I was browsing ebay the other evening and decided to do a search for Hoylake to see what was available. Amongst some golf stuff and crockery items I found this ebay store that sells copies of old maps and they had one of Hoylake as it was in 1909. It was only £3 or thereabouts inc. postage so I treated myself to one (easily pleased!).
The map details a just-about empty Hoyle Road but does include the Parade School so that ties-in with the forthcoming centenary. There’s no Cottage Hospital shown and Deneshey Road is empty. On the reverse of the map is a list of names and occupations along with road names …I need to read this properly to see what I can find but there’s entries such as Haskins & Sons Golf Club & Ball Makers, 76 Market Street. There’s a lengthy local history article too so I’ll look forward to reading that.
Places I’ve noticed include:
- Gas works (I knew there was a local gas company)
- The Dale (what is now Dovedale & Clydesdale)
- Royal Hotel on corner of Beach Road & Stanley Road
- Boathouse at the Sandhey Slipway at Meols
- Bank Road (what is now Strand Rd)
Looks like I’ve had my monies worth already!
Haskins store was next door to Jessies yard near the ship in. It was demolished along with the block of shops that stood where the supermarket precinct now stands. The Gas works were over the railway line behind Hoylake station, there were gas holders, and a retort house which processed the coal which no doubt arrived at a special siding at Hoylake Station. I remember it being knocked down and we could explore the site in the late 1950s. The retort house could be seen from Heron Road as it was quite tall. The gas holders sunk down into a water filled pit when empty.
I remember the Royal Hotel which was also demolished in the 50s, My mum and dad would go there on Sunday as they had a tea dance with a real band. I stood outside with a lemonade making faces at the drummer, and he smiled and brushed his sleeve with his drum brushes! The Hotel had brick arched cellars which went right back to the seaward end of the site and were exposed when the site was cleared to make way for the housing estate which now stands on the site. The open golf tournament moved away from Hoylake due to the lack of Hotel space nearby, but now with modern transport I am glad to see it returning to our famous Links.
Dear Ian, I have just found your post mentioning the Royal Hotel. It gave me great pleasure to read it because my family once owned the hotel (until the 1940s). I spent my very early toddler years living there, I have fond but very fuzzy recollections of the place. Your reference to the arched cellars was most appreciated because I have recollections of that cellar I wrote into a fictional setting in a (as yet unpublished) novel.
I also have recollections of a (to me, as an infant) large hall to the right-hand side of the building as you faced the front from Stanley Road. Was that where the dances were held?
Kind regards
Oscar WS
Hi Oscar, yes, the band I talked about sat in the bay window on the right hand side of the hotel when looking at it from the golf links.
I remember the Open Golf tournament in 1956 and got (now loat) autographs of players such as Henry Cotton and Dai Reece. Henry wore plus four trousers with bright yellow socks up to his knees. In 1967 there was an infulx of American stars such as Garry Player.
I believe Glenda Jackson’s dad was in the Villagers golf club and when he got her to present their annual trophy, there was a great fuss at the Royal Liverpool club house when the concierge tried to get her to use the ladie’s entrance!
Thanks for responding, Ian. Busy now, but I may post a few more bits here later if anyone is interested.
Cheers
My childhood ‘best friend’ lived in the middle row of houses on The Royal and had what seemed a huge play area we called the sandpit in the back garden which would have been directly under the old hotel. We used to undertake ‘archaeological digs’ and find all sorts of glass and china fragments – blue willow ware patterns of course!
Hello, Peter,
Sorry to be so far behind the times, but I’ve only just discovered these posts. I used to live at the Royal Hotel in the 1940s (see my reply to Ian’s post).
It seems strange to think of your ‘archaeological digs’ into what was once my home. Suddenly I feel very old. Well, I suppose, by some standards, I am.
BTW, for anyone who is interested in Hoylake history: my paternal grandmother, Mrs K Windsor-Smith (nee Ball) was the owner of the Royal Hotel. Her brother was John Ball, Jr a rather special local golfer in his day. On the other side of the tracks – literally and metaphorically – my maternal grandparents were crossing keepers at Carr Lane crossing. Now there’s a story for you. Perhaps I shall write it one day.
Best
Oscar
Hello, Oscar
Well, that is really fascinating to hear and especially the John Ball connection which is really interesting; he was by all accounts a greatly loved local hero! What a different place Hoylake must have been in his days. I’d love to have a day exploring Hoylake in the late 19th century courtesy of a time travel device! I was born in 1960 and my family lived in The Chase at the time, another very old Hoylake house a few yards fom the Royal and also now destroyed, so I never got to see the Royal but obviously heard stories about it. There is a book about John Ball and plenty about him in the new (2006) history of the Royal Liverpool but I’m sure a story from his relatives should be recorded before it is lost for ever. Best you get writing….
Peter
Hi, Peter,
Thanks for responding. Yes, I’d like to be able to go back there, too. There are so many things I don’t know and nobody left now that I can ask.
I do have the book on John Ball written a few years ago by John Berends (I hope I’ve spelt that right), but I have not yet acquired the 2006 RLGC history. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.
BTW, as a result of these exchanges I’ve looked again through some archive papers I have to do with The Royal Hotel and John Ball, Jr. I found a letter relating to a proposed sale of the Royal in the 1940s. There was a reference to a meeting being called off because of the day’s news. Only then did I check the date… 28th May, 1940. Shivers down the back of the neck, if you see what I mean?
May post more info later when I have time, if anyone is interested.
