150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (13th - 19th SEPTEMBER 1871)
This week's many stories include the death of a former Greenall's boss at Crank railway station, the Newton works dinner theft, a Sutton squabble, concern over rabies outbreaks, the opening of the new St Helens / Huyton railway line is delayed and the St Helens' apprentices in trouble with their bosses.
We begin in St Helens Petty Sessions on the 14th when Thomas Gleeson was charged with obtaining 21s 6d by false pretences from an iron founder called Robert Rowland at Eccleston. That sum was equivalent to about a week's wages for most workers and the 25-year-old miner was committed to the next Liverpool Assizes where he was sentenced to four months in prison. A boy called John Brady had stolen some coal from Ravenhead Colliery and he was fined 5 shillings in the Sessions.
Also on the 14th Samuel Robinson dropped dead at Crank railway station. The 67-year-old retired manager of Greenall's brewery in St Helens had left his home next to the Red Cat Inn and dashed to the station concerned he might miss his train. Almost as soon as Robinson reached the platform he fell down and died, seemingly of a heart attack.
On the 15th the Rainford & Bickerstaffe Floral, Horticultural and Agricultural Produce Society's eighth annual exhibition of fruits, flowers, vegetables and agricultural produce was held. The event took place in a large marquee in a field adjoining the Junction Inn with a ball held inside the pub during the evening. "The display was remarkably fine", said the Wigan Observer – presumably referring to the flowers and not the frocks!
In July the new St Helens Railway Station in Shaw Street in St Helens had been "thrown open to the public" – as newspapers graphically put it. That replaced the existing station that had been built on the same site in 1858 and described by various newspapers and individuals as "wretched", a "little hole" and a "standing disgrace to the town". The reasons for building the new railway station – which would receive upgrades over the years, but essentially last until 1961 – were twofold: a) The impending opening of the new Huyton line; b) The increasing traffic on the existing Wigan line.
The construction of the new St Helens to Huyton / Liverpool railway via Thatto Heath, Farnworth and Prescot had begun in 1868 but had suffered all sorts of trouble. These ranged from geological difficulties – such as when cutting through sandstone near Thatto Heath – to personnel problems. There had been many accidents and arguments involving the so-called "navvies". For example, in Scotchbarn Lane two men had attacked each other with spades leaving one badly injured. The hard-working, hard-drinking men had even caused a riot inside the Royal Oak in New Road in Prescot.
Some insights had been provided into the means of construction when one of the contractors auctioned off his stock of horses and tools. The list included 61 picks and many hammers and chains needed to manually dig out tunnels and lay down railway track. It must have been hard, physical, backbreaking work before the days of mechanical diggers and electrical appliances. No wonder there was so many accidents and violent rows between the navvies that had prolonged the construction.
This week it was announced that the scheduled opening of the new Huyton line had been delayed. October 2nd had been the target date but its slow progress had led to a postponement. The Wigan Observer wrote: "We understand that the line is not sufficiently advanced towards completion to justify so early a resort to traffic, and from present appearances there is no prospect of any public trains being run before November." They were correct. The line would not be thrown open to the public – to use their own jargon – until January 1st 1872 but it would greatly reduce travelling time. Previously passengers travelling from St Helens to Liverpool had to change at St Helens Junction.
There were no such things as works canteens in the 1870s, of course. Most workers would either take their "snap" with them or have their dinner delivered. The Victorian version of Deliveroo usually involved children taking the meal to the works on foot on behalf of their mother or, sometimes, a neighbour. But getting the food from A to B could prove tricky. Small children given the task could bump into bigger ones, as in the case of John Holden. The seven-year-old had been told to take a dinner to a young woman working at the printing works of George McCorquodale in Newton-le-Willows.
However, while making the journey, Charles Kirkpatrick, George Chrisfield, Frederick Rouchette and John Tracey "accosted" the boy and helped themselves to the food that he was carrying. At the Warrington County Sessions on the 13th, all four youths were charged with stealing a "dinner dish, containing dinner, together with spoon and saucer". The Bench decided that the evidence against Kirkpatrick was insufficient and dismissed the charge against him. However, Tracey and Rouchette were sentenced to one day in gaol and six strokes of the birch.
