Memories of Irby

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 then and I now live just around the corner from there. My house is part of an estate that was built in the 1970s on the fields where we used to pay as kids and where I would walk home from the bus stop in the village from school. We moved from Irby to Greasby in 1962 but came back to Irby after my father died. We lived in a bungalow in South Hey Road which is the other side of Irby towards Pensby and Pensby Schools.  When I married I moved to my present address off Far Meadow Road (as described above). Those early days in Irby were great but it was the early 1960s and I started to work in Liverpool which was the place to be in those days. Irby isn't the same now, but what is?

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

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.

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.

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?

Memories from my new home in Chicago

Having grown up in Irby and now living in Chicago. It was great to see some excellent picture of the old Irby village. The white sided building in this picture on the left is the Irby Club. My Grandfather Percy Hayward was the first steward at the club and my Mother lived at the club until my grandfather retired from his position.
I joined the Irby Club as a member and later became the membership secretary for a number of years before leaving to move to Chicago.
Great photos and great memories. Thanks.

The Paper Shop

The shop seen first on left was owned by a Mr.Mathews and was the new paper shop (newsagents) a handful of young boys including myself and a couple of girls used to deliver the newspapers on bicycles to the local community.The previous shop was more like an old shed. Irby was a lovely peaceful little village.

Irby hall farm

Irby Manor is a very old building listed in the Hundred of Wirral and was once surrounded on three sides by a moat. There are stories of an underground tunnel leading to Thurstaston so as the early occupants could escape via the River Dee should there be a need. As a kid I remember the farm was owned by "Pop Griffiths"? and later passed on to Vince McLure. I used to visit and help out in the dairy with Spud, who worked there as a farm hand. Later in time I worked as a painter and decorator in some of the rooms. I remember the place being a bit dark inside.
Pete