150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 4 - 10 AUGUST 1875
This week's many stories include the poor state of the St Helens police station, the first public children's nursery opens in St Helens, the plans for a new post office in Church Street, the neighbourly row over a clothesline, the YMCA's facilities in Waterloo Street and the faithless Rainford swain who dumped his girlfriend when she became pregnant.
We begin on the 4th when St Helens Town Council's monthly meeting took place and a letter from Colonel Robert Bruce was read out. He was the Chief Constable of Lancashire who was based in Preston and Superintendent James Ludlam – who was in charge of the St Helens police – reported to him. The police were still based at the old Town Hall in New Marketplace. Although that building had endured several fires, the police station had largely escaped the flames.
But it was in a very bad condition and although the new Town Hall in what would be Corporation Street would have a police station attached, it would not be ready for some time. However, Col Bruce was getting impatient, writing:
"There still, however, seems no immediate prospect of the borough having a police station completed, and in the meantime the police are subjected to the very greatest straits and inconveniences, and the cells are in so bad a condition that they cannot be responsible for the safety of prisoners committed to their charge. I beg to call your attention to the matter, and to hope that some steps may at once be taken to expedite the completion of the police station proposed to be let to the county."
The answer to be sent to Col Bruce was that the contractors were working with "every possible diligence" and they hoped that in a "very short time" the new station would be ready to hand over to the police.
The St Helens Newspaper on the 7th revealed that the first public children's nursery was opening in the town. The paper wrote:
"A committee of philanthropic ladies, in the hope, we presume, of lessening the sufferings of young humanity, have determined to open a room in Waterloo-street, and provide food and nurses to take charge – during the day – of children under five years of age, whose mothers are unable, from various causes, to pay them that attention which, at so tender an age, children so much need." But only fresh air was free in the 1870s and a charge of 4d a day or two shillings a week was being levied.
The first government Post Office at St Helens had been opened in 1852 in Market Street but was very small, as the Newspaper described: "There cannot be two opinions as to the utter insufficiency and inconvenience of the present post office. Indeed it never was sufficiently commodious for the amount of postal, savings bank, and telegraphic business of St. Helens. The present premises, too small at first, have become doubly inconvenient owing to the great increase of business; so much so that it is quite a nuisance both to the public and the employes to transact any business of the banking, telegraphing, or money order classes on certain days of the week.
"There is but one small cribbed up place for the transacting of the whole of the business; and persons despatching telegrams have to write them where they may be easily overlooked; and others depositing, or withdrawing money in the savings bank, or others forwarding or receiving post office orders have frequently to do so in the presence of persons to whom such a disclosure of their business is inadvisable."
But the good news was that the post office authorities had agreed on the new site in Church Street, adjacent to the church, that St Helens Corporation had earmarked for a new post office. The Newspaper added that it was to be hoped that they would erect premises that would be "at once commodious, creditable to the state department [Post Office], and a model of good taste to the town."
Some local history books state that the YMCA began in St Helens in 1884. However, they were certainly operating well before then and there was an advert in this week's Newspaper promoting their meeting room at the Mission Hall in Waterloo Street. The YMCA's reading room, no doubt offering a selection of newspapers and probably some books, was open daily from 8 am to 9:30 pm and they also had a gymnasium that was open from 6 pm to 9:30 pm.
No alcohol was sold but tea and coffee was provided at what was described as a cheap rate from 8 am to 10 pm. Employers that were looking to hire young men were invited to get in touch with the association's secretary.
Another poor girl who had been left high and dry by the young man who had made her pregnant appeared in court this week to seek maintenance payments. She was Hannah Manchester and her boyfriend – or "faithless swain" as the Newspaper put it (although swine might have been more appropriate) – was Elias Whalley. This is how the Newspaper reported the case:
"The parties live at Rainford, and are about the same age, namely 21. They first became acquainted about four years since, and their intimacy soon ripened into an ardent, though indiscreet courtship, which lasted until the advent of the child forming the subject of the present enquiry, when the faithless swain seems to have altogether abandoned his fiance – for he had promised her marriage – and only held communication with her through the medium of his mother.
"The defence now was an attempt to shift the liability upon the shoulders of somebody else, several witnesses being called pro and con; but the magistrates considered the evidence for the complainant as conclusive, and made an order on the defendant for 4s per week."
A 19-year-old man called Joseph Frodsham from Westfield Street was instantly killed this week down what was called Crop pit in Sutton. The accident was caused by what was described as a balance prop having broken, severely crushing the young man.
