Recently in Frodsham & Helsby Category
In the nineteenth century the village of Helsby was primarily known for the quality of its quarried stone. This was used for such high profile projects as Liverpool Docks, Liverpool Custom House, local churches and a number of buildings in Chester (including repairs to the Cathedral).
However, its main industrial development began in 1886 when the Britannia Telegraph Works was established on the western side of the settlement. This company produced cabling for the electrical industry and provided a source of employment for the Helsby area until the beginning of the twenty-first century.
AN ORNATE Victorian conservatory in Castle Park has been refurbished following an arson attack in the first phase of a £3.2m restoration of the site.
The project, which includes work on the historic gardens and new features in the park, was made possible by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Big Lottery Parks for People and Cheshire West and Chester Council.
Cllr Richard Short said: "This ambitious scheme will be enjoyed by generations of people and visitors and is on track to be finished in spring next year.
"Work is progressing on the renovation of the Edward Kemp designed formal and American gardens and apart from the restoration of the old, we know that new features such as the two new tennis courts and a multi-use games area will also be very popular."
Here is a post from our Expats' Forum - can any of our readers help?
ARE you related to anyone with the surname Savage?
The question comes from Judith Shore, a former resident of Frodsham who is now living in Powys
Judith is currently in the process of researching her family history.
Judith's great grandfather, David Savage, of Chester Road, Helsby, was married to Alice Yates.
Their children were David, Thomas, John, Henry and Arthur.
A certain George Savage (tavern keeper and farmer) and his wife Elizabeth were listed in the 1831 census.
Their children were Margaret John, Elizabeth, Joseph, George and William.
The 1891 census showed Joseph and Mary Savage farming at the Iron Dish in Frodsham. Other people Judith has unearthed include John Savage, a shoe-maker at Norley, a John Savage, of 111 Greenway Road, Runcorn, and Samuel Savage, a shopkeeper and milk seller, at Weston Village.
One of our correspondents on the Chester Chronicle Expats' forum has asked for help in tracing her family as follows:
I am currently researching the Nevett (Nevill) Nevitt family name and have found that around 1800 they were farmers in the Helsby and Guilden Sutton area. As it is my father's 80th birthday very soon i would really appreciate it anyone could point me in the right direction as to where I could obtain copies of any photos or info of the family around that time.
Here's hoping,
Karen
If you are able to help, please leave a comment on this forum thread
IN the days when Runcorn's water supply was, to say the least, somewhat suspect, there seems little doubt that the populace turned to beer!
That rather amusing observation comes from David Toft, of Moughland Lane, who has followed up his research on the old Kelly's directories by kindly providing me with a copy of an 1878 Post Office Directory of Cheshire, and an even earlier one going back to 1857.
The 152-year-old directory shows that, even in 1857, no fewer than 36 beer retailers were listed.
A MUSEUM taking staff and pupils on a journey through the 68 year history of Frodsham College has been opened.
Exhibits include videos, photographs and artefacts from the college's past.
Head of history at Frodsham College and museum curator Tony Young said: "It has been a fantastic opportunity to replicate the massive achievements of Frodsham pupils over the last seven decades. I hope when people the view the museum they will reflect on their time at the college with pride."
Frodsham College began life as Frodsham Secondary School, an amalgamation of Frodsham Boys' School and Frodsham Girls School.
In 1978 the school became known as Frodsham High School, before changing its name once more to Frodsham School, a Science and Technology College.
Frodsham war memorial is encased by steel scaffolding as work began this week on urgent repairs to the treasured sandstone obelisk, which has stood atop Overton Hill since 1921 in tribute to 126 sons of Frodsham lost in two world wars.
A team of Hirst Conservation experts have been charged with cleaning and repointing the structure and re-waxing the slate name plates. The surrounding iron railings will also be repainted. after Frodsham Town Council secured a grant for half the cost from English Heritage and the Wolfson Foundation, made under a scheme run jointly with the War Memorial Trust
The final countdown to the closure of Frodsham High School has begun.
But when they break up for the last time in July, the remaining 240 pupils and 22 teachers say they will "finish with a flourish!"
This is the last annual motto created for the school by Acting Head, Anna Cooper, whose inspiring leadership over the past four years, despite the turmoil of uncertainty, has led to Frodsham High collecting a string of significant national and regional awards and accolades.
However, Mrs Cooper and her dedicated staff are determined their school will end on a high - and they are busy planning a programme of special events to celebrate its proud history and achievements.
Frodsham High, which is a designated Science and Technology College, began life as Frodsham Secondary School in April 1941.
Head of history, Tony Young, is organising a School Museum display in April and he is keen to hear from former staff and pupils who may have old photographs or memorabilia, such as an original school tie or beret, they would like to share. Were you a member of the school's popular Folk dance team and still have your tunic?
Francis Gastrell was vicar of Frodsham between 1740 and 1772 and officially lived at the vicarage in Frodsham during this time. However, in 1756 he also bought the New Place in Stratford which was the house where Shakespeare spent his retirement. Following the playwright's death in 1715, his daughter Susanna Hall and grand-daughter Elizabeth lived there until it was passed to the Clopton family. The Cloptons opened the house to the public and it attracted many visitors eager to see where the great man had lived.
Gastrell managed to gain notoriety during his spells of residence in Stratford which eventually caused him to be expelled from the town on a permanent basis. One account of the actions leading up to this ban was that he found the intrusive nature of the public attention particularly difficult at New Place as it had continued apace after the change of ownership. In 1759 he lost patience with visitors constantly staring at the house and the garden and vented his anger on the mulberry tree believed to have been planted by Shakespeare. He chopped it down to the ground and sold it for firewood. Another view suggested that he thought he could reduce the value of the property by the removal of the tree, and thus the amount of tax he had to pay. Whatever the reasons for his action, the townspeople showed their dismay by breaking his windows.
Gastrell continued by making a clear stand against the levy of local taxes and refused to pay. When it became apparent that he couldn't defer it any longer, Gastrell decided to dismantle New Place completely. The people of Stratford were horrified at this act and drove him from the town. A byelaw was passed so that neither Gastrell, nor any of his descendants, could ever live in the town again. He returned to his duties in Frodsham and a mulberry tree, believed to have been from a cutting of the original, was planted in Stratford and still stands in the former gardens of New Place.
My feed
Recent Comments
"This would make nice bit for the Wirral Champion Journal maybe? Perhaps a picture or two? I haven't..."
"I can recall them used to go to the same school at around the same time as Keith Barber also remembe..."
"Great Footage of 1963 The river was frozen thinly in 1981 82. My be frozen soon in 2010..."
"Karen - have just read your request. I am also researching the Nevitt Family who lived in Whixhall a..."
"My Grandfather, Percy Raymond St. Clair lived at Hoole Hall with his parents; Thomas Sidney St.Clair..."
"If i won the lottery i would buy this place and renovate it completely what the hell is wrong with p..."
"Thank you for sharing this remarkable footage. I have been recalling my memories of winter 1963 to m..."
"I love Tatton Park. You are right in saying it is one of the finest examples of its kind in Europe a..."
"Good evening Bryan. Likewise no contact details so hoping you might get this. We have a picture of ..."
"I have forwarded this message to the Newsdesk who will contact you about these films via email...."