Woolton, Liverpool
http://woolton.sub.cc
Above photo by kind permission of John Cumberland (Member of Woolton in Bloom Committee and Woolton Village Residents Association).
Woolton - History
An iron-age encampment is said to have been identified on Camp Hill but no solid evidence has been found to support this assertion. Construction during the 19th. century would have destroyed any evidence, if there was any in the first place.
Recorded in the Domesday Book as Uluentune. 'Tune' (from Old English - tun indicates 'farm' (or homestead or village - the whole name indicates 'farm of Wulfa'.
The Knights Hospitallers held the area by 1189 until confiscated in 1559 during the dissolution of the monasteries, the land being transferred to the monarch for the next 70 years or so.
In the middle of the 17th. Century it was acquired by Isaac Greene, from whom it eventually passed to Bamber Gascoyne.
The 1851 census showed that 24% of the population were Irish. A noticeable concentration of poorer people were packed into the Quarry Street area, including Rose Street and Rodick Street.
It only became a part of Liverpool in 1913. The Eastern boundary is still today the boundary of Liverpool.
The names 'Much Woolton' and 'Little Woolton' crop up now and again. These names do still appear on maps of around 1900 - Much Woolton seems to correspond more or less to present-day Woolton while the former Little Woolton is the area 'beyond' Gateacre - the boundary between Much and Little Woolton passing through the center of Gateacre.
Victorian Age and its Wealth
About the whole area it has been said that this part of South Liverpool in Victorian times was the greatest example of conspicuous wealth in Britain, if not the world, which is a great accolade. And even now you can still get a feel of the reflection of that wealth that was generated in the city.” -BBC
The above quote tells of an aspect that I had never been aware of previously. But presumably it could be true, taking into account the number of buildings hidden behind high walls, those that have disappeared, those that have been converted to other uses, etc. View BBC website.
Included in the relevant list of Victorian buildings are
Beaconsfield Road
-
Strawberry Fields Now demolished. Home of shipowner, George Warren.
- Abbots Lee School Home of William Gottager, soap manufacturer in Widnes.
- Beaconsfield Built for Ambrose Lace, a solicitor, in 1833.
- Stoneleigh built as Fortfield House for Barton Wrigley in 1888/89
- Knoll Park built in the 1820s for Thomas Foster, Town Clerk of Liverpool. In 1978, this became St. Gabriel's Convent.
- Abbots Lee School Home of William Gottager, soap manufacturer in Widnes.
Woolton Hill Road
- Bishop's House home of Bishop of Liverpool. Formerly Baycliffe.
Church Road
-
Beechwood built for James Rose
- Rosemount Built by James Rose for his mother.
Speke Road
- Woolton Hall Built iin the early 1700s.
Rose Brow
The quarries produced sandstone, most famously latterly for the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. Quarrying in a major way dates from the early 1800s, with the name of James Rose figuring large, and many local buildings were built in the local stone.
When work on the cathedral finished, the quarry closed soon after.
The 'new' quarry
was towards the top of Quarry Street, away from the village.
The 'old quarry' is at the near end of Quarry Street adjacent to the village. After it became disused it was used as arubbish tip initially and then latterly became used
for
small industrial units. I remember a fire breaking out among a pile of old tires stored there (in the 60s or 70s), producing
a plume of smoke giving the impression of a
major disaster when viewed from a distance - something that actually seems to have happened to a certain extent since then a few times as well.
Just a few buildings made from Woolton stone include Woolton Hall, Stoneleigh, Beaconsfield and Gateacre Grange.
There are other quarrying locations as well, notably adjacent to Reynolds Park, in Woolton Hill Road.
Whereas most souces say that the 'Quarrymen' were named after John Lennon's school (and mine as well - Quarry Bank School, but there is an alternative view. To quote a passage from www.liddypool.co.uk talking about original member Peter Shotton :- Pete Shotton also says that a reason they chose that name is because of the massive stone Quarry in Woolton, situated off Quarry Street. Pete said, “Since our native Woolton was pocked with sandstone quarries, and most of us attended Quarry Bank School, The Quarrymen seemed as good a choice as any.”So in that sense, living in the shadow of the quarry, they were also 'Quarrymen'.
George Tipping relates his memories of the burning down of various houses on Quarry Street, for fire practice:
The second Bamber
was MP for Liverpool from 1780-1796, and a leading light in the campaign to oppose all attempts to abolish slavery.
