Walter Greenwood was born in Salford on 17th December 1903, and was educated at the local council school. After leaving school at the age of thirteen he worked in a succession of poorly paid jobs, as a pawnbroker's assistant, clerk, stable lad, maker of packing-cases, and was sometimes unemployed.
Greenwood started to write fiction in his late twenties. His first novel, Love on the Dole, was published in 1933, and was an immediate success. Over the next forty years Greenwood produced nine more novels, together with short stories, plays, film scripts, and occasional journalism.
He was briefly a member of Salford City Council (1935-36), and served in the Royal Army Service Corps during World War II. In 1938 he established a film company called Greenpark Productions Ltd
Greenwood married Pearl Alice Osgood, an actress and dancer, in 1937; they separated circa 1944. After leaving Salford in the mid 1930's, he lived in London, Sussex and Cornwall, before finally settling in the Isle of Man in the late 1950's. He was awarded an honorary D.Litt. by the Â׸£ÀûƬ in 1971, and died in Douglas, Isle of Man on 11th September 1974.
The collection includes manuscripts and/or typescripts of most of Greenwood's published and unpublished works, working notes, plot outlines, proof copies (with corrections and amendments), and published editions. There is also correspondence from the 1930's to the 1970's (mainly relating to his work), photographs and a substantial body of press cuttings and reviews, interviews, and articles by or about Greenwood. The collection also includes material relating to theatre and film productions based on Greenwood's work, as well as personal items which belonged to the author. Some of the numerous significant figures represented in the archive include Robert Donat, Thora Hird, Norman Wisdom and Edith Sitwell.
The collection has been arranged into seven series: i/Manuscripts and typescripts; ii/Correspondence; iii/Newspaper cuttings; iv/Photographs; v/Theatre programmes, playbills and other related materials; vi/Published editions of Greenwood's works; vii/Additional material collected by the University.
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This series contains original manuscripts and/or typescripts of most of Greenwood's published and unpublished works. It also includes working notes, plot outlines, and proof copies (with corrections and amendments).
Volume II of a three volume novel of the industrial revolution. Note on first page states that volumes I and III were 'destroyed in the blitz'.
Fair copy of final version of the novel.
Includes proof corrections and additions in Greenwood's hand.
Shooting script which includes additions in pencil.
The play was broadcast on 20th March 1960. The script includes lists of cast and crew, and rehearsal schedule.
Musical based on the play Love on the Dole. Includes additions in Greenwood's hand.
This is a revised version of WGC/1/2/5.
Includes critical notes by David Conyers and extensive revisions and additions in Greenwood's hand.
Duplicated typescript with additions in Greenwood's hand. Also includes copy of a letter from David Conyers, dated 30 March 1971, re. production rights etc, explaining the relationship between Greenwood, Ronald Gow, Terry Hughes, Robert Gray and Alan Fluck.
With proof corrections and additions in Greenwood's hand.
With proof corrections and additions in Greenwood's hand.
Scenario by Ivor Montague, dialogue by Greenwood. This film was never made.
Adapted by Greenwood from his novel His Worship The Mayor.
Prompt copy, giving details of scenery, lighting, wardrobe, props, and cast. Typescript, with extensive manuscript additions in Greenwood's and others' hands. Also includes a cutting from The Eastern Evening News (26th June 1970), re. My Son's My Son and The Daughter-in-Law by D.H. Lawrence.
With extensive proof corrections and additions in Greenwood's hand.
With extensive additions to the text in Greenwood's hand.
Typescript with additional notes in Greenwood's hand. Also includes a report on the play by Alison Boodson of the Scenario Institute.
Large folder containing items relating to a television production of The Secret Kingdom, scripted by Greenwood and Sheila Hodgson. It was broadcast by the BBC in eight episodes, between 6 May and 24 June 1960.
Adapted by Greenwood from his novel of the same name. Typescript, with alternative versions of Act II scenes 2 and 3 attached.
Includes pages of alternative dialogue for Acts II and III. The play was originally produced by the Oldham Repertory Theatre Club, under the title of Rod of Iron.
Duplicate of WGC/1/8/1.
Includes manuscript additions in Greenwood's hand.
