Another fab photo from the Syd Bird image library (thanks Syd) !
This old image shows the Hoylake Parish Church that was in Trinity Road (formerly Church Road). This photo ties-in with this weeks other news item about the cemetery gates. I mentioned in that post that the terraced houses have a name plaque of Church View – you can see those very houses in the background of this photo. Was the church also known as Trinity Church?
A few readers have now informed me that Hoylake Parish Church was demolished the 1970′s as it was deemed to be structually unsound. I’ve just had a read of one of the books I’ve got from the library and a demolition year of 1976 is given. I gather that the Social Club stands on the site of the old vicarage. There must be many more photos of this old church in the backs of drawers and under beds.
But do you know anything about the tunnel that may have existed in the church grounds?
Sometime next week I’ll publish another Syd Bird photo of the also demolished chapel that used to be on the corner of Market Street and Chapel Road.
I remember a story about a tunnel but no idea if it was true!
It was a sad and, most likely, avoidable day when the church came down. The bell was left in the rubble and was saved by the Hoylake Outdoor Pool Trust who took it into safe keeping. It ended up being donated for use in another Cheshire church in, I think, Wyebunbury.
I still have a Book of Common Prayer and 2 copies of Hymns Ancient & Modern which I rescued from the rubble.
I remember walking past the demolition on Trinity Road as a boy and being astonished that churches were ever knocked down…up until then I suppose I thought they just quietly crumbled into ruins…a bit of an eye-opener!
The bell that rang in the tower did so every Sunday throughout my childhood and young adulthood. I can still hear it now, in my memory.
At a weekend the bell announced Sunday, when that meant something, and was the only sound to be heard by people on their way to church, in the otherwise quiet and respectful silence that was Sunday.
My mum told me that the bell was contibuted to and paid for from donations by the people of Hoylake and that when that beautiful Church was finally knocked down, the incmbent vicar went off to his new parish, taking the bell with him.
Bernie
Watts
are you bernie watts from hoylake whos sister is lynn, you may not remember me, from lee road i had a brother philip.
regards val
Yep thats me Val, I have a memory of you, but I remember Phil very well. I’ve lived in Canada for the last 36 years but still have fond memories od School Lane, poor as we were.
David lives in West Kirby and Lynn is somewhere in WAles.
Regards
Bernie
Ontario
Canada
Hi Val & Bernie, what years are you talking about? My Mother Dorothy BARLOW lived at number 5 Lee Road, Hoylake. I, and two of my siblings was born there during the war, I remember visiting my Granparents Peg & Willie BARLOW when I was a bit older, after the war ended. My Father came from West Derby and moved us to Liverpool from where we moved to Australia in 1951.
Kind Regards, Anne.
Hello Anne,
We lived at no 1 Lee Road , I was born there, my Mum was slim and blonde my dad a postman, I had an adopted brother Philip.
I remember the name Barlow was it Don Barlow, I cannot remember the ladies name you say Dorothy the same as my Mum, but vaguely remember them going to Australia it was a very big decision back then. You will remeber the Lawrences. Barbara the daughter worked at the laundry at the bottom of the road. Again the Mum and Dads name i cant recall but would know it if someone spoke it. The brumfitts Rene Joice and Enid and do you remember the johnsons i think no 13, Sandra & Wendy, Audrey and Don the parents, sadly Sandra died. Sorry not replied before only just came across this, I still live in Hoylake. If it is of any interest do you remember the Beeches from newton road. David Diane and 2 older children. also the Lindfields of whom Chris Boardman gold medal cyclist fame is the son of Carol Lindfield and Stan Boardman. well both Mrs lindfield and mrs Beech bless them are still alive both 90 odd years now.
would love to hear from you Val
Val wasnt Lesley and John Cooksons Grandma a Barlow too, I seem to remember we kids called her Mrs Barlow or am I wrong??? if so any relation???
Cheers Diane
Hi
My family lived in Lee Road at one stage No. 11 I think. I have a photo of my Mum and her brother and sisters with David Beech. We moved to Australia in 1977. We are related to the Joyce, Edith and Irene mentioned.
Regards
Gail Brumfitt
Val wrote :- ‘….also the Lindfields of whom Chris Boardman gold medal cyclist fame is the son of Carol Lindfield and Stan Boardman’.
I could well be wrong in this, Val, but I have Chris Boardman (my 5th cousin once removed) in my family tree as the son of Keith Boardman and Olive C Lindfield, who were both born in 1940 (the same year as myself).
My connection to the family is via Olive’s grandmother Margaret Ellen ECCLES (b1881 Hoose) – the fifth of ten daughters to John ECCLES (b1843 Hoose) and Martha Ann SHERLOCK (b1849 Hoose).
John was first cousin to the fisherman of the same name.(and born in the same year but in Liverpool) who was lost from the ELLEN & ANNE in the Great Storm of December 1894, as mentioned elsewhere in this thread.
Gordon
the C in Olive C Lindfield stands for Carol, Carol was named after my godmother Olive Lindfield married to Albert, so yes Val is right she is Chris’s mum
Cheers Diane
Hi Dianne
Your godmother presumably being Margaret Olive nee PARKS (b1916 Hoylake), daughter of John PARKS and Margaret Ellen ECCLES?
I wasn’t querying the fact that (Olive) Carol LINDFIELD is Chris BOARDMAN’s mother, by the way – rather that his father’s name is Keith, not Stan.
Gordon
Sorry Gordon I missed that bit where you was querying the Stan, but you are correct Aunty Ols name was Parks, so you are right that Margaret was her mum as well., She is now 93 and doing well,
Lovely lady is my godmother
Cheers Diane
Hi again, Diane
If Margaret Olive PARK (b1916 Hoylake) if your aunt as well as your godmother then I believe you and I are 5th cousins.
Best wishes
Gordon
Hiya Gordon,
No we arent related at least i don’t think so, i call my Godmother Aunty as we all lived in the same road and in those days all front doors where open and it was a good community spirit, I spent a lot of time when i was little in her house talking to the parrot, Olives brother Ted was also my godfather
Cheers Diane
Hi i remember two boys from number five lee rd billy and rob i think they moved to australiain the seventys, they lved nextdoor to the mcdonald family
Hi,
Is that A.K. Roberts, son of George ?
I remember the bell ringing , we could easily hear it in Chapel Rd, i used to get taken to the evening service with my Gran and remember, Andrew Jones, Timmy Ashhurst and Mike Parr were choir boys.
Mike Parr is my younger brother. Andy Jones and Tim were in the choir with me. I joined when I was 6 and could not see over the choirstalls but I loved it and was proud to be Head Chorister from 1965 to 1969. John Wilson followed me, then my brother Mike I think. Other choir boys from that time were Dave Whitely, Lifeboat Coxswain, Steve Armitage now deputy cox, and Ray Millett who was also in the crew. Tim Hazlehurst, Rob Parry, Brian Jones….apologies to those I’ve left out. There is a photo of us at the Chester Diocesan Festival we attended each year with our rivals…the great girls choir from St Hildeburgh’s. We always felt the poor relations…we had old cassocks and supluses…the girls had smart, red cassocks and even hats. They had carpets too in the church. But we loved the old Parish Church and our choir in the late sixties under the great organist Mr Clarke was pretty good. The men included chimney sweep and bass Fred Rimmer and head barber at George Henry Lee, tenor Steve Case. Neil Coslett, sadly no longer with us, was one of the younger men along with Alan Powell. The most venerable gentleman was Mr Hopwood, “Hoppy”, who was a Great War veteran. He told us off which we did not like but we grew to love and respect him. I remember, he had come from Moston near Manchester and was wouinded in the First war.He lived in Ferndale Road.
I cannot believe we let the old church go. It was demolished, in the opinion of many, because Hoylake could no longer afford 2 churches. The reason given was that the keystone over the main arch had slipped….but it had slipped in around 1850 I think when the church was relatively new. I have sung in the church as storms battered the west window, and the roof creaked…but it was solid. My father Bill recalls the great storm of January 1976 when houses and properties were damaged. He said not one tile fell from the Parish Church.
What really rubbed salt into the wounds was the removal of the bell. The church was built by Mrs Swainson for the fishing folk of Hoose and Little Meolse. My family were fishermen. They all contributed to the bell which should have remained. I believe Peter Cottrell of the Hoylake Community Group – ironically now buried where the church once stood – rescued it from the rubble and offered to set it up. There was probably more to it, but it seemed insensitive that the Church took it away. I would be thrilled to see it returned and would support a campaign to do so if others would like to join. It would be a wonderful achievement if the new Vicar could help bring this part of our heritage back home.
John Parr, ex- Coastguard House, Government Road and Hazel Road.
The fine old church was demolished in 1976 as “unsafe”. The keystone in the chancel arch had dropped slightly…..but I think that was in about 1850! We all thought it was a dreadful ruse to reduce Anglican churches to one in Hoylake for financial reasons. Can you recall the incredible gail of 31st December 1975? My Dad Bill Parr went round the church the following day and said that there was not one tile missing. Buildings everywhere were in various states of damage…but not the Parish Church. It had withstood many a storm, the west end facing directly into the prevailing Irish Sea winds.
It would be great to see the old bell return to the community it came from. It was paid for by the local fisherfolk of Hoose when the church was built.
John Parr, Head Chorister, Hoylake Parish Church, 1965 – 1969
I have just been reading the many emails with interest. I am currently researching my family tree and have traced my great great grandfather to Church Gap Road in Hoylake (1891). Is this possibly near this church? The article said something about a former Church Road? His name was Joseph Orford, a slater and he was married to Alice Jane Beck. Jane Beck’s father was a fisherman from Hoose, Thomas Beck.
Regards Janet Roberts
Hi Janet,
there are a couple of photos in existence dating from the 1880`s/1890`s of the Hoylake Volunteer Fire Brigade and I notice that a J. Orford appears in both. I wonder if this person is your Great Great Grandfather.The present Trinity Road in Hoylake used to be called Church Road many years ago and there is a large church yard there which was next to the Parish Church , sadly this was demolished a few years ago.
I find it amazing that such interest is still generated after nearly thirty five years by the removal of the Bell from Trinity Road Church in 1976. My parents were married in that church as were many of the Triggs Family. Quite a few of my relations are buried there. It was a disgrace that such a lovely old church was demolished and along with many of the great facilities that Hoylake at one time offered has gone for good. I can however reveal that after all these years, I was the culprit who actually removed the Bell. During the wonderful summer of 1976 I left the sea and gained employment as a lifeguard at Hoylake Swimming Baths. As the season drew to a close the employees were taken on by the Hoylake Outdoor Trust to rebuild the baths. I remember Peter and Jackie Hall were very involved with this and Peter Cottrell’s family the ‘Cotties’ all worked there. I drove the Dumper truck and one morning was told to drive it up to the site of the Church which was in the process of being demolished, collect the Bell and bring it back to the Baths for storage. I did as I was told, we loaded it onto the truck and I drove it back down to the Prom and never saw it again. So it was me who actually removed it from the site.
Hi Janet
Since you’re currently researching your family tree you may be interested to know that Alice Jane BECK (b1862 Hoose) features in mine as a 3rd cousin twice removed.
She was a great-great-grandaughter of fisherman Peter JONES, who married Elizabeth HUGHES on 21 February 1774 in West Kirby St Bridget.
Peter & Elizabeth JONES are my 4 x great-grandparents.
Gordon, is there any updated evidence to show how Elizabeth Hughes fits into the family? Where she was from and possibly her parents’ names. Since she and Peter Jones lived in West Kirby at the same time as Thomas Hughes ( married to Jane Wright ) , I am wondering if Elizabeth and Thomas may have been brother and sister or first cousins. In my case , what is interesting is that the granddaughter of Peter and Elizabeth, Mary Jones, married the grandson of Thomas and Jane, Joseph Hughes. Joseph was one of the casualties of the Hoylake Lifeboat Tragedy of 1810. Joseph was the son of Thomas Hughes and Margaret Barlow.
