You’ve got to think that bit harder to visualise today’s Friday Photo, kindly sent in by Syd Bird.
Click here for a much larger version of the same view.
Syd says:
The photo was taken in the 1890`s and the photographer would have been standing on the corner of Market Street looking down what would later become Wood Street. On the extreme left you can in fact see the first few houses built in Wood Street, the gable end of the terrace would be situated at the junction with what would become Rudd Street, on the extreme right of the photo in the background you can see some of the first houses that were built in Rudd Street.
Prior to this photo being taken there used to be a very picturesque thatched cottage (belonging to the Barlow family) adjoining the little white house in the foreground and the small outbuilding behind the middle of the three trees looks like the remains of the outside w.c. In the far distance you can make out the roof of the Grove House so the photo was obviously taken before the houses in Walker Street and Grove Road etc were built.
The reason this photo is of such good quality is because this is a first generation print taken directly off the original glass plate negative.
Don’t those trees in the foreground look quite out of place and just a little bit odd?
How sweet,I think I remember seeing this photograph many years ago.I grew up at No 10 Wood Street which eventually materialised right opposite that little row you see in the photograph!
I thought of you as soon as I saw this, I was wondering whether you were subscribed to this site. Amazing how much it has all changed, just like the picture of Church Road (trinity road) from the Friday phot last month, my house was also sand.
I have many pleasant memories of Wood Street.
Hi Martin,
I think I vaguely remember you, I presume it is Gail Rochford ?
I was born at no 50 Walker st, I think I attended school at the same time as Gail – school lane / market st etc
great site with some interesting chat and memories.
Hi Tim,
Yes,the very same!
I remember you also.Have lived in Scotland for over 30 years,so this site is ‘must’ for those memory jogs from time to time!
Some of Wood St – Shaw St get bay windows / tiny ‘front gardens’ but Rudd St – Walker St don’t .
Hi Gail,
8th. August 1917
Henry Edward May (23) of 10 Wood Street
Married
Eva Rowlands (21) of 23 Walker Street
That reminds me to ring Tony May ex-Lifeguard at Leasowe/Moreton in the 60s.
(He’s got a fine brown frame – I wonder what can be his name ?)
Ricky Cooper.
What a different scene! You can see that Grove House is well named being hidden in a grove of trees.
Yeah it’s before the Gospel Hall and 29 Rudd Street !
Thanks Syd,
Last week I was sitting just about where the WC was built. Only this time it was in the front room of 2 Wood Street. watching the “Telly”. I thought that Wood Street was built up before 1890, but the house deeds of Number 2 proved me wrong.
I still think that “Old Barlow” should have had his plot of land named “Barlow Street” instead of Wood Street..
(like the other “Family Names” of adjacent streets.) BTW the passage alongside Number 2 once led to the stables. My Great Grandfather, Bill Trueman, used to live in Groveland Avenue – so your photograph is extra meaningful to me.
Ricky Cooper.
Hi again Syd,
Thanks for transmitting your “higher” definition picture of Wood Street.
This shows a couple of new objects.
1. People. A man holding what looks like a rake, and a boy holding what looks like a stack of tubes.
2. A sign. This is attached to the corner house in Rudd Street. It simply says J.MOORBY.
Would this be John Moorby W.K. buried 24 November 1863 ?
( Len Moorby, Coachman, W.K. buried 20 November 1863. A poor week for the Moorbys ?)
(Agnes Moorby [nee Picket] wife, W.K. buried 02 September 1866)
I hope this is of general interest.
Ricky Cooper.
Hi again Syd,
In answer to my own question regarding the sign in your “Wood Street” photograph.
The sign belonged to Mr Moorby, a Tailor who lived at number 7 Wood Street. (corner of Rudd Street)
I still think the sign looks incongruous.
While standing outside Jessie’s place – can anyone tell me where Tickle Belly Hall would have been ?
…and why it was so called ?
Tickle belly Hall is now the nursery on the corner of Wood Street and Rudd Street. They moved to the chapel at Kings Gap roundabout some years ago. When I was a child we used to go every thursday night to the hall and get a stamp in our book for the special events
Hi Ricky
I remember it as TickleBERRY Hall! The word ‘tickleberry’, has a medieval reference to male chastity,haha!! So whether it is from it being a place of preaching, and preaching constraint in all things I don’t know,lol!
Everybody calls it that,but on asking the older members of my family,nobody knows why!?!
Eldest sister replies : Legend had it that when you were underwater being baptised you had your tummy tickled !
Hi again Syd,
Further to my comment of 24 March 2011, regarding your Photograph of Wood Street. and the sign at the corner of Wood Street and Rudd Street.
I can now confirm from “Hoylake Classified Trades Directory for 1901” that :–
Joseph Moorby, Tailor, 7 WOOD Street. was the man referred to on the sign.
Ricky.
Hi my Aunt and Uncle usd to live at 5 Rudd St, Bill and Nell Halewood.
Hoping someone can help on this query. On the 1901 census my gg grandmother was living at 61 Rudd Street with her daughter and son in law. I cannot find this number on any map! The property must have been a biggish house because there were 3 paying visitors – were the houses in Rudd Street re-numbered at any stage? Was 61 demolished? Her neighbour at number 59 on the 1901 census was living at number 39 on the 1911 census – was this the same house but with a new number?