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Sharing our memories of Heald Green
Last Updated 7th January 2026
Christ Church Shops
By Helen Morgan
First Published 03/01/2026
Last Updated 07/01/2026
Christ Church shops. That eventually became 114-122 Finney Lane!
Fig. 1 Tithe map 1839
© Cheshire Tithe Maps
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Fig. 2 Current map
© Cheshire Tithe Maps
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Fig. 3 Finney Lane 1957
© Ratepayers Association
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This is the barn that was used as shops from the 1930s onwards. From left to right is Heathcote’s butchers, Mr Cash the Cobbler and Mr Finegan’s electrical shop that was also Mrs Finegan’s Little Fent shop, drapers and wool shop.
“The butchers was Heathcote’s and they lived next door to the shop, where the low wall and hedgerow is visible.”
- Phil Jones Facebook 2024
Fig. 4 House on Finney Lane Demolished
© Ratepayers Association
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This cottage has had many names and many owners. It was built, along with the barn above, before 1839 and was known as Wilds/Wylds Tenement by 1844. On the 1921 census it was then 82 Finney Lane. By 1939 it was the home of Norman Edward Heathcote and was next to his shop. The cottage’s history alone is worthy of another article!
Businesses in the barn were trading far earlier than when I pick up the stories, as they are recalled in memories from the 1930s and 40s.
“A tiny row of shops, made out of an old barn, and which were in front of the hospital laundry. The first was Heathcote’s Butchers; the second was Mr Cash’s Shoe Repairs and the last one was a sweet shop which sold all the childhood delights- lollipops, sherbert dips, liquorice shoelaces and toffee cigarettes to name but a few. This shop had to close soon after the start of the war, probably due to sweet rationing and remained empty for a long time before it opened as Mrs Finegan’s Fent shop.”
- Anne Roshton, St Catherine’s Linkline Memories
Number 80/120 Finney Lane
In 1939 Norman Heathcote was recorded as a master butcher and slaughterer and his wife Louisa was doing unpaid domestic duties (housewife). In the trade directories from 1955, N E Heathcote butcher, was trading from his house, 82 Finney Lane, using phone number GAT 4752. I presume he was actually trading from his shop next door, that would have been 80 Finney Lane with no phone.
In 1960/1, with a new set of shops further along Finney Lane (where Herd’s is), the even numbers changed and the phone was now a MERCURY number, as our telephone exchange had arrived. Number 80 became 120 (go figure that one. 120 Finney Lane used to be Brookside House, where Heald’s Dairy was!)
Fig. 5 Heathcote butchers advert
St Catherine's Parish News December 1962
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“The butchers belonged to Mr and Mrs Heathcote. When they retired they became our neighbours on Westwood Road.”
- Steve Yates, Facebook 2021
Norman died in the 4th quarter (October, November, December) of 1963. His widow married a Mr Luther Farnell in North East Cheshire in the 3rd quarter (July, August, September) of 1964.
Number 78/118 Finney Lane
In the middle of the barn was the cobblers and boot repairer, Mr Harold Cash. He was not in the trade directories as there was not a phone. Born in 1890, he lived with his wife Dorothy at 152 Wilmslow Road. On the 1939 register he was recorded as a boot repairer, master.
“Cash’s cobbler shop was opposite the turkey farm (Oak Farm where Roseacre Drive is now). He had loads of ancient, dusty old boots and shoes on shelves and in the window. Took my school satchel for him to repair. The shop was like one of the exhibits you now see in Beamish or the Black Country Museum.”
- Graham Bloxsome, Facebook 2024
“Mr Cash went to Blackpool every October. He said the sea air kept him well through the winter.”
- Shirley Slack, Facebook 2023
“Mr Cash was always happy to talk to the kids. He had a son called David who was older than me.”
- Shirley Slack, Facebook 2023
“I used to take all the family’s shoes to be repaired. The work bench was always covered with shoes but he always gave you the right pair back. The smell of the leather was one that you don’t forget.”