The St Helens Newspaper also described a court case this week in which William Greenough was charged with threatening to assault Mary Talbot at Sutton. The latter had also been taking her husband's dinner to him at his work when Greenough approached her and "called her all sorts of bad names, interspersed with threats". Mrs Talbot denied any provocation – but it was the usual case of selective evidence given in court. Greenough said the woman regularly taunted his sister over an incident with a policeman and he was bound over.
The St Helens' authorities would always get a bit twitchy when rabies (aka hydrophobia) was reported in neighbouring districts. On the 16th the Wigan Observer described cases in Worthington, near Standish: "About three weeks ago a dog, supposed to have come from Standish, was noticed on the premises of Mr. Silvester, North Hall, Worthington, where it attacked a number of cattle. The dog was evidently rabid, and it was followed to Coppull Moor and killed.
"A few days ago a heifer belonging to Mr. Silvester showed signs of hydrophobia, the symptoms of the disease increased, and on Tuesday Mr. Wood veterinary surgeon, of Wigan, ordered the destruction of the animal, which bellowed furiously, especially at the sight of a dog, and was unable to swallow any food. It was destroyed on Wednesday morning, as was also a dog which showed signs of rabies."
There was quite a mix of cases at the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 18th. John Beller, an apprentice to painter William Freeman of Liverpool Road, was fined nine shillings for taking the afternoon off. Really! However, John Frith was in even worse trouble. He had "absconded" from his job at the St Helens Iron Foundry and hadn't shown up to court. So a warrant was issued for his arrest. The huge St Helens foundry (shown above) was situated by the canal, approximately 400 yards south-west of Church Street. Built in 1798, the Daglish family ran the works for most of its long existence and consequently it was often referred to as "Daglish's Foundry". Apprentices were bound to their employers until the age of 21 and could be imprisoned for not turning up to their jobs.
Also in court was Bryan Conroy from Taylors Row in Sutton who was charged with using slanderous and defamatory language against his neighbour John Carr and bound over for three months. Ann Lewis, Mary McNish and Thomas Rose were charged with stealing cocoanut matting from Lucy Bold of Junction Lane. McNish was convicted and sent to prison for a week but the others were acquitted.
And finally, people were gripped by court cases involving infidelity, breach of promise of marriage and sexual shenanigans, of one sort or another. This week a Birmingham case was providing the prurient with something to salivate over and under the headline "The Elopement From Birmingham", the Liverpool Mercury published this article:
"At the Birmingham police court, on Wednesday, before Mr. Kynnersley (stipendiary), Charles Langford, 23, described as a butcher, Houghton-street, Liverpool, but who, a few days ago, lived in lodgings in Broad-street, Birmingham, was charged with eloping with Mrs. Jemima Preece, and stealing and taking with him about £20 in gold and silver, six Boulton pennies, and several articles of wearing apparel. As many of the circumstances attending the strange elopement of the young prisoner with the comely wife of 40 summers had become pretty widely known, the amused “public” was largely represented in the court.
"The prisoner, who had appeared so prepossessing in the eyes of the erratic Mrs. Preece, smiled while he was in the dock as though he were under the impression that what had transpired was simply a good practical joke. Mr. Loxdale Warren appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Rowlands for the defence. Mr. Warren stated that Mr. Preece, who was a butcher, carrying on business at 105, Granville-street, two years ago took the prisoner into his employment as an assistant. Subsequently it came to Mr. Preece's knowledge that an improper intimacy existed between him and Mrs. Preece and he was discharged.
"Since that time Mr. Preece, though still carrying on business, had been obliged to go out on several occasions, leaving his wife at home. When he returned, he missed sums of money. On the last occasion of his being absent his wife left her home, and she was traced to Liverpool, where she was joined by the prisoner on Sunday last. They were found at the same house, but it did not appear that they slept together. Besides the money taken from the prisoner, two passes to America were found in his possession, and also several articles in a box, which the prosecutor would identify as his property." A jury after a lengthy hearing would eventually clear Charles Langford of the charges.
