The official opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway took place on 15th September 1830. The stopping place in Rainhill was originally called Kendricks Cross Station and like most other stops of the time was without platforms or waiting rooms. It was initially situated opposite where the old signal box now stands. The current platforms […]
Rainhill Railway Station Read More »
Ship Inn 1901 courtesy of the Ship Inn The Ship Inn looking towards The Stoops Ship Inn c 1950 Picture courtesy of Les Gibbon Click here for more Rainhill landmarks.
Ship Inn, Warrington Road Read More »
Click here for more Rainhill landmarks.
St Mary’s Convent School, Rainhill Read More »
In 1824, George Stephenson was appointed as Principal Engineer for the proposed new railway line to be built from Liverpool to Manchester. It was considered impossible to divert the existing turnpike road or to realign the route of the railway at the crossing point, so a bridge had to be constructed over the railway line
The famous Rainhill Trials took place along a level stretch of railway line 1 mile and 7 furlongs long, east of the Skew Bridge. A prize of £500 was offered to the successful locomotive completing a total run of 70 miles (the distance from Liverpool to Manchester and back) which entailed forty trips along the
Site of the Rainhill Trials Read More »
Oaklands was a large property situated in St. James Road and built by local business man Joseph Owen in 1851. Prior to the Great War (c.1911 to c.1914) it was owned by the Gamble family but occupied by the Taylor family. Pictured below: Oaklands pre 1914 when occupied by the Taylor family (courtesy of Sheila
Rainhill Wartime Hospitals: Oaklands Read More »
Oakdene Hospital – West Lancashire V.A.D. 40 Oakdene was a large private house in Lawton Road, built in 1851 on land purchased from the Owen family. In 1899 it was sold by the Swift family to Henry Gamble (1868-1927), who was the youngest son and 11th child of Sir David Gamble. Henry Gamble and his
Rainhill Wartime Hospitals: Oakdene Read More »
We had an excellent turnout for Rainhill Civic Society’s April Walk with a Talk, despite a few light showers. Almost 30 people and a couple of dogs joined the walk from the civic society as well as Momos, St Helens Historical Society, Rainhill Ramblers and other organisations. Starting from Manor Farm, we covered less than
Four Centuries of History in Less than a Mile Read More »
Until the beginning of the 19th century, members of the Church of England who lived in Rainhill had to travel to Prescot of Farnsworth to attend services. In 1836, the vicar of Prescot, the Reverend C.G.T. Driffield initiated an appeal for funds to build a chapel in Rainhill. The first church, consecrated in 1839, was
When Bartholomew Bretherton came to live in Rainhill opposite the Ship lnn he prospered from his coaching business and he decided to build a church in a prominent position near to his estate. The impressive design was based on the Church of ‘Santa Bartolomeo’ in Rome. The foundation stone was laid by his daughter, Mrs
St Bartholomew’s Church Read More »
