Mass-Observation Archive

Observer accounts:

"Conversation on train ... Wigan to Bolton", ms, 1pp WH, conversation with a fellow passenger about local feeling towards football

"Bolton Wanderers", ms, 10pp, 20.3.[?], TH, seat prices, observations and overheard remarks at football match

Index card, ts, 3.12.[?], TH, observations of team at Trinity Street station

"Reorganisation of the Astley Br. Tennis Club, ms, 8pp, 27.11.[?], WH, report of the meeting called to reorganise the tennis club

"Harvey St Methodist Tennis Club", ms, pp4, the formation of the club

"Tennis Club Fire", ms, 1p, 5.11.38, JP, a bonfire held at the Tonge Moor tennis club

"Eagley C.C. Centenary Sports", ms, pp17, 5.6.37, TH, sports held to celebrate the club's centenary, printed programme attached.

"Harvey St. Methodists Institute", ms, 4pp, the institute's sports provision

"Deane Road Playing Fields", ms, 1pp, 5.5.38, LT conversation with man about play facilities for children

"Prelude to lacrosse match and aftermath", ms, 14pp, PJ, Bolton Ladies and Stockport Ladies, held at Bolton School, Chorley New Road on November 20th, non-league, friendly match.

4/B Rounders and baseball

Observer accounts

Untitled report , ts, 1 p, 10.8.[?], TH Semi-final replay - Albion v. Pearsons , rounders game, reference to "full write up of game by PJ"

"Rounders", ms, 6 pp, PJ, Isaac Pearson's v. Albion Mills, Bolton Sunday School Social (Rounders) League on 10.8.37, at Hatfield Road, Bolton, match for medal play-off

"Rounders", ms, 12pp, PJ, Tootal Broadhurst & Lee v. Eagley A (branch of Coates), organised by Bolton Sunday School's Social League on 11.8.1937, held at Heaton Cricket Ground, Smithhills. Includes diagram of player positions

"Rounders" ms, 12 pp, PJ, St. Patricks v. Trinity Methodist, organised by Bolton District League on 13.8.[?], annual competition for the 'Sir William Edge' shield.

"Rounders" ms, 10 pp, PJ, St. Barnabas v. Deane Methodists, organised by Bolton Sunday School's Social League "open section" on 19.8.[?], held at Musgraves Sports Ground

"Rounders", ms, 15 pp, PJ, Greenhalgh and Shaw v. Johnson's (Deane Weaving Shed), organised by Bolton and District (Rounders) League on 23.8.[?], at Holy Harbour, St. Thomas' Ground, Hughes Street

"Baseball", ts, 3 pp, 30.7.38, GW, Bolton Scarlets v. Bradford team, observations on the game

4/C Bowling

Observer accounts

"Listening in at Moss Bank Park Bowling Greens", ms, 4 pp,10.6.37, PJ, observations on match and overheard comments; conversations

"Bowling Green Observations", ms, 1p, 10.6.37, PNH, held at Mayor Street (Queens Park) Green, observations and overheard conversations and comments

"Observations at Gibraltar Rock Bowling Green": ms, 6pp, 13.7.37, PJ, observations on match and overheard comments; conversations

"Bowls", ts, 5 pp, 31.7.[37], JS, heats for Infirmary Handicap; exhibition match between Barnes (Horwich) and Molyneux (Wigan), held at Gilbraltar Rock, Deane Road on 31st July, 3d ticket attached

"Bowls Handicap Waterloo Hotel", ts, 2pp, 4.8.37, JS, observations on game; sketch of layout, ticket for the game on September 4th 1937 and index card attached

First round Women's Bowls Handicap, ts, 3pp, 4.8.[37], JS , at Walker Institute, Great Lever, organised as charity for the Lifeboat Society, observations on the match. 2d ticket attached.

"Bowls", ms, 8 pp, 14.8[37], PJ Match between branch Lodges of Ancient Order of Oddfellows, organised by Order of Oddfellows, at Tempest Hotel, Monserrat, Bolton on 14th August, newspaper cutting attached dated 13.8.37

"Bowling", ms, 10pp, 20.8.[37], PJ, competitors: Bolton and surrounding towns, held at Gibraltar Rock Hotel, Deane Road, Bolton on August 20th. Annual competition to raise funds for Bolton Infirmary, now titled Royal Infirmary

"Flat Green Bowling", ms, 6pp, 26.8.[37], PJ, St. Andrews v. St. George's Road Congregational, arranged by above schools, held at Leverhulme Park School on 26th August

