ACCESS TO ARCHIVES

MP VIEWS ARCHIVE WORK

Louise Ellman MP called into the Scottie Press on Tuesday 13th February to view the ongoing work that will archive all issues of the community newspaper from its first publication in February 1971. Louise is pictured with VNC IT Manager John Power who was able to show how Scottie Press website readers can now search for information contained in papers published in 2004 - 2005 - 2006 and the latest issue February 2007. John was also able to show Louise how the many thousands of negatives of photographs taken by the Scottie Press will be scanned and recorded in the archive work. The archiving work will see at least 10 issues of the community newspaper being added to the archive each week and all issues from 1971 being available for on line viewing by September of this year. There will also be an exhibition entitled The Changing Face of Local Communities, which will take a great deal of photograph from the archive work. A digital image and sound archive will also be developed and should be available in the summer of 2007. Marie McGiveron (Chief Executive of Vauxhall Neighbourhood Council (VNC) presented Louise with a bunch of flowers.

"TALKING SCOTTIE PRESS"

The Scottie Press has played an important role in recording the history of the Scotland Road area ever since the paper was first published in 1971. In 1998 we supported the efforts of the community to give Scotland Road a future. Regeneration of the Scotland Road area should have at its centre the history and heritage of this road and its residents. About five years ago the Scottie Press Community Newspaper made a determined effort to try to devise a way by which the core of the community newspaper could be listened to on cassette tape. Four x 60 minutes "Talking Scottie Press" cassette tapes were produced and although limited in number it was felt that the concept of the idea had potential. Great help with material for recording and editing was given by Terry Cooke and Chris Darwin. It is possible to write books about old times, sing songs about old times and paint pictures about old times, but there is nothing to compare with listening to people who have actually experienced them (old times). As a major part of the project to Archive issues of the Scottie Press Community Newspaper from February 1971 up to and then beyond the current issue there is a plan to digitally record people who have memories of the Scotland Road and Vauxhall area. With this in mind we feature some themes of memories the Scottie Press recorded for the four "Talking Scottie Press" tapes.

COMMUNITY LIFE The changes in the face, manner and style of community life was a constant theme. This often brought back memories of how close knit the Scotland Road and Vauxhall community was. The importance of the local parish church within the community was voiced by Margaret Donnelly who lived at one time in Fontenoy Gardens and was a parishioner of Holy Cross Church and pupil at Holy Cross School. Margaret recorded her childhood memories of Fontenoy Gardens, which were opened in 1936 and to which many residents of the Holy Cross parish came to live from very old-fashioned dwellings. The parish population in 1936 was in excess of 10,000 but the parish was recorded at one time at 40,000, most of who were of Irish nationality or descendants of Irish parents. Margaret also spoke about the wide range of shops in Byrom Street and the wonderful 'fish and chip' shops such as Nellies, Podestas and Chiappies. Margaret enthused about the way the parishioners rallied round to fund the rebuilding of the parish church, which had been destroyed by blitz bombing in 1941. She was greatly saddened, when recorded in 2003 about the fact that this church had been closed as part of what was called 'Pastoral Regeneration'. Margaret had many of her memories published in 2006 in her book entitled 'My Parish Holy Cross'. She is currently working on a follow up book for publication in 2007.

ST JOSEPH'S PARISH Tommy O'Keffee told "Talking Scottie Press" about his memories of St Joseph's Parish (A population once at 12,000). Tommy outlined the density of houses and shops in Richmond Row from where Tommy and many fellow residents moved from in 1938 to the then newly constructed Gerard Gardens and Crescent, and to Thurlow, Downe, Cartwright and Lionel Houses. He also recorded his recollections of the wonderful entertainment available, which could enable people to go dancing every night of the week and never go to the same place twice. There was Winstanley's, Acacia House, Ma Bullens, Blair Hall, St Bridgets and Peppers not to mention the Grafton, Locarno, Rialto, Reeces and Harlequin dance halls. Tommy concluded his recorded memories by singing a song sung after weekly pub darts games. The song was called "What Do You Want To Go To Wembley For"? and it extolled the many wonderful features of people and about places in the Scotland Road area.

