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The St. Peter’s Schools, 1860 – 1960

25 February 202625 February 2026 Steven Dowd

THE STORY OF THE ST. PETER’S SCHOOLS TOLD IN THE YEAR OF THEIR CENTENARY Ever since the days when, in 597 A.D. Augustine set foot in Kent with the Bible in one hand and a Latin grammar in the other, education has been one of the special cares of the Church. Those of you who read this booklet will realize how that care has been honoured in the case of Newton-in-Makerfield, and how well the Church School and staff have served the community during its one hundred years’ existence. Now…

Friar. Edmund Arrowsmith, born Haydock 1585, died Lancaster 1628.

10 February 202611 February 2026 Steven Dowd

A True and Exact Relation of the Death of Friar. Edmund Arrowsmith, a Priest of the Society of Jesus. When God, who is wonderful in his Saints, manifests their Glory by wonderful Works of his almighty Hand, at the same time that he declares their Merit, he recommends their Virtues to our Imitation. To be silent, after God has spoke the Worth of his Saints by Miracles, appears ungrateful; not to join with the Voice of Heaven in publishing their Sanctity, betrays a Disregard to the extraordinary Effects of his…

St Oswald’s Ashton-in-Makerfield

8 February 20268 February 2026 Steven Dowd

THE CHURCH OF ‘THE HOLY HAND‘ “The church of the Holy Hand” – that is how the Catholics of south-west Lancashire refer to the Catholic Church at Ashton-in-Makerfield. The ‘Holy Hand’ belonged to Edmund Arrowsmith, one of the Forty Martyrs canonized by Pope Paul VI on October 25th, 1970. Childhood Studies and Ordination Jesuit Betrayal Trial Prison Last Words Aftermath Apparition The Hand…

150 Years of the Liverpool – Manchester Railway

8 February 20268 February 2026 Steven Dowd

St Peter, Newton-in-Makerfield Celebrates ‘Railway 150’ Contents Plan & Key to St.Peter’s ‘Railway 150’ Exhibition. 3 A Message from The Bishop of Liverpool. 5 A Message from Lord Lee of Newton. 6 A Message from The Vicar. 7 ‘Railway gravestone’ verse. 9 A brief history of St.Peter’s Church. 10 The story of the opening of the Liverpool & Manchester Railway, by Ian Singleton. (Manchester Grammar School). 16 Exhibition Plan & Key Floor plan of St Peter’s Church, Newton in Makerfield, showing numbered exhibition areas. Arrows indicate visitor flow direction, entering…

A Local History Timeline

6 February 20266 February 2026 Steven Dowd

I have just added another new feature to the website, its an interactive historical timeline, this is another wordpress plugin that I have built specifically for this website, I thought it might end up helping present historical events in a clearer and more engaging way. This timeline allows events to be explored visually across time, making it easier to see how people, places, and moments in our local history connect with each other. The timeline scrolls horizontally and automatically arranges events so they do not overlap, even when dates are…

St Peters, Burials – 1813 to 1901

6 February 20266 February 2026 Steven Dowd

I have added the data and images for the Burials at St Peters Church on Newton-le-Willows High Street, for the years 1813 to 1901. The images from three original church burials books were transcribed almost 20 years ago by some of the fabulous members of the original message forum which was originally a part of this website back in 2007. The St Peters Burials which I have added are fully searchable, you can search by any part of a name, or by year. I am not sure that even now…

A Revolutionary Wartime Simulator

11 January 202611 January 2026 Steven Dowd

RAF Burtonwood and Building 28 RAF Burtonwood, also designated as United States Army Air Force Station 590 and Base Air Depot 1, was located near Warrington in England. Among its many structures was Building 28 – a synthetic gunnery training dome situated on the technical site. This particular dome was constructed from reinforced concrete and built to Air Ministry Drawing Number 73/42. Sadly, the Burtonwood example has since been demolished. Origins of the Dome Trainer The story of the Dome Trainer begins with Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander Henry Christian Stephens…

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