Sutton Beauty & Heritage | Update History

Header picture: A snowy St.Nicholas Church photographed on February 5th, 2009

Sutton Beauty & Heritage is updated almost daily with minor updates and every Sunday morning with a 'Sutton in the News This Week' newspaper article. I only list below significant site updates that have been made since January 2010. Corrections of errors are also detailed below.

Sutton Beauty & Heritage Update History 2010-12:

30th January 2012

Updated Sutton Manor Woodland page with a large photograph of one of the remarkable heritage art trail structures. These have just been installed on the site and were designed by Sutton Manor Primary schoolchildren working with artist Bernadette Hughes and writer Collette Hughes. Also updated Pudding Bag page with a quote from John Perry who from 1942 lived in Penlake House in Penlake Lane and used to know most of the people in Woodcock Street and Railway Terrace.

21st January 2012

Updated Religion in Sutton Part 1 page with more information on the history of the Independent Methodist Church in Herbert Street, now known as Sutton Village Church. Also added a photograph of the reopening of the chapel in 1910, contributed by John Dolan.

14th January 2012

Updated Can You Help? page with a request from Donna La Rue for information on her ancestors Howard and May Taylor and Ruth Barrow. Also updated The Making of Dream page with an mp3 of the song Dream by Deirdra. Christopher Barras and Deirdra Graal's evocative tribute to Jaume Plensa's stunning sculpture not only captures the ethos of Dream, it also pays tribute to the miners who worked at Sutton Manor Colliery.

2nd January 2012

Updated Dr. Baker Bates page with four new images contributed by Merrick Baker-Bates a) certificate awarded to Henry in 1890 by the University of Liverpool; b) portrait of Edith Bates; c) 'thank you' card sent to those who expressed sympathy after Edith's death; d) photo of Henry at the bedside of his second wife Alice. Also the mayoral portrait of Henry has been replaced by a better version. Also updated Bold Colliery page with a photograph taken on May 25th 1980 by Barrie Watkins which shows the original five cooling towers at Bold Power Station.

31st December 2011

Updated Clock Face Colliery page with the front cover of the programme for the Colliery Recreation Club Athletic Sports of 1950. Details of this event have also been added. Also updated Religion in Sutton Part 1 page with a photograph of the former Welsh Presbyterian Chapel in Peckers Hill Road, otherwise known as the St.Helens Junction Welsh Chapel.

29th December 2011

Updated Sutton at War Part 1 with new article 'Sherdley and the Red Cross Fund'. The fund was created in 1914 by Edith Hughes of Sherdley Hall and largely administered by Alice Bates of Sutton Hall. They coordinated a 'Smokes for Tommy' campaign and the St.Helens Citizens Motor Ambulance Appeal. Parts of this article were previously on the Sutton at War Part 2 page. Also added to the article 'Zeppelin Attack at Bold', a lengthy description of the German bombing in 1918 made in a letter to Mrs. Hughes by Dr. Bates. Also updated Memories of Sutton Part 3 article 'Marshalls Cross Memories' by Liz Mercer with an illustration of Eric Baker-Bates contributed by Merrick Baker-Bates.

23rd December 2011

Updated Dr. Baker Bates page with a coloured photograph of Bates as Mayor of St.Helens and a photograph of his son Dr. Eric Baker-Bates who was brought up in Sutton Hall and worked at Providence Hospital. Both contributed by Merrick Baker-Bates. Also updated Sutton at War Part 2 page with more information on Edith Hughes's Red Cross Fund. Also added a copy of a British Red Cross Society receipt plus part of C.D. Fothergill's letterhead. The St.Helens tobacco and cigar manufacturer and importer supplied Woodbines for the Smokes For Tommy campaign. Also removed an article on a rifle range which I stated was separate from the Battery Cob range. I now believe the references actually were the Battery Cob and I have removed the article pending further research.

15th December 2011

Updated Sutton Crime Part 2 page with new article 'Seduction Of A Sutton Builder's Daughter' about the court case in 1886 when John Fisher, a master builder from St. Helens Junction, sued Robert Jackson for the seduction of his daughter. Also added a photograph of a policeman in Peasley Cross Lane to the article 'A Policeman's Lot Was Not A Happy One'. Plus added two illustrations by Marty Strutt to 'The Shooting of Michael Noonan' article and a few more 'Sutton Crime In Brief' entries. Also updated Bold Colliery page with an aerial photograph taken around 1990 after the colliery's demolition which shows Bold Power station - contributed by Neil Selfridge.

7th December 2011

Updated Clock Face Colliery Country Park page with a new slideshow of 13 images that depicts the park in Spring and Winter. Also updated Sutton Churches page with revamped information, two more pictures of St. Theresa's and new sections on Sutton Village Church and the Church of the Nazarene. Also updated Bold Colliery page with information on the death of Henry Worthington and John Prescott in 1921, plus a photo of Henry's family which has been contributed by James Prescott.

3rd December 2011

Updated Sutton Crime Part 2 page with thirteen new stories added to the 'Sutton Crime In Brief' section. Titles include Breaking His Wife's Leg, Horse Stealing, Illegally Moving Swine, Begging In Marshalls Cross, Drunk In Charge Of A Horse And Lurry, Slander In Sutton and A Ferocious Dog.

28th November 2011

Updated Bold Colliery page with two photographs of Andrew Jackson, who was an early manager of the colliery. Both pictures contributed by Martin Heys. Also added a photo of Horace Pugh and his team who sold the colliery's coal, contributed by Alan Pugh. Also updated Religion in Sutton Part 1 with more details of preacher Billy Hardy, mainly taken from an 1946 booklet 'God's Dealings with William Hardy of St Helens'. Another photo of Billy contributed by Janet Ball has been added.

23th November 2011

Added new page Memories of Sutton Part 16 by Alan Pugh which is subtitled 'Growing Up in Sutton Manor'. Alan describes his Lithuanian clogmaker grandfather, St.Theresa school days, the war years and Christmas in Sutton Manor and also recalls some shops and people from the district. Alan's tale of the bomb that landed at the rear of his house at 80 Jubits Lane is quite remarkable.

20th November 2011

Updated Industry in Sutton page with a photograph of a silver teapot presented by Crone & Taylor in 1897 to the winner of a Cumberland Wrestling Competition at Keswick Sports. Photo contributed by David Tait. Also added a picture of a Crone & Taylor pencil and more details of compensation claims that were made during the 19th century against Sutton Copper works for damage to crops. Also updated Religion in Sutton Part 1 page with more details of the history of the Congregational Church and Sunday School at Peasley Cross. More details have been added to other articles on the page, including on the Independent Methodist Chapel in Herbert Street.

17th November 2011

Added new page Sutton Crime Part 2 with two new articles and a new section 'Sutton Crime In Brief', which details twenty-three curious crimes and court cases. The fresh articles are 'The Shooting Of Michael Noonan' and 'Legal And Illegal Beating Of Boys'. The former describes how the jury in the 1902 murder trial of James Shaw were faced with two polarised versions of how he came to shoot Michael Noonan. The latter article describes the judicial birching of boys and how some adults came to be brought to book for hitting children. I've also corrected an error on the Leisure & Entertainment page within the article on the Sutton Showfield. The paragraph on Thomas Duffy's swingboat death has been removed after learning that the accident took place on waste land in Union Street East and not on the Showfield.

15th November 2011

Updated Education in Sutton page with a photograph of St.Aidan's School, Clock Face taken by John Oates. Also added a much better picture of Arthur Sinclair to the Sutton Library article on the page. The original image has been removed. Also updated Religion in Sutton Part 2 page with more information on the history of St.Joseph's RC Church in Peasley Cross. Also added to the St. Theresa article, copies of the plans for the proposed church and convent. Details of the school and the building containing a library and National Fire Service have been expanded and clarified.

