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Sandside

Sandside photos (1 available)

Old photo of Sandside

Sandside maps (2 available)

Old map of Sandside

Sandside books (10 available)

Sandside memories

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You can also read memories of nearby places in Cumbria below.

Cumbria memories

Memories of a Sankey lad

Although now living over a thousand miles away, my memories of my childhood in Great Sankey will always be dear to me.

Brought up in Hood Lane near the Rose Inn, the endless stream of traffic passing my garden gate  heading to and from the United States Air Force base at Butonwood. I remember saying hello to Cleo Laine when the Johnny Dankworth tour bus stopped outside my house for direction to Buertonwood. She was the first coloured lady I had ever spoken to, she was only in her twenties I think.

And at night the constant roar of the aircraft engines in the test bays, the afternoon BOAC flight from New York to Manchester which came to Burtonwood ...read more here
A memory of Great Sankey contributed by David Griffiths

Sad Demise

Warrington, Manchester Ship Canal c1960

Sadly we see very few ships passing down the Manchester Ship Canal these days. When I was a kid I lived in Latchford not far from the locks. We used to spend many hours watching the ships pass through the locks on there way to Liverpool or Manchester. We were occasionally rewarded by a pack of cigarettes or sweets thrown by the crew to us kids. Happy days.
A memory of Warrington contributed by Ian Miller

The Queen's Visit.

Warrington, Academy and Cromwell Statue 1901

I remember as a youngster my mum and dad talking of the Queen's forthcoming visit to Warrington and how the statue of Oliver Cromwell was to be covered so as not to upset her. They eventually moved the statue to a less visible place and the side of the Academy.
A memory of Warrington contributed by Ian Miller

Happy times

Warrington, Market Gate c1965

The building at the top of the picture with the advert on was a grocers called Hendrey Millings. I worked there as a young man and had my first encounter with the opposite sex!!!
A memory of Warrington contributed by leslie edge

Extracts From Sandside & Cumbria books

Ditton, St Michael's Church, Ditton Hall c1965

With so many workers arriving here in the 1800s from Ireland there was a strong Roman Catholic presence and this enormous church was built in the 1870s to serve that congregation. For the first 23 years it was also a collegiate church for Jesuits with, at one time, 32 priests, 22 scholastics and 17 lay brothers.
An extract from from"Widnes and Runcorn Photographic Memories".

Ditton, Ditchfield Road c1965

There have been several Ditchfield Halls near here. In the 1500s and 1600s the Dychfield family that lived here were strong Roman Catholics and refused to attend the Protestant services at their local parish church at Farnworth. Instead they built their own chapel but they were still fined for not attending the official church services! The last Ditchfield Hall was demolished in the 1960s.
An extract from from"Widnes and Runcorn Photographic Memories".

Widnes, Promenade 1923

It would have been near here that the ferry landed. The first ferry was established in 1178 by the baron who owned Halton Castle on the southern side of the estuary. His estates included lands on the northern side and, apparently, the ferry was set up primarily so his tenants could cross the river more easily in order to pay him their taxes.
An extract from from"Widnes and Runcorn Photographic Memories".

Widnes, Church Gardens 1923

St Mary’s Church was consecrated in 1910 and has room for a congregation of over 750 people. The church has a most unusual feature - built into the wall around the churchyard, overlooking the road, there is a pulpit from where, perhaps, the vicar could harangue those people taking their ease here in the gardens on a Sunday afternoon.
An extract from from"Widnes and Runcorn Photographic Memories".

Widnes, Bridge c1965

Despite the title of the photograph there are, in fact, two bridges depicted here. The railway bridge, in the foreground, was opened in 1868 when a train with 500 passengers on board crossed over. The main part of the bridge consists of a lattice of iron girders. Built by William Baker, the chief engineer for the London and North Western Railway, it used 48,115 rivets.
An extract from from"Widnes and Runcorn Photographic Memories".