- Steve Yates, Facebook 2025
Number 76/116 Finney Lane
This was the Finegan’s shop. Mr and Mrs Finegan lived at 8 West Avenue. On the 1939 register John, born 1905, was recorded as a plumber cable jointer with his wife Louisa doing unpaid domestic duties. We now know that the shop was a sweet shop before WW11.
In the trade directories of 1955, JT Finegan, an electrical engineer/contractor, was working out of 76A Finney Lane with a phone number GAT 5608. In 1960 it was still 76A but the phone was now MERCURY 2608. By 1962 the shop had become 116 Finney Lane.
Fig. 6 Finegan electrical advert
St Catherine's Parish News December 1962
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“Mr Finegan was the local plumber, who rode a motorcycle with an open bodied sidecar attached, to carry all his tools of the trade; even an extension ladder!”
- Phil Jones, Facebook 2021
Mrs Finegan also ran a business from the same shop. She was a draper and sold wool and fabrics. Fent, a name for the end of roll pieces of material, was also sold there and her shop was called The Little Fent Shop. She also took in dry cleaning.
Perhaps she was 76B? I could not find her in the early directories but her shop was raided in 1958 and by then had been there four years.
Fig. 7 Finegans raid
Manchester Evening News 21.8.1958
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“The first shop was an electricians, Mr Tom Finegan, and then his wife took it over and it became a fent shop. She sold bits and bobs, socks, tea towels etc. Mr and Mrs Finegan lived in West Avenue and she ran coach trips for the kids. Great times as we didn’t have holidays then. They later emigrated to Australia.”
- Shirley Slack, Facebook 2021
“I remember Mrs Finegan’s shop. It was tiny but full of everything. She used to get trips up for people to Southport. Lovely lady, happy days.”
- Anne Rostron, Facebook 2023
“Their son Jack was at RAF Wilmslow and his recollections are on their site. His father was the motorcycle and sidecar plumber and his mother ran the “wool shop”, home knitting was popular after the war. Mrs Finegan organised annual travel trips to Southport, in the late 40s and 50s, where parents paid weekly into a “club” that paid for the renowned Mrs Finegan’s trip. She hired a Bullock’s coach and us kids had a day away at Southport. Meeting a coach at the Club aka the Heald Green Social, with some parents as supervisors we’d have a great day out, rarely were there any unsold seats. The female escorts (a different meaning in those bygone days!) were Mrs Westwood from West Ave and Mrs Aldington from Bradgate Avenue. Once in Southport you were allowed to go and do your own thing unlike today where you’d need to do a risk assessment, CBS, DBS checks, appoint a first aider and God knows what else!”
- Phil Jones, via Messenger 2021
“(After visiting the doctors), the journey home took us past the laundry and frequently involved calling in on Mrs Finegan, to see what oddments of wool she had in stock (my mother knitted woollen patchwork quilts), whilst I watched the cobbler next door through his open doorway. It was a step down into his shop, so this was a good vantage point to watch him at work.”
- Jonathan Waterworth, Facebook 2025
“Oh gosh, I remember buying fabric from there for dresses for my two daughters.”
- Marilyn Connolly, Facebook 2021
By 1962 she was also trading from 116 Finney Lane.
Fig. 8 Finegan Fent Shop advert
St Catherine's Parish News December 1962
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With Norman Heathcote dying at the end of 1963, I am wondering whether the barn for these businesses was also his property, as in the early tithe maps. Only because in December 1963, permission was granted to demolish a dwelling house, shops and garage and build four shops with flats above.
Five shops would be built by 1965, that are there today. They would be numbered from right to left 114-122 Finney Lane.
1
Fig. 9 Shop row 8.9.2023
© H Morgan
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114 Finney Lane
This shop opened in 1965 as AE Matthews Butchers Ltd with phone number MER 2752.
The newspaper wrote that “a special feature of Matthews, a local family concern, was that their meats were supplied by their own farm in the Wilmslow area, ensuring freshness and quality.”
