What should an up to date history of Newton Contain?

[radman]

It's very quiet on here at the moment, so I thought it might be nice to ask people what they regard as the notable events since Cole & Lane published their history books about a hundred years ago. A lot has happened since then.

So, what topics and events should be included if a new "History of Newton in Makerfield 1912-2012" was to be written?

[bob]

Hi Andrew, maybe the topic should be called, Whats come and gone!
how about Parkside colliery for a start!
bob

parkside.jpg

[radman]

definitely Bob, it was a star that shone brightly then faded away much quicker than it ought to have done.

a few others might be:

Local Government Reorganisation (loss of the town council) - loss of identity
Ruin of the lake
Demolition of all the historic buildings
Closure of all the once great industries
Decline of the churches
Blocking up of rights of way
closure of the college
"theft" of all the historical items previously held in Newton to St. Helens
neglect of the town hall
decline of the retail sector

First world war
Second world war
Politics (Rise of the Labour party, flirtation with the lib-dems, decimation of the conservatives etc etc)


oh, dear. I was thinking of starting to write something, now I just feel it would be a very depressing read.

please, can anyone think of anything positive that has happened in this town!

[margie]

What about this, a service for the elderly all run by volunteer's for 22 years.

Margie

[radman]

That would be a good suggestion, and funny enough i was reading the exact same newsclipping in the library this morning. that's spooky!

I transcribed it too

6th May 1983

Volunteer group is disbanded

NEWTON’S staunch band of volunteers have delivered their last Meals on Wheels to the town’s sick and elderly.

After 22 years, the successful service which brings happiness to hundreds of lonely people, has proved too costly for Newton Age Concern, whose over-worked van ground to a halt.

But the good news is that I the service has been taken over by St Helens Social Services.

This week Age Concern Chairman, Mrs Gladys Greenslade, paid tribute to the volunteer workers who ran the service since it was I formed in 1961.

She said: "We are I eternally grateful to organiser Mrs Catherine Chorley, who started and maintained such a high standard of service.

"Drivers Bernard Lambe, Mrs Flo Hales and Mrs Joan Jones have been most reliable and volunteer Mrs Louie Larkin has won the hearts and confidence of all concerned."

The helpers delivered an average of 146 meals a week, mainly from the Vulcan Works but also from Red Bank School, Newton.

Mrs Greenslade added: "Volunteers in any field are pioneers of a service which is required. You can’t measure their success simply in meals but in the amount of happiness they have brought to the people they served.

"Naturally we are sad to give up the service but we must be grateful that it is going to be maintained by social services to the standard when it was started in 1961." Mrs Catherine Chorley, who has been organiser since its formation, said: "It is the end of an era. I feel a bit sad that a big authority is taking over and felt myself that we could have raised the money.

"It has been a fantastic service for the old and I am sure they will miss seeing the people they know.

"But they will soon get used to the new faces and hopefully St Helens Social Services will be able to increase the service in the area."

Mrs Chorley added: "I should like to thank Newton Rotary Club, Mr Kelly at the Vulcan canteen, Red Bank School and all the individuals — too many to mention by name — who have helped us over the years."

[margie]

Very spooky,

Had the article for quite awhile, as Catherine Chorley was my late Mum, I have fond memories helping to take the meals round during the school holidays, more often than not it was the only time the elderly had the chance to speak to some one during the day, it also gave the volunteers the opportunity to check up on them making sure they were ok as you can imagine some were very proud, and although they paid for the meals think if my memory is correct a shilling a day, saw it as charity.

Margie

[Podstar66]

The closure of the canal ?
The demolition of the 'Viaduct houses' ?
Walking Days, there doesn't seem to be as many these days
Town Show, is this still going ?
Music Festival, is this still going ?
Vulcan Gala
Vulcan Halt closure
End of Steam - And how it affected The Vulcan

Pod

[hazel]

How about up to date photos of Newton High Street, Earlestown Streets, market days? School buildings, the new Fire station, the new blocks of apartments on Crow Lane and the new apartments across from Earlestown station. The area now to be used for housing at the old Vulcan works and the up dates Vulcan village? The demolished Viaduct works (Deacon Trading estate) is this area to be the new supermarket? as only the brick wall is still standing.

[radman]

Some good suggestions now keep 'em coming...

[Podstar66]

I am trying to think of things, new buildings, industry, shops etc that have happened since Lanes/Coles etc

Police Station in Earlestown opening ( and when did it close in Newton ? )
The Fire station - when was that built ?
The Curzon - 1935 - building, opening, change of use, and eventual demolition, to the building of the appartment block.
Cottage Hospital - 1923-25
Labour Club - 1921 ?
CYMS - 1920s ?
How long has NADOS been going ?
The Pavilion, and other similar places closing
The development of the 'new' housing estates
The Clinic opposite the library
Parks and Gardens, Sports fields etc


It may be worth looking at the Newton le Willows Guide Books, these are in the library and range from the late 1930s to 1971/72, for info of businesses, developments etc , for ideas.
And also the 'Yesterdays of a Railway Town' books, to see what has been covered in those since Lane/Cole.
And the Newton-le-Willows Calendars have a potted timeline type source of events.

Another thought, it would not just have to be trying to continue from Lanes and Cole, ie from 1916/18 - 2012, there may be some history that they did not have access to at the time they were writing, that would fit into what they had written.
Just a thought.
Also, there was in Lanes Vol 2 some notes regarding a 3rd volume with some reference to what it would contain. Maybe this could be attempted ?

Pod

[radman]

Some good ideas. Thanks everyone, keep them coming.

Pod:

Lane only hints at a third volume, he doesn't actually say what it would contain

Agree totally that you'd have to revise the existing information based on new sources and better understanding.

Cole in particular would have been constrained by his position from airing any dirty linen.

I have access to the guidebooks & yesterdays books, but I wouldn't know where to start with the calenders - if anyone can help me out PM me please.

Another thing that just struck me would be to cover the organisations/societies - such as the horticultural society (and dozens of others)

[Podstar66]

You're right Andrew, Lane doesn't say what a third volume would contain. What I was thinking of was, and I confused myself, was that in volume 1 it has a proposed contents for the second volume. In the list there are quite a lot of things that never made it into volume 2. As follows :

Newton Common and Racecourse
The Earlestown Churches and Schools
The Town Hall
The Works
The Parish Church, Wargrave, and Schools
The Sankey Canal
The 'Old Hey' Mansion
The Vulcan Foundry
The Cemetery

This is what I had in my head was mentioned for a third volume. I knew I had read something about subjects for a proposed volume, just assumed it was the third volume.

Pod

[radman]

Well spotted. I never noticed before that Lane had left such important topics out!

[davros]

Hi all, What about a section on Schools?
Opening of new schools:-

Grammar school 1930s?
County Primary 1950s?
St Aelreds 1960s
Selwyn Jones 1960s
New Lyme St 2000s
Hope Academy 2011

Closure of schools:-

District
Wargrave
Manor
Grammar
Gas st Infants All Saints
St Marys Water St
St Aelreds
Selwyn Jones

I'm not sure if i've missed any out. and not sure of dates on closures.

Davros

[davros]

Another topic which would have to be in, "How the local people got through the two World Wars" Mention of heroes etc.
When the Americans were at Burtonwood, Rationing, Bombs dropping in town, etc etc.
Davros