Earlestown memories
Here are memories of Earlestown and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Earlestown or a Earlestown photo.
Marshes Pies
Does anyone remember Marshes pie and confectionary shop, corner of Old Whint Road, opposite no 1 Labour Club? They were the best pies ever made at the back of the shop.
Toy Stall
I loved the Friday markets. The crowded stalls transformed the drab square. The cries of the stall holders, the bustle of shoppers, the baskets laden with fruit and veg. My favourite stall was the toy stall and I spent all of my weekly pocket money here - fake cigarettes with their puff of 'smoke', fake flies that looked so incredibly real to an 8 year old - I would hide them in a slice of bread or cup of tea to scare my Mum and Grandma. As fascinating as all the toys were, the biggest draw to this stall was the storeholder who always wore a scarf and fingerless gloves and had a perpetual drip on the end of his nose and I would delay my purchase waiting, waiting to see if that tremulous drip would finally drop. At market end I would trundle home with orange boxes for kindling all tied together with string, and stuffed with discarded lettuce leaves for our rabbits, dragging the lot noisly down Haydock... Read more
Childhood Days
The year I began at Newton le Willows Grammar School, I had sprained my ankle running through the back lanes of Earle Street in the holidays and had my foot in a bandage. We lived in Brookfield Street until I was 5 or so with my Grandma and then moved to the new council estate in Wargrave. I loved my school, the District C of E and have such amazing memories of the market on a Friday. I would always go to the sweet stall when I went home for lunch, and buy fudge. It was so busy and fun. In the winter lamps hung from the stalls and the stallholders were wrapped up. Mistletoe hung from the stalls at Christmas. In the summer the fair would be there. Friends and I used to sit on the obelisk steps and chat. I moved away to Scotland with my boyfriend in 1980 then to Plymouth and still live here now with him, my husband of 31 years now, and... Read more
Granny Ball From 15 Cross Lane
My Granny, Elizabeth Ann Ball, lived at 15 Cross Lane, in Newton le Willows. She was born around 1884 and died 1883 aged 99. She had three children, Monica, Beryl and Jim. She was married to Alfred Ball who died before I was born. I am told he designed something for the railway which if he had patented would have made them some money. I remember the house was at a crossroads, and Mr and Mrs Lyons had a sweet shop over the road, and they were lovely people. I remember there was a fish and chip shop beside them, which sold delicious fish and chips. There was a council yard behind the house and I remember being woken in the morning, by the thunderously loud noise of a steam roller coming out of the yard. There was an Arthur Smith who had a fish shop I think in town, and then had another shop. There was also a pub opposite, I can't recall the name. My sister Moira remembers the... Read more
Fishmongers, Legh Street
The fishmongers was Bob Lightfoot's, he was a mate. He also had a stall on the market.
2nd Fishmongers
I remember Lightfoots fishmongers in Legh Street, it was under Harry Berry's dance studio, facing District School on Legh Street. Does anyone else remember this?
Memories of A Bygone Time
I was now old enough to drink (18) but unofficially you could always get a drink at certain pubs, which I'll not name but say thanks for looking out for me when I got tipsy on two pints of mild.
My memories of Earlestown are magic, the Viaduct club & Vic's dance nights, they were something to look forward to.
Sadly Earlestown never moved on, it seems stuck in a time warp & that's a pity as there were so many characters living there.
Still I miss it & I guess I always will.
Time doesn't wait for nobody, and my body is gradually running out of time.
PS. Is George Woodward the guy I went to Patterson secondary with (1958-1962)?
Brian Callaghan
Memories of A Youth
I remember when there were two fishmongers in Earlestown, Lyons's fishmongers in Bridge St. and one whose name I can't remember in Legh St., now we have none.
We also had two picture places, the Rink where the Police Station is, and the Curson near the station, now we have none of those either.
My interest is fishing, we used to go to the "Private", a small pond off Vista Road, also Berrys pit near the slag heaps, the perch pit over the slag heaps, and then there was a small pond off Southworth Road which I believe is now filled in.
All these places we used to walk to, then we went farther afield to Pennington Flash, first on the bus to Leigh end of it, then on the pushbike to Plank Lane end; in those days I spent two shillings and sixpence on ground bait and a shilling on maggots for hookbait, and it lasted all weekend, there used to be hundreds fishing at the... Read more
Memories of Merseyside
Younger Days
I was born in Newton-le-Willows in 1946 and 21 years later married Jackie Emms from Newton-le-Willows also.
During that time we would often spend the evening having a drink in the "Leigh Arms" cocktail bar (see photo). In 1967 we married at "All Saints" church and held our wedding reception at the "Pied Bull" Newton-le-Willows (see photo N149027).
We are still married, now live in Devon and next week will celebrate our 40th wedding aniversory.
Good old "Newton-le-Willows (and Earlstown)! Ron Platt.
So Many Fab Memories
I have so many wonderful memories of Earlestown & Newton-le-Willows and sourounding areas, as a boy I used to deliver milk for Christie's, milk in those days was delivered by horse and cart and the round I was on covered all of Newton and Wargrave area, from memory I think Bill Christie had four or five horse & cart runs and one van run. On some Sunday mornings two of us used to finish our runs by the old crow and we would race the horses back to the farm which was next to the Oak Tree, this was only done when the full time Milkman didn't turn up for work and the boy assistants where left in charge. Yes! what memories could be told, just the thoughts bring a wonderful grin to my face, so many tales eh! boys.
LEAVING HOME 1952
November 17th 1952 I left home from Earlestown Station for Liverpool to join the Royal Navy as a boy seamen. I proceeded to St. Johns Lane then onto the train headed for London and Ipswich and eventually to HMS Ganges at Shotley.
There I underwent 4 weeks basic training and was home in time for Christmas. Seven weeks in the Navy and three weeks leave, great life eh??.
I served twelve years in Her Majestys RN and emigrated to Canada in 1964, where I still reside. Saw the pictures and remember them all. Dad worked at McQuarqoudales Printers. Mom sewed parachutes during the war. Lived at 220 Crow Lane East, went to Newton Grammar after primary with Alice Randall as my final teacher. Returned in 1973 and 1992, when I visited Haydock Park Golf club where I used to caddy for Sid Smith and Sid Bridges. That day heard Alice had passed away the week before. The Oak Tree is where... Read more
Growing up in Newton
I was born in the old cottage on the left, 175 High Street, in 1948, as June Glencross, my parents squatted there after the war, my dad became the local builder. In 1956 we moved up the road to the old congregational church manse, next-door to the headmaster of the grammar school, I think we called him the Gaffer when I was at the school. I used to get into trouble for going to school over the playing fields behind the house, sometimes the dog would come to school looking for me! My dad eventually built new bungalows down the Dingle in Earlestown. There was a toy/model shop just up from the market square owned by Alan Twist, he went to Cornwall on holiday and told us all about the beach with steps down to it, we followed after him and spent several years camping all the summer holidays, and eventually moved down here when I was 16. I remember the dances at the town hall, with local... Read more
The Games We Played
Sad to see all the games we played as kids are no longer around - hop scotch, he rolly, hide and seek, tic, the skipping rope, piggy, hig im jig, throw out can, cigarette cards, marbles, all healthy outdoor activites. Just writing about these games brought back many happy memories, hope it triggers the same effect on older readers, and I do understand you will be getting on a bit to remember these games. Do I like living in the past? Yes, it seemed a more happy Haydock when I was a boy, or maybe it's me just getting old.
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