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The St. Helens HeritageNetwork Email

Newsletter.Issue 69January 2013

Compiled by Chris Coffey,37 Holbrook Close,Sutton, St. Helens.

01744 817130

chrispcoffey@gmail.com

The St. Helens Heritage Networkwas founded

19th November 1999.

Please email me if you wish to add further recipients to our circulation, or ifyou do not want to receive future copies of this newsletter.Please send details for our whats on guide and any other contributions anddigital photos to the above email address.

If you wish to receive our companion monthly St. Helens Cultural Activities(Arts/Crafts/Music etc,) let me know.

Current circulation 696

NEXT HERITAGE NETWORK MEETING

Friday 8th March 2013, 1.30 for 2pm.

The Friends Meeting House

Heritage Groups, etc., are invited to send a member or

two to represent them in discussions.

WHATS ON THIS JANUARY

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2MONDAY 14th Jan: Queens Park Local History Group at the Sprayhurst Social Club onBoundary Road at 7pm. Contact Margaret 07786647931. The Deeming Murders withTom Preston.

MONDAY 14th Jan: Rainhill Railway and Heritage Society. 7.30 at the Village Hall.Victorian Times. An illustrated talk with Graham Stirrup.

MONDAY 21st Jan: St. Helens Historical Society, 7.30 at the Friends Meeting House.Liverpools Ferries and Overhead Railway with Ron Martin.

WEDNESDAY 23rd Jan: Newton History Group at Newton-le-Willows Library 5-7pm.Subject for discussion Old Photos .

CENTENARIES

They say an optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. Apessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. I am looking forward tothis year because I will be 65 and will enjoy the bonus of an old age pension,which does make me feel old.

But let us look back to one hundred years ago this new year. Our Town Hallwas partly destroyed by fire in June. There will be much more about that inour annual Local History Exhibition in June! In March the foundations werelaid for All Saints Church in Newton, and in July King George V visited

Earlestown. The Kings vehicle procession also passed through Toll Bar ontheir way from Knowsley Hall. I am not quite sure where else he went.

On 14 June 1913, there was a meeting to discuss the future of the St. HelensRecs. It was announced that the club would drop association football infavour of rugby football. After considerable discussion, it was unanimouslyagreed to join the constitution of the Northern Rugby Football Union, laterthe Rugby Football League. The Recs, officially known as St Helens Recs.,were based at City Road and played their first game on 6 September 1913.

From 1913 films were shown on a regular basis in the purpose built cinemasituated on the second floor of the Co-op on Baldwin Street. The SuttonEmpire and Haydock Electraceum cinemas opened in 1913. In London theBritish Board of Film Censors received the authority to classify and censorfilms

Crossley Road in Thatto Heath had two pubs closed, The Robin Hood and theBritannia Vaults, on the 8th and 9th December. The White Lion on Fleet Laneclosed on 29th December, and the Green Dragon on Ormskirk Street on 9thJune.

News reached London of the death of Captain Scott and the failure to be thefirst to reach the South Pole. However, the scientific research accomplished

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Rugby_Football_Unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_Football_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Board_of_Film_Classificationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Board_of_Film_Classificationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_Football_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Rugby_Football_Union

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3by the Expedition was invaluable. The Heroic Age of Antarctic Explorationwill be the theme of my combined arts event this year, following on from theTitanic evening at the Citadel last year.

In 1913 UnemploymentandMaternitybenefits were introduced. 50,000women took part in a pilgrimage in Hyde Park, London organised by the

National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. The same year Emily Davisonwas killed as she was knocked down by the Kings Horse in the Derby. Localminers would have been upset as 439 miners died in the SenghenyddColliery Disaster, Britain's worst pit disaster.

The two ordinary things that still impact on our lives today were theinvention ofstainless steelbyHarry Brearleyin Sheffield, and Carter'sCrisps of London introduce commercial manufacture ofpotato crisps to theU.K

Gardener Percy Thrower, Snooker player Fred Davis, Richard Dimbleby,Peter Cushing, Cyril Fletcher, Michael Foot, Bill Shankley, astronomerBernard Lovell, Trevor Howard, Hugh Scanlon, Vivien Leigh, both of theBoulting Brothers, and Benjamin Britten, were all born in 1913. You areshowing your age if you know all those names.

