Years ago when i was just a young whipper snapper when men where men and women knew it and you couldn't buy sheep dip (lager) in a pub, well maybe the odd bottle, We use to start off in the Stork and have a pint and walk around the corner and have a pint in every pub in Market St up to the Glass Barrel and include the Letters for good measure. Jimbob reckons there was another pub further on from the Glass Barrel, towards Chester st (anyone know). At that time if you wanted anything to eat, it was normally the Capitol you went to, you couldn't starve in Market St now. I can't remember all of the shops but Haylocks shoes were on the corner and there was a little diy shop and a tobacconist also a jewelers there somewhere, I bought my wife's wedding ring there and yes her finger is still going green. What else was in Market St at that time ?
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
was it 223 Ranelagh Family and Commercial Hotel La Bodega 2 Market Street 2 88 Chester Street 88 It would have been on the corner of Chester St where there's a bit of wasteland I don't remember it I think there was a pub called the Castle on the other side of Chester St round that area 224 Glass Barrel 14 Market Street 14
The pub you're talking about was on the corner of Chester Street near Pilgrim Street, next door to the county court building, but I can't remember its name. It was certainly there up to the mid-70s. The Castle was further down towards the tunnel entrance, on the corner of Chester Street and Ivy Street.
looked at a map on the wall going into the Archives and Raneleigh hotel shows up on corner of Market St
Looking at a 1909 map of Birkenhead shows a pub also there On the corner of Albion st it doesn't show the Glass Barrel but shows another pub on the other corner of Albion Street which would have been on the empty site next to Hornblowers/Market Inn etc Sorry can't help with name
On the corner of Market Street and Chester Street, just along from the Glass Barrel, was the offices of the UAB (Unemployment Assistance Board), where in the old days men who were out of work had to go to sign on for the dole and be questioned by officials. It was known locally as 'The Brew' and was an intimidating place. Does anyone remember going there? On the other side of Market Street opposite the UAB, in the 50s and 60s, there was a small sweetshop called Lay's. Lay's was in the same impressive Victorian terrace as the former Fox's Lodging House, which had quite a reputation among older folk as having been a bit of a rough place. All this block (the Market Cross) was one of the original developments in Birkenhead from around the 1840s, when the town was being planned by the Lairds and their associates as an elegant vista of handsome buildings and wide streets. It was a tatty and neglected old place for many years, but has since been restored and is now offices and flats.
wasnt the shoe shop known locally as oddbods because you could buy pairs of shoes of odd sizes very cheaply,my wife seems to remember this from when she was a little girl and her parents were skint.
In the late 60s-early 70s, these are some of the places I remember if you were going up Market Street from Argyle Street on the left-hand side: On the corner with Argyle Street, there was a record shop, then a chip shop, the Caledonia pub, the Crown and Cushion pub, an amusement arcade, an off-licence and the Hamilton Vaults pub (later renamed The Copperfield) on the corner with Hamilton Street. Across Hamilton Street, on the section of Market Street going up to Chester Street, there was a jewellery shop (which also sold sporting equipment such as air rifles) The Market Inn pub, The Globe pub, the Glass Barrel pub and the UAB offices. Going up Market Street on the right-hand side from Argyle Street, there was a carpet shop, a cafe, a newsagent / tobacconist (I think) and Haylock's shoe shop on the corner of Hamilton Street. Across Hamilton Street on the right-hand side was the outside section of Birkenhead Market, where stalls were set up only on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (if I remember right). I know I've missed out some places, so please fill them in if you can.
Well done yoller, that's helped a lot, brought back many memories, i do remember the Air rifle shop now. The jewelers was definitely a stand alone jewelers, didn't sell anything else. I seem to remember a butcher on the corner of one of the side streets, that sold spit roast chickens. On the corner of argyle/ market st opposite the outside market was there a lighting shop and further up a shop which may still be there that sold blinds and curtains etc
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
Well done yoller, that's helped a lot, brought back many memories, i do remember the Air rifle shop now. The jewelers was definitely a stand alone jewelers, didn't sell anything else. I seem to remember a butcher on the corner of one of the side streets, that sold spit roast chickens. On the corner of argyle/ market st opposite the outside market was there a lighting shop and further up a shop which may still be there that sold blinds and curtains etc
My mistake, lighting shop was corner of Hamilton st/ Market st
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
Thanks, Bert1, - you're right about the sports shop being separate. We used to sneak in there as kids and drool over the air rifles, which we could never afford. Was this shop, or the jewellery shop (which was next door), called Murphy's? That name seems to ring a bell. And you're right, there was definitely a butcher, I think on the corner of Market Street and Henry Street.