There was another neighbourly dispute between two women described in court, which appeared to have been over a shared clothesline. The sharing of domestic arrangements was a recipe for rows and Ellen Davies reckoned her dispute with Ellen Webster had led to her being assaulted. This is part of the Newspaper's account of the court hearing:
"The complainant had then her baby in her arms, and the defendant struck her three times, after which she pulled her nose, then she cleared her throat in a very offensive way and spat in the complainant's face, winding up by calling the complainant and her children very vile names. A painful part of the affair was that some time since the defendant's father committed suicide by cutting his throat, and it was elicited by Mr Paine [solicitor] that the complainant frequently taunted her about it. The defendant was fined 10s and costs."
A detailed list of train fares to over 20 local destinations from St Helens Station (including Rookery Station in Rainford pictured above) was published in the Newspaper. With three classes of carriage there was extra complexity to the timetable. It only cost 1½d to travel to Gerards Bridge, Peasley Cross or Sutton Oak stations by third class train. But if you wanted to journey in more select company, a first class compartment would cost 3d, or 4d in the case of Sutton Oak. Travelling to Liverpool cost either 1 shilling, 1s 6d or 1s 10d. Return tickets did not save you much, with a first class return to Liverpool priced at 3s 2d, only a sixpenny saving.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Parr purring threat, the brutal kicking of a Cowley Street wife, the paralysed beggar who was sent to prison and the clown cricketers that played in St Helens and defeated a local side.
We begin on the 4th when St Helens Town Council's monthly meeting took place and a letter from Colonel Robert Bruce was read out. He was the Chief Constable of Lancashire who was based in Preston and Superintendent James Ludlam – who was in charge of the St Helens police – reported to him. The police were still based at the old Town Hall in New Marketplace. Although that building had endured several fires, the police station had largely escaped the flames.
But it was in a very bad condition and although the new Town Hall in what would be Corporation Street would have a police station attached, it would not be ready for some time. However, Col Bruce was getting impatient, writing:
"There still, however, seems no immediate prospect of the borough having a police station completed, and in the meantime the police are subjected to the very greatest straits and inconveniences, and the cells are in so bad a condition that they cannot be responsible for the safety of prisoners committed to their charge. I beg to call your attention to the matter, and to hope that some steps may at once be taken to expedite the completion of the police station proposed to be let to the county."
The answer to be sent to Col Bruce was that the contractors were working with "every possible diligence" and they hoped that in a "very short time" the new station would be ready to hand over to the police.
The St Helens Newspaper on the 7th revealed that the first public children's nursery was opening in the town. The paper wrote:
"A committee of philanthropic ladies, in the hope, we presume, of lessening the sufferings of young humanity, have determined to open a room in Waterloo-street, and provide food and nurses to take charge – during the day – of children under five years of age, whose mothers are unable, from various causes, to pay them that attention which, at so tender an age, children so much need." But only fresh air was free in the 1870s and a charge of 4d a day or two shillings a week was being levied.
The first government Post Office at St Helens had been opened in 1852 in Market Street but was very small, as the Newspaper described: "There cannot be two opinions as to the utter insufficiency and inconvenience of the present post office. Indeed it never was sufficiently commodious for the amount of postal, savings bank, and telegraphic business of St. Helens. The present premises, too small at first, have become doubly inconvenient owing to the great increase of business; so much so that it is quite a nuisance both to the public and the employes to transact any business of the banking, telegraphing, or money order classes on certain days of the week.
"There is but one small cribbed up place for the transacting of the whole of the business; and persons despatching telegrams have to write them where they may be easily overlooked; and others depositing, or withdrawing money in the savings bank, or others forwarding or receiving post office orders have frequently to do so in the presence of persons to whom such a disclosure of their business is inadvisable."
But the good news was that the post office authorities had agreed on the new site in Church Street, adjacent to the church, that St Helens Corporation had earmarked for a new post office. The Newspaper added that it was to be hoped that they would erect premises that would be "at once commodious, creditable to the state department [Post Office], and a model of good taste to the town."
Some local history books state that the YMCA began in St Helens in 1884. However, they were certainly operating well before then and there was an advert in this week's Newspaper promoting their meeting room at the Mission Hall in Waterloo Street. The YMCA's reading room, no doubt offering a selection of newspapers and probably some books, was open daily from 8 am to 9:30 pm and they also had a gymnasium that was open from 6 pm to 9:30 pm.
