Runcorn father falls foul of bonfire hiding place

By Runcorn And Widnes Weekly News on Mar 5, 09 12:58 PM in 1900-1999

Dukesfield and the youngsters living in and around the Cavendish Street playground (off Lowland Road and near to Runcorn Railway Station) always took a pride in their preparations for their November 5 bonfires.

What I didn't know was that Mill Brow youngsters were always protective of their materials for the big night.

Keith Leyland, in his lucid account of life in the area between the wars and afterwards, reminds us that while Mill Brow provided their football pitch in winter and their cricket pitch in the summer, Jackson's Lane itself also offered a suitable area for storage of items collected for their bonfires.

"It came via an entry, formed through the middle of the row of houses. and we could block it off to prevent raiders stealing our bonfire collection.

"Our main worry was that youngsters from Wivern Place would come along and steal it.
"But we protected it well, digging holes about two feet deep so that no one would know about it and then covering the ground with twigs and putting the grass back on top.

"However, one night a young Peter Reid had failed to go into his home when called, and after several attempts to bring him in had failed, his dad ('Chick' Reid) came out to get him and walked into one of the traps and fell down!

"Peter was kept in for weeks after that but it provided the rest of us with plenty of amusement.

"Nearer to bonfire the night, Silcock's Fair would arrive and set up shop on Wilding Avenue.

"That was the time for us to carry water up to the fair people and, at the same time, earn some money.

"Some of the older boys, John Fryer, Keith Pill, etc, would dig out some huge holes on Mill Brow and cover them over with corrugated iron sheets and grass.

"We had a trench with a door and we also had candle light and lemonade from the Ship Inn as John Fryer's dad was then the landlord."

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