Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past History Information Request where Yates's is now query

what used to be where Yates is now ie between River st?/Oliver St
My friend thinks there was a Yates already there
Someone else thinks it was a shop/factory that made model boats/yachts

there used to be a Birkenhead factory that made yachts called Star yachts.I have a battered one in the shed waiting to get revived.Dont know if the factory was there though.

The yacht factory was down Marion Street by where Europa Boulevard is now.
I remember it wasn't that far from the peanut factory

My memories it was a yard,plus an old cop shop plus a defunct drinks fountain something similar to the one at Warrington Railway stn,the plod moved but I can't remember was it was used for afterwards,in my mind I think Robbs used it for awhile.Star yachts was in Marion St.

Around 1973 when i use to have a drink in the Grange and pay my union in the Park Hotel there was no yates wine lodge there then. Wasn't Harding coaches or something to do with them around that wine lodge somewhere.

Harding was on the corner of Oliver st on the left looking down where car park is now

In 1909 that area was a Smithy.

In the 1950s and 60s there was a car park for Robbs (behind the wall with the drinking fountain), next to this was a building which housed the packing and despatch department, this had a display window at the front.

Hardings (Coaches, removals and storage) was beyond the Robbs building.

It was in Marion Street and was owned by a Belgian familly (the Denye's). It was the last building standing in Marion Street and only closed when a compulsory purchase order was served on it.

thanks Uptoncx nice pics
You certainly come up with goods when needed

I can still remember the smell from the peanut factory - Sun Valley? Makes me balk thinking about it

Where Yates and Maccie D's is now, I remember a toy shop.

Was it Keighleys? Or even a Toys 'R' Us?

im sure that b and ms was once what everyone wants and before that it was the toy shop, toy and hobby.

Toy and Hobby occupied part of the site of Robb Bros. store in Grange Road.

Robb's consisted of a two srorey main building with single storey extensions on one side. There was also a basement under the whole store.

When Robb's closed, the single storey part was demolished and new units were built on the site for Toy and Hobby and Currys. The main building was retained and, after extensive 'refurbishment', was let to Bon Marche, Shoemarket etc.

Next to Maccies now used to be aDewhurst Butchers, i was the manager there for 5 yrs, just at the time Yates` was being built. We had an old store room, and enclosed alleyway at the rear that the contractors used to store their tools every night. I remember when they all finished and left site that they put all the 110v hire tools in there and never came back!! Left them there for a week or so to see what would happen, nothing, so i nabbed them!!!