Next week's stories will include the boy who cheated a Rainford widow, plans are agreed for the new St Helens Town Hall, the shenanigans in a Warrington Road beerhouse and the man staying in Sutton Oak who shot his wife dead on a train.
We begin in St Helens Petty Sessions on the 14th when Thomas Gleeson was charged with obtaining 21s 6d by false pretences from an iron founder called Robert Rowland at Eccleston. That sum was equivalent to about a week's wages for most workers and the 25-year-old miner was committed to the next Liverpool Assizes where he was sentenced to four months in prison. A boy called John Brady had stolen some coal from Ravenhead Colliery and he was fined 5 shillings in the Sessions.
Also on the 14th Samuel Robinson dropped dead at Crank railway station. The 67-year-old retired manager of Greenall's brewery in St Helens had left his home next to the Red Cat Inn and dashed to the station concerned he might miss his train. Almost as soon as Robinson reached the platform he fell down and died, seemingly of a heart attack.
On the 15th the Rainford & Bickerstaffe Floral, Horticultural and Agricultural Produce Society's eighth annual exhibition of fruits, flowers, vegetables and agricultural produce was held. The event took place in a large marquee in a field adjoining the Junction Inn with a ball held inside the pub during the evening. "The display was remarkably fine", said the Wigan Observer – presumably referring to the flowers and not the frocks!
In July the new St Helens Railway Station in Shaw Street in St Helens had been "thrown open to the public" – as newspapers graphically put it. That replaced the existing station that had been built on the same site in 1858 and described by various newspapers and individuals as "wretched", a "little hole" and a "standing disgrace to the town". The reasons for building the new railway station – which would receive upgrades over the years, but essentially last until 1961 – were twofold: a) The impending opening of the new Huyton line; b) The increasing traffic on the existing Wigan line.
The construction of the new St Helens to Huyton / Liverpool railway via Thatto Heath, Farnworth and Prescot had begun in 1868 but had suffered all sorts of trouble. These ranged from geological difficulties – such as when cutting through sandstone near Thatto Heath – to personnel problems. There had been many accidents and arguments involving the so-called "navvies". For example, in Scotchbarn Lane two men had attacked each other with spades leaving one badly injured. The hard-working, hard-drinking men had even caused a riot inside the Royal Oak in New Road in Prescot.
Some insights had been provided into the means of construction when one of the contractors auctioned off his stock of horses and tools. The list included 61 picks and many hammers and chains needed to manually dig out tunnels and lay down railway track. It must have been hard, physical, backbreaking work before the days of mechanical diggers and electrical appliances. No wonder there was so many accidents and violent rows between the navvies that had prolonged the construction.
This week it was announced that the scheduled opening of the new Huyton line had been delayed. October 2nd had been the target date but its slow progress had led to a postponement. The Wigan Observer wrote: "We understand that the line is not sufficiently advanced towards completion to justify so early a resort to traffic, and from present appearances there is no prospect of any public trains being run before November." They were correct. The line would not be thrown open to the public – to use their own jargon – until January 1st 1872 but it would greatly reduce travelling time. Previously passengers travelling from St Helens to Liverpool had to change at St Helens Junction.
There were no such things as works canteens in the 1870s, of course. Most workers would either take their "snap" with them or have their dinner delivered. The Victorian version of Deliveroo usually involved children taking the meal to the works on foot on behalf of their mother or, sometimes, a neighbour. But getting the food from A to B could prove tricky. Small children given the task could bump into bigger ones, as in the case of John Holden. The seven-year-old had been told to take a dinner to a young woman working at the printing works of George McCorquodale in Newton-le-Willows.
However, while making the journey, Charles Kirkpatrick, George Chrisfield, Frederick Rouchette and John Tracey "accosted" the boy and helped themselves to the food that he was carrying. At the Warrington County Sessions on the 13th, all four youths were charged with stealing a "dinner dish, containing dinner, together with spoon and saucer". The Bench decided that the evidence against Kirkpatrick was insufficient and dismissed the charge against him. However, Tracey and Rouchette were sentenced to one day in gaol and six strokes of the birch.