14th November 2011

Updated Leisure & Entertainment page with a new article on Sutton social clubs with a particular focus on Sutton Conservative Club in Edgeworth Street. Also updated Old Sutton Pubs page with a photo of the original site of the Sutton Arms contributed by Robert Brown and a picture of the Bull & Dog from 1988, contributed by Jim Lamb. Also added an advert for the Clock Face Hotel which was published in the programme for the foundation stone laying of St. Theresa's RC Church in 1931. More details of a number of pubs have also been added.

31st October 2011

Updated Transport Timeline page with over 30 new entries, many concerning railway accidents within the Sutton district. Also added an additional image - a comic postcard illustration entitled 'Last Train From St.Helens' - and improved existing images. Also updated Clock Face Colliery page with a photograph of Land Sale Manager Horace Pugh. In the picture he is stood next to his brother-in-law, Frank Spakauskas, who was born in Pendlebury Street and was once contracted by MGM whilst in Kenya to take stills for The Snows of Kilimanjaro. Also added a photo of a Clock Face Colliery miner's lamp which is in the possession of Alan Pugh who has contributed both pictures.

29th October 2011

Updated Bold Colliery page with a photograph of a shift manager discussing the day's coal production, contributed by Neil Selfridge. Plus a dramatic picture of a fire at Travers Farm that sent a pall of smoke over Bold Power Station's cooling towers, contributed by Jim Lamb. Finally a photo of an express train and a loco outside Bold Colliery with details of an accident in 1965 when the points for the colliery sidings derailed a passenger train. Also updated Leisure & Entertainment page with a photograph of Sherdley Park's 'Long Wall'taken by Jim Lamb in Marshalls Cross Road in 1950. Sutton Academy now occupies the field behind the wall. Also updated How Sutton's Changed page with a photograph that shows part of Grace's Square off New Street, contributed by Jim Lamb.

26th October 2011

Updated Sutton Sport with a photograph of the building of a new pavilion at Sutton Cricket Club contributed by Marjorie Hall. Plus a picture of St.Anne's FC - thought to be during the 1947-8 season - contributed by Marjorie Kendrick. Also updated Religion in Sutton Part 1 page with two photographs of repairs to the St.Nicholas Church roof taken in June 1994, contributed by Jim Lamb. Also updated Industry in Sutton article 'Clay, Pottery and Brickworks' with an 1990 photograph of an Ibstock Brickwork's quarry, contributed by Jim Lamb. Also updated 'Glassmaking in Sutton' article with a 1990 photograph of UGB taken from Sherdley Park golf course, also contributed by Jim Lamb. Plus a photo of the former Cannington Shaw no. 7 bottle shop, which is an ancient monument.

21st October 2011

Added new page Religion in Sutton Part 2 which is dedicated to the Roman Catholic churches in the Sutton district. The existing articles within Part 1 on St.Anne's, St.Theresa's and St.Joseph's have been removed and placed in Part 2. St.Theresa's article has been greatly expanded with much information and 13 images added. Thanks to Fr. Swanson for his assistance. A montage of three photos of Elizabeth Prout, Dominic Barberi and Ignatius Spencer have also been added to the St. Anne's article. Also updated Clock Face Colliery page with a portrait of James Whittall, manager of Clock Face Colliery c.1900 to 1911 plus quote from great-grandson Ernie Bate who also relates some of his childhood memories of the mineworkers. Details of Horace Pugh - who was a war-time 'Bevin Boy' and then Land Sale Manager at the colliery - have also been added.

15th October 2011

Updated Sutton Celebrations! page with a photograph of a walking day by the Wesleyan Methodists from about 1910, contributed by Beryl Huyton. Also updated 'The Building of Sutton Parish Hall' slideshow in Memories of Sutton Part 3 with 12 more photographs. The slideshow now has 30 pictures, 28 of which were taken by Jim Lamb between 1962 to 1964.

11th October 2011

Updated Transport in Sutton page with a transcript of an article from the St.Helens Newspaper of May 10th, 1935 entitled 'The Pride Of St.Helens Junction, which describes the impact of trolleybuses on the Junction route. Also added a new 15 frame slideshow to the Home page devoted to St. Theresa of the Child Jesus in Sutton Manor. Thanks to Fr. Phil Swanson for his assistance.

8th October 2011

Updated Sutton at War 2 with a photo and information on James Prescott from Irwin Road who served in WW1 in the Middle East - contributed by grandson James Prescott. Also updated Industry in Sutton page with an 1963 photograph of Roughdales brick factory contributed by Jim Lamb.

7th October 2011

Updated Sutton at War Part 2 with two photos and information on Sapper Harry Johnson from Robins Lane who served in both the Royal Field Artillery and the Royal Engineers and was a victim of the 1918 flu pandemic - contributed by Beryl Huyton. Also added details of a tunnel under Chester Lane which was used in WW2 by families from Marshalls Cross as an air raid shelter. Also updated the How Sutton Has Changed page with an 1963 photograph contributed by Jim Lamb which shows the site where Holbrook Close now stands. Problems with flooding, drainage and the lack of pavements are discussed with references to Meadowcroft and the cottages at 253 New Street.

24th September 2011

Updated Sherdley Estate article on Costeth House with a plan of the house from 1801 and a valuation from 1818, contributed by Martin Rigby. Also added details of Sherdley Hall's underground tunnels, contributed by Susan Jones. Also updated Sutton Harriers page with a team photo of the Harriers as 1905-6 national cross-country champions. Also updated Sutton at War 5 article on Lieut. Harold Emblem MC with a photograph of his mother Annie Mason Emblem, contributed by Jim Lamb.

20th September 2011

Added Memories of Sutton Part 15 which is devoted to Susan Morrison-Jones's article 'The Last To Live in Sherdley Park'. Susan describes her experiences living in Sherdley Park in the old servant's quarters from 1978 to 1980. Sections are devoted to The Sherdley View, Strange Encounters of the Third Kind, Walking in the Park, One Ghost or the Other, A Secret Hoard of Silver, Snow, Sherdley Show, Making Love in the Park, Gang Warfare etc.

19th September 2011

Added new St. Nicholas Church slideshow to the Sutton Crime article 'A Policeman's Lot Was Not A Happy One' with details of a one-hour struggle between Peter Duckworth of New Street and PC Staveley, which took place in 1897. Two illustrations by Marty Strutt have also been added to the page. Also updated Transport in Sutton with more details of the Sutton Oak Shed, which housed and maintained locomotives, to the Transport in Sutton page and also added a second photograph.

18th September 2011

Removed article 'The Sutton Monastery Opera Star' from the Sutton Trivia & True Facts! page. This was based on an article in Freeman's Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser published on April 19th 1883. However I have found this report in The Penny Illustrated Paper and Illustrated Times of April 28th, 1883 which repudiates the article: "Mr. Santley's fine baritone is not yet to be lost to the public, we are glad to hear. The report that Mr. Santley contemplates joining a religious community, and is at present residing as a lay brother at the Passionist Monastery, Sutton, is entirely without foundation. Mr. Santley himself contradicts the rumour."

7th September 2011

Added new St. Nicholas Church slideshow to the Home Page with 27 pictures (All taken by S.R. Wainwright except Walk of Witness photo by Jim Lamb). Also updated St. Nicholas Church Photo-Album with a dozen new photos and added improved versions of some existing pictures.