A descendant of the family, Bamber Gascoigne, is well known in Britain as a TV presenter.
In 1881, Ralph Brocklebank, ship owner became a tenant of the Hall.
In 1947, the Hall was presented to the Council, but it had to be demolished because of dry rot.
In 1955, a college was opened on the site.
Probably the oldest building in the area. The date 1610 is displayed but it is thought to be earlier. It stopped being used as a school in the 19th. Century.
After being converted into a house in the 1980s it has been back in use for educational purposes since about 1990
as a nursery school.
"Woolton Picture House"
is apparently the oldest cinema in Liverpool (opened in 1927) according to some sources, while others try to claim
it is the oldest cinema in the North West.
I remember that it was originally a bit of a 'joke' being so small, but that small size
has presumably allowed
it to stay open while larger cinemas have shut down.
In a similar way, both the library and the swimming baths are both the smallest
in Liverpool, which was a bit of a disappointment originally but I think the library particularly is probably of a typical size when compared nationally, i.e. libraries in Liverpool are generally larger than in most of the country. Similarly I get the impression that Liverpool has more swimming pools than most places. (When the Baths were being repaired in 1952, it was discovered that a well (about 8 meters deep and 2 meters wide) underneath the pool was only actually covered by the tiles of the swimming pool. It was re-covered with concrete.)
The cinema did shut on 3rd September 2006, but has now re-opened.
Further details
here.
The woods are almost "next door" to the village, with the contiguous
Camp Hill at "the back" from where you have a view in the direction of Liverpool Airport. Woolton Woods was acquired by Liverpool in 1920 from James Reynolds (resident of present-day Reynold's Park) who had himself bought it 3 years beforehand from Woolton Hall, and camp Hill was bequeathed the following year.
There is a cuckoo clock in a walled garden, bearing the inscription
The Gaskell family had been resident at Woolton Woods since 1871 and the walled garden is the only surviving bit of the former mansion, originally the kitchen garden.
After a period of decay, this clock appears to be back in working order
(without the cuckoo call). Although I believe that it might currently be out of order again due to vandalism.
Reynold's Park is a small (less than 6 hectares) park which was donated to Liverpool in 1929 by James Reynolds, a member of a cotton-owning family. His daughter continued to live at the park and was active in its development as a park. The original mansion burnt down in1975
St. Peters's occupies the hill overlooking the village, at more or less the highest point in Liverpool - the top of the tower could be the highest point in Liverpool (although there is also some mention of this honor being held by the reservoir tower),
about 90 meters above sea level. It was in the adjacent hall that John Lennon first met Paul McCartney.
It is built of sandstone and is one of the largest parish churches In Liverpool. It was finished in 1887, replacing an earlier chapel of 1826, described as being built 'in the worst style of British church architecture' by someone. It has stained glass windows by Charles Kempe and two by William Morris.
Their web site can be reached
here.
In 1897, Liverpool City Council had taken over the running of the tramways. Although they seem to have been reluctant to get involved with buses initially despite obtaining powers to do so in 1909, on 1st January 1911 they did purchase the Woolton Omnibus Company’s business for ?934 – three ‘buses, one charabanc and a leased garage in Allerton Rd.
Originally buses were used to connect Woolton to the trams at calderstones,, but in 1924 the tramway was extended from Calderstones to Wool ton along a reserved route, which was typical of a lot of Liverpool's tramways.. The relevant tram numbers were 4W, 5W, and 48 trams (the 4 and 5 only ran between Town and Calderstones).
The later route 66 was started in 1920, originally from between Garston and Woolton, extended to Gateacre in 1925.
Woolton trams were ended and replaced by buses in 1949 - the bus services 4 and 5 still exist. While not an expert, the story of the Liverpool trams seems to tell of missed opportunities. Although the tramway system had potential for the future (with reserved track, fairly large number of modern tramcars) , in 1945 it was decided to close it down in favor of the 'more economic' bus - the last tram ran in 1957. When I see today the tram making a revival, I can't help but think of the closing down of the coal mines. The closedown of the Liverpool system was probably hastened by a fire at Green Lane depot which destroyed about 60-odd trams, including a fair proportion of the more-modern trams.
Current bus routes are 4, 5, 73, and 78 to Town; the 81 between Speke and Bootle; the 66 between Garston and Belle Vale.