Are we related. My grandmother was a Washington Parr from back sea view. Bill Parr was the son of I think Aunt Daisy, and twins Margaret and Elsie would be sisters or cousins, i have no-one to ask now and would be grateful for some knowledge. I still live in Hoylake as do Elsie and |Margaret and uncle Bill is a home down Stanley road..
Val
Hello Val – We must surely be related. My grandfather was John Washington Parr of 5 Back Seaview and my Nan was Daisy. As you say, my Dad Bill is nowadays in the Red Rocks Nursing Home, he’s 87. Margaret and Elsie are my twin aunts and still bowl most days of the week. My grandparents third child Leslie died in 1991 but the eldest, Geoff Parr, is almost 92 and still living in Penrith. Nan was 96 when she died and still had her season ticket for Liverpool. Long livers we Parrs….please keep in touch. John
Hi John,
You might like to know that, the census of 1751 shows a Mr George Washington as the Landlord of the Plasterers so the name goes way, way back but there was also Washington in my own family somewhere on the mothers side and we were related to a family of Washingtons that later lived off Greenbank Road in West Kirby.
I remember that my uncle (a Buckle) lived in Ferndale Road and when we visited him we often went out and along the alleyway to the back gate of a house in Avondale Road where the Washington part of the family lived but I can’t give you any more details.
This was in the 1940′s and very early 50′s but at my age this could could well have been the George Washington at the Plasterers.
My father did tell me that there is a relative named Washington buried in Holy Trinity Church yard somewhere close to the alley leading to School Lane but I never managed to find it and now they have very kindly removed almost all gravestones.
Hi Val and John
Val, you only need to ask me, you know I know of all the cousins! See you soon I hope Love Eve
Hi Eve, I don’t know how i got into this conversation i think it was bernie Watts who started it off, It is very fascinating to read all these comments about the people of Hoylake. If i can correct and apologise it was of course Keith Boardman (not Stan) Geoff worked with him when he was with B.T. Dianne keep in touch Les’s ma was a |Barlow but no relation i don’t think to the Lee road ones . As you know Eve have just found cousins in westkirby on my Dads side Joe Maddocks postman born 1917 westkirby.
Val
I think for those of us who grew up in Hoylake in the 40`s ,50`s and 60`s expected that the Parish Church and other buildings (like the Y.M.C.A.) would remain for ever, what a pity that did not prove to be the case . I think the church was mainly constructed of sandstone which made it very pleasing to the eye .
I had forgotten all about the church bell ringing out on a Sunday morning until reading what Bernie had to say about it and when I think about it now we in Chapel Road could hear it very clearly.
When I played a lot of snooker in the early 60`s for Hoylake Mens Social Club this was housed in the old Vicarage , I wish I had explored the basement to find out if there was indeed a tunnel leading to the church.
Syd, although, like you, I am no longer a resident of Hoylake I think someone should start a collection or movement to “Bring Back the Bell” !
It should be mounted, appropriately, in the midle patch of grass upon which, the church once stood, and where incidentally both my mum and dad are buried.
Regards
Bernie
Well that sounds like a good idea Bernie , but I think you and I will have to move back to Hoylake first.
Bye the way I met your brother David for the first time in about fifty years at the recent Parade School Centenary event .
I took a photo of Pat Bryers house on the corner of Hazel Road and School Lane shortly before it was demolished in the early sixties and I have noticed you can just ( but only just) see your house on it . I will send it to John C to see if he wants to use it sometime,
Regards,
Syd
Glad you met Dave at the centenary event, wish I’d been able to make it. It would have been nice to see how everyone had made their way in the world.
Pat was a good friend of Dave’s and he told me that Pat came over last year for “auld lang syne” saying it would probably be his last visit.
Regardless of whether or not the photo is printed I would love to get a copy, my email address is bermarg@rogers.com if you would be so kind.
Regards
Bernie
It was very interesting to read that you have a photo of school lane I lived in the house before Bernie watts and would love to see the photo of school lane and pat bryers house I remember you Sid and your sister Jennifer
Hello Mary,
how nice to hear from you,do you want me to send you a copy of the School Lane photo?. If so I will need either your home address or an email address. I live in Scotland now and Jennifer lives in Meols.
Kind Regards, Syd
Hi Syd
Nice to hear from you I would very much like the photo of school lane if you would be so kind my Email is Marywoolley@hotmail.com
Kind Regards, Mary
Hi Mary,
I have emailed you three photos,one of Hazel Road and two of School Lane. Hope you receive them,
Best Wishes Syd
Hi Syd,
I was much taken with your recent photograph of Wood Street /Rudd Street.
Could it be blown up – suitable for framing ? If so – what optimum size would you recommend ?
Ricky Cooper.
Hi Ricky,
I have sent you an email regarding the Wood Street/Rudd Street photo ,let me know what you think,
Regards, Syd
Is this the same same that Cynthia Lennon had Julian christened at (it was just a few doors up from her if I remember rightly) and John was unable to attend ?
I understand that John Lennon married Cynthia there.
John and Cynthia married at Mount Pleasant Registry Office.
Julian was christened at Holy Trinity Parish church quietly.Cynthia,deciding not to tell John until after the event,fearing a media circus if he attended.
Thank you, Gail. Yes, it seems I am wrong!!! I’d been told that and always believed it too! Maybe I had it confused with the christening?
When i was a small girl it was not unusual to see Cynthia Lennon round and about in Hoylake with her mum who lived in Trinity Road, in the terraced houses between the Punch and Grove Road, not sure what number, i`ll ask my Mum, i think my Gran knew Mrs.Powell.
Lilian Powell lived at number 18 Trinity Road two doors down from my grandparents Lil and William Mills at number 14. Lil Powell was a good friend to them and I met Julian on a couple of occasions when my grandmother babysat him for Cynthia when she took her mother to the Punch Bowl for a drink ! I also remember coming back from Whiteleys with fish and chips via the back alley and not being able to get past a black hackney cab which was parked there. As I waited for it to move, the engine was running, John, Paul, George and Ringo ran out of number 18 and jumped into the taxi. I very nearly dropped the enamel bowl holding the fish and chips. Happy Happy Days !!
Hi everyone.
I have just purchased one of the terraced houses opposite the church grounds in Trinity Road. I am doing a bit of research to try and find out when they date back to. From what I believe, the houses were constructed in two phases. Up to half way down the houses are back to back with houses on Shaw street and are built slighty differently to the latter few houses who have gardens reaching onto Shaw Street. Can anyone help with a date to when the houses with the gardens were built?
Regards Anita
Hi Anita – nice to hear from you!
I don’t know the answer myself, but it’s likely another reader will !
Kind regards
John
I have a framed map on my wall which claims to be of Hoylake in 1908-09 although I know it was not totally up to date. The houses in Trinity Rd (then Church Road)you ask about seem to have been in place by then, in fact the whole street looks to be complete on both sides except for a small gap just past the house on the seaward corner of Marmion Road which interestingly was called View Road which I’d never noticed before.
Hello Anita,
some of my ancestors were living at No 40 Church Road(Trinity Road) in 1901 according to the census so I guess the houses were built before then . The only thing I`m not sure about is the exact location of No.40, I`m assuming it`s in the row of houses opposite the churchyard,but I suppose it could be further up past the junction with Grove Road.
Regards Syd
Number 40 is opposite the church yard its the 4th house down from the little alleyway between the end house and what used to be the blacksmiths in Shaw St when i was a child.
I lived there from 1979 till 1984 then moved to Alderley Road, above the door way of number 40 it says church view, I remember them knocking down the old church when i was younger, Cynthia Lennon lived I think at number 20 or thereabouts, its nearly opposite the social club. I remember going to view it just after I got married, but never bought the house.
Diane
My Great grandparents and great great granparents were residents in Hoylake, and were buried in the churchyard. The minister who conducted the service was RevA.Clarke. Amongst the names of the mourners R.Bird Mr Richard Bird was Chief Fire Officer in the Fire Brigade and my great grandfather a William James Stanley was also a member of the firebrigrade too.. Could Richard Bird be a relative of your Syd?
Hello Marian,
my great grandfather Jesse Bird had a younger brother named Richard and both were very much involved with the formation of the Hoylake Volunteer fire brigade so I think the Richard Bird you refer to must be an ancestor of mine.There are a couple of good photos in existence of the early fire brigade although I don`t think your great grandfather is in any of the photos I have seen.
Hello Syd
I have a James Lee Bird b 1859 m to Elizabeth Holmes b1859.and their son Henry b 1882( and married in 1882 in liverpool). in my Holmes/Eccles/Bird/Hughes/Myerscoughfamily tree. Would this be a relative of yours?
I am from Newcastle Australia and Im trying to locate local relatives living in the hoylake area.
If you can give me any help in my search I would really appreciate any help at all..
regards
Lyn Johnston
Hi Lyn,
Fascinating site this. My Family tree includes Birds / Housley’s / Hughes / Eccles as well as Peter Jones and Elizabeth Hughes. If you want to contact me email me at keithjhattton@btinternet.com
Keith
Should anyone else be interested in responding to Keith’s post, note that you’ll need to delete one of the three ‘t”s from the name HATTTON in his bt e-mail address ie this should read keithjhatton@btinternet.com
Has anyone noticed that, contrary to the usual numbering where the odd numbers are on the left as you go along a road, Church/Trinity Road is the exact opposite: the even numbers are on the LEFT with the odd numbers of the right.
I realised this when I was looking for where my parents lived prior to 1937. My Father was in 24, in the terrace on the left while my mother’s family lived at either 47 or 49 on the right.
My father at thet time was a ‘Grocers Assistant’ while my mother’s father was a carpenter/joiner at Cammell Lairds.
Just thought I’s drop it into the conversation
DON : You can add Rudd Street ( and maybe one or two others ! ) to the ‘ odds on the right ‘ list .
Hi Anita,
I hope that you can help with my enigma.
1. I used to bus out to Hoylake from Birkenhead to see my Great Grandfather (almost 70 years ago)
I think he lived in 41 Groveland Avenue initially.(Bill (Doggy) Trueman)
2. He then went to live in another house, but I only ever went in by the back door which opened directly onto the road. I then went up the garden and into the house. Wandering about in Old Hoylake – the only houses that fitted this description were those that backed onto Shaw Street, and faced Trinity Road. He died in 1948,
and is buried in Holy Trinity graveyard. Perhaps his Death Certicate would solve the puzzle. Oh! yes and he lived next door to the St Hildeburgh Verger. Ricky Cooper.
I remember Trinity Church very well. I was always told that ‘the secret tunnel’ ran from St Hildebughs Church and was used by smugglers. Seems rather far fetched now. Does anyone remember the wartime restaurant in the old vicarage? You could get amain course for Ninepence and no coupons!!
Hi Ruth, Are you Ruth Rowlands who used to live at 25 (I think) Chapel Road? I used to live at no 19 with my Mum and Dad, Rose and Don Gray.
I was christened, confirmed and married at Trinity church and was so upset to find out it had been pulled down. What a terrible shame. I vaguely remember the restaurant. Further down Trinity Road near the shops there used to be a clinic where they looked after children whose mums worked and I went to for a short time. My dad rented the deckchairs out in the summer and I used to take his lunch down to him when he was at the Trinity Road deckchairs, accompanied by my faithful collie Peter.
Hi Geraldine – how good to hear from you and the references to your Mum and Dad. We lived close-by in Hazel Road and Don was very kind to me when I was a boy. He took me canal fishing with him and I still have the copy of Izaak Walton’s The Compleat Angler which he gave me.
We all remember Tony Jacklin staying at your house during the 1967 Open Championship and the photo of him sitting on your front door-step.
Best wishes – John Parr
Hi John,I was married and left home when Tony Jacklin stayed at my mum and dad’s in Chapel Road, but I remember them being so thrilled to have him.They never stopped talking about it for years.
