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History of Sutton in St.Helens, Lancashire
Sutton Beauty's History & Heritage Pages

Part 14) Origins of Sutton Streets & Placenames

Written and researched by S.R.Wainwright for Sutton Beauty & Heritage © MMVIII

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a) Marshalls Cross Road in Sutton

Marshalls Cross Road and Peasley Cross Road were so named because of the roadside crosses that were placed on well-travelled highways so that travellers could stop and pray for their safe journey. (We're working on the Marshalls prefix). These two postcard views of Marshalls Cross Road in Sutton, St.Helens are undated but are probably Edwardian, c.1905.

b) Eaves Lane in Sutton, St.Helens

thieves lane in sutton, st.helens now known as eaves lane

Did you know that Eaves Lane in Sutton was originally known as Thieves Lane? In fact all nineteenth century Ordnance Survey maps - including this one from 1849 - refer to it as Thieves Lane.

The denizens of the street which connects Sherdley Park and dual-carriageway Marshalls Cross Road with New Street, were understandably rather miffed about their implied association with thieving and successfully petitioned St.Helens Corporation for it to be renamed.

A postcard photograph of Eaves Lane in Sutton, St.Helens

c) Leach Lane, Leach Hall (& Sutton Leach)

The original meaning of 'leach' or 'leech' was a stream running through a swamp or bog which is essentially what one finds between Mill Lane and Leach Lane via the Sutton Brook mill stream.

Sometimes it was called Toad Leach (see Yates 1786 map here) and there was a Leach Hall which John Yates sold to Hamlett Yate in 1690 for £600 and a yearly rent of £16.

Leach Cottage in Sutton formerly in or near Leach Lane

A document in 1724 refers to Leach Hall possessing 'waterwoods, underwoods and mines of cole'. This was a marriage settlement in which Hamlett's sister Ann was to marry Egerton Leigh and the groom would receive "the Hamlett Yate situated in Sutton in the parish of Prescot commonly called Leach Hall." The estate then seems to have been sold to an Edward Falkener who sold it onto Michael Hughes in 1800 for £2700. In the 1851 census William Blinkhorn is listed as resident at Leach Hall.

d) Lancots Lane in Sutton Oak

Lancots Lane in Sutton Oak, St.Helens used to be a hub of activity with bonecrushers Crone & Taylor and Sidac amongst many other businesses providing much needed employment. It still is to some degree but these days it's more renowned as the home of the Sutton Oak Welsh Chapel and a low redundant railway bridge (right, just 8' 3") which regularly gets struck by drivers who put far too much faith in their satnavs. The last time was on February 27th '08 when an Asda home delivery van had its top sliced off!

The derivation of Lancots Lane is 'Lance Corporal Cotts'. We're working on just exactly who he was, so watch this space!

e) Ellamsbridge Road in Sutton, St.Helens

ellamsbridge road street sign, sutton, st.helens

Ellamsbridge Road is where we find All Saints Church, an Esso garage and another low, redundant railway bridge. So the bridge part in the name is easy to figure out but 'Ellam'? Looking at old maps it was originally called 'Ellam's Bridge' and it's assumed that the prefix is named after Henry Ellam, an influential figure in Sutton in his day who also owned property in Parr and Lymm. His will dated 16th June 1796 has survived and one of his executors was his friend Thomas Greenall of the local brewery family. Henry Ellam's estates were bought by Michael Hughes in 1797 for £1463. Just what the connection was between Henry Ellam and a bridge is not known.

To Be Continued

Next: Pudding Bag in Sutton, St.Helens;

Research Sources, References & Bibliography for History Pages

Sutton Beauty & Heritage's History Pages:

  1) Township of Sutton & St.Helens;     |     2) Sutton's Lords & Masters;
  3) Michael Hughes of Sherdley;     |     4) Religion and Education
  5) Rev. Henry Vallancey (1st vicar of Sutton);     |     6) Mineworking;
  7) Industry in Sutton Township;     |     8) Sutton Transport
  9) Transport Timeline;      |     10) Health & Sanitary Conditions;
11) Sport in Sutton;      |     12) Leisure & Entertainment in Sutton;
13) Origins of Sutton Street & Placenames;     |     14)   Pudding Bag;
15) Crime & Tragedy;     |    16)   'Picturesque' Sutton - How it's Changed
17) Sutton True Facts!      |    18) Research Sources and Bibliography;

Plus 5 Photo-Albums: Sutton's Lords & Masters; Religion & Education
Transport in Sutton; Sport, Leisure & Entertainment; Sutton Streets

Also See Our Pages on: Sutton Manor Colliery; Clock Face Colliery;

Sutton Beauty & Heritage Main Home Page

History of Sutton in St.Helens, LancashireSutton Beauty's History & Heritage Pages