I'm writing about life in Ashton in the 70s for my dc. I remember playing in the memorial gardens and trying (& failing) to get on the lions. I remember noticing where all the iron railings had been removed for the war effort. I remember the large market and buying a 1lb of broken biscuits in a large bag. 
I also remember going off to play in Stamford Park unaccompanied and if I'm correct, the rock walls there had faces or sculptures carved into them? I remember the communal back-alleys where women would hang out the washing. I remember buying ciggies for my gran. What else do you remember?