Clog Shop Chronicles

Alcock's footwear shop, formerly Allen's clogshop on Chorley Road

In times past a popular entertainment at church concerts were monologues, often given in Lancashire dialect. These feats of memory often had a moral outcome. Similarly, dialect books were popular and often given as prizes. At the turn of the twentieth century some of the most popular were written by John Ackworth.

John Ackworth was the pen name of Rev. FR Smith, who was the minister of Methodist churches in Swinton and Eccles. He gained the inspiration for his stories from the places and characters in the local area and despite names being changed they can be identi ed. It is generally believed that the village of Boothstown is the scene of his most lovable works.

The famous "Clog Shop Chronicles" were set in the village of Beckside, where the only public buildings were the little chapel and the schoolhouse. About the centre of the village stood the Clog shop, where the clogger, Jabez Longworth, known to all as "owd Jabe" worked with his apprentice, Isaac. "Owd Jabe" was the chief o cial at the chapel and his shop was the rendezvous for the village worthies, where all the local gossip was turned over. Here on mostevenings, could be found such worthies as Long Ben, the carpenter, Sam Speck who lived on a small annuity, Lige the roadmender, Jonas Tatlock the choirmaster, Nathan the Smith and Jethro the knocker-up.

These characters are met in three of John Ackworth's books, "Clog Shop Chronicles", "Beckside Lights" and "Doxie Dent". It is believed that the originals of most of these characters were members of the St. Paul's Chapel, Swinton, and were well known personalities in the Station Road area. The actual clog shop was that of James (Jabe) Allen in Chorley Road. In the time of Mr. Smith's ministry (1891-93) it was numbered 175 and always had two rows of clogs in the window. Repairs etc. were done in the 'back place' and it was the habit of the minister to call in every Monday morning to have a chat with the clogger and his cronies.

Jethro was the village knocker-up, and went his daily rounds with unfailing regularity every morning, except Sunday, between the hours of four and six. Over his shoulder he carried a long, light pole, with wire prongs at the end, with which he used to rattle at the bedroom windows of the sleepy factory hands until he received some signal from within that he had been heard. "Bob! Dust ye'r? It's five minutes to six! Ger up, tha lazy haand (hound). If tha dusn't ger up Aw'll come an poo' thi aat o' bed." (Beckside's 'Knocker-up' . . . . Clog Shop Chronicles)

Written by Paul Hassall Eccles & District History Society You can read the Clog Shop Chronicles at www.minorvictorianwriters.org.uk/ackworth/ b_biography.htm