Fish Frier • Sweet Shopkeeper • ARP Warden
Carr Lane Resident for Over 50 Years
Born: 18 August 1912
Died: 27 January 1985
Key locations: 58, 20 & 29 Carr Lane
Early Life & Family
Harold Redman was born in Slaithwaite in 1912. His father, John Redman, died of Spanish Flu on 20 December 1918, while the family were living at 58 Carr Lane. Harry was just six years old.
The 1921 Census records Harold and his mother Gertrude, then widowed, still at 58 Carr Lane, living with Gertrude’s aunt, Betsy Blackburn (55). Betsy undertook house duties while Gertrude worked at W.E. Crowther’s Woollen Mill in Crimble, likely to support young Harold after his father’s death.
Gertrude later moved to 39 Carr Lane, sometime between 1930 and 1933.
Marriage & Working Life
On 9 October 1934, aged 22, Harold married Alice Annie Bottomley of Marsden at St Bartholomew’s Church. At this time his occupation was listed as Fish Frier.
Kelly’s Directory (1936) shows Harold trading at 20 Carr Lane, renting the unit from Jagger’s estate.
By 1935, Gertrude had moved to 5 Ings Head, sharing with Ada and Fred Sykes – likely giving the newlyweds space.
Later that same year, Harold and Alice welcomed a daughter:
- Pauline M. Redman (b. Oct 1935) — later married a Holroyd in 1957 (Agbrigg district).
Shopkeepers on Carr Lane
By the 1939 Register, Harold and Alice were living at 29 Carr Lane.
Alice (b. 18 March 1913) is listed as a shopkeeper: sweets & tobacco.
Kelly’s Directory shows Ernest Riley previously trading at the same address, suggesting the Redmans took over the shop sometime between 1936–1939.
This shop became well-remembered locally. Community recollections describe the Redmans selling sweets and cigarettes there into the 1970s — and being one of the only shops open on Sundays.
Air Raid Protection Warden
During WWII, and during his time on the parade, Harold served as an ARP Warden — enforcing blackout rules and helping keep civilians safe.
A fascinating possibility: might he have fined Jane Townend at No.12 for a blackout breach on 5 December 1940? That might have caused for neighbourly tensions!
The Fish Shop at #20 Carr Lane
Rates book entries place Harold again at #20 Carr Lane as a fried fish dealer, sometime between the 1930s–1950s.
Around 1951, the entry was amended to Gertrude Redman and the shop purpose changed to “lock-up” — its original planned function – although the term brings to modern mind a storage unit, in fact it was a term for a shop that had no living accommodation attached. At the end of the day the shopkeeper would simply ‘lock up’ and go home. Which then leaves the puzzle, what was Gertrude selling?
Local memories suggest the chip shop closed long before the 1950s, and no one recalls it operating during that decade.
Later Years & Legacy
Harold remained at the home and shop he shared with Alice at 29 Carr Lane for the rest of his life.
He died on 27 January 1985, aged 72 — still resident at the shop. Probate records indicate an estate of no more than £40,000.
Alice likely passed away just a month earlier, December 1984.
Harold clearly loved Carr Lane: a childhood home, workplace, family hub, lifelong community.