Copy of WGC/1/8/4 but without Greenwood's amendments.
Book by James Belchamber, music by Patrick Smythe and lyrics by Bernard Archard.
Typescript with additions in Greenwood's hand.
Manuscript in Greenwood's hand, and typescript with extensive revisions.
One of a series of 'Autobiographical Fragments' subsequently published in The Evening Chronicle. For published version see WGC/3/2.
One of a series of 'Autobiographical Fragments' subsequently published in The Evening Chronicle. For published version see WGC/3/2.
Carbon copy typescript of play, with additions in Greenwood's hand.
Carbon copy of short story, with corrections in Greenwood's hand. For published version see WGC/3/2.
Duplicated typescript, with manuscript additions and notes in Greenwood's hand.
Carbon copy typescript of play.
Episode 1 of a proposed radio drama serial, with corrections in Greenwood's hand.
Copy of WGC/1/14/1.
Includes correspondence with Charles Lefeaux of the BBC Drama Script Unit, E.M. Layton of the Copyright Department, and Miss E.M. Barber and Helen Lehmann of the Society of Authors. Also includes a letter to Greenwood from Patrick Campbell, Senior Drama Producer BBC North Region, returning the script and explaining that the BBC had been unable to use it.
Relates to poverty and unemployment in the 1920's and 1930's. Includes corrections in Greenwood's hand.
Slightly different version to WGC/1/15/1. Includes a letter to Greenwood from Michael Wharton, Features Department, BBC Northern Region.
Typescript with alterations and additions in Greenwood's hand.
Carbon copy typescript with corrections in Greenwood's hand.
Typescript and carbon copy typescript, with alterations and additions in Greenwood's hand.
Miscellaneous manuscript notes, apparently re. the play subsequently entitled Happy Days. Presumably refers to Thora Hird.
Duplicated typescript, with additions in Greenwood's hand. Stage Play Licence for a production at The Hippodrome, Golders Green, attached.
Written for The Manchester Evening News, and subsequently published under the title 'Farewell My Clogs and Shawls'. The towns are Oldham, Nelson, Middleton, Bury, and Burnley. Also includes correspondence between Greenwood and T E Henry, Editor of the Manchester Evening News. For published versions and related correspondence from readers, see WGC/3/21.
Typescript, including additions and alterations in Greenwood's hand.
Carbon copy typescript, including additions and alterations in Greenwood's hand.
Carbon copy typescript, with additions and alterations in Greenwood's hand.
Type script with additions and alterations in Greenwood's hand.
Slightly different version of type script, with additions and alterations in Greenwood's hand. A letter to Greenwood from D.P. Wells, secretary to the Editor of The Daily Mail, is attached.
Letter thanks Greenwood for his article about Salford, and suggests minor alterations.
Autobiography, with the alternative title Those Were the Days - Hilarious Recollections of a Salford Childhood. Manuscript, with many alterations and additions.
Autobiography, later re-titled There Was a Time. Manuscript, with many alterations and additions. Note that this is not a later draft of WGC1/23/1, but a completely different work.
Typescripts and carbon copy typescripts, with alterations and additions in Greenwood's hand. Also includes a letter from J.L. Burn, Medical Officer of Health for Salford, re. burial practices under the Poor Law.
Typescript with alterations and additions in Greenwood's hand.
Typescript with corrections in Greenwood's hand.
Carbon copy typescript with alterations and additions in Greenwood's hand.
Carbon copy typescript, with corrections in Greenwood's hand.
Copy of WGC/1/23/7.
Published by Jonathan Cape, London.
Typescript with alterations and additions in Greenwood's hand..
Typescript with extensive additions in Greenwood's hand.
Carbon copy typescript, with additions, alterations and notes in Greenwood's hand. Also includes correspondence between Greenwood, James Lovell (producer) and the BBC, and a copy of a letter from the Lord Chamberlain's Office, censoring certain words in the text.
Version performed at Dundee Repertory Theatre, 23 Oct 1967. Typescript with alterations and additions in Greenwood's hand.
Carbon copy of WGC/1/23/13.
Duplicated typescript.
Miscellaneous manuscript notes and pages of dialogue re. There Was a Time/ Hanky Park.
