Narrative provided by Iain Hodcroft
Web Page managed by Paul Costello
Additional Information provided by Susan Szkilnyk
Web Page managed by Paul Costello
Additional Information provided by Susan Szkilnyk
The Parish Church of Saint George, Tyldesley with Shakerley. (Grade ll (A) listed building)
As St George’s approaches its bicentenarial anniversaries, it is perhaps opportune to ponder on the impact on the town of those who have worshipped here over the past 190 years or so and taken on the responsibility for dealing with many of the early social concerns in the town What is less certain is its importance or relevance to modern life in the town Much can be read ‘online’ about the church and its construction, whether or not the plans with a church in Chorley were subject to confusion, the gifts of land and finance, the extensions and internal changes at different points of its history, the major battles with fire and water, |
A short guide to the church and its history was updated in 2015, and for the princely sum of 50p, a copy can be yours! Suffice it here to relate the key features - a spire of 150 feet, the largest internal dimensions in the Leigh Deanery, the town clock, a fine ‘Willis’ organ (with its own pamphlet to purchase ... another 50p!), a unique lectern in the form of a carved eagle, excellent stained glass, carved altar, panelling and pulpit, two fine wall mosaics depicting the four gospel writers, a peel of eight bells and many other features. The registers can be perused during the heritage weekend and perhaps a trip up to the ringing chamber can be arranged. Several anniversaries fall during 2016. A hundred years since the completion of the mosaics (1916), sixty years since the new stained glass was placed in the east window (1956), fifty years since fire destroyed part of the roof (1966) and around ten years since thieves started systematically stripping lead from the church roofs causing massive water damage and continued expenditure to keep the inside dry and safe!
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Site of St Georges SchoolSite of St George’s School (Grade II(A) listed building)
On the eastern side of the parish church, across School Street is the site of the original parish school. The building as a school had a 170 year life opening in 1829, celebrating 150 years in 1979 and finally moving to a new site in 1999. Whilst King George IV was coming to the end of his reign, the industrial revolution was gathering steam; and Tyldesley was beginning to grow significantly as new people moved to the town to work in the mills and mines. Mrs Conick is credited with Tyldesley’s first recorded ‘Sunday School’ teaching up to 300 pupils the basics of reading and writing - in a cellar known as ‘Conick’s Hole’ somewhere in Castle Street! Children of course being ‘encouraged’ into employment as soon as they were able to manage basic tasks, and having precious little time during the week for ‘education’. In 1811 ‘The National Society’ was founded with an aim of building a church school in every parish in England. The Vicar of St George’s, Jacob Robson, together with the great and good of the parish created a foundation that was successful in gaining a grant of £300.00 (considerably more than normal at the time) from the society, for the building of a new school. The Society apparently noted ‘500 children, living in a depressed industrial township, in desperate need of an education’. The grant together with a gift of land from the owner of the Banks Estate (George Ormerod, successor to’Squire’ Johnson) and a building fund that had accumulated £552 1s 8d by 1827 led to the building of the school and its first intake of children in 1829. 195 boys and 168 girls were on the register very quickly, but 136 boys and 147 girls could only attend on a Sunday because of employment commitments. The four ‘R’s of reading, ‘riting, ‘rithmetic and religion were the only subjects taught! |
The school was rebuilt in 1858, lessons taking place temporarily in the Temperance Hall, at a rent of 7/6d a week, during the building alterations. At their next visit government inspectors deemed the school ‘satisfactory’.
Various Education Acts and the formation of local education authorities followed, additional schools were built locally, and by the late 1990s St George’s had become an infants and junior school with facilities for nursery education, still functioning in Victorian buildings that were no longer fit for purpose. The decision was taken to build a new school some half a mile distant on the site of the former ‘Mission School’ and St George’s Central, the current school was opened in 1999. As the trail is followed, only the external east and west walls will be available to view as the site is now private apartments and in-buillt housing. Look out for the foundation stone which has been sympathetically incorporated into the refurbished stonework |
St George’s Street
Site of Church House, now Tyldesley Little Theatre
Lemon St was one of the original streets laid out by Thomas Johnson as he began developing the Banks Estate in the eighteenth century.
The original ‘Church House’ was planned from 1901, and completed in 1905 to provide a base for cultural and sporting activities arranged by the various parish church committees. Again the Ormerods as owners of the Banks Estate, gifted the parcel of land and William Ramsden, a local mine owner gifted £150.00 to boost the parish fundraising. The budgeted cost of £1800.00 was exceeded. For about 20 years peace reigned and the base for church football, rugby and cricket teams, Girls Friendly Society, several young men’s associations and sundry other church and community groups including the amateur dramatic society, whose first production took place in 1921, used the facilities amicably. A gymnasium had been added by 1908. Trouble erupted in 1925 between Vicar Fleming and the trustees. Fleming (who managed to fall out with most of Tyldesley during his time in the parish) maintained a right as incumbent to be a trustee. A committee opposing this view was formed and eventually the two sides met with the Bishop of Manchester for arbitration. Fleming lost. ‘Independence’ followed in 1928, and the current incumbents, ‘Tyldesley Little Theatre’ can trace their origin from this time. A committee struggled on until 1959 to manage the venue for a range of pursuits, but disrepair was evident, the committee folded and since that time TLT has been sole user. A complete listing of productions has been listed on the TLT website - www.tlt.org.uk |
Wareing Street: The Railway Inn, Canonbury House/The Thistles and site of Tyldesley Railway Station
The only reminder of the ‘Tyldesley Loop’ railway line that graced the town between 1869 and 1964 is the Railway Inn on the west side of Wareing St. The street itself is named after Susanna Wareing, daughter of a cotton merchant from Bury who married Thomas Johnson, owner of the Banks Estate in 17..
The London and North Western Railway brought steam into Tyldesley from the original Liverpool & Manchester Railway at Eccles en-route to Wigan, with the ‘loop’ continuing via a junction with the oldest public rail line in Lancashire (Bolton- Leigh opened in 1828, two years before the L&MR) and a 22 arch viaduct carrying the lines over Leigh town centre and the Leeds Liverpool Canal, to Kenyon Junction to rejoin the original L&MR line.