Popular songs of 1913 were When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, You Made MeLove You (I didnt want to do it), Hello! Hello! Whos Your Lady Friend, TheRoad to Mandalay, andfor Laurel and Hardy fans everywhere The Trail ofthe Lonesome Pine and The Curse of an Aching Heart.

PROTECT OUR PLACE

There were a few things I wanted to run by you concerning the Protect our Placeproject. Firstly we've now launched our websitewww.protectourplace.org.ukand information on the survey and map can all be found there so do take a look. Mostimportantly the interactive projects map is now in operation, and if you had any

projects you wanted to upload please do fill in thisformhttp://www.protectourplace.org.uk/projects/uploadas I'd really like to makesure that the great voluntary work in St Helen's is fully represented on the map.

Please visit the site and check it out and upload anything you thinkappropriate.

BURMANS FARM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unemployment_benefithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parental_leavehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Park,_Londonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Union_of_Women%27s_Suffrage_Societieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senghenydd_Colliery_Disasterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senghenydd_Colliery_Disasterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Brearleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheffieldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato_chiphttp://www.protectourplace.org.uk/http://www.protectourplace.org.uk/http://www.protectourplace.org.uk/http://www.protectourplace.org.uk/projects/uploadhttp://www.protectourplace.org.uk/projects/uploadhttp://www.protectourplace.org.uk/projects/uploadhttp://www.protectourplace.org.uk/projects/uploadhttp://www.protectourplace.org.uk/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato_chiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheffieldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Brearleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senghenydd_Colliery_Disasterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senghenydd_Colliery_Disasterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Union_of_Women%27s_Suffrage_Societieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Park,_Londonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parental_leavehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unemployment_benefit

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4Roy Gibbin started this story with Dear Chris,I have been researching our Family Tree now for the past 30 years part of whichcovers the Burman Family residing at the above farm.I have read that you have a few stories to tell - Freewheeling round old farms ofNewton [December 2011].

Recently I have traced the family living at Burmans Farm to their early origins inWarwickshire see >>>>>>http://www.solihull-online.com/burman.htmThey came to Earlestown around the end of the 19th century.

I also have a copy of The Burman Chronicles confirming that Harvey Burman [sonof Richard Insull Burman] went up north! I would love to get your stories and canyou confirm exactly where the Burman Farm was?

My mothering law, who is still with us at 97, remembers visiting the Farm to visit hercousin Lillian Burman. Her father [Bert Bethell] was the Landlord of the Glass Barrel

pub in Earlestown she could tell you some stories!!!!!

And Roy recently finished the story with Chris, A few weeks ago I attended a talk onthe Newton in Victorian Times at Earlestown Library and met someone who knew twoBurman's who lived at Holly Bank Farm (and confirmed it was known by locals asBurman's Farm) on Crow Lane East.I have now had contact with one of them living on Aston Road and last week I got thecontact details of the second one in Liverpool. So it looks as though I can now linklocal living Burman's to the Warwickshire family in "The Burman Chronicle".

Regards, Roy Gibbins

A D DAY CASUALTY

Reg Smith writes about the only known St. Helens casualty in theD Day landings. I remember the day very well when the telegramarrived to say my brother, Leslie James Smith, had been killed on the6th June 1944, taking part in the D Day landings.

His girlfriend came round to our home, which was then in OrrellStreet in the Fingerpost area with the news of his death. The familycould not believe it because no telegram had been received with thesad news. Later that day we did receive a telegram to confirm hisdeath, but it seems the telegram went to the wrong address. It wentto Orville Street in Sutton.

He had served in the Royal Navy for just eighteen months and wastwenty years of age. He was a former pupil of Parr Mount Senior

School. On leaving school he worked at the local glassworks (U.G.B.).He was one of three brothers, all of whom served in the armed forces.I served ten years in the RAF and John served in the Army. Leslies

http://www.solihull-online.com/burman.htmhttp://www.solihull-online.com/burman.htmhttp://www.solihull-online.com/burman.htmhttp://www.solihull-online.com/burman.htm

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5name is displayed on the Cenotaph in Victoria Square.

We, the family, believe Leslie was the only serviceman from St. Helens killed on theactual day of the D Day landings. His body was never returned to the family as hewas buried at sea.