Best wishes to you too…Geraldine
Hi Geraldine, nice to hear from you. Are you still in Hoylake. I am jn Anglesey but keep in touch with Hoylake via ‘The Junction’. I have fond memories of your Mum helping me to make myself a dress on her sewing machine. I also remember you and your parents cycling to Wales on holiday. We were fit then. I still have a photograph of one of the street parties in Chapel Road. If I ever learn how to get it onto the computer i will send it to ‘The Junction’. Kind regards, Ruth
‘
Hi Ruth, I moved to Orrell near Wigan for 40 years but then moved back to Wirral on retiring and have lived in Moreton for the last 6 years.I remember cycling to Wales with my mum and Dad.Yes we were fit then weren’t we?Best Wishes, Geraldine
Ruth I just found this site and am so excited to read everyone’s postings. I believe we know each other. We used to go the the Swimming Baths, along with Maureen Hann etc. Do I have the right Ruth?
Hi Irene, yes you have the right Ruth. Maureen Hann was a great friend but I lost touch when I left Hoylake. I was never out of the swimming pool during the summer. I have managed to find another friend Geraldine (Gray), who now lives in Moreton. Do you still live in Hoylake? I still come over there to see my sister and brother. It would be lovely if we could all meet up somewhere for a coffee. Have you any other contacts from those days Best wishes Ruth
Oh Ruth, I am so excited to touch base with you again after all these years!! I am new to this site and enjoying reminiscing. I find it absolutely awful that the church and baths have been demolished. I have so many fond memories of days gone by. I now live in Texas, USA. We moved here in 2001 to retire in the country. We lived in California for over 40 years where we raised our family of four (3 sons and 1 daughter). Two of our sons still live in California, and one in Arizona. Our daughter lives here in Texas (the reason for our move, since she had all her children (our grandchildren)! We just took a motor trip this past Spring for about 6 weeks to visit our sons. Had a great time. Maureen lives in Surrey. She and her husband, David Travis, have visited us many times through the years. Sadly, David passed away some years ago. Maureen has visited us since we moved here toTexas 3 times so far, and we talk on the phone when we can. It is one of life’s blessings to still have a friend since we met in kindergarten. I’ve always been so glad that I grew up in Hoylake, and I believe we lived in the best of times back then. Please keep in touch, and let me know how things are with you. Where do you live now? I will let Maureen know we have contacted each other next time we talk. God Bless, Irene
Just checking if there are any present day folks living in or near to Hoylake today who are Hugheses and might be descended from Thomas Hughes married to Anne Harding. They lived on Market Street. Previous generations included Thomas Hughes and Jane Wright , and Joseph Hughes and Margaret Barlow, and Thomas Hughes and Mary Jones who lived in West Kirby and had family marriages and christenings in St. Bridgets Church. A related line included Richard Hughes married to Alice Eccles from Formby. Thanks so much.
Hi Bill,
I think I see your ancestors mentioned in the 1881 Census living in Market Street(perhaps as landlords of the Punch Bowl?). Thomas Hughes aged 50 is shown as a Licensed Victualler, also mentioned is his wife Ann aged 50 and their 5 children,
Syd, yes that would be them Ann is Ann Harding from Wrexham, Wales. I think this is when the family relocated from West Kirby to Hoylake. Thomas and Ann had 9 children …some of the daughters married into families like Heavysege, Rainford and Dodd. It was my great grandfather, William Croxton Hughes, who emigrated to the USA around 1880. Thanks. Bill
i think I’m right in saying that the Rainsford’s had a business that might have been painters & decorators or builders perhaps, I’m going back to the 1950-’s so my memory is a bit stretched. Others might be able to help Bill.
Dear mr Hughes in reading with interest your last message you mentioned the name DODD and i was wondering if there could be any relation to my late fathers family. My fathers family lived and grew up in walker street (my dad was born in 1934)he has 2 brothers and 1 sister all still living 1 in west kirby 1 in hoylake and 1 in exeter. We have a number of family members in the church yard including my late fathers memorial stone which was just recently laid and blessed almost to the exact spot where he and his older brother used to sing on the church choir as young lads. I would be interested in any further information yourself or anybody else has regarding the church. The old bell would be a nice welcome site back to where it belongs and am sure like myself and many others it would bring back so many memories(I used to holiday at my auntie and uncles when i was younger late 60′s early 70′s)My father through his job as a police officer moved around a lot and finaly settled in bredbury nr stockport until his death in 2007 so i thought it fitting that he came back home to rest.
thank you.
A Mr. J . Dodd was a mourner at my Great grandfather’s funeral he was(Mr. William James Stanley)., he lived at Elm Cottage Lake Place, but was born in the Old School house. in School Lane.9 His parents were the Schoolmaster and mistress. his widow later married a Mr.W.G. Collings a former chief of coastgueards.
Hi Syd,
Not sure where this “Reply” should go – anyway I was strolling along Market Street and passed the Punch Bowl. Then I went up Trinity Road. I stopped by a line of cottages with a sign “Church View”. Across the road I could see Trinity churchyard.
I was reminded of an old postcard given to me by the Verger of St Hildeburgh’.
This was a drawing of the view I could now see. The drawing of the sports car included was about 1939 vintage.
Would you be interested in a copy of this blank Post card ?
Ricky.
Thirty years ago I visited a Thomas Hughes, and his wife, then living in Newton. I was pursuing my research into the Winter Gardens, and Thomas wrote to me because he had worked there in about 1917. Was he one of your family ?
Hi Bill,
Better late than never – so they say.
Tom Hughes and Anne Harding had a baby 1761
Tom Hughes = Jane Wright 1771
Joe Hughes = Margaret Barlow 1802
Tom Hughes = Mary Jones 1828
Ric Hughes = Alice Eccles 1794
Cheers Ricky Cooper
Hi Ricky
I have Richard Hughes b 1774 m to Alice Eccles b 1774 in my Holmes/Eccles tree.
I live in Newcastle Australia and im researching Holmes/ Eccles/Worsley/ Myerscough families from Cheshire/Lancashire.
Can you please give me any more info please? Are you related to any of these people ?
thankyou
regards
Lyn Johnston
Hi Lyn,
Just to acknowledge your Email April 6, 2011.
I have done a little research on the ECCLES family who came over from Lancashire to Wirral.
It appears that one branch spread up the coast of West Wirral from Hoylake, while a second branch spread up the coast of East Wirral from Birkenhead. My interest in this family is limited to their links to my own Hoylake connections. [Bird, Hughes, Barlow - that is "Fisherfolk"] Most of my information has been taken from the St. Bridget BMD files. I have not explored the second branch who spread from Birkenhead towards Ellesmere Port and Eastham.
If you think that I could be of help – just let me know.
Ricky.
Lyn Johnston replies:
Hi Ricky,
I have Birds, Holmes, Eccles, Hughes, Hattons, Housleys, Myerscough etc all in the family tree .. I am trying to find more info as my details are very sketchy in parts.I am connected mainly with the Holmes line.
I am also trying to make contact with any of the family who still live in the area to find out more local info. I am in Australia , near Newcastle.. I am also trying to locate a cousin that came to Oz a couple of years ago and Ive lost contact with her. Her name is Kay Morgan, if any body can give me her contact details as I would like to catch up with her again next year.
So any help would be very much appreciated.
thanks
Regards
Hi Lyn
I have a couple of gedcoms that I can E Mail you.
Syd.
Hi Bill
I have Richard Hughes b 1774 m to Alice Eccles b 1774 in my Holmes/Eccles tree.I also have a
Thomas,Robert, William,Joseph,Alice, Ann,Maria & John Hughes
I live in Newcastle Australia and im researching Holmes/ Eccles/Worsley/ Myerscough families from Cheshire/Lancashire.
Can you please give me any more info please? Are you related to any of these people ?
thankyou
regards
Lyn Johnston
Hi Bill,
I am a descendant of Richard Hughes and Alice Eccles if you wish to exchange information,
Keith Hatton
Yes the Old Parish Church.
Where did the bell go?
I would like to know where it was Cast? There used to be a Brown Foundry in Liverpool. I am under the understanding it was donated by a Brown. The Browns were from Birkenhead.
Reading the names of contributors brings back memories. My family lived from about 1942 until October 1948 in 9 Lake Place. I remember I walked along Grove Road and the entry to get to the infants school and remember getting a shock in February 1944 to come out of the entry and saw my dad standing waiting and as we walked home he told me that I had a baby sister. In July 1944 I went to the Junior school. I remember that in 1st year Miss Rowlands used to have a short stick which she held down low as you were reading and mistakes were ‘rewarded’ with a swipe across the back of the leg. I can also remember a couple of years later standing in the playground watching and eclipse through smoked glass. Prior to their marriage in October 1936 my father, Eric Johnson lived at 24 Church Road and my mother’s family, Albert and Hannah Buckle lived at either 47 or 49 Church Road. Albert buckle died in an accident at Cammel Lairds on 27th June 1937 and his wife moved to 12 Marmion Road, at the corner of Marmion and Lake. They are both buried in Holy Trinity Church yard, just across the wall from where the Infants school was. Does anyone remember the air-raid shelter in Marmion Road at the Government Road end and on the park side. For about a year or so in 1955 to 56 I was Assistant Scoutmaster with 1st Hoylake, when the senior scouts got us lost on a training weekend in Llandudno.
Members of my family lived at No.1 Lake place. although I am not sure of the date.
Hi Marian. In an earlier reply in this message chain you mentioned your great grandfather William James Stanley and also William George Collings, a coastguard. My great grand father was William George Collings whose 1st marriage was to Eliza Stanley (nee Teeton), who I guess was your great great grandmother ( I believe that makes us 1st cousins 3 times removed!). From a Family History viewpoint, I’d be interested to know if you have any information about Eliza, William or Stephen. I recently found out that William Collings had a fishing trawler named ‘Ruby’ in Hoylake around 1890. Regards, Robin
I am curious to know who you were related to in 1 Lake Place, my Grandparents lived at this adress, Sis and Abe Cumpsty and there was another woman that lived in the front room who was my Uncle Bill’s mother, we called her Gradma Halewood.
Don, I was particularly interested in your comments regarding Albert and Hannah Buckle. I believe that we are related as Benjamin Buckle and his wife Caroline Buckle (nee Condy-Riddolls) were Alberts parents and he was the brother of my great grandfather Peter Buckle.
My grandmothers maiden name was Beatrice Buckle. I believe that I have a photograph of your grandmother and grandfather (It may even be their wedding) and if you send me your email address I will send you a copy.
Would she have been related to a Miss Buckle who was for many years at Austin’s toy shop? I used to love going in there in the 60s and choosing a Corgi or Dinky car from the glass-fronted cases on the right hand side. Miss Austin or Miss Buckle would disappear into the store room when something requested wasn’t on display. Invariably they would emerge several minutes later with the item!
Not too sure on that one Peter but I do remember Miss Buckle well as I delivered papers for Austin’s back in the 50′s.
However if she was one of the original Buckles she would be related to you as the first Buckle in Hoylake was, as I said previously, Benjamin. (At least I understand he was first)
FYI According to The Hoylake Directory of 1921 your grandad, Albert lived at 41 Rudd Street.
Sorry Peter, Albert was Don’s grandad not yours
Sorry to throw a squib in but records show that Benjamin Buckle lived in Lake Road, he was a Navy Pensioner was born in 1835 and died 27/06/1890 aged 55.
However, the 1897 Street directory shows his wife, Caroline, living at 14 Alderley Road.
They appear to have had four children:
John Riddolls Buckle born 1867 died 13/01/1894 aged 27 but where the ‘Riddoll’s came from is a mystery.
William Henry Buckle b 03/08/1871 bit died 19/02/1972 aged 6 months.
Susan Buckle b 1874 but the 1912 street directory shows her as living on her own in 41 Rudd Street.
Albert Edward Riddolls Buckle b 04/07/1875 died 27/06/1937 aged 62 due to an accident at Lairds shipyards.
In 1901 Albert married Hannah Bertha Riddolls and they had four children.