The motivation for the railway was coal, specifically moving it; and there were many local colliery lines and sidings that served the industry, now all but vanished. Tyldesley station thrived until 1969 when the dastardly report prepared by Dr Beeching ensured its long lamented disappearance. The new Guided Bus-way operates over part of the track bed and is the latest emanation of modern transport in Tyldesley following pathways, the horse, Roman Roads, canals, turnpikes, railways, bicycles, trams, trolleybuses, motor buses and the ubiquitous car!
Sadly nothing of the station in Tyldesley remains other than photographic records and a platform sign or two ...
One of which can be found in ‘The Railway’, one of many ‘back street’ hostelries that used to grace the town, now sadly its only survivor.
The other notable building on Wareing St is now known as ‘The Thistles’ but in the 1930s was a well known medical practice and home of Dr RA Dench; his older boys were born in the town, but sadly not ‘la grande dame’ herself, as the family had moved to the outskirts of York by the time a young Judith Olivia (‘Judi’) Dench put in an appearance in December 1934.
Canonbury House Isherwood connections ... is this the same house??
The London and North Western Railway brought steam into Tyldesley from the original Liverpool & Manchester Railway at Eccles en-route to Wigan, with the ‘loop’ continuing via a junction with the oldest public rail line in Lancashire (Bolton- Leigh opened in 1828, two years before the L&MR) and a 22 arch viaduct carrying the lines over Leigh town centre and the Leeds Liverpool Canal, to Kenyon Junction to rejoin the original L&MR line.
The motivation for the railway was coal, specifically moving it; and there were many local colliery lines and sidings that served the industry, now all but vanished. Tyldesley station thrived until 1969 when the dastardly report prepared by Dr Beeching ensured its long lamented disappearance. The new Guided Bus-way operates over part of the track bed and is the latest emanation of modern transport in Tyldesley following pathways, the horse, Roman Roads, canals, turnpikes, railways, bicycles, trams, trolleybuses, motor buses and the ubiquitous car!
Sadly nothing of the station in Tyldesley remains other than photographic records and a platform sign or two ...
One of which can be found in ‘The Railway’, one of many ‘back street’ hostelries that used to grace the town, now sadly its only survivor.
The other notable building on Wareing St is now known as ‘The Thistles’ but in the 1930s was a well known medical practice and home of Dr RA Dench; his older boys were born in the town, but sadly not ‘la grande dame’ herself, as the family had moved to the outskirts of York by the time a young Judith Olivia (‘Judi’) Dench put in an appearance in December 1934.
Canonbury House Isherwood connections ... is this the same house??
Upper George Street
The villas and terraces here are as desirable as they ever were enjoying such close proximity to the town centre; some of them, such as ‘Ingleside’ another medical practice until the 1960s are now enjoying continued use as very successful supported apartments
Chapel Street to Tyldesley Square
Here we have three listed buildings virtually on top of each other, with by far and away the most imposing being the ‘Top’ Chapel. Before we focus there however, note the former National Westminster Bank building on the corner of Chapel Street and Elliott Street.
This is now a veterinary surgery with little left to remind you of its former use. Banks first came to Tyldesley in the 1870s. This particular edifice was originally a branch of the Bank of Bolton, (whose first premises were in Stanley Street) and through a succession of mergers proceeded through Manchester and County Bank, District Bank (originally Manchester and Liverpool District Bank), National Provincial Bank in 1962, and then they merged with the Westminster Bank in 1972 to form ‘Natwest’ which eventually became part of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Our branch was sadly long gone by then!
This is now a veterinary surgery with little left to remind you of its former use. Banks first came to Tyldesley in the 1870s. This particular edifice was originally a branch of the Bank of Bolton, (whose first premises were in Stanley Street) and through a succession of mergers proceeded through Manchester and County Bank, District Bank (originally Manchester and Liverpool District Bank), National Provincial Bank in 1962, and then they merged with the Westminster Bank in 1972 to form ‘Natwest’ which eventually became part of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Our branch was sadly long gone by then!
The ‘listed building’ closest to the bank is an example of a George Gilbert Scott designed, K6 (kiosk number six) telephone kiosk planned to commemorate the silver jubilee of King George V in 1935. It was consequently sometimes known as the "Jubilee" kiosk. It went into production in 1936. The K6 was the first red telephone kiosk to be extensively used outside London, and many thousands were deployed in virtually every town and city, replacing most of the earlier kiosks and establishing thousands of new sites. In 1935 there had been 19,000 public telephones in the UK: by 1940, thanks to the K6, there were 35,000. Now of course they too are disappearing rapidly from our streets.
Not too far away, resplendent once again in its recently restored location and admirably refurbished by Wigan Council is the Buckley Memorial Fountain. John Buckley a self educated man, (b1812- d1892), was the first to produce a ‘naive’ history of his native town. He wrote a History of Tyldesley in 1878. Buckley was a member of Top Chapel, a Liberal, a founder of the Mechanics Institute (see Tyldesley Library) and an animal lover. He died on the Isle of Man and left £200 in his will for the erection of a drinking fountain on the square for both horses and cattle. It is somewhat redundant and has had many placements in Tyldesley including in Astley Street Park and on the other side of the street, but is now once again back where it was intended!
Although referred to here as Tyldesley Square, this was in the 18th century, ‘Crossfield’. The chapel described below was set back to the south to allow for the gentility’s dismounting from their carriages. Much later in 1825, when the erstwhile ‘Star and Garter, (precursor to the Co-operative and later B&M Bargains stores) was built on the north side, a similar arrangement took place thus forming a square that straddled the original highway! This arrangement provided a fitting space for regular markets that continue to today. The rental charged in 1880 was £30.00, collected by the licensee and then passed on to the local Board annually, today I believe, its £15.00 per session!
