I just thought you might like to see these very old pictures of Haydock from as far back as 60 years ago…. Do you recognise anywhere?
P.s. just before you take a look, we just wanted to let you know that this blog is not an historical one, but it was a fun blog from the point of view of our beloved Peggy dog. We loved writing it, but sadly Peggy died in February 2013 and so this blog is now closed. Comments will be turned off in April & no further content will be added. I am sure you understand. Some of these photos show where my Gran & we as her family grew up. If you knew Jessie Precott nee Holden or any of her brothers & sisters, then hello!! And if you didn’t, hope you enjoy xx
Hi
Great site! Can I ask if anyone has any photos of StJames Choir circa 1945 – 1955 or Haydock walking days from the same era. My Dad’s family lived in Haydock fior many years and I just wondered if anyone had any old photos hanging about that could be posted on here
Cheers
Paul
Hi there
Thanks for your comment, as you can see we have approved it, so if anyone else finds these photos they will also be able to see your request.
If anyone does have any photos they would like to share or see posted, please get in touch using the contact form and we would be happy to oblige.
Many thanks for getting in touch.
Gill (Peggy’s mum) x
Hi just been looking at your photo’s, of Haydock saw my old school at the top of Grange Valley. We were brought up here from Plymouth at the start of the war in 1940 approx.& lived in 28row.Looking at the photo on the righthand corner was a shop. The Weslyn Chapel was further down on the left. Thanks for the memories. The cinema was run by a Mr.Bracegirdle.
Any idea as to when the old school at the top of Grange Valley was knocked down.
My Grandfather Tom Fairclough, was projectionist at the cinema and Mr& Mrs Bracegirdles daughter (Mrs Hatton)became the cookery teacher at Haydock Secondary Modern School.
The photos brought back many happy days of my growing up
born in Station Rd left in 1938 moved to Manor Rd spent time in Church rd during the war at my Grans, many happy hour at Haydock Bug with Mr Bracegirdle stood on a orange box telling us kids to shut up; calling in the vegatable shop next to the pictures for a penny carrot
Penny fot the pictures and a penny to scrape the carrot, three pence in old money went a long way back then, now live in Clipsley Lane my house is on one of the photos, spent some time dancing at the RAF camp, happy happy days.
Recognise all the photo’s went to Haydock Colliery School at the top of Grange Valley although it’s real name eludes me it was built by a local mine owner.Attended 1947/51,headmaster J.W.Woods,other masters Ernie Hilton,Mr.Twist Miss Noon.Mr Woods was superceded by Mr. Hughes from Jaggers school in Park Street.He introduced the first football team at the school.Players were Lenny Bond, Eric Briscoe yours truly.Wonder what happened to Mr. Woods’s cane it stung at the time.
Hello Graham
Great to hear your comments on Peggy’s blogg.
My Grandfather was J.W. Woods, Jack Woods as he was known by. It doesn’t surprise me to discover that he liked using his cane! My dad, Harold, used to tell me that he got the cane at school and then got it again when he got home! No favouritism there then. I don’t know where that cane is but I will ask the rest of the family.
Sadly all of Jack’s children are now dead. Fred ran away, 2 of the girls married American G.I’s after the war and went to live in USA and had big families. 1 girl married and lived in London and another girl emigrated to Australia. 1 son died very young from meningitis and my lovely dad Harold stayed in St Helens and worked for Richard Eveans and then the NCB. He died aged 70 in 1990.
I would love to know who Jack’s father was.My Grandad was illigitimate, his mother being called Sarah Smith. I understand she was a maid who had an afair with her employer. Presumably that is how my Grandfather got so well educated but I am only guessing. At that time I think they were all effected by serving in the 1st World War. I am giving him an excuse for being so stict, but I was frightened of him too and I would be so young. He did look after Grandma for many years after he retired, doing all the cleaning, washing and cooking for her. I don’t think he was all bad!
Hey there Rhona, funniest thing, my daughter Rebecca was looking at pics on here and realised that we had the same pic on the wall of my home. That would be because I am the last one standing of the Australian “Woods” clan. Would love to see if we can make contact.
Janet
Hi, was browsing Haydock collieries, and stumbled on your pics. a friend of mine lives on Grange Valley, now!
Nice memories.
