AN ORMSKIRK DIARY PART 5

     RAILWAY ROAD

We will now walk along Moor Street and have a look at Railway Road, or what was once called Coffin Row, the reason for it being called by this name is quite obvious for as you view the block of buildings on the railway side you will notice that the east of the road resembles a coffin, that is,if you take the block of buildings which goes as far as the iron railings on the top of the embankment. It is rather significant here there were three beerhouses, one went by the name of” A hole in the wall” another was “The Three Sisters”, the emblem of these can still be seen over the doorway of one of the shops, whilst the other was the “Rifleman’s Inn “.Beside these were the offices of Mr. Parr the solicitors. There was also a shop which was noted for the making of meat pies and which was kept by a person by the name of Staniforth.On the other side of the road was the Exchange Rooms, where were the headquarters of the old 54^th regiment of the volunteers. The band master being Mr. George Watts,who kept a music shop inAughton Street, somewhere about the entrance to what is now Park Road There was also an auctioneer on this side of the road  Mr. R.Jeffries, and nearer the end was Mr. Kennedys office, the solicitors. In this road was the veterinary surgeon Mr. F Ball. Besides these there were a number of large private residences.

Let us now look at Derby Street

On the south side there was first a big house Mrs.Howard being the occupier, there were a few small houses next in one of which lived the maker of black puddings, these houses were very conspicuous at one time, the windows being very attractive by the flower pots filled with the old fashioned sweet smelling ormsk plants., there was also a grocer and provision shop kept by a Kate Ashurst, then following this were a few more small houses. We have now reached the surgery and dwelling of Dr.Ryder,passing this we come to the house of Mr. Gardiner who was the father of the manager ofPreston’s Bank inBurscough Street. Next came theManchesterand Salford Bank. We now come to Messrs.Brighouses office and to two large dwelling houses in one of these lived a doctor.Then there was the venetian blind makers shop kept by Mr. Dowey,father of Mr. Dowey ofRailway Road. We now reach the “Commercial Inn”kept by Mr. Brown, who owned a number of horses and vehicles and catered for weddings and funerals etc. After crossing the end ofRailway Roadand theRailwayBridgewe come to the entrance to West View and to the New Wesleyan Chapel which had recently been built,we now behold a few cottages which stood behind some iron railings and reached around the corner obStanley Street. The entrance to these cottages was by descending about ten or twelve stone steps which led to the passage in front of the cottages. You will realize from thr access to these premises that the roadway was almost on a level with the bedroom windows. I remember that one of the tenants was a dealer in tripe and trotters. You now cross the end ofStanley Streetwhere there are a few dwelling houses, in one of them there lived Mr. J Martin, manager of the gas works inAughton Street. And at another there lived Mr. Chittleburgh the headmaster of thUnitedCharitiesSchool. Then next came three or four larger houses then there was Walmesley House the home of Mr Blundell(father of Mr. G W Blundell) We now come to a field which extends to Wigan Road from Derby Street, passing these four we come against Mr.Winrows Rope Walks. You now behold a row of workman’s dwelling houses at the far end of the row was a beerhouse Then there was another field, this brings you to two or three workman’s dwellings. Two or three Villas come next which are of more modern construction these having been built by Sergeant Nunnerly of Crimean fame, cannon balls having been placed on the gate posts in front of the houses. You now come to a row of cottages which are entered by a stone step or two which goes down into the kitchen. You are now up to another beerhouse, this brings you to the end ofDerby Streetand toTank Lane. We will now retrace our steps on the other side of the road. The first house being a small beerhouse, after this was what was calledGreetbyHillGardens. These were small allotments which were rented to cottagers living near. We now approach a private school which is near the long row of workman’s dwellings. We now come to a few houses with gardens in front and then to a shop and the “Dray and Horses”public house. The next place you see is Philip Forshaw’s Brewery, adjoining this is a field which runs as far as Railway approach where there are a number of houses belonging to the railway company and which are monopolized by railway employees. We now proceed over the railway bridge and glance at a row of cottages on that side of the railway.Passing on alongDerby Streetthe first place you notice over the bridge is the Railway Hotel with a shop close by. You now come to the Charity School. The Ormskirk Savings Bank And Mr.S Brighouses house stand together within the iron railings. The police station is then next with its surrounding accommodation and the offices of the magistrates clerk across the yard from the police station. Then you have The Elms the residence of Mr.P.N.Hunter.You are now back at the starting point with Miss Brandreths house on the corner

Having seen the principal streets of the town we will now survey a few of those of less prominence. Near MoorStree tBridg ewe haveChapel Street, and will proceed from this end taking the right side first. The first building is the school room belonging to the Congregational Church which is close by. you have next the yard of Mr.Thos Riding the builders in which there is the steam saw mill and workshops. There is then a dwelling house and an entry, this being called Cockpit Yard, which I presume was so called because of the battles that were fought in the days when cock-fighting was a sporting pastime,a few more small houses and we reach the old Ormskirk Wesleyan Chapel since converted into premises for Produce Company, a little further on there is the” Cricketers Arms”. You have now a number of small houses then a roadway (which at the time of writing these notes)leading intoAughton Street. It is near this place there stood a Chapel, for Chapel House is the next two dwellings which we encounter. This residence I would suggest was occupied by the Rev.Nathaniel Heywood who was ejected from the living ofOrmskirkParishChurchin 1662 owing to the passing of the Act of Uniformity and who I believe built a Chapel for the carrying on his religious services in the town, hence the name of the street Chapel Street. There was no more houses, except it be that there was a combined house and shop which was about half way down the street on the other side of the road this being called Sally Travis’s beerhouse. This would be at the end of Chapel Walk. You now come to the back portion of Mr. Drapers Smithy. From this point of a triangular piece of land there is nothing more until you get to the angle which dividesChapel Streetfrom St. Helens Road where there is another beerhouse, an on the sides of the triangle there is a number of houses which ends at the house of Mr. Draper the blacksmith. On the other side ofChapel Streetwe commence with the house of Dr. Lax whose surgery was a small building adjoining. There was next two dwellings with iron railings in front. In one of these lived the doctor’s coachman. There was another gentleman’s house which formed the residence of Dr. Anderton,this bringing you to the end ofRuff Lanewhich is just round the corner. There was a beerhouse at the right hand corner and a few cottages on the left nearChapel Streetend, one of these being occupied by the Bellman of the town. You next come to the Grammar School, then to the passage leading into Mill Street. You now come to Fairfield Cottages and Fairfield House.The homes of the late proprietors of the”Ormskirk Advertiser”.There was also two or three smaller houses a little further on,the rest of the locality were fields and as farmsteads.

You will wonder why I have not mentioned Knowsley Road seeing that we have passed the end of it. Let me say that there was no Knowsley Roadat this time, nothing here but fields,

Let us now look at Wigan Road starting from Stanley Street .We will take the southern side first, and at once behold the gate to the field which was at one time were we now find Knowsley Road end.A milk houseand dairy were next seen, and a few houses before you came to the “Windmill Inn”. You next came to the end of Mill Streetand to the” Ropers Arms”. There were a few houses before you came to the rope works of Mr. Tinsley. After this were a few workmen’s dwellings then another field and the Workhouse. There was nothing further on this side of the road but fields.