I delivered papers for them in the early sixties for four years and the best thing about delivering papers for them was that the papers were made up by Miss Buckle before you arrived so that you started at 7am rather than 6.30am at Bentleys where you had to make them up yourself. I rode Miss Buckle’s bike which had no crossbar and was lighter and lower geared than the “boys” bikes. Although this meant the top speed was limited, the 0-20mph acceleration was much better and handier for the backstreets of Hoylake. The worst round was Stanley Road where you had to fight the wind against you towards Red Rocks, but at least coming back, with the wind behind you, you were blown along without hardly pedalling at all! Losing the papers out of the carrier when your bike fell over in the wind meant that you had to chase them all the way down the road as they disappeared everywhere!
After a spell delivering papers for them, in the mid-60s my wife had a Saturday job at Austin’s. She remembers the store room and even the loo had stocks of cars around it! Miss Buckle would make her a cup of milky coffee and two digestive biscuits for elevenses, every Saturday. The shop sold expensive writing paper and even plants in the summer as well as toys. In the winter it was really cold and heated by a little paraffin oil heater.
Incidentally Don, the photograph is taken at the wedding of Hannah and Albert
I have discovered I am related to the Rev. J. H. Swainson, who was the first parson at the church. He was the son of a Timothy Swainson who’s wife Betty paid for the building of the church in his memory. Does anyone know anymore about the Swainson family?
Many thanks
Elaine
Dear Elaine,
Great to hear that you are related to the Rev. J.H. Swainson! I’m currently researching a manual of family prayer he published in 1848 and 1862 called The Churchman’s Book of Family Prayer as part of PhD on Victorian family prayer!
I’m am currently trying to find out more about him myself but it is proving difficult. Perhaps we could help each other by letting one another know if/when we find out anything?
If you go to google books you can see a full version of your ancestors wonderful prayer book!
Many thanks,
Steven
HI John,
Due you remember the united Evensong? I was in St Hildeburgh’s choir from 66-75, when Mr Hale had his accident and broke his hip, the weekend before Lifeboat Sunday in 75. I can remember Jennie, Joan and Peter Pearce, rwo sisters, Ginnie and Geraldine Roberts, Gill Becque, Heather Slade, Claire and David Hale, Suzanne and Peter Clarke, Jeff Kernighan, Carol Hazlehurst, Kay Eggleton. The men included Colin Hall, still there and started as a treble, Mr John Turnbull – over 60 years and a former cavalry officer in the Lancs and Cheshire Hussars, Mr Eric Brassey, Mr Bob Cooke and Mr Herbert Eccles – who taught Mr Hale to sing bass in the 20s, a price Mr Hale had to pay for being deputy organist who thought that after he left St Bridgets that his days as a chorister were over.
Mr Hale was taught the organ by the previous organist Mr Norman Biller, who specified the Rushworth and Dreaper organ in the 20s. He went to Hoylake from a church in Wallasey with the incentive of specifying a new organ which cost £5-6000 at the time. Mr Biller was apparently known to Sir John Stainer and used to receive copies of anthems prior to publication. Sadly, much of this musical treasure trove was binned on the change of organist in the 70s. Mr Biller was also responsible for the manuscript psalter, which he produced to have chants to match the words of every psalm.
I have very fond memories of my days in the choir, there.
Singing in St Hildeburgh’s choir between 1970-75,I remember you well Meridel and all the names you speak of, in fact Carol Hazelhurst gave me singing lessons for a while. I remember too, mid service breaks at the Jeager sisters (?) with a trip over the golf course to get to their eccentric home nestled at the end of the drive.
Those years stood me in good stead and I still sing today performing at local functions etc.Great days though,I seem to remember your mums warm kitchen Meridel,great soup and the cutest little dog……was he a fox terrier?
Ah! I remember the Jeager sisters in The Old Garden at the beginning of Meols Drive – a delightful country cottage-style house completely hidden from the road unless on the top deck of a Crosville bus!
They had a marvellous conker tree in the garden and on a few occassions I was allowed to go and collect conkers for battle with my class mates at Dormie House School in Riversdale Road, West Kirby. Soaking in vinegar, baking in the oven and so on were all part of the fun in making one’s conker indestructible!
This old photo might also jog a few more memories: http://www.hoylakejunction.com/hoylake-parish-church-st-johns-ambulance
I too remember the Jaeger sisters – Diana and Joanna – and also their brother Giles. Diana was the one who took away the younger children during the sermon and kept them occupied for the duration. She used to be in the ladychapel during the service and emerge from there at the appropriate moment and would lead the children away, pied-piper style. I think she taught at West Kirby Girls’ Grammar School; science I think, maybe part-time.
I saw Giles a few years ago and he gave me the sad news that Diana was in Sandtoft, which I understand had become a care home. I have to assume she has died by now.
I was googling my name just to see where I was posted and I came upon this! Wow! Yes, being in the choir was a very important part of my life at Hoylake and gave me the interest and enthusiasm in music to become a secondary school music teacher.
I have always sung in a choir since I joined the church choir at the age of 11, and have conducted children’s choirs as well as adult choirs. My favourite was to direct school musicals with children acting, dancing and singing to an orchestra. But I gave up school teaching 5 years ago to become a counsellor and a sound therapist, which I also love.
I was so sad to come back to Hoylake years ago to find the swimming pool gone. I used to spend all summer there, even when the temperature was about 43F !!
My Mum’s ashed were scattered off Meols prom 5 years ago, as were my father’s in 1972 (I think). So I occasionally return to look at Avondale Rd, West Kirby Grammar, Hilbre Island and the sea off Meols. I don’t suppose anyone will remember me, it’s been such a long time since I lived there. I am sorry to say I cannot remember any of the boys in the choir! (I was rather shy in those days!)
Hello Gill…..
Sorry I am late but have just seen your posting. Yes, somebody does remember you. We went to school together at Market Street and got up to various bits of mischief together. It all seems a world away now. My parents live in Avondale Road and we often pass your old house and fondly remember you all. I live down in the Cotswolds these days…..but there is nowhere like Hoylake and its people. I love getting home. Alas, no swimming pool now but then that means that I don’t go blue with cold either!
Margot Triggs
John William Parr writes:
I well remember the united evensongs! As local boys, we Parish Choirboys saw this as a kind of “Hoylake derby”. We came to St Hildeburghs for shared evensong at Harvest Festival. Jack Hale always told us to behave and stop chatting! But we actually had a pretty good choir. I was in the Parish Church choir from 1961 to 1969…I joined a week before my 7th birthday and could not see over the choir stalls. Malcolm Studholme was Head Boy, followed by John Cookson. Cookie had a great voice – I still have his old hymn book with his name in it. I inherited it when I became Head Chorister. Our choir included my brother Mike, Ray Millett, Andy Jones, Brian Jones, Russell Tattum, Paul Tattum, Rob Parry, Andrew Walters, Steve and Dougie Armitage. Lifeboat coxswain Dave Whitely was also a member. Our men included chimney sweep Fred Rimmer, Steve Case, Alan Powell, Mr Watts, and Neil Coslett who married Jennie in St Hildeburgh’s choir, was ordained but has sadly died. Our veteran…not nearly so fieresome as Mr Turnbull….was Mr Hopwood whom we grew to love and respect after he told us of his time in the trenches.
Another occasion we used to get together for a united evensong was Trinity Sunday because the Parish Church was Holy Trinity. This used to be a “home fixture” for us. We always felt the poor relations of St Hildeburghs. You used to process behind a fine, brass cross…ours was wooden and had been glued at the top. We used to have the joint choir trips of course, they were great! Southport was the most popular, with fish and chips for tea in a cafe.
I have a recording of our Parish Church choir made in about 1966. I am thinking of having it digitally remastered, it was recorded in Dickensian conditions. It would be fun to sell copies for charity. I suspect it is the only surviving recording of a choir at the old Parish Church…though I hope very much I am wrong. If anybody else has copies or old tapes of either the Parish Church or St Hildeburgh’s choirs it would be great to hear about them.
My Dad was Head Chorister at St Hildeburghs under Mr Biller. A brilliant organist I believe and not a man to be trifled with. My Dad Billie never called him Norman, that’s for sure. He still reveres him now!
I must stop there……great times! John Parr
John, I read your writeup with pangs of hiraeth (as it goes in the Welch), particularly when I saw the name of an old friend whom I met on the very first day he and his dad came to Hoylake. So I wonder if you have the contact information for Malcolm Studholme.
Regards
Hi Bernie
Well I don’t seem to have any contact details for Malcolm sorry.
If anyone does, get in touch and I’ll sort something out.
Cheers
John C
Hello Bernie –
I’m afraid I have lost contact with Malcolm Studholme. When i was in the choir myself I often used to chat to his Dad, a lovely man who always came to evensong. He was always pleasant and very dapper; they lived towards the bottom of Trinity Road, on the left as you go down to the beach.
Cheers – John
John Parr
Hi, Meridel & John ! I remember you, John Parr, when you lived in the house in Government Road, which was demolished for the Council flats. Then you moved to Hazel Road. There’s no earthly reason why you would remember me, however.
Regarding the church choirs, I was never in either (too shy) but my elder sisters (Barbara & Alison Morris) were both in St. Hidleburgh’s choir. This would have been in the very early 60′s; they would both have flown the nest by the time Meridel speaks of. Another name not mentioned is Maureen Stanley and a friend of mine, David Elston was in it for a while; as was his elder brother John and, I think, David Yeaman. I remember many of the people you name; several were also in the church youth club. I used to go to St. Hildeburgh’s evensong as a child and I particularly remember Mr. Turnbull who read the lessons; more awe-inspiring than God himself !
I’m surprised the Parish’s organist Alan Galloway has not been mentioned. First-class organist when sober, but alas he was dismissed after playing The Battle Hymn of the Republic when he should have been accompanying the Nunc Dimittis. This due to one of his long sessions in The Lake Inn. After that incident, in 1963, Colin Legg of Kingsmead School took the post ; but only for a short while, I think. I believe one of the Miss Williamsons, who ran the sweetshop at the corner of Market Street and Elm Grove, used to play sometimes.
Does anyone remember the curate round about 1960/61, a Mr. Paget ? He liked a tipple also, and had a quart tankard held for his use in the men’s bar of the Green Lodge. He was renowned for 5-minute sermons, but on one occasion he is believed to have had a measure or two and went on for well over half an hour. He used to ride round Hoylake on a squeaky bicycle and he lived in a house in Grosvenor Terrace. He got married, left, and his successor was Ivor Davies. The vicar at this time was Canon Devereaux.
The Youth Club published a magazine for a short while, with some humorous articles featuring some of these famous characters. I could photocopy it for anyone interested.
You are right Charles! Yes I was in St Hildeburghs choir around 1960-61, with Jack Hale as choir master, David Hale,John Elston, Heather Slade and many others. My brother Bill Yeaman was in the choir 8 years before with my cousin Tony Parry. I later joined Hoylake Presbyterian Church with the attraction of its Youth Club, in the days when the Reverend Evans was in charge.
Would be good to hear from you after many years!
A message for Elaine above: not sure of all my details but the Swainsons were the family who bought the big house, now demolished, caled the Dale – there’s a photo on this website – some time in the 1830s. The Dale was orginally planned as a hotel but was purchased by the Mr Timothy Swainson who would have been the father of the Rev. and was a merchant in Liverpool. He left a legacy to build the church so that local fishermen did not have to make the long walk to West Kirby each week (the nearest churches then would have been in West Kirby and Upton). The Dale was pulled down about one hundred year ago……
Charles, I also remember the Jaeger family. Giles used to go sailing on Coniston at the weekends, but used to be back in time for Evensong at St Hildeburgh’s. He used to sit at the back, in the side aisle. I can remember one Sunday night, in the days of one of the many Welsh curates, John Jones, who never preached for less than 20 minutes. Anyway he gave this thundering ‘And, yes, my friends…..’. In the deathly quiet that followed, Giles could be heard snoring, none too gently, at the back.