i do remember the Air rifle shop now. The jewelers was definitely a stand alone jewelers,
I remember buying an air pistol at a shop on that part of the street (opposite the market), but I thought it was a shop which sold other stuff, maybe like a second hand shop or even a pawnbrokers. After all this time though, nearly 60 years, memories get a bit hazy.
murphys was the name of the shop that sold air rifles/shotguns aswell as photo cam in market st bought wy first new crossman rifle there 1976.The pub up market st was it the Globe.
i do remember the Air rifle shop now. The jewelers was definitely a stand alone jewelers,
I remember buying an air pistol at a shop on that part of the street (opposite the market), but I thought it was a shop which sold other stuff, maybe like a second hand shop or even a pawnbrokers. After all this time though, nearly 60 years, memories get a bit hazy.
Cheers, Chris.
The shop definitely sold air rifles etc as well as hunting knives and camping items, things for the outdoor life, I think you could get things like mouse traps and stuff to kill cockroaches
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
Murphy's seems to ring a bell. Did they have a shop in Exmouth St. too? I bought another air pistol somewhere in Exmouth St. Both were second hand; never could afford a new one. Both were Webley Seniors.
The only ones i can remember down exmouth st are Bentley's pawn shop. Owens cycles shop that had a dummy dressed as a police man and a penny farthing bike in window and okells.
The only ones i can remember down exmouth st are Bentley's pawn shop. Owens cycles shop that had a dummy dressed as a police man and a penny farthing bike in window and okells.
Chris maybe got his pistol from the pawnshop. Did the pawnshop move around the corner to Conway St. I remember buying a wrist watch from there which i couldn't leave in the bedroom at night because the tick kept me awake. No wonder someone pawned it.
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
I've been told by a couple of guys that in Market st on the other side of Argle st that there used to be 2 old ladies that used to serve beer in a very small bar
I suspect that what was once the nut factory may have been a hotel once
I think the pub Jimbob was referring to was the one next to the county court on the corner of Pilgrim Street and Chester Street - on derekdwc's map, you can see a building next to the court marked PH. Also, I think the Glass Barrel has been marked wrongly on the map - isn't it the next building up, other side of Albion Street? It's interesting to see that the UAB was also once a pub.
I'd agree that the pub WAS the Ranelagh Hotel. As you walked up Market Street towards Chester Street, it was directly across the road on the corner. The UAB was definitely not a pub in the 1950s, but I don't know about before that.
I think the pub Jimbob was referring to was the one next to the county court on the corner of Pilgrim Street and Chester Street - on derekdwc's map, you can see a building next to the court marked PH. Also, I think the Glass Barrel has been marked wrongly on the map - isn't it the next building up, other side of Albion Street? It's interesting to see that the UAB was also once a pub.
I agree the Glass Barrel was on the other corner of Albion St.
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
Bentleys The pawnshop was the last shop on exmouth st Conway st. give ur pawn ticket in through a little hole paid what was due got ur belongings back.
In the previous posts was the waste ground with the billboards where the UAB used to be top of Market St
Where the waste ground is with the billboards, that must have been the Ranelagh Hotel. The street directory you posted has that at No 2 and the Glass Barrel at No 14. If the Clarendon was there the Ranelagh and the Clarendon would have to be touching each other.
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
Always went there for parts at one time dead cheap sold shotie cartridges 75p boxes of 25 1980s only one in b/head then and since went expensive may be his son took over. didn't have to show ur licence in them days.
I remember Fotocam, they used to do the custom work on my rifles! Custom slings, sights and silencers!
Was fotocam opposite the outside market in market st. It seems that there where 2 shops that sold air rifles etc and 2 jewelers. The gun type shop and jeweler thats fresher in my mind were in market st between argyle st and hamilton st. Talking to Jimbob this morning there was also a gun shop and jewelers in market st between hamilton st and chester st.
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
If it's of any use, here's a map from about 1970 which shows the numbering & also some of the pubs. By that time, the Ranelagh, at No.2 had disappeared, in fact the numbers 2-6 now are part of the building No. 86 Chester St. From my (fading) memory, the shop where I bought a pistol was about No. 30. Also a postcard I bought recently on e-bay, taken, I'd guess, from the upper floor of the Hamilton Vaults.
Cheers, Chris.
p.s. don't forget the useful tip about Ctrl and + - keys to enlarge/reduce.
I'd agree that the pub WAS the Ranelagh Hotel. As you walked up Market Street towards Chester Street, it was directly across the road on the corner. The UAB was definitely not a pub in the 1950s, but I don't know about before that.
Just been talking to someone trying to find out the name of the pub next to the county court, no luck yet, but he reckons the county court, Pilgrim St was turned into the uab/brew, said he went there loads.