Hi Eric
How funny, my mum and dad live in Grange Valley!
I went to ‘Jagger’s’ school and left in 1952 to go to Ashton grammar. I also went to
the ‘Bug’and remember being sprayed by flit!
The school at the top of Grange Valley closed but was not knocked down at first. I led a campaign to have it changed into a youth club. It was great at first but the
local yobs vandalised it.I forget when it was demolished.
I too was browsing Haydock Collieries when I came across this site. I was brought up in Grange Valley in the 50′s and went to the colliery school, built by Richard Evans for the local children.
When I was there Grange Valley started near the old water tower. The section from the school down to the level crossing was Grange Road, it had open land on the right and the foundary on the left. It has changed a bit since then.
When I attended the school the headmaster was Mortimer Hughes, the only teachers that I can remember are Mr Heaton, Miss Galvin, Mrs Heaton, Mrs Smith and Miss Young.
Hi I found the photos really fascinating. I was born at number 23 Penny Lane, Haydock near the Rams Head. I attended St James Primary and St James Junior, then Haydock Secondary Modern (now High School) spent two years there then passed to go to Newton Le Willows Junior Technical School.
I remember the Rams Head when it had a bowling green later changed to a car park.
I also remember the Conservative club and someone told me that before the war, there was a statue of Charlie Chaplin (when it was the picture house)in one of the recesses. It was taken down when the war started and never replaced.
I now live in South Warwickshire and would love to hear from people who may remember me or my family, we lived in Haydock from 1945 and moved to Bamfurlong when my father finished as overman at Golborne Colliery.
anyone got any pictures or information about haydock catholic club??
i lived at 38 penny lane woith my grandparens,tmiths i remember yur mum and didn`t yu have another brother and a baby sister
i lived at 38 penny lane with my grandparents the smiths i remember yur mum ..
Hi, thanks for your comments – however, I had 3 brothers, Jim, Jack and David. If you go on to my profile on facebook you will see a picture of 3 of us, David wasn’t born then
Regards
Hi – I am unsure whether you are female or male. I have spoken with my eldest brother re your comments and have been informed that my father used to rent a garage from your grandparents near Jubilee Crescent.
Regards
thats right we had an orchard at the back of the houe were grandad grew almost everything . but it was nt nice when the scrumpers came and destroyrd a lot of things we als had the front next to billy boardies ,were the best raspberrie were grown ,billy boadie was the steward athe social club the land at the front is built on now ,,and there is a bungalow where the orchard was , .i am female perhaps its david i remember ho old is he now,
Hi – thankyou for coming back to me. Yes I remember the orchard and how proud of his produce your Grandad was. I also remember the Boardmans as I used to walk their Staffordshire Bull terrier called Bruce. I think it may be me you remember from those days – the Boardmans were a lovely couple!
I haven’t been back to Haydock for years, but I have gone onto Google Earth and noticed the changes that have taken place – some good some really bad. My heart sank when I saw that the Rams Head was boarded up as I remember my father Harry, used to frequent it as well as the Social Club. I remember very well the night that Ken Dodd appeared at the Social Club. My Father came back telling us all what a terrific time he had and what a really good Singer/Comedian he was! I hope you keep in touch as it is a pleasure for me recount those happy days. Regards
hi great finding this website. my mam was born in station road and I lived there for a few years and have lovely memories of people I knew. I went to English Martyrs school in the 60′s and they were very free with the cane too!
i was Barnes then my mam was Middlehurst . Her brother was a local artist I believe. I still have relatives in Haydock .
I remember you Janet Barnes (as was) hope you are doing well I don’t live in Haydock not since I was 17 ..
Hi Gill
Any chance you could reply to my query re Old St. James school pix etc (1956&158) ?
Hi Dave
Sorry, could you remind me what your question was? But I have to say, that I am not an expert as this is a blog which diaries Peggy’s adventures, rather than a historical one. My 90 year old Gran (Jessie Prescott, nee Holden) was a fountain of knowledge for everyone as she was Haydock born and bred, but sadly she passed away in May… But I will do my best though -Fire Away… x
Hi, I came across this site while looking for old photos of Haydock which I have lived in for about 8 years. My Mum & Dad used to run a corner shop back in the 80′& 90′s on Clipsley Lane and I now live in Park Street. I really like looking at how the streets used to be. It;s sad that we have lost most of the pubs too. Those cobbles are still under the tarmac as I saw when our road was resurfaced a while ago. Nice to see what the building where Spar now occupy once looked.
