Friday Photo: The Lost Volcano
January 22, 2010 by John · 5 Comments
Here’s a great old photo – not of a lost volcano but of Market Street, outside the old Kingsway Cinema (and now Home Bargains). Thanks to Hoylake Photographic Society for allowing me to republish it.
I am dating this photo as summer 1950. The advertised film Bomba & The Lost Volcano was released in 1950 according the the British Film Institute (see here) and starred some chap called Johnny Sheffield. Summer because it looks like it was nice sunny day and the little boy or girl looks to have a summer outfit on.
In the left of the photo must be the Blue Anchor pub? I’m not sure, but that building isn’t there (nor the adjacent Watsons store) anymore and there’s a ships anchor hanging outside. To the right of Watson’s is currently the fish mongers and then the 3 Sisters grocers. What was Watsons then?
Was that an old Woolworths in what is now the empty Jon David shop? The people sitting on the bench on the right are in front of what is now Hoylake Library. Oh, I like the old bus stop sign.
Great stuff 
Possible related posts (computer generated):
Was that an old Woolworths in what is now the empty Jon David shop?
Yes, it was a Woolworths
I remember my brother playing in a skiffle group called “The Kainites”. They played at the Kingsway cinema, not sure of exact date but must have been early 60’s. They were named after the lead singer. I was so proud sitting in the audience watching. I would have been about 12 or 13yrs. Michael Cooper, my brother, was about 22yrs. Others in the group were Colin Rimmer, Dave Rimmer, John Dalton and Les Kain, founder, who the group where named after. Sorry if I have missed anyone out, can’t quite remember who was in and who wasn’t.
What memories of my childhood.
The Kingsway Cinema, with 2 films a week, Tommy Knox as the manager. My best friend then was Elsie Dainty who was his niece and we were allowed in free, if there were spaces, on the balcony, to see the films.Either side of the Cinema were shops, Warbicks Electricians and Ann’s the Florist I think were the last before the cinema was demolished.
Before the The Anchor Pub which is opposite was Miss Ormesher,s Shop, then waste land and Kingsway Garage on the corner of Waverley Road.Next to the pub is Watson’s Bakery, then the Fish Shop which was part of Mills’s Greengrocers, then Coopers Grocers, then Woolworths and on the end Mackenzie’s Electrical Shop.
The shop on the corner next to Woolworths was a TV radio, record store
you could go in and have them play a single record you would put your head into a booth to listen to the music. I think Gail Rochford Gilchrist’s Mum worked in the shop
I think the store past Woolworths was Haskins Sports, maybe someone else could verify? Great old photo.