Fig. 10 Matthews Advert
The Advertiser 17.9.1965
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They were still in the trade directories of 1989/90.
However, just to put a spanner in the works, this advert for Cheshire Farms, at the same address, was in 1988!
Fig. 11 Cheshire Farms Advert
Manchester Evening News 3.3.1988
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“I lived on the Gleneagles Estate in the 1970/80s and the butchers had sawdust on the floor!”
- Julie Talbot, Facebook 2024
“I always remember the sad day someone nicked it. My brother worked there. He used to do home deliveries on the bike with the big square basket on the front.”
- Po Hutton, Facebook 2021
“It was definitely Matthews. There was always a big butcher statue thing outside in a red and white stripey apron.”
- Alison Murray, Facebook 2021
“The butchers where Bargain Booze is, was Matthews from Didsbury who had numerous shops at the time but closed/sold most and concentrated on catering supplies.”
- Phil Jones, Facebook 2021
By 1992, the shop had become Eccles Electrical Distributors Ltd and they were there until at least 1997.
Then the shop everyone knows, Bargain Booze arrived in 1998. In April 1999, on applying for another liquor licence for a different shop, Tony Weightman referred to Bargain Booze as already operating for the past six months.
Fig. 12 Bargain Booze Advert
Heald Green Festival Programme June 1999
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In September 2024, the shop closed and as of October 2025, the shutters have remained down. There is a refit going on and it looks like a mini market/grocery store.
Fig. 13 Bargain Booze new shop 3.11.2025
© H Morgan
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Fig. 13A Fizah now in Bargain Booze 20.12.2025
© H Morgan
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Figure 13 above shows the Bargain Booze sign coming down. The new shop opened in November 2025 but the new name on the green sign did not appear until December 2025, see figure 13A.
116 Finney Lane
MacDonalds Grocers Ltd opened for business on June 1st 1965, with phone number MER 6339, as the first shop to start trading. It was still there in 1966.
Just look at those prices!
Fig. 14 MacDonalds Grocers advert
The Advertiser 17.9.1965
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The newspaper declared “Their excellent grocery bargains have won over many local housewives.”
However, by 1967 the shop had become Melvin’s Self Service and had the number 437 6339.
“Melvin in the spar shop asked me to work for him once, but with 3 young children it was not an option. We had owned a spar self-service store in the past.”
- Iris Thorley, Facebook 2022
“In the 1960s, next to the butchers was Melvin the grocer. You could phone your order and he would deliver it the same day. When he closed the shop he and his family moved to Anglesey.”
- Madeline Hall, Facebook 2021
Melvin’s were there until at least 1977 in the trade directories.
“I lived on the Gleneagles Estate in the 1970/80s. The grocers were Melvins and then Melcos.”
- Julie Talbot, Facebook 2023
Between 1983 and 1987 in the directories, the shop was W. Greaves, grocers. That was Bill from Woodford Carpets at the other end of the village. Many remember the shop as Maid Marians.
However, that was a trading name for some of the goods sold and there would have been signage outside to that effect and so the name stuck.
“Maid Marian was a brand of grocery items, mainly tinned, that were produced by the Danish Bacon Company. Often they provided signage for shop fronts, such as “Maid Marian Foodstore.” Long Lane Post Office had the signage in the 1960s.”
- Graham Bloxsome, Facebook 2025
Fig. 15 Maid Marian orange drink
© Allcans from canmuseum.com
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“Maid Martian as it was referred to, was my shop!”
- Bill Greaves, Facebook 2021
“I covered for Corrine O’Malley’s holidays a couple of times. Most excited to use the bacon slicer.”
- Po Hutton, Facebook 2021
“Bill’s wife Eileen Greaves worked with me at the hospice on nights. Then after our shift she went and opened the shop, Maid Marians. She was a hard worker.”