MORE ON THAT UNDERTAKER SELLING PIES

In my Coffey Time column on the 15thNovember I ran this tasty item. Jack Rigbycontinued his communication with now if anyone can help me, you are the one. Iwas a Nutgrover during the war years. Im now 81. I remember an undertaker, sure itwas Wilcox. It was near to what is now the betting shop opposite Thatto Heath PostOffice. Now ,dont laugh. Am I right when I say that they sold pies,,,,,and good unsto?

Well, ifits a question about the Donkey Common area, I contact the lady onFreckleton Road well known for her Girl Guiding activities, Diane Roberts, and sheemailed me Hello Chris my Grandad Arthur Collier had Nutgrove Post Office duringthe early part of the 1940s and my mum told me that the undertaker did sell pies. Icant follow that!

Maybe I couldnt, but Jennie Lancaster writes from Thatto Heath.I remember theUndertakers quite well. It was Willcocks, not Wilcox. It was No. 8 Nutgrove Road, andI lived in Nutgrove Road when I was young. The shop had a front window, with threeshelves draped in purple material, like steps. On the centre step, in letters about 12

high, it said Undertaker.

As you went to the door, there was a side window, also with three shelves. Thesewere draped in bright yellow. On these shelves were currant slices and scones, nofancy cakes. The pies were the nicest you ever tasted; they were meat and potato.The pastry just melted in your mouth. It was firm on the outside but soft underneath.I can still remember the taste now. It was just different. They were always broughtout from the back room red hot, never in the window or on a shelf going cold!

I went to St. Matthews School in Scholes Lane, and when I was in the top class

(aged 11), I had to go to the pie shop to get the teachers lunch, 4 pies. The pieswere 3d each. When I got back to school my hand was badly burned and blistered. Nosympathy in those days, just go and hold it under the cold water tap.Yes, Diane, itwas right opposite your grandads Post Office and Newsagent.

3d for a pie. That was 80 pies for a pound! Now we are lucky to find just two for apound.

THE CITADEL BAND NEEDS MUSICIANS AND GIGS

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6The Citadel Band meets in the Citadel every Thursday afternoon at 2pm. Inparticular they are looking for an alto sax player and a keyboard player to strengthentheir line-up. If your community group or school or whatever has an afternoon slot,they are seeking gigs to give you a live music treat. They mainly play music from the30s, 40s, and 50s, and you know popular songs from those decades are an importantreflection of history.

THE RAINFORD STEAMWAGON

Hello Chris,

Congratulations on a thoroughly interesting article on the history of

Rainford in this week's "St.Helens Star". I was particularly intringuedby the accompanying photo of the steam lorry carrying the RainfordPotteries branding. I have done some research into this vehicle andhave come up with the following. It was built by the well known steamlorry manufacturer Sentinel at their Shrewsbury Works in 1929, it is atype DG4 and Works No.7666 and delivered new to Rainford Potteries andwas registered by the then Lancashire County Council. It had a payloadcapacity of 6 tons and a maximum speed of fifteen mph. After seeingservice with Rainford Potteries this steam lorry was sold to T.Lawrenson of Bootle where it ended its service life. Fortunately, quite

a few steam vehicles from the Sentinel factory survive in preservationtoday and can be seen at various steam rallies. Nearer to home, a

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7Sentinel steam tractor is on display in the new Museum of LiverpoolLife, this was new to Criddles of Liverpool and worked on the docks inrevenue earning service until the fifties.

Aviation Related Pubs. Photo and Notes by Ian Griffiths

The Vulcan Inn on Robins Lane, Sutton has recently unveiled a new pub sign in the form of aVulcan bomber.

The pub located on the corner of Robins Lane and Peckers Hill Road has been in situ since atleast 1874.

The new sign incorporates a picture of an AVRO Vulcan bomber which first flew 60 years ago on31 August 1952. The Vulcan was one of three V bombers serving with the RAF the latter being

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8the Valiant and the Victor. The Vulcan was a jet powered delta wing bomber which was operatedby the RAF from 1956 until 1984. It was first seen at the Farnborough air show in 1955 when itpleased the crowd by carrying out a roll in public. It had carried out a previous roll when returningto the AVRO factory at Woodford, apparently it was so low and so noisy that it shattered all theskylight windows in the aircraft assembly hall.