The St Helens Newspaper also described a court case this week in which William Greenough was charged with threatening to assault Mary Talbot at Sutton. The latter had also been taking her husband's dinner to him at his work when Greenough approached her and "called her all sorts of bad names, interspersed with threats". Mrs Talbot denied any provocation – but it was the usual case of selective evidence given in court. Greenough said the woman regularly taunted his sister over an incident with a policeman and he was bound over.
The St Helens' authorities would always get a bit twitchy when rabies (aka hydrophobia) was reported in neighbouring districts. On the 16th the Wigan Observer described cases in Worthington, near Standish: "About three weeks ago a dog, supposed to have come from Standish, was noticed on the premises of Mr. Silvester, North Hall, Worthington, where it attacked a number of cattle. The dog was evidently rabid, and it was followed to Coppull Moor and killed.
"A few days ago a heifer belonging to Mr. Silvester showed signs of hydrophobia, the symptoms of the disease increased, and on Tuesday Mr. Wood veterinary surgeon, of Wigan, ordered the destruction of the animal, which bellowed furiously, especially at the sight of a dog, and was unable to swallow any food. It was destroyed on Wednesday morning, as was also a dog which showed signs of rabies."
Also in court was Bryan Conroy from Taylors Row in Sutton who was charged with using slanderous and defamatory language against his neighbour John Carr and bound over for three months. Ann Lewis, Mary McNish and Thomas Rose were charged with stealing cocoanut matting from Lucy Bold of Junction Lane. McNish was convicted and sent to prison for a week but the others were acquitted.
And finally, people were gripped by court cases involving infidelity, breach of promise of marriage and sexual shenanigans, of one sort or another. This week a Birmingham case was providing the prurient with something to salivate over and under the headline "The Elopement From Birmingham", the Liverpool Mercury published this article:
"At the Birmingham police court, on Wednesday, before Mr. Kynnersley (stipendiary), Charles Langford, 23, described as a butcher, Houghton-street, Liverpool, but who, a few days ago, lived in lodgings in Broad-street, Birmingham, was charged with eloping with Mrs. Jemima Preece, and stealing and taking with him about £20 in gold and silver, six Boulton pennies, and several articles of wearing apparel. As many of the circumstances attending the strange elopement of the young prisoner with the comely wife of 40 summers had become pretty widely known, the amused “public” was largely represented in the court.
"The prisoner, who had appeared so prepossessing in the eyes of the erratic Mrs. Preece, smiled while he was in the dock as though he were under the impression that what had transpired was simply a good practical joke. Mr. Loxdale Warren appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Rowlands for the defence. Mr. Warren stated that Mr. Preece, who was a butcher, carrying on business at 105, Granville-street, two years ago took the prisoner into his employment as an assistant. Subsequently it came to Mr. Preece's knowledge that an improper intimacy existed between him and Mrs. Preece and he was discharged.
"Since that time Mr. Preece, though still carrying on business, had been obliged to go out on several occasions, leaving his wife at home. When he returned, he missed sums of money. On the last occasion of his being absent his wife left her home, and she was traced to Liverpool, where she was joined by the prisoner on Sunday last. They were found at the same house, but it did not appear that they slept together. Besides the money taken from the prisoner, two passes to America were found in his possession, and also several articles in a box, which the prosecutor would identify as his property." A jury after a lengthy hearing would eventually clear Charles Langford of the charges.
Next week's stories will include the boy who cheated a Rainford widow, plans are agreed for the new St Helens Town Hall, the shenanigans in a Warrington Road beerhouse and the man staying in Sutton Oak who shot his wife dead on a train.
This week's many stories include the death of a former Greenall's boss at Crank railway station, the Newton works dinner theft, a Sutton squabble, concern over rabies outbreaks, the opening of the new St Helens / Huyton railway line is delayed and the St Helens' apprentices in trouble with their bosses.
We begin in St Helens Petty Sessions on the 14th when Thomas Gleeson was charged with obtaining 21s 6d by false pretences from an iron founder called Robert Rowland at Eccleston.
