the building the other side of the a64 to the old abc

kierentc · Post by **kierentc** » Sun 13 Jan, 2008 9:44 pm

tyke bhoy wrote: Welcome KiernenTC. While I can't speak for others, I think admin and the other users (well most anyway) would share the sentiment. Any first post is welcome whether it is a contribution to an existing thread or in this case a new questions. The new questions stimulate new discussions and bring back more memories for all of us lurkers or not. You might lurk a long time for someone else to ask and answer your questions so other lurkers be brave. The worst that could happen is DCSO or munki breathing fire thanks for the welcome

and the warning...lolthis site has been a welcome distraction for me when i work night shifts. so i guess the more people who contribute the better tbh. i hope you all agreethe main thing this site has done has given me an appreciation of the merrion centre of all places. i used to work at the back of it and thought it was a right dump! but i've certainly changed my opinion once i've realised its actually quite a feat of architecture, albeit not the most attractive one...

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Sun 13 Jan, 2008 9:53 pm

certainly the more the merrier as far as I'm concerned. If we can keep you "entertained" through the wee small hours so much the better especially if it is sharing memories and facts about our home "town"

Trojan · Post by **Trojan** » Sun 13 Jan, 2008 10:04 pm

[quotenick="kierentc"] tyke bhoy wrote: the main thing this site has done has given me an appreciation of the merrion centre of all places. i used to work at the back of it and thought it was a right dump! but i've certainly changed my opinion once i've realised its actually quite a feat of architecture, albeit not the most attractive one... I'd just started work when they started building the Merrion Centre. The company I worked for (49 1/2 hours per week at 1s-5 1/2d per hour ) did a lot of electrical work for Bison who built it, including the illuminated sign on the tower crane which was five metal boxes with the letters B I S O N in perspex - I painted the inside of those boxes white! It must be 45 years ago!

kierentc · Post by **kierentc** » Sun 13 Jan, 2008 10:09 pm

Trojan wrote: I'd just started work when they started building the Merrion Centre. The company I worked for (49 1/2 hours per week at 1s-5 1/2d per hour ) did a lot of electrical work for Bison who built it, including the illuminated sign on the tower crane which was five metal boxes with the letters B I S O N in perspex - I painted the inside of those boxes white! It must be 45 years ago! was that considered good pay back then? its hard to believe when you read of people's pay in the pastmind you, my second job was at the merrion centre morrisons for the princely sum of £1.63 an hour. so i'm far from a chicken myself. oh and that was considered a bit crappy btw but better than the £1.30 an hour i got from bryans chippie

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Sun 13 Jan, 2008 10:15 pm

Could be mistaken but the modern conversion of Trojans 1s 5and half d is less than 7.5p per hour so I doubt it would be considered good.The shilling being 5p and 12d to the shilling which is why at decimilisation the old sixpence was retained as a 2.5p

roundhegian · Post by **roundhegian** » Sun 13 Jan, 2008 10:49 pm

arry awk wrote: Hi and welcome,Kierentc! Wot's the TC for? Surely not'Top Cat?' Sorry!XBeing an Old'un(!),I seem to recall that the buildingwas a Surgical Boot and shoe makers who werecontracted to the Orthopaedic departments of mostYorkshire NHS Hospitals to make bespoke footwearfor unfortunate patients with limb deformities andsuffering walking difficulties.I believe the firm's name was 'Henry Poole' and co Ltd,and the name stood out in large gold letters on that building,easily visible at the time, from the top of New Briggate and Vicar LaneCheersArry Awk(Ancient monument!) Dead right , 'arry !

electricaldave · Post by **electricaldave** » Sun 13 Jan, 2008 11:44 pm

That building was called 'Crispin house' and housed H.W. Poole, you have to be careful and not mistake if for Henry Pooles which still is a very illustrious bespoke tailor.http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?reso ... PLAY=FULLI did remeber that there was a sign for Heatons, however I cannot find any images of it, I think it was on the clock.

Trojan · Post by **Trojan** » Sun 13 Jan, 2008 11:58 pm

[quotenick="kierentc"] Trojan wrote: was that considered good pay back then? its hard to believe when you read of people's pay in the pastmind you, my second job was at the merrion centre morrisons for the princely sum of £1.63 an hour. so i'm far from a chicken myself. oh and that was considered a bit crappy btw but better than the £1.30 an hour i got from bryans chippie No it wasn't good. Top paid in those days were the miners who were on £20 pw. £1000 pa was the holy grail. I was earning about £3.60 per week with NI to come off (I wasn't earning enough to pay tax) No overtime rates, I stuck it for 2 1/2 years then left after a fight with my boss which involved me throwing three lengths of electrical conduit at him I got a better paid job working for the Cat dealer (Leverton) and am still in the earthmoving equipment business 43 years later!

LS1 · Post by **LS1** » Mon 14 Jan, 2008 9:02 am

I had heard that these were the flates that were ownded by Lee Chapman and Leslie Ash, and they simply ran out of money. Then an old work mate of mine's Dad worked there for a bit and was told that the guy who owned it changed his mind about the use and deiced to strip everything out of it and start again. If you look down the back on trafalgar st. it has now been opened up to two-way traffic after having the part nearest Pools closed off (at the top opposite the Photographers) I go that way quite a bit and there is never anyone about there - Honestly some people have more money than sense!The Caspar homes are the biggest laugh! When I watched them being built I thought they looked absolutly rubbish! brieze block and wood covering, then less than two years later they were closed as not being able to withstand wind. They stand empty now and overgrown. I hope that the grass roots don't get into the foundations as it's liable to make it collapse!

LeeRatbag · Post by **LeeRatbag** » Mon 14 Jan, 2008 2:27 pm

arry awk wrote: Hi and welcome,Kierentc! Wot's the TC for? Surely not'Top Cat?' Sorry!XBeing an Old'un(!),I seem to recall that the buildingwas a Surgical Boot and shoe makers who werecontracted to the Orthopaedic departments of mostYorkshire NHS Hospitals to make bespoke footwearfor unfortunate patients with limb deformities andsuffering walking difficulties.I believe the firm's name was 'Henry Poole' and co Ltd,and the name stood out in large gold letters on that building,easily visible at the time, from the top of New Briggate and Vicar LaneCheersArry Awk(Ancient monument!) You're right, it was Henry W Poole & Co Ltd. They used to buy splints and things from the firm I work for, years ago.