A picture of ‘Ploughing in Cross Field’ c1850 is also in the Lunn book
Which brings us to contemplate the grandness of the imposing ‘Top Chapel’. It is hoped that the building can be opened for the heritage trail on Saturday 10 September but this is uncertain as its ownership and future use is currently not settled.
Protestant dissenters abounded in the country and in Tyldesley in the late 1700s; John Wesley made several visits to the area between 1748 and 1752 and a meeting room was established in Shakerley around 1770.
Lady Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, was much influenced by the Wesleys and her long term protégée George Whitefield. She, being a personage of means established several chapels across England as part of a new ‘connexion’. Preacher J. Johnson persuaded Thomas Johnson (– no relation!), owner of the Banks estate to provide a site for the new chapel, a donation of £200.00 towards its cost, and all the bricks and sand needed for its construction! Top Chapel opened for worship in 1789. Worshippers here called themselves ‘episcopal seceders’, then Calvinists, later Presbyterians and several guises of Pentecostal and Evangelical groups were in residency before it was sold in 2015 for use as a community resource.
The only chapel of the original connexion left in the north of England is at Middleton
Notable features of Top Chapel include the John Grundy inspired (because his feet and bottom were cold), patented heating system.
John Grundy was a grocer whose shop was originally on the Veterinary site, before it became a bank. His early installation of ‘central heating’ using originally dry heat from a stove in the schoolroom below and a series of flues and vents, and later hot water powered ‘radiators’ was one of the first in any ecclesiastical edifice ... and which led to his very successful iron foundry in Lower Elliott Street, his central heating apparatus being installed in many more churches up and down the country, (including St George’s) and his general iron foundry providing many of the cast iron grids found in gutters worldwide!
The aforementioned Preacher Johnson did indeed build a ‘Bottom Chapel’ in the 1790s, in the fields at the bottom of Moss Lane (now Astley Street). This was in reality a residence for himself and his family and was demolished many years ago; a picture can be found in the Lunn book on p101.
Not too far away, resplendent once again in its recently restored location and admirably refurbished by Wigan Council is the Buckley Memorial Fountain. John Buckley a self educated man, (b1812- d1892), was the first to produce a ‘naive’ history of his native town. He wrote a History of Tyldesley in 1878. Buckley was a member of Top Chapel, a Liberal, a founder of the Mechanics Institute (see Tyldesley Library) and an animal lover. He died on the Isle of Man and left £200 in his will for the erection of a drinking fountain on the square for both horses and cattle. It is somewhat redundant and has had many placements in Tyldesley including in Astley Street Park and on the other side of the street, but is now once again back where it was intended!
Although referred to here as Tyldesley Square, this was in the 18th century, ‘Crossfield’. The chapel described below was set back to the south to allow for the gentility’s dismounting from their carriages. Much later in 1825, when the erstwhile ‘Star and Garter, (precursor to the Co-operative and later B&M Bargains stores) was built on the north side, a similar arrangement took place thus forming a square that straddled the original highway! This arrangement provided a fitting space for regular markets that continue to today. The rental charged in 1880 was £30.00, collected by the licensee and then passed on to the local Board annually, today I believe, its £15.00 per session!
A picture of ‘Ploughing in Cross Field’ c1850 is also in the Lunn book
Which brings us to contemplate the grandness of the imposing ‘Top Chapel’. It is hoped that the building can be opened for the heritage trail on Saturday 10 September but this is uncertain as its ownership and future use is currently not settled.
Protestant dissenters abounded in the country and in Tyldesley in the late 1700s; John Wesley made several visits to the area between 1748 and 1752 and a meeting room was established in Shakerley around 1770.
Lady Selina, Countess of Huntingdon, was much influenced by the Wesleys and her long term protégée George Whitefield. She, being a personage of means established several chapels across England as part of a new ‘connexion’. Preacher J. Johnson persuaded Thomas Johnson (– no relation!), owner of the Banks estate to provide a site for the new chapel, a donation of £200.00 towards its cost, and all the bricks and sand needed for its construction! Top Chapel opened for worship in 1789. Worshippers here called themselves ‘episcopal seceders’, then Calvinists, later Presbyterians and several guises of Pentecostal and Evangelical groups were in residency before it was sold in 2015 for use as a community resource.
The only chapel of the original connexion left in the north of England is at Middleton
Notable features of Top Chapel include the John Grundy inspired (because his feet and bottom were cold), patented heating system.
John Grundy was a grocer whose shop was originally on the Veterinary site, before it became a bank. His early installation of ‘central heating’ using originally dry heat from a stove in the schoolroom below and a series of flues and vents, and later hot water powered ‘radiators’ was one of the first in any ecclesiastical edifice ... and which led to his very successful iron foundry in Lower Elliott Street, his central heating apparatus being installed in many more churches up and down the country, (including St George’s) and his general iron foundry providing many of the cast iron grids found in gutters worldwide!
The aforementioned Preacher Johnson did indeed build a ‘Bottom Chapel’ in the 1790s, in the fields at the bottom of Moss Lane (now Astley Street). This was in reality a residence for himself and his family and was demolished many years ago; a picture can be found in the Lunn book on p101.
The aforementioned Preacher Johnson did indeed build a ‘Bottom Chapel’ in the 1790s, in the fields at the bottom of Moss Lane (now Astley Street). This was in reality a residence for himself and his family and was demolished many years ago; a picture can be found in the Lunn book on p101.
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The Bottom Chapel |
Elliott Street to Johnson Street
The trail continues eastwards along Elliott Street, along the grid pattern laid out by Thomas Johnson before 1800, passing Mary Street (south side) and Blossom Street (north side) to Johnson Street itself, named in honour of the aforementioned estate owner. You will pass what in the 1950’s/1960’s was called as The Travellers Rest, but universally known as ‘Skennin’ Bob’s’ because of the proprietor’s eye affliction; today the pub has had a name change to the more formal Skenning Bob’s ... but I doubt many people pronounce the ‘g’!
