Hi folks, Glad to see the list wake up! And much enjoyed the Flanders & Swan discussion. Now, here's another question: As a young lad, I can remember "going into Town" (ie Manchester) and walking around Lewis's store with me Mum. At Christmas, I seem to remember Father Christmas (none of this American "Santa Claus" rubbish :-) ) would come down from a big dome hig above the inside of the store and we would all gaze heaven-wards. But, when I last was in Manchester (about 10 years ago!), there was no dome to be seen. Can anyone give me a potted history of "the dome": or have I been dreaming? Also, next door to Lewis's was another big shop. I think it was called Wild's or something like that. I remember it because it sold Chemistry experiment equipment.... that I was a big fan of. Can anyone remember the proper name? Cheers for now Alan (in Tasmania)

Hi I remember Lewis's at Christmas. I was so excited because every year my mum took me to see Father Christmas (I live in Leigh) . We got off the bus at Greengate bus stop (under the railway lines) and walked over Blackfriars Bridge, where the flower sellers stood ,past the Grosvenor Hotel and the bombed out bit across the road from there and into the Kardomah Cafe for tea and a toasted tea cake then up Market Street and onto Lewis's. There was a different theme in the dome every year and I remember Angels one year and White horses another - they stick out in my mind . As we entered the store I used to get really excited wondering what would be in the dome and I don't remember ever being dissappointed. I don't remember Father Christmas coming down from the dome but there was always a queue to see him . We would then go into the restaurant for lunch -there was a man playing a white piano and my mum always had "a nice piece of plaice"!!! I think it was in the 60's when they decided "to modernise " the store (a big mistake) but can't tell you the date .I don't remember the name of the shop next door but I remember Henry's across the road in Market St and C&A behind it Happy Memories!! Pamela -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.5 - Release Date: 04/05/2005

Hi Alan I don't remember the dome, but I *do* remember queueing for seemingly ages before going into the 'grotto' at Lewis's, circa late '40's/early 50's. I thought it was magical and definitely worth the long wait, but I don't know whether my mother thought the same! Do you remember the basement where they used to demonstrate all sorts of wierd gadgets? I recall a bloke who made animals with balloons, and when My Fair Lady first came out, they were selling 45rmp records of the music, made into a postcard of scenes from the show. They were beyond my means at the time and, in hindsight, probably wouldn't have stood much playing but you never knew what they were going to be demonstrating and that was half the fun of it. I almost lived in Lewis's basement! Cheers Pauline K Wonthaggi, Vic ----- Original Message ----- From: "alan" <alan_e_wright@bigpond.com> To: <LANCSLIFE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 4:37 PM Subject: [LANCSLIFE] Lewis's Deptartment Store in Manchester > Hi folks, > > Glad to see the list wake up! And much enjoyed the Flanders & Swan > discussion. > > Now, here's another question: > > As a young lad, I can remember "going into Town" (ie Manchester) and > walking around Lewis's store with me Mum. > > At Christmas, I seem to remember Father Christmas (none of this American > "Santa Claus" rubbish :-) ) would come down from a big dome hig above > the inside of the store and we would all gaze heaven-wards. > > But, when I last was in Manchester (about 10 years ago!), there was no > dome to be seen. > > Can anyone give me a potted history of "the dome": or have I been dreaming? > > Also, next door to Lewis's was another big shop. I think it was called > Wild's or something like that. > I remember it because it sold Chemistry experiment equipment.... that I > was a big fan of. > > Can anyone remember the proper name? > > Cheers for now > Alan > (in Tasmania) > > > ==== LANCSLIFE Mailing List ==== > To change from List to Digest mode (or vice versa) or from one e-mail address to another, unsubscribe then resubscribe. See http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/ENG/LANCSLIFE.html > > ============================== > Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for > ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. > Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.11.5 - Release Date: 4/05/05 > >

Hi Alan I remember the dome in Lewis's apparently when all new fire regulations about buildings came in ,Lewis's was considered to be a great fire risk so it was altered. I can't remember the year though Bren >-- Original Message -- >Date: Thu, 05 May 2005 16:37:44 +1000 >From: alan <alan_e_wright@bigpond.com> >To: LANCSLIFE-L@rootsweb.com >Reply-To: LANCSLIFE-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [LANCSLIFE] Lewis's Deptartment Store in Manchester > > >Hi folks, > >Glad to see the list wake up! And much enjoyed the Flanders & Swan >discussion. > >Now, here's another question: > >As a young lad, I can remember "going into Town" (ie Manchester) and >walking around Lewis's store with me Mum. > >At Christmas, I seem to remember Father Christmas (none of this American > >"Santa Claus" rubbish :-) ) would come down from a big dome hig above >the inside of the store and we would all gaze heaven-wards. > >But, when I last was in Manchester (about 10 years ago!), there was no >dome to be seen. > >Can anyone give me a potted history of "the dome": or have I been dreaming? > >Also, next door to Lewis's was another big shop. I think it was called >Wild's or something like that. >I remember it because it sold Chemistry experiment equipment.... that I >was a big fan of. > >Can anyone remember the proper name? > >Cheers for now >Alan >(in Tasmania) > > >==== LANCSLIFE Mailing List ==== >To change from List to Digest mode (or vice versa) or from one e-mail address >to another, unsubscribe then resubscribe. See http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/intl/ENG/LANCSLIFE.html > >============================== >Jumpstart your genealogy with OneWorldTree. Search not only for >ancestors, but entire generations. Learn more: >http://www.ancestry.com/s13972/rd.ashx > ___________________________________________________________ Book yourself something to look forward to in 2005. Cheap flights - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/flights/ Bargain holidays - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/travel/holidays/