3rd September 2011

Updated Memories of Sutton Part 14 with new article 'My Childhood Memories of Sutton Manor' by Arthur Padmore - Art tells of going to the colliery baths, spud picking at Haslem's farm and pinching peas from a cart outside the Co-op in Forest Road! Also updated Bold Colliery page with a newspaper cutting, photograph and more information on miner Carl Schofield who won the Edward Medal in 1940 for his efforts in rescuing men buried under rubble - contributed by William Hancock.

31st August 2011

Updated Religion in Sutton page with three photographs: a) Emmanuel Mission in Helena Road c.1936 with 200 members of the congregation, probably taken at the opening of the chapel (contributed by Janet Ball); b) Fr. Ralph Holden of St. Theresa's church in Sutton Manor (contributed by Rev. David Green); c) Sutton Parish Hall Founder's Certificate (contributed by Jim Lamb). Also updated Sutton Manor Colliery Part 2 with a National Coal Board retirement certificate awarded to Noah Lamb of Chester Lane who worked in the colliery for 48 years - contributed by Jim Lamb.

29th August 2011

Added new page: Sutton at War Part 5 - The War Diary of Harold Emblem devoted to Lieutenant Harold Emblem from New Street, who in WW1 served in the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Regiment, known as the Sherwood Foresters. Harold kept a diary which documents the final 17 weeks of his war until he was shot to death and posthumously awarded the Military Cross.

18th August 2011

Updated Location pages for Sutton Manor / Dream, Sherdley Park, Clock Face Colliery Country Park, Sutton Mill Dam, Brickfields and Sutton Park with embedded maps and satellite images plus improved and additional information on accessibility and how to find each site.

15th August 2011

Updated Sutton Crime page with a new article, 'A Policeman's Lot Was Not A Happy One'. This relates how police officers in old Sutton were often attacked while they were making arrests and stopping fights and describes the leniency of magistrates in the Police Courts to the offenders.

14th August 2011

Major update to Industry in Sutton page with a new article on Edward Borrows & Sons. This was originally on the Transport page but has been expanded with new text and the addition of two photographs. Many additional details have been added to existing sections, especially 'Glassmaking', where another photograph has been added. Also updated Old Sutton Pubs page with three more photographs of pubs and more details added to many listings, as well as to the introduction.

13th August 2011

Updated Sutton Crime with new article,'Madman in a Monastery', about John Carroll of Ditch Hillock who in 1870 stole a large quantity of books and effects from the monastery at St.Anne's.

12th August 2011

Errors corrected: a) Sutton Glass Works was originally built by the Manchester and Liverpool Plate Glass Company, not the Union Plate Glass Co. b) Corrected error in Education page which stated that the former Marshalls Cross school had been demolished. Part of the old building is now used by the Sherdley Manor Nursing Home. Thanks to Andy Hatton for the latter information.

8th August 2011

Updated Sutton Tragedy Part 2 with new article 'Child Tragedies in Old Sutton', which describes the many hazards that young children had to overcome in Victorian Sutton, such as open fires, dolly tubs and kettles in the house and the numerous ponds, deep brooks and reservoirs outside.

2nd August 2011

Updated Sutton Manor Colliery Part 2 page with two photographs and details of George Streete who worked as a pit deputy at Sutton Manor for thirty years after arriving in the UK from his native Jamaica in 1950. Also updated Mining in Sutton page with details of the Provident Patent Safety Catch. This was a device co-created by Charles Heyes, landlord of Sutton's Locomotive Inn, which was intended to prevent pit cages from plummeting if their ropes or chains broke.

28th July 2011

Corrected error in Sutton Celebrations! page which wrongly stated that an Irwin Road street party was commemorating the 1951 Festival of Britain. It was in fact in celebration of VE Day in 1945. A link to a larger version has been added in which all 54 attendees are shown with 36 of them identified by Les Grace, assisted by James Prescott.

25th July 2011

Updated Sutton Tragedy Part 2 with new article 'Maternal Murder and Suicide in Sutton', which relates three stories of mothers who killed themselves and their children. The sad case from 1882 of 27-years-old Mary Rawlinson is told in detail. Also updated The Making of Dream page with a photograph of ex-Sutton Manor miners in the Mayor's Parlour.

17th July 2011

Major Update to Industry in Sutton page creating new sections 'Clay, Pottery and Brickworks', 'Glassmaking', 'Sutton Rolling Mill and Copper Works', 'Chemical and Alkali Works', 'Crone and Taylor Bone Crushers', 'Iron Works' and 'Other Works'. Eleven new images have also been added. Also updated Sutton Trivia & True Facts! page with a new article 'Bally Whittaker - The Heavyweight Sutton Builder'. This describes John 'Bally' Whittaker who at 31 stones built Sutton Glassworks, St.Helens Junction railway station, Sutton Road Pumping Station, the Borough Sanatorium and many other buildings and works in St.Helens and was licensee of the Oak Tree Inn in Sutton.

11th July 2011

Updated Sutton's Halls & Houses with new article on Ellams House which was one of the oldest houses in Sutton, built in the early 1700s in what became Ellamsbridge Road. It was probably the home of 18th century landowner Henry Ellam and from the late 1890s to the late 1920s, it was known to Suttoners as 'Tripe Shaws'. Also updated Streets & Placenames page with a new article on the origins of Waterdale Crescent, which was previously known as Ditch Hillock, and its connection with the Waterdale Dam reservoir and Arthur Sinclair's home, Waterdale House. Corrected error which had suggested that part of Watery Lane had also originally been known as Ditch Hillock. Also corrected error in How Sutton's Changed page in which Ridgewood Drive was incorrectly named.

7th July 2011

Updated Sutton Crime page with new article 'The Breach of Promise and Seduction of a 17-Years-Old Sutton Girl'. This was an action from 1874 by Margaret Critchley's father - the landlord of the Mechanics Arms in Peckers Hill / Ellamsbridge Road - against Joseph Greenough, a fitter at Sutton Glass Works, who had made Margaret pregnant then married someone else.

1st July 2011

Updated Sutton Tragedy 2 with new article 'Crossing The Line - Rail Deaths in Old Sutton', which discusses the many fatalities caused by Suttoners using the railway lines as shortcuts and through dashing over the track at Sutton Oak and St.Helens Junction stations. Also updated Sutton Trivia & True Facts! page with new article 'When Queen Victoria Came Through Sutton' which describes how the monarch's special train twice travelled through St.Helens Junction on a trip from Windsor Castle to Liverpool to open the International Exhibition of Navigation, Commerce and Industry.

28th June 2011

Updated The Making of Dream with a photograph of Dream illuminated at night and a picture of a digital interpretation sign, plus new information. Also added a larger and revised slideshow.

25th June 2011

Updated Sutton Tragedy Part 2 with new article 'The Drunken Steeplejack at Sutton Copper Works' which tells how in 1892, Ralph Woods fell 183 feet to his death from a chimney at the copper works near Worsley Brow in front of a crowd of hundreds of onlookers.

22nd June 2011

Updated Clock Face Colliery page with a group photograph of 50 miners that's believed to have been taken during the 1926 strike. Plus two pictures of Johnny Quinn and David Mercer. Lampman Quinn had worked at the colliery for 44 years and was quoted in the St.Helens Reporter's announcement of its closure. All photographs have been contributed by Alan Mercer. Also updated Leisure & Entertainment page with a 1932 photograph of Sutton National School Girl Guides at camp. Also added improved versions of two existing photographs to the page and a short paragraph on the origins of Sutton Park from a ratepayers' meeting held in 1897.

18th June 2011

Updated Bold Colliery page with a photograph of a group of 5 miners and one of a pit man using a safety harness, both from the 1950s and contributed by Neil Selfridge. Plus a picture of steam loco 'Robert' from 1981. There is also a description of the use at steam at Bold and how when dieselisation took place in 1982, Railway World magazine dubbed it "the effective demise of industrial steam" in Britain. Also updated Sutton Celebrations! page with a photograph of a street party in Irwin Road which celebrated the 1951 Festival of Britain - contributed by James Prescott.