Typescript with additions in Greenwood's hand.
Typescript with alterations and additions in Greenwood's hand, and a note on first page: 'These pages deleted or revised from top copy'.
Typescript, with many alterations and additions in Greenwood's hand.
Typescripts with many alterations and additions in Greenwood's hand. Also includes cast lists, programme of Mermaid Theatre production (first performance 1 April 1971), and correspondence between Greenwood and the Mermaid Theatre, Bernard Miles and David Conyers (re. the musical version of Love on the Dole).
Carbon copy typescript with corrections in Greenwood's hand. Includes cast list.
Includes details of scenery, etc. Duplicate typescript, with notes and additions in an unknown hand (possibly that of Karen Petrie, prompter).
Chapter three - The Man.
Typescript and carbon copy typescript, both with additions in Greenwood's hand. Also includes a letter, dated 10 Sep 1962, to Greenwood from John Stratton, actor, re. A Maker of Books and The Secret Kingdom.
Two carbon copy typescripts.
Incomplete manuscript. Alternative titles were Fun and Games and Clubs are Trumps.
Incomplete manuscript.
Duplicated typescript of the play, subsequently re-titled This is Your Wife, with some pages of manuscript. Also includes a 'step outline', giving details of scenes for a film/TV version, and a Lord Chamberlain's Stage Play Licence, dated 3rd Jan 1963, for a production at the Victoria Theatre, Salford.
Producer's copy for production at the Victoria Theatre, Salford. Duplicated typescript, with notes and stage directions in an unknown hand.
Prompt copy for production at the Victoria Theatre, Salford. Duplicated typescript, with notes and stage directions in an unknown hand. Also includes a signed photograph, inscribed 'for Walter my gratitude and love always' from the actress Thora Hird.
Undated manuscript.
Includes letters from Tom Henry, Editor-in-Chief of the Manchester Evening News, Reverend T B Oliver, James Hartley and Mr. Chaplain.
Revised version of Fun and Games, produced at Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, August 24 1964 (Walter Greenwood Film Unit Ltd).
Red bound copy, with a hand written address on the opening page.
Typescript with manuscript additions and amendments.
Includes additional notes.
Red bound, first draft with manuscript additions.
Red bound with manuscript additions.
105 pages bound into a brown wallet using black tape ('copy for Mr B. Robertson').
61 pages, carbon copy in a brown wallet with a note 'Untitled manuscript (beginning page 3)'.
61 pages Carbon copy with manuscript amendments.
Red bound typescript with manuscript additions.
6 pages.
13 pages plus cover sheet, stapled to a brown wallet.
Additional manuscript notes attached.
Includes manuscript additions.
Includes manuscript additions and notes.
Includes manuscript additions.
With 29 manuscript pages at the beginning.
Typescript with manuscript amendments.
With manuscript additions.
Also includes newspaper cuttings and photocopies from the Sunday Times.
This series contains correspondence between Walter Greenwood and a number of other people, mainly relating to his work.
Edith Sitwell was a poet and critic
Letters to Greenwood from the general public, mostly regarding 'The County Book of Lancashire', although some letters mention his other works as well. Many of the letters contain personal reminiscences of childhood, etc. in the county.
Letters to Greenwood, mainly from students and publishers, including copies of some of his replies. Includes a letter from the artist Harold Riley.
Campbell was a writer and broadcaster, and the letters relate to a script for a television programme set in Looe, Cornwall.
Letters received in response to an article in The Manchester Evening Chronicle, in which Greenwood appealed to readers to send him recollections of children's May Day songs and festivities. One letter includes photographs of May Queens in Allington Street, Longsight, Manchester in the 1930s. Also includes a short manuscript, in Greenwood's handwriting, of lyrics of May Day songs.
Telegrams wishing him good luck on the opening night of his play Saturday Night at the Crown, at the Garrick Theatre, London.
Oakes was a retired shop assistant, and the letters relate to his work in various grocers' shops in Salford during the early 1900s.
Letters relate to the design for a play, and the use of one of Lowry's pictures for a theatrical production.
Correspondence relates to a possible film project involving Ken Dodd.