The family were very kind, especially to the choir. During the 70s, John Richards started a 9:30am Family Communion the first Sunday in the month. Choir attendance was compulsory, as for Matins at 11am. At that time it was customary not to eat or drink before taking Communion. Therefore with very little time between the two services there was no time for the choir to get breakfast, something the Vicar had not considered. The sisters kindly invited the choir to take breakfast at their house. So, every month we traipsed across the golf course in our cassocks. One month the sisters were away and Giles looked after us. The sausages given by his sisters were replaced by smoked salmon sandwiches, perhaps his preferred Sunday Breakfast!
John William Parr comments:
I would love to see the photos of Hazel Road and School Lane to which Syd Bird refers. To my early recollection, there were 3 houses which stood higher than the rest on the seaward side of Hazel Road. Apparently my godfather’s family, The Tebbs, lived in one. They were the family who offered the donkey rides and horse and trap rides to Hilbre. My godfather Harry was the first Hoylake UDC custodian of the island in about 1943.
The old houses were demolished and the council built 3 homes there, we lived in number 11. We were moved from the old Coastguard House in Goverment Road where we had lived for 12/6d per week. My Dad Bill still has the old rent book.
On the opposite side of Hazel Road where Hoose Court now stands were a number of cottages with long gardens. There was a quaint old sweet shop around the corner at the top of Schhol Lane. There were also small cul-de-sacs off School Lane itself. Behind the houses towered Hough’s timber yard…with it’s huge black sheds. A wonderful playground! Residents and old friends included Tim Hazelhurst, his Mum Eileen and late father Les, another local fireman Jack and Eileen Hazelhurst and their family, the Bulls, Ashtons, Nobes, and Chapples. We played football for hours on end…some great goals were scored in Hazel Road… and many runs scored in summer.
The Parish Church curate lived in Grosvenor Road then verger Eddie Piercy and his family. I’m not sure of the number but someone will know it.
John,
I have a photo taken on the shore in about 1915, featuring a sign “G. Tebbs – Parties conveyed to Hilbre Island”. It is a detail in a view which shows the lifeboat house, the sailing club and the Lower Lighthouse. You may well have seen it and I’m sure Syd Bird has it, but should it be of any interest I could copy it for you.
Regards,
Charles Morris
Hi John C and John P,
I will send you the two photos I have of houses in Hazel Road /School Lane tomorrow,in the meantime I wanted to say that by far the best photo I have seen of School Lane is on the Hoylake Photographic Society website.
Regards,
Syd
Hi John P,
Have been following the discussion here with interest and talking about it with my mother in law Valerie,, she seems to think that its possible your family and her’s are related. Her Uncle was Harry Tebbs and Her mother was Amy Tebbs then when she got wed her surname was Burns, formerly of Hazel Road then moved when wed to West Kirby, She remembers your father Bill and thinks that somewhere down the line you are related.
I remember Mr Piercy very well from when i Lived in Trinity Road opposite the church, nice man. my kids at the time always thought he was God doing his garden lolll he was very pleased with that when i told him. He thought it was hilarious.
Diane
John W Parr replies:
ello Diane -
Harry Tebbs was my godfather and was the first Hoylake UDC custodian of Hilbre Island. Harry married my Mum’s cousin, Anne McDonald. At one time they lived in Caldy Road. In the early 50;s they emigrated and the family are now live on Vancouver Island. Anne is still going though now aged around 90. Sadly Harry died some years ago now.
My Dad Bill Parr is still with us. He’s 86 and not in good health but he has not lost his charm!
Great to hear from you.
Best wishes – John Parr
Hiya John
Nice to hear that your dad hasnt lost his charm, you are distantly related then, Harry was my mother in laws uncle, Amy, Alice and May Tebbs were his sisters, May is still alive she is about 93 I think now and living with her daughter in Shropshire.
Due to my parents being married twice Harry is also my sisters Uncle my dads first wife was Alice Tebbs, who died young, My sisters name is Shirley Beech
Nice to hear from you to I will relay your comments to my Mum in Law
Take Care
Diane
Hi John,
Today my eye was caught whilst browsing comments from December 2010. Re- Hoose Court.
Mr. W.G.Trueman, of 33 Hoose Court, Market Street, Hoylake. Aged 81 in 2001. Now 91 presumably.
He told me then that he had researched the “TRUEMAN” name back to the 12th. Century, and had had a book of his Family Tree produced at a cost of £28.00. (his telephone number was 0151 – 632 – 4553)
I thought no more about this until today – soooooooooooo
Can anyone enlighten me regarding Mr. Trueman ?
Ricky Cooper. My G’Grandfather, William Trueman, used to live 41 Groveland Avenue.
Audrey Bamber writes:
When I was a child in Hoylake in the 1930s, I remember a Wilf Sherlock who worked for R.C. Hughes in Market Street. Hoylake.
Hi John,
Mr Hale also revered Norman Biller, the previous organist, and the man who taught Mr Hale to play the organ. In fact when he moved from Wallasey, as I think it was, to St Hildeburgh’s he was insistent that Mr Hale become the deputy organist, and join the choir. I don’t think either that he would have called him ‘Norman’, and his wife was Mr Biller’s daughter! Mr Hale was a very modest man, and, in my opinion, an excellent choirmaster. I fell in love with the organ at the age of 3 when taken to Matins, and was very lucky to be taught to play on the instrument there.
Sadly Mr Hale felt he wasn’t sufficently well-qualified to teach me, but I was extremely lucky to be taught by one of the organ advisors to the diocese, a Mr Gilbert Curtis, who lived in the parish and who was organist and choirmaster at St Saviour’s. Sadly, my lessons were too infrequent due to his international commitments and my reluctance to practice hymns playing the bass on the pedals not to mention nervousness to have ever reached a standard to become deputy organist. In my first lesson, I was taught how to make that wonderful 3-manual instrument sound like a xylophone!
Mr Hale used to search out stories to tell us during choir practice to make things more interesting, particularly the psalms. His 2 pet hates were tongue-laziness and lip-laziness. He used to leap off the organ bench during practices and disappear off down the church to check that every word finished correctly. His particular dislikes were words ending with a ‘t’ – he would say it sounded like someone calling the cat in, if he heard t-t-t-t-t and that old standard ‘world withoutendamen’ from the gloria he got rather cross. He believed the function of the choir and organist was not to be a virtuoso, but rather to ‘lead the congregation in the saying and the singing’ in the services.
Both Mr Hale and Mr Turnbull has wanted to enter the church and be ordained, although neither was available to do so due to family commitments, but gave the same commitment to the choir.
Towards the end of his life, Mr Turnbull was nearly completely blind, but read the lessons from memory. During all the Sundays after Trinity, he would do requests, and my particular favourite was the reading from Isiah starting ‘In the year that king Uziah died an angel appeared before the throne’. It still sends shivers down my spine.
Regarding recordings of the choir, Mr Hale had made recordings of the choir for services like Cross of Christ, Risen with Christ, O come Emmanuel, and possibly for anthems, too. Maybe it would be possible to obtain copies from Claire or David. If they still exist, the tapes will be about 40 years old, so rather fragile.
Gail – we did indeed have a dog – a Lakeland called Ruffy, he lived to be 17 and died in 1977. My parents never had another dog.
I don’t think you could beat the atmosphere of the midnight service for mouthing ‘Happy Christmas’ across the chancel – then going home to put the turkey in the oven!
Sorry for the length, feeling rather nostalgic tonight, not to mention 800 miles away!
Regards
Meridel
I came across this site quite by chance & it has brought many memories flooding back. I grew up in Hoylake in Dovedale Rd. I went to School Lane & then Market street school. I was christened at Trinity Church by Cannon Devereaux on the same day as Gina Dawson which I’m told was a bit confusing as we both had the same fairly unusual name.
John, I remember you & your brother very well.I loved watching you sing. I was desperate to be in the choir but only boys allowed!! We used to attend half the service & then run off to Sunday School in the old church hall next to the park. I sang folk songs there years later every Tuesday evening. I carried banners for the Brownies & Guides proudly on Lifeboat Sundays. I was also very sad & annoyed when that lovely old church was demolished.
I did get my way though & sang in the choir at St. Hildeburghs but cant remember exact dates & like you Meridel loved the breakfasts at the Jeager household. I think I even remember the smoked salmon Sunday ~ your memory is so much better than mine!! I do remember getting told off for making a noise pulling the newly starched hem of my cassock apart! I was married by Rev John Richards in St H in 1983.
I also sang on Sunday evenings in the choir at the Presbyterian Church & sat through those sermons of Mr Evans. I went to the Youth club there & played badminton every Saturday with Amanda Hirst.
Other memories ~ the baths, I got a contract for my birthday every May & went almost every day till it closed in September ~ rain or shine ~ the YMCA, trampolining & gymnastics every Tuesday & Thursday evening ~ guarding the ‘Bonny’ on the shore at the bottom of Clydesdale Rd ~ running out after the lifeboat tractor…….I could go on & on…..
My parents still live in Dovedale Rd & I visit every month or so.
I remember the Rice family & I had piano lessons from Heather Slade for years.
Thanks for reminding me ~ what a great place to grow up
Best wishes
Georgina
Audrey Bamber writes:
Hi. I agree with you about the disappearance of Holy Trinity Church, Hoylake.. Do you know what happened to its contents? There were stained glass windows and boards with the ten commands painted on them, also a stone font. I have born in Hoylake in 1930 and remember it fondly. Also the vicarage next door, which became a British Restaurant during the last war. Audrey
IThe contents of the old Parish Church?
I believe the stained glass windows were removed and the organ taken to another church elsewhere in the diocese. The wonderful old bell also would appear to have gone to another parish. Sadly, I heard the font just got smashed up in the demolition. I’d like to think not….I was baptised in that font like many of us…but that is what I heard.
According to my Dad Bill, the old organ was originally pumped by hand with bellows. He said it did not sound too good but when it was electrified it changed it overnight. I remember it as having a beautiful, bright sound. I do hope it is getting good use still.
The removal of the bell was very emotive at the time and still is. Many of us would love to see its return, not least because it was paid for by the local fishing community. I have posed the question to Chester Diocese to see what did happen to the organ, the windows and the bell. Just to see. I’ll let folks know if they can let us know.
My name is gill, my nan lived in no 4 trinity street until she passed away in 77 her name was nancy edwina shaw, her first husband was Henry Sanley and she remarried an Earnest Shaw, I was also christened at this church on the same day julien lennon was, mymother was mistaken for cynthia.
Hello, I have just found this website and it has brought back flooding memories. I too went to the Infants School in School Lane and then to the Holy Trinity Junior school. I too remember Miss Rowlands and her foolptoof method of teching tables etc. Canon Deveraux was preparing some of us for confirmation at Holy Trinity Church, we tried to avoud the fron row as he spat when talking. Does anyone remember Mrs Hughes. I was a 1950s lettle girl..I took the 11+ and passed for West Kirby High. I did a year there then moved to Lincolnshire as my mother had died and relations took me in. My mother is in the churchyard in a family grave of the Webb family from Grove Road
what a super site this is and I am desparately trying to trace roots and people..Gillian Pringle The Pearce family the Quilliams ..would love to find some connection
Sheila
Hello Sheila,
You may recall me, Bernie Watts, I certainly remember you. I seem to recall that you sat on the back row. I didn’t know your mum had died and that’s why you moved on, It must have been very traumatic for you. I remember Gillian Pringle, I think you sat next to her? if memory serves me correctly I emigrated to Canada nearly 40 yeras ago and currently live on the shores of Lake Huron. Incidentally did you marry a Hoylake Devlin?
Regards
Bernie
Hi great to hear from you ..and to hopefully a start of hearing about people from my childhood.
My best friend was Hilary Quilliam and I lived in a flat over Billy’s in Market Street. I believe it is now a restaurant. Our address was Charles Road as we used the back exit obviously.
I moved like I said and my Aunty and Uncle brought me up. My first teaching post was in Doncaster Yorks where I met my husband, Sadly we divorced after 12 years but still friends which is a good thing..so the Devlin part is nothing to do with Hoylake.
I used to go to Holy Trinity church every Sunday though I had connections with St Hilderburg’s. I now go to a Holy Trinity church here in Doncaster..wheel come full circle !!
