Cows Lane

Year: Unknown

Cows Lane

Hi, I am writing to see if anyone remembers the history of 'Cows Lane', Little Sutton. Many years ago a land-owner called Benich owned the lane, it was originally called Benich Lane, does anyone have any memories of this or old maps confirming this? My uncle has contacted the local council to have the lane named correctly. The council has agreed if he can find any proof they will re-name it. Can anyone help or advise me on this? Many thanks, Linda.

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RE: Cows Lane

As far as I can recall Cow Lane has always been called precisely that - 'Cow Lane'. Lane is quite a grand word for it because it is merely a dirt track which in times of heavy rainfall turns into a quagmire. In the normal course I would advise you to consult the Land Registry or look at Census documents to find proof or not as the case may be but these small tracks are often not marked on these documents and are only later given names as a way of marking them. In fact prior to 1967 land did not have to be registered at the Land Registry and if the Land has not changed hands since then (which to the best of my knowledge and belief it has not) then you will be unlikely to find it. With regard also to Census documents the names again alter over time - for instance Black Lion Lane was enumerated as Back Lane, Little Sutton and was always known locally by the colloquialism 'Old Lane'. I therefore suspect that your Uncle's memory of 'Benick's Lane' is the sort of colloquialism that I recall. However, I was born and bred in Little Sutton as were my ancestors and this is the first occasion I have ever heard this.

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RE: Cows Lane

I was born in Little Sutton in 1948 and went to school from 1953 to 1960 at Parklands. In the early 1950s the houses in Fullwood Road stopped at the Cow Lane and the area east of the allotments all the way down to the brook and all the way over to Pooltown Road was fields. On Chester Road, opposite the end of Cow Lane, was a sandstone house that was a dairy. I'm not sure whether the family that had the dairy was called Maxwell or not but there was a boy who lived there who was 3 years older than me whose surname was Maxwell, I can't remember his Christian name. I remember him from Parklands, Mill Lane and 1st Little Sutton Scouts. The cows from this dairy used to graze on the field at the bottom of Cow Lane. I guess hence the name. When the cows used to come up the lane to be milked they used to stop the traffic on Chester Road to let them across. There used to be 2 ladies from the dairy, one with a 'port wine' birthmark on her face, who used to deliver milk from the dairy on old 'sit up & beg' bicycles around the village. The Warings, Haddocks and Hunts used to park their 'war surplus trucks' in Cow Lane and work on them there. Actually they always seemed to be working on them.

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RE: Cows Lane

Hi Michael, Made up to see your message, I will ask my uncle about the two ladies from the dairy. The Warings, Haddocks and Hunt are my family. Alan Waring was my dad (D B Waring haulage contractors), John Haddock with the trucks was my uncle and the Hunts were my uncles too. We were a very close family. My brother Ken Waring is the same age as you, you may remember Ken, Keith Hunt and Johhny Haddock as kids. The trucks god brings back memories, my dad had to go to Liverpool and load up the dead bodies in his truck, not a nice thing to have to do and he never talked about it. Thank you so much for leaving the message on my page, I will get back in touch with you. Thanks and best regards, Linda.

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RE: Cows Lane

Linda, I remember Ken, John & Keith Hunt well, we originally lived in Briardale Grdns. Our Vincent who is 2 school years was in the same year as Ken & John Haddock, Keith Hunt I think was a year or two older again.
Our kid went to grammar school after Parklands but I went to Mill Lane, the same as Ken & John.
Our Vin was big mates with Ken when they were at Parklands, also with Stephen Reynolds. Remember the honey. Also John & Chris Foulkes who lived on Chester Road.

Other rellies of yours are the White's I think. I worked with Michael White at Shell before I came to Australia. Haven't seen him since then but a nephew of mine ran into him in Wrexham a few years ago. I think that it was at the hospital. Mike heard my nephews name called and introduced himself.
If I've got my history right your Dad & Mike Whites mum were brother & sister. Again if I've got it right, your grandparents used to live in Kings Road next to the house my great grandparents lived in, although as they died in the 1920's & 1930's it might not have been at the same time.
Another rellie of yours was Helen Hunt who lived in Fullwood Road.
I can sort of remember you but you must be quite a bit younger than Ken. Did you know my sister Geraldine, she's 5 years younger than me. She went to Parklands infants then went to the catholic junior shool in The Port & then Chester convent.
My Mum made sure one of us got a "good catholic education. Funny thing is she has no religion about her at all now.
Nice to hear from you, regards Mike Flavell