PHOTOGRAPHS RELATED TO THE FAMILY OF ERNIE SHEPLEY

<p>See also deposit 1548.</p>

Photographs are from the collection of the donor's father. The Shepley family started off in Travis Street, Hyde where Mr. Shepley Snr. was probably born. On finding work on the railways he moved to Newton Street South, Gorton, and then to Whalley Street South, Gorton. Because of Mrs. Shepleys health they moved out to a railway tied cottage on the village of Bucksworth in Derbyshire. The two girls were born there.

Ernie's brother David died young. He swam for Gorton. He also played football for New Mills when the family lived in Derbyshire. He played with Walter Winterbottom, a Glossop player, who later went on to play for United.

Lumb farm was demolished in 1914*. From Bucksworth they moved back to Jepson Street, Gorton, opposite the Labour Club, which was then a chapel where the Band of Hope would meet. Ernie would go to their meetings, and he signed the Pledge. Then to Church Lane, then to a Corporation house in Barnard Road. Mr. Shepley eventually left because of a dispute with the council over a fence. He bought a house in Chapman Street.

Mrs Shepley was born Jane Ackley. Her mother was orphaned and brought up by her aunt, who was the widow of Sergent Brett. Brett had been killed whilst guarding the Fennians who were being taken up Hyde Road to Belle View Gaol. He died at Bachlew Street, near where the Apollo is now.

This grandmother had 7 or 8 kids. She fell out with her husband who was a n'er do well. He worked as a bookies clerk and as she regarded this as immoral earnings, she threw him out. The children called him 'pea-soup' because he'd take all the peas from a pot of soup. She eventually made all her children swear never to entertain their father; neither to give him food, unless he paid for it, or to allow him to sleep under their roof. He visited Bucksworth on one occasion and the next door neighbours were paid to put him up for the night.