Crosville buses from Chester and Halewood also take passengers to and from Woolton, and the 89 St.Helens bus goes through Woolton between St.Helens and Garston.
There is information further down on Gateacre Railway Station.
John Lennon lived at 251 Menlove Avenue. I used to go past there every day on my way to school
and back (to Quarry Bank, incidentally, John's old school), without having the slightest
inkling that this was where he used to live !
The house was bought by Yoko Ono in 2002 and donated by her to the National Trust.
They opened it to the public on Saturday 29 March 2003.
Arrangements in 2003 were as follows :-
Tours run from March 29th to October 26th, 2003, Wednesdays - Sundays.
Tours depart at 10.30am and 11.20am from Albert Dock (0151 708 8574) and at 1.50pm and 3.55pm from Speke Hall (0151 427 7231).
These tour times may change, you are advised to telephone in advance to secure a seat.
There is no direct access to these properties by car or foot.
Admission prices from 1 Mar 2003:
Non-members: Adult £10, accompanied children free. Members (to cover minibus): £5. Price includes admission to garden and grounds of Speke Hall.
The Vanished World of a Woolton
Childhood with John Lennon
It's hard to believe that a serendipitous meeting at a local garden fete in suburban Woolton, on the outskirts of Liverpool, could engineer a social and cultural revolution-namely, the genesis of the Beatles. But in among the villagers with their prams, the yeomanry and the youth club, and the garlanded trucks carrying the newly crowned Rose Queen, 50 years ago at Woolton fete, on 6 July 1957, Ivan
Vaughan introduced his two mates to each other: fellow 15-year-old Paul McCartney and 16-year-old John Lennon.
Lennon was a member of the Quarrymen, five boys from Quarry Bank School with a love of skiffle who'd got permission to play the fete so that the youth had their own entertainment. It was such a momentous meeting - the birth of what was to become the Beatles - that both Radios 4 and 2 are broadcasting separate documentaries, but while last week's When John Met Paul on Radio 2 concentrated on the music (plus a new interview with McCartney), Well Met in Woolton splices together the memories of those who attended the fete to create a simple, yet profound, nostalgic slice of life that the Beatles were about to change for good.
One of those voices reminiscing is Lennon's younger half-sister Julia Baird, who was ten at the
time; another is McCartney himself, captured on tape in 1998 by Baird when she was researching her book John Lennon: My Brother. 'Paul talks through the whole setting up of the Beatles; he admits he was a bit frightened of John, who was the bigger one, with a quiff, while Paul was practically in boy-scout uniform!"
The initial meeting, after the Quarrymen had set up in the local church hall, was equal amounts recognition and suspicion of one another's talents. McCartney enjoyed Lennon, a prototype Teddy Boy, singing the Del-Vikings' Come Go with Me with improvised lyrics; Lennon, in turn, was astounded when left-hander McCartney picked up Lennon's guitar, turned it upside down and played proper guitar chords (instead of the Quarrymen's banjo tunings) and sang every word to Eddie Cochran's Twenty Flight Rock.
Two days later, Lennon invited McCartney to join the Quarrymen. "From everything I've read," says Baird, "John was jealous because Paul was so suave and good-looking, but John recognised that, for the good of the group, Paul was right for it. John even said Paul looked a bit like Elvis, which was a compliment from John. I can tell you! Paul was dead keen from the start. Years later, they diverged with their talents, but at that point they were just two rockers."
This year's Woolton fete is being held
over three days, a sign of the popularity of festivals
and the changing times, which have left the Beatles behind much as it has the Quarrymen. But the Quarrymen, with founder member Rod
Davis fronting the band, are appearing again, in
the same church hall where John met Paul.
"Wouldn't it be wonderful," says Julia Baird, "if
Paul turned up? He says he likes playing small
clubs again; Paul the rocker! You never know."
Martin Aston
BBC Site for the 'Well in Woolton' site
The Quarrymen site of the current Quarrymen group, including some further information on the above-mentioned event
This image shows the Wilson Memorial Fountain on Gateacre Village Green at the beginning of the 20th century. John Hays Wilson, of Lee Hall, was Chairman of the Liverpool Water Committee and was involved in the plan to construct Lake Vyrnwy. He died in 1881, before the project began, and this memorial was erected by 'the people of Gateacre' on land presented by Andrew Barclay Walker. In the background can be seen Gateacre railway station (allegedly).