I would love to hear from you and compare memories. Canada always seems such a wonderful country
best wishes Sheila
Nice to hear from you Sheila, I remember Hilary as well; it all seems so long ago now; then again I guess it is. The world has certainly moved on to a place that seems very inconsistent with our childhood memories of the 50′s, that’s for sure.
Canada is a great country, big, open and empty! We live out in the boonies right on the edge of Lake Huron, a fifteen minute drive from the border crossing between Sarnia in Canada and Port Huron in the US, a ten minute drive from Forest, Ontario.
We have travelled extensively and my job, before I retired took us to many other countries in which we lived including China, Japan, Mexico and the Irish Republic.
I am fortunate I have been married to the same lovely person for over forty years, she is Irish and we met when she lived in West Kirby. Her dad was with the then “Air Ministry”. We have three daughters, all with their own families, one of them returned to the UK for nearly ten years during which time she worked as a nurse at Arrowe Park Hospital receiving her degree in that discipline from John Moore’s. She later returned here and did a post grad in IT and has been in that field ever since.
The other two did their degrees here in Canada one works at Child Services in Kitchener, Ontario and the other is in the Crown Attorney’s office in London Ontario.
I am retired now and take life nice and easy, although I am on the Board of Directors of a Hi Tech company in Ottawa and keep my hand in that way.
We are both quite active in our local Church, St. Christophers, although Marg, my wife, is better at it than me, I’m more suited to fishing and stuff like that, at least when the damn snow goes, we still have some hanging around even now! regarding the white stuff I think we are just about out of the woods but one can not really be certaiin until the end of May.
Well thats about it for now.
Regards
Bernie
Hi Bernie, great to hear your news, you have had a very varied life !
Mine seems quite mundane compared to yours..like I said, I trained to teach and have been doing that for the last umpty-nine years..a job that I adore and still do when I am needed in my school as supply..I still know most of the parents and children..it is an Independent school though I taught in the state for yonks.
I have one son ..communications offiver for Cystic Fibrosis Soc though he did law at uni but didn’t want to practise..can’t tell them anything can you
Our church is an Anglo- Catholic one..so all the probs with splits..it will get sorted. My mother was Catholic but married an Anglican so although I went to Holy Trinity in Trinity road I had different connections.as well..that all changed when she died when I was 11 and taken in by relis when I was 12 and my Father couldn’t cope with a little girl..I have had a great life though
After Easter am off to Santiago de Compostella on a walking pilgrimage..done it before so have been out with my ruckie getting more practice
you are so right about how places change. I have been back to Hoylake once and it was so much smaller than when I roamed the streets playng and on my bike. I am actually coming in August with a friend and her Aussie niece..hope to eat at the Golden Orchid ? which is the house I was born in 46 Market Street,,dying for a real nosy round
well it is so good to have found this web site and that people are taking the trouble to contact me thank you all so much it means a lot
take care and hopefully speak soon Sheila
Great to hear about Market Street school in the fifties,I remember Mrs Hughes and Miss Rowlands not of course forgetting the Head Teacher Mr Molyneux who retired the year that I “graduated ” to the Parade(1953). In addition there was the husband and wife teachers Mr and Mrs Jones?. As for the Infants school in School Lane ,Miss Young was the head teacher when I was there
I probably was a bit before you at school as it wasn’t that name who was the Head..but I can’t remember his name now . I remember “Pop Powelly” who took year 1 we used to go into his room on wet plays and read comics..brill !!!
I was born in ’45 so would be 49 or 50 when I started in the infants year not age !!! Just before I started at the infants my 2 years older brother got knocked over on Market Street by a bus ..died ..he had been taken over and ran back but that’s children isn’t it !! he was in either reception or the next class..I have been trying to get info but can’t access school log books
I loved school but like I said aprt from sewing and maths !!!!
Hoylake looks very vibrant these days from the website..we used to play on the golflinks by the railway station for hours on end..wouldn’t dare let little ones do that these days
good to hear from you and anyone from that dim and distant time !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I also used to haunt the children’s library also up near the staion
best wishes Sheila (Wray )
Sheila :- If Syd ‘graduated to the Parade in1953 , he was born approx 1942 and is older , not younger , than you . As you said , Maths wasn’t your best subject !
I rest my case !!!!!
the Head of the junior school was Mr Harrison as far as I can remember
and as I say..what a good job I was ok at other things !!
thanks for that ..silly me !!
Sheila
One last thing Sheila
School Lane Infants….
Miss Young (dog was Jock, lazy devil always sleeping in a hammock)
Miss Jordan
Miss Parry
Miss Gill?
Market Street Junior….
Miss Rolands (pegleg)
Mr Powell (pop)
Mrs Jones
Mrs Hughes
Miss Edwards
I too am a 50s child from School Lane, then Market St then the Parade School,I remember Mrs Hughes she was a nice lady she lived in Trinity Road on the corner by Avondale Rd, also remember Miss Rowlands or pegleg as we children called her, but obviously not to her face. She was a strict teacher but fair.
My parents were friends with a John and Freda Devlin who lived in Hazel Road, any relation to you??
Diane.
John and Freda Devlin were my uncle and aunty. Freda died many years ago and John went into a nursing home in Birkenhead. Even though I live in Canada I kept a house on Column Road, West Kirby until 1989 and I had him over once to meet with my mum, his sister. Mum died in 1996 and I assume that John has passed on also.
Bernie
Helo Diane yes Mrs Hughes was lovely wasn’t she. The only things I didn’t like were sewing as I wasn’t any good at those practical things and often used to lose the needle arggg !!!! Also I was not good at Maths and didn’t really understand,,my English must have been tons better as I passed the 11+ and walked most days along the side of the golf course to West Kirby Grammar and yes I was scared of “peg -leg”
I went to college and have now just retired from teaching although I spend quite a lot of time going back to my old school doing supply.
As I said to Bernie the Devlin part comes from here in Doncaster where I have lived for the past umpty-nine years hopefully as I have already said..I would love to keep in touch with people if possible..I think most people feel drawn to their roots don’t they. I spent may happy summer holidays on the beach at the end of Alderley Road, at the baths and going to the cinema on Sat afternoons- Alderley road? watching the children’s matinees and then galloping home up the road at the end depending on what the films had been
take care best wishes Sheila
Hi Sheila
Yes the cinema was in Alderley Road, though in my younger days i prefered the Tudor in West Kirby now knocked down and getting ready to be an Aldi supermarket.
The beach in those days was lovely nice soft sand these days the sand is wet and full of midges not nice at all. Such a shame.
I too had great fun in the baths I spent most of my summers in there, like most of us did i suspect. Happy days.
take care
Diane
Appreciate the note Sheila, travel has it’s advantages and drawbacks
(sometimes seems that you don’t really fit in anywhere). Nice to hear that
your boy is doing well and I wish him luck. I hope your pilgrimage (the
longest in Europe I think) goes well and that you don’t wear out too many
running shoes. Marg and I went on a Pilgrimage a few years ago to the Holy
Land, I would certainly recommend it, you can’t get any closer than to walk
where He walked.
Several years ago we went on a sort of “pilgrimage” (if a Catholic can call
it that) to Tibet, we spent some time visiting temples and shrines before
driving out through the high passes to Kathmandu in Nepal. It was something
I had always wanted to do ever since I won a book prize, about the Forbidden
Land, at the Presbyterian church in Hoylake when I was about six years old.
Regarding your mum while I don’t know how you feel I do have some
understanding of what you went through in that Marg’s mum died when she was
only nine and that has had a huge impact on her and her family. In one
respect she was more fortunate than you as notwithstanding the breakup of
the family, (she was admitted as a boarder into a convent in Ireland for two
years) her dad was able to get the family back together (eight children) in
England.
Regards
Bernie
ps have a great trip back to Hoylake
Hi Bernie,
Nice to hear from you, sadly john passed away must be ten years ago now, possibly more his daughter still lives in Greasby so i believe. I used to see her around Hoylake she had a little clothes shop at the top of Manor Road for a while, then Pat retired I think. But that is going back oh 32 years ago i used to buy clothes from her for my daughter who was a toddler.
Cheers Diane
Does anyone remember old Mr. Riding, from Trinity Road? He had a horse and cart and used to sell fruit and veg from street to street
I remember several Riding kids, Alison, Tony, Richard and an older daughter whose name I forget.
There was also a blacksmiths at the back of Trinity Road. I think the smithies name was Fleet…
Whiteley’s “chippie” was in Walker Street…mmm I can taste them now.
The smell of bread early in the morning from Brosters the bakers
Someone on the site, mentioned an Eliza Teeton married to a Mr. Stanley. They were distant relations of mine. In fact their grandson, Stephan Stanley is buried in the very first grave in the Holy Trinity graveyard.
Wonderful memories of Hoylake as a teenager. The baths in Summer, Grove park, the Parish Hall dances…even better ones at the YMCA and of the coffee shop opposite…was it the Lantern?
Such glorious innocent days…never to return.
Thanks for this wonderful website, so full of long lost memories.
You missed out Les and Colin Ryding I think, their dad’s name was George, or Garge as we children all called him (never to his face).
I believe he was the last fruit merchant that sold veggies from a horse drawn cart in Hoylake. He kept the horse in a stable at the end of a small lane at the intersection of Shaw street and Grove Road and it was the greatest of thrills for us children to be there everyday around five oclock just to watch Mr Ryding put the nose bag on the horse and to watch him (the horse) munch away on the oats. AlsoI recall old Mr Fleet, working away on his hand or foot operated forge letting us watch the horses being shod, ( you had to be careful as if the smithy did something wrong the horse would kick out)
However even as time goes by and the world changes for good or worse it can’t take away those golden memories of a simpler time.
Regards
Bernie
Thanks Bernie. You just made me smile and made my day!
How could I have forgotten little Les Ryding?
Didn’t Richard Ryding go away to sea?
Do the family still live in Hoylake?
Also remember the old horse and his nose bag….oh what great days they were.
Regards
Sue
There was a good attendance of Rydings at the last Parade reunion.
“Old” Mr Ryding was in the bed opposite to me at the Cottage Hospital in 1964 (I cut my knee in a motorcycle collision – sewed up by Dr Ashe). They confirmed that he was their grandad and sadly died around that time.
Hello all,
I am Les Ryding’s son and am fascinated to read about my granddad George and his horse and cart, I don’t remember George at all as I was born in 1964. I remember Rebel the dog and visiting nan Joan Ryding in Trinity Road, and walking from Moreton to Hoylake baths in the summer holidays
I believe my parents used to live above a butchers shop as well
If anybody could tell me more I would be most grateful
Mark
Hi mark just spoke to richard and he said speak to your dad as he has got a copy of the family tree. Hope you and Mel are keeping well.
Love Aly
Hi Sue,
Eliza Teeton was my Great Grandmother. I’d be interested to learn of your relationship to her from the Family Tree viewpoint. My email is robin@blackwell2.plus.com
Regards,
Robin
Robin are you related to Tony, Geoff or Les?
Regards
Bernie W
Hi I don’t remember these people but does anyone else remember a man who used to sell fish from a roadside stall on the corner of Market Street and opposite Alderley Road? It was on the road that passed Charles Road..just up from a garage on the corner of Charles Road. As far as I remember we used to get some fish from him. (late 40s early 50s)
Also does anyone remember Mabel Webb who lived at 10 Grosvenor Road, she had 2 daughters, Daphne and Audrey..I have a feeling that when Daphne got married, she and husband took over a chippy somewhere along the main road towards Trinity Road…I think !!
best wishes and thanks again for such a brilliant site Sheila (Wray)
Triggs, Bird or Kiffin ring a bell Sheila.
Regards
Bernie
oh dear..very sadly …no..can you enlighten me
my memories are quite disjointed of the time I lived in Hoylake…some things are very familiar but others seem to be not on my rada so to speak
perhaps I wasn’t very observant as a little girl
regards Sheila
John Parr writes:
I can remember George Ryding and his horse. I also remember his dog….an Alsatian called Rebel. As small children we were terrified of Rebel who used to walk alongside the horse and cart. We thought he was a wolf but I daresay he was a lovely dog.