Correspondence relates to a proposed television series entitled Do it Yourself, together with a script outline for a pilot episode.
Delfont was a theatrical agent and producer.
Letters to Greenwood from the general public regarding his autobiography There Was a Time. Many of the letters contain personal reminiscences of life in Salford and Manchester earlier in the century.
Letter requests information about racing pigeons, for inclusion in 'a new novel' (It Takes All Sorts).
Correspondence relates to the possible sale of his manuscripts to the University of Texas.
Correspondence relates to a possible remake of the film No Limit.
Letter asks for advice about selling his manuscripts
Letters to Greenwood from the general public in response to articles in various newspapers and an interview on BBC Radio Woman's Hour, in which he repeated his earlier appeal to readers to send him recollections of children's May Day songs and festivities. Many of the letters include music and lyrics of songs.
Whitley was Literary Editor of The Sunday Times.
Letters followed a broadcast by Greenwood on BBC Radio 4, entitled Those Turbulent Years.
Includes part of an article 'Authors of the Island', explaining why Greenwood chose to move to the Isle of Man.
Garsden was apparently an old acquaintance of Greenwood.
Chatarji was a postgraduate student.
Relates to races between Evening News and Evening Chronicle pony delivery carts in Manchester in the 1920s. Includes photographs of the ponies and copies of letters from readers, containing information about the races. Also includes a cutting of a review of a play, Bullshot Crummond.
From 1933 until his death Greenwood kept newspaper and magazine cuttings of reviews and articles relating to himself and his works. After 1936 most of the cuttings were sent to Greenwood by Durrant's Press Cuttings agency. Many of the cuttings are glued into three large scrapbooks, arranged by subject matter rather than chronologically. In addition, there are a number of loose cuttings, which have, where possible, been grouped together by subject, and then listed in chronological order according to the earliest date in each group.
Includes Love on the Dole (novel), Love on the Dole (play), His Worship The Mayor (a.k.a. The Time is Ripe), Standing Room Only, Give Us This Day, The Cleft Stick and No Limit (film starring George Formby). Also contains news reports of Greenwood's marriage to Pearl Alice Osgood and articles by Greenwood on the USA, unemployment, and the county of Lancashire.
Includes The Secret Kingdom (novel), The Cleft Stick, Give Us This Day, Love on the Dole (film), Only Mugs Work (novel), No Limit, Something in My Heart, The Cure for Love (play, a. k. a. Rod of Iron, including version starring Robert Donat), Love on the Dole (play), So Brief the Spring (play), Six Men of Dorset (film) and The Village That Toted The Earth was Flat (film). Also contains Greenwood's short stories, 'Low Water', 'Landmark', 'Holiday for Norville' and 'A Little Soldier', articles by Greenwood on film production, theatre production, childhood, schooldays, social policy, success and life in a Cornish village, and a series of 'Autobiographical Fragments' published in The Evening Chronicle.
Includes The Cure for Love (film directed, produced and co-adapted by Robert Donat), Lancashire, Too Clever for Love, So Brief the Spring, What Everybody Wants, Down by the Sea, Saturday Night at the Crown (play), Happy Days, Saturday Night at the Crown (novel), Love on the Dole (TV and radio productions), The Secret Kingdom (TV serial - includes a letter to Greenwood from John Stratton, a member of the cast), Fun and Games, This is Your Wife, Love on the Dole (novel), The Cure for Love (play), and The Mother-in-Law by D.H. Lawrence. Also includes articles on the demolition of Hankinson Street, Salford, and on Greenwood's early life, and articles by Greenwood on Cornwall, the decline of the cotton industry and the county of Lancashire.
The American edition of His Worship The Mayor. Reviews from the New York Herald Tribune and the New York Times.
Showing a photograph of Greenwood and Arthur Wragg.
Re. 'Literary London'.
Relates to Greenwood's life in Polperro, Cornwall.
With Pearl Osgood in a leading role.
Stating that the British Board of Film Censors will allow a film of Love on the Dole to be made, on condition that certain episodes from the book are not shown.
'Demons at Desks', re. his schooldays.
'Farewell My Clogs and Shawls', re. the decline of the cotton industry. Each article relates to a different Lancashire town - Oldham, Nelson, Middleton, Bury and Burnley. The readers' letters contain reminiscences of work in the cotton industry.