Gateacre Station was situated on what was originally the Cheshire Lines Committee's North Liverpool Extension Line which connected its main Liverpool to Manchester line to the north Liverpool docks at Huskisson by skirting through
rural land to the east of Liverpool - at the time Gateacre was a small rural village. The line opened between 1879 and 1880
An 1887 Junction diagram shows the station being referred to as Gateacre & Woolton
On 1st September 1884 a further extension of the route opened to Southport Lord Street although it this line ran into difficulties at an early stage. It failed its first inspection in December 1883 so did not open until 1884. Its indirect route and longer journey time meant that this line was not very successful. Low passenger numbers forced the Cheshire Lines Committee’s parent companies to save the line from bankruptcy (not being able to pay its debts) in 1888. The Cheshire Lines Committee’s service became even slower by comparison when the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway’s line switched to electric operation in 1904.
The line was always busy with goods trains accessing the docks. Passenger services from Gateacre went north to Aintree Central and Southport as well as to Huskisson (the line to Aintree/Southport and the line to Huskisson split at Walton Triangle), although this latter service was cut back to Walton on the Hill as early as 1885 and ceased altogether on 1st January 1918. To the South trains served destinations to Liverpool Central and to Manchester.
The first major service to be withdrawn was the Southport service on 7th January 1952, followed by the service for Aintree Central and Manchester on 7th November 1960. This left only the Gateacre to Liverpool Central service, which ended on 15th April.1972 supposedly as a temporary measure to facilitate the construction of the Merseyrail Loop and link lines in the City Centre. The intention was that Gateacre would reopen complete with electrification as part of this network and in the future passenger services would even reopen towards Aintree. The line from Livertpool Central did re-open as far as Garston in 1978 and to Hunts Cross in 1983 but since then nothing has happened (there is a suspicious connection with the election of Thatcher in 1979 and her attitude to public transport).
Goods traffic had steadily declined and in its later years became a single track branch running from Hunts Cross to Huskisson. The last goods trains ran in August 1975.
The line was lifted by a demolition train over a number of Sundays in early 1979.
Today the route is part of the National Cyclway Network Route 62 - The Trans Pennine Trail.
Information on the Liverpool end can be downloaded here.
Hunts Cross which was the junction with CLC Liverpool to Manchester line. Hunts Cross is still open today, served by electric trains
Gateacre (1 December 1879-15 April 1972)
Childwall (1 December 1879-1 January 1931).
Knotty Ash (1 December 1879-7 November 1960)
West Derby (1 December 1879-7 November 1960).
Clubmoor (14 April 1927-7 November 1960).
Walton on the Hill (1 December 1879-1 January 1918)
Huskisson (13 July 1880-1 May 1886).
Warbreck (1 August 1929-7 November 1960).
Aintree Central (13 July 1880-7 November 1960).
Aintree Central (also known as Aintree). (13 July 1880-7 November 1960).
Old Roan railway station. (1884)
Sefton and Maghull railway station, Maghull. (1884-1952).
Lydiate. (1884-1952).
Altcar and Hillhouse, (Altcar) (1884-1952).
Mossbridge (1884-1952).
Woodvale (1884-1952).
Ainsdale Beach (Ainsdale). (1884-1952).
Birkdale Palace (Birkdale). (1884-1952).
Southport Lord Street. (1884-1952).
I Remember, I Remember by J.F.Marsh.
Taken from
J.F.Marsh's book Parts 1 & 2 ‘The Story of a Woolton Pub' 1930 in which the author wrote in the preface:-
Garway and its surrounding area is a council housing estate that is now under a preservation order. I was uncertain when exactly it was built but George Tipping has put me right, as follows
Hi Brian,
Brian if you include this on your site could you please
include my email and phone No. as I would like to get in touch with Alan, regarding the "Black Horse", and there might be some old Wooltonians out there who know me.
George Tipping - email
Hi,Brian.
hello Brian, my family originate from Woolton, Liverpool - my family name is Baker. My father Francis James Baker had two sisters Ivy ,Margie, and two brothers Geoffrey and Robert. I've been told that their parents were not married but my father's birth certificate states that my grandmother's maiden name was James, first names Francis; and my grandfather's name was John George. I've also been told that my grandfather was German. I know that they lived in School Lane and Rodick Sreet. My father married Pauline Cain in 1955. I was wondering if you might know where I might find out more information about my family. In anticipation, thank you for any assistance .
regards
Helen
Hi Brian,
Any help would be appreciated.
