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Neston

Neston photos (8 available)

Old photo of Neston

Neston maps (2 available)

Old map of Neston

Neston books (10 available)

Neston memories

Neston Cross

Remember The Cross very well, worked my apprenticeship at Leighton Printing Works from 1950 to '55 when I joined the RAF, the photos bring back lots of memories. Went back in '77 to visit the old works to see if anybody remembered me. (No). Took a visit to Parkgate too, it has changed so much (no water anymore), but still nice to see. Came out of RAF and moved to Canada in 1957, been back to England once in '77, maybe one day would love to visit again.
Contributed by William McCully

The bike shop, the sweet shop, Leighton Court and the last Neston family to catch shrimps

On The High Street, Neston as you look towards Liverpool Road with The Cross just behind you you may still be able to see two alleyways. One used to end in a shed where a man had a bike shop. It was an Aladdin's Cave stacked with spare parts. My Dad bought me bikes. We had the lawnmower fixed there too.
The second alleyway had the doorway to a house halfway down it. The house was occupied by the Armitage family. The father had been Captain John Armitage. He died and his wife remarried. She died and he remarried. The result was many children and almost none full brothers and sisters as they all had different sets of parents. Two ...read more here
Contributed by C Evans

Merseyside memories

Neston Cross

Remember The Cross very well, worked my apprenticeship at Leighton Printing Works from 1950 to '55 when I joined the RAF, the photos bring back lots of memories. Went back in '77 to visit the old works to see if anybody remembered me. (No). Took a visit to Parkgate too, it has changed so much (no water anymore), but still nice to see. Came out of RAF and moved to Canada in 1957, been back to England once in '77, maybe one day would love to visit again.
A memory of Neston contributed by William McCully

The bike shop, the sweet shop, Leighton Court and the last Neston family to catch shrimps

On The High Street, Neston as you look towards Liverpool Road with The Cross just behind you you may still be able to see two alleyways. One used to end in a shed where a man had a bike shop. It was an Aladdin's Cave stacked with spare parts. My Dad bought me bikes. We had the lawnmower fixed there too.
The second alleyway had the doorway to a house halfway down it. The house was occupied by the Armitage family. The father had been Captain John Armitage. He died and his wife remarried. She died and he remarried. The result was many children and almost none full brothers and sisters as they all had different sets of parents. Two ...read more here
A memory of Neston contributed by C Evans

Extracts From Neston & Merseyside 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".