It took a brave man even to enter the lion's den, let alone be shaved by Dickie Barber with the wretched beast looking on. Dickie was a barber by trade (that's right), his trademark the waxed moustache and parting comment "You are fit for a wedding now."
The day the circus came to High Street he stepped into the lion's cage, showed his steady hand by shaving a volunteer, and it has gone down in local folklore.
At one time you could expect anything in this street, after all it have its own Adelphi Hotel. Not to mention slaughterman Ralph Meadows who loved nothing better than knocking back a cup of fresh warm pig's blood.
Margaret Hodges, now aged 78, bemoans that day the Development Corporation offices (now Co-Op Bank) were built on the football field in High Street. "They took the heart out of it because that was the centre of most of our leisure activities. It is where we had walking day celebrations, carnivals, sports days and tea parties. The field was all railed off and we had to pay through a bob hole."
On it, Skem United with a team of mainly pit lads met Everton in the Senior Cup semi final of 1902 and beat them 1-0. The pitch was surrounded by a big wooden fence pasted with posters advertising future matches and events in the area. From there, Skelmersdale Carnival, biggest and best in the area, started on its way. George Formby and Sandy Powell are among the legends of entertainment who have walked High Street on their way to crowning the Carnival Queen.
Alongside, The Majestic, another important cog in old Skelmersdale's leisure wheel. Originally used as a dance hall and for plays, it later became a cinema and now is Skelmersdale's Labour Club.
Many, like John Forster who has lived in High Street for over 60 years, recall Friday night markets at the back of the Skelmersdale Arms public house. "Skelmersdale Old Prize Band used a room at the rear for practice with conductor Dick Farrington," John recalls.
High Street had, still has, so many small roads shooting off at tangents each with their own story to tell. Rigby Street, Barnes Road, Birch Street, Ann Street, Union Street leading to Penny Street and Florence Street (now Pennylands). They have been joined by repetition gone mad, Wolverton, Woodrow, Whitestock, Whitehey Road, Westgate and Wheatacre.
One of Skem's midwives Nurse Lyon lived in High Street, just a short distance from houses entered off the pavement. People residing there were said to "live on the flags".
It's a sore point with Margaret Hodges that High Street's Alexandria Hotel was re-named the Village inn. "Ridiculous considering we are now a new town," she says. Long since disappeared from the High Street scene is the Queen Inn which was run by Betty Stopforth and her daughter. The short walk to the Queen from the skelmersdale Arms took you past the home of Peter Wilson, superintendant for St Paul's and the Endowed school. Joe Heyes' fruit and veg business, William Mason the master baker and Mr Lawrenson the tailor ... he and his wife were both deaf and dumb.
Birches Farm, now the New Church Farm Estate, was off High Street, Manor House farm replaced by private houses. Memories too of John Watkinson the poultry farmer renowned for his tenor voice, Lathom's sweet and grocery shop, the George Hotel and the Miners Arms both long since gone. Of Porter's bakehouse, later a doll factory, Hulmes' bakehouse, James Rigby transport and the Derby Arms which still remains. On then to Coronation cottages (note: before Derby Arms) and Peacock Farm where the Telephone Exchange is now sited. no mention of High Street is complete without Charlie Bailey's, his home at the corner of Church Road and Wigan Road the original Fox and Goose Inn. Charlie was famed for his ice cream. As John Forster recalls: "It was a highlight of the week to parade down to the Tawd on a Sunday. A lot of people did their courting there, and you couldn't pass Charlie Bailey's without calling in." |
Near to the George Inn was found William Martland's bakehouse, later to belong to Hulmes.