Many thanks.
I came across your web site on Woolton whilst looking for any site re Woolton CP Out Lane where my husband and I were both pupils from 1956 to 1963.
I noticed that you have had a few queries re family history. I have access to the Censuses from 1841 to 1901 and am more than willing to do look ups for anyone who wants information. Also, if anyone is interested there is a
web site for St Peters church in which I have listed all the headstone inscriptions. This site is searchable alphabetically.
If anyone wants any information from the Censuses, email me on
Margaret Thompson
I was wondering if you could help me please. I used to live in “The Priory” at the bottom of Watergate Lane in Woolton from birth to 3 years. I remember the tomb (Bullon Vault in St Mary’s Church) and graves being there, but I don’t really remember too much about how the Priory itself looked. I was wondering if you have any pictures or further information about it please? I lived there from 1973-1976 with my parents until we moved up to Speke Rd.
I would like to post a request on your web page. I am looking for any helpful information about families from the Woolton area. In particular Longworth, I doubt very much they were the 'Lords of the Manor' but probably painfully poor working class. My starting point is Jane Frances Longworth, baptised 1832 at St. Mary's. I believe that is a Catholic Church? Her marriage certificate might say her father was James, a Coachman (1868, Edge Hill). It is quite hard to read.
On another subject, I read somewhere that Paul McCartney met John Lennon at Woodhead in Cheshire? Maybe that is just one of those stories where people want a claim to fame? I still haven't found a significant 'famous' person yet to claim as my own. Not even a convict.
Many thanks,
Marie Palmer, Australia
I am trying to locate some pencil sketches of St. Mary’s Church Woolton for my parents Golden Wedding Anniversary next month. They were married there in 1958, I was christened there in 1960.
If you could point me in the direction of links to any artists who may have any i would be most grateful.
I am actually trying to find information out about Woolton Grange Residential Home ... and its past history as a church, I was wondering if you had any information or where one may be able to find some.
Many Thanks
Hello,
I am looking for any old pictures of Woolton Skateboard park on Quarry Street.
And I'm still looking for a picture of Lower Lee House on Beaconsfield Road, Woolton
Please email Dave here
Many thanks.
Dave
Hi Brian,
Would you know when the original owner of Strawberry Fields, George Warren died??
many thanks,
Hello Brian
Do you know if there is a Woolton Local History Group that I might contact for help?
I have been following a thread on Rootschat.com a summary of which is here.
Basically a man in France, Michel found a tag with a soldiers name on it; Robert W Stead After trying for many years to find it's owner, he posted on RootsChat for help. The owner sadly died and we have been unable to trace any living relatives but eventually traced his grave to St Peter's Church Woolton.
The stone is sadly broken and face down and no one has the funds to get it righted. Michel is planning to come and visit the grave and also hopefully find a good home for the medallion.
I'm hoping there is a local history group that will have ideas about how to turn the stone over at a minimum of cost or who might help us voluntarily so if you have any contacts, please let me know. I live in Speke myself and would love to see the medallion returned as close to it's rightful owner as possible. It would be nice if St Peter's could be persuaded to put it on show somewhere as part of their history.
Anyway, if you can help at all, I'd be very grateful, along with hundreds of others who have worked on this project from all over the world!
Thanks,Lynne Moneypenny
Dear Brian,
I have no clue if you can be of help to me or not. I have just begun to do some research on my grandparents. I have so little to go on, but I do have a Baptismal Certificate from St. Mary's Church, Woolton, Liverpool with information dating back to 1872. I googled that church and it looks like it is still there. Then I found your website and loved reading about Woolton. Can you suggest to me where I would start...I would love to know where she was raised, etc. Would the church have those records? I did find in the church's archives the marriage registrar with her parents' marriage date. This is all so interesting but I have so little to go on. If you can be of help, that would be awesome; if not, thanks for taking time to read this and for providing me with information of where my grandmother was raised. I would love to visit sometime.
Sincerely,
Mary Jansen
My name is John Reppion and I’m currently researching a book about Liverpool’s ghosts and hauntings.ow of Cavaliers or Royalists based in or around Woolton during the English civil war of 1642 and 1651 (or generally around that period).
