Interesting Old St.Helens Pictures

[Tony J]

I remeber my step mother telling me that during the blitz her elder siblings were evacuated from Liverpool to North Wales. Her and her younger brother were too young to be separated from their mother. Nights when heavy bombing was expected the mothers with young children were taken away from the city by coaches, and The Scala is one of the places they used to spend the night.

The two houses opposite, my grandad's Aunt Lily Hockenhull lived in the one farther away.

[DEXTER]

Sadly a lot of our ground level facades on buildings have been decimated by bland shopfronts.

 

[Dig]

My brother was born in north Wales when my mother was evacuated from Liverpool.

[Big_Jeff_Leo]

Look at the size of that!!!

[wobblybob]

Great memories that brings back. Lived on Sandringham Drive 79-87, met the late Fred Dibnah there in his early TV years.

A very nice bloke who had time for everyone.

[Alan]

Sherdley Park as it is known as today brings back many childhood memories. It used to be private land surrounded by a solid wall. In fact my Sutton grandparents referred to it as "The Long Wall". There was a public footpath that skirted the St Helens side of it that they referred to as "The Score"

[HORT]

A park always was an enclosed space. The term now seems to include an open space.

[DEXTER]

I always new it as the Long Wall.

PS When I was saving stamps I obtained a legal doc related to SHERDLEY HALL.This happened cos most docs had to have a stamp on it to be signed over.

I got it from old man casey who used to have shop on lpool rd next to the coop.

It was an army surplus one.He used to operate from upstairs selling things like stamps as well.From his Forces contacts.   

 

 

 

---

added 6 minutes later

HORT.there are a few definitions I've noted.Not always an enclosed space . Also Defined as being available to the people for recreation and walking.

Noting also HAMPDEN PARK,CENTRAL PARK GOODISON PARK

[Alan]

12 minutes ago, DEXTER said:

old man casey who used to have shop on lpool rd next to the coop.

God that brought back some memories. There were three stamp shops either side of Liverpool Road that we stamp collectors used to frequent

[halj]

My grandparents used to live in Chester Lane and when I visited them, I used to get the bus from the long wall into town. I used to help a friend (Alec Taylor) run the bird show at the Sherdley Show - Memories!!

 

[Phyll]

1 hour ago, DEXTER said:

I got it from old man casey who used to have shop on lpool rd next to the coop.

Here you go Dex...

There was also a "Doll's Hospital", I think that's when I first had thoughts of becoming a Nurse. 

Edited October 22, 2022 by Phyll

[DEXTER]

The shop in middle I believe was a cycle shop. Could it be one of?  Bromilows of modern times.

 

 

 

 

---

added 1 minute later

Re the Sherdley show.It was mostly managed by a man called Ray Wright. 

[king kenny]

in the fifties i bought a new cycle from this shop,  sorry cannot recall the name

[Big_Jeff_Leo]

13 hours ago, wobblybob said:

Great memories that brings back. Lived on Sandringham Drive 79-87, met the late Fred Dibnah there in his early TV years.

I met him as well, he had brought his traction engine...I have a photo somewhere with him giving the thumbs up whilst eating a butty.

---

added 11 minutes later

13 hours ago, Alan said:

"The Long Wall".

It was a Sandstone Wall.

Following the death of Michael Huges in 1938 he had no direct heirs................the land was sold to the Council in 1949 for £18,700 and the Long Wall was quickly demolished leaving only a couple of remnants. one being on Marshals Cross Road opposite the entrance to Eaves Lane.

[Big_Jeff_Leo]

Yes St.Helens had its very own branch of CND.

[Big_Jeff_Leo]

Anyone remember Gavin Murray Coaches?

I believe that them and Ellisons where the same company?

A previous merger?

[Alan]

I remember them well. Their depot was in Boundary Road. Ellison's was always deemed a bit upmarket compared to Gavin Murray's

[DEXTER]

Also Eckersleys.

My gran always used to book a Gavin Murrays as she lived in Pigot st.

Colwyn bay and Morecambe favourites.Day trips to Blackpool stopping off I think in Penwortham?before the M6! 

I was always going on them during summer hols.

When I was going out with my wife I used to pass their house going into town to check on them.

This night I noticed an ambulance was parked outside.i went in and they said she had fallen out of bed whilst eating a peach in bed.

She was taken to Provy Hosp.

She sadly died there.

It was a sat night and they were due to go to Colwyn bay with GAVIN MURRAYS yet again.

 

 

 

 

[Bert]

Booked many an away match at the Boundary Road Gavin Murray's. One trip in particular I remember was coming back from a cup match at Bradford; looking back there was a long line of illuminated coaches snaking over the Penines. This was before any motorways. (I think the score was 4-0 to us, 2 Jimmy Stott penalties. In those days 2 "legs" were played in the first round and we lost the following week at home by a greater margin).

PS. It may have been Jimmy's brother Tommy who kicked the penalties.

[Big_Jeff_Leo]

I have had a few good meals in Mr Chan's on North Road but I did not know that it began life like this:-

 

[Tony J]

20 minutes ago, Big_Jeff_Leo said:

Mr Chan's on North Road

I remember as a kid going there with my Dad to pick up white shirts with loose collars, think they must have been for my Grandad.

[Big_Jeff_Leo]

Here is an image of the Old Lowe House Church on North Road.

 

[Big_Jeff_Leo]

This is a good ariel shot of the Town Centre from 1934.

 

[Big_Jeff_Leo]

Providence Free Hospital.....it doesn't look very welcoming does it!

Sort of place that would have frightened me to death as a kid.

 

[FRANK]

Especially with the undertaker standing by the gate.