185 - 7 Elliott Street , 'The George and Dragon ' Public House
Opposite is the overgrown eyesore where fire so destroyed the ‘George and Dragon’ Hotel in January 2013, that it had to be demolished. The original inn on the site dated from 1781 but it was demolished and rebuilt in 1904, somewhat further set back from the road than the original ‘Green Dragon’. The current owners wish to build housing on the site, but this is opposed by many locals who are desirous of new town centre shops |
Miner's Hall
On the corner of Johnson Street South is the site of the Miner’s Hall, now the 180 Dance and Fitness Centre.
Robert Isherwood, who died at Canonbury House, Wareing Street in 1905 was treasurer of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners Federation, an early trade union that later became the Lancashire branch of the NUM. He was socially aware and spent the bulk of his time mediating between capital and labour in the local mining areas. It was his idea to develop a meeting place for miners and their families to convene and assemble both for mutual benefit and for social occasions, that directly led to the building of the Miners Hall, completed in 1893. As the industry declined locally, the hall could not be maintained and was sold commercially
Robert Isherwood, who died at Canonbury House, Wareing Street in 1905 was treasurer of the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners Federation, an early trade union that later became the Lancashire branch of the NUM. He was socially aware and spent the bulk of his time mediating between capital and labour in the local mining areas. It was his idea to develop a meeting place for miners and their families to convene and assemble both for mutual benefit and for social occasions, that directly led to the building of the Miners Hall, completed in 1893. As the industry declined locally, the hall could not be maintained and was sold commercially
Astley Street Guided Busway Interchange
Not yet ‘real history’, but seems to be at least living up to the operator’s expectations, if not exceeding them. The bridleway alongside the concrete tracks seems to be equally well used by a wide range of healthy living folk and those just out for a stroll.
Not yet ‘real history’, but seems to be at least living up to the operator’s expectations, if not exceeding them. The bridleway alongside the concrete tracks seems to be equally well used by a wide range of healthy living folk and those just out for a stroll.
(St George’s Park – Tyldesley Rugby Club)
Before walking through the public park, those following this trail should note St George’s Park on the west side of Astley Street and a little further down the hill from the main park gates. This modern facility is the current home to Tyldesley Amateur Rugby Football Club, a club with a long history who were at one time a founding member club of the Rugby Football League. The club played in this breakaway association for five seasons between 1895 and 1900, but sadly none too effectively! In 1911 a reformed club was the first to successfully rejoin the Rugby Football Union, after defecting to the professional code. (see Tyldesley Subscription Club)
Turn into the park and follow the main pathway through eastwards to Well Street
Before walking through the public park, those following this trail should note St George’s Park on the west side of Astley Street and a little further down the hill from the main park gates. This modern facility is the current home to Tyldesley Amateur Rugby Football Club, a club with a long history who were at one time a founding member club of the Rugby Football League. The club played in this breakaway association for five seasons between 1895 and 1900, but sadly none too effectively! In 1911 a reformed club was the first to successfully rejoin the Rugby Football Union, after defecting to the professional code. (see Tyldesley Subscription Club)
Turn into the park and follow the main pathway through eastwards to Well Street
Astley Street Park
Yet again the Ormerod’s as owners of the Banks Estate, proved benefactors to our town, as the Urban District Council, (formed in 1894 – and quite early in its existence) acquired a plot of land in Astley Street. The annual rent paid by Tyldesley Council to GTB Ormerod for this parcel of land was £10.00. By 1897, the plot had been extended eastwards to Well Street by taking over an existing lease dated 1786.
Mr William Eckersley (son of Charles Eckersley, Caleb Wright’s partner in Barnfield Mills), who had been involved in its transformation into a public recreational area was the one who ‘declared it henceforth accessible to the public’ sometime in 1902.
Four years later the bandstand was built and in 1916,’ Moss Meadow’ (then the cricket field) was added to complete the eight and a half acre park.
In recent years, the park has been somewhat sadly neglected due to local authority funding difficulties. A new community group ‘Friends of Astley Street Park’ has been created to help promote the facilities, improve the environment and refurbish and renovate wherever possible.
Yet again the Ormerod’s as owners of the Banks Estate, proved benefactors to our town, as the Urban District Council, (formed in 1894 – and quite early in its existence) acquired a plot of land in Astley Street. The annual rent paid by Tyldesley Council to GTB Ormerod for this parcel of land was £10.00. By 1897, the plot had been extended eastwards to Well Street by taking over an existing lease dated 1786.
Mr William Eckersley (son of Charles Eckersley, Caleb Wright’s partner in Barnfield Mills), who had been involved in its transformation into a public recreational area was the one who ‘declared it henceforth accessible to the public’ sometime in 1902.
Four years later the bandstand was built and in 1916,’ Moss Meadow’ (then the cricket field) was added to complete the eight and a half acre park.
In recent years, the park has been somewhat sadly neglected due to local authority funding difficulties. A new community group ‘Friends of Astley Street Park’ has been created to help promote the facilities, improve the environment and refurbish and renovate wherever possible.
Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Chapel - Milk St
Cross Elliott Street at the town hall for a few yards to the old Welsh Chapel that hopefully will also be open to view.
The Welsh came to Tyldesley, chiefly to work in the mines that were being developed in the area. As they came from mainly rural Welsh speaking areas and from a Free Church background, it was not surprising that they yearned to worship in their own faith and tongue. Both Welsh Baptists and Welsh Methodists shared worship together in the Wesleyan school at the west end of town for many years until they could afford to build a chapel of their own, closer to where they lived at the east end. Then they fell out with each other because of the desire of one side to incorporate an expensive baptistery ... and two chapels were built! The first Calvinistic chapel on Milk Street was built from wood in 1878, being replaced by the current red brick structure in 1903. For many years after worship was abandoned in the chapel the building was used as a centre for ‘pensioners’ and latterly it has become the HQ of Tyldesley Band.
Tyldesley Band itself, of course can trace its early history through that same Wesleyan chapel where the Welsh first worshipped; as they were known as and pictured as the ‘Tyldesley Wesleyan Temperance Prize Band’ between the 1890s and around 1906 ... until the band fell out with the Wesleyan Minister!