Also, if you do know of any supernatural stories related to the village (or any other Liverpool location) I would be very interested to hear them
I am looking for any photos/pictures of Lower Lee (Lea) house, which was in Beaconsfield Road, now replaced by Lower Lee school.
Can anyone help me ? If so please email
My name is Ben Holroyd, my partner and I are currently in the process of buying a house in Woolton, and wondered whether you could shed any light on it's history, it's number 36 rodick street.
we understand from the current owner that it was built around 1768 and was the old quarrymans cottage...
just wondered if you knew of anything...
Hi Brian
I came across your site about Woolton whilst looking for information. I was born in Woolton in December 1955 and my mother told me that when I was about 12 months old my mother, older sister and myself spent some time in a hostel for homeless people in Woolton, which I believe may have been the Aymestry hostel building, before it became a children's home. I wonder if you know whether I am right about the location of the hostel, or even whether such a place existed?
I am just wondering if you can shed any light on a family connection I have with Woolton. My granny’s aunt was called Lucy Hamilton-McGuffey (sorry not sure of spelling) married her boss James and lived in Woolton Hall. I know she ended up building a house in the grounds. She had loads of dogs that slept on her bed and drank in the local pubs, whiskey galore!!! Died in the 1980s and my granny inherited a wee bit. I am hoping to find out more about the family. Any tips much appreciated.
Woolton British Legion
Hi, can you help me I am trying to collect any information when this branch was formed, and by whom.
Only details on the pre-printed note paper is Hill House, Woolton, Liverpool and the phone number Gateacre 111.
The name signed is B. H. Collie i think!
Thanks for your investigating, hope to hear from you soon, Lowri
email
I notice that Gateacre Grange, originally the home of Andrew Walker, and latterly used as a home for sailors is now being developed. I know the land was owned by the charity The Apostleship of the Sea but I assume that they sold the site. Do you have any information about the sale and the purchaser of the land.
Hi Brian,
Wonder if you could help.
"Researching" family history - well interested
in a cluster of forebears between 1860 onwards - particularly my grandad
born 1888 Much Woolton - Quarry Street. Have been on a visit - really
fascinating!
Interested in the following:
Any information on the old gas works
The ironmongery in Quarry Street - would there be records ?
The pub at the corner of Quarry Street and Rodick Street
Places where I could order books on "old" Woolton
Regards
Email to
Mo Woodall
I have visited Woolton and
will do again, I have ordered some books but really intrigued as to these
gas works! Only live in Preston but working, family etc
Will be visiting again soon.Thanks
M. Woodall
Brian, I found John Lennon's ATC record card when I was a firefighter at
Garston fire station, following a fire at the ATC building during the previous night
shift. I came on day duty and was asked by my oic to destroy a load of
record
cards that turned up on the fire station. Imagine my delight when John's
card
was blown by the wind towards me as I sat waiting for the bin fire to
die
down before I put more cards into the fire. Because I found it there, I
assume
it came from a local ATC unit. Do you know of a master list of ATC members
so i can confirm that John was a member? regards tom
Anyone who knows of a connection between John Lennon and the ATC, please contact
tom mills
Would you have much info on the Woolton Quarry and would you know if I can find information re my GGG father who worked there in 1840 ish. I would like to know if they had a staff list or if they would know if he died while working in the quarry. He died before 51.
email Angela Foster
Hello Brian,
I was wondering if you could shed some light on the Saxon Burial ground located behind the Fernlea apartments in Quarry Street.
No one seems to have an ideal as to the identity or identities of persons buried there.
Could you help.
Kind Regards
Kieron Connelly,
Resident of Fernlea.
Hello, I’m trying to find out if anyone remembers Oakfield Special School on Oakfield Drive. It’s now a new housing place but the pillars and walls are still there - nothing else left. I was at the school in the 60s with my friend Joan who I have just got in contact with after a long time..
Many thanks
Hi Brian,
I wonder if you could ask your readers if they have any recollection of a tiled swimming bath or boating pool in Reynolds Park in the early forties. It was in the main field as you came in from Woolton Hill Rd
entrance - you followed the path past the quarry turned left down the side of a long shiplap fence over which was a large property used as a billet for
forces female personnel, it was rectangular in shape on the two ends and
one side it had, if my memory is correct, lion heads with iron hoops in their mouths to tie up to and on the other side semi-circle steps going down into the water, though I never ever saw any water in it. I often wonder did they just fill it in or did they dig it out. I wonder if there are any photos or drawings as I would be very interested to to hear from
anyone.
