30 replies to this topic

[stephen nulty]

Anybody looking through the old census records for Prescot will often notice that people lived in such and such a “Court”. We see such as Saggerson’s Court, Taylor’s Court, Parker’s Court, etc., where the “Court” exists in it’s own right, and we also see addresses such as 1 Court, 1 House, Victoria Place. But what exactly was a “Court”?

In his book “Prescot of Yesteryear” (1990, ISBN 0 951 5986 0 0 ), Arthur Roberts explained this all rather well, and so I make no excuses for transcribing his narrative here.

“In an age when Prescot was a compact town, land availability with in its centre was obviously at a premium. Cottages were erected on every piece of land which became vacant. Consequently, a preponderance of these small alleys, or wients, were used for the building of small, unpretentious dwellings, which in many cases housed quite large families. This development may have been dictated by economic conditions, or a sense of fellowship within families - or both. In any event, in pre-Victorian times these cottages sprang up in what must have appeared to be the most unlikely places. Most of these dwellings have now gone, although the sites on which they were erected are in evidence, even today”.

Arthur goes on to describe the location of many of the Courts in the town centre. The Knowsley web site at www.history.knowsley.gov.uk has a photographic section which contains quite a few pictures of these dwellings, and is well worth a look.

It would seem that somebody might erect a few of these dwellings on a particular site and often the result would be titled after the builder, such as Taylor's Court. Sometimes, as can be seen from Victoria Place, they didn't even have a name, just a number - 1 Court, etc.

But be under no illusion; these were slums. My old nin, who was born in 1906 and lived til she was 91, told me about some of them and the appalling conditions in which people lived. Most of them were demolished in the slum clearances of the 1930’s when the large council estates at High Hill and Shaw Lane were built.

Anybody familiar with Prescot will be aware of the proximity of the Plough and Eagle and Child pubs (both now closed but the buildings remain). There’s a small gap between the two buiuldings which a car would just fit through. But in the 1901 census, I found that this “gap” was the site of Lyon’s Court, consisting of 3 small houses.

It would appear that many of these courts were put together in the 1850’s and 1860’s when the large Irish influx occurred. These were usually poor people who couldn’t afford to buy land and so lived in rented accommodation. Maybe just “rooms” in a house and often in one of the Courts.

The early census of 1841 and 1851 refer to a site off Kemble Street, or Hillock Street as it was then, which was known as “The Camp”. Lots of theories exist as to the exact make up of “The Camp”, but it is commonly accepted that it was little more than a shanty town, populated by poor Irish settlers. (Incidentally, if anybody has any firm knowledge of The Camp, I’d be delighted to hear from them).

I suspect that those who lived in The Camp would have seen a move into one of the courts as being a distinctly upward move. It’s all relative, isn’t it?

[splus]

My Irish ancestors are shown as living at the Camp in 1871. However, the Census document gives the township as Rainhill and the reg district as St Annes. I always understood the Camp to be around the Holt area of Rainhill.

[stephen nulty]

Might be a different one. I'll look into that a little further.

The description of Prescot Enumeration District 5 in the 1841 census includes "the Norther side of Hillock Street, Parkers Square, The Camp, Factory Yard, Shuttle Alley......"

As I have said elsewhere, Hillock Street later became Kemble Street, so you can see the vicinity to which it refers.

[Scotty]

My great, great grandfather Edward Scott lived in the Camp. I have tried unsuccessfully, until now, finding this website to find out about it.
He was listed as a sort of pedlar/tinker, as were most other people that I viewed on the census.
He went on to work at the watch factory (Tinling's in the 50's when I lived in Prescot).
From then, went on to have his own clock and watch-making business on the site where the present bus station is.

Scott is a generic name for the Clan Scott from the Scottish Borders.
The English uprooted families and transported them to Northern Ireland, taking their homes and land.
My family obviously made it eventually to England and settled in Prescot

[MikeB]

That gap between what was the plough and eagle fitted 3 houses in ?? Damn they was small houses then.

[stephen nulty]

Mike

Yes, small but holding large families, often more than one per house!

As I said earlier, the Knowsley web site here has an interesting historical archive with lots of pictures, including many of the courts and weints, but I've never seen a picture of Lyon's Court, between the Eagle and the Plough.

[GeoffB]

I don't have a picture of Lyon's Court but I do have an 1891 map which shows the layout. This same layout is shown on an 1851 map - but the Plough was then called the New Road Inn - and Derby Square didn't exist.




Between the Plough and Derby Square is another row of 6 houses - If anyone knows the name of the Court I'd like to know

[stephen nulty]

Geoff

Could that have been Chorley Villas?

[GeoffB]

Thanks Steve but no

Chorley Villas - there are 2 - are clearly shown on the map on the "U" shape formed by Warrington Road and what later becomes Scotchbarn Lane - you can just see it on the map bit

Chorley Place was an alternative but that is the bit that leads to Scotchbarn Lane and comprises of the Eagle and Child and 2 other houses.

Geoff

[stephen nulty]

Geoff

I was guessing because (for some reason) I can't see the 1891 image that you posted. Could you email it to me at prescot.great.war@btinternet.com then I can have a look and we'll see if it makes any more sense then


Was "Lancaster Terrace" the name given to the houses running into Scotchbarn Lane after the Eagle, going up towards St James Road?

Cheers

Ste

Edited by stephen nulty, 02 July 2009 - 02:27 PM.

[millie]

hi stephen i am new member to st helens connect i am born and bred in prescot,i have read some fantastic links to prescot and the information regarding the courts of prescot by you is good and i mean good,regarding arthur roberts what a great man he was a good friend of mine he would always listen to you and he was a great historian,

[stephen nulty]

Mike

Welcome to the forum, and thanks for the comments. I hope you enjoy the Prescot sections especially, and we're always keen to read new views on some of the old town, so don't be shy !!!

:-)

Have you visited my web site at www.prescot-rollofhonour.info which commemorates the Prescot fallen of the Great War?

[Catherine 123]

Hi Stephen

I am fairly familiar with Prescot, any idea where Tea Street was?

Regards
Catherine

[stephen nulty]

Catherine

Tea Street ran where present day Leyland Street now lies. It was slightly re-aligned when redeveloped to be Leyland Street in the early part of the 20th Century.

Here's a map of the street, leading up to the Hope and Anchor

My link

Edited by stephen nulty, 30 March 2010 - 08:16 AM.

[Catherine 123]

Hi Stephen

Many thanks - I knew I could rely on you to have the answer!

Much appreciated.

Regards
Catherine