5 replies to this topic

[stephen nulty]

I came across this picture on the web, I think (not sure) in the Knowsley Digital Archive.

Taken from the top of the parish church, I would date it around 1960? Any thoughts?

In the bottom left is the old Post Office and Rimmers (?) Bike Shop. On the right, just past the church, is the top of the building that was adjacent to the old Town Hall. Anybody know what it was?

Just past that, looks like some demolition work taking place on the site of what is now HSBC.

We can see back over on the left a car parked on the site of what used to be Highfield Place. (that was demolished in the 1930's/1940's).

Past the HSBC site is the row of old buildings that were demolished to make way for shops like Hockenhulls. I think “The Rendezvous” café would have been amongst this lot.

The long building centre right is the old cinema and would have been Lennons Supermarket when this was taken.

Can’t really make out anything else, but can anybody add anything?

Attached Files

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[DenisG]

Stephen

Your right it was Rimmers Bike shop which also sold toys. The building to the right in front of the church was the old town hall demolished in the 1960's together with the old market hall (round house). Its marked as a ruin on the 1956 1:12 OS map and is still shown on the 1965/66 map. Maps are available to view on this site http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html.

I have a copy of the 1980 booklet "Prescot A Town Trail" which states on page 10:

"Above the entrance to 8 Vicarage Place is a tablet bearing the Coat of Arms of Prescot. It used to be on the Old Town Hall, built in 1755, which formerly stood in the Market Place. It is described by Peter Fleetwood-Hesketh as follows:—
'Outside above the entrance door is a finely modelled cartouche, in a rococo frame, containing the arms, painted and in relief of King's College Cambridge, Lords of the Manor'."

On page 14 it states:

"Walk round the church to the right, passing the war memorial and with three storey shops, formerly Georgian town houses, on the right, to reference point 10, THE ALPHABET STONE, SITE OF THE OLD TOWN HALL. The Alphabet Stone marks the site of the old Town Hall which was demolished in the sixties, despite a public campaign to save it. The building was described as 'one of the most outstanding buildings of its kind in the north of England' and, whilst it is easy to judge with hindsight, the destruction of this fine building can only be described as one of the saddest episodes in Prescot's history. The Alphabet Stone is a sandstone block inscribed with the letters of the alphabet and was originally a lintel above the doorway of the old lock-up in the Town Hall. It is believed that it was used as a test of literacy."

I remember this and the market hall were two attractive buildings and it is a shame they were demolished. I also remember sneaking into the cellars in old town hall with my mates and finding an underground passage down there which we thought let to under the market hall.

Next time I visit Prescot I will follow the Town trail and see what has changed since 1980. When I get time I'll also try scanning the booklet in before it deteriorates any further.

Cheers

Denis

Edited by DenisG, 10 October 2010 - 03:17 PM.

[jvy20]

Hi,

I don't think the building at the top of Market Place was the old Town Hall - if I remember correctly - doubtful - the Town Hall was further down the hill about halfway from the top of Market Place to the bottom of the hill. There used to be a set of old wrought iron gates to the left of the Church by the top of Market Place that led into the Churchyard. To the left of that was the building that I think you can see at the top of Market Place in the picture. The building housed shops - the one next to the iron gates was Kings the butchers and in the same block was Flowers - the florist !

Regards

John

[leschip]

John, I'm sure you are correct about the Town Hall, wasn't there a bell there that was stuck at a 45 deg. angle? The roundhouse was the old market hall,
Regards,
Les

[DenisG]

John

Thinking about it I think your right. Your mention of the florists brought back some long buried memory. I remember going in there with my mother in the late 50's/early 60's. The town hall was further down market place and I do remember the wrought iron gates, Sorry if I mislead anyone but it looked like it joggged a few memories.

Shame they had to demolish these buildings.

Thanks

Denis

[DenisG]

Found these two photos on the Knowsley website:

http://history.knows...PT252&search=32

This is looking up Market Place with the building Stephen mentioned beyond the Town Hall.

and

http://history.knows...=PT27&search=32

looking down Market Place toward the market hall with Flowers the Florists actually in the ground floor of the Town Hall. I wish my memory was better!!!!

Denis