An Illustrated History of Old Sutton in St.Helens
Part 26 (of 41) - Pudding Bag in Sutton (St.Helens)
Researched & Written by S.R.Wainwright ©MMX Contact Me 
1881 map of the 'Pudding Bag' district of east Sutton by St.Helens Junction - Click for full map
As many as two hundred people lived in the Pudding Bag area and their houses were built exclusively for railway men. Originally Woodcock Street was known as Church Street but its name was changed around the turn of the twentieth century as a result of confusion with the St.Helens town centre road of the same name.
The Golden Cross pub in Woodcock Street, 'Pudding Bag', Sutton
Pudding Baggers had their own pub, the Golden Cross, which was originally known as the Golden Ball (also possibly Church Inn). The first landlord was William Woodcock and the street was later said to have been re-named after him. It's also claimed that the derivation of the pub's name was that it was the first port of call for worshippers after leaving the morning mass at nearby St.Anne's Church.
Also close by was the Providence Foundry and many workers would quench their thirsts with a pint at the pub, which in the late nineteenth century would cost them a tanner (2.5p). On 28/6/1889 in the St.Helens Lantern a correspondent referred to the Golden Cross as:
...the home of sixpenny for the isolated denizens of Pudding Bag 
Woodcock Street opposite The Golden Cross pub in Pudding Bag - contributed by Geoffrey Moore
In its early years with much railway traffic, life in Pudding Bag could be quite chaotic. Getting in and out meant lengthy waits at a level crossing by the Golden Cross and quite often residents would have to carefully thread their way between heavy waggons to get to their homes. William Crooks (1795 - 1861) was a gateman at the level crossing and on May 20th, 1861 was killed whilst attempting to move some waggons off the line. An engine was shunting some other waggons into a siding and a collision took place and Crooks was knocked down and died.
His inquest took place at the Golden Cross the following day which was reported in the St.Helens Weekly News of 25th May 1861:
On view of the body and after hearing the evidence several members of the jury expressed an opinion that the crossing was extremely dangerous and that at least an over footbridge ought to be constructed for the safety and convenience of the public, frequently the crossing was blocked up with waggons. 
As a result of these recommendations, a bridge was constructed over the track from Woodcock Street into Penlake Lane by the sheeting sheds creating a second route into the area. The main means of entry was under an arched railway bridge which was locked on the dot at 11pm each night and kept locked on Sundays.
The bridge that led from Woodcock Street into Penlake Lane - contributed by Geoffrey Moore
The houses were demolished in the 1960s and the Golden Cross pub closed on September 30th, 1963.
What life was like for some in Pudding Bag can best be described by this marvellous poem which was written in 1975 by a former 'Puddin' Bagger' who styled themself 'Foxy':
They were not folks to grumble, nor were they folks to brag,
They were railwaymen and women, borne to serve the iron-road,
They worked both long and cheerfully whilst bearing life's hard load,
They lived close by the railways which enclosed their village space,
Sounds of shunting and of whistles were a feature of the place,
The gradient of the railway on the Wigan - Widnes run,
Was hard for locomotives and for drivers was no fun.
At Sutton Oak, long coal trains were by a second engine pushed,
But still the haul was long and slow, it never could be rushed,
In the dark, when trains were toiling up the long, long weary hill,
The bonny lads of Pudding Bag would board it at their will,
Then from the loaded wagons, to the side of the metal road,
The lads would throw some of the coal, just a fraction of the load,
Other trains would pass beside, the lads would take enough,
To keep the village well supplied with tea and flour and such-like stuff.
All in all, in Pudding Bag, folks lived quite middling fair,
It was a place of peace and plenty, folks were happy there.
They were sort of modern Robin Hoods, though in motive not so pure,
They robbed the rich, one may well say, to stop themselves being poor.
But now that railway is not used; the houses are knocked down,
The folks who lived in Pudding Bag are spread throughout the town,
But the story of their exploits is a classic of our age,
It tells how people used their wits, to help out their meagre wage.
'Foxy' 1975
Sutton Beauty & Heritage's History Pages:
01) Township of Sutton & St.Helens | 02) Lords & Masters03) Michael Hughes of Sherdley | 04) The Sherdley Estate
05) Sutton's Halls & Houses | 06) Dr. Henry Baker Bates
07) Religion in Sutton | 08) Rev. Henry Vallancey
09) Education in Sutton | 10) Mineworking in Sutton
11) Sutton Manor Colliery #1 | 12) Sutton Manor Colliery #2
13) Clock Face Colliery | 14) Bold Colliery
15) Industry in Sutton Township | 16) Sutton Transport
17) Sutton Transport Timeline | 18) Health & Sanitary Conditions
19) Old Sutton Pubs | 20) Sport in Sutton
21) Sutton Boxers & Wrestlers | 22) Rapid Rise of Sutton Harriers
23) Leisure & Entertainment | 24) Sutton Celebrations
25) Sutton Streetnames | 26) Pudding Bag
27) Notorious & Curious Crime | 28) Sutton Tragedy #1
29) Sutton Tragedy #2 | 30) What's Wrong With Sutton?
31) How Sutton Has Changed | 32) Memories of Sutton Part 1
33) Memories of Sutton Part 2 | 34) Memories of Sutton Part 3
35) Memories of Sutton Part 4 | 36) Memories of Sutton Part 5
37) Memories of Sutton Part 6 | 38) Memories of Sutton Part 7
39) Sutton Trivia & True Facts | 40) Clog Clatters in Old Sutton
41) Research Sources, References & Bibliography
Transport; Sport, Leisure & Entertainment; Sutton Streets;
Sutton Manor Colliery #1; #2; #3; #4; Clock Face Colliery;
Bold Colliery; Sutton Industry;
Sutton Beauty & Heritage strives for factual accuracy at all times. Please do also get in touch if you believe that there are any errors, with details of any corrections contained within the site's update history page, which also details the regular updates. Many individuals from all over the world have kindly contributed Sutton information or photographs. If you would like to participate in this project, I would be delighted to hear from you and this website always credits any assistance given. Do also consider contributing any recollections of old Sutton that you might have for the Sutton Memories pages, which are proving very popular. I respond quickly to all emails and if you haven't received a response within 12 hours, please check your junk mail folder or send your message again. Thank you! SRW
