Earlestown, Market Street c1955

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 Flash, a lot different today.
   On the market there used to be rabbits hung up, I used to feel sorry for the rabbits. We always had black puddings, off the market, and it was years later that I found what they were made off and now I wouldn't eat one if I was starving.
   Haircutting was always done by Mr. Hacket on the market square, he was always smoking and ash used to drop on the gown covering your clothes.
  The shops in Earlestown used to be run by the same people for years, Anikins fruit shop in Market St., Morts groceries, Arthur Smiths ironmongers in Market St., Peaks chemist in Queen St., Lyons fish shop in Bridge St.
  There used to be a Mr Goulding who came round with household goods, he had a  "house shop" in Earlestown the St. I can't remember, his mother used to run the shop with him, she was getting on a bit.
   I also remember the chip van which used to park near Davies Avenue, their chips always seemed to taste better outside, all wrapped in newspaper, no plain paper first.
                 G. Woodward

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.

1977 Silver Jubilee

I remember the build up to the Silver Jubilee when we were all having a street party, it was great when all the neighbours came together to make it great. I lived on Two Butt Lane in Rainhill. It brought all of us together. It was so much fun. I lived there all my young days when we used to have big bonfires on the field, everyone came together to have fun. I had a great childhood there. I would like to visit again to see the changes.