An Ormskirk Diary Part 3

CHURCH STREET

Let us now visit Church Street from the south side as already stated the Post Office attached to Wignalls grocery business was at the Moor Street corner the postal services were removed from Moor Street where there previously existed “The George and Dragon” with a weighing machine in the front. A clothing shop was next owned by Mr. Walker” The Shovel and Broom” public house came next and was occupied later by a tailor (Mr. Paul Pennington).we now come to the Advertiser Office which at that time was a book-sellers and stationers shop along with a news agents depot. The proprietor Mr. Thomas Hutton(grandfather of the present principal) also issued the various licenses such as dog licences, carriage licences,gun licences,etc.This was also the district stamp office Mr. Thomas Kershaw occupied the premises next door as a chemist, and at that time had an extensive medical and dry sweet business, these various lozenges,etc, being manufactured behind the premises. We now come to the yard which was the entrance to the headquarters of the silk weaving industry. This was a noted business in those days, and cottages possessing looms resorted thither for there supplies of the newwoven articles and where it was borne after spending their skill and energy upon it. We now come to the premises of the late Mr. John Baxendales drapery behind which was a warehouse stored with slates and scholastic. stationary belonging to Mr. Hutton of the Advertiser offices. We have next the ironmongery business of the late Mr. Sherlock, with a little confectioners shop next door. After this was the Golden Boot warehouse occupied by the late Mr. Thos Appleton,a highly respected blind gentleman, whose business was largely carried on by his sons, the workshop being behind the premises down the yard adjoining. A beerhouse came next. Before proceeding further I might add that over the entrance to the boot and shoe shop there was the imitation of a large wellington boot brilliantly gilded-hence the Golden Boot Warehouse. After the beerhouse already mentioned there was the Painters and Decorators shops of Mr. Thos Ball who was grandfather to the present proprietor of the business of Thos Ball and Co. Derby Street. Mr. George Anderton vetenary surgeon had the next shop, he was the brother of the late Dr Anderton.A cloggers shop was next seen which was owned by one of the sons of Mr. Bridge, this brings us to the yard where there was a number of cottages this was also the entrance to the Ormskirk Steam Corn Mill as well as Harvey’s nursery- Fairhursts provender business was the next shop after this was the” Old Eagle and Child” public house, with a house next to where was sold greengroceries and home made pop, this being on the corner before reaching the ironmongery business

of Mr. C Owen which afterwards became the business of Howard and Ball ironfounders,the foundry being a little further up the street, with a weighing machine at the entrance to the yard. After passing this yard there were two or three small houses which were entered by a few stone steps, you now approach the library which was by the vicarage and immediately past this house you are in the Grove where a few small houses are situated close to the church yard. This brings us to the end of Church Street on the south side. We will now travel back to the cross on the other side of the street, commencing at the end of factory yard and Church Alley which both terminate together after reaching the church. You first notice a cobblers shop, then a baby linen shop. There were also two or three other dwelling houses some of which the tenants had converted into small shops. You next reach the “Plough Inn” public house, but since these days this has been greatly altered and taken on a more modern appearance. There then came a small sweet shop and a row of dwelling houses, but I may say that the houses previously mentioned there was a beer house which was eventually converted into a chips and fish shop. Having passed the row of dwelling houses there stood together two beerhouses, where at the present time there are two confectioners shops. There was also a small shop, this was next to J.Newtons grocery and bakery stores. After this there was the “Snigs Foot Hotel “with the brewery at the back. There was also Martlands beerhouse at the end of the yard leading to the brewery where there exists at present a sweet shop. The beerhouse was on the right hand side of the entrance to the yard, whilst higher into the yard were two workshops of repute, one of these belonging to Mr. Thomas Nixon the cabinet maker and the other to Mr. Wignall, the maker of the long- cased or grandfather clocks which today are greatly valued and much sought after. We now come to the “White Lion” Hotel Mr. James Ball (son of Mr. Ball who lived across the street)was living, next door to the “White Lion” which was a private house I imagine Mr. W Horton had a shop about these parts for his workshop was up the entry by the shop door-his was a cabinet making business. Near this shop was the”Three Crowns Hotel” on the site of Bradleys clothing establishment. Across hotel yard there was the Tea Shop owned by Mr. Thos Alty who at the time lived at Brooklands Scarisbrick Messrs Daish and Salter afterwards came into possession of these premises.Orritts original gingerbread shop came next with there door facing the Cross and which was entered by about five stone steps across the corner of the street. At the time of which I am writing the large room upstairs was used as a concert hall and for the purpose of public meetings and religious services. Beneath this room the market stalls were stored; there was also what we call the meals house where the business of the

farmers was contracted on the market day. A large set of scales or shall I say a weighing machine to weigh the pigs of cottagers who fed them up for sale to the shop keepers. This was quite a lucrative business for the working people. The custom was to purchase one or two small pigs and feed them up to about twelve or fourteen score and then sell them to the grocer. Then after paying for the feeding stuff there would be a nice balance left over for the purchase of one or two more pigs besides an amount of profit. We now come to the corner of the street leading to Burscough Street. There was a public house on the corner and the usual stone steps at the entrance. This was called the “Old Clock”. I understand that formerly there was a large clock over the front door for the service of the public; hence we get the name the “Old Clock”. I also remember that there were some people who called it the “Eagle and Child” this was I presume owing to the fact of the Derby Coat of Arms being shown at the top of the building near by.