Ricky Cooper, who has been undertaking some research into bygone Hoylake wonders how Marmion Road got its name?
He writes:
Sir Walter Scott wrote the poem “Marmion” about the Battle of Flodden Field (written 1807 ?)
1. Was Marmion Road named after this poem?
2. By coincidence Ellen Cooper lived in Marmion Road,Hoylake (1881 Census)
3. By coincidence again, next year is the 500th anniversary of the battle 09/09/1513.
Although the English won the battle – the Cheshire Archers under Stanley took many casualties signalling the end of their of their dominance in the European fields of warfare. All I need now is a link to a Wirral Archer!
Does anyone know why Marmion Road is so-called?
Hi John,
I think that one of the sentences should read :–
…. signalling the end of their dominance in the European fields of warfare.
Ricky Cooper.
Hi
I used to live in Marmion Road but I don’t know anything about where the name came from. It is an unusual name though. Very handy for the Lake and the Plasterers Arms!
Yes very handy to the Lake, if it’s the lovely little pub your talking about, lol, My mother ( 1923)and her sibblings were born in hoylake at no.1 Marmion road, ( the Rydings) i went over for a holiday a few years ago, and now there is a 1a and a 1b, my grand-father used to have a green grocer shop off the side of the house, we migrated to Australia in 1961,
Good question about Marmion Road. I feel sure that it is named after Sir Walter Scott’s poem. Coincidentally, my great great grandmother, Isabella Roberts (1840-1933) lived on nearby Lake Road and claimed to be a descendant of Sir Walter. I have proved that she was not, but this shows us what a celebrity Sir Walter was during the Victorian era. Note that Melrose Avenue has probably also been so named because it was where Sir Walter lived.
Hi Stephen,
Your solution sounds a good enough reason to me.
It is similar to the number of “Florences” named after Florence Nightingale.
Even so far as “Florence Nightingale” as a Christian name.
I suppose “Marmion Road” near Sefton Park in Liverpool also follows your solution.
Perhaps you may know why Derby Road in Birkenhead was once called “Yolk of Egg Lane”.
Or why Barlow Street became Wood Street (sore point)
Regards
Rickjy Cooper.
Good questions. I know the Wood Street story, but don’t know the Derby Road one. Do let me into the secret. Another mystery is Guffit’s Rake. By the way, there is another Scott related road in Hoylake isn’t there? Waverley Road – named after his first novel. In fact all his subsequent works were called the Waverley Novels. Edinburgh’s railway station is so named for the same reason.
My earliest known Cooper forefathers were Farmers in Burton, Wirral. I have two WILLS of Father and Son, These were dated from 1605, and copied by Chester Archives from their records.
A branch of this Family moved up the Wirral Peninsula, via Heswall.
Thomas Cooper of Heswall married Ellen Barlow in Hoose (1830)
Ellen Barlow became a Widow (Ref. 1841 Census) and lived in Marmion Road.
So. there is my link to Marmion Road, and why I am miffed that the Council allowed
Barlow Street to become Wood Street.
Ricky.
Hi Stephen,
Guffit’s Rake ?
Many years ago – “field names” were used instead of carefully drawn maps.
Thus the uneducated could find their way.
This “field naming” probably started after the Norman Conquest, -
Because many ON (Old Norse) words were used to describe a plot of land, or feature.
ON Brekka – slope as in Breck Road in Wallasey,
ON Kjarr – Carr Lane Hoylake across the Moss or Marsh.
ON Raks – Lane or Way. Here is a mix of Saxon and Old Norse language – Rake Lane in Wallasey. Similarly – Gulls Way in Heswall.
It is not surprising to find Guffitt’s Rake a mere spit away from the old Romano-Viking port of “Dove Poinr”
Ricky.
Is the Plasterers Arms still there. I remember Boxing Day 1964, there was a group playing and we were dancing on those small round tables. We had a fabulous time. The group were famous but I cannot remember their name Fond memories. Jack Ryall