Keep up the good work,
Cheers,
George
.
Came across your site by accident when trying to find photos of my old school (St. Peter's C of E infant and junior school). I remember Mr. McCoskery the Headmaster, Miss Moore (very strict, she made us eat everything up at lunchtime) and a lovely teacher in the Infant School called Mrs. Stokes.
I note one of your correspondents said he used to play in the stables of the Black Horse pub at the corner of Quarry Street/Rodick Street. I did too. The landlord's kids were an older boy, then Ann (very blonde), then Jane (very dark) and a younger sister. They moved out of the area and next turned up when they found some buried ancient treasure near their new home and appeared in the newspapers.
I remember Mrs. Gainey, a lovely woman, who had a sweet shop in Quarry Street and had lots of bottles of fizzy drinks and lots of beautiful coloured glasses of every size. It was possible to go in and have just a glass of any fizzy drink we wanted for a small payment - depending on the size of the glass we chose.
I remember Ridings in the village which sold bikes and prams - the two kids, a girl and boy, went to St. Peter's (it's now a chinese restaurant), the sweet shop opposite - now also a restaurant (I think the young lad who also went to our school was Stephen), Lewis's the newsagents (the young lad there also went to St. Peter's) and "woody woods" the sweet shop where we bought our chocolate logs and sherbet dips (the sherbet was so sour it made us wince - unlike the coloured sugar they use now).
I remember another pupil Elaine lived in the Coach and Horses in the village, Tricia lived in The Cobden.
We had lots of kids from Strawberry fields, some of whom stayed a long time (the Hammond family) and some who didn't. I remember one was Beryl Clatworthy (not a name easily forgotten!) and Rachel and Elaine Sullivan.
I remember Cilla Black getting married in St. Mary's Church and we clung to the railings of St. Peter's trying to get a look at her in her car. I remember going carol singing to her mum's house in Reservoir Road.
We walked to the swimming baths in Woolton, and had our lunch in the hall next door (now a care home I believe) walking to it every day in all weather. Mr. McCoskery, whose son Malcolm went to St. Peter's and then St. Francis Xavier, also used to take us to Woolton Woods with our "Nature Books" to record the changes in the season and to visit the Cuckoo Clock in the walled garden.
I remember the slaughterhouse where Sainsburys is now and the farmland behind what is now The Woolton Cheese Shop. All built on sadly.
The Vicar of St. Peter's was Dick Williams who drew lots of cartoons and didn't teach us that much RE. He was a lovely man. He wrote "The Bible in Scouse."
The quarry was still blasting but we used to go in and make rafts and sail on the water filled crater (and few of us could swim). We also used to play around the Mill Stile. The tyre yard it overlooked caught fire a few times which caused us kids great excitement. An Italian family lived there. Next door was Radcliffe and their son Norbury went to St. peter's (and his mum hated us calling him 'Norb'). The very nice black and white house by the Mill Stile was then a butcher's shop and he used to give us free bones for our dog.
Brayfords in Vale Road ran what was probably the first "mini market" in Woolton. It started as a shop and then expanded.
I remember the Bear Brand tights factory at the corner of Rodick Street and the old quarryman's cottages opposite. I remember being horrified when the land next to them was built on as we had a den there.
I remember the gunpowder factory in Rose Street.
The water fountain at the bottom of Church Road still worked, although it was very creaky. The "duck pond" which had been at the bottom of Church Road was a car park even then but I remember some of the mums from the school talking about how beautiful the pond was. The little building next to it (now an estate agents) were the public lavatories.
Such a village atmosphere then, with Tony the postman, everyone knowing everyone else, and most of the kids meeting up at The Woolton Cinema for the Saturday matinee.
Great days!
Jan
Nice memories of Woolton
I remember the fire at the Quarry.
I also remember being a member of the Scout Amateur Radio Club in the mid
60's that met at the Scout hut by the church at the top of the quarry.
We would pillage old TV's for parts and can remember dropping the old TV
CRT tubes (Screens) into the quarry, we thought the bang as they landed
was great, but I don't think the old watchman thought so!!