15th June 2011

Corrected errors in names of woods in Sherdley Park page. Dam Wood is the long woodland at the south end of the park by Sutton Academy. Sutton Hall Wood, as it's historically been known, is further west by the Elton Head Road entrance. Delph Wood is at the north end adjacent to Scorecross and the small Round Wood is at the north-east of the park near Marshalls Cross Road.

14th June 2011

Updated Sutton Tragedy Part 2 with new article 'The Romantic Suicide' which tells the sad tale of John Birch of 76 Baxters Lane who killed himself in Sutton Parish Churchyard in 1893 after the death of his wife. Also expanded the existing Tragedy 2 article 'The Rabid Railway Shunter from Herbert Street' with new information mainly contributed by Pauline Ball.

9th June 2011

Updated Sutton Trivia & True Facts! page with new article 'The Great Fire of Sutton Moss'. This tells the story of what the Liverpool Mercury called "the most extensive and most extraordinary fire which ever occurred at St.Helens". The turf blaze took place over two days in August 1899. Also updated Sutton at War Part 2 - War Notes & Photos page with a photo and info on Sgt. Les Lamb who was born in Graces Square and served as a wireless operator on a Halifax bomber in WW2.

8th June 2011

Added Best of 'Sutton in Spring 2011 Picture of the Day' Slideshow to the Home Page with 34 pictures. A large 'supersized' version has also been added (see link underneath the slideshow)

5th June 2011

Updated Sutton Harriers page with a picture of the Chester Lane changing hut used by Sutton Harriers post-war and two photos of athlete Les Lamb - contributed by Jim Lamb. Also updated Religion in Sutton page with photos of Sutton vicars Rev. J. D. Jones, who served the parish from 1939 to 1950, and Rev. V. L. Tucker Harvey (1950 - 59) - contributed by James Prescott.

3rd June 2011

Updated Sutton Crime page with a new article: 'The Attempted Axe Murder of a Stepfather' in which Dennis Wood attacked his step-Dad James Oates with an axe, embedding it in his head. The incident took place in June 1890 at their home in Nook Lane, Sutton. Also updated Sutton Tragedy Part 2 appendix 'When The Dead Went To The Pub! - Coroners Inquests in Old Sutton' with more details of Coroner Samuel Brighouse, including a Sutton treasure trove inquiry that he held.

31st May 2011

Updated Sutton at War Part 2 - The Poison Gas Works page with information taken from a number of secret documents acquired from the National Archives. These relate to the operations of the research establishment between 1928 to 1930 and a health survey undertaken in 1943. Also updated Memories of Sutton Part 10 article 'School Memories from the '40s & '50s' written by Harry Hickson with a paragraph on Robins Lane Secondary School woodwork teacher Fred Thomas.

30th May 2011

Updated Clock Face Colliery page with seven new photographs and much new information on the screens plant at the colliery. Most photographs contributed by Graham Isherwood and most text written for the page by former NCB engineer Harry Hickson. Also updated Clock Face Colliery Photo-Album increasing the numbers of pictures to seventeen, mainly through adding larger versions of images on the main colliery page. Screens building images from the Graham Isherwood collection.

27th May 2011

Updated Sutton Manor Colliery Part 1 with photographs of a gold-plated Omega watch which was presented in 1935 to Arthur Chesworth after fifty years service in the mining industry as an engine winder - contributed by Andy McEwan. Also added a photo of Sutton Manor Colliery c. 1915 - 20. Also updated Sutton Celebrations! page with a photograph of a street party in Powell Street. It's unknown whether this was in celebration of VE Day or the Festival of Britain - contributed by James Prescott.

24th May 2011

Added new blog post Sutton Manor's Dream - Clock Face's Nightmare which discusses the state of the former Clock Face Colliery baths / lamp room complex which was opened in 1939 and still exists. A photo-album with twenty images of the old baths site is included in this update.

12th May 2011

Updated Transport in Sutton page with ten new photographs and improvements to some existing images. Text updates include a quote from a tram driver about overcrowding plus information on Sutton Oak Sheds and Sutton Oak Station / Junction. Also updated Sutton Celebrations! with a photograph of a Sutton Parish Church Gangshow c.1965, photographed and contributed by Jim Lamb, with a description of the event by Patrick Smith. Also updated How Sutton Has Changed with a quote from Bill Bate on the rural nature of the New Street area during the 1940s and 1950s.

7th May 2011

Updated Sutton Celebrations! page with a photograph of a Whit Monday Walking Day procession from 1971 and the St.Nicholas Gala Day procession c.1990, both contributed by Jim Lamb. Also updated History of Religion page with a photograph of Revds. S.A. Mather & M. Soulsby and information on St.Theresa's convent contributed by Jim Lamb and Ron Padmore, respectively.

4th May 2011

Added new page Memories of Sutton Part 14 with two articles: 1) 'Uncle Peter of Graces Square' by Stan and Bill Bate who describe how their stonemason uncle overcame the loss of his hands in an industrial accident. 2) 'Keeping Nicks at Sutton Mill Dam' by Jim Lamb who describes the activities and sports played on a field at Sutton Mill Dam and relates how his father Bud Lamb once raced the Sutton Manor bus from the colliery to the Bull & Dog and won! Also updated Sutton at War Part 2 page with a photo of Bud Lamb from Chester Lane and Bill Bavies from Elton Head Road in Woolwich in 1943.

26th April 2011

Updated Health & Sanitary Conditions page with more details of the history of the St.Helens Borough Sanatorium, aka Fever or Infectious Diseases hospital in Peasley Cross. Also added a better photograph of the sanatorium and a notice in the Lantern newspaper from 1889. Also updated Clock Face Colliery page with a photograph and more details of its Pump House and an image of a tally, plus a quote on the Clock Face Colliery prize band from the St.Helens Newspaper of 1939.

23rd April 2011

Updated Sutton Streets page with a new article on the origins of the names of Heward Avenue, Beth Avenue and Freda Avenue which were all built by the Hewards of Yew Tree Cottage, New Street. Also updated Old Sutton Pubs page with a photograph and further details of the Ell Bess Arms. Information on two more beerhouses in Ell Bess Lane, the Pig and Whistle and the Dog and Gun, has also been added, the latter listed for the first time. An error in the date of the Ell Bess Arms closure has been corrected. Also added a photograph of winder Ebor Rowley to Clock Face Colliery page.

17th April 2011

Updated Can You Help? page with a request by George Devine for information about an enamel sign which he has recently acquired. It states 'Return to Farnworth and Bold' and is almost certainly related in some way to the former railway station. Also updated Sutton Sport with a team photograph of Sutton Cricket Club from around 1898 plus details of William Parry, who was secretary of the club for 16 years (contributed by Frank Parry). Also added a match ticket for St.Helens Ladies vs. Dick Kerr Ladies from 1920 which featured Emma Grice from Sutton in goal (contributed by John Grice). Also updated Poison Gas Works page within the Sutton at War series with a second photograph of the Sutton Oak CDRE fire brigade, contributed by Stan Bate whose father James is in the picture.

13th April 2011

Updated Memories of Sutton 11 which is devoted to Sutton's Poison Gas Works, with an article by John Hunter entitled 'Memories of My Father's Work at Sutton Oak & Nancecuke'. John's father worked at the Sutton Oak mustard gas plant from c.1923 to 1951. Also updated Old Sutton Pubs page with a revised and expanded introduction and much new information, especially on off-licenses.

