Farnworth Grammar School

Spotters' Grandstand

Photographs by Shirley Ivers (now Ingham) and Arnold Cragg

Shirley's photograph (above) shows the little bridge that crosses the Bolton-Manchester line at Ash Street, close to where the school stood. Back in the days when locomotives were alive and interesting, this bridge served as a grandstand for those who galloped off daily at 4 p.m. in order to watch a Glasgow/Manchester express go by (and who, if pushed hard, would confess that they'd still be trainspotters today if only the railways hadn't abandoned steam). The two photographs below, by Arnold Cragg, show what a substantial structure it is, just to carry a single-width footpath. They built things to last in those days!
 

According to Harry Jack, who knows his stuff about railway history, this bridge (quaintly named Squeezebelly Entry) is one of several built for the Manchester & Bolton Railway, which opened in 1838. These bridges are shown on maps from 1844, linking open country on each side of the line.

This little bridge may be one of the oldest structures in Farnworth.
Somebody should get it listed before some cretin on the council has it demolished.