Many thanks to local Hoylake historian and author Jim O’Neil for this week’s Friday Photo.

Taken from the promenade between 1913-1918 in the background is the former Ellen Gonner Home (you’ll know it today as Hoyle Court – the “flats in the pink building”). The tower and spire at the corner have gone – either completely or partially, I can’t decide which myself?

In front of that is Fellowship House (it’s currently painted purple) and Jim asks: “ The tower of Fellowship House is now a whole floor shorter but why? when? was it bombed? Any suggestions welcome! ”

Note that the toilet block hadn’t yet been built.

Jim will be launching his new book “Hoylake Then & Now” with a book signing event at Hoylake Library on Saturday 24th March from 10.30 to 1 pm. All are welcome, refreshments provided. The blurb for the book reads as follows:

“Hoylake Then & Now” is the latest book by local historian Jim O’Neil.  Illustrated with 90 full colour photographs and accompanying captions this new hardback provides a real insight into the town’s past.  It captures life how it once was and how it is today, comparing streets, buildings and people at work.

If anyone interested in purchasing a copy after 24th March they can do so at Hoylake Post Office and the new HELP community shop in Market Street as well as from Jim’s website.

*click for (slightly) larger version

Many thanks to Paul Doleman for a rare photograph of Hoylake taken from the air.

Paul suggests the photo must have been taken prior to 1937 because that’s when the roundabout at Kings Gap was constructed.

The old Stanley Hotel is clearly visible in the centre of the shot with the bowling green behind. That bowling green (or part of it) was still there when the Stanley had become Flat Foot Sams. I seem to remember that there was a car park there at some point too.

Other landmarks include the original Kings Gap Hotel (bottom left), Hoylake Outdoor Pool, Grove Park and the now-demolished Hoylake Parish Church in Trinity Road. You can see what I think is a jetty at the end of Meols Parade Gardens (centre top), presumably that was from Sandhey slipway? The eagle-eyed among will I’m sure spot many changes that have gone on over the decades.

*click for larger

A gem of an old photo kindly sent in by Syd Bird. It is of course the original Kings Gap Hotel as viewed from Stanley Road. It’s all rather grand don’t you think? By the way, that original part of the hotel has been retained within the redevelopment and some the original veranda remains. Oh, the garden wall is still there too.

Just me or is there an eeriness to those hooded horse riders? And who is in charge of that dog?

Something of a different view of Hoylake this week – courtesy of the excellent (and free) Google Earth software. You’re seeing the long and straight Stanley Road to the right of the curved Meols Drive, split by the Royal Liverpool Golf Club course.

Do download the software and “fly” over Hoylake or anywhere else around the globe for that matter!

The redevelopment of The Kings Gap Hotel is nearing completion now and from most aspects the building is completely unrecognisable.

The porta-cabins were removed a couple of weeks ago enabling a much better view of the hotel, with what I guess is a new side entrance and car park. If you look through the windows overlooking the garden, you’ll see stacks of new chairs and tables.

The hotel and Frankie’s restaurant is due to open in the next few weeks. I wonder if Frankie Dettori and Marco Pierre-White will attend an official opening?

Meanwhile, around the corner on Meols Drive, there doesn’t appear to be any further progress on the Royal Hilbre Hotel.  You might recall that firm behind the development hoped to secure additional funding in order to complete the works.

Anyway, what do you think of the new Kings Gap building?

A recent, not too scientific, survey by Hoylake Village Life on facebook, resulted in The Dolphin (pictured) being ranked the No 1 chippy in Hoylake. What do you think of that, a worthy winner or are there just as good chips elsewhere in Hoylake?

While we’re on the subject of fish and chips, I’ve heard a few recommendations for Baxter’s chippy in Moreton (just off Moreton Cross somewhere I think), though I gather they’ve swapped from using beef dripping to vegetable oil.

There must have been several fish and chip shops in Hoylake over the years and I guess some will have been down the side roads like The Dolphin – some old photos would be much appreciated!

Just me, or is anyone else feeling peckish?

Many thanks to Chris Hankin for this week’s Friday Photo which happens to be a follow-up to the one I published last week. As we’ve seen a few old photos of male football teams and even an English Championship winning basketball team, it’s good to address the balance with some sporty females. Chris comments:

My nan Edith Hankin (nee Smith, kneeling on left) bowled for the Melrose Bowling Club for decades, and became their President for many years – I enclose a few photos with lots of the members – I’m afraid I can name only a very few of them – perhaps others can chip in?

Now I’m not sure if those are Hoylake houses in the background – they look like they could be but I’m struggling to place them. Any guesses?

[UPDATE: Sat 21st]

Chris has just sent me the photo below (click for larger) of a bowling team from the 1940′s, taken on the bowling green that was behind the former YMCA building in Hoyle Road.

I wonder how many readers can guess where the above is?

It isn’t a large lawn of one the posh houses – it’s a bowling green. And you’ll only see it if you cross the railway line at Melrose Avenue or go the long way round through the Carr Lane estate (even then you’ll have to cross the line of course). It’s the green for Hoylake Central and Melrose Bowling Club, tucked away behind a tall fence and a locked, brown gate (see below). It’s even more discreet than the St Luke’s Tennis Club which, if you don’t know, is opposite the Co-op car park that’s behind The Row.

I took the photos earlier today on what’s been a more typical winter’s day; cool and sunny. Quite nice for a change …hands-up if you’ve been getting rather cheesed-off with the strong winds! I’m quite looking forward to Jack Frost paying a visit over the weekend.

By the way, you can view the weather data collected by the Hilbre Island weather station and this graph shows the wind gust speed so far this month have exceeded 60 knots (around 72mph) – that’s very nearly hurricane force on the Beaufort Scale. Unfortunately for some, that’s also pretty high on the blow your garden fence to pieces scale too!

And we’re off with the first Friday Photo of 2012 – Happy New Year !

Many thanks to Syd Bird for today’s two baking related photos, starting with George L Beck above. The signage on the side of the trap says George L Beck, Plain & Fancy Bread Baker. I wonder what the difference was between a plain and fancy loaf?

Below is a photo of J.J. Broster of 16 Walker Street. Now I thought that No16 would be Molly’s Bakery (formerly Malcolm’s Bakery) but that’s No 11 on the other side of the road. That place was until recently up for sale. By the way, we’ve discussed Brosters before.

*click for larger

The weather at the moment in Hoylake isn’t at all seasonal – mild and wet, especially so today!

So here’s a photo taken in Queens Park from last December (the 18th at 9.30 am to be precise)  that might perhaps make feel you a bit more festive?

Merry Christmas!