I can remember being utterly amazed when I saw someone rush out with a dustpan and brush, sweep up the horse droppings and put them around her rose plants. Very strrange behaviour I thought….welcome to organic gardening!
The man who sold the fish was Mr Kiffin. He and his mother lived in School Lane and sold fish from a green handcart. To watch them fillet a fish was a treat – they were so quick and skilled. And the fish were so fresh. Hoylake plaice!
John Parr
I remember Rebel,Alisons dog, and Mr Ryding I went to school with Alison. Alison lives in Trinity Rd, Colin lives in Canada somewhere, I don’t remember fish being sold on the main road apart from the fish shop, but the name Mr Kiffin rings a bell
I remember Mrs May Hughes who sold fish from a handcart and went knocking door to door to sell the fresh fish Her husband had caught.
I can remember that, in the last year of the war and the years that followed, until my famly moved to Greasby in October 1948, we had three bakers in Hoylake, Brosters was one. I remember that one was on Walker Street, one was at the corner of Melrose Avenue and \i hink the other was further up Market Street.
Brosters and the one from melrose Avenue used horse and cart to travel their delivery round.
The milkman also used a horse and cart but he had a churn on the cart with dippers that measuered half a pint and one pint and he dipped them into the churn and poured the milk straight into a jug for the housewife.
They each had a bucket and shovel hanging on the back of the cart to collect the horse’s contributions – talk about hygiene and health & safety – thanks goodness they hadn’t been invented.
There was a standing question of kids at the time of “what are you going to do with the stuff in the bucket, mister?” “Put on my Rhubarb!” “Ooh. We put custard on ours.” You then had to be able to duck very quickly to avoid a clip round the ear – something yo didn’t tell your mum tha you’d been given becauae she would give you another one. How times have changed.
We used to climb trees and walls and if we fell, we learned to be more careful next time. We would make go carts with and old wood, an old pram wheel and bits of string and run them up and down roads and down hills if we could find one – the bottom of Tinity Road was a favourite and it was usually just as you hit the toilet block that you remembered that you had fogtten to fit brakes.
Does anyone remember the static water tank on Grove Road at the back of the Parish Hall. Some kids used it as a mini swimming pool when the water was hot. That water was to be used in case of fire in the hall and was never changed so it was have been heaving, but no one even thought about that.
When you think of some of the things we used to get up to as kids, and think about the same things today, it is a wonder we are still alive – but we are and with good memories of those days.
still reading all the comments on the website and trying to piece together life in the years from 1945 to 1956/7
does anyone remember the Miss Keoghs – I think that is the spelling they lived next door to us on Charles Road. They seemed ancient to me and when we went into their house..on invitation only of course, they had several stuffed birds in those glass covers.
I am also trying to find anyone who might remember my parents, especially my Mum..Mr and Mrs Wray..also if anyone remembers my brother who got knocked over on Market Street in about 1949/50..Leslie he was 5 nearly 6 – like others I am trying to find some roots…the contacts I have had have been really super but am still hopeful ! best wishes and many thanks for all info so far Sheila
Sheila, are you sure they were called the Miss Keoghs and not the Miss Corrin’s (Coren’s). If they are the same people then I knew their nephew Cedric quite well. He was a jeweler in Heswall and his wife and my wife had their first babies together in Clatterbridge.
Its funny how a comment such as the one about your brother can trigger a memory, I believe I do remember the death of your brother, or at least I think I do, I recall my mum running into our house and announcing she had just seen a little boy killed on Market street by a bus, I am guessing it was on a Saturday as she had been out shopping and my mum worked during the week, I was off school so it must either have been a holiday or a weekend.
It really was a long time ago but I can ‘see’, in my minds eye, s picture of me, looking up at my mum when she was telling us, she seems quite tal so I must have been quite small which sort of fits with the timing of your brothers death.
I dont know if you have been following another thread between myself and Lynda Cooper, she has been telling me about her brother Peter, who was also in our class if you go to it you will find many names that you should recall from our childhood as well as other comments about the adults who controlled us and some characters we all knew.
Regards
Bernie
Hi there. I have been away walikg the Camino so am a bit behind in replying. Yes it could have been Corrin but Keogh sticks in my misty memory but I wouldn’t stake my life on it
The little boy , my brother Leslee what a spelling !!!!!!!!!!!! was knocked over and killed on March 2 1949 at 8.48 am Wed morning by a single decker going to Caldy..so he must have run back over the road..I got this info from the report in the newspaper
I wonder if your Mum was just on her way to work as it was busy the paper says
I keep trying to piece things together and find people who might remember me or me them if you know what I mean I would like to pass on info to my son about my very early life which is why I keep posted with this super forum it is also good to hear from people who know the town well and can remember things..so much better than me !
take care best wishes Sheila
Hello Bernie..the above answer was to your query about whether it was Corrin or Keogh the old ladies who lived next door on Charles Road and the little boy, my brother who was knocked over in 1949 on Market Street and died…however I forgot to put your name at the start..senior moment!!!!
I wonder if anyone else has any memories of that time / incident as, like I said, I am trying to trace and put together a clearer picture of when I lived in Hoylake
All best wishes Sheila
Thanks Sheila, I was away for a few days one of the grandchildren had a dance competition in Niagara Falls .
Notwithstanding the day of the week, I do remember my mum coming in quite upset and telling us children about it. Mainly from the “Never cross the road without a grown up perspective”.
Also I would comment that the you may well be right regarding the Keogh’s as the Ms Corrin’s lived in the grove area in Sea View I think. They were a delightful couple of characters.
Regards
Bernie
Hi Val –
Apparently we are second cousins! Your grandmother Margaret Parr was my great aunt, sister of my Grandad John Washington Parr of 5 Back Seaview, Hoylake.
Best wishes – John Parr
Hi John/Val
Should you be interested, both your ancestors – John Washington PARR and Margaret PARR – feature in my extended family tree by virtue of their eldest sister Eleanor Annie Elizabeth PARR (b1888 Hoose) having married butcher James LEICESTER (b1888 Hoylake) in 1909.
The couple had a son John born later the same year but he died an infant early in 1911.
Sadly, Eleanor Annie herself died in 1914 at just 25 years of age.
Hi Gordon,
My Great Great Grandmother was Susannah Parr (c.1817 – 1877). I have her birthplace as Neston and she married James Hatton of Little Meols (1818 -1892). They are both buried in St Bridget’s churchyard.
I do not have any details of Susannah’s family and wondered if you have a record of her in your extended family tree?
Thanks
Keith
Hi Keith
I have James HATTON’s bride in my family tree as Susannah PYKE, baptised on 26 January 1816 in Neston St Mary & St Helen, daughter of Thomas PYKE and Susannah PARR, who married on 24 July 1809 in Neston.
Susannah PARR was baptised on 24 April 1791 in Neston, daughter of Peter PARR and Susan ELLIS, who married on 5 May 1776 in Neston.
James HATTON is believed to have married Susannah PYKE on 17 April 1837 in Birkenhead St Mary, both the IGI and familysearch.org having mis-transcribed the groom’s name as James WATSON,
I intend to check this out on my next visit to Birkenhead library, who have copies of the Birkenhead St Mary parish registers on microfilm.
Hi again, Keith
Managed to find time to check the Birkenhead St Mary marriage register today. The event there on 17 April 1837 was most definitely between Susannah PYKE and James HATTON (not WATSON as per the IGI).
Witnesses to the marriage were a Charles & Mary ELLIS, so may have been relatives of the bride (ELLIS being her maternal grandmother’s maiden name).
Hope this is of some help?
Hi Sheila, I remember very well the day your brother died in that terrible accident.I was just coming up to ten and on my way to school in Market Street. I remember the police coming into the School to talk to any of the children who had seen the accident and could help with any of the their enquries. Bye the way my maiden name was Jones, I have two younger sisters Carol and Barbara Jones. We lived at 15 Cable Road, and Gillian and Margery Pringle lived next door to us at no 13. Our back door was on Charles Road to. We lived opposite Miss Jonese’s little shop, it was a little tea shop as well she used to make delicious fudge and toffee and sel it over the counter and if you wanted just to buy a single triangle of Dairylea cream cheese to put on a sandwich, she did. We all used to play out in the street I am sure we must have all played together. I remember well Jennifer and Barbara Wilson, they were best friends of my sisters. I am sure they lived near to you, they lived over a shop as well. I remember the shop you lived over as Billies, If I remember right there was a little tea shop at the back of the shop. Does anyone remember a Doreen Stanley from Hadfield Avenue, she had a younger brother Roger. I must try and remember more things If I can.
Bye for now
Helen Carr.
Hello sorry been so long in answering this but I have been away for a few days and am just catching up.
The little boy was a week before his 6th birthday and I was 4..I just about remember him ..so sad and must have been a shock to all the children in the schools etc to say nothing of my parents
I know where your house was/is and I remember the little shop on the corner..I seem to remember it also selling little bits of groceries..if I have the right place. I knew Gillian but not her sister but as you say, I am sure we all played in the street at some point. I had a trike and then a small 2 wheeler which I used to zoom up and down on pretending to be Hopalong Cassidy whom we used to see in the Saturday afternoon matinee in Alderly road cinema
Next door to me over Billies was a family and us girls played together presume it was either 44 or 48 and opposite us was my Aunty Mabel’s house at 10 Grosvenor road..also used to play with a family up the road from me whose Mum took in lots of foster children..one of those was called Jennifer and there was a Liz and a Mary and a big brother David..Jennifer grew up and married a curate called Neil Coslett..do any of thse names ring a bell with you
I’d love to get a peep at the school’s log books to see what was said about my brother..or me for that matter
anyway thanks for the comments. it is good to hear from you Sheila
Oh yes, there was a little cafe at the back of the shop ..Billies..as far as I can remember my Mother used to help out in the shop and I used to play in our back yard..I have a feeling it is a reastaurant now..I’d love to go and have a good nosy round!
With regards to Billies,my Auntie Gwen (Bird) worked in the little cafe for quite a few years in the late forties/early fifties.
Like so many of us, memories get a little fuzzy at times. The one thing for sure…nobody who grew up in Hoylake can ever
forget how special it was to do so. I remember a girl, Margery Pringle and there couldn’t have been more than one. Would love to know how she is and where she is and hopefully connected to this wonderful site.
This site is amazing.The girls you mention, Jenny and Barbara Wilson are my younger sisters. We lived at 44A Market Street over a gardeners shop called Arthur Lewis’s, next door to Billie’s cafe where Sheila Wray lived. I recall Leslie had been on an errand to The Gem, the little sweet shop and tobacconists, next to the Echo office on the corner of Lake Place, and stepped out behind a stationery bus, into the path of another bus coming in the opposite direction. It shocked everyone.
Other memories of childhood friends include playing on the corner of the municipal golf links with Brough Jones(Archie), Phil and Ernie Sandalls, Ken Dean (Dixie), David Mercer, Geoff Harrop,Tank Parry, Ron Jones, Sandra Edwards, Lesley Quilliam, Vivian Richards to name but a few. Sledging on the sandhills by Red Rocks, diving in to the sea off the old jetty, Hilbre Sundays, the Curly slide in the baths or forming the bomb brigade off the 3 metre springy. I remember Ron Jones’ little sister, Barbara, who was so small she was known as “Little Dinkie”, coming to tell us that she was going into hospital to have an operation to repair the hole in her heart, and that when she came out, she would grow big and strong. Sadly, she did not recover and died in the hospital. So sad, but Hoylake was a wonderful place to grow up in, and I love reading about it here.
Hi Yesterday I forgot to put the name of Sheila Devlin nee Wray on the top of my letter, sorry about that.
Helen Carr.
Sheila Devlin nee Wray
Hello Sheila, So nice that you remember our house. My two sisters were around your age I think, Carol and Barbara Jones. Gillian Pringle lives somewhere in Rock Ferry I think, not far from my sister Carol.
Bye for now. Helen.