The Welsh Baptist Chapel was built around 100 yards away, just across Shuttle Street, a site now occupied by new apartments.
Cross Elliott Street at the town hall for a few yards to the old Welsh Chapel that hopefully will also be open to view.
The Welsh came to Tyldesley, chiefly to work in the mines that were being developed in the area. As they came from mainly rural Welsh speaking areas and from a Free Church background, it was not surprising that they yearned to worship in their own faith and tongue. Both Welsh Baptists and Welsh Methodists shared worship together in the Wesleyan school at the west end of town for many years until they could afford to build a chapel of their own, closer to where they lived at the east end. Then they fell out with each other because of the desire of one side to incorporate an expensive baptistery ... and two chapels were built! The first Calvinistic chapel on Milk Street was built from wood in 1878, being replaced by the current red brick structure in 1903. For many years after worship was abandoned in the chapel the building was used as a centre for ‘pensioners’ and latterly it has become the HQ of Tyldesley Band.
Tyldesley Band itself, of course can trace its early history through that same Wesleyan chapel where the Welsh first worshipped; as they were known as and pictured as the ‘Tyldesley Wesleyan Temperance Prize Band’ between the 1890s and around 1906 ... until the band fell out with the Wesleyan Minister!
The Welsh Baptist Chapel was built around 100 yards away, just across Shuttle Street, a site now occupied by new apartments.
Tyldesley and District Industrial Co-operative Society
In 1885 the Tyldesley and District Industrial Co-operative Society was formed at the north side of Elliott Street. It soon moved to the opposite side of the road and its former decorated magnificent red brick central premises are still extant although no longer used by the Co-op. The former Co-operative Hall is now occupied by a gym.
‘Co-operation’ in Tyldesley began around 1850, but the original society was ‘rescued’ by the Leigh Friendly Society in 1865 when it fell on troubled times. They maintained shops on Shuttle Street and were none-too pleased when phoenix like a new society was formed for the town some 20 years later. Milk from The Garratt Hall estate was purchased in bulk by T&DICS who built a dairy and bakery in Primrose Street North, both of which are now occupied by other businesses.
At one point in time four separate societies had premises in the town, ‘Hindsford and Atherton’ on Shakerley Road and ‘Walkden Provident Industrial’ at Mosley Common.
In 1885 the Tyldesley and District Industrial Co-operative Society was formed at the north side of Elliott Street. It soon moved to the opposite side of the road and its former decorated magnificent red brick central premises are still extant although no longer used by the Co-op. The former Co-operative Hall is now occupied by a gym.
‘Co-operation’ in Tyldesley began around 1850, but the original society was ‘rescued’ by the Leigh Friendly Society in 1865 when it fell on troubled times. They maintained shops on Shuttle Street and were none-too pleased when phoenix like a new society was formed for the town some 20 years later. Milk from The Garratt Hall estate was purchased in bulk by T&DICS who built a dairy and bakery in Primrose Street North, both of which are now occupied by other businesses.
At one point in time four separate societies had premises in the town, ‘Hindsford and Atherton’ on Shakerley Road and ‘Walkden Provident Industrial’ at Mosley Common.
Darlington Street, Mission School and Yew Tree Colliery
Parallel to Manchester Road and the first street on the right off Common Lane is Darlington Street, where the modern St George’s Central CE Primary school is located. The original school on this site was the ‘Mission School’ the first part of which was opened in 1892 as the ‘national’ School (St George’s was bursting its seams! In its heyday (mid 1920s) some 500 scholars were accommodated at the ‘Mission’. When the original buildings were demolished in 1999, two stained glass memorials were taken from the original single storey building and incorporated into the new school’s hall. These can be viewed during the Heritage weekend.
The first is dedicated to William Ramsden, owner of the Wellington and Nelson pits (sometimes called the Shakerley Pits) and benefactor to the school of the site on which it was built, and whose wife laid the foundation stone. The second is dedicated to John Kay, manager of the ‘Wellington’ pit. This had been named after a local man, Robert Wellington, (and not the ‘Iron Duke’). This Wellington had married a daughter of the Fletchers of Shakerley Hall. The second of Ramsden’s pits, the ‘Nelson’ was however named after the naval hero of Copenhagen and Trafalgar as though the sister pit was named after the hero of Waterloo!
John Kay was also an early parish volunteer who gave up much of his free time to the Sunday School at the Mission and to the welfare of children in this poorer east end of the town. He was killed on 1 October 1895 by an explosion of gas in the pit and was remembered in the second stained glass memorial..
The current school also remembered the deaths in 1858 of 25 men and boys killed underground by an explosion of firedamp on 13 October at George Green’s ‘Yew Tree’ pit.
“Close to this school is the site of the Yew Tree Pit, part of the Tyldesley Colliery workings, where 24 boys and men lost their lives in a mining disaster on December 13, 1858.
This memorial plaque was placed here to mark the 150th anniversary of their deaths.
“Tis hard to part with those we love, Tho’ parting days will come,
Yet let us hope we meet above. For this is not our home.””
The Yew Tree Pit was immediately adjacent to school, over the wall where the new housing estate can now be seen. Most of the miners died from suffocation caused by the after-damp, as tunnels were deprived of air following the explosion.
Among the dead were brothers Michael and William Beswick whose bodies were brought to the surface with their arms still entwined around each other in the position in which they died. Thomas Beswick, believed to be the boys’ father, also died. Most were buried in St George’s graveyard and a memorial placed there.
This was Tyldesley’s worst mining disaster, with boys as young as 13 being killed whilst working as ‘drawers’ pushing the tubs of newly mined coal along the seams to the shaft bottoms for hauling to the surface.
Relatives of those who lost their lives in the explosion were invited into a special school assembly, and one lady who lived in Swinton whose grandfather was killed attended the brief ceremony.
