29 replies to this topic

[Alan]

As my mother died when I was young I used to spend the long summer holidays at various relatives. One of em lived nearly opposite Whiston Hospital. I used to go off on bike with a cousin in that family. One of the places was called something like Duke's Clough. I couldn't recall exactly where it was but the start of the journey was down a lane with the hospital on your left. Dragon Street or Lane I think it was.

Anyway it was a bit like Crank Caverns Wood but without the caves. Does anyone recognise where it was from my description?

[Voll]

We used to go to Duke's Clough to collect frog spawn. I can't say exactly where it was except but I think it was somewhere near Rainhill Stoops. Loyola Hall, a Catholic Retreat, is nearby; could you have mistaken that for a hospital?

[Alan]

Voll, we used to cross over Warrington Road to the same side as Whiston Hospital and then set off down this Dragon Road or summat. Where we went from there I've no idea. It may even have been that we went a longer way round under orders to avoid the busy traffic (steam wagons? ) on the main road. I think Dukes Cough was also a stopping off point on a much longer trip to Hale on banks of Mersey.

The annoying thing is that I was doing some work in that area near Speke just a couple of years ago and thought about finding it but in the end gave in to apathy.

[Voll]

Alan, our route from Nutgrove was was up Rainhill Road then turn left onto Warrington Road i.e. Whiston Hosp. was in the opposite direction. I've just looked at my trusty St. H. map and I think we went down Old Mill Lane when we reached Rainhill Stoops, and I've a feeling that we then turned left, perhaps along Hall Road. We have a couple of ex-Rainhillians on the board so I'm sure they'll fill us in when they read this. I suspect the Clough has been filled-in by now as well.

I was down there about 15 years ago; visiting a pub that had just opened in Old Mill Lane. I've forgotten the name of it but it was in an old building.

Edited by Voll, 19 October 2004 - 03:25 PM.

[Olliebeak]

There is a wooded area, close to Halsnead Residential Caravan Park, that I used to take my children to for summer wanderings. It can be got to by going down Dragon Lane, left into Windy Arbour Road and then left along a lane (next door to a garden nursery) that leads to the Caravan Park. If you go through the Caravan site to the small lake (known locally as Big Water and used by anglers), through a gate and round the footpath to the left of the lake, you come to the woods. I remember thinking how much it was like Crank Woods.

Could this be the place that you were thinking about? There was also a small railway goods line that ran past it, something to do with Huntley and Palmers (or Crawfords), I think. The M62 passes very close to this area nowadays.

There is another place near Halewood called the Halewood Triangle that may also be the place you have in mind, but that would have been a very long cycle ride for kids from St.Helenss.

Ollie

[Alan]

Ollie, all I can tell you is that it was called Duke's Clough, our starting point for getting there was that road called Dragons summat, it was a stopping off point for a longer ride to Hale and it was a tree covered area not unlike Crank Caverns Wood

[Voll]

I just did a google and found a reference that claimed it is located between Blundell's Lane and Hall Lane. Also the 8th tee at Blundells Hill Golf Club is called Dukes Clough. If you go the Dragon Lane/Windy Arbor Road route then my map shows you would have to turn left onto Lickers Lane then onto Blundell's Lane.

[Olliebeak]

Sounds like another way into the same place Voll!!!

Ollie

[Alan]

I've just found it. That's the mystery solved. Thanks to you both.

Btw Ollie, I read somewhere that you went to that youth club (Congregational Hall?) opposite Rotherys. I did. Did you go to St Andrews church by any chance?

[Voll]

I didn't realise that Tower College is on Old Mill Lane. We were not very complimetary about it's pupils when I was a lad.

Does anyone know the name of the "new" pub on that road? I suppose the Old Mill is the obvious one.

[Dion]

Is Manor Farm the pub you mean?
Dion.

[Voll]

Could be, Dion, thanks. I just recall that it was quite new about 15 years ago but was in an old building.

[splus]

I spent many of my formative years in Dukes Clough. The best way to get to it was through Rainhill Village, up View Rd and down Blundells Lane. Turn off into a sandy lane on your left, just on the, bend and you were in paradise.

Sandstone banks, bluebell woods, seven ponds...all you could need to play in. We used to walk it there and play all day.

The Blundell Golf Course is there now, and the M62 cuts through where most of the ponds were.

[Olliebeak]

Quote

I've just found it. That's the mystery solved. Thanks to you both.

Btw Ollie, I read somewhere that you went to that youth club (Congregational Hall?) opposite Rotherys. I did. Did you go to St Andrews church by any chance?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I did go to St Andrews church many years ago. I was taken to sunday school there by Rita Ainge (108 Lingholme Road) when I was about five years old and crying after her in the street when she was going one sunday. Went there for a few years and then changed allegiance to St.Mary's for a few more years. Back to St.Andrews about 1965 for a few years and did Confirmation Classes there. (I remember Russell Hill from Windleshaw Road was in the choir in those days and I met up with him again a few years later when I was a barmaid in the Gerrard and he was one of our regulars). I think I finished up going to York Street Mission for a while as well in the mid sixties - loved the band there!

That old dusty youth club was a great place on a saturday evening but very tame compared with most places. It was the Parochial Church Hall (part of Parish Church). The Congs was further along, where the NatWest bank is today.

Ollie

[zerohero]

Dukes Clough was approx' half way up Blundells Hill.On the left coming from Rainhill,on the right coming from Whiston.There is now a golf course there but there used to be a shooting gallery/rifle range there.This was around the mid 70s when I used to 'bike' it there with a couple of school friends to collect the empty shell cases.From what I can remember there was a large brick wall at one end where the targets where,in front of this wall was a large sand bank bordered by a couple of layers of railway sleepers.There was a also a large wooden cabin/hut at the other end with about 5 or 6 metal plinths,which were I presume were you leant on when shooting at the targets.You could actually find the bullets buried in the railway sleepers & dig them out with a penknife.They were mostly copper or lead & the empty shells were brass.I used to get loads of these & swap them at school for loads of stuff,it was better than having money ! Imagine doing something like that today in todays sanitesd world.