8th April 2011

Updated Clock Face Colliery page with a photograph and some details of Harold Whitehead who was the manager of the pit between 1911 to 1917, contributed by Brian Legg. Also updated Sutton at War Part 1 with a new article on Pte. William Bate, written by nephew Stan Bate and including two photographs of his grave in France. A commemorative scroll to William Bate, originally in Sutton at War Part 2 and contributed by Bill Bate, has been removed and added to the new article. Also added an eye-witness account by Colin Briers to the B24 Battery Cob Crash article in Sutton at War Part 1.

3rd April 2011

Updated History of Religion article 'Sutton Parish Churches - C of E' with three photos of Sutton vicars Rev. Maximilian Binney, Rev. Frederick Crane and Rev. William Colegrove plus a picture of the plaque on the side of pews at the front of St.Nicholas church which reserves seats for Sherdley Hall.

1st April 2011

Updated Sutton at War pages with new Sutton at War Part 2 page 'Misc. War Notes & Photos'. This has been removed from part 1 with new information and photographs of Pte. Wm. Bate, Stoker Ken Kitts and Pte. John Hesketh added. Existing parts 2 and 3 have been renumbered 3 and 4. Also updated Leisure & Entertainment article 'The Wireless, Television and Rediffusion' with new information and photographs of radio and cycle shops E. & R. A. Davies and The Red Rose.

29th March 2011

Added new page About This Website which contains information about the origins and aims of this website, some of which was previously on the home page. Four photographs have been added.

26th March 2011

Updated History of Education page expanding the article on Sutton Library and correcting two errors as regards to its Sutton Road location and date of opening.

20th March 2011

Updated Dr. Henry Baker Bates page with new details of his arrival in Sutton, bankruptcy case, surgery windows being smashed by a "lunatic at large" and his suing of a patient's husband for non-payment of medical fees. Also updated Sutton at War Part 1 with a photograph and details of the Great War memorial to members of the Sutton Parish Young Men's Bible Class in St.Nicholas church.

16th March 2011

Updated Sutton at War Part 1 with new article 'Pte. Thomas Griffiths - The Story of a Sutton Tommy at War' including three images. Also expanded text on James Emblem Johnson within the War Notes section and added three new pictures, plus added two photos of sailor James 'Bud' Lamb. Also updated History of Education with a new article on Sutton Library in Sutton Road. The article also describes Sutton Manor library whose building was an RAF barrack room in Sherdley Park during WW2.

10th March 2011

Updated History of Religion article, 'Sutton Parish Churches - C of E', with an 1899 prayer book inscription to Sunday School pupil Annie Edwards of Waterdale Crescent.

7th March 2011

Updated Old Sutton Pubs with a photograph of the Glassmakers c.1900 and some new details of the Locomotive Inn in Sutton plus the Bridge Inn, Griffin, Black Horse and the Hawk and Buck in Peasley Cross. Also updated Memories of Sutton 5 article 'The Tin Chapel' by Brenda Macdonald and Joan Heyes with a photograph of the chapel c.1910. Also updated Sutton at War page's 'War Notes' with details of James 'Bud' Lamb of Chester Lane. Bud's ship HMS Warwick was torpedoed in 1944.

2nd March 2011

Added Memories of Sutton Part 13 with three articles: 'The Hancocks of Sutton Manor' by David Hancock, 'Football the Beautiful Game' by Bill Bate and 'St. Anne's Under Eleven Inter-Schools Cup Winners 1952' by Stan Bate. Also corrected error in Sutton at War Part 1 which incorrectly stated that Bert Trautmann had married in 1930. This was a typo and the date should have been 1950.

26th February 2011

Updated How Sutton Has Changed page with details and a photograph of the Heward family who built Freda Avenue, Yew Tree Avenue and Heward Avenue and some New Street houses - contributed by Stan Bate and David Hancock. Also updated Can You Help? page with a reply from Stan Bate about the Hancocks of Sutton Manor and the Heward builders plus a response from Patrick Smith re his Clerical Mysteries query. Finally updated History of Education page with a photograph of St. Aidan's pupils c.1953/54 and details of 1950s teaching staff, contributed by Mike Rennie and added to the Clock Face School / St.Aidans article.

25th February 2011

Updated Sutton at War page with a Civil Defence Corps bookmark, an article within Misc. War Notes on former "Old Contemptible" and pools winner John Coffey plus 13 more memorials have been added to the list of war and military graves within Sutton Parish Graveyard at St. Nicholas. Plus an error in the spelling of the surname of Rainhill village bobby Pc. Patrick Fahey has been corrected. Also updated Sherdley Estate Appendix: 'The Remarkable Life of Photographer R.G. Brook' with a photograph that Brook took in 1884 of Indian Chief Crowfoot, his three wives and six other Native Americans. A photograph of Marshalls Cross School, contributed by Jim Lamb, has also been added to the History of Education page.

20th February 2011

Updated Sutton Sport page with two football photographs a) St.Cuthberts R.C. School U15s team displaying the St.Helens Schools Championship Shield b) Clock Face Recs team 1974-5 - both contributed by Mel Moran. Also added information and a photograph of Emma Grice who played for Dick Kerr's Ladies Club plus some new details of the death of Bert Trautmann's son. Trautmann's period of residence in Marshalls Cross Road has been revised from 18 months to 9 months. Also updated Can You Help? page with an answer from Harry Hickson about the TB 'fresh air' ward at St.Helens Sanatorium and an answer from Stan Bate on the man in Patrick Smith's Sutton National photo. Finally an incorrect photograph of James Bate at the Poison Gas Works in Memories of Sutton 11 has been replaced with the correct one.

12th February 2011

Updated History of Education article on Marshalls Cross School with some new information and two photographs contributed by Jim Lamb: 1) Children outside Marshalls Cross School c.1910 2) Photograph from the 1960s of children in a walking day procession with teacher Miss Lamb. Also updated four Sutton Manor Colliery photoalbums with identification of pitmen in ten photographs supplied by Ken Bailey.

9th February 2011

Updated Old Sutton Pubs page with three photos of the Bull & Dog: 1) A group of men on the bowling green c.1914 2) An exterior photo from 1963 by the old Marshalls Cross Road bridge 3) Picture of Tom Austin and James 'Bud' Lamb enjoying a pint during the 1960s. Also updated Can You Help? page with a request from Alan Pickavance - member of the Rainbow Medical Centre patient group - for information about the history of the surgery in Robins Lane. Also updated Making of Dream page with details of the Sutton Manor Community Reminiscence Day on 3rd March 2011 from 1pm at the Smithy Manor Pub. Individuals are invited to talk about their experiences and memories of Sutton Manor Colliery for an oral history archive. Also added a photograph of James Bate and Jack Carroll in the Mill House pub to the article 'Memories of the Poison Gas Works' by Stan Bate in Memories of Sutton Part 11.

31st January 2011

Updated Sutton Celebrations page with six photographs contributed by Jim Lamb about the visit by Prince Charles to Sutton Mill Dam on May 24th 1988. (A comment by Jim on youths who threw stones at the event was added to the article on February 2nd). Also updated Can You Help? page with a request by Tom Williams for information on the Williams and Lacy families from Sutton including a photograph of The Red Rose bicycle and electrical shop at 72 Peckershill Road. Also added a photograph of Mrs. Frances Tickle to Memories of Sutton Part 2 article 'Sutton Memories - I Remember' by David Normington Gerrard.

27th January 2011

Added Memories of Sutton Part 12 which is devoted to 'Memories of Sutton Manor' by Stan Johnson who worked at the colliery between 1955 to 1962. Stan describes his training, tallies, stone dust, going down in the cage for the first time, conditions down the pit, 'Stuggy' the ghost and pit accidents.

