So, finally, after the small gap, which provides access to the rear of the pub, comes that very well-known landmark fronting Hala Square and with a well-cared-for bowling green to the rear, the Boot and Shoe Inn, a public house, just recently refurbished101. William Procter102 was the licensee for many years, as various old photos of the premises clearly show his name on the south gable – in 1881 the landlord had been William Jackson, but William Procter took over sometime between then and 1891; in addition to looking after the pub he was by occupation a joiner and wheelwright – I expect his wife Emma probably ran the pub, while he was occupied with his other work as a builder.
William Procter’s youngest son Paul became the headmaster of Scotforth CE School for many years right up, I think, to about the end of the last war – and very well respected too; he was still the head when my nephew Alan started school there in 1944; he retired the following year.
I am told by my sister Lilian that it is now a very nice place to have lunch, though, of course, being brought up as strict Wesleyans, we never dared to set foot inside such a wicked place, when we were young and living close by!
Another more recent photo of the Boot & Shoe from close to the former smithy,
showing its proximity to Booths supermarket on the site of the former
White Terrace and other properties in Hala Road. (photo. David Reay)
The complete absence of traffic on this usually busy road is explained by the photo being taken during ‘essential shopping’ at Booths store, during the first stage of the Covid epidemic in 2020. (DR)
Well, this concludes our little tour of Hala Road and my recollections of an area which was so familiar to me in the early years of the century. It was an area on which my family had some physical influence in that they were responsible for the building of the terraces which provided housing for those who came to work in their businesses, farm and market garden – and others too looking to live in the area. I hope you enjoyed these shared memories.
This area was completely transformed after World War Two, when the City Council bought up land for the creation of the Hala Estate, which was largely built in the mid- fifties; this involved the demolition of Friends’ Farm and Sandfield and most of the properties on the north side of Hala Road. The later realignment of Scotforth Road saw the remaining properties go and their replacement with Booths supermarket, a new Bowling Green Hotel and petrol station. Fortunately, most of the properties on the south side still remain as a memory to the Halls and Parringtons, though the nurseries to the rear have since been developed for Abbeyfield – the old barn still remains, however, and I suppose it is likely to be converted for housing eventually.
The trams that were familiar in my youth are now long gone103, so I now have to catch a bus to get myself back home to Morecambe, unless you’d be kind enough to give me a lift. I’ll leave you with a few more of Samuel Thompson’s photos, that evoke the days we have been talking about.
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101 The Boot & Shoe The building currently has the address of No 171 Scotforth Road; it has had further upgrades since the time of this conversation, including a substantial extension which incorporates much of the site of the former bowling green.
102 The 1901 census shows the Procter family here at the turn of the century, though they had been in charge of these premises ten years previously. William Procter (56) was a joiner and wheelwright as well as a publican – he held the licence; he was from Lancaster, while his wife Emma (61) was from Scotforth; she might well have been running the pub; four of their children were currently still living with them: Benjamin (27), barman, Stephen (22), joiner & wheelwright, Annie (19), dressmaker, and Paul (17), pupil teacher, all born at Scotforth. By 1911 they had been married for 44 years; of their 8 surviving children only Annie (29) was still living with them, though two grandchildren were now here: George Fox (17), apprentice joiner & wheelwright, and Alice Procter (15), domestic help.
The 1911 census finds Alfred Paul Procter (27), unmarried, boarding with Ambrose Fox and his family at No 15 Queens Road, Bradford, where he was now working as an assistant schoolmaster. Later he became head of St Paul’s CE Primary School, Scotforth, and he was living close by the school at Sunny Ridge, Hall Park, in 1939. He was the Head when I started at the school in about 1944. He retired shortly afterwards and was replaced by Laurence Todd.
The licensed victualler running this pub in 1939 was WA Lambert (45), with his wife Ethel (45); they had a daughter Edna (9).
103 This tram system operated between 1903 and 1930. There was another electric tram system in Morecambe and also a horse-drawn service between Lancaster and Morecambe. All were separate systems and operated independently of each other.
Who was Samuel Thompson? Acknowledgement.
or, return to the top of Memories of Hala Road, Scotforth