No alcohol was sold but tea and coffee was provided at what was described as a cheap rate from 8 am to 10 pm. Employers that were looking to hire young men were invited to get in touch with the association's secretary.
Another poor girl who had been left high and dry by the young man who had made her pregnant appeared in court this week to seek maintenance payments. She was Hannah Manchester and her boyfriend – or "faithless swain" as the Newspaper put it (although swine might have been more appropriate) – was Elias Whalley. This is how the Newspaper reported the case:
"The parties live at Rainford, and are about the same age, namely 21. They first became acquainted about four years since, and their intimacy soon ripened into an ardent, though indiscreet courtship, which lasted until the advent of the child forming the subject of the present enquiry, when the faithless swain seems to have altogether abandoned his fiance – for he had promised her marriage – and only held communication with her through the medium of his mother.
"The defence now was an attempt to shift the liability upon the shoulders of somebody else, several witnesses being called pro and con; but the magistrates considered the evidence for the complainant as conclusive, and made an order on the defendant for 4s per week."
A 19-year-old man called Joseph Frodsham from Westfield Street was instantly killed this week down what was called Crop pit in Sutton. The accident was caused by what was described as a balance prop having broken, severely crushing the young man.
There was another neighbourly dispute between two women described in court, which appeared to have been over a shared clothesline. The sharing of domestic arrangements was a recipe for rows and Ellen Davies reckoned her dispute with Ellen Webster had led to her being assaulted. This is part of the Newspaper's account of the court hearing:
"The complainant had then her baby in her arms, and the defendant struck her three times, after which she pulled her nose, then she cleared her throat in a very offensive way and spat in the complainant's face, winding up by calling the complainant and her children very vile names. A painful part of the affair was that some time since the defendant's father committed suicide by cutting his throat, and it was elicited by Mr Paine [solicitor] that the complainant frequently taunted her about it. The defendant was fined 10s and costs."
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Parr purring threat, the brutal kicking of a Cowley Street wife, the paralysed beggar who was sent to prison and the clown cricketers that played in St Helens and defeated a local side.
This week's many stories include the poor state of the St Helens police station, the first public children's nursery opens in St Helens, the plans for a new post office in Church Street, the neighbourly row over a clothesline, the YMCA's facilities in Waterloo Street and the faithless Rainford swain who dumped his girlfriend when she became pregnant.
We begin on the 4th when St Helens Town Council's monthly meeting took place and a letter from Colonel Robert Bruce was read out.
He was the Chief Constable of Lancashire who was based in Preston and Superintendent James Ludlam – who was in charge of the St Helens police – reported to him.
The police were still based at the old Town Hall in New Marketplace. Although that building had endured several fires, the police station had largely escaped the flames.
But it was in a very bad condition and although the new Town Hall in what would be Corporation Street would have a police station attached, it would not be ready for some time.
However, Col Bruce was getting impatient, writing:
"There still, however, seems no immediate prospect of the borough having a police station completed, and in the meantime the police are subjected to the very greatest straits and inconveniences, and the cells are in so bad a condition that they cannot be responsible for the safety of prisoners committed to their charge.
"I beg to call your attention to the matter, and to hope that some steps may at once be taken to expedite the completion of the police station proposed to be let to the county."
The answer to be sent to Col Bruce was that the contractors were working with "every possible diligence" and they hoped that in a "very short time" the new station would be ready to hand over to the police.
The St Helens Newspaper on the 7th revealed that the first public children's nursery was opening in the town. The paper wrote:
"A committee of philanthropic ladies, in the hope, we presume, of lessening the sufferings of young humanity, have determined to open a room in Waterloo-street, and provide food and nurses to take charge – during the day – of children under five years of age, whose mothers are unable, from various causes, to pay them that attention which, at so tender an age, children so much need."
But only fresh air was free in the 1870s and a charge of 4d a day or two shillings a week was being levied.
The first government Post Office at St Helens had been opened in 1852 in Market Street but was very small, as the Newspaper described:
"There cannot be two opinions as to the utter insufficiency and inconvenience of the present post office. Indeed it never was sufficiently commodious for the amount of postal, savings bank, and telegraphic business of St. Helens.
"The present premises, too small at first, have become doubly inconvenient owing to the great increase of business; so much so that it is quite a nuisance both to the public and the employes to transact any business of the banking, telegraphing, or money order classes on certain days of the week.
"There is but one small cribbed up place for the transacting of the whole of the business; and persons despatching telegrams have to write them where they may be easily overlooked; and others depositing, or withdrawing money in the savings bank, or others forwarding or receiving post office orders have frequently to do so in the presence of persons to whom such a disclosure of their business is inadvisable."