That sum was equivalent to about a week's wages for most workers and the 25-year-old miner was committed to the next Liverpool Assizes where he was sentenced to four months in prison.
A boy called John Brady had stolen some coal from Ravenhead Colliery and he was fined 5 shillings in the Sessions.
Also on the 14th Samuel Robinson dropped dead at Crank railway station.
The 67-year-old retired manager of Greenall's brewery in St Helens had left his home next to the Red Cat Inn and dashed to the station concerned he might miss his train.
Almost as soon as Robinson reached the platform he fell down and died, seemingly of a heart attack.
On the 15th the Rainford & Bickerstaffe Floral, Horticultural and Agricultural Produce Society's eighth annual exhibition of fruits, flowers, vegetables and agricultural produce was held.
The event took place in a large marquee in a field adjoining the Junction Inn with a ball held inside the pub during the evening.
"The display was remarkably fine", said the Wigan Observer – presumably referring to the flowers and not the frocks!
In July the new St Helens Railway Station in Shaw Street in St Helens had been "thrown open to the public" – as newspapers graphically put it.
That replaced the existing station that had been built on the same site in 1858 and described by various newspapers and individuals as "wretched", a "little hole" and a "standing disgrace to the town".
The reasons for building the new railway station – which would receive upgrades over the years, but essentially last until 1961 – were twofold:
a) The impending opening of the new Huyton line
b) The increasing traffic on the existing Wigan line.
The construction of the new St Helens to Huyton / Liverpool railway via Thatto Heath, Farnworth and Prescot had begun in 1868 but had suffered all sorts of trouble.
These ranged from geological difficulties – such as when cutting through sandstone near Thatto Heath – to personnel problems.
There had been many accidents and arguments involving the so-called "navvies".
For example, in Scotchbarn Lane two men had attacked each other with spades leaving one badly injured.
The hard-working, hard-drinking men had even caused a riot inside the Royal Oak in New Road in Prescot.
Some insights had been provided into the means of construction when one of the contractors auctioned off his stock of horses and tools.
The list included 61 picks and many hammers and chains needed to manually dig out tunnels and lay down railway track.
It must have been hard, physical, backbreaking work before the days of mechanical diggers and electrical appliances.
No wonder there was so many accidents and violent rows between the navvies that had prolonged the construction.
This week it was announced that the scheduled opening of the new Huyton line had been delayed.
October 2nd had been the target date but its slow progress had led to a postponement. The Wigan Observer wrote:
"We understand that the line is not sufficiently advanced towards completion to justify so early a resort to traffic, and from present appearances there is no prospect of any public trains being run before November."
They were correct. The line would not be thrown open to the public – to use their own jargon – until January 1st 1872 but it would greatly reduce travelling time.
Previously passengers travelling from St Helens to Liverpool had to change at St Helens Junction.
There were no such things as works canteens in the 1870s, of course. Most workers would either take their "snap" with them or have their dinner delivered.
The Victorian version of Deliveroo usually involved children taking the meal to the works on foot on behalf of their mother or, sometimes, a neighbour.
But getting the food from A to B could prove tricky. Small children given the task could bump into bigger ones, as in the case of John Holden.
The seven-year-old had been told to take a dinner to a young woman working at the printing works of George McCorquodale in Newton-le-Willows.
However, while making the journey, Charles Kirkpatrick, George Chrisfield, Frederick Rouchette and John Tracey "accosted" the boy and helped themselves to the food that he was carrying.
At the Warrington County Sessions on the 13th, all four youths were charged with stealing a "dinner dish, containing dinner, together with spoon and saucer".
The Bench decided that the evidence against Kirkpatrick was insufficient and dismissed the charge against him.
However, Tracey and Rouchette were sentenced to one day in gaol and six strokes of the birch.
The St Helens Newspaper also described a court case this week in which William Greenough was charged with threatening to assault Mary Talbot at Sutton.
The latter had also been taking her husband's dinner to him at his work when Greenough approached her and "called her all sorts of bad names, interspersed with threats".
