Many Hoylake residents will recall Houghs builders yard as being on the Carr Lane estate, just over the level crossing. It was taken over by Travis Perkins some years ago. But as this 1960’s photo above shows (thank you Syd Bird) Houghs timber yard used to be located on Market Street.
This photo obviously shows a demolition in progress – to make way for what is now Hoose Court on Market Street. In the lefthand side you can see a sandstone wall – that’s still there today.
I remember it well. My uncle Phil Barlow worked there.
As a result of a tip off by Mr Hough, my Father got some pit props from a yard in Liverpool before they were used in the War, and he handbuilt his own greenhouse. He later sold it to Ronnie Hegg of Annes Florists when he was too old to continue with the ALLOTMENT.
Roland Hough I believe is in a Home in Hoylake, Graham I saw riding on a disabled Scooter in Hoylake the other Day, and Beatrice I believe still keeps house in Valentia Road, Hoylake.
Memories.
Jackie
I remember it well too and many the evening after school we would sneak in and play in Houghs yard.There were little cats and kittens in there,a strange mixture of wild and tame! A few Market Street School kids took home kittens from Houghs tard,haha!
Sorry, YARD! My typing skills leave much to be desired!
A blast from the past!
As a youngster I would go to Hough’s on a Saturday Morning to pick up sawdust—-from a pit under the circular saw in the large shed (sawmill) shown in the pic. Imagine what “HEALTH AND SAFETY would say today. Roland Hough as I remember was an avid Archer and used to practice at the Hoylake Football Club grounds. Roland would ride around Hoylake on his bicycle with a portable radio strapped to his back and of course in those days the radio was as big as a very large lunch box.
Found this thread when searching about Supacat.
I used to collect wood from underneath the saw and borrow a handcart. I pushed the wood along Market Street and then over the level crossing to build a bonfire..
With hindsight I was very lucky.
Very similar memories to Mike Scott, from when Houghs had relocated to Carr Lane in the 60’s. Me and my sisters would go up there on a saturday morning to get sawdust for our guinea pigs. We actually used to climb a ladder and jump into the huge vats of sawdust where we’d play for as long as liked unsupervised. Imagine THAT today?!! We had sawdust in every place imaginable when we came out but it was a cracking start to the weekend!
Like James I used to climb up into the sawdust container and collect sawdust for my guinea pigs and hamsters and wheel it home balanced precariously on my bicycle. I think they charged 50p for a big sackful. Completely unimaginable nowadays but nobody ever died…
Beyond the Hough’s comments I would just make a couple of comments. Earlier this year one of your readers enquired about a Mr. Cowin, chimney sweep, well one of the houses being knocked down the third door to the right was his.
Behind the ‘dozer, on the left further into School Lane, the home and business of Amos Griffiths, Coal Merchants can clearly be seen. Anybody that new Mr. Griffiths and his family knew that he was a kindly gentleman.
I remember as a little child, dad was always away in the army, so times were always tough. I am guessing that mum didn’t have enough $ for a cwt of coal or “nutty slack” so several times in the middle of winter I’d remember him coming down the lane on a freezing Friday night with a bucket of coal.
The sawmill at Hough’s yard must have been driven by a very old petrol engine as I remember hearing it go chuff chuff chuff at a very low rate. I have seen some old engines at country fairs and wonder what happened to this old engine when the yard was moved from Market Street? I guess it would be a collectors piece today, it was probably sent for scrap.
MY DAD PETER MILLS WORKED AT HOUGHS IN THE OFFICE AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL CIRCA 1936. HE JOINED THE TERRITORIAL ARMY WHILST THERE AND THEN SIGNED UP WHEN WAR WAS DECLARED. HE WAS ONE OF THE “HOYLAKE HORSE” BOYS. I BELIEVE HE WENT BACK TO WORK THERE FOR A SHORT TIME WHEN HE WAS DEMOBBED BEFORE HE GOT A JOB WITH THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE IN LIVERPOOL WHERE HE ALSO MET MY MUM.
My Dad Joe Galtress worked at Houghs early 60s as a Wood Machinist, he went on to work at Hawker Siddeley now know as Airbus.
I think there was a second entrance on Chapel Rd and when you walked by it smelt fantastic.
From old land registry plans I have seen for our house in Chapel Road there was indeed a second entrance to the timber yard.
It was not into Chapel Road itself.
It was onto an old rear passageway from Hazel Road that ran behind the back yards of numbers 7-17 Chapel Road.
I used to live in Chapel Rd ,maybe it wasn`t Houghs as such, but inbetween Cosh Fosters cottage and Les and Enids house, there are a modern pair of semis, it was on this site that some sort of wood related buisness was still operating when i was walking up and down to school in the 70`s, you could hear the machinery as you passed and i was always warned not to go in because it was dangerous. Anyone remember whose buisness it was?