But the good news was that the post office authorities had agreed on the new site in Church Street, adjacent to the church, that St Helens Corporation had earmarked for a new post office.
The Newspaper added that it was to be hoped that they would erect premises that would be "at once commodious, creditable to the state department [Post Office], and a model of good taste to the town."
Some local history books state that the YMCA began in St Helens in 1884. However, they were certainly operating well before then and there was an advert in this week's Newspaper promoting their meeting room at the Mission Hall in Waterloo Street.
The YMCA's reading room, no doubt offering a selection of newspapers and probably some books, was open daily from 8 am to 9:30 pm and they also had a gymnasium that was open from 6 pm to 9:30 pm.
No alcohol was sold but tea and coffee was provided at what was described as a cheap rate from 8 am to 10 pm.
Employers that were looking to hire young men were invited to get in touch with the association's secretary.
Another poor girl who had been left high and dry by the young man who had made her pregnant appeared in court this week to seek maintenance payments.
She was Hannah Manchester and her boyfriend – or "faithless swain" as the Newspaper put it (although swine might have been more appropriate) – was Elias Whalley. This is how the Newspaper reported the case:
"The parties live at Rainford, and are about the same age, namely 21.
"They first became acquainted about four years since, and their intimacy soon ripened into an ardent, though indiscreet courtship, which lasted until the advent of the child forming the subject of the present enquiry, when the faithless swain seems to have altogether abandoned his fiance – for he had promised her marriage – and only held communication with her through the medium of his mother.
"The defence now was an attempt to shift the liability upon the shoulders of somebody else, several witnesses being called pro and con; but the magistrates considered the evidence for the complainant as conclusive, and made an order on the defendant for 4s per week."
A 19-year-old man called Joseph Frodsham from Westfield Street was instantly killed this week down what was called Crop pit in Sutton.
The accident was caused by what was described as a balance prop having broken, severely crushing the young man.
There was another neighbourly dispute between two women described in court, which appeared to have been over a shared clothesline.
The sharing of domestic arrangements was a recipe for rows and Ellen Davies reckoned her dispute with Ellen Webster had led to her being assaulted.
This is part of the Newspaper's account of the court hearing:
"The complainant had then her baby in her arms, and the defendant struck her three times, after which she pulled her nose, then she cleared her throat in a very offensive way and spat in the complainant's face, winding up by calling the complainant and her children very vile names.
"A painful part of the affair was that some time since the defendant's father committed suicide by cutting his throat, and it was elicited by Mr Paine [solicitor] that the complainant frequently taunted her about it. The defendant was fined 10s and costs."
A detailed list of train fares to over 20 local destinations (including Rookery Station in Rainford pictured above) from St Helens Station was published in the Newspaper.
With three classes of carriage there was extra complexity to the timetable. It only cost 1½d to travel to Gerards Bridge, Peasley Cross or Sutton Oak stations by third class train.
But if you wanted to journey in more select company, a first class compartment would cost 3d, or 4d in the case of Sutton Oak.
Travelling to Liverpool cost either 1 shilling, 1s 6d or 1s 10d. Return tickets did not save you much, with a first class return to Liverpool priced at 3s 2d, only a sixpenny saving.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Parr purring threat, the brutal kicking of a Cowley Street wife, the paralysed beggar who was sent to prison and the clown cricketers that played in St Helens and defeated a local side.
We begin on the 4th when St Helens Town Council's monthly meeting took place and a letter from Colonel Robert Bruce was read out.
He was the Chief Constable of Lancashire who was based in Preston and Superintendent James Ludlam – who was in charge of the St Helens police – reported to him.
The police were still based at the old Town Hall in New Marketplace. Although that building had endured several fires, the police station had largely escaped the flames.
But it was in a very bad condition and although the new Town Hall in what would be Corporation Street would have a police station attached, it would not be ready for some time.
However, Col Bruce was getting impatient, writing:
"There still, however, seems no immediate prospect of the borough having a police station completed, and in the meantime the police are subjected to the very greatest straits and inconveniences, and the cells are in so bad a condition that they cannot be responsible for the safety of prisoners committed to their charge.
"I beg to call your attention to the matter, and to hope that some steps may at once be taken to expedite the completion of the police station proposed to be let to the county."
The answer to be sent to Col Bruce was that the contractors were working with "every possible diligence" and they hoped that in a "very short time" the new station would be ready to hand over to the police.