26th January 2011

Added Memories of Sutton Part 11 which is devoted exclusively to recollections of the Sutton Oak Chemical Defence Research Establishment between Abbotsfield Road and Reginald Road, which was often referred to as the 'Poison Gas Works' or the 'Magnum'. It currently includes two articles: 'Memories of the Poison Gas Works' by Stan Bate and 'Ernest Booth Research Organic Chemist' by Elisabeth Nicolson. Also added a photograph of Rev. J.D. Jones to the History of Religion page contributed by Harry Hickson.

19th January 2011

Added Memories of Sutton Part 9 which is devoted to a single article 'Memories of Sutton Leach' by Harry Hickson which includes recollections of WWII, Mill Lodge, Millersdale, the Royles, Sutton Mill Dam, the tragic drowning of Duncan Smith, playing in the brook in Sutton Leach, the Coffey family's pools win, Stan Leyland's monkey Chico, flooding by the Wheatsheaf, Dr. John Unsworth and the Bottom Dam. Also added Memories of Sutton Part 10 devoted to two further articles by Harry Hickson: a) 'School Memories from the '40s & '50s' which includes recollections of Marshalls Cross infants, Robins Lane primary, Sutton Road school and Robins Lane senior boys school. b) 'My St.Nicholas Choir Days' in which Harry describes being a member of St.Nicholas church choir from the mid-1940s until the early '50s, including the annual choir trip to Southport. Also added Memories of Sutton Index Page which details all thirty-five current Memories of Sutton articles on ten pages with direct links to each article - more articles are currently in production.

17th January 2011

Updated Can You Help? page with two answers to photographic posers, contributed by Harry Hickson.

10th January 2011

Updated the History of Education page with five photographs and new information on St.Aidans School in Clock Face, contributed by former student Andy Mayer.

8th January 2011

CORRECTIONS - The following corrections have been made over the past week. A blog post 'Sutton's War Heroes' - which has now been deleted - stated the wrong parents for John Molyneux VC. This has been corrected within the new Sutton at War page. Also in Sutton at War Part 1, within the article 'Zeppelin Attack at Bold', the airship that flew over Sherdley Park in 1929-30 has now been confirmed as the R101 and not a Zeppelin. Thanks to Joan Heyes. Finally, the Sutton Trivia article 'What Lord Haw-Haw Said About Sutton' referred to Lewisite being manufactured at the Sutton Oak Chemical Defence Research Establishment. This is incorrect. See new dedicated page on the Poison Gas Works for full details.

2nd January 2011

Added two new Sutton at War pages with Sutton at War Part 1 featuring articles: 'Sutton Bond Munitions', 'John Molyneux V.C.', 'John Davies V.C.', 'Zeppelin Attack at Bold', 'B24 Battery Cob Crash', 'Homecoming of Captain Hughes', 'War Graves' and 'Misc. War Notes'. (The Zeppelin and Battery Cob articles are not new.) Part 2 is dedicated to the Poison Gas Works and Part 3 is What's Wrong With Sutton?, the series of St.Helens Reporter letters and articles from 1915, which was previously on the site.

23rd December 2010

Updated Sutton Manor Colliery Part 2 with an underground photograph that illustrates how geological pressure created hazards. A detailed description of what has occurred is supplied by former NCB engineer Harry Hickson. Also added a photo of the sign outside Sutton Manor Institute contributed by Frazer Nairn.

21th December 2010

Added Can You Help? page which contains photographs, mainly contributed by site visitors, which invite questions. Do get in touch if you can supply any answers. Requests for assistance with research are also featured on the page. Also added 'Sutton Through The Seasons in 2010' Slideshow to the home page and a photograph of undertaker Isaac Ashton to the Health & Sanitary Conditions page.

10th December 2010

Added Sutton Manor Colliery Photo-Album #5 and reorganised the existing four albums, adding in total about seventy new pictures. Colliery photo-albums 4 and 5 are both from the Frazer Nairn collection with contributions from Ken Bailey and Stephen Richardson added to photo-album no.3.

8th December 2010

Added new article Robins Lane Plays & the Street Party written by Janet Watson to Memories of Sutton Part 8. Janet describes 'Make Believe' and other plays that Miss Gee directed for Robins Lane Secondary Modern Girls School plus the Oxley Street Victory Party at the end of WWII.

3rd December 2010

Added new page Memories of Sutton Part 8 with four articles: 'Childhood Days in Peckers Hill Road' by Anne McCormack, 'Hospital Chaplain Memories' by Patrick Smith, 'St.Annes Schooldays and the Clock Face Plaque' by Herbert Eden and 'St.Annes, Neil's & Blood Curdling Monsters at Sutton Bug!' by Alan McDermott. Also added two photographs of the Smithy Manor to Old Sutton Pubs page.

23rd November 2010

Updated Transport Timeline page with a number of new entries. Also corrected errors in blog post Sutton's Twin V.C. Heroes of the Great War with regards to the birthplace and mother's name of Jack Davies VC. Thanks to John Robertson for the information.

18th November 2010

Updated Sutton Celebrations page with photographs of East Sutton Labour Club Children's Field Day of 1948, Christmas party in St. Anne's Parochial Hall in 1950 and a Lancashire Miners Gala Queen picture c.1969 - contributed by Anne McCormack, John White and Ray Liptrot.

16th November 2010

Updated Sutton Streets with two articles on the derivation of the names of Clock Face and Sutton Oak. The article on Marshalls Cross has also been expanded with more details and a quote from Frank Bamber.

13th November 2010

Added new Sutton Trivia & True Facts! article, 'The Flying Pharmacist of Junction Lane' which describes the Spencer family of aviation pioneers and in particular, Sydney Spencer, who was a pioneering balloonist and parachutist and who then, along with wife Margaret, ran a chemist's shop in Sutton for many years.

30th October 2010

Updated Griffin Wood page with 'Golden Griffin Wood' slideshow of 30 photographs taken on October 24th, 2010 which displays the variety of golden, copper and bronze Autumnal colours in the Bold woodland.

11th October 2010

Added 'Sutton in Autumn' slideshow to the Home Page with 26 Autumnal photographs of Sutton.

10th October 2010

Added 'A to Z of Sutton Streets' Download which alphabetically lists all of the streets contained within the East and West Sutton wards in the 1901 census and will hopefully be of use to researchers.

9th October 2010

Updated Leisure & Entertainment page with details of 'Texas' Bill Shufflebottom's Wild West show on Sutton's 'Show Field' including photograph. Also updated How Sutton Has Changed page with details of Graces Square by St.Nicholas Church and Health & Sanitary Conditions page with information on patients in St.Helens Cottage Hospital and the Sanatorium / Fever Hospital as recorded in the 1901 census.

5th October 2010

Updated Sutton Boxers & Wrestlers page with a photograph of a young Bold Thomas in fighting pose which has been contributed by Alan McDermott. Alan has also contributed another photograph of the Junction Inn, which his family ran for many years, and which has been added to the Old Sutton Pubs page.

4th October 2010

Updated Sutton Tragedy Part 2 page with a new article: When The Dead Went To The Pub - Coroners Inquests in Old Sutton. This article examines how during bygone days in Sutton, inquests were conducted in pubs along with the deceased and explains how it was compulsorily for jurors to view the corpse. The remarkable career of coroner Sir Samuel Brighouse is also detailed along with two photographs.

25th September 2010

Added new Sutton Trivia article entitled Please Postman Come Thou Near, and Hark! based on a report in an 1863 edition of the Liverpool Mercury of how the address on a letter posted to an employee of Sutton Rolling Mills was written as a poem. Also added to Sutton Trivia article 'German Zeppelins in Sutton's Skies', a larger version of L61 airship photo contributed by Harry C. Redner. Plus added to the Sutton Manor Woodland page, 'Magical Sutton Manor' photo taken by McCoy Wynne and contributed by Mersey Forest.