The building referred to was a joiners workshop belonging to Joe Royden (builder) and a very old building behind and up against Hough’s wall was a wheelwright’s workshop that belonged to Joe Roydens Father. If you looked over the wall from this shed you could see Hough’s mortar mill.
I lived at No.5 Chapel Road from 1941 until 1965 ,my very earliest recollection regarding the building in question was in the late 40`s when it was being used as a tooth factory. In the 50`s Joe Royden took it over, remaining there until about 1967 when he went out of business. I think the property was demolished in the early 80`s and I have a photo taken just before demolition commenced and there is an old sign displayed which reads ` THE WOOD CENTRE` ( FENCING).
Strange about the tooth factory, in the late 50,s I rented a garage in Charles Road and before I could use it had to have the boxes of teeth (boxes floor to ceiling) removed.
Syd, are you the son of welsh Mrs.Bird? I remember her as a friend of my Gran`s, although i was only little she was always very nice to me and chatty and she lived in the house immediately after the wood yard.My grandparents were Tom and Maud Shakeshaft at number 21.He was a painter and decorator.
Are you related to gwen bird? My grandparents were Jack and betty Darden who lived at 18 chapel road and my grandmother was very close friends with gwen. In fact gwen came to my wedding in 1981.l was lead to believe that they were related in some way. My great grandmother lived over the other side of the road, a few houses up from Rosie grey. My mother was Brenda and her siblings were anthony, known as tony, jean and Philip.
Hello Judith,
yes you have the right person,my mum was born in North Wales and moved to Hoylake in 1936 . After my dad was killed in the war she rented the house in Chapel Road and remained there until she died in 1986 . I remember Mr & Mrs Shakeshaft who lived further up the road . My Uncle Bob lived at No.14 Chapel Road, he used to drive the Jesse Bird removals van.
Regards,
Syd
Syd, thanks for your reply, small world isn`t it? I don`t remember Uncle Bob but when my elder brother married in 76 he moved to 12, Chapel and Mrs. Bird lived there alone i think, but i remember she wasn`t like your Mum.I think the only resident still in the road from those days may be John Roberts at 11?
I remember my Mum telling me when i was little that your Dad was killed whilst home on leave in Meols by a bomber dropping its surplus bombs on the way home to Germany after bombing the docks and how dreadful that was.
The other families i remember are Earndens, Beech, Scotts, Wells[ menswear shop]Armitage, Shipman,Gray and i have a very vague recolection of a Mrs Hankin or Hankinson and a story about either her or a relative of hers being a survivor of the Titanic , don`t know more than that though.I find all these memories really interesting and will see if my Mum has any old photos that i could post, she`s always telling us how much fun the dance nights in the bandstand were, best wishes, Judith.
Hi Judith
Am doing family tree research and came across your post by accident, don’t even know whether you’ll check back.
Were your grandad Tom Shakeshaft’s parents James and Sarah? If so we’re related.
Kind regards
Carol
Hi Judith,
I think that my Uncle Bob passed away in 1972 but his widow (my Aunty Gwen) lived alone at No.14 for another 16yrs or so .With regards to No.12 I recall that another of my relations( Mrs Morgan ) lived there ,I can`t quite remember when she died I think it was either in the late 60`s or early 70`s, I know she lived to a great age because I used to ask her many questions about “Old Hoylake”.
With regards to my Dad I guess he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, it could have just as easily been my mother who was standing in the garden only a few feet away at the time nursing my sister, my mum was also 5 months pregnant with me . They were living at that time in Lyndhurst Avenue Meols .
I remember all of the names you have mentioned in Chapel Road and they bring back a lot of good memories for me . It is 40yrs since I left Hoylake but I do visit on a regular basis as my sister lives in Meols.
If you want a copy of my photo of the old building that you remember next to my mothers house let me know and I can send you one ,either by email or by other means.
Syd
Hello Syd, a photo would be lovely, however i`m a bit of a novice on the computer, only having taught myself to email, ebay etc i do not have a scanner, printer etc, perhaps the post would be ok for you. Judith Irvine,24,Lee Road, Hoylake,CH47 3DW.
I do remember Gwen Bird but as small children we were abit anxious not to upset her, although i can`t really remember why, did Mrs.Parr live next door? Fred and Mabel Beech lived at 20 and Uncle Fred was my Grans brother.I also remember the gentleman from 22 he had a small royal blue invalid car with just 3 wheels on it and kept it up the milk entry in the dairy behind our house , where Kingdom Hall now stands.I will chat to my Mum and see if she remembers you, regards Judith.
Hi Syd (& everyone!)
I know these posts were 14 years ago, so connecting with you may be a longshot.
My grandad Colin Bryan and his brother Geoffrey Michael would have been the Earndens you were familiar with. My Grandad lives in West kirby still.
I’m not sure if you’re aware we (the Earndens) are related to the Birds? Abigail Bird (1851-1928) was Colin & Geoff’s Great-Grandmother. Could be you were distantly related all this time.
