St Helens History This Week

Bringing History to Life from 50, 100 and 150 Years Ago!

Bringing History to Life from 50, 100 and 150 Years Ago!

ST HELENS 50 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
This page is a series of weekly articles that describe llfe in the Lancashire town in the 1970s and which are updated every Sunday morning.
50 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
This page is a series of weekly articles that describe llfe in St Helens in Lancashire in the 1970s and which are updated every Sunday morning.
Sutton Arms

FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (3rd - 9th June 1969)

This week's stories include the opening of The Sutton Arms in Elephant Lane, St Helens' mothers are advised to give birth at home, a wedding feature is in the St Helens Reporter, the Blessed Julie Gala and Donkey Derby at Bobbys Lane in Eccleston, St Helens Art Club's annual exhibition, criticism of youths in Dorothy Street in Thatto Heath, Sunday sport is permitted in Prescot but criticised by the Vicar of Haydock.
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Ravenhead Glass

FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (27th May - 2nd June 1969)

This week's stories include a "shattering, deafening explosion" in Haresfinch, a water shortage in College Street and Central Street, the Whit Monday church processions, the new Four Acre Lane estate, why smoking could not be banned on St Helens buses, vandalism in Rainford Road, whippet racing returns to the town, a new member of the Golden Helmet Club and the Parr OAP who declared: "You're never too old to marry".
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Dairy Mirror Old Codgers

FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (20th - 26th May 1969)

This week's many stories include a claim that St Helens' traffic wardens are "little Hitlers", the "terrified" Reginald Road housewives living in fear of reprisals from gipsies, a Billinge dispute over a stone wall and the water engineer's "cheeky" letter, the new St Helens mayor receives his chain of office at work, plans for a brass band contest in Rainford, Rainhill Sports Gala and three fires take place on a single day.
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Capitol

FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (13th - 19th May 1969)

This week's stories include a dramatic police chase in Hardshaw Street, a public inquiry is held into College Street and Gerards Bridge clearance orders, the murderer of Sutton's Brian Harrison's is convicted, the eviction of the Reginald Road gipsies is halted by student protestors, there are denials of religious discrimination in Rainford, protests by parents in Eccleston and the prospect of Sunday sport in Haydock.
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Bold Colliery

FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (6th - 12th May 1969)

This week's stories include a bomb hoax in Rainford, an American boy gets in a pickle in Blackbrook, the end is in sight for gas lamps in St Helens, there's criticism of the Dickensian facilities in the town's only council nursery, the Westfield Street redevelopment begins, a Bridge Street supermarket manager finds "complete chaos" upon opening up his shop and there's disgust at the lorries on the Sutton Heath estate.
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Tower College

FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (29th April - 5th May 1969)

This week's stories include Blaster Bates demolishing a chimney at a Jackson Street brickworks, there's polygamy at the Theatre Royal, St Helens bus passengers are warned that a critical shortage of bus staff will lead to more cuts to services, the Bingo Championship of St Helens, passions run high at a public inquiry into an Elephant Lane amusement arcade and trouble looms at a Reginald Road caravan site.
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Rivoli

FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (22nd - 28th April 1969)

This week's stories include vandalism at the borough cemetery, criticism of the state of a derelict house in Sutton Manor, the baby from Gower Street that died through malnutrition, a Corporation worker has a lucky escape in Billinge, the "sheer filth" of Parr's Court off Higher Parr Street, a little girl gets trapped in the bars of a cellar grating and the "absolutely shocking" state of telephone boxes in St Helens.
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Jessie Matthews Diary

FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (15th - 21st April 1969)

This week's stories include the missing children from Raglan Street, a mysterious row of houses is "discovered" in Fingerpost, a stag night stunt leaves a man in chains in Victoria Square, there is a last-minute drama at the Theatre Royal, a runaway lorry in Earlestown, three couples celebrate golden wedding anniversaries and committal proceedings are held for the men charged with killing Brian Harrison from Sutton.
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Singing Nolans

FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (8th - 14th April 1969)

This week's stories include the rat-infested junkyard in Marsden Avenue, why the historic bells at St Helens Parish Church might stop ringing, a tragedy in the St Helens Canal, the Nolans sing in a club in Peasley Cross, the demolition eyesores in the town, Pilkingtons win an order for glass at John F. Kennedy Airport, changes to Sunday school classes in Sutton Parish and more wrestling takes place at the Plaza Club.
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“Films”

FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (1st - 7th April 1969)

This week's stories include the Eccleston rabbit "shotgun militia", the expensive mercury theft from Croppers Hill, the robbery of a bookie in Prescot Road, Easter and the school holidays in St Helens, the Norah Carter School of Dancing, the new Sherdley Park housing estate, a busy Bank Holiday for St Helens Fire Brigade, muscle men are wanted in Ashton-in-Makerfield and there's an Easter exodus to Majorca and Spain.
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St Helens Borough Police

FIFTY YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (25th - 31st March 1969)

This week's stories include the long-gone Westfield Street shops, the state of the footpaths in Walkers Lane and Chester Lane, the electric Rainhill clothes line, Candy the poodle is back in Billinge, there's bad news for Saints fans, more telephone boxes for West Sutton, old Cowleians are in the Echo, the St Helens Showband and Unnamed Players are at the Theatre Royal and it's the end of the road for St Helens Police.
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