FORSAKEN ROAD Dolly Lloyd began her recorded memories by singing an old song about 'Scottie Road' a line of which mentioned how the road was forsaken. Dolly said how true for she remembered it being (in the 1930s) an exiting and vibrant road known all round the world for its unique mix of shops and for its many pubs wherein could be enjoyed wonderful musical and song entertainment. A road to which seamen from all parts of the world came to during the 18th, 19th and 20th century's and indeed a road name that was given by such seamen to the longest alleyway of many great and famous liners including the White Star Line's 'Titanic'. Dolly originally lived in Menai Street in the 'Over The Bridge' area of Vauxhall and said that as a youngster she remembered that a visit to Scotland Road was like going to the city centre. The demolition of houses and the removal of people to the new towns in the 1950s and 1960s and then further demolition of the road to make way for the new Mersey Tunnel saw the liveliness of the road decline. This was of great concern to Dolly who has been an active campaigner for the retention of community spirit and a better quality of life for elderly people in the Scotland Road area for a very long time. Dolly also spoke about the May Blitz 1941 and being evacuated with her Mother and other family members from the 'Over The Bridge' area to Garston before joining the ATS and her service in the Royal Artillery during World War 2.

LITTLE ITALY Ray Baccino gave "Talking Scottie Press" his memories of Liverpool's 'Little Italy' and spoke with admiration for, and affection of, the talented men who came from northern Italy in the late 19th and early 20th century's to live in the Gerard Street, Christian Street, Hunter Street area. Many of these were skilled in marble, mosaic and terrazzo work and have left their mark on the Liverpool by virtue of the wonderful mosaics in many of the most prominent and important commercial buildings in the city centre. "It's such a pity", said Ray, "That many more examples of this work has been lost to the redevelopment of the city and much that still remains goes unnoticed". Ray felt it was a great error that these men and other men from Little Italy have never been fully appreciated for the impact they had on the history, heritage and culture of Liverpool. He was delighted that in 2002 Terry Cooke had written a book about Liverpool's Little Italy and that also in 2002 the Vauxhall History and Heritage Group had a plaque made to recognise Little Italy's existence which he had helped to unveil at the corner of Gerard Street and Christian Street.

CARTERS CORNER For our first tape we spoke to some of the stalwarts of the Scotland Road and Vauxhall area. These were former Carters. Many Scottie Press readers will remember these men and will have very fond memories of the wonderful working horses that were a feature of the transportation of goods to and from Liverpool's Docks and Warehouses. Memories recorded ranged from the skill and experience of the Carter who was able to load anything from an anchor to a safety pin, to preparing their horses (with beautiful flowers, ribbons and highly polished brasses) for the annual and legendary May Day Processions. The Scottie Press Community Newspaper has featured photos and memories of carting days in a 'Carters Corner' section. We have also supported the still ongoing efforts of the former carters to raise sufficient money to have a life-sized monument of a Liverpool Working Horse sited at the Hartley Quay (Albert Dock). The message the Carters wanted to get across when recorded was a wish that the monument would serve as a permanent reminder of the debt owed to the Liverpool Working Horse, which served well the city and port of Liverpool for close on 250 years.

SHORT STORIES AND POEMS Several readers of the Scottie Press submitted short stories and poems to "Talking Scottie Press". 'Goodbye Scottie Road" by Terry Baines and 'Gaslamps Down Scottie' by M J Gilfoyle, both feature on the Scottie Press website's Local Writers web page. Local author Mike Kelly provided some short stories. Mike has often featured in the community newspaper and website with regard to his books published about Kitty Wilkinson and on Liverpool's Irish Connection which features chapters about people who had strong associations with the Scotland Road and Vauxhall areas including Patrick 'Dandy Pat' Byrne whose restored monument is sited in the grounds at the rear of St Anthony's Church. The poem about Dandy Pat by Joe O'Leary. was recorded for "Talking Scottie Press" by a student of the Liverpool acting school, Hope Street Ltd. Fellow students recorded news of research work for a book about St Augustine's Parish that was being written by Jim Fitzsimons and a book being written by former Scotland Road resident Billy Woods. Jim completed his book in 2004 and all copies plus a reprint were sold. Many purchased by former church parishioners and school pupils living in the UK and abroad. Billy's fictional book (based on facts) entitled 'No Trees on Scotland Road' is still being written. Billy was born in Aintree Street and went to St Sylvester's School from 1939 to 1948. He played in the school's football and captained the Liverpool Catholic School Boys team in 1948. His book will record life in the Scotland Road area from 1938 up to the present day. In his book he features researched history of Wallasey, Egremont, Liscard and Seacombe Buildings along with Ambrose Place and Furlong Street area which Scotland Road residents called "The Vatican". He also includes memories of the old St Martin in the Fields church, which was known locally as 'The Black Church'. Billy is determined that his book will help rekindle memories of the Scotland Road area and will keep those memories alive for future generations. For more about Billy's book email TOAGY@woodsw72.fsnet.co.uk