24th September 2010

Extensive update to the Health and Sanitary Conditions page including a revised layout with five articles: 'Fevers and Sewers in Sutton', 'Industrial Health & Injuries', 'Mental Health', 'Sutton's Medical Practitioners' and the 'Cottage Hospital', plus much new information and five new photographs.

18th September 2010

Updated Sutton Manor Woodland page with a Forestry Commission notice at the woodlands entrance.

4th September 2010

Updated Bold colliery page with a considerable amount of new information especially on mining accidents and added three new images including Robert the locomotive. Also corrected error in Memories of Sutton 5 page. The correct name of the Junction Lane greengrocer was Shawcross not Waterworths.

28th August 2010

Updated Religion in Sutton page with new information and nine new photographs, including six of St.Anne's church and monastery with four pictures contributed by Ian Campbell. Also updated the Introduction to Sutton Boxers & Wrestlers with a report on an 1856 prize fight held at Hell Bess Farm.

25th August 2010

Updated Old Sutton Pubs with two photographs of the Coppersmiths Arms taken during the mid-1970s and a picture of the Boilermaker Arms from the 1960s, all contributed by Dave Latham. Also corrected error in Memories of Sutton 6 page replacing incorrect surname Cowell with Cowley.

21st August 2010

Added Memories of Sutton 7 with the second part of 'Life in the Old Convent', comprising extracts from the memoirs of David Latham entitled 'Once Around the Circuit'. Dave's article includes the hilarious tales of 'Mrs. Meadowcroft's Bottom' and 'Fishing and the Maggot Farm'.

16th August 2010

Added Memories of Sutton 6 with a single article 'Life in the Old Convent Part 1' which comprises selected extracts from 'Once Around the Circuit' by Dave Latham. Dave was born in 1947 and lived for the first seven years of his life at the old convent near Sutton's Pudding Bag.

14th August 2010

Updated Old Sutton Pubs with part of Michael McDermott's tenancy agreements with Greenall Whitley's to run the Rolling Mill Tavern from 1910 and then the Junction Inn from 1932, plus a photo of the Junction Inn c.1960 - all contributed by Alan McDermott. Also added present-day photographs of the Boilermakers Arms and the Wheatsheaf. Plus updated Sutton Transport with a photograph of the Sutton Oak Junction Signal Box and a scan of one of the last tickets issued from Clock Face station dated 16th June, 1951.

13th August 2010

Fixed problem with the Contact Form which for the last week or so has prevented messages from being sent - my apologies for any inconvenience that this has caused.

11th August 2010

Added Memories of Sutton 5 with four articles: 'The Rolling Mill Tavern and the Junction Inn' by Alan McDermott, 'Traders Holidays' by George Houghton, 'The Tin Chapel' by Brenda Macdonald & Joan Heyes and 'Watery Lane Memories' by Valerie Evans. Also updated Lords & Masters page with additional information and a rewrite of the Eltonhead Family article, including their connection with James Madison the "father of the constitution" and fourth US president - thanks to Bill Thomas for his contribution. Also corrected error on Religion page with incorrect birth and death years of Elizabeth Prout. Also added quote from Joan Heyes on Joe Doff's playing field to Enjoying the Parks of Sutton article in Sutton Leisure page.

8th August 2010

Updated Boxers & Wrestlers page with a photograph of Ernie Proudlove and new information on the Sutton boxer contributed by Alan McDermott. Also updated Sutton Sport with a photograph of Dick Kitts of St.Helens Town plus more details on Bert Trautmann's time in Sutton. Also added some information on Jim Robinson, Gary Owen, Jack Gutteridge and Jim Finney - all contributed by George Houghton.

6th August 2010

Updated Sutton Trivia page with new article The Night That E.T. Came To Bold! which describes the incident in January 1978 when Bold Power Station was at the centre of a major UFO mystery.

5th August 2010

Added R.G. Brook Slideshow to the article on Brook in the Sherdley Estate page with 13 photographs relating to his trip to North America in 1884, mainly to attend the British Association for the Advancement of Science AGM in Montreal. However, the St.Helens ironmonger and photographer who photographed Sherdley Park, also journeyed to Niagara Falls - all images contributed by Bob Brook.

3rd August 2010

Added 'Building of Sutton Parish Hall' Slideshow to Memories of Sutton Part 3 article by Patrick Smith. Of the 18 photographs, 17 were taken by James Lamb in 1963-4 and contributed by Jim. Also corrected errors in How Sutton's Changed page with regard to the Beth Avenue estate and Eugene Avenue plus the form of demolition and rebuild of the houses. Thanks to David Challoner for providing this information.

2nd August 2010

Updated Sutton Sport with much new information on the St.Helens Town and Manchester City goalkeeper Bert Trautmann and added three new photographs. Also added new information on Sutton Glass Works women's football team and a photograph of St.Anne's under-11's football team from 1950 with the junior schools trophy. Plus pictures of Sutton Rovers, Mick Lawrence, Bill Foulkes and Sutton Manor Cricket Team c.1935. Corrected error which stated that Bert Trautmann's son was killed in Sutton when it was actually Stockport. Also added picture of capped shaft no.1 contributed by Neil Selfridge to the Clock Face Colliery page and added three photographs to the Clock Face Colliery photo-album.

27th July 2010

Added Memories of Sutton 4 with 'Mill Lane Memories' by Brenda Macdonald & Joan Heyes, 'Dancing in Sutton & St.Helens During the 1940s' by George Houghton plus 'Dancing in Sutton During the 1960s' and 'Early 'Arry of New Street' by Patrick Smith. Also corrected error with Walisdale Cottage of Gerards Lane which in Memories of Sutton 1 was incorrectly placed in Waterdale Crescent. Also changed photo of St.Helens Sanatorium in Memories of Sutton 2.

24th July 2010

Added Bold Colliery / Bold Power Station Photo-Album with 16 photographs - also added a slideshow version. Plus added Frank Bamber's 116-page mining memoirs on Bold and Collins Green collieries 'Round About The Pits' as an 11mb free Download.

21st July 2010

Added new blog post Walking in the Woods of Sutton & Bold about how walking in the woodlands of Sutton and Bold can have tremendous health benefits for both body and mind. Also updated Bold Colliery page with three photographs contributed by Neil Selfridge of the colliery / power station plus pit head wheel and capped shaft no.3 on the site of the former pit.

10th July 2010

Updated Sherdley Park page with photographs and information on the Mandarin ducks in the Round Wood lake. Also corrected error in the caption for a woodland photograph, which was wrongly identified as Sherdley Delph. Also clarified statement on Sherdley Estate page regarding present-day Sherdley Deph. Thanks to Paul Cooper for his input and information on the origins of Lancots Lane which has been added to Sutton Streets page.

9th July 2010

Updated Memories of Sutton 1 page with a Sherdley Park tea party photo from 1923. Also updated Sutton Celebrations! page with 1920s Independent Methodist Church walking day picture. Also updated Old Sutton Pubs page with photo of the Griffin Inn in Peasley Cross Lane and added larger picture of the Bowling Green in Robins Lane and updated How Sutton Has Changed with a cutting on the building of the Beth Avenue estate off Gerard's Lane, from an unidentified and undated St.Helens newspaper.

8th July 2010

Updated Memories of Sutton 3 page with new article 'Marshalls Cross Memories' contributed by Liz Mercer and added news cutting of Rev. Reg. Smith leaving Sutton to 'Building the Sutton Parish Hall' article by Patrick Smith.