John Shakeshaft also lived in the Earnden household in Montgomery Hill, Frankby (headed up by Charles William Earnden) in 1911.!
Hi Judith,
I have put a couple of photo`s in the post, hopefully they will be with you early next week ( postal strike permitting!) I do remember Mrs Parr living at No.16 I was friendly with her sons Billy and John ,Mrs Parr`s husband Steve had a butchers shop on the corner of Melrose Avenue for many years and I think after he passed away Mrs Parr moved to Chapel Road.
regards
Syd
I also lived in Chapel Road. I remember Syd, but he was just a baby when I knew him. I used to play with his sister Jennifer. I would love to know if Jennifer remembers the Storks that used to nest on the roof of the house (in Ferndale Road) that faced down Chapel Road.
Hi Judith,
Some of the names you mention, John Roberts, two John Roberts in Hoylake the John you refer to was “Black” John Roberts and the John Roberts who lived in the Strand Road/Lake Road area was “Red” John Roberts the colours referring of course to their hair!! Geoff Earndon was at Market Street School, Mrs Shipman would have been Jackie Brookes Mum and got a telegram from the Queen!! Mrs Hankin was I recall an avid bowler and played for Hoylake Ladies when the green was in Hoyle Road next to the YM. I would assume your Mum would have remembered Sam Lloyd from the Bandstand!
Hi Mike, yes my Mum does remember Sam Lloyd and his band, we were talking about him only a couple of weeks ago. Re Dolly Shipman, her daughter Jacqueline i think was married to “Bunny” Brookes and her sister Dorothy was and still is my Mum`s longest and closest friend ,they are both in their 80`s now and because of their surnames were christened “Shippy and Shakey” at School Lane, Market St and West Kirby Grammar which then was fee paying , but my Mum won a scholarship, i presume Dorothy did too. Dorothy went on to marry Ted McCloughlin and they ran the D.I.Y.shop on the corner of Wood St until their retirement. I remember Brookes garage was where Sainsburys is now and had a Spitfire? or some such on the forecourt.[or the roof!!]
My brother Mike and I sang at Teddy and Dorothy’s wedding in the Parish Church with the rest of the choir. Teddy was a legend in our family after he brought my brother and his bike back in his van from the boating pond, soaked after he had fallen in! In his Sunday best!
I`ll remind my Mum of the wedding. Did you know Ted met Dorothy when he was evacuated to Hoylake from Liverpool and was placed with the Shipman family.
Judith,
You comment about Ted being evacuated and being placed with the Shipman family. Some place on the internet I came across an article written by Ted a mini bio of how he came to be in Hoylake, School and growing up etc. Unfortunately I cannot remember what site it was on, although I have a feeling it may have been the BBC.
The Broster family lived in the centre house being demolished.. number 121 Market Street from 1955 to 1963 (Dad..Robert William (Bill), Mum Joyce and myself Michael). During that time the Cowin family lived on the side nearest School Lane and the Page family nearest Houghs Timber Yard. The cats were kept at Houghs in order to keep the rodent population down (due to how timber was stored at the yard). However, I can still remember the problems the mice caused and how they ran so quick along the tops of the yard wall at night…The cats must have been fed too much during the day.
Hi Ruth,
I remember you very well from our early days living in Chapel Road ,if my memory serves me correctly your house was near the top end of the road, close to the junction with Ferndale Road but on the same side as ours . Do you remember the air raid shelter that used to be there?.
I asked Jennifer about the Storks but she can`t remember anything about them,
Nice to see your name after all these years
regards,
Syd
This is directd to Syd Bird,you mentioned you lived on Chapel Rd. near Ferndale Rd., my wife lived at 58 Ferndale Rd. She was born in 1941, she and her mother lived with her gandmother, and uncle Charley until the war endsd, an again in 1952 before moving to London On.. Her name was Gillian Barret, she also helped with the ponies and donkey, in 1952, One of her friends was JIlly Watson. The are both in a couple of V E Day party pictures from Chapel Rd.
Hi Richard,
yes I lived at No.5 Chapel Road from 1941 until 1965. Our house was nearer to Market Street than it was to Ferndale Road. My sister Jennifer vaguely remembers your wife Gillian ,my sisters best friend Judith Griffiths lived at No.36 Ferndale Road. I also has a couple of school pals living there in the early 1950`s ,George Shone and Teddy Owen ,unfortunately I can`t remember their house numbers.
My sister was also at the V E street party in Chapel Road although we have not been able to spot her on any of the photos we have seen .
Lovely to read so many memories.
My Great Grandfather George Mole used to work at Houghs.. I think he was the foreman, before his retirement.
I am the grand daughter of Betty and frank, known as Jack, who lived at 18 Chapel Road with their children Tony, Brenda (my mum), Jean and Philip. Jean is the only one still with us and is approaching her 90 birthday.