QUIZ QUESTIONS "Talking Scottie Press" also included a monthly selection of local history quiz questions and answers provided by Terry Cooke who wrote the book 'Scotland Road - The Old Neighbourhood' in 1987. This book was and is so popular that it has been reprinted twice and still sells well. Questions asked by Terry included "Can you say how many Public Houses there were on Scotland Road in the 1950s"? and "Where was the Lyric Theatre"? The answers being; Scotland Road was world famous for almost having a pub on every corner. Each of these establishments would be listed with two addresses. One for the entrance on Scotland Road, and one for the entrance in the side street on which the pub stood. There were only six listed as only having an entrance on Scotland Road, that is to say situated in the middle of the block. These were 1 The Clock - 2 The Black Bull - 3 The Travellers Rest - 4 The Plough Inn - 5 The Saddle Inn - 6 The Brewery Vaults. The Lyric Theatre, built in 1897, was located on the northern side of Everton Valley. It had a seating capacity of a little over 2,000. Many world famous music hall personalities appeared at this venue. It closed its doors to theatre-goers in 1932 and was then used as a warehouse. The building was destroyed by bombs in the May Blitz of 1941.

MUSIC AND SONG To interlude sections of the recorded tapes some short sections of suitable music and song was used. For a "Talking Scottie Press" tape that was intended to be a tribute to Mickey Keating we were to include a live recording of Mickey and friends at the Fly House Pub (Chisenale Street) in 1978. For this, and many other such community occasions, Mickey was the MC but he is also heard joining in with the talented (and legendary) local artistes and sing-a-long audience enjoying a wonderful bank-holiday afternoon's entertainment of music and song. We intend to digitally re-record this taped tribute to Mickey Keating along with parts of the other tapes produced and to make a CD. We also intend to produce other CDs with fresh digital recordings of peoples' memories, of the Scotland Road area. We will have more news of this project and how it will be possible to see and hear these recordings 'on-line' featured on this and other web pages of the website.

MAY DAY PARADE

Our thanks go to Frank Hird who asks if anyone can recognise faces on this photo taken - during a May Day Parade - in Great Homer Street. Franks says the ohoto was taken pre 1939.

SCHOOL'S RAF CADETS

Our thanks go to Peter Corcoran for providing this issue of the Scottie Press with a photo taken of the Archbishop Whiteside School's RAF Cadets at RAF Coltishall as part of a Summer Camp. Peter tells us that all the lads were from the Scottie Road area. Peter is on the right in the Para-Uniform and also on the photo are Fred and John McMahon - we ask if readers can name others?

LIVERPOOL RECORD OFFICE PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE CATALOGUE

Liverpool Record Office, Local Studies and Family History Service has a vast resource of information covering the fascinating history of the city.

Work is ongoing with an Archive Catalogue for some 20,000 photographs from the City Engineers Department, which include photographs taken in the Scotland Road and Vauxhall areas. You can access this catalogue if you click here.

The Copyright of the photographs belongs to Liverpool City Council. Permission to reproduce the photographs must be obtained from Liverpool Record Office.

YOUR MEMORIES OF SCOTLAND ROAD

We would be interested to hear from readers who can recall when Scotland Road looked as it does in the photographs above which we think would have been taken in the 1950s or 1960s. Lots of the well known landmarks of Scotland Road are in place and it may be possible for readers to recall these landmarks in their memories of the road.

