Ormskirk, Moor Street On Market Day c.1955

Photo ref: O22054

More about this scene

When the Second World War broke out she was exempt from military service because she worked in a bank, taking the place of men who had enlisted. She joined the Women's Voluntary Service (WVS) and worked in the basement of Ormskirk Hospital, operating the switchboard for the hospital and also manning telephones for the WVS, checking the approach of enemy planes. As she could drive, the WVS directed her to take a canteen into Liverpool after the raids. She remembers particularly the raid when Bryant and May's match factory was hit, and she had to drive into town while flames lit up the sky. Meanwhile, Ormskirk's social life continued. Mr and Mrs. Bruce organised dances in the Congregational Chapel Sunday School, now the Community Rooms, and Polish soldiers from Edge Hill Hospital were invited to join in the events. There were Farmers' Balls and Dispensary Balls in the Drill Hall and Conservative Balls in the Georgian Rooms, while friends continued to meet for tea at Dorset's, Swift's or Cave's cafés. In the early 20th century horse wagonettes brought crowds from neighbouring villages into Ormskirk, and the market remained open long after dark, with paraffin lamps lighting the stalls. Farmer's wives sat on forms, selling produce. Among the stalls were one established by the Molloy family in the 1920's, selling furniture, and a curtain stall belonging to Inglebys, while Joe Barton's grocery cart stood near the Talbot Hotel. Later in the century Dave sold foam rubber to the accompaniment of his harmonica.