Many thanks to Peter Wilson for sending me some scanned images of 1960s postcards of Hoylake. This one pictured shows the Hoyle Road slipway and I’ve never seen it so busy! I don’t suppose you recognise anybody?
But what’s that big red brick building in the background? I’ve no idea, so please do leave a comment and let me know.
Just next to the red brick building is a tiny black & white painted hut, that belonged to the St.John’s Ambulance Brigade, the reason I know is because I treated a few cases of sunburn (hard to believe ) and a rather large proportioned lady who’d spilled hot water on her lap from her thermos whilst making a brew !
Oh Happy Days
We used to go to Hoylake on the Liverpool ferry and train passing Cadbury’s factory (am I right) with mum and 4 siblings. I did not know how dangerous the tides were then approx 1958-ish and we used to just go off in the sea for a swim on our own.
I fell asleep on the beach (we were up against the prom wall) and I woke up feeling really sick, and and very stiff and dizzy too. It was sunstroke. Never heard of it and mum just dismissed it and told me sternly to get up.
But they had a boat lake and a lido? with a high wooden slide which my brother and myself used to go on and I think it was quite steep and fast co I recall being shocked when I hit the water and went right under.
But all in all Hoylake was great and we always finished with squashed egg and tomato sandwiches.
Love the photo.
The red brick building is the public loos, the gents was rather grand inside. And yes, the St John’s hut was staffed on busy weekends. Also on the left of the picture you can see someone carrying a green deck chair; this would have been from the Hoylake UDC which hired out deck chairs on the prom just the other side of the baths. This practice ceased shortly after the demise of Hoylake’s council in 1974 when Wirral MBC took over; all of the other amenities on Hoylake prom and in the town followed soon after. It is difficult not to conclude that Wirral Council has been a disaster for our town.
couldn`t agree more, what a shame.
is it part of the building show possibly the toilets
Penny Watson writes:
The red bricked building is I believe the Lido (open air swimming pool.).What a shame the slipway is no longer busy. Wouldn’t it be great to bring back the Beach Mission for the children. It could be busy once again. I would be willing to make enquiries about starting it up again. If we are still in the area then I would also help organise it.
sorry penny the pool was behind the photographer over his\her left shoulder
I remember there being a quadrant with a stage along where this picture looks towards. My mother told me there used to be dances and a refreshment/tea shop too – does anyone have pictures.
I never knew it in use but a a child I used to be able to pull myself up the stage level and walk along the shuttered (?) front edge. I have no idea when it was demolished but no doubt it was all about the time that Meols started to become run down and uncared for. I can remember the parks and gardens being beautifully maintained with tennis and gold courses – and gates that were shut and locked at night – I used to be frightened when the park keeper came along on his bike and told us to go home because he was locking up – from memory the park was open until sun set – poor chap if he was on duty late into the evening in the summer months!!
The picture shows the public loos, this pic would have masked the old bandstand beyond, the red bricks on view are the top of the toilet building, the view of the bandstand from this point if you could see it would be of a dreary pebbledashed wall
Having attended Hoyle Road School in the early and mid 50’s the picture does bring back many memories I recall a P.T. teacher named Ernie Morgan making us run around the gardens although those of us in the “Know” used to nip through the middle and rejoin the runners who had run right around. There was time for a quick smoke for those addicted to nicotine. I later saw Ernie when I was a constable attached to the CID with Cheshire Constabulary, I still regret that I didn’t arrest him for crimes against humanity. There would have been room for most of the teachers, Dick Rigby included.
I digress a bit, but I vividly remember being flogged across the behind with a bamboo cane for the mortal sin of speaking (whispering) in class by Headmaster Rigby. The purple welts I incurred were with me for over a week……… My father told me to start behaving myself.
Comment for Geoff Garrett,
Your father was quite right, imagine the strain put on poor old Dick Rigby’s right arm having to cane people like you and I. At least he only knocked me down the concrete stairs on my secongd day for what he thought was cheek. He asked my name and when I told him he said “Oh yes, you are one of the clever ones aren’t you” ? I didn’t appreciate the sarcasm and I thought he meant I was in the top class for the year, I answered “Yes sir” and finished up on by backside. I should have arrested that begger too.
The white and blue waals you can see in the picture enclose a shelter and to the left of the left blue and white wall you can see the entrance to the mens toilet, the ladies was round the corner to the right.
The black and white building was the St John Ambulance hut and later became a lifeguard hut.
The red building above the blue and white walls is the toilet block and the grey wall has a gate that leads into the gardens, other gates are round the corners to left and right. First there was a bowling green then two tennis courts then there was a quadrant which in its heyday had a stage and a cafe then there were more tennis courts and a childrens play area with a gateway leading almost onto the slipway. There were a few shows on stage during the 1950’s and early 60’s but it fell into disuse.
The Beach Mission was run by the Wood Street Mission until they moved into the old Congregational Church at the round about and they haven’t held any since then.
This slipway has, for many years, been the lifeboat recovery slip but now it is also their launching slip.
I hope this is of help.
The red brick building is indeed the old bandstand. It was used by myself an the local kids (circa 1970) from Meols & Hoylake as the perfect place to play football & cricket. The pillars holding the three sided roof perfect as goal posts or a wicket.
If the tide was in the rules were no balls above head height because if the ball was kicked over the roof into the road it was no problem. However, if the ball was kicked over the other side a good ball would be lost to the sea.
I remember it was not allowed for ball games to be played in this area, but that didn’t stop us. The local constable (yes, we had one then) often used to catch us out. He would take all our names but he would never do anything about it.
.
No, the red brick building is definitely the public loos! The bandstand was a lower pebbledashed building in the middle of the park so is out of sight in this photo.
I don’t remember the public toilets. Do you know when they were demolished?
Some time in the ’80s or maybe early ’90s I think. I remember getting a shock the first time I was back in Hoylake and they weren’t there. Doubtless a local resident will remember exactly when!
Perhaps it was at the same time the big shelter at thge bottom of Alderley Road disappeared too?