- Joan Tingley Gibbons, Facebook 2022
“I remember a shop called Maid Marian! I’m sure my brother and I got sent up to it by mum sometimes!”
- Chris Ashworth, Facebook 2022
The only spanner in the works here is that a shop called Foodcraft, that was at 116 in the directories from 1987, gave a £5 voucher to the Ratepayer’s charter train raffle in May 1983!!
Foodcraft was a delicatessen in directories from 1987/88 to 1995/6. Residents recalled the proprietor called Tony into the 1990s.
“There was a deli counter between 1991-3. A guy called Tony made gorgeous cheese and onion barms for our hangovers.”
- Kim Orton Mannion, Facebook 2021
“There was a deli owned by Sheila and Tony.”
- Janet Farrell, Facebook 2021
“The man in the Foodcraft shop was called Tony. I used to get seafood cocktail from him, on my way home from Etchells School. As I was expecting my 3rd child, he told me one day not to get it anymore because there was a scare about seafood and pregnancy. My son is now 35 and as fit as a fiddle.”
- Noelle Kirwin, Facebook 2025
By 2009 the shop had become Mina Food and that became Iqbal Grocery by 2012.
In 2015 the new awning said Fizah Halal meat and poultry and this changed in August 2024 to Fizah Grocers that is still there today.
Fig. 16 Mina Food
© Google Maps April 2009
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Fig. 18 Fizah Halal meat and poultry
© Google Maps April 2015
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Fig. 17 Iqbal Grocery
© Google Maps October 2012
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Fig. 19 Fizah Grocers
© Google Maps August 2024
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118 Finney Lane
This unit has always been a newsagents. It was the last business to start up in September 1965.
The newspaper declared” Something for everyone in the family! Their new unit is bright, cheerful and attractively planned.”
For the reading public there would be access to any publication from any part of the country. There would be a local newspaper delivery service.
For the smoker there were pipe cleaners and pouches to table lighters and tobacco jars.
For the thirsty there would be a full selection of ice creams and soft drinks.
The confectionery “dazzled with a full range of mouthwatering products suitable for all ages.”
There was a fine range of stationery and an extensive greeting card section.
Fig. 20 RS McColls advert
The Advertiser 17.9.1965
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The credit for this wonderful shop was given to the main contractors, Miller (shopfitters) Limited.
“In the early 1970s Howard Giddings, was selling cakes and sandwiches from the newsagents, whilst his mum was running the travel agents next door. He then went to work with her.”
- Angela Gill, in conversation 2025
By 1978 the newsagent was run by W and A Atkinson and then from 1981 to 1983, J Dickens. It then became Butterworth’s newsagents that residents remember, from 1984 to 1992.
“Butterworths newsagents were there; Malcolm Butterworth ran it when I was a paper boy working for him in 1985-7.”
- Tobin Berry, Facebook 2025
“I worked at M&C Butterworths. Started in 1991, I think. Sure, a man called Tony ran the shop next door. It would’ve been Foodcraft then I think. It was a kind of deli with meats and things. We tried not to go in often, as he was quite miserable!”
- Julia Taylor, Facebook 2025
In the trade directories for 1993/94, the shop was Birtles newsagents until 1998.
Fig. 21 Birtles Newsagent advert
Heald Green Methodist church magazine Christmas 1994
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“I remember Liz and Peter Birtles.”
- Angela Gill, in conversation 2025
In 1997 Mrs E Birtles was the manager.
Broadbents were only there for some of 1999, when it then became Iqbal’s.
Fig. 22 Iqbals Advert
Heald Green Festival Programme June 1999
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News Etc took over by 2005 until at least 2019 and Barkats were trading by January 2021 and are still there today.
Fig. 23 News etc
© Google Maps August 2019
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Fig. 24 Barkats
© Google Maps August 2024
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120 Finney Lane
A cake and confectioners opened up in 1965, with phone number MER 3421. They had two shops, one here and one at 1 Mellor Road, Cheadle Hulme. By 1968 they only had the Cheadle Hulme one for cakes.