Possibly The Manchester Guardian. Cutting relates to social problems on an 'overspill' estate at Partington, near Manchester. Includes Greenwood's handwritten comments on the subject.
See also WGC/2/5 and WGC/2/22.
Re. Sir Bernard Miles and the Mermaid Theatre. Mentions productions of Greenwood's work at the theatre.
Interview with Greenwood by Catherine Stott, with an accompanying article by Keith Dewhurst explaining the importance of Greenwood's works.
Review by Greenwood of One of The Damned - The Life and Times of Robert Tressell by F. C. Ball.
Article by Greenwood explaining the problems which authors experience in dealing with the Inland Revenue.
Includes Nottingham Playhouse, Salford Players' Theatre, Royal Exchange Theatre Company and Oldham Coliseum productions.
Small extract from the Middlesex Chronicle about The Cleft Stick.
Salford Players Theatre and Octagon Theatre productions.
Mermaid Theatre and Oldham Coliseum Theatre productions.
Oldham Repertory Theatre production.
Mainly copies of articles about Greenwood which appeared in the Salford City Reporter in the 1930s. Also copy of an article in the Sunday Referee from 1935 by Edith Sitwell, plus a few articles from the 1970s.
Photocopies of two articles from the Spectator entitled 'Poverty and Freedom' and 'On the Dole'.
A number of photographs have been collected, including images of Walter Greenwood, his family, personal and professional life, and photographs of areas and places where Greenwood lived.
Greenwood's great great-grandfather.
Thomas Bladon Walter was Greenwood's great uncle.
Greenwood's mother, Elizabeth Greenwood. Before her marriage to Tom Greenwood she was Elizabeth Walter. The Photograph is by Allen Nield Studios, Leeds.
Greenwood's father.
Writing on back of photo states that this was the birthplace of Walter, Tom and Sister Bessie Harris Greenwood.
Writing on back of image says 'my father and me and the place where I was born'.
Greenwood's maternal grandparents were William Walter and Hannah Walter.
Writing on back of image reads 'my father, mother, sister and me around 1910'.
Possibly includes Greenwood or his sister.
Possibly includes Greenwood.
Writing on back suggests that the photo may have been taken in either the Isle of Man or in Cornwall.
Writing on back states 'my mother and me, just before she died (aged 89)'.
Writing on back states 'my mother and me, just before she died (aged 89)'.
A poster advertising the premiere of the musical of Love on the Dole is prominently displayed.
Possibly passport photographs.
Greenwood received an honorary degree.
Amid the rubble and derelict buildings, in the process of being demolished, and in an unidentified public house.
Greenwood against backgrounds of old houses, construction work, and blocks of flats, including 'Walter Greenwood Court'. Also outside the new Salford Technical College (Allerton) building, with totem pole sculptures in the background.
Framed photograph.
Includes images of Greenwood leaning on a gate, writing and smoking, plus one of him with an unidentified woman.
Note on reverse in Greenwood's hand reads 'the house and shop in Hanky Park just before demolition and where I was born in 1903. 56 Ellor St'.
Note on reverse in Greenwood's hand states that this was where his father died in 1913.
Note on reverse in Greenwood's hand states that the family moved there after the death of his father.
Notes in Greenwood's hand on front and back of photo, stating that he worked in the shop as a boy, beginning in 1915 aged 12.
Includes derelict houses in Raby Street, F and M Cartwright pawnbrokers and second-hand shop in Meadow Street, Jimmy Thomson's Tattoo Parlour, and 'knocker-up' tapping on bedroom windows.
Greenwood was a pupil at the school until 1916.
Photos stamped 'Housing Department, Leeds'.
includes letter from Greenwood to Winifred Craven, dated 23 August 1950.
Greenwood's residence in Cornwall in the 1950s. Printout of digital photograph.
Possibly a relative of Greenwood's.
Two small prints of a dog, together with 6 strips of negatives of the dog, a cat, and various small boats.
This series contains theatre programmes, posters and leaflets from the many productions of Greenwood's plays.
Directed by David Tucker.