Parallel to Manchester Road and the first street on the right off Common Lane is Darlington Street, where the modern St George’s Central CE Primary school is located. The original school on this site was the ‘Mission School’ the first part of which was opened in 1892 as the ‘national’ School (St George’s was bursting its seams! In its heyday (mid 1920s) some 500 scholars were accommodated at the ‘Mission’. When the original buildings were demolished in 1999, two stained glass memorials were taken from the original single storey building and incorporated into the new school’s hall. These can be viewed during the Heritage weekend.
The first is dedicated to William Ramsden, owner of the Wellington and Nelson pits (sometimes called the Shakerley Pits) and benefactor to the school of the site on which it was built, and whose wife laid the foundation stone. The second is dedicated to John Kay, manager of the ‘Wellington’ pit. This had been named after a local man, Robert Wellington, (and not the ‘Iron Duke’). This Wellington had married a daughter of the Fletchers of Shakerley Hall. The second of Ramsden’s pits, the ‘Nelson’ was however named after the naval hero of Copenhagen and Trafalgar as though the sister pit was named after the hero of Waterloo!
John Kay was also an early parish volunteer who gave up much of his free time to the Sunday School at the Mission and to the welfare of children in this poorer east end of the town. He was killed on 1 October 1895 by an explosion of gas in the pit and was remembered in the second stained glass memorial..
The current school also remembered the deaths in 1858 of 25 men and boys killed underground by an explosion of firedamp on 13 October at George Green’s ‘Yew Tree’ pit.
“Close to this school is the site of the Yew Tree Pit, part of the Tyldesley Colliery workings, where 24 boys and men lost their lives in a mining disaster on December 13, 1858.
This memorial plaque was placed here to mark the 150th anniversary of their deaths.
“Tis hard to part with those we love, Tho’ parting days will come,
Yet let us hope we meet above. For this is not our home.””
The Yew Tree Pit was immediately adjacent to school, over the wall where the new housing estate can now be seen. Most of the miners died from suffocation caused by the after-damp, as tunnels were deprived of air following the explosion.
Among the dead were brothers Michael and William Beswick whose bodies were brought to the surface with their arms still entwined around each other in the position in which they died. Thomas Beswick, believed to be the boys’ father, also died. Most were buried in St George’s graveyard and a memorial placed there.
This was Tyldesley’s worst mining disaster, with boys as young as 13 being killed whilst working as ‘drawers’ pushing the tubs of newly mined coal along the seams to the shaft bottoms for hauling to the surface.
Relatives of those who lost their lives in the explosion were invited into a special school assembly, and one lady who lived in Swinton whose grandfather was killed attended the brief ceremony.
Tyldesley ‘Jig Brow’
Close by (opposite side of Manchester Road) on the steep banks, was the ‘Jig Brow’. Only photographic evidence and tall stories remain of this poverty stricken small neighbourhood around Green Bank Street and New Bank Street of steeply terraced housing.
(The painting, in oil on board, is entitled ‘The end of the Jig Brow’ by Roger Hampson (1925-1996), a local artist born in Union Street, Tyldesley.)
It was in these streets that five young ‘Mission’ scholars, children from the Tyrer family were burnt to death in a terrible fire in 1939.
From school continue along Darlington Street towards Common Lane and turn north past the new apartments to ‘Little Shakerley Common’.
Close by (opposite side of Manchester Road) on the steep banks, was the ‘Jig Brow’. Only photographic evidence and tall stories remain of this poverty stricken small neighbourhood around Green Bank Street and New Bank Street of steeply terraced housing.
(The painting, in oil on board, is entitled ‘The end of the Jig Brow’ by Roger Hampson (1925-1996), a local artist born in Union Street, Tyldesley.)
It was in these streets that five young ‘Mission’ scholars, children from the Tyrer family were burnt to death in a terrible fire in 1939.
From school continue along Darlington Street towards Common Lane and turn north past the new apartments to ‘Little Shakerley Common’.
‘Grow for Giving’/Tyldesley Allotments Association, Poplar Street
The trail continues utilising the paths across Little Shakerley Common then north down Elm Street to the Grow for Giving Project on the ‘allotments’. Tyldesley Allotments Association is celebrating its centenary this year, having been founded in 1916. The association will have a historical photographic display to show during the weekend and information on the community initiatives delivered from here. They are adept at putting the kettle on at the drop of a hat! |
Independent Methodist Church – Primrose Street North
Retracing our steps along Elm Street , and crossing the common again, follow Primrose Street North back towards the town centre, past the industrial concerns now occupying the old ‘Co-op’ bakery and dairy to this chapel. This was built in 1893 at a cost of £850.00 some four years after their ‘connexion’ was formed. The premises were extended in 1914 and again in 1932. This is still a vibrant worshipping community offering lots of different activities to the local community. Pastor Geoff Mort and his wife, a Tyldesley girl herself, have collected a comprehensive collection of artefacts and photographs illustrating the life of this church, part of which should be on display during the Heritage Days.
Retracing our steps along Elm Street , and crossing the common again, follow Primrose Street North back towards the town centre, past the industrial concerns now occupying the old ‘Co-op’ bakery and dairy to this chapel. This was built in 1893 at a cost of £850.00 some four years after their ‘connexion’ was formed. The premises were extended in 1914 and again in 1932. This is still a vibrant worshipping community offering lots of different activities to the local community. Pastor Geoff Mort and his wife, a Tyldesley girl herself, have collected a comprehensive collection of artefacts and photographs illustrating the life of this church, part of which should be on display during the Heritage Days.
Shuttle Street to Stanley Street
Tyldesley no longer has a police station, but the last site used as a station is now occupied by the Cambian Tyldesley School. Before this it was on the corner of Green Street and Stanley Street for many years, now redeveloped as bungalows and supported accommodation.
Many of the old terraces on Shuttle Street and the streets to either side have disappeared since the 1960s along with the Theatre Royal on John Street and the Carlton Cinema on Johnson Street. The Crown Post Office building from the 1950s does still stand in this latter street and is a very busy place, but sadly without its former ‘crown’ designation.