Best
Oscar.
That is a strange coincidence! My father was evacuated from a beach near Dunkirk so was probably hiding in the dunes exactly 60 yrs ago!The RLGC history is called Mighty Winds…Mighty Champions by Joe Pinnington and Chapter 4 is all about Johnny Ball.I have no interest in golf per se but the book’s a great read nonetheless.
Peter
Thanks Ian!
Re The Royal Hotel …that’s obviously why they named the new road (cul-de-sac) The Royal. The road a bit further down ..Coronation Rd used to be called Victoria Rd (I think)
John
I WAS BORN AT 70A MARKET STREET HOYLAKE, ON THE 19/10/1937. I BELIVE THAT THIS WAS A FLAT ABOVE A SHOP NOW DEMOLISHED .DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THIS SHOP WAS?.
MY MOTHER WAS MONA & MY FATHER TED ROBERTS .MUM WAS A NUMBER OF THE LOCAL
ECCLES FAMLEY.TOGETHER WITH MY YOUNGER BROTHER JAMES ,WE MOVED TO HERE
TO FLIXTON IN THE LATE 1940S
Arthur,
My Bluebird Menu says 74 Market Street so I am guessing you lived above one of the shops in that block just to the West Kirby side of the Ship Inn. There is a photo of the block here
http://www.hoylakejunction.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/before-row-large.jpg
and I know the sports shop was Haskins when I was a lad in the 50s. The Bluebird was at the WK end of the block. I dont know how the Market Street numbers counted, which way was up or down.
Ian P
Hoylake street numbers normally start with No1 nearest the Town Hall roundabout , with Meols Drive – Market St as one axis and Station Rd – Kings Gap the other .
Don,t forget the sweet shop near Haskins ! , the Bluebird used to be Pettys Snack Bar and before that the Moo – Cow milk bar .
I was the author of the history of The Royal Liverpool Golf Club, “Mighty winds…mighty champions”. I tried to make it as easy as possible for a non-golfer, being aware how boring golfers can be when discussing their favourite pursuit.
I hope the book indicates the life of Hoylake and Liverpool. It is iteresting how the two histories combine. From 1860 to the outbreak of war in 1914, both club and city prospered. Between the wars there was a flatening out and for forty years after 1945 a downward spiral. Now in spite of the present climate I believe both City and Club are in a position to counter this downturn.
As a matter of fact the title comes from Bernard Darwin the first great sports writer who described Hoylake as “this dear, flat,historic expanse of Hoylake, blown upon by mighty winds, breeder of mighty champions”.
The last of whom was Tiger Woods.
I posted a reply to you here yesterday, Joe, but for some reason it did not appear. I’ll try again. I’d be interested to know the publisher and ISBN number of your book. Was it published recently, Joe?
The only Royal Liverpool Golf Club history I have is called ‘Golf at Hoylake’ and was written by John Beherend who also wrote the definitive biography of my great uncle John Ball Jnr., the only open champion (to my knowledge) to ever win the Amateur Championship in the same year.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Best
Oscar
Thanks for information about your book, Joe. It sounds most interesting and informative. Did you write this recently? If so, would you mind posting the publisher details and ISBN number?
The history I have is Golf at Hoylake by the late John Behrend. JB also wrote the definitive biography of my great uncle John Ball Jnr., who ranks in the hall of fame beside Tiger Woods, having won the Open and Amateur championships in the same year.
My mother and father were regulars at the Royal Hotel in the early 1950s. Apparently, there was an ancient stuffed eagle behind the bar that was regularly nicked by returning merchant seamen (such as my Dad) and returned weeks later…….
Hi, Andy,
By the ’50s my family had long left the Royal, but it’s always interesting to learn more of it’s history. There is so much I don’t know. So much has been lost.
If there’s anyone out there who has further information on the Royal Hotel’s history, or memories of it… or photographs, I’d love to hear from you. BTW, my family (except my paternal grandmother) did not use the ‘Windsor-’ (I readopted it – as it appeared on my christening gift – for personal reasons in my late teens), so you, or your predecessors, would have known us as plain Smith.
I look forward to hearing from you, Hoylakers.
With best wishes
Sincerely
Oscar
The Royal hotel appears to be generating some interest and no wonder. Ghosts, wild parties and much jollity.
I wrote a piece on the hotel a number of years ago but find it behond my compass to transfer it to this mail site.
If anyone is interested please drop me an email with your email address.
Joe@tcfshowroom.com
I live in 1 of the houses built on the site of The Royal Hotel on the corner of Stanley Rd and Beach Rd facing the golf course which I believe was the old locker room/snooker room on the right hand side of the hotel looking from the golf course.Any info or photos would be of great interest as my wife and I have taken up golf since moving here in 1996.Thankyou John Pleavin
Thanks, Joe. I’m very interested. I’ve emailed you.
Best
Oscar
dear oscar, my mother was born in the farmhouse 78 market street joined onto jesse birds house then Haskins was next to our farm house. my family moved out of 78 market st around 1931. then it was pulled down to make way for the Row. bye for now Helen Carr
Dear Helen, thanks for your information, but we appear to be at crossed purposes. I’m looking for information strictly about the Royal Hotel. Your information is most interesting but just a bit off subject for my immediate purposes.
I seem to have inadvertently hijacked this thread, which I found via a Google search for the Royal Hotel. Apologies to anyone I’ve inadvertently inconvenienced.
I’ll see about setting up a separate thread.
Thanks again
Oscar