Mrs Talbot denied any provocation – but it was the usual case of selective evidence given in court.
Greenough said the woman regularly taunted his sister over an incident with a policeman and he was bound over.
The St Helens' authorities would always get a bit twitchy when rabies (aka hydrophobia) was reported in neighbouring districts.
On the 16th the Wigan Observer described cases in Worthington, near Standish:
"About three weeks ago a dog, supposed to have come from Standish, was noticed on the premises of Mr. Silvester, North Hall, Worthington, where it attacked a number of cattle.
"The dog was evidently rabid, and it was followed to Coppull Moor and killed.
"A few days ago a heifer belonging to Mr. Silvester showed signs of hydrophobia, the symptoms of the disease increased, and on Tuesday Mr. Wood veterinary surgeon, of Wigan, ordered the destruction of the animal, which bellowed furiously, especially at the sight of a dog, and was unable to swallow any food.
"It was destroyed on Wednesday morning, as was also a dog which showed signs of rabies."
There was quite a mix of cases at the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 18th. John Beller, an apprentice to painter William Freeman of Liverpool Road, was fined nine shillings for taking the afternoon off. Really!
However, John Frith was in even worse trouble. He had "absconded" from his job at the St Helens Iron Foundry and hadn't shown up to court. So a warrant was issued for his arrest.
The huge St Helens foundry (shown above) was situated by the canal, approximately 400 yards south-west of Church Street.
Built in 1798, the Daglish family ran the works for most of its long existence and consequently it was often referred to as "Daglish's Foundry".
Apprentices were bound to their employers until the age of 21 and could be imprisoned for not turning up to their jobs.
Also in court was Bryan Conroy from Taylors Row in Sutton who was charged with using slanderous and defamatory language against his neighbour John Carr and bound over for three months.
Ann Lewis, Mary McNish and Thomas Rose were charged with stealing cocoanut matting from Lucy Bold of Junction Lane.
McNish was convicted and sent to prison for a week but the others were acquitted.
And finally, people were gripped by court cases involving infidelity, breach of promise of marriage and sexual shenanigans, of one sort or another.
This week a Birmingham case was providing the prurient with something to salivate over and under the headline "The Elopement From Birmingham", the Liverpool Mercury published this article:
"At the Birmingham police court, on Wednesday, before Mr. Kynnersley (stipendiary), Charles Langford, 23, described as a butcher, Houghton-street, Liverpool, but who, a few days ago, lived in lodgings in Broad-street, Birmingham, was charged with eloping with Mrs. Jemima Preece, and stealing and taking with him about £20 in gold and silver, six Boulton pennies, and several articles of wearing apparel.
"As many of the circumstances attending the strange elopement of the young prisoner with the comely wife of 40 summers had become pretty widely known, the amused “public” was largely represented in the court.
"The prisoner, who had appeared so prepossessing in the eyes of the erratic Mrs. Preece, smiled while he was in the dock as though he were under the impression that what had transpired was simply a good practical joke.
"Mr. Loxdale Warren appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Rowlands for the defence.
"Mr. Warren stated that Mr. Preece, who was a butcher, carrying on business at 105, Granville-street, two years ago took the prisoner into his employment as an assistant.
"Subsequently it came to Mr. Preece's knowledge that an improper intimacy existed between him and Mrs. Preece and he was discharged.
"Since that time Mr. Preece, though still carrying on business, had been obliged to go out on several occasions, leaving his wife at home.
"When he returned, he missed sums of money. On the last occasion of his being absent his wife left her home, and she was traced to Liverpool, where she was joined by the prisoner on Sunday last.
"They were found at the same house, but it did not appear that they slept together.
"Besides the money taken from the prisoner, two passes to America were found in his possession, and also several articles in a box, which the prosecutor would identify as his property."
A jury after a lengthy hearing would eventually clear Charles Langford of the charges.
Next week's stories will include the boy who cheated a Rainford widow, plans are agreed for the new St Helens Town Hall, the shenanigans in a Warrington Road beerhouse and the man staying in Sutton Oak who shot his wife dead on a train.