We also welcome receiving other photographs of Scotland Road for the website in order that we can show how Scotland Road has played a significant role in the history of the City of Liverpool and as such can play a vital role in the future of the city.

A Business Forum 'Breakfast' Meeting took place at the Vauxhall Millennium Resource Centre on Wednesday 3rd of March 2004 at which plans highlighted the determination to secure better services, more jobs, improved educational attainment, better health and housing and reduce crime in the Scotland Road and Vauxhall area. Key to the success of this vision is that the local community can play a full role in the local issues. The Scottie Press will be featuring more news regarding regeneration plans for the Scotland Road area on this website. Your comments are always welcome.

Hi Ron, The photo of Scotland Road taken in the 50/60,s shows a round windmill type building which was in Hopwood Street just before the 39/45 war & in the early part of it. This building was used by St Anthony's to hold dances, on one of the floors , I can't remember which floor, it was also used as the CYMS club and the cubs and scouts also used it to hold their meetings. I have memories as a kid going with my mother to some of the dances , not that I did any dancing, this was in the early part of 1940, also going to the cub meetings, can't remember the cub masters name. Seeing this photo brought back a few long forgotten memories, I hope my memory serves me right we lived in Kew St at the time.

PHOTOS FOR THE ARCHIVE

Our thanks go to Thomas Fagan for e.mailing this photograph of Miss Regan and Class at Ashfield Street School. We think the photograph may have been taken in 1945/46 when Ashfield Street School was an infant and junior feeder school for the amalgamated St Sylvester's and St Gerard's schools. We will be adding this photograph to the Archive section St Sylvester's Parish webpage.

We also thank Kathleen Grogan for e.mailing this photograph picturing her wedding at St Joseph's Church (Grosvenor Street) in 1961. Kathleen tells us that she lived in Cavendish Street (off Scotland Road) and there are some neighbours from Cavendish Street on the right of the photograph. There are also former parishioners from St Joseph's Church on the photograph. We will be adding this photograph to our Archive section St Joseph's Parish webpage.

We welcome hearing from readers who may have photographs they think will be of interest to the Archive section of the Scottie Press website. Click Here to access our Archive section now.

WITHOUT ARCHIVES - ACCESS TO VITAL INFORMATION WOULD BE LOST

Without a recorded history and heritage knowledge of our communities, families and individuals - as well as our cities, towns and buildings - and the land they are built upon - we would be much poorer. Archives are widely valued and used by people within the United Kingdom and from overseas. Without archives - access to vital information would be lost. Archive services in the North West are amongst the most diverse and accessible in the UK and in September of this year an archive awareness month was organised which brought together the archiving services of many museums, libraries etc. The Scotland Road and Vauxhall area of Liverpool has a rich history and heritage and the Scottie Press Community Newspaper and website has made continued efforts to acknowledge and record the areas history, heritage and culture for future generations. The Scottie Press website's projects webpages display efforts made by groups and or individuals to record the history, heritage and culture of the Scotland Road area.

With extra space now afforded to the Scottie Press website we hope to add new material for the Archive Section of the Scottie Press and we will welcome receiving inclusions from readers.

Please e-mail ronformby@scottiepress.org

We are often contacted by local schools looking for photographs relating to the history of the Scotland Road area - particularly those associated with the 2nd World War. We would be very pleased to hear from readers who have memories and information about this photograph (above) of young residents of the Scotland Road area who were evacuated to Burley Dam, Shropshire during the 2nd World War. Pictured in the background of the photograph above is Burley Dam School.

Our thanks go to Dave Callaghan who contacted the Scottie Press to advise that his father Mr Lawrence Callaghan, along with other teachers, was in charge of the evacuees from St Sylvester's who went to Burley Dam, Buerton and Audlem area. Mr Lawrence Callaghan was first based at the school in Buerton, then he moved to the school in Audlem and once a week he went to the school in Burley Dam to give religious instruction. Dave Callaghan told the Scottie Press that his father wrote quite extensively about his time with the evacuees from 1939 to 1942. With Dave's permission we print an extract from his father's notes which we accompany with a photo from the Scottie Press archive.

