Audlem History Society met for the first time this year after the Christmas break, as usual on the third Thursday of the month. Our Speaker was Mr Tony Rea where he presented his talk entitled Ancoats Little Italy .
Tony covered an immense array of topics going back over 100 years from when the first Italians began to leave their homeland to find new futures. The early settlers were crafts people who made their mark with elaborate and beautiful carvings and intricate mosaic work in many of the public buildings in the centre of Manchester.
Other Italians followed later who were equally determined to make a new future for themselves and their families. They had little with them except a determination and work ethic to succeed. As a result, they started businesses making pianos, barrel organs, ice cream and importing Italian foodstuffs to support the Italian community and the early delicatessens and shops.
Tony told of the long journey from Italy to Ancoats and the difficulties in settling into a new country with little money, language and cultural differences. He magically brought to life his ancestors and compatriots with a number of illustrative photographs and memorabilia of days gone by. He talked about how their businesses evolved and how the ice cream industry started in the UK as a direct result of the Italian people living and working in Ancoats. As time went on, the ice cream industry became ever more sanitary and quickly turned from a handmade labour into a slick manufacturing process untouched by human hand. The invention of the traditional biscuit cone we know (and love!) today saved the industry from the old fashioned tasting cup and Health Inspectors. Thanks to Valvona, who visited New York, and seeing the cones used there he brought the concept back to Ancoats. And the rest is history!
He talked about an area and community that loved life, food, music, singing, dance and family values and how they stuck together through thick and thin, helping each other as part of an extended family. Particularly during the war years.
Tony went on to talk about both the First and Second World Wars and the different impact both individual wars had. Not just the Italian community but the surrounding communities too. From the time Italian men were lauded as they paraded down Ancoats Lane to celebrate the entry of Italy into the First World War, to the internment of Italian men as Italy sided with Germany during the Second World War.
In summary, we had a whistle stop tour beginning with the Industrial Revolution, the settlement of the Italian diaspora seeking a new and better life for their families, how they supported each other and worked together to create a better life, not just for themselves but the communities they moved into as they created jobs and wealth for the area and its people. He also managed to squeeze in a tour of some of Manchester s more well known streets and areas. Also, the passage of time and improvement in ice cream transport from simple hand carts to horse drawn carts and finally a plethora of ice cream vans that we used to love to hear playing their tunes as they came on to our own streets! Happy Days!
Tony s talk was very well received by all who attended.
The next meeting will be held on 20th of February at 7:30 p.m. Visitors and members all welcome.
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