantwich
Valuable contribution
You are providing a valuable contribution to the historic record of the town.
Rick Appleton, Nantwich
l
Thanks, Rick. APRIL 2008
Thoughts about Dab Town
I RECENTLY came across your site when searching
through Wikipedia. Re "Dabbers" - you might already know this (see
footnote), but in case
you don't . . .
Mrs Alvina Greig
lSee this page for that
new thought on Dabbers. A couple of other comments which used to be on this
page have also been moved to the new page.
I hadn't realised that Wikipedia knows about me.
But type "John Brough" into the Google search engine and I top the list
(well, my copyright pictures warning does!) Type in "Nantwich" and A
Dabber's Nantwich is listed third in the non-commercial (adverts) section,
underneath the Nantwich Museum website (for which I was also webmaster at
one time), and above
Bill Pearson's Nantwich website. Fame or what?
Fun website
THANKS for the fun website. It is hard work
- as we know.
Kathryn Hassall-Gibson, committee member and
website administrator,
Veteran Car Club of Great Britain, North West Section
Diligently
researched
YOUR site
looks excellent and diligently researched.
Steven, Primrose Cottage, Church Minshull,
Nantwich
Nantwich: a stunning place
THANKS so much for the fabulous web site:
A Dabber's Nantwich. I haven't been back to Nantwich in some time so the
photographs and the local news are very much appreciated. I'm not a true
Dabber, although Nantwich is the place where I went to school, learned to
swim, enjoyed the "pictures" at the Regal cinema, jived at the Civic Hall, and
quaffed ale in The Shed beside the old Cosy cinema. I left Nantwich for Canada in
1963 (a slip of a wench at that time) but I think of the town often and with
great fondness. It wasn't until I went back to Nantwich after living in
Canada that I realised what a stunning place it was. That's because I lifted
up my eyes (as the Bible says) and saw the buildings for what they really
were. While I was living there, my gaze stayed at ground level.
Isobel Mackay (nee Gray), Canada
lThe Potting Shed, to give it its full
nickname, was officially known as Ye Olde Vaults (although the pub sign said The Old Vaults!). The old Cosy cinema, long
since converted into a nightclub, was later known as Gregory's nightclub
after a short time as the Lava & Ignite nightclub. Others may remember
the club was also once called Roosters back in the 1970s. The Regal cinema is now
the headquarters of Chatwin's the bakers.
The premises are currently (2014) called The
Studio Nightclub and Entertainment Venue, Nantwich, on their Facebook page.
Isobel is another exile living in
Canada. There must be many, but they certainly have a large presence on this
page! See what's there in 2014.
A sterling job
I
HAVE been looking at your great website. You have done a sterling job of it.
I was in Nantwich with my
gentleman friend in the summer of 2003 and had a great time showing him all
my old haunts. I was amazed at how the town has changed, not having seen it
since the Seventies. I am trying to trace my family history and I am
wondering if I could find out where the dwellings were in Snow Hill before
they demolished the area.
Paula Moulton, Eastbourne
lSince
writing this message, Paula has tracked down a 1908 map of Nantwich -
which turned out to be the one stocked at Nantwich Museum! The map shows the
Snow Hill area and all the houses. Other visitors to this website have also
been in touch.
A lot of information that I never knew
ALTHOUGH
I only moved to Sandbach about eight years ago, I am still a Dabber at heart. I
believe I was in one of the last years of babies born at the Barony Hospital,
too (1971). Your site contains lots of information that I never knew, and it is
very well laid out. I was up for ages reading the articles. Now if only Cheshire County Council could link to you they
would get many more people interested in the town.
You're a credit to the town.
Jason Williamson, Sandbach
lThanks,
Jason. Nice of you to say so!
Full of information
THE
site is full of information and I appreciate it as my grandmother was born
there. Thank you.
Betty, Calgary, AB, Canada
We still talk about "the Nantwich Naan"
THIS
is a nice website. I have been to Nantwich a couple of times and thought it was
a really nice, quiet town. The first time, we were looking for somewhere to eat
and the place was so quiet at 7pm on a week night that we felt the need to
whisper as we walked down the main street! We ended up in an Indian
restaurant that had all sorts of barrels hanging from the ceiling and they
served just about the biggest naans I've ever seen with the meal! We still talk
about "the Nantwich Naan" to this day. The second time I went, I
stayed in that old hotel with the sloping floors. Very weird after a few pints.
Once again, nice site and nice town.
Geoff (full name supplied)
lThanks,
Geoff. The town can get a little rowdy at times (the weekends, usually)
but the police, etc, are working on that. I would hate for people to visit us
and not be aware of any problems that might be faced here - as with many other
towns, unfortunately. The "old hotel with the sloping floors" will be
The Crown Hotel in High Street.
A beautiful town
IT
WAS 11 years after we moved to Canada before we took our first trip back
"home", and it was only then that we appreciated what Nantwich has in
the way of history. As a kid I walked past all the Tudor buildings
to and from school every day and then to and from work every day and just took
it all for granted. It really
is a beautiful town, something to be quite proud of. We think the website
is AWESOME.
Cecilia (nee Perlman) and Malcolm
Tomlinson, Canada
Pictures are lovely
THE website is
excellent. Very informative and the pictures are lovely. You almost forget
how historic and lovely Nantwich is until you are reminded like this.
Janet Farrell,
Crewe
The only thing I miss is the pubs
I
HAD to laugh (I am sorry) at the picture of the snow. The wonderful church at
Nantwich looks so good but I used to call that snow in my 46 years in Nantwich
(44 years in Queen's Drive). I now live in Michigan, USA, and know what snow is
really like. We have had snow on the ground for the past five weeks and on the 27th
(of January 2004) we had eight inches of the white stuff. I have had a white
Christmas every year I have lived hear. That's five years. The only thing I miss is
the pubs on Christmas and New Year's Eve. I am coming back to Nantwich in June
to renew my vow with my wonderful American wife. Thanks for this wonderful site.
Paul Allen, a Dabber and ex-Rolls Royce
2004
lThe page Paul
refers to has since been taken off the website in an update.
Better by the day
THIS website of yours just keeps getting better by
the day. Checked it again today (like we do every day) and saw more old photos.
Keep them coming.
Cecilia and Malcolm Tomlinson, Qualicum
Beach, Vancouver Island, Canada
OCTOBER 2008
lThanks for those kind remarks. The Tomlinsons had
asked about the Red Lion pub that once stood in Oat Market (see
This and That page).
I liked the Funny Photos
THANKS for showing
me the site. I liked the ‘Funny Photos’.
Bill Pearson, Webmaster of
a personal Nantwich website
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