We begin in St Helens Petty Sessions on the 14th when Thomas Gleeson was charged with obtaining 21s 6d by false pretences from an iron founder called Robert Rowland at Eccleston.
That sum was equivalent to about a week's wages for most workers and the 25-year-old miner was committed to the next Liverpool Assizes where he was sentenced to four months in prison.
A boy called John Brady had stolen some coal from Ravenhead Colliery and he was fined 5 shillings in the Sessions.
Also on the 14th Samuel Robinson dropped dead at Crank railway station.
The 67-year-old retired manager of Greenall's brewery in St Helens had left his home next to the Red Cat Inn and dashed to the station concerned he might miss his train.
Almost as soon as Robinson reached the platform he fell down and died, seemingly of a heart attack.
On the 15th the Rainford & Bickerstaffe Floral, Horticultural and Agricultural Produce Society's eighth annual exhibition of fruits, flowers, vegetables and agricultural produce was held.
The event took place in a large marquee in a field adjoining the Junction Inn with a ball held inside the pub during the evening.
"The display was remarkably fine", said the Wigan Observer – presumably referring to the flowers and not the frocks!
In July the new St Helens Railway Station in Shaw Street in St Helens had been "thrown open to the public" – as newspapers graphically put it.
That replaced the existing station that had been built on the same site in 1858 and described by various newspapers and individuals as "wretched", a "little hole" and a "standing disgrace to the town".
The reasons for building the new railway station – which would receive upgrades over the years, but essentially last until 1961 – were twofold:
a) The impending opening of the new Huyton line
b) The increasing traffic on the existing Wigan line.
The construction of the new St Helens to Huyton / Liverpool railway via Thatto Heath, Farnworth and Prescot had begun in 1868 but had suffered all sorts of trouble.
These ranged from geological difficulties – such as when cutting through sandstone near Thatto Heath – to personnel problems.
There had been many accidents and arguments involving the so-called "navvies".
For example, in Scotchbarn Lane two men had attacked each other with spades leaving one badly injured.
The hard-working, hard-drinking men had even caused a riot inside the Royal Oak in New Road in Prescot.
Some insights had been provided into the means of construction when one of the contractors auctioned off his stock of horses and tools.
The list included 61 picks and many hammers and chains needed to manually dig out tunnels and lay down railway track.
It must have been hard, physical, backbreaking work before the days of mechanical diggers and electrical appliances.
No wonder there was so many accidents and violent rows between the navvies that had prolonged the construction.
This week it was announced that the scheduled opening of the new Huyton line had been delayed.
October 2nd had been the target date but its slow progress had led to a postponement. The Wigan Observer wrote:
"We understand that the line is not sufficiently advanced towards completion to justify so early a resort to traffic, and from present appearances there is no prospect of any public trains being run before November."
They were correct. The line would not be thrown open to the public – to use their own jargon – until January 1st 1872 but it would greatly reduce travelling time.
Previously passengers travelling from St Helens to Liverpool had to change at St Helens Junction.
There were no such things as works canteens in the 1870s, of course. Most workers would either take their "snap" with them or have their dinner delivered.
The Victorian version of Deliveroo usually involved children taking the meal to the works on foot on behalf of their mother or, sometimes, a neighbour.
But getting the food from A to B could prove tricky. Small children given the task could bump into bigger ones, as in the case of John Holden.
The seven-year-old had been told to take a dinner to a young woman working at the printing works of George McCorquodale in Newton-le-Willows.
However, while making the journey, Charles Kirkpatrick, George Chrisfield, Frederick Rouchette and John Tracey "accosted" the boy and helped themselves to the food that he was carrying.
At the Warrington County Sessions on the 13th, all four youths were charged with stealing a "dinner dish, containing dinner, together with spoon and saucer".
The Bench decided that the evidence against Kirkpatrick was insufficient and dismissed the charge against him.
However, Tracey and Rouchette were sentenced to one day in gaol and six strokes of the birch.
The St Helens Newspaper also described a court case this week in which William Greenough was charged with threatening to assault Mary Talbot at Sutton.
