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Irby
Irby maps
Historic maps of Irby and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Irby maps
Irby area books
Displaying 1 of 5 books about Irby and the local area. View all books for this area
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Memories of Irby
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memories of Irby.
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A Life Once Irby
Born Irby 1955. Lived in Woodlands Road. Emigrated to Australia in 1967. Memories are still vivid of Irby, sledging on Sutton Hill, exploring Dawpool common, walking the pathways between villages and through the woods, down to the old quarry. Spent a lot of time at Houghs farm, went to school with Margaret at Dawpool Primary. It's good to see all the older photos of the village, made me feel nostalgic to say the least. Still a Pom at heart.
Thanks For The Memories
My goodness this brings back memories! I grew up in Irby and we lived in Oaklea Road from the late 40’s to the late 60’s – I’m now a true blue Aussie having lived in Queensland since the mid 70’s but about to revisit Irby in September this year – guess I’ll notice a few changes!
I remember – Constantines the grocers with personal service and food wrapped for you in brown paper bags - I think their son was Tony? and we went to the same school, Mrs Ellis’s house-school, Coombe Road Primary. Dr Barnes’ surgery in the little white building on the right, and he made house-calls – Mr Harrison the dentist next door. Public footpaths – one from next to the Anchor Inn to Thurstaston and the other through the wood (name escapes me) half way along Thingwall Road and then over fields and ending up in the, usually muddy, farmyard in Irby Village. Toboganning at Suttons Hill! Meeting friends at... Read more
Irby
I moved to Irby in 1957 and remember the sandstone cottage that was there before the library. I think a lovely girl called Prudence Cottrell lived there and she had a strawberry roan pony that was always in the garden. Mrs Matthews had the corner shop at the top of the road into the village and the hardware store was owned by the Carter family, The Oak Tub was definitely right and next to the hardware shop was a little cafe place where my mother used to stop and chat with her buddies each day. I think this was owned by Mrs. Steele. I can remember the Post Office in a little cottage that was pulled down quite soon after we moved there. I don't remember Dawpool Farm but I used to work for Henry Rogers at Benty Farm on the common at the weekend when I was at school. I thought at one time I'd like to go into farming but I was hopeless! We lived in Heathbank Avenue... Read more
Irby, The Village c1955
I was born in Irby 1940, and well remember the village, what a lot of changes have taken place. I too remember the cottage which preceded the library, and went to school with the young girl (very pretty) who lived there. I worked at Dawpool Farm, and would be interested to find any photos of the farm, or of anyone who had worked there, as I am trying to put my memories down in writing. Who remembers sledging down Suttons Hill, by the church?
The shops I remember were: the first one after the cottage was The Oak Tub, a grocer, the next was Mrs Duttons a hardware shop, next I think a ladies hairdresser, next was Brecons, the chemist then the Irby Club, and so on. John Hough's farm was opposite and Irby library was where the chippie is now. If anyone can remember Dawpool Farm etc, please e-mail me, I would love to hear your recollections. john193@supanet.com
Irby Village
I remember the paper shop opposite Mathews' that was Steeles and I delivered papers from there when it was taken over by Ernie Jones and his wife. Mathews' shop has been converted into flats. How times have changed. My dad Tom Hardy is still a member of Irby Club and has been for over 55yrs.
I also recall the old sandstone farm house which was derelict when I was a child standing opposite the Anchor Pub, now where the library stands. Also recall the first shop on the left hand side as you entered the village from Irby Road was a small Tesco's.
Reference Simisters Butchers
The butchers shop indeed was Simisters, it was run and owned by Bob Simister, a good friend of my dad. Bob on retiring from being a butcher ran a taxi service from his home on Irby Road, I used him frequently when I was home on leave from the army to run me to Lime Street. There was also a fruit and veg shop called Millwards in the village and Miss Thompson had the haberdashery where if I recall correctly you could get spare parts for your bicycle also.
Anchor Inn
The Anchor Inn was one of my Mum and Dad's favourite haunt. When my husband and I were courting in 1984 we went in one evening and there was a gentleman (quite inebriated) perched on a stool, cigarette in one hand and a whisky in the other. He fell backwards, stool and all, and landed with cigarette and glass of whisky still intact clutched in his hands.
Irby Village
We moved to Irby from Selsdon, Surrey, in 1957 and I can remember Mathews' paper shop and the hardware shop owned, I think, by the Carters. I also remember that beautiful cottage that was demolished to make way for that dreadful library building. The name Cortrell rings a bell and the young girl that lived there had a lovely piebald pony. There was also a butcher's shop called Siminster's. How much of that have I remembered correctly?
