Nutgrove & Thatto Heath shops

[Jules]

Does anyone remember the general grocers store next door to the York Hotel in Nutgrove? It was approached up a brick set slope and had a post box set into the wall. It was owned and run by Nellie & Arthur Ashton and their Father had a bakery at the rear of the shop. (In later years it was a Bookies)

Opposite Ashton's was a Greengrocers & Fruiterers called Moses, what other shops does anyone recall in either Nutgrove or Thatto Heath ?

[Mac_Market]

I deffo remember Moses fruit shop.

 

What about Strettles knitting shop? Once Pricefighter Video now a money laundering exercise under the guise of a laminate flooring shop. Well, makes a change from tanning salons. OK so it might be legit' but my mind works in mysterious ways.

 

mcDougals chemist was a freezer shop before it was a chemist, I remember.

 

Morriss' grocers opposite th'amoco garage.

 

There used to be a VG where the bungalow's are, by the York. When the mists of time clear, I'm sure ther will be more.

[Voll]

I remember Nellie Ashton's and the bakery very well. You walked passed the bakery if you entered the back way from Emily Street. However, I think you are mistaken about Tommy Moses' shop: in the 50's it was on Thatto Heath Road, between Elephant Lane and the the station. Nearly opposite to Ashton's, to the left and down a bit, was a sweet shop owned by Lizzie Hill. There was a butcher on the corner of Samuel Street and Smith's chippy a little farther up, and Castle's grocery shop farther up still. Directly opposite Castles was a chandler's shop that sold paraffin and coming back towards the York was Tommy Tonks the barber. Going down Nutgrove Road, past Raspin's the egg man was Halliwell's Chemist shop and opposite was a little lockup owned in the 40/50s by Mrs. Corner. Nevin's Dairy was in Heathe Street

 

Just re-read Mac's post. Morrises used to be Halliwell's Chemist but in between it was owned by another couple that sold bread etc. I can't remember their name. They must have done well as they eventually sold it to Morrises and took over Castles shop, which was much bigger.

[Jules]

In reply to Voll, what a good memory you have, I think that there where two Moses Fruit & Veg, as you rightly say there was one between Thatto Heath station in the row of shops by Joillets Chemists. The Butchers on the corner of Samuel St was Davies's and the shop that sold hardeware etc opposite Castle's shop was owned by a Miss Titther & I think it was her brother, She was a very stout lady and always wore a "cross-over" floral pinny, dont know how much business they used to do, but she seemed forever standing on the doorstep!

Ihad forgotten about Tommy Tonks.

[Alan]

Women used to wear those pinnies morning to night as a mark of class. To not wear one was getting above one's station.

 

Me gran wore one and when she went to the shops she turned it back to front so it didn't show under her coat

[ellie ellins]

and slippers to chippy.

[Voll]

Miss Titther; I don't think I've ever heard the name of the shopkeeper before, I just remember the steps leading-up to the door and the smell of paraffin. I'm almost sure there used to be another dairy in Edge Street in the 40s and the milkman used a pony and trap to deliver the milk; not in bottles, but from a bulk supply carried in churns. The milkman always wore black leather gaitors that covered the lower leg.

[ellie ellins]

No that was just me wasn't it .. jammers under coat tekin kids to school?

[Voll]

Jammers, ellie? I always thought you would be a Baby-Doll nightie type.

[Jules]

A Friend of mine who lived next door to Ashtons shop remembers a Dairy belonging to Smiths, she thinks that it was based in Govatt Rd and the Dairyman used to stable his horse/s behind Ashtons shop.

Another little interesting snippet from that area, from all accounts on the opposite side of the road to Ashtons there was a small allyway between the houses leading to another back entry where you could buy Tar by the bucketful for a few pence!! - now how useful was that!! We are talking about the mid to late 40's to very early

50's. I would need a map to get round Nutgrove & Tellins now!!!!!

[Voll]

Smiths sounds familiar, Jules, but I lived in Govett Road and I'm fairly sure the dairy wasn't there unless it ws in the entry behind one the houses at the corner of Edge Street. A stable behind Ashton's bakery also rings a bell. Lizzie Hill's was on the York side of the entry you mention and you may be right about that tar place; I know there was something up there but can't picture it. It's 50+ years ago!

 

When did you leave St. H?

[Jules]

I left St Helens area (Rainhill actually) in 1967 - 37 years ago but my memories of the place will always remain. I was born in Norton Grove and then the family moved to Rainhill Rd and I worked in St Helens after leaving school, firstly in hairdressing and then at Watkinsons Jewellers in Church St. Happy days.

We must try to get a few people going on this shop thing, as it amazing just how many small businesses there where in the area at the time. Thatto Heath Rd was also a hive of activity, with Makins Hardware, Hilditch's shoe repairers (also Farrars oppo Co-op) not forgetting Twisses Pop & Pickles down the entry by the station!!

[Voll]

I "left" in 1962 though my parents remained.

 

I'd forgotten about Makins. There was Saunders butchers (aka Billy or Jimmy Beef)on the corner of Elephant Lane, Bob Jones the Barber, Kells PO, and Forbers Greengrocers and French's butchers. There was a pet store at the bottom of the Lane - Martins? Two names that I can't remember are the bike shop that I think sold TVs later and the sweet shop on the corner of either Leicester or Sandon or Canarvon Street.

 

I'm quite exhausted now!

[Voll]

Critchleys was the TV shop.

