Comments on: Friday Photo: Railway Sheds

By: Keith Wallen

Keith Wallen — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:53:01 +0000

What a thought provoking and memory arousing photo Syd, Thanks.
As you can see by the number of comments, this image has captured a moment in time for many of us and promoted dialogue regarding our Hoylake history. Thank you all for sharing.
Cheers
Ken

By: gordon roberts

gordon roberts — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:30:54 +0000

Well, I can only add, that my mother smoked,drank, and at times came out with the Anglo-Saxon, so I think the BWTA interview panel may have lacked depth in research.

Cheers Gordon.

By: Peter Wilson

Peter Wilson — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:53:33 +0000

And did it work?

By: Ian Powers

Ian Powers — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:47:05 +0000

In the early 50s, the BWTA held Sunday meetings for children called “The Band of Hope”. They were held in their building next to the now defunct YMCA and I attended some of the meetings. All I can remember is that the ladies there were forever preaching to us about the evils of demon drink!

By: Gordon Roberts

Gordon Roberts — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:24:02 +0000

Yes, Richard, you are dead right, the kiosk was run by the British Womens Temperance Assosiation. My mother served tea and cakes in it during the early 1950s. (Although not of the organisation herself). As a young lad I remember visiting the hut which earned a moderate trade from council, railway workers and passers by. Full marks to Syd Bird for recording a low profile but nevertheless significant part of Hoylake history.

Regards Gordon,(Australia)

By: Richard Lynch

Richard Lynch — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:21:35 +0000

That certainly makes things a lot clearer. I did not recall it looking like a synagogue and yet I was fairly certain it was in use as such, at least in the 70/80s. It became overgrown at some point, and was clearly no longer used.

Quite incredible that the BWTA actually held meetings in Hoylake. I wonder, do you know when this movement was in its heydey?

By: jackie

jackie — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:57:46 +0000

There was a small chapel on the corner of Chapel Road and Market Street which after it ceased to be used as an annexe to St Lukes was taken over by the Jewish Synagogue. It was then demolished after the Jewish Congregation became too small to uphold it, and the new houses built on the site.
The British Womens Temperance Association met in the building adjacent to the old YMCA and is now the Evangelical Chapel. Miss Cissie Williams who worked for Price’s Electrical Shop was a Trustee and they ran the Tea Cabin at the Station.

By: A. Rothwell

A. Rothwell — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:50:30 +0000

When I was at school in the late 40′s,early 50′s, the passenger steam trains still came into the the WK station, bringing pupils to the Grammar School from Neston, Heswall etc.

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:54:05 +0000

Very interesting, I hadn’t realised that Hoylake had such a large Jewish community. Now I think about it, I remember a building in Chapel Road (?) which I think was once a synagogue, now replaced by some modern cottages?

By: Peter Wilson

Peter Wilson — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:19:26 +0000

Hi Richard. Yes that sounds highly probable! Not sure the BWTA ladies would approve of the lively nightlife quarter that has emerged on the doorstep of their old tea shed! Peter