Fort Ardwick

[Mamucium Son]

Living virtualy opposite Fort Ardwick in the early 70's, I spent a lot of time with mates, playing in the lifts and climbing all over the rooftops etc etc. (Young lads eh?) I'd love to hear from anyone who actually lived in the place, and I'd also like to try and find some pics if possible. There are none at all on the Manchester archive site - unless of course, they are under the official name of the building, but what WAS that? I - and everyone else I have asked, only ever knew it as 'Fort Ardwick'

[Phil Blinkhorn]

In my days at Belle Vue there was a disco run in a room next to the Elizabethan Ballroom. From time to time there was trouble there on a Saturday night and Fort Ardwick was said, by those in the know, to have been the home of most of the regular trouble makers - in fact they came from just one of the decks.

It was B V legend that the deck was also well known to the Police who had a regular presence arresting the same people time after time, so much so the Police had named the deck Letsby Avenue.

There came a time when the powers that be at THF Head Office sanctioned a revamp at the disco and said it should be given an up to date name - this was the era of the start of punk and Mike Hare was letting the disco to Tony Wilson - my sales force voted unanimously to name the disco Letsby Avenue which would have been suitably anarchistic but, of course, wasn't taken up but was used by many of the staff.

[Mamucium Son]

Nice one Phil. Even so, I was far too young to have been one of the Yobbo's in question. Probably my mates brothers tho.

Incidentally, do you remember the Mayflower? A major punk venue right opposite Belle Vue? I spent many a night dancing on the broken glass in there I can tell you, and I even manage to get a gig there with my own band prior to it being shut down.

[Phil Blinkhorn]

I was a bit old for punk - says he who was best mates with Martin Hannett, although before his involvement with the music industry.

Truthfully, it wasn't my era or scene, though if I'd had the sense I'd have tied in with Tony, Martin and Mike Hare and made some money, so I'm afraid the Mayflower doesn't figure in my CV

[Peter Brereton]

Originally Posted by Mamucium Son

Living virtualy opposite Fort Ardwick in the early 70's, I spent a lot of time with mates, playing in the lifts and climbing all over the rooftops etc etc. (Young lads eh?) I'd love to hear from anyone who actually lived in the place, and I'd also like to try and find some pics if possible. There are none at all on the Manchester archive site - unless of course, they are under the official name of the building, but what WAS that? I - and everyone else I have asked, only ever knew it as 'Fort Ardwick'

Search for Coverdale on the Manchester image archive site

Peter

[Mamucium Son]

Originally Posted by Peter Brereton

Search for Coverdale on the Manchester image archive site

Peter

WOW! Loadsa pics. Thanks a lot.

[Phil Blinkhorn]

Thanks Peter - very helpful

[blueskies]

It was called Coverdale Crescent.