On other occasions we put a radio station on at the scout hut for
jamboree on the air (JOTA). We got permission to attach one end of the
antenna to the top of the flagpole on the church tower. This was amazing,
and we contacted radio hams all around the world.
In the middle of the night, there was a thunderstorm, so we decided to
connect the antenna to earth for safety, there was an almighty crack as
the static discharged to earth!!
People involved in the radio club were Ivor Reece (G3VKZ), my Dad, Tony
Tabberer (G3WRY), Bert Donn (G3XSN), Laurence Gould (G3XGL) and myself
Peter Tabberer (G8JJP)
Many memories have been brought back - thanks
Just in case there is anyone out there who is past acquaintance of mine (Email given at the
left).
I attended Woolton County Primary, Out Lane.
I have information of two web sites
Infants - Teachers (Headteacher : Miss Garrett)
This is a picture from about 1960 or 1961
My attempts to remember the personalities here
?, ?, Stephen Langford, Margaret Ashley, David Palmer, Nick Willasey, Robert Morton
?, ?, ?, ?, Anne Whitfield, ?, ?, ?
?, ?, ?, ?, David Chapman, Christine Paisley, ?, Brian Daugherty, ?, ?,
?, ?, Dilys Scowcroft, Judith Warren, ?, Elaine Mordaunt, ?, Stephen Puddifer
?, Rowena Allen, Ian Whittington, ?, Gillian Clarke, ?
Juniors - Teachers (Head : Mr O' Connor)
This is a picture from about 1964
My attempts to remember the personalities here
Angela Pink, Judith Warren, Carole Davy, David Palmer, Davis Mortensen, Alan Holdsworth, ?, ?
Dilys Powell, Tony Bushell, Ewan Simpson, Brian Daugherty, Jonathon( ), David Foster, Gillian Clarke, Robert Morton, ?, Christine Paisley
Alison Knight, Helen Chapell, Lydia Brown, Rohan Bates, Stephanie Williams, Janet Sefton, Richard Kenney, Judith Smith, Carol Shinkfield, ?, Alan Overend
I was a member of 33rd. Allerton Scout Troop, based at the Congregational Church.
Cubs - (Akela : Mrs McKenzie)
Scouts - (Skip : Mr Wilson)
I was a member of 2359 Air Training Corps on Speke Road.
Woolton Quarry
Quarry Street
Bamber Gascoyne
There were two 'lords of the manor' with this name, based at Childwall Hall.
The original Bamber married, in 1756, Mary Greene, who had inherited Childwall Hall and land in Woolton and elsewhere. The Hall had been rebuilt and renamed by her father, Isaac.
Woolton Old School
Woolton Cinema
Woolton Woods
This floral clock was presented to the public by the family of the late James Bellhouse Gaskell, in memory
of his long stay in Woolton Woods, 1927
Reynolds Park
St. Peter's Church
Transport
.
John Lennon and the Beatles
Well Met in Woolton
Program on Radio 4
What happened when two young rockers met at a church fete? Only the birth of the Beatles...
Gateacre
Gateacre Railway Station
Stations on the Main line
Stations on the North branch
.
Stations on the Southport extension
.Links (all open in a separate window) and References
Breathe there the soul so dead
That never to themselves has said
This is my own, my native spot.
Snippets
Regarding Garway, it was started pre-war - my grandmother had a chip shop in Quarry Street, about 60 yards up from the "Victoria" pub, from the surviving three cottages and Pit Place. All the property between there and Rodick St,
taking in Pit St, and Mill View, where I was born, was burnt
for fire practice, and most of the residents were moved to Garway, including my grandmother.
0151-424-6156.
Assistance Requested
My wife,Eileen O'Hara nee RIDING, lived in Cobden Street, Woolton from 1939-1958.
I am trying to find a copy of the drawing, painting, sketch of the original house "Strawberry Fields" which was in Beaconsfield Road. Owned by George Warren and later passed on to the salvation Army in the 1950s. Thank you in anticipation of a favourable reply.
Spotted your site. I am following up on family history and looking for information or photographs regarding number 32/34 Quarry Street which was there from late 1800's to mid -1900,s. It stood at the base of the Quarry, opposite the " Silk factory". It was a broker's or scrap yard owned by the Duffy family.
New Fairfield, Connecticut
Can anyone help identify this
Reminiscences
jan@bentleysolicitors.co.uk
Personal History