"On Friday 1st September 1939 teachers and children set off on the first stage of a journey to the evacuation area. Each child had a gas mask in a cardboard box slung across the shoulder and carried a small case or package as we walked down Silvester Street, a street lined with children's parents and relatives in various forms of emotion.At the bottom of the street we turned left along Vauxhall Road on our way to Exchange Station. At the station we boarded the train and set off for Nantwich. On arrival we assembled in a school not far from the station. Soon our Headmaster Mr J. P. Callaghan came towards me with a gentleman who I soon learned was the H.M.I. in charge of evacuation in the Nantwich area. We began to arrange the disposal of evacuees to their various destinations - Burley Dam, Buerton and Audlem. My group numbered 48 children between the ages of 8 and 13 and soon a suitable place was found for us in Buerton."

We also thank Ken Dougherty who contacted the Scottie Press with regard to the evacuees at Burley Dam to tell us that on the photograph are Matty Campbell and Billy Whittington (who was known as Billy Whitty). Many readers will remember Matty Campbell as being a local Carter and Billy Whitty was a legendary Guitar player in the Scotland Road area and indeed many other districts of Liverpool. Billy appeared on the Liverpool Empire to help the Miners in the 1984 strike. Also appearing were Ricky Tomlinson, John Cordwell and George Melly.

We feature two photographs from the Scottie Press archive which we believe show people from the St Sylvester's Parish and Our Lady's Eldon Street Parish who were evacuated during the 2nd World War.

We would be very grateful if any readers who may be able to confirm that those photographed were evacuees would contact us at The Scottiepress.

WERE YOU EVACUATED TO DORFORD HALL?

A great many evacuees found their way to the Cheshire countryside during the Second World War. We are looking for memories of readers who were evacuated to Dorford Hall, Acton near Nantwich, Cheshire.

We picture a photograph which will hopefully remind readers from St Sylvester’s Parish who were evacuated to Dorford Hall. Pictured with the evacuees are Father McNamara from St Sylvester’s Church and Mr Callaghan and Mr Moore (both teachers) from St Sylvester’s School.

Dorford Hall is a Jacobean country house, built is 1616, which is now open to the public. Dorford Hall Park is the home of the annual Nantwich and South Cheshire Show which hosts Europe’s largest international cheese exhibition amongst many other rural attractions.

We also welcome hearing from readers who may have been evacuated from the Scotland Road area to other parts of the country. Any evacuee photographs that readers may have and may wish to provide the Scottie Press Archive with will be very gratefully received.

Dear Scottie Press, The photograph of the pupils from St Sylvester's who were evacuated to Dorford Hall had three members of my family in the front row on it. My two older sisters, now sadly deceased, Margaret Hignett and Teresa Hignett and my brother John Hignett (now aged 68). When they stayed at the Hall my mother who was having me had gone to Cheshire with them and she was allowed to stay in the lodge at the Hall. I was born in Nantwich while they were there. My family frequently return there to see the owners of the Hall. I returned to Nantwich only two weeks ago to St Annes RC Church where I was christened. I signed the visitors book there and then to see the photograph printed in your website so soon afterwards was amazing. I have enclosed a picture of Dorford Hall, Nantwich and I do think that the children were privileged to stay there in such lovely surroundings. My mother brought the family home to Liverpool for a visit. While here they took cover from the bombing (The May Blitz) in shelter near St Sylvester's Church. Not being expected to survive they were all given the 'Last Rights'. But gladly they did all survive only to emerge from the shelter to find their home in Hornby Street had been hit and all that had survived the blast were some brass ornaments and believe it or not a tea-set given to my mother by her mother as a wedding present. This tea-set was frequently loaned out for weddings or funerals. Some of it I still have today. Yours sincerely, MISS E. HIGNETT

Please email ronformby@scottiepress.org

If so you may be interested in accessing the following websites.

www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2children/letters/letters_intro. shtml Click Here to access now.

uk- pages.net/Guestbook/evacuees.html Click Here to access now