Tyldesley no longer has a police station, but the last site used as a station is now occupied by the Cambian Tyldesley School. Before this it was on the corner of Green Street and Stanley Street for many years, now redeveloped as bungalows and supported accommodation.
Many of the old terraces on Shuttle Street and the streets to either side have disappeared since the 1960s along with the Theatre Royal on John Street and the Carlton Cinema on Johnson Street. The Crown Post Office building from the 1950s does still stand in this latter street and is a very busy place, but sadly without its former ‘crown’ designation.
Stanley Street
This street does host three important historical buildings that are still in use, two for their original purpose.
On the north east corner, with the Shuttle Street junction, now a small garden was the site of the New Jerusalem Church, a nineteenth century enterprise of which sadly virtually nothing is now known, save that four children were baptised there between 1830 and 1834. The New Jerusalem ‘church’ was a ‘Swedenborgian’ meeting room property of “James Mort the leading member of this society connected and acting from the dictation of Conference of the New Jerusalem church” (according to Lancashire Parish Clerks website). They were active for about 15 years from 1821 or thereabouts.
This street does host three important historical buildings that are still in use, two for their original purpose.
On the north east corner, with the Shuttle Street junction, now a small garden was the site of the New Jerusalem Church, a nineteenth century enterprise of which sadly virtually nothing is now known, save that four children were baptised there between 1830 and 1834. The New Jerusalem ‘church’ was a ‘Swedenborgian’ meeting room property of “James Mort the leading member of this society connected and acting from the dictation of Conference of the New Jerusalem church” (according to Lancashire Parish Clerks website). They were active for about 15 years from 1821 or thereabouts.
Conservative Club
Next travelling south is the imposing Conservative Club, built to rival the earlier mentioned Liberal Club in 1880.
There is little documented about which local business people were of this particular political persuasion, but they have never been particularly successful in local politics. ‘The Tory Club’ is a very good social venue though with excellent facilities for hire!
Opposite is Green Street named for the colliery owner George Green of the Tyldesley Coal Company (Yew Tree Pit fame) whose name was also given to the sidings (Green’s Sidings) at the bottom of Primrose Street South, adjacent to the LNWR railway, from where so much locally extracted coal left the area.
As already recorded a police station once occupied the site where the bungalows fronting Stanley Street now repose.
Next travelling south is the imposing Conservative Club, built to rival the earlier mentioned Liberal Club in 1880.
There is little documented about which local business people were of this particular political persuasion, but they have never been particularly successful in local politics. ‘The Tory Club’ is a very good social venue though with excellent facilities for hire!
Opposite is Green Street named for the colliery owner George Green of the Tyldesley Coal Company (Yew Tree Pit fame) whose name was also given to the sidings (Green’s Sidings) at the bottom of Primrose Street South, adjacent to the LNWR railway, from where so much locally extracted coal left the area.
As already recorded a police station once occupied the site where the bungalows fronting Stanley Street now repose.
Public Library
Before the library was built, an early Mechanics Institute and Temperance Hall occupied this site from 1842 and flourished until the Tyldesley Technical School was built in 1903. It lost its raison d’être, was wound up, its assets transferred to the Urban DistrictCouncil, and was demolished in 1908.
With a grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, a new imposing building was built on the site which opened as a public library in 1909. The book collections OF THE Mechanics Institute and Tyldesley & District Industrial Co-operative Society formed the nucleus of the collections which have been added to ever since, both by Lancashire County Council and its successors Wigan Council.
Libraries have come under public scrutiny in recent years concerning their financial viability, and an active Friends of Tyldesley Library support the paid staff here, and contribute to a whole host of activities for the young, the not so young, and for those with additional needs that take place here during each month.
Perhaps access can be arranged during the weekend to the upper room, a place not visited by many for around 50 years!
The north side of Tyldesley ‘Square’ houses a currently empty supermarket building, an uninspired 1970s, cheaply constructed, block shaped travesty of a building, where once the historic ‘Star and Garter’ completed in 1824 once stood. This hostelry collected the market rents for many years, had extensive stables and a bowling green at the rear originally extending northwards to Shuttle Street
Before the library was built, an early Mechanics Institute and Temperance Hall occupied this site from 1842 and flourished until the Tyldesley Technical School was built in 1903. It lost its raison d’être, was wound up, its assets transferred to the Urban DistrictCouncil, and was demolished in 1908.
With a grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation, a new imposing building was built on the site which opened as a public library in 1909. The book collections OF THE Mechanics Institute and Tyldesley & District Industrial Co-operative Society formed the nucleus of the collections which have been added to ever since, both by Lancashire County Council and its successors Wigan Council.
Libraries have come under public scrutiny in recent years concerning their financial viability, and an active Friends of Tyldesley Library support the paid staff here, and contribute to a whole host of activities for the young, the not so young, and for those with additional needs that take place here during each month.
Perhaps access can be arranged during the weekend to the upper room, a place not visited by many for around 50 years!
The north side of Tyldesley ‘Square’ houses a currently empty supermarket building, an uninspired 1970s, cheaply constructed, block shaped travesty of a building, where once the historic ‘Star and Garter’ completed in 1824 once stood. This hostelry collected the market rents for many years, had extensive stables and a bowling green at the rear originally extending northwards to Shuttle Street
Markland’s Building
This prominent building was originally built as a hotel for the business people visiting Tyldesley’s mills and collieries. Today it is converted into apartments and often becomes the resting place of the town’s feral pigeons.
This prominent building was originally built as a hotel for the business people visiting Tyldesley’s mills and collieries. Today it is converted into apartments and often becomes the resting place of the town’s feral pigeons.
Elliott Street to Castle Street
This section of the main thoroughfare contains several more of Tyldesley’s old historic buildings. The street itself, although with corrupted modern spelling, is named after General George Augustus Elliot, the first Baron Heathfield, a British army officer most famed for his command of the Gibraltar garrison during the Great Siege of Gibraltar, which lasted between 1779 and 1783 during the American War of Independence. He was celebrated for his successful defence of the fortress. My guess is that Thomas Johnson himself endowed the name of the main road through the town, which for many years was known as General Elliot Street.