Hi Helen good to hear from you
I was trying to remember the name of a family I mentioned whose Mum did a lot of fostering..well it was Pearce…they lived in that road that seemed to be an extension of Charles Road going in the direction of the school via the back way over what we called the bomb site..something to do with a long garden called The Paddocks
Do you remember a Judy Jelly and a Hilary Quilliam all part of our little group who “haunted” the streets ,played on the beach and the golf links near the station ?
Our street was cobbled but it was fun riding the bikes over the bumps
Gillian lives in Rock Ferry now you say..presume it is her sister that passed away someone was saying
The more I read on this super site, the more the fuzzy memory gets stirred..it is a great site
all the best Sheila
irene smith nee mitchell
Hello irene, You were asking about Margery Pringle. Lovely Margery died in 1997. I think Gillian is the only one left now. Yes you are right Hoylake was a great place to grow up in.
Bye for now,
Helen.
Thank you Helen for responding to my post. Sorry to hear about Margery though. Again, many fond memories. I remember playing over at Margery’s and had played way past the time to go home….her mother walked me home to make sure I reached it okay as it was quite dark by the time we got there. It was quite a walk from their place to where I lived and I’ve thought about that from time to time. What a sweet and caring person she must have been.
Hello Don,
The Broster bakers you mention did live in Walker street, they were my mother’s cousins. The Brosters in Market street lived at 78 Market street which was joined on to Jesse Bird’s house. That is still standing but they pulled down our old Farm House in early 1960′s. My mother was born in that Farm House in the 1920. Grandad Broster had two horses that joined up with Jesse Birds to pull the Lifeboat out to sea when there had been shipwrecks. The Broster you mention from Melrose Avenue who’s horse and cart was used on their delivery round, would have proberly been my Grandfather.
Best wishes,
Helen Carr.
Sheila Devlin [nee] Wray
Hello Sheila,
I have just been speaking to my sister Carol [nee] Jones and that you were looking for anything about the Pearce family. Carol says she was in Heswall Maternity Home with her in 1972 when they were both having there babies, small world. Carol also says that she remembers your back door and going up a long passage. Carol and my other sister Barbara, were also pals of the Quilliam sisters. Just a little bit more information for you. If I remember anything more I will let you know.
bye for now,
Helen Carr.
Helen Carr
Helllo again good to hear from you with the bits you remember..yes our passage was long, cobbly and quite dark but great for playing in when it rained..if it ever did !!!
Fancy the connection in the nursing home. Mrs Pearce looked after me a lot the year my Mother died and the year after that when I was going to West Kirby High School ..it was an odd couple of years
I have been vaguely in touch with Hilary Quilliam but she doesn’t seem to want to take it further than a Christmas card a couple of years ago..I am saddened by that but that’s life isn’t it.
If any other things do come to mind about those days and people whom you feel I might know / remember I would be thrilled to hear from you or anyone for that matter.
I gather that our flat over Billies is now a retaurant..I would love to go and have a good nosey round
I remember from school a lad called Dennis Housley ..only remember him because we had to do some sort of country dancing together along with everyone else at school..I was most ungainly I seem to remember
anyway thanks for all the info best wishes Sheila
Sheila, somewhere I have a photograph of Denis Housley, Les Riding and myself taken when we were around 14 years of age.
When I find it I’ll pass it along.
Regards
Bernie W
that would be brilliant..many thanks Sheila
Sheila Devlin nee Wray/ Helen Carr
Hi Sheila/Helen; Remember skipping in the road with our parents “turning up”? Remember playing tennis against “Aunty Nells” wall? Remember writing on the bay windows to each other when we all had measles? Joannie Pearce works at Cammel Lairds, only she is now known as Bird – having married Pete Bird (butcher). I believe her sister lives on Leasowe Road somewhere. Wasnt Marj pringle married to Swasie Turner? Do you remember the others from our street: Sandra Edwards; Janice Tole, Malcolm Tole; Ernie Sandalls; Peter, Paull and Viv Richards; Bruff Jones, Alison Jones, Liz Cannon, Barb,Carol and Helen Jones, Dinkie Jones, Benny Smith. Cant remember any more. Do remember Judy Jellie tho she wasnt from our street. Oh it was definitely the Miss Keogh’s who lilved at 48. The church used to deliver coal to their back yard, but they were so frail they couldnt carry up to their flat, my Dad used to help them, and then when there was one left, she used to come to us for Christmas Dinner. Dont know about no 46 now, but remember Lily and John Holden living there, with children Stephen and Mandy. The situation was the same for them as when you lived there. I know no 44 is a flat over the shops, but thats all I know. You can find me on facebook, and our Jen (Jenny Dean) and Mike Wilson and Victor Wilson. Take care and hope you manage to fill in some blanks. Barb
John Parr writes:
Lesley and Hillary Quilliam had a brother John lived in Station Road.The girls used to babysit my brother Mike and me though they weren’t much older themselves. Their Dad was Jack, a lovely man who was the Council’s chief rent collector. He rode around on a moped, doing his rounds, and was a frequenter of the Men Only bar in the Stanley Hotel. His wife was Kay Quilliam who used to be the cashier in Tolls clothes shop on Market Street. A super family, we were very fond of them.
John Parr
Hello and thanks for that information. I remember Hilary’s brother and Mum when they all lived at 1 Station Road but I don’t remember the rest of the family…they sound really lovely. Hilary and I started school together and were best friends until we went to different schools after the 11+ exam when we lost touch and then I moved to Lincolnshire.
I see that the primary school is now a private house and the new school is over the road ? Also I used to haunt the library when it was in that huge building up near the railway and fire station..or was it a post office..I also gather that the Infants school is no longer there and of course Holy Trinity has long since gon although the churchyard still exists ..does anyone tend it I wonder.
all the best Sheila
Sheila Devlin[nee] Wray Hello Sheila, I am sorry I did not mention that my sister Carol was in the Nursing Home with Brenda Pearce, when they were both having their babies . I should have put Brenda’s name down in my first e-mail. Bye for now. Helen.
John Parr comments:
Hello Sheila -
The large building you remember which housed the library was in fact the Town Hall. The library entrance was at the side in Charles Road. My Dad Bill can remember looking out of the Town Hall window on that corner in the snow and ice of 1947 when a lorry lost control and smashed into the corner of the building. My Dad kept the weather records for Hoylake for more than 30 years. The lowest temperature he ever recorded was during the winter of 1947, minus 23 degrees centigrade.
Jack Quilliam was one of his very best friends, a very kind and generous man I used to call Uncle Jack. Many of the people who worked for the Council in those days remained with Hoylake UDC for years. I remember many of them as really fine people. Frank Evans and Charlie Alcock who drove the refuse vehicles. Frank was one of the finest drivers I have ever known. Walter Gallimore, the foreman, Lennie Longman, Walter Speechley who looked after the parks and gardens, Sid Dutton who was in charge of Hoylake baths, Harold Hardman who ran the payroll and even today, in his 90′s can remember all the staff numbers. Alan Morris ran the tennis tournament which had crowds second only to Wimbledon. All very special people who gave great service to Hoylake.
I remember the library was very small, and I think it might have re-used the space occupied by the original fire station which would have held one horse drawn steam pump. I am sure the entrance arch is still visible. (there is a photo of the Hoylake brigade brass band circa 1900 which features my grandad John Griffiths, not sure if it on this site, but I have seen it on line somewhere – I have an Advertiser reprint of it if anyone wants me to scan it, but newscutting are screen printed and it is not easy to scan)
The library had the smell of Johnsons’ Wax, and the only sound you could hear was the flapping of the little swing doors which were alongside the reception desk.
The only memory I have of my grandfather was from 1947 seeing him helping to repair a pram so we could get some Coke from the gas works (it was frozen solid!).
I also remember “Happy” Brumfitt, our street sweeper with his little hand cart. He went to school with my mum, so would have been born around 1910. I am not sure if he eventually got an electric cart, but I was told that his wheels also fitted a popular 3-wheeler and might have been borrowed without his knowledge as they had good tyres. Happy looked at them and guessed he must have walked a lot of miles to wear them down so quickly!
Hello John. .I can see now that the building would be the Town Hall as it was very imposing and the library part seemed to me to be very “posh” as it was all wood and polish. I spent many a happy time there as a little girl, My mother also used the Boots lending library on Market Street..wasn’t it next to a chemist called Jennings ?
The people you mention I am sure I must have seen them going about their work but obviously it would not have registered with me. What a lovely person Jack Quilliam appears to have been. I don’t really remember him, only Hilary and her Mum.
I used to walk along the Cinder path a lot then when I went to school in West Kirby..I used it at times in the summer although I can’t remember what I did in bad weather..presume there was a bus that got us there in time or the train.
Thank you all who are helping me to build up a picture of life in Hoylake from say 1950 to 1957/8 when I left the area when I was about 12. It is fascinating looking at these memories of everyone
Sheila
Ian P.
Hello Ian,
Are dad made a wooden cart with four super wheels and we had to go over the lines to the Gas Works for coke every Saturday. Occasionally we use to hook our big strong terrier dog to the cart and he used to tow it for us. I wonder if the cinder path to West Kirby was so called because the Gas Board put down their coke for the surface. Helen Carr.
Lyn comments:
Hi Syd
Yes I would love any help you can give me regarding family tree. Can you please show me your ancestral line too. So I can see where you fit in please
Thanks
I think I must be related to everyone on this forum ???
My Grandfather was Herbert Gladstone Eccles (Sea View)
My Grandmother was a Catherine Lydia Liversage
(5G) GT GT GT GT GT GRANDFATHER MICHAEL ECCLES 1712
Unfortunately I am no longer able to Run FTM on my Computer as I am on Win 7X64, however I have sent the Gedcoms I have to HoylakeJunction.com
Syd
Hi Syd
You’re certainly related to me (fifth cousins, I believe) – our common ancestors being Hoylake fisherman Peter JONES (born c1743) and his wife Elizabeth HUGHES, reputed to have been aged 103 when she died in 1845.
John Parr comments:
George Wharton was another street sweeper. A diminutive chap, a real gentleman who always wore a collar and tie.
Hi..I was in Hoylake last week for a day and had a look round the Holy Trinity church grave yard..well was actually trying to locate my Mother’s grave and as my friends and I were searching, we found two gravestones for two soldies who had been awarded VCs It was really interesting. We came on them purely by chance.
We were rather hoping to find a B&B to stay in somewhere on the sea front, but didn’t see anywhere so we stayed in Caldy.
Aso went into the Golden Orchid on Market Street( no.46 )to see if they would let me look upstairs as that is the place where I was born but the gentleman seemed a little bemused so as it wasn’t a meal time..I just left with a thank you feeling a bit daft !!
What I was wondereing was, does anyone know whether it is still a flat above the Thai Restaurant or is it part of it..if it is..next time I would try to get in at meal times and have a look at the upstairs..it was a funny feeling going into the place
thanks Sheila
Hi Sheila
Not sure about the Thai restaurant but i think the first floor is part of it as thats where the loo’s are, but not sure about the very top , next time your in Hoylake check out Firkin House Marine Road for bed and breakfast, or Wynngate B & B Dovepoint Road both are excellent have had friends stay there. so can recomend them
Cheers Diane
Hi Diane many thanks for the information both on the restaurant as well as the two B&Bs will certainly give them a whirl next time I am in Hoylake which I hope won’t be too far away .
We lived on the floor above the then Billy’s Shop and cafe , the very top was used by the shop for storage so we never went up there…well only when I was being a nosy little girl..but I wasn’t supposed to !!!
I am really dying to have a look upstairs and try to see how it is and how we lived. The living room overlooked the main road as did my bedroom and the kitchen was at the back overlooking the yard..bathroom and other bedroom between these two…so I should be able to see it…hopefully!!!
once again, many thanks Sheila
Hello all
A little off topic I know but I worked at Jesse Birds in the early 60′s. The owners then where 2 brothers. I cannot remember their names. My sister June and her husband Ron owned the sweet shop named Absolems in West Kirby opposite the station.