Runcorn Memories: A money-spinning idea in Dukesfield
ALMOST everyone, who at some time or other lived 'under the arches' in Runcorn's Dukesfield, retained memories of their own little adventures among the canalside community.
The rows and rows of terraced houses (all the street names were in some way connected to the Duke of Bridgewater's imprint on the area) were home to several generations of Dukesfielders.
True, there was always the ever- present danger of canal tragedies but in the main there was so much going on that all the youngsters were able to entertain themselves.
The playground, sandwiched between Old Coach Road and Percival Lane, was the regular venue for hours of Sunday morning football.
In the canalside community itself, ships and boats, large and small, were constantly passing by, ocean-going vessels travelling to all parts of the world. Such was the huge number of 'big fellas' that you had only to look out of your bedroom window to spot one at almost any time of the day. The big ships were literally a stone's throw away.
Lew Darlington, who was particularly interested in the piece about the old boatyards which appeared here couple of week ago, knew Abel's boatyard pretty well. To get there, they had to go through the 'white gates' at the bottom of Collier Street which led straight on to No Man's Land and the Manchester Ship Canal offices.
The boatyard was a few yards the other side of the railway bridge.
"Who will ever forget their mothers telling them not to go through the white gates because of the risk of going too near the canal embankment," he writes.
"Our Dukesfield gang knew all about the boatyard and the large wooden workshop, virtually fronting No Man's Land, close to Castle Rock.
"One day, being inquisitive, we found ourselves inside the workshop.
"The area round the workshop was patrolled by a solitary watchman. There was a wooden office, tools and a loft full of wood."
Lew recalls that someone had a brainwave and they decided to chop up the wood and sell it round Dukesfield for threepence a bundle.
"Saws and axes appeared from various backyards and out came our trolleys made from planks of wood and old pram wheels.
"We went round the streets, knocking on doors, and found that people could not get enough of the wood. "Orders were placed and soon our little empire was expanded, taking in the Waterloo Road area.
"The only time the work stopped was at night when the watchman came round.
"Most of the time he simply passed by but occasionally came into the workshop.
"However, we all had great hiding places, such as the loft, and nooks and crannies behind cupboards and other furniture.
"As the wood disappeared, we started on the loft, ripping up the floors.
"Next to go was a hut, including parts of the floor.
"Then, one day, the watchman came in.
"He stood there, scratching his head and looking round.
"Suddenly, he saw one of us because there was no longer sufficient places to hide.
"About 15 of us, all kids, ran in all directions, making our bid for freedom. The poor watchman did not stand a chance of catching us.
"That night, the money we had made was shared out and I lived for weeks on sixpenny 'mixes' from the chippy, washed down with various liquids."
Thanks for the story, Lew.
Incidentally, I remember the big workshop quite well from my own days as a schoolboy.
The workshop was black all over, heavily coated in something - was it tar or bitumen paint? If you have any memories send them through to the Newsdesk
The picture shows a paddle steamer on its way to Manchester shortly after the opening of the canal in 1894. No Man's Land is on the right, just below Collier Street.
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i am a dukesfielder living in spain but very proud of my roots.i remember no mans land,ripping up floorboards etc. i am approaching 50 and i still have the scar where the gang lifted me up into the airraid shelter .we all mucked in together and hated percy laners
Laughin my backside off reading this article.I was also a Dukesfielder but now living in Blackpool and still very proud of my roots.Im laughing so much as it was my dad Brian who was the Watchman and i used to spend many a night in the cosy cabin on the waterfront next to the tugs. "the good times"
Enjoyed reading this article, very humourous! I remember as a child bonfire night was well celebrated on Dukesfield.
Noticed Castle Rock was mentioned in the article...my great grandfather, Captain John LeCouteur, from Jersey, the Channel Islands, settled in Runcorn towards the end of the 1840's, and built a boatyard a little further along from "ferry hut" and called it Castle Rock Boatyard. Many wooden barques were built there, and he went into a business partnership with a John Anderton. Captain John married John Anderton's daughter Sarah in 1850 I think. Abel's boatyard was mentioned in the article. My father Frank LeCouteur, was chief engineer on a few of their dredgers and sand-carriers.... Bretherdale, Saxondale, and Rossendale.
Rossendale was a sand carrier, and my brother Frank and myself would, on some weekends, accompany dad on the boat from Liverpool to Manchester on the ship canal, and back to Runcorn, where the boat would tie up until the next day. Those were the carefree days...
Regards.....Yvonne Eaton.
Enjoyed reading this article, very humourous! I remember as a child bonfire night was well celebrated on Dukesfield.
Noticed Castle Rock was mentioned in the article...my great grandfather, Captain John LeCouteur, from Jersey, the Channel Islands, settled in Runcorn towards the end of the 1840's, and built a boatyard a little further along from "ferry hut" and called it Castle Rock Boatyard. Many wooden barques were built there, and he went into a business partnership with a John Anderton. Captain John married John Anderton's daughter Sarah in 1850 I think. Abel's boatyard was mentioned in the article. My father Frank LeCouteur, was chief engineer on a few of their dredgers and sand-carriers.... Bretherdale, Saxondale, and Rossendale.
Rossendale was a sand carrier, and my brother Frank and myself would, on some weekends, accompany dad on the boat from Liverpool to Manchester on the ship canal, and back to Runcorn, where the boat would tie up until the next day. Those were the carefree days...
Regards.....Yvonne Eaton.