Gallows Tales

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The Devil and the Monkey Puzzle Tree

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The Monkey Puzzle tree ( Araucaria araucana ) is not a common sight in Monkey Town. The rather exotic spiked trunk and winding branches always caught the attention of local children, and two in particular that stuck in the memory were the trees in a front garden on Heywood Hall Road (which was on the route to Queen’s Park for many people). One well-remembered aspect of these trees was the superstition surrounding them. Some parents actually told their children to be quiet as they passed the tree, various reasons being that they would have bad luck or lose something, or in some cases even grow a monkey’s tail! This led those children who actually wanted a monkey’s tail to shout out as they passed by the trees. Superstitions about the Monkey Puzzle tree can be found throughout Britain. One widely-shared bit of folklore is that the Devil himself sits in this tree and people have to be quiet when walking past or else they will attract the Devil’s attention and get bad luck. In some
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General Timeline of Heywood History

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This timeline of the history of Heywood is a work in progress. It is intended to be as accurate as possible, and suggested corrections or additions are welcome. Pre - A.D. 1270 7th century: Middleton is thought to have been settled by this time. 1086: Rochdale recorded in the  Domesday Book  as Recedham. 1164:  Heywood family  recorded in local area. 1183: Records for Ashworth start around this time. 1197: Reference to Birtle in records. 12th century: Hopwood family recorded at site of current Hopwood Hall. 1210: Reference to hamlets of Lumhalghs (Lomax) and Hep (Heap) in records. 1260: Land at Pilsworth granted to William de Radcliffe. 1270-1600 1260s-70s: Adam de Bury grants land to Peter de Heywood during this time. 1278: William del Bridge granted land near Bury. 1292: Reference to Hoppewode in records 13th century: Bamford family living in Bamford area. 13th century: Peter de Heywood builds Heywood Hall. 13th century: Woollen mill recorded
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'Heywood Living Memories' Index (Issues 1-5)

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To search for specific keywords or subjects in this page, press 'Ctrl' and 'F' on your keyboard. Places & Themes Key The 'places and themes' content of each entry below is divided into the following categories: BIO: Biography BUS: Businesses and occupations CLT: Clothing COM: Commemorations and Celebrations EDU: Education EL: Entertainment & Leisure FD: Food FLK: Folklore HIS: History HOM: Home life IMM: Immigration LAW: Crime, policing, courts MED: Medical MUN: Municipal ORG: Organisations and clubs PL: Places and landmarks PUB: Public houses REL: Religion SPT: Sport TRN: Transport WAR: Wars Vol. 1, JAN 1990, p.3 Title/author: ‘Snippets of a Heywood Childhood’ by Cliff Lever Type: Reminiscences Setting: 1925-32 Places/themes: BUS: Old market, stalls lit by naptha flares; Cotton waste warehouse (formerly dyeworks), next to Langton Arms, Miller St.; Stable; Well; Ramsbottom’s Smithy, Aspinall St.; Charley Dean, Marke
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