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
According to the directory page posted by derekdwc, the pub next to the court was the Clarendon, numbers 109 & 111 Chester St. You can just see it on the map I posted.
According to the directory page posted by derekdwc, the pub next to the court was the Clarendon, numbers 109 & 111 Chester St. You can just see it on the map I posted.
correct Chris, But was the chap right then was the courts turned in to the uab/brew.
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
Bert's right. If you're "on the brew", you are on the dole. I think it's a term just used in the North of England. Could be wrong. Never hear the phrase used up here in Haggisville!
I was wondering how Market St got its name, Skid Row, well its an Northern American term for a run down or a dilapidated urban area with a large impoverished population.
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
The Letters was on the corner of St Mary's gate and Chester Street. the Birkenhead Arms was directly opposit the Letters as you walked round the corner of Chester Street and headed towards the top of tunnel road and on towards town. this was before the tunnel entrance area was altered. there use to be a Zebra crossing at the top of chester street so you could stagger out of the letters and across the road into the Birkenhead arms with out getting run over. happy days {late 1950s}
Ships that pass in the night, seldom seen and soon forgoten
15 Adelphi Street (on the corner of Market Street) was the "New Inn" in 1950s
There's a real danger that the left will drag Britain back to the 1970s, with secure well-paid jobs, ample housing, properly-funded NHS and social care, free tuition, student grants, final salary pensions, affordable rail fares and fabulous films and music. David Osland 2025
We don't do charity in Germany, we pay taxes. Charity is a failure of governments' responsibilities - Henning Wehn
90 Kossuth Hotel 18 Chester Street must be the building in between 89 Worsley Arms [Queens Arms (Cuckoo)] 16 Chester Street 16 1 Bridge Street and 91 Dispensary [Hamlet] 20 Chester Street next to the police station
On the list i have, The Letters has bracketed next to it 6 day house which i assume it was probably shut on a Sunday because of religious grounds,the same as some of the pubs in Wales. when i started drinking i don't recall pubs being closed on Sundays, though they did have fewer opening hours.
Last edited by bert1; 1st Mar 20091:23am.
God help us, Come yourself, Don't send Jesus, This is no place for children.
Certainly was - Globe Inn - 22 Market Street, Birkenhead
There's a real danger that the left will drag Britain back to the 1970s, with secure well-paid jobs, ample housing, properly-funded NHS and social care, free tuition, student grants, final salary pensions, affordable rail fares and fabulous films and music. David Osland 2025
We don't do charity in Germany, we pay taxes. Charity is a failure of governments' responsibilities - Henning Wehn
Been doing a bit of research about "the brew". Haven't found its origin, but many references to its use in Scotland & Northern Ireland as well as England. Also spelled "bru" & "burroo"
From "Understanding the Scottish language"
Brew: Dole: The Brew or the Dole office is the unemployment office in Scotland. When people become unemployed in Scotland, they go to the Brew to sign on as unemployed. Because the people Britain pay National Insurance to the Government in case they become unemployed, they have to sign on at the Brew or Dole to get benefits.
You can get maps and locations of pubs from the Wirral Archives. I obtained a map showing my great great grandfathers pub the Bridge Inn from there and found the staff exremely helpful
correct Chris, But was the chap right then was the courts turned in to the uab/brew.
No idea, Bert, never went there myself; escaped by joining the RAF.
I can confirm the old court buildings in Pilgrim Street became the UBO (I experienced Thatchers Britain as a young Jobseeker) and it closed down around 1981 - concentrating the UBO work at Hordan House....
I desperately wanted to work (unlike now after 33 solid years!!)but it was so bad I went back to school - and ended up with an MSc. !
I've been told by a couple of guys that in Market st on the other side of Argyle st that there used to be 2 old ladies that used to serve beer in a very small bar
I suspect that what was once the nut factory may have been a hotel once
No.138 on corner of Adelphi Street and Market Street - known as 'The Old Maids' (sorry don't know the official name) was run by 2 women who where still there post WW2 - as I have a photo of my Dad having a pint of Stout with my Gran and Grandad and his brothers and cousins - after he was demobbed ! The family home was in Adlephi Street and this was their 'local'..
I think the nut factory was between Dacre Street and Marion Street - not off Market Street - remember the pong vividly...
On the same side of the road just doors away from the Glass Barrel Pub which is now demolished and relaced by Bill Board Hoardings I think the name of the pub right on the corner of Market Street and Chester Street was called the Ranelagh Hotel and was almost directly facing Pilgrim Street
It was I am sure the Ranelagh Hotel on the corner of Market Street and Chester Street on the same side of the road as the Glass Barrel and just a couple of doors away. The pub was directly facing Pilgrim Street. Now demolished and replaced by the bill boards which can be seen on the site.