The veterinary surgery has already been commented on, so the next most interesting building on the south side is number 138 marked by its solid black painted front door. This late Georgian two-storey house is built in red brick with a Welsh slate roof. It fronts directly to the street and has two stone steps, the entrance door with fluted side pilasters and a fanlight under the brick arch.
This section of the main thoroughfare contains several more of Tyldesley’s old historic buildings. The street itself, although with corrupted modern spelling, is named after General George Augustus Elliot, the first Baron Heathfield, a British army officer most famed for his command of the Gibraltar garrison during the Great Siege of Gibraltar, which lasted between 1779 and 1783 during the American War of Independence. He was celebrated for his successful defence of the fortress. My guess is that Thomas Johnson himself endowed the name of the main road through the town, which for many years was known as General Elliot Street.
The veterinary surgery has already been commented on, so the next most interesting building on the south side is number 138 marked by its solid black painted front door. This late Georgian two-storey house is built in red brick with a Welsh slate roof. It fronts directly to the street and has two stone steps, the entrance door with fluted side pilasters and a fanlight under the brick arch.
For most of the latter part of the twentieth century, it was a dental surgery and carries with it all the local mythology of such establishments! More recently, renovation of its original Georgian features was started by a former curate of St George’s that includes the planting of traditional trees and bushes from that period in the rear walled garden. Sadly the original building was divided many years ago and only the one part has had restoration lavished on it!
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Further west, and on the opposite side of the road is the third of the three stone built buildings in the town centre (St George’s church and school being the others). This former bank building is currently looking for a new owner; it was built in 1900 on this corner site as a single-storey structure for the Union Bank of Manchester to the designs of F W Morton. It is finely ‘dressed’ sandstone and has a glazed roof. The three-bay front and two-bay side (facing Patchett Street) with mock ‘doric’ columns, cornices and ballustraded parapet is pure classicism! The entrance door is under a carved frieze with 'BANK' in raised letters above which is the original bank’s coat of arms. The Union Bank became part of Barclays and closed its door to the depositors of Tyldesley before the end of the nineteenth century, but not before celebrating 150 years of banking (commencing on a site in Wareing Street) in 1979.
Still on the north side of Elliott Street are two historic public houses – The Queens and The Half Moon
‘The Queens’
This is another 1825 building, built as a result of the booming cotton trade and originally known as ‘The Spinners Arms’. Originally there was a bowling green attached
The Half Moon Inn
A very famous photograph of this building, believed to be Tyldesley’s oldest exists from when it was a .... shop. It has been a licensed public House for most of the twentieth centre to date.
‘The Queens’
This is another 1825 building, built as a result of the booming cotton trade and originally known as ‘The Spinners Arms’. Originally there was a bowling green attached
The Half Moon Inn
A very famous photograph of this building, believed to be Tyldesley’s oldest exists from when it was a .... shop. It has been a licensed public House for most of the twentieth centre to date.
Former Labour Club
On the opposite (south side) of Elliott Street, the rise of socialism with the spinners of the town to the fore, led to an open meeting in the Miners Hall and the formation of a local Labour ‘Club’. Encouraged by early polls, the fledgling party purchased the well known Kershaw’s Clog Shop on the corner of Lemon Street and in 1910 the new building was opened – the first labour Club within the Leigh area.It was from here that a motion to conference urging a national minimum wage for miners later originated. It is now the ‘BarOneTen’.
On the opposite corner, the now Rema Indian restaurant was for many years famed as the Evans family’s ‘Bongs Toffee Shop’. Here hordes of school children (and their families) purchased traditional boiled sweets ‘white rock’ and ‘fishes’ etc. ... at least into the 1970s!
On the opposite (south side) of Elliott Street, the rise of socialism with the spinners of the town to the fore, led to an open meeting in the Miners Hall and the formation of a local Labour ‘Club’. Encouraged by early polls, the fledgling party purchased the well known Kershaw’s Clog Shop on the corner of Lemon Street and in 1910 the new building was opened – the first labour Club within the Leigh area.It was from here that a motion to conference urging a national minimum wage for miners later originated. It is now the ‘BarOneTen’.
On the opposite corner, the now Rema Indian restaurant was for many years famed as the Evans family’s ‘Bongs Toffee Shop’. Here hordes of school children (and their families) purchased traditional boiled sweets ‘white rock’ and ‘fishes’ etc. ... at least into the 1970s!
Factory Street Area
In its heyday Tyldesley had at least twelve cotton mills spinning in the town. Now of course they have all gone; the last, Caleb Wright’s (later Courtaulds) Barnfield No 6 was demolished in 1993 and a supermarket built on the Shuttle Street site. The original Tyldesley Mill was built by the brothers Jones on castle Street/factory Street and probably occupied the Pelican Centre Site. The ‘New Mills’ were operational by 1820 and caleb Wright and Thomas Kirkpatrick were apprentices here at some time.
In 1853, one of Joseph Wilson’s mills in James Street was acquired by Thomas Clegg who built a second story and renamed it Hope Mill. The recreation area, known locally as ‘Hope Park’ and leased by the Fred Longworth High School is associated with this early mill.
In its heyday Tyldesley had at least twelve cotton mills spinning in the town. Now of course they have all gone; the last, Caleb Wright’s (later Courtaulds) Barnfield No 6 was demolished in 1993 and a supermarket built on the Shuttle Street site. The original Tyldesley Mill was built by the brothers Jones on castle Street/factory Street and probably occupied the Pelican Centre Site. The ‘New Mills’ were operational by 1820 and caleb Wright and Thomas Kirkpatrick were apprentices here at some time.
In 1853, one of Joseph Wilson’s mills in James Street was acquired by Thomas Clegg who built a second story and renamed it Hope Mill. The recreation area, known locally as ‘Hope Park’ and leased by the Fred Longworth High School is associated with this early mill.