26 replies to this topic

[Alan]

Belting photo that Griff. Is that the old Gas Showroom with the globe on top? That's be Dewars tobacconist with the awning out across the road right at the end of the street

[Griffin]

Yes, that was Radiant House. When I was based there in about 1977-79, the upper floors were mostly disused, and the rooms were full of all sorts of junk. That globe became unsafe, and was taken down and stored in an upstairs room, although I never worked out how they got it in there. I wonder where it is now? Radiant House is now a branch of Millets, the outdoor and camping shop, and I suspect modern commercial realities have ensured that the building is fully used.

[meggem]

Griffin, on Oct 15 2008, 11:28 PM, said:

Rings a bell. Was that a fairly modern menswear shop? I know the late Barney Taylor had a menswear shop somewhere around there until a few years ago, so maybe that was also the same place which he took over. That whole block, of course, used to be a corn chandler's owned by J. Appleton Argon, with the famous "chicken window" further along towards the Gas Showrooms. It was all redeveloped when they built Rexmore House for the County Court, which had formerly been in East Street near the Market Hall.

The chicken window belonged to my uncles family business, he was an argon Appleton. the chicken's were in where the kamera shop is right on the corner, and behind was the stables where they kept the horses. They were grain merchants and my Uncle used to take a team of horses & cart and go delivering all over the place, at about 12 yrs of age.

Thought Barney Taylor was a hairdressers, it was Jack Barne's, my mate used to work there as a saturday girl in the 60's.

meggem, on Nov 21 2008, 06:12 PM, said:

The chicken window belonged to my uncles family business, he was an argon Appleton. the chicken's were in where the kamera shop is right on the corner, and behind was the stables where they kept the horses. They were grain merchants and my Uncle used to take a team of horses & cart and go delivering all over the place, at about 12 yrs of age.

Thought Barney Taylor was a hairdressers, it was Tony Sampson's, my mate used to work there as a saturday girl in the 60's.

[Griffin]

Here's a picture of Jack Barnes's shop in Bridge Street. Barney was a hairdresser, but he had some involvement with a menswear shop later on.

Just saw your edit. I remember the name Tony Sampson's but can't recall the shop's whereabouts. If it was Cotham Street, maybe that's the one Barney took over.

[brunty]

tony sampsons was facing the coop in cotham st and there was also a womens dress shop phillippa gales.

[Alan]

See that photo with the number 7 trolleybus, those are the only memories of St Helens town centre that I can recall. I can remember that UCP cafe opposite Jack Barnes like I was there yesterday

[dotcomdan]

In the 60's Jack Barnes shop was THE place to shop for denim jeans, he was famous for bell bottoms and the windows were full of them, the photo is misleading because it was on the corner of Bridge Street and Water Street and I don't remember there being anything on the opposite corner (probably demolished)
Tony Sampson I think came from Liverpool, I remember going there with a group called the "Denems" to look at suits as he specialised in stage suits for groups during the "MerseyBeat Era" The shop was taken over years later by the Stretch brothers from Haresfinch, the boxer turned actor Gary and his brother Conrad.

[gilly]

When i used to use Jack Barnes it was the 70's.Opposite was the subway leading across to Liverpool rd(now filled in with yates there).I remember Bob Greaves of Granada tv doing a report there .St Helens council had offered some kind of reward for the capture of 'JEDDER',a graffiti artist who had defaced the new subway.Jedder enjoyed a little bit of infamy by defacing many more prominant buildings. I knew who he was but can't recall if he was ever caught.His father was a well respected publican.

[brunty]

i dont think he was caught gill it was funny at the time though,i think there was a few more jedders knocking about.

[gilly]

bruntyed, on Nov 22 2008, 12:02 PM, said:

i dont think he was caught gill it was funny at the time though,i think there was a few more jedders knocking about.

Ahh but did you know the original Brunty?Wasn't me by the way.

[boxkey4]

The wishing well was where the Chinese restaurant is opposite wilkinsons.OD,s used to be Tony Sampsons too.Used to frequent both establishments.

[SKYMAN]

had many a dinner in that restaurant Alan,my first job after leaving school was at J G WILSONS,
UNDERTAKERS,they made the coffins were the tyre place is now, they also cut the timber for pilks crates,THE BOXES WERE PUT TOGETHER BY AROUND FIFTY WOMEN who worked in a building that used to be Alan Scotts fruit shop,this ares is now the Cinema,I am talking 1946,