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Sharing our memories of Heald Green
Last Updated 27th Nov 2024
Grant's Newsagents
By Helen Morgan
First Published 27/11/2024
Last Updated 27/11/2024
There are just some shops in the village that people still remember, this is one of them.
Fig. 1 Finney Lane looking towards Neal Ave c. 1965
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Looking through trade directories at Stockport’s Heritage Library, I first came across Patrick Grant’s newsagents in 1964, taking over from Crowther’s newsagents.
Fig. 2 Advert from the Contact Magazine June 1965
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“I can see Paddy Grant. He used to go in the Heald Green with his mates, early 70s.”
- Janet Negus, Facebook 2021
Many residents have given their memories of staff who worked there, paper rounds done and things they bought.
“I’m old enough to remember Paddy Grant, bit of a bugger with the whisky, but all in all a really nice man.”
- Dave Walsh, Facebook 2021
“Mrs Grant ran the shop for many years after her husband died.”
- Gillian Walsh Camilleri, Facebook 2024
“I worked there as a Saturday girl and got sacked for eating all the purple Quality Street!”
- Val Ackroyd, Facebook 2021
“Feel here was a shop where you felt it was staffed entirely by grannies.”
- Mark Jackson, Facebook 2024
“I remember 2 old dears. I think they were actually sisters if I remember correctly.”
- Daz Price, Facebook 2021
“I worked in there with all the older ladies, they were lovely. Ellen lived on Rose Vale and Ann she used to sort out the cards and of course Mrs Lee. Not forgotten Beryl. She was younger than them and didn’t suffer fools gladly. I’m sure there was another lady but I can’t think who.”
- Gaynor Downes, Facebook 2024
“An hilarious memory of Beryl. She always rode her bicycle on the footpath on Simonsway. One day a policeman told her to ride on the road. She replied, “Do I look suicidal?” I’m sure she invented the saying “Keep death off the road, ride on the pavement!”
- Ann Murphy, Facebook 2024
A lady called Annie Lee was perhaps remembered the most. Her daughter in Law was Judith Chalmers off the telly, who would visit their house on Heald Grove.
Judith had a programme called “Wish you were here” where she travelled around the world to give us, the viewing public, a guide to where she was.
Growing up I wanted her job, if you could call going around the world, staying in fantastic hotels and being taken around places of interest a job!
“There was a lady called Annie Lee who worked there. I did her hair. She lived on Heald Grove. When you asked her for something she would give you loads more with a wink!”
- Andrea Crompton Whittle, Facebook 2021
“The Chalmers girls, Judith and Sandra, lived in Gatley and sang in St James’ choir.”
- Martin G Davey, Facebook 2021
Do you remember records played on a turntable with a stylus needle?
“I remember buying cut price random singles from a rotating stand there!”
- Angela Lord, Facebook 2024
“Ahh I never knew that was the reason. I had a few spare centres to pop in them.... I sometimes had no idea who the bands were, so it was like a lucky dip! I still have a very eclectic taste in music, which I put down to Grant’s stand.”
- Angela Lord, Facebook 2024
“I bought many of these back in the day. Loved going into Grant’s.”
- Pamela Knowles, Facebook 2024
“Ex juke box records with new plastic inserts where the centre had been removed to fit the juke box mechanism. Sold in a white sleeve with the brand Pop Ex in red letters.”
- Martin G Davey, Facebook 2021
Fig. 3 Pop Ex Record Cover
The paper boys and girls recalled their memories.
“P. Grant’s docked a shilling a mistake from your paper round wages. It made sure that the paper went to the correct destination.”
- Carl Roe, Facebook 2021
“I had a paper round there 1977/78 but don’t remember the fines. Used to deliver Pink Finals too. If I remember correctly, we used to get extra pinks to sell in the pubs.”
- Danny McCarthy, Facebook 2021
“I did what was then known as the Bill’s paper round for a few months in 1973 (first delivery was obviously to Bill’s Bakery). I left to go tomato picking at Robinson’s farm.”
- Dave Walsh, Facebook 2024
“I used to have a paper round there in late 1970s/early 80s. We had to get the papers ready in the cellar down a small steep stair in the shop or an outside door on the front. It looks like it’s been turned into a separate flat now. I’m not old enough to remember her husband but Mrs Grant was lovely.”