Directed by Eric Thompson. Includes article by Ronald Gow.
Directed by Ian Jessup.
Adaptation by Kevin Fegan, directed by Andy Farrell.
Directed by Paul Elkins.
Directed by Alan Rothwell. Copies of two newspaper reviews attached.
Presented by Robert Donat's company, with Donat playing the role of Sergeant Jack Hardacre. Produced by H K Ayliff.
Directed by John Pickles.
Presented by Robert Donat's company, with Donat playing the role of Sergeant Jack Hardacre. Produced by H K Ayliff.
Directed by Ian Forrest.
Directed by Douglas Emery. Cast included Robert Newton, Sheelah Wilcocks (aka Shelagh Wilcocks), Harry Lomax, Maurice Hansard and Dora Bryan.
Directed by Harold Boyes. Cast included Thora Hird, Pat Phoenix, Bert Brownbill and Peter Sinclair.
Directed by James Lovell.
Directed by Josephine Wilson.
Directed by Kenneth Alan Taylor.
Directed by Paul Elkins.
This play was written by Shelagh Delaney. No apparent connection with Greenwood, aside from it being set in Salford.
This includes books from Greenwood's own library and the University's collected works of Greenwood, including books added since it acquired the Collection.
This series contains other items collected by the University which are related to Greenwood and his work. It includes theses, articles about Greenwood's work, articles by Greenwood, memorial lectures, articles about Ethel Mannin, L S Lowry and Thora Hird and student essays.
Nantes University, France.
Glattbrugg, Zurich University.
University of Keele undergraduate dissertation.
Michigan State University MA.
University of London, PhD thesis. Copies of pages 219-235 (chapter 3 'The Daughter-in-Law' and 'My Son's My Son'), and of pages 292-297 (appendix 1 An Account of the relation between D H Lawrence's 'The Daughter-in-Law' and Walter Greenwood's 'My Son's My Son') only.
From Literature and History, Volume 8
From Weimar Germany Writers and Politics edited by Alan Bance
From Literature of Region and Nation Volume 3
From Working Class Library Bulletin, Volume 4
From The British Working Class Novel in the Twentieth Century edited by Jeremy Hawthorn
From Key Words: A Journal of Cultural Materialism, No. 7
From Culture Critique, No. 56
From Journal of British Studies, Vol. 45, No. 4
From Literature and History, Vol. 17, Issue 2
From Literature and History, Vol. 20, Issue 2
From New Theatre Quarterly, Vol. 29, Issue 1
From Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol. 1, No. 2
From Working Papers in Cultural Studies, Spring 1973
From Literature and History, 2018
Â׸£ÀûƬ student essays submitted for the Twentieth Century British Working Class Novel module
Submitted as the long assignment on the Twentieth Century British Working Class novel module - 'John Baxter's film adaptation of Love on the Dole toned down the novel's political critique'
Winner of Greenwood essay prize - 'A working-class novel calculated to offend a middle-class readership. Discuss this view of Greenwood's Love on the Dole'
Winner of Greenwood essay prize - 'The novel challenges the dominat masculine ideology that positions women in the role of submissively servicing men's needs. Critically evaluate this view of Greenwood's Love on the Dole'
Joint winner of Greenwood essay prize - 'A working-class novel calculated to offend a middle-class readership. Discuss this view of Greenwood's Love on the Dole'
Joint winner of Greenwood essay prize - 'John Baxter's film adaptation of Love on the Dole toned down the novel's political critique'
From Alexander Korda: The Man who Could Work Miracles by Karol Kulik
From Recollections of Salford by Salford Local History Society
Short story from The London Mercury
Short story from Voices on the Green edited by A. R. J. Wise and R. A. Smith
Includes brief information about Greenwood's ancestors, particularly his grandfather William Walter.
Includes what appear to be a few handwritten notes for There Was A Time.
Inaugural lecture delivered by Lord Ardwick
Film footage featuring two interviews with Walter Greenwood
Documentary about residents of Walter Greenwood Court
DVD of 1941 film starring Clifford Evans and Deborah Kerr, directed by John Baxter
Documentary about the Lowry Centre's community production of Love on the Dole in September 2004, initially broadcast on 28 October 2004