The Public Library – Crow Lane, Newton

The first library in Newton-in-Makerfield was, we believe, the one in connection with the Mechanics Institute held at the Printing Works. It contained some 400 volumes,…

Autobiography of Garret Ronayne

An old Indian Mutiny Veteran, who served diligently and faithfully throughout the mutiny of 1857-1858. Having been asked by several, of my friends to give a…

Newton le Willows: 1830 – 1945

I have spent the last few hours transcribing a thesis by Lynton J. Smith which I was loaned by Geoff Simm into a text file, so…

Castle Hill by the Rev. Edmund Sibson

The following account was written in 1843 by the Rev. Edmund Sibson, once Curate at Winwick, and after- wards Vicar of St. Thomass, Ashton-in-Makerfield, and is…

Antiquarian notes on our Neighbourhood

Historical and antiquarian notes on Warrington and its Neighbourhood By John Babson, Esq. The object of the present communication will be to combine as well as…

The Barons of Newton

Devices and Armorial Bearings of the Barons of Newton and their Kindred. This is a fragment of the seal of Warin Banastre, son of Robert Banastre,…

Crow Lane Hall & Newton Serjeants

This building, probably the oldest in the township, was formerly a moated grange, vestiges of the moat being visible in the boyhood days of some of…

Everton V Earlestown

Here are a few more facts about Earlestown FC 1899-00 Joined Lancashire League 1903 Lancashire League closed down 1903-04 Joined Lancashire Combination as founder members of…

Newton Cricket, Bowling, and Tennis Club

On the April 13th, 1858, a meeting was held in the Assembly-room, High-street, Newton-le-Willows, for the formation of a cricket club, W. Mercer, Esq., in the…

Some Earlestown Sporting History

My father, a supporter in the 1880s often spoke to me about the team in those early days. The playing field was at the back of…

Newton & Earlestown in 1895

I do not guarantee that my transcription doesn’t include some pretty basic mistakes, apart from my poor typing ability and bad spelling, some pages were very…
Bridge Street Earlestown

Earlestown & Newton in 1890

And now let us take a walk round Earlestown and Newton and see what it was like about 1890. Immediately to the left of Earlestown Station…

Southworth Burial Mound

Southworth Burial Mound Take Myddleton Lane (the ‘Eastern avenue’ off the Winwick mound) out of Winwick towards Culcheth and it will lead down the ley line…

St Peters Church

Below are a few images that show some of the many changes made to St Peters over the years. St Peters Church (approx 1835) This picture…

Dean School, Newton-le-Willows

Details relating to its early history and later domestic use were discovered during the course of this research. Information about its builder and later residents will…