- Robin Farthing, Facebook 2024
“My first paper round was at Grant’s.”
- David Potts, Facebook 2021
“I did a paper round there in the ‘80s.”
- Janette Bianchi, Facebook 2024
“I remember having to use the small blue door to get to where you did your paper round.”
- Lee Yogi Tomlin, Facebook 2024
“I remember going to pay for our newspapers. Mrs Grant used to go through a massive book from which you’d get a little ticket as a receipt. You could lose yourself for days in that shop.”
- Diane Mills, Facebook 2024
Fig. 4 Quink Ink
The shop was like a T shape and the floor was very uneven, you wouldn’t get away with it now. As you walked in you could go left or right, with a long bit at the back.
I went to Cheadle Grammar School for girls and you had to write with a fountain pen, not a biro. I bought my fountain pen ink cartridges from there by a company called Quink Ink. You bought real ink in a bottle and cartridges that you could refill by getting the ink to suck up the tube, trying not to get it on you!!
I feel very old now...
Fig. 5 Fountain Pen Cartridges
“Wasn’t there an island at the back of the shop that you could squeeze round, piled up high? I think the greeting cards were displayed around this.”
- Chris Taylor, Facebook 2024
“They had a massive card selection at the back.”
- Lee Yogi Tomlin, Facebook 2024
“Birthday cards were at the back, newspapers and magazines to your left and sweets to your right. Think they sold Lyons Maid ice cream too. I remember it was long at the back. I used to buy fountain pens and Quink ink from there for school.”
- Chris Hudson, Facebook 2021
“We used to collect people’s empty pop bottles and return them for the deposit.”
- Paul Tansey, Facebook 2024
“Those were the days! Recycling at its best, with pocket money to boot!”
- Gillian Walsh Camilleri, Facebook 2024
Your pocket money was well spent at Grant’s.
“I used to waste pocket money on pick and mix and Spectrum games here in the 80s.”
- Jason Stopford, Facebook 2021
“Me too- pear drops and cola cubes!”
- Gillian Walsh Camilleri, Facebook 2021
“I just remember the array of sweet jars. I used to walk there especially for 2oz of sweets with my pocket money- usually the lightest so I got more.”
- Joanne Thomas, Facebook 2021
“I loved spending my pocket money in there. Airfix models, toy soldiers and 5p bag of sweets. What an Aladdin’s cave it was for a 10 year old.”
- David Andrew Barratt, Facebook 2021
“I just remember the tables that showed their wares. Half penny chews, mojos, salad creams and rhubarb and custard.”
- Daz Price, Facebook 2021
“Me too!”
- Jonathan Hall, Facebook 2021
“I used to buy my airfix models from Grant’s in the 1970s.”
- Terry Gibson, Facebook 2021
It was not just a shop selling papers, cigarettes, cards and sweets.
“Grant’s was fabulous. I used to go in there for all sorts of stationery and stuff for the kids. She kept baking items, cake candles etc. If you asked for something it was usually there somewhere.”
- Cynthia Mellish, Facebook 2021
“It was a fantastic shop, next to Cedric’s chemist, that sold everything under the sun.”
- Binnie Thompson, Facebook 2021
“Gosh I remember Grant’s very well. I used to go in every Sunday morning with my dad to get his paper and a bar of chocolate for my mum.”
- Sue Woods Derby, Facebook 2021
“Me too. Enjoyed my stroll down with my dad.”
- David Andrew Barratt, Facebook 2021
“There was an enclosed bike rack outside the front. We always went in before catching the school bus or 79A. There were 3 buses numbered 79 A, B and C that were replaced with the 368, 369 and 370. I used to get off at Bankfield Road or the fire station to go to Cheadle Moseley Grammar.”
- Chris Hudson, Facebook 2021
Fig. 6 Advert from the Methodist Church's Christmas Magazine 1990
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This was the last advert I could find. It is from the Methodist Church’s Christmas magazine of 1990. The shop then became Centrepoint.
Thank you everyone for sharing your memories with us.
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