7th July 2010

Updated Sutton Halls & Houses page with new article on Middlehurst House Farm and added a second photograph to the Bold Hall article.

1st July 2010

Updated Sherdley Estate page with new article and photograph on the Roughley coat of arms. Also corrected error with Sherdley Hall Farmhouse, added photograph contributed by Gareth Hughes and clarified Costeth House article as to why it is listed on 1840s OS maps.

30th June 2010

Added pages Memories of Sutton 3 with illustrated articles 'Building the Sutton Parish Hall' by Patrick Smith, 'The Sutton Bug Crush' contributed by Bill Bate and 'Trekking from the Manor for the Sutton Bug Tuppenny Rush' by George Houghton plus created Sutton Celebrations! page which was previously a section within Leisure & Entertainment - it has been removed, a dedicated page created and walking day photographs contributed by Patrick Smith have been added.

23th June 2010

Updated Sherdley Estate page with more information and photographs on R.G. Brook from St.Helens who was an inventor, photographer, writer, traveller, science enthusiast and ironmonger. This is from research supplied by Great-Great-Grandson Bob Brook of Ontario. Also updated Sutton Pubs page with photograph of the landlord of the Glassmakers Arms, Ernie Middlehurst, in the Tap Room with pub regulars in 1965 - contributed by Ken Whittaker.

20th June 2010

Added Bold Colliery page with information and photographs covering 1881 to 1986, including details of a number of mining accidents at Bold.

15th June 2010

Updated Sutton Trivia article 'Fred Thomas - The Hermit of New Street' with contribution from Bill Bate. Also added photograph of 1940 emergency bus timetable to Sutton Transport page. Also corrected error on Transport Timeline page as picture of Sutton Sheds was inadvertently captioned as Sutton Oak station.

10th June 2010

Updated Mining in Sutton page with three new photographs of Sutton Manor British Legion Jazz Band (contributed by George Houghton), Sherdley Colliery Rescue Team and Sam Woods, the Sutton-born first president of the Lancashire Miners' Federation.

7th June 2010

Added Boxers & Wrestlers page featuring articles on Sutton boxers Ernie Proudlove, Mick Gordon, Wilf Douglas, Bold Thomas and Ray Shiel plus wrestlers Ike and Billy 'Ted' Beech.

3rd June 2010

Added Griffin Wood page with information on the development of the woodland and sculpture trail plus Photo-Album with 25 pictures.

31st May 2010

Updated Education page with Robins Lane Boys Senior School photo. Also updated Education Photo-Album with 4 new pictures. Also added 4 pictures to Sport and Leisure Photo-Album - all contributed by Dave Almond.

30th May 2010

Updated Sutton Memories Pt.1 with new article from David Normington Gerrard on his father Arthur Normington who the St.Helens Reporter called a "photo pioneer".

25th May 2010

Updated Leisure & Entertainment with 'Celebrations' contributions - including photographs - from Dave Almond and Margaret Crosbie.

23rd May 2010

Updated Sutton Manor Woodland page with Forestry Commission poster containing details of temporary Dream access closures while contractors carry out work to improve access.

20th May 2010

Updated Education page with information and one photograph of Marshalls Cross School and Clock Face School.

19th May 2010

Added new blog post Robins Lane School Appeal with details of an appeal by Sutton High Sports College for former pupils to get in touch with memories, photos etc.

1st May 2010

Updated Old Sutton Pubs page with a second photograph of the Locomotive Inn plus picture of New Vaults in Peasley Cross Lane. Also reinstated 'The Day Sutton Brook Caught Fire!' article to Sutton Trivia & True Facts! page as it was accidentally deleted!

30th April 2010

Updated Clock Face Colliery page with additional image and new information on its early days. Also transferred Mill Dam Spring '07 Slideshow to Sutton Mill Dam page.

28th April 2010

The Sutton and Clock Face events service has been discontinued due to its time-consuming nature. More time can now be spent on improving existing pages and adding more pages.

27th April 2010

Updated Making of Dream with two additional pictures and improved some existing images

17th April 2010

Updated Old Sutton Pubs page with Phoenix Brewery adverts and information plus added Bath's in Mill Lane to the off-licenses list

13th April 2010

Updated Sutton Manor Colliery Pt1 with details of the death of Peter Fitzhenry and withdrawal of colliers' day bus tickets because miners were too clean! Also updated Various Pictures page with new picture and text

11th April 2010

Added Sutton in Spring 2010 slideshow to the home page and transferred 'Sutton in Snow' slideshow to Various Pictures page

8th April 2010

Added Sutton Memories 2 with articles on wartime Sutton, Polly Fenney, Waterdale Crescent people etc.- thanks to contributors Bill Bate, David Normington Gerrard, Jim Lamb & Enid Kenyon

31st March 2010

Updated the Sherdley Estate page with a new article on Sherdley Delph which was a large water-filled pit located near Green End Lane.

29th March 2010

Updated Sutton Tragedy Pt.2 with new article The Tragic Suicide of Annie Makin the story of a 15-years-old housekeeper who drowned herself in Sherdley Delph. Also removed a paragraph in the Daresburys and Norreys article on the Lords & Masters page as a result of information received about errors. Thanks to Phil Norris for his assistance.

27th March 2010

Added Sutton Manor Colliery Photo-Album #4 with 26 photographs and updated Photo-Album #3 with 6 new pictures

25th March 2010

Updated Sutton Manor Colliery Part 1 with 2 new pictures and improved some existing pictures and revised text. Also added new images to header slideshow.

21st March 2010

Updated Sutton Trivia & True Facts! page with new article: 'The Sutton Monastery Opera Star' about Victorian baritone Charles Santley living in Sutton

17th March 2010

Updated Sutton Pubs with much new information on a number of pubs and beerhouses plus added newspaper article and photograph on the Glassmakers contributed by Ken Whittaker

15th March 2010

Added Contact Page which includes contact form and full contact details

9th March 2010

Updated Sutton Trivia & True Facts! page with new articles: 'Frog Frying Tonight in Sutton!' and 'A Letter from the King of Belgium to Sutton' plus added picture of milestone in Victoria Park, Widnes to 'German Zeppelins in Sutton's Skies' article with 14 new pictures

3rd March 2010

Updated Sutton Park page with new information on the Friends of Sutton Park inspired improvements which have been funded via the Community Spaces Fund & Photo-Album with 14 new pictures

2nd March 2010

Updated Curious Crime page with 'The Great Railway Robbery' article on the 1865 St.Helens Junction railway thefts

27th February 2010

Updated Tragedy 2 page with 'Rabid Railway Shunter from Herbert Street'

24th February 2010

Updated Leisure & Entertainment page with new article on the Blinkhorn Rooms and added an illustration of Sutton Park gates

17th February 2010

Added 21 new pictures to Sutton Transport Photo-Album including Sutton Oak sheds & station and maps from the Chris Coffey collection

6th February 2010

Updated the introductory text on the Home Page with more information

2nd February 2010

Added Downloads Page with complete book by Frank Bamber 'Clog Clatters in Old Sutton'. The 169 pages are available in individually downloadable chapters or as one file

31st January 2010

Fixed bug which led to the thumbnails in all the photo-albums displaying poorly in Internet Explorer 8 only - other browsers were unaffected

11th January 2010

Added New 'Fun in the Sherdley Park Snow' slideshow to Sherdley Park page

7th January 2010

Updated Sutton in Snow slideshow with 11 additional pictures (removed 2) - total now 32

2nd January 2010

Updated: Education in Sutton with new information and pictures - page has been revamped with five separate sections a) Introduction; b) Henry Vallancey & Sutton National Schools; c) Sutton 'Nash' in the 20th Century; d) St.Annes School & e) Robins Lane