Church Street

This is Church Street looking towards the parish church.(It was also called Kirk street at one time)
The man on the left of the picture appears to be holding something in his hand and has some sort of "hat" for want of a better word on his head.
All the men and boys on the other side of the street seem to have taken an interest in what is going on and are turning to look that way.

Church Street looking towards the War Memorial.

Back court of 24 Church Street

After adding this page I got an E-mail from Des who gave more details of the man in the shot!

I'm just writing with a bit of info regarding the old Port' picture of Church Street. The man in the picture wearing the Tall Hat, was known as "THE CLINCHER". He used to stand on the corner of Church Street and speak of all the controversial issues of the day - In a satirical way.
My mum tells me that he actually travelled from town to town around the area telling his tales. He used to start these by saying this strange poetic verse -
"BEYOND YON HILL, THERE STANDS A MILL, IF IT'S NOT THERE NOW IT WAS THERE YESTERDAY."
My mother remembers this being told to her by her grandfather who lived in the big alley.

I was completely convinced that the man in the above photograph did indeed have something on his head and the details that were sent to me supported this when I added them to this page.
After the restoration of this photograph and its enlargement by Mr Green at Kempock digital I can tell you that he has nothing on his head and he is not the Clincher.
Shame really! I have no doubt that the details of the man called the clincher do have their part in the towns history but I am afraid that he is not in this picture as we once thought.

August 2002

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This page last modified on Wednesday, March 05, 2003

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