[Jules]

Good Man, Voll you are working well! I can possibly find out about the other premises that you mentioned. No one has mentioned Joillets Chemist shop, it was right next to the Dr's surgery (Dr Aslett, Manning & Leslie) on the corner of Scholes Lane. What a grim waiting room, all brown walls & dado rails, if you where not ill when you went in there you sure would be when you came out!!

Joiletts was right next door and was quite old fashioned with all the wooden drawers behind the counter and lots of jars and bottles on the upper shelves. There was a picture of old Mr Joillet ( stern, moustached gent with horn rimmed glasses) one look at him and you wanted to get better quick so that you did not have to go back there!

Along from the Chemists was a florist called Joan's ( she was Joan Jones with a daughter called Valarie) a very good shop and always had loads of buckets of Chrysanths and lots of water all over the place, smelt really green! She made my wedding flowers - so she is very special- green orchids and cream roses- VERY AHEAD OF MY TIME!! But on saying that 37 yrs later I still remember her with great fondness.

We must try to start something on Elephant Lane now, come on lets keep this thing going welll and proper. I feel sure you may have memories there, let me give you a starter for ten - Meg Grundy!! Ready Steady GO

[Voll]

I'd forgotten the drs but then we used to go to Dr. Hirst and later Crwaford up at Toll Bar. I feel I should know Grundys but their was a family with that name that lived near us so I may be getting mixed-up. I hope you are not going to leave it hanging.

 

I metioned Jones the barber in an earlier post, which I know is correct because he was a relative of some sort, but I think there was a Brownbills as well. Perhaps he follwed-on from Bob Jones.

[Voll]

I've remembered another one; Moody's chippy in Scholes Lane, almost directly opposite the entry that was, and maybe still is, at the side of St. Mathew's School.

[ciders]

I'd forgotten the drs but then we used to go to Dr. Hirst and later Crawford up at Toll Bar.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I used to see Dr Crawford when I was little, he always used to warm his stethascope up by the fire first, my main memory is of the waiting room, it was always packed with old ladies and I think there was a piano in there too.

[Jules]

Kept you hanging long enough, Voll. Meg Grundy's was down at the end of Elephant Lane, near the mission which was on the corner of Close St. The shop was basicallya house front; as so many where in those days. It was not in the general "hub" of things but she traded for years just on that little bit of local custom - so there you have it.

Have a feeling that this topic is going to run out of steam shortly! But it has been well worth while, thanks for your input.

[Catrena]

Hello Thatto Heathers,

Loved reading about all the old shops ,brought back a lot of memories .

I remember Annie Hitchins in Scholes Lane (groceries and Sweets ) also Mrs Moodies Chippie ,I went to St Matthews School from 1942 to 1948/9

Remember going up Elephant Lane to Jack Staneys shop with the Accumalator for the Radio I used to get a penny for taking it and always bought a 1d worth of Lingo Fizz

if I was lucky I'd get a broken Liquorice to dip as well 1/2d each..

There was also a shop in Elephant lane -Mrs Jones's she used to sell frozen Ice

cubes for a penny .Forbers and Moses greengrocers were great we used to ask for fades ( bruised apples) .my favourite Chippy was Mr Jones -up NutgroveRoad

He Made lovely chips .I had my first new bike when I was 15

from Tommy Balls at Toll Bar ,

I'll never forget it ---A Purple Rudge Ulster Sports-- it cost 15 pounds and 9 pence

Bye for now ----Renée ( nee Winstanley) CYPRUS

[Catrena]

Hi Jules ,

Can you remember the little shop along Thatto Heath Road that used to sell Cothes? it was towards the Empire Cinema just before Twisses entry.

We used to go there for white socks and Ribbons.

Love reading about Thatto Heath -left there in 1955,now live in Cyprus

Cheers ..

[Jules]

Yep, but can't remember the name of it. It must have been just before Makins hardware, as their shop was at the end, just before Twisse's entry. I seem to recall that it was a bow fronted type of shop and the socks that you got in there where all neatly stacked in boxes with the size on - not like nowadays - one size fits all sort of thing. Used to get my "walking day" socks from there!

[Voll]

Annie Hitchens, well done Cartrena! I'm puzzled by you reference to a chippy owned by Jones on Nutgrove Road; the only one I remember was Smiths opposite Tommy Tonks the barber. Can you remember where Jones' was?

 

What was the name of the shop on the corner of Scholes Lane and Nutgrove Road? It may have been mentioned but I don't recall the name. Was Joillets on the opposite corner or was it some other shop and Joillet's was next door?

[Catrena]

Hi Voll,

I think the shop you on the corner of Scholes Lane was Dromgooles -really old fashioned even then, round the corner was Wilcocks undertakers ,

which was next to the Co-op and opposite Kells Post Office

WILCOCKS used to sell meat & potato pies .My brother Eric told me when I was about 8 ,

that the pies were made out of the bodies (Sweeney Todd was on the Empire at the time) I never ate another pie from there =but Eric ate mine as well as his own..,

You are right Voll the chippy was Mr Smiths ( he was a big man who looked like Sidney Greenstreet) Mrs Jones's was a grocers in Elephant lane -big shop on the corner below Moses and Haydons Chippy.. God this is going back nearlly 60 years.

Must go now -making me feel ancient

Bye for now

Renée -Cyprus

[Mac_Market]

There was a barbers we used to call "Mad Max" as well. Up towards the sally army.