The latter had also been taking her husband's dinner to him at his work when Greenough approached her and "called her all sorts of bad names, interspersed with threats".
Mrs Talbot denied any provocation – but it was the usual case of selective evidence given in court.
Greenough said the woman regularly taunted his sister over an incident with a policeman and he was bound over.
The St Helens' authorities would always get a bit twitchy when rabies (aka hydrophobia) was reported in neighbouring districts.
On the 16th the Wigan Observer described cases in Worthington, near Standish:
"About three weeks ago a dog, supposed to have come from Standish, was noticed on the premises of Mr. Silvester, North Hall, Worthington, where it attacked a number of cattle.
"The dog was evidently rabid, and it was followed to Coppull Moor and killed.
"A few days ago a heifer belonging to Mr. Silvester showed signs of hydrophobia, the symptoms of the disease increased, and on Tuesday Mr. Wood veterinary surgeon, of Wigan, ordered the destruction of the animal, which bellowed furiously, especially at the sight of a dog, and was unable to swallow any food.
"It was destroyed on Wednesday morning, as was also a dog which showed signs of rabies."
There was quite a mix of cases at the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 18th. John Beller, an apprentice to painter William Freeman of Liverpool Road, was fined nine shillings for taking the afternoon off. Really!
However, John Frith was in even worse trouble. He had "absconded" from his job at the St Helens Iron Foundry and hadn't shown up to court. So a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Built in 1798, the Daglish family ran the works for most of its long existence and consequently it was often referred to as "Daglish's Foundry".
Apprentices were bound to their employers until the age of 21 and could be imprisoned for not turning up to their jobs.
Also in court was Bryan Conroy from Taylors Row in Sutton who was charged with using slanderous and defamatory language against his neighbour John Carr and bound over for three months.
Ann Lewis, Mary McNish and Thomas Rose were charged with stealing cocoanut matting from Lucy Bold of Junction Lane.
McNish was convicted and sent to prison for a week but the others were acquitted.
And finally, people were gripped by court cases involving infidelity, breach of promise of marriage and sexual shenanigans, of one sort or another.
This week a Birmingham case was providing the prurient with something to salivate over and under the headline "The Elopement From Birmingham", the Liverpool Mercury published this article:
"At the Birmingham police court, on Wednesday, before Mr. Kynnersley (stipendiary), Charles Langford, 23, described as a butcher, Houghton-street, Liverpool, but who, a few days ago, lived in lodgings in Broad-street, Birmingham, was charged with eloping with Mrs. Jemima Preece, and stealing and taking with him about £20 in gold and silver, six Boulton pennies, and several articles of wearing apparel.
"As many of the circumstances attending the strange elopement of the young prisoner with the comely wife of 40 summers had become pretty widely known, the amused “public” was largely represented in the court.
"The prisoner, who had appeared so prepossessing in the eyes of the erratic Mrs. Preece, smiled while he was in the dock as though he were under the impression that what had transpired was simply a good practical joke.
"Mr. Loxdale Warren appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Rowlands for the defence.
"Mr. Warren stated that Mr. Preece, who was a butcher, carrying on business at 105, Granville-street, two years ago took the prisoner into his employment as an assistant.
"Subsequently it came to Mr. Preece's knowledge that an improper intimacy existed between him and Mrs. Preece and he was discharged.
"Since that time Mr. Preece, though still carrying on business, had been obliged to go out on several occasions, leaving his wife at home.
"When he returned, he missed sums of money. On the last occasion of his being absent his wife left her home, and she was traced to Liverpool, where she was joined by the prisoner on Sunday last.
"They were found at the same house, but it did not appear that they slept together.
"Besides the money taken from the prisoner, two passes to America were found in his possession, and also several articles in a box, which the prosecutor would identify as his property."
A jury after a lengthy hearing would eventually clear Charles Langford of the charges.
Next week's stories will include the boy who cheated a Rainford widow, plans are agreed for the new St Helens Town Hall, the shenanigans in a Warrington Road beerhouse and the man staying in Sutton Oak who shot his wife dead on a train.