Fig. 25 GF Giddings advert
The Advertiser Sept 1965
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“When I was 9 we lived over a cake shop on Finney Lane. The little row of shops just past St Ann’s Road, in a flat while we waited for a bungalow to be built in Portloe Road off Outwood Road. This was around 1965. It was fairly new, as I remember the smell of plaster on the walls.”
- Janet Walters, Facebook 2023
Mrs Giddings was remembered as the local travel agent and seemed to have her hand in lots of enterprises. Perhaps it was a sideline from the cake shop to begin with? Howard, their son, continued to sell cakes and sandwiches.
“She was also the local travel agent. Giddings Travel.”
- Shirley Slack, Facebook 2023
“Mrs Giddings had a lot of irons in the fire. We did chat on coin collecting. She did have some very good coins and valuable ones.”
- Geoff Holmes, Facebook 2023
The shop became Dixon’s Worldwide Travel in 1968.
Fig. 26 Dixons Travel advert
Heald Green Herald May 1969
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“I booked holidays with Dixon’s travel at that time. That was when Air Tours were starting up.”
- Geoff Holmes, Facebook 2023
Fig. 27 Dixons Travel advert
Alderley and Wilmslow Advertiser 7.9.1972
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“Mr brother worked for Mrs Giddings before he started his apprenticeship to train as a lithographic printer. Mrs Giddings wanted him to continue working for her. I’m not sure if it was the cake shop or Ringway Travel.”
“My brother worked for them and would often bring cakes home. Mrs Giddings wanted my brother to work in travel and offered him a job but he declined.”
- Debbie Grogan, Facebook 2023 and 2025
Ooh Benidorm..........
“Classed as Ringway Travel but I remember dealing with Mrs Giddings as a tour operator, almost certain.”
- Suzanne Tapia, Facebook 2025
In 1973 Dixon’s became Ringway Travel Service.
Fig. 28 Ringway Travel advert
Alderley and Wilmslow Advertiser 4.1.1973
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Through their adverts over the years, our holiday habits are documented. Their son Howard also worked there.
Fig. 29 Ringway Travel feature
Macclesfield Express 11.10.1984
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“Howard used to live on Roseacre when he ran the travel agents.”
- Janet Farrell, Facebook 2021
“I used to work at Ringway Travel for Brenda and Howard Giddings. From 8th June 1987 to 30 March 1988.”
- Richard Slater, Facebook 2025
Fig. 30 Ringway Travel
Manchester Metro 9.6.1995
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Fig. 31 Ringway Travel
Stockport Times 21.1.1998
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WOW, very well done.
Fig. 32 Ringway Travel
Stockport Express Advertiser 19.3.1997
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This business remained until 1999/2000.
In 2001, InfotecComputers.com arrived. Again, their adverts are so interesting, documenting technology we all take for granted now!
Fig. 33 Infotec advert
Heald Green Festival Programme 2001
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Fig. 35 Infotec advert
Heald Green Festival Programme 2004
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Fig. 34 Infotec advert
Heald Green Festival Programme 2003
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The company were still there in 2005 but not 2007.
Next came Noor Grocery by 2009 and they were still there in 2012.
Fig. 36 Noor Grocery
© Google Maps October 2012
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By 2015 the shop was Fizah’s fresh fruit and vegetables. By 2024, the awning was Fizah grocers and halal meat. As of November 2025 Fizah's moved into number 114 to form a double unit shop, and vacated number 120.
Fig. 37 Fizah Fruit and Veg
© Google Maps April 2015
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Fig. 38 Fizah Grocer
© Google Maps August 2024
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Fig. 38A Fizah now empty 20.12.2025
© H Morgan
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122 Finney Lane
Fig. 39 JR Jackson advert
The Advertiser 17.9.1965
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Joe Jackson opened here in 1965 and was there in 1966. In 1967 it became Geoff Holmes, general stores. In the trade directories of 1971, the shop was Geoff Holmes, fruiterers and greengrocers. That’s not the full story though as he was a plumber by trade. Luckily Geoff is a member of our Heritage Facebook page and was able to give me some more information.