"Moss Bank Park Ladies Bowling Club", ms, 1p, list of team members

"Bowling": ms, 11pp, 26.8.[37], PJ, Barlow and Jones Ladies v Moss Bank Ladies, organised by the teams, held at Moss Bank Park on 26th August

Printed programme: Lee Trophy competition 1937 on Saturday, August 28th 1937; cost 2d

"Carpet Bowling",ms, 10pp, 8.10.[37], PJ, Victoria Hall v. Queen Street A, organised by Manchester and District League on 8th October includes diagram

4/D Cricket

Observer accounts

"Harvey Street Cricket Club", ms, 2pp, recollections about the club's history, reference to male voice choir

Untitled, ms, 2pp, recollections about Harvey Street Cricket Club, reference to male voice choir

"Eagley Cricket Club", ms, 11pp, 29.5.[?], TH, observations/conversations at centenary celebrations

"Eagley Cricket Club", ms, (index card) 3.6.[?], TH

"The Willow Way" ms, 10pp, 19.6[?], TH, Farnworth v. Eagley, an account of the match

"Cricket" (Cross Cup final), ms, 7pp, PJ, Walkden Moor Methodists v. Whittlebrook Methodists, arranged by Bolton and District Association (Cricket) on August 21st

"Bolton cricket match", ts, 2p, 17.8.40, BA, Heaton v. Farnworth at Lower Pools ground

4/E All in wrestling

Observer accounts

"All in wrestling", ms, 2pp, 24.5[?], EL (transcribed by TH), Turton Street Stadium observations at the bar during interval

"Description of All-in wrestling bout", ms, 8pp, detailed description of bout between Harry Pye (Doncaster) and Harry Brookes (London)

"Different Incidents", ms/ts, 2pp, [relates to above document]

"All-in-wrestling", ms, 2pp, 29.8.38, BN

"Reception of the announcement", ms, 2pp, 29.8.38, BN, reference to money offered by Mr Isherwood

"All-in-wrestling", ts, 7pp by 'W', match at Worktown Stadium 'W' attended with 'N'. Gives brief details of 'N'; his background and family, description of the stadium and audience

Paper folder containing:

"What do you like about all-in-wrestling?", ts, 1p, competition details

"All-in wrestling competion", ts, 6-point questionnaire 19 replies on questionnaire form and 42 replies by letter

Untitled document, ms, 12pp, analysis of questionnaire

"Interview with manager of the stadium", ms, 11pp

Programme for wrestling bout on 9.8.37

Black and white photograph [George Gregory]

Index card, ts, 13.12[?], THH, reference to wrestling

4/F Gambling

Observer accounts

Untitled, ms, 12pp sermon by Stanley Spencer, St George's Road, Congregational (index card attached)

"Modern Gambling Problems", ms, 1p, 2.4.[?]

"Observations re: "Football Pools", ms, 1p. 27.11.[?], PJ, three women in Woolworths buying "penny points pool"

"Why do you bet on the Pools?", ms, 2pp, 27.11.37, PJ, customers answers to the question, Caledonian Inn

"? to postman", ms, 1p, 2.12, PJ, Information about the pools and postmen

Observations at the G.P.O", ms, 7pp, 2.12.[?], PJ, people's purchases in relation to pools coupons

"Why do you bet on the Pools?", ms, 3pp, 3.12-4.12.[?], PJ, customers, Colliers Arms

"Observations at the G.P.O.", ms, 3pp, 3.12.[?], PJ People's purchases in relation to pools coupons

"Why do you bet on the Pools?", ms, 3pp, 7.12-8.12.[?], PJ, staff and patients at Bolton Royal Infirmary, Patrick Ward

"Why do you bet on the Pools?", ms, 3pp PJ, staff and patients at Blair Hospital

"What makes you bet on the Pools?" ms, 1p PJ, response from an unemployed spinner

"Questions put to Temporary Postmen" ms, 3pp PJ, responses to questions about the Pools

"Comments of people respecting "Pools" betting", ms, 3pp, PJ, customers at the Hope and Anchor and the Colliers Arms

"Behaviour of people in regard to 'Pool' betting", ms, 1pp, PJ

Letters about doing the pools

From Mr J. Morris, ms, 2pp, 19.1.38

From [?] K. Taylor to "Dear Sirs", ms, 2pp, 19.1.38

From Mr A.E. Jones to "Dear Sir", ms, 1p, 21.1.38

From Joseph Burtonwood to "Dear Sirs", ms, 1p

From A. Greenwood, ms, 1p

Pools Coupon, "Another Littlewood Service to Clients!"