Originally painted in an overall white anti flash colour scheme some Vulcans were modified tocarry the Blue Steel missile and became the backbone of the UKs high speed, high altitudenuclear deterrent during the Cold War. In the mid 1960s a change to low-level tactics was madeand the Vulcans were painted in camouflage colours to make them less visible from the air. In themid 1970s nine Vulcans were adapted for maritime radar reconnaissance operations. Vulcanswere also employed in the Falklands conflict in 1982 this being the only time they dropped bombsin anger. In the latter years of service six Vulcans were converted to tanker configuration for aerialrefuelling.

Two years after the Falklands War, in March 1984, the last Vulcan squadron was disbanded,leaving only one Vulcan operated by the RAF Vulcan Display Team. XL426 thrilled air show

visitors, until 1986 when it was offered for tender.

Vulcans did fly in our local skies as their rotation at various bases included Burtonwood.

THE PUBS OF ST. HELENS

Some time this year I hope to reprint some out-of-print booklets on the pubs of St.Helens. However, most of the information related to the four townships that formedthe town before 1974. You will remember that in that year Rainford, Billinge, Rainhill,

Bold, Newton, Earlestown, and Haydock were added to the township and I wouldappreciate any information about their pubs, even it is just a list of the names thatyou recall and the street they were on. Any additional information, for example thelocal nickname, or the name of the beer they sold, will be most welcome. It will be anot-for-profit publication.

MISSING NAME ON THE CENOTAPH

Peter Smith writes Recently I have been doing a family history on behalf of my wife s

family and have found that her Uncle Herbert Boardman was in the infantry. AtDunkirk his unit was given the job of holding the Germans while the BEF wererescued. He was lucky enough to be rescued himself although there were not manyDLI lads saved .In 1942 he was in Egypt with the 9th Battalion DLI and again they were given the jobof trying to slow the German advance to enable the Army to retreat to El Alamein.Sadly all of the crews of the DLI 2-pounder anti-tank guns died (one received a VC forhis part in the action)Herberts name is on column 68 of the El Alamein memorial. It was the 27 June1942and he was 23 yrs old. However I can not find his name on the Cenotaph ----- would

appreciate any info.

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9Hi Chris. Thanks for the reply-- have spoken to my brother-in-law and he says hismum lived in the Sherdley Road area - Jockeys Brow, so Herbert would have beenborn there as well. Later he lived with his sister in Crane Ave, Sutton. Sorry I have noother info at the present time, but will let u know if I find any more info.regards P Smith

View from Rear of 128 Prescot Road 1960's 1971 & 2012.

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Hi Chris,Thought you might be interested in this.

I've been digging out some old photos and with the help of Photoshop I've been ablemake some composite shots of the view from the rear of our house, the first

separated by 50 years from the one of today. Living in the same house for a longtime has its advantages heritage wise sometimes. Whether things are better now orthen is open to debate I think!

The top shot is taken around 1965, the middle in 1971, and the bottom just last week2012. Spot the differences!

Regards,Terry Broughton

AN UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS PRESENT

I received an amazing Christmas gift from a gentleman who lives in Dunriding Lane,and he actually called round to deliver it personally. It was a Kodak Picture CDcontaining 1365 old photos. At the rate of one a minute, it will take me 22 hours and45 minutes to study them all. By coincidence, if I reproduce 5 a month in thenewsletters, it will keep me going for 22 years and nine months.

It will certainly take me a while to view them all and file them in the relevant folders.

If community groups want me to screen 100 old photos, I can do fourteen suchshows without repeating myself, which I may start myself this year anyway at a towncentre venue, to raise some money for the Heritage Network outlays.

The first few pictures on the disc conclude this newsletter. Any info always welcome. .

ART CLUB EXHIBITION

In your next Heritage Network Newsletter could you please mentionthat the Arts Club St Helens will be holding an exhibition at the Worldof Glass from Saturday 16 January 2013 to Saturday 16 March 2013?.Their annual exhibition usually includes a few local historical scenes.

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George Street Past and Present

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Does anyone know anything about this house off Hard Lane?

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Labeled A Shop In College Street

Untitled picture

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Saints Ground. Decades unknown.

The old Abbey Inn on Hard Lane

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