Welcome to the first of the two Rainhill Heritage Trails.
The Rainhill Locomotive Trials in 1829 put Rainhill on the map!
During the 18th century, Rainhill was a small agricultural community with scattered farms, a cluster of houses at Kendricks Cross and another at the Stoops. Sandstone for building was quarried locally and watch tool-making was the main cottage industry.
The route through Rainhill, now Warrington Road, became a toll road in 1753 and Bartholomew Bretherton’s stage-coaches from Liverpool travelled through the village. The Liverpool and Manchester Railway – the world’s first passenger line – opened in 1830; the station area became an industrial hub with coal-sidings, Roby’s Brass foundry and Mellings’ iron works. Later, Mellings’ brought gas-lighting and a water- supply to the village. Homes and shops were built for workers who moved to the area and Rainhill Village Centre became a busy place.
1. Market Street looking East c.1900
In 1900 the main road through Rainhill was known as Market Street. There was little public transport and the population depended on the local shops for their needs. Many shops provided a home delivery service. The buildings in Rainhill village have changed very little over the years. Note the absence of traffic!
2. The Victoria Hotel (formerly Rainhill Tavern) c.1900
The Victoria Hotel was originally a coaching inn known as Rainhill Tavern. It was named to mark the occasion in 1851 when Queen Victoria alighted from her train in Rainhill to visit Lord Sefton at Croxteth Hall. The Hotel was a meeting place for many local organisations. The inquest into the deaths of Frederick Deeming’s wife and four children took place at the Victoria in 1892.
3. St Ann’s Centre, formerly St Ann’s School c. 1960 (Listed Grade 2)
St Ann’s Centre was originally a school built in 1840 by public subscription. Princess Anne reopened the building in 2000 as a Community Centre
4. Kendrick’s Cross looking north c.1900
The cross roads where tolls were once collected was known as ‘Kendricks Cross’A small monument marks the site of an ancient ‘way-side cross’. It was erected in 1821 by Bartholomew Bretherton, a well-known local Coach Proprietor. Bartholomew’s coaches travelled from Liverpool along the turnpike road through Rainhill.
At the end of Victoria Street there used to be a level crossing, but after a number of accidents the crossing was replaced with a footbridge in 1869.
5. Site of the Rainhill Trials
The straight stretch of railway track (viewed from the footbridge) was the site of the ‘Rainhill Trials’ in 1829. Crowds gathered to watch the ‘new-fangled’ steam-driven locomotives travel back and forth along the line. Stephenson’s Rocket was the winner.
6. Tasker Terrace and Roby’s corner shop c.1900
Looking back along Tasker Terrace towards the railway, there is a glimpse of Melling’s Iron Foundry which was situated next to the railway line. Later it became Rainhill Gas and Water Works. Melling supplied gas lamps for the Station.
7. Trolley Bus outside the Coach and Horses c.1950
When the level crossing between Tasker Terrace and Victoria Street was removed, a new section of road was constructed to link the St Helens road to the Turnpike Road near the skew bridge. In 1920 the Coach and Horses public house had a bowling green, a club house and stabling for three horses.
8. Houses in New Road – later called Rainhill Road. Roby’s cottages can be seen in the background
Terraces of houses were built for workers at Roby’s Brass works. These have now been replaced by Holley Court. Brandreth Close and Braithwaite Close are names associated with the locomotives which competed at the Rainhill Trials.
9. Skew Bridge (listed Grade 2)
When the railway line was mapped, the line of the turnpike road could not be changed so George Stephenson planned a bridge at an angle of 34 degrees to carry the road over the railway line. This was the first of kind to carry a ‘highway’ over a ‘railed way’. (The structure of the Skew Bridge can be viewed from the small garden at the end of Rainhill Road).
10. Postcard c. 1960 showing Roby’s Foundry and the Commercial Hotel
The railway brought industry and many new businesses to Rainhill. Roby’s Brass Foundry was established in 1852 alongside railway line. The foundry was a major employer in Rainhill. A wide variety of items were made there, including brass fittings for ships.
11. The Commercial Hotel
Built opposite the station to accommodate travellers arriving in Rainhill by rail. It was here that the notorious murderer Frederick Deeming stayed in 1891 posing as an army inspector called Albert Williams.
12. Rainhill Station (listed Grade 2)
Rainhill Station’s information boards and pictures tell the story of the Liverpool to Manchester Railway. After the line opened in 1830, Rainhill changed from an agricultural village into a busy industrial township.