Fig. 40 Geoff Holmes advert
Contact Magazine December 1968
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The Finney Lane address has gone.
Fig. 41 Geoff Holmes advert
Contact Magazine Spring 1969
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“It was my shop. I think the first person to take it lived just down the road from it and put Joe Jackson in as the manager of the greengrocers. I took it over in 1967 as the business was failing. Much of my business was plumbing gas fittings with the startup of domestic central heating. I wanted to establish my business in Heald Green with a base. It didn’t work out so I kept the business on, increasing the turnover to re-sell which I did.
I remember the air crash at Stockport. It happened on a Sunday whilst I was there. I can remember from that time, before the second runway at Ringway as we called it, much of the land around was used as market gardens, growing vegetables for the market. I had a lot of contact with the growers and got a lot of my fresh vegetables and flowers for the shop from them. Opposite the shops was a farm (Oak Farm, now Roseacre Drive). There was a cake shop next door that always had lovely cakes (Giddings). The only person that ran my shop was Joe Jackson. I introduced rabbits and fresh fish and did Smithfield Market at times. I enjoyed doing it and made a lot of good friends both there and in the shop but it was never my main purpose. The village was expanding very quickly so I had to go back to Northenden to create a solid base and work from there.”
- Geoff Holmes, Facebook 2023
“It wasn’t until 1960 that domestic central heating was introduced and Heald Green was still new builds. I was one of the first engineers to adapt from the basic plumbing to heating and your area was a gold mine for the business. I had put that period in my business life on the back shelf. It’s only when you look back that I realise how much Heald Green had such a profound list of happy memories. My customers were young married mothers who today will be grandmas.”
- Geoff Holmes, Facebook 2025
There is a spanner in the works here, I wish I had not found this advert! It remains a mystery......
Fig. 42 Gosdens advert
Heald Green Herald May 1969
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I asked Geoff and he had no answer for it.
“I think the name of the person I bought it from was called Gibson. He would be the owner in 1969. Joe Jackson was his friend and managed the shop for both him and me. The person I sold it to must have been Gosden.”
- Geoff Holmes, Facebook 2025
Unfortunately, the years don’t tie up with the trade directories. The only explanation is that possibly Geoff’s three years went from 1967-69 only, he sold to Gosden’s who then sold onto the next business, that was to remain there for many years.
That was Heald Green Fruit Market. They began advertising in 1971.
Fig. 43 Heald Green Fruit Market advert
Contact Magazine Summer 1971
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“I worked for Heald Green Fruit Market approx.1981, for a couple of years. Ron and Kath Day and their son Ron were there.”
- Angela Gill, Facebook 2025
Fig. 44 Heald Green Fruit market advert
Heald Green Methodist church magazine Christmas 1990
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The business remained until around 1997.
Opus Hairdressing came next.
“Opus hairdressers were before Gum. It was there in 2002 when my daughter got married. It moved to Bramhall.”
- Jacqueline Helen Johnson, Facebook 2025
They were still there in 2017.
Fig. 45 Opus
© Google Maps April 2009
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Fig. 46 Opus Hairdressing
© Google Maps August 2017
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By 2019 the hairdressers had become Gum with green signage, that has now become black. They are still trading there today.
Fig. 47 GUM new signage
© Google Maps August 2024
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“I remember the Terrazo tiles on the floor as recently as when Gum took it over! Can anyone confirm they are still in situ? They must be over 50 years old.”
- Iris Thorley, Facebook 2021
Got there in the end with just the odd discrepancy.
Thank you to everyone who has helped me timeline these shops and for your memories.
Related Links
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Search for "Finney Lane" in the Museum Library (Google Drive account users only)
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Search for "Christ Church" in the Museum Library (Google Drive account users only)
Can You Help Us Improve The Museum?
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