The St Helens Newspaper on the 7th revealed that the first public children's nursery was opening in the town. The paper wrote:
"A committee of philanthropic ladies, in the hope, we presume, of lessening the sufferings of young humanity, have determined to open a room in Waterloo-street, and provide food and nurses to take charge – during the day – of children under five years of age, whose mothers are unable, from various causes, to pay them that attention which, at so tender an age, children so much need."
But only fresh air was free in the 1870s and a charge of 4d a day or two shillings a week was being levied.
The first government Post Office at St Helens had been opened in 1852 in Market Street but was very small, as the Newspaper described:
"There cannot be two opinions as to the utter insufficiency and inconvenience of the present post office. Indeed it never was sufficiently commodious for the amount of postal, savings bank, and telegraphic business of St. Helens.
"The present premises, too small at first, have become doubly inconvenient owing to the great increase of business; so much so that it is quite a nuisance both to the public and the employes to transact any business of the banking, telegraphing, or money order classes on certain days of the week.
"There is but one small cribbed up place for the transacting of the whole of the business; and persons despatching telegrams have to write them where they may be easily overlooked; and others depositing, or withdrawing money in the savings bank, or others forwarding or receiving post office orders have frequently to do so in the presence of persons to whom such a disclosure of their business is inadvisable."
But the good news was that the post office authorities had agreed on the new site in Church Street, adjacent to the church, that St Helens Corporation had earmarked for a new post office.
The Newspaper added that it was to be hoped that they would erect premises that would be "at once commodious, creditable to the state department [Post Office], and a model of good taste to the town."
Some local history books state that the YMCA began in St Helens in 1884. However, they were certainly operating well before then and there was an advert in this week's Newspaper promoting their meeting room at the Mission Hall in Waterloo Street.
The YMCA's reading room, no doubt offering a selection of newspapers and probably some books, was open daily from 8 am to 9:30 pm and they also had a gymnasium that was open from 6 pm to 9:30 pm.
No alcohol was sold but tea and coffee was provided at what was described as a cheap rate from 8 am to 10 pm.
Employers that were looking to hire young men were invited to get in touch with the association's secretary.
Another poor girl who had been left high and dry by the young man who had made her pregnant appeared in court this week to seek maintenance payments.
She was Hannah Manchester and her boyfriend – or "faithless swain" as the Newspaper put it (although swine might have been more appropriate) – was Elias Whalley. This is how the Newspaper reported the case:
"The parties live at Rainford, and are about the same age, namely 21.
"They first became acquainted about four years since, and their intimacy soon ripened into an ardent, though indiscreet courtship, which lasted until the advent of the child forming the subject of the present enquiry, when the faithless swain seems to have altogether abandoned his fiance – for he had promised her marriage – and only held communication with her through the medium of his mother.
"The defence now was an attempt to shift the liability upon the shoulders of somebody else, several witnesses being called pro and con; but the magistrates considered the evidence for the complainant as conclusive, and made an order on the defendant for 4s per week."
A 19-year-old man called Joseph Frodsham from Westfield Street was instantly killed this week down what was called Crop pit in Sutton.
The accident was caused by what was described as a balance prop having broken, severely crushing the young man.
There was another neighbourly dispute between two women described in court, which appeared to have been over a shared clothesline.
The sharing of domestic arrangements was a recipe for rows and Ellen Davies reckoned her dispute with Ellen Webster had led to her being assaulted.
This is part of the Newspaper's account of the court hearing:
"The complainant had then her baby in her arms, and the defendant struck her three times, after which she pulled her nose, then she cleared her throat in a very offensive way and spat in the complainant's face, winding up by calling the complainant and her children very vile names.
"A painful part of the affair was that some time since the defendant's father committed suicide by cutting his throat, and it was elicited by Mr Paine [solicitor] that the complainant frequently taunted her about it. The defendant was fined 10s and costs."
With three classes of carriage there was extra complexity to the timetable. It only cost 1½d to travel to Gerards Bridge, Peasley Cross or Sutton Oak stations by third class train.
But if you wanted to journey in more select company, a first class compartment would cost 3d, or 4d in the case of Sutton Oak.
Travelling to Liverpool cost either 1 shilling, 1s 6d or 1s 10d. Return tickets did not save you much, with a first class return to Liverpool priced at 3s 2d, only a sixpenny saving.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Parr purring threat, the brutal kicking of a Cowley Street wife, the paralysed beggar who was sent to prison and the clown cricketers that played in St Helens and defeated a local side.