HI Stephanie
Glad you enjoyed it…. which corner shop? I am guessing either near Ireland Road or O’Connell Close?
x
Hi Gill, thanks for your reply.
I remember before I changed my computer that I found a web site showing very many old Haydock photos, including classroom and walking day photos. Was that not yours ? If not, perhaps you or yor bloggers might know what it is ?
i loved looking at the pictures, and remember most of the places. I lived in Grange Road until I was 12 then moved to Vista Road. My Dad used to win lots of prizes and cups at the Horticultural Show which was then held at Haydock Secondary School. I went to Colliery School from 1954-1961. Happy memories of those schooldays, some great teachers – Mr Howard, Miss Galvin, Mrs. Heaton, and Mr. Hughes was Head then. Thanks for posting the pics. Maureen (Barbados)
Love the site. Family still in Haydock so back there 4 or 5 times a year. So sad to see all the Pubs being closed. Many happy memories of Haydock and love catching up with my old school pals who are all now in their 40 and 50′s drinking in the Reading Rooms.
Our house was built on the old railway station behind station road.
im try to find any ov my dads family he used to live on haydock lane wen he wasborn in 1909 his dads name was james jackson and hes dad was called james wud be my great grandad ther must be sum relatives still in haydock could sum one reply thank u
Hi, I love the site and the pictures are fabulous. I grew up in Haydock and come from a long line of Yickers. It’s really interesting to see how Haydock would have looked to my grandparents. If I find any old snaps of the village I’ll forward them to you. Great work!
I lived in Park Street with my mum & Dad and my grandmother Francess Young. I think she was a dinner lady at St Mary RC school Blackbrook. I had relatives who lived in West End Rd. The Houghtons and my dads brother Jimmy Young, does anyone remember the old co-op shop and the greengrocers I think the lady owners name was florie ? also a little sweet shop near the co-op. I moved to Thatto Heath when I was 5. Barbara Kirkham (nee young)
I am a yicker through and through. I was born in Parr and we moved to Haydock when I was three. I was an identical twin and there wasn’t many in those days. I loved Haydock and lived near to Stone Row which I remember so well. We went to Richard Evans school and had happy memories of that time. It has been sad to see the Wagon and Horses demolished as my gran and granddad George Platts and Alice Whitfield his wife, bought it shortly after it was built.
My mum was Mabel Higham and she was one of the Higham family who owned three shops in Haydock and the Wagon row houses. They had a butchers shop opposite to where the Kwik Save used to be. Their other shops were confectioners, one further down from the Huntsman. I myself am a fanatic ancestry searcher and it is my greatest hobby. I live now in the white fronted house opposite to Haydock High school which Jan and I attended. It was once a cloggers shop and house, built around 1900.
My twin and I were the Boyers twins and my name now is Judith Mc Kay. Janice passed away 15yrs ago. Her name after marriage was Janice Bullock. Love Haydock and wlawys will!
Hi Judith. You probably don’t remember me more than my sister Anne. We lived at number 77 Clipsley Lane along with younger sister Linda. I am always telling stories of our upbringing in Haydock to such an extent that my daughter Emma literally forced me into writing it all down for which I have just completed the first draft. You and your sister Janice get a mention when Alan Prescott’s puppy dog got run over and killed and both of you went into hysterics crying. I have a very early picture of you and the gang who hung around together including Anne, David and Isobel Jaundrill, Leonard and Mollie Whalley, Derek Lloyd, Marjorie Whittle all from a total of thirty one.
I must admit that I share your love of Haydock, as it was then, and always will.
Fondest regards and best wishes
Hi
I have in my possession a photograph of “The Heyes”, Haydock, taken in the 1860′s by the photographer Edward Makinson Haigh, whose sister Emily, had been married to Josiah Evans, the mine owner. Very happy to send this on if you are interested
Stuart
Hello to Geoffrey Baines,
I used to live across the road from you at 70 Clipsley Lane, Haydock. I am the middle child of the Bowes Family – My mum Bernadette (Bernie) was very friendly with your mum, My mum still lives in Haydock and could probably add a lot of info to this site,
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