This is one for Pinz, what is the history of Solly Rec, off Woodchurch Rd by the railway I used to play on there in the early 50s, only seems like yesterday.(I wish)
All I know is that the Solly Rec. was named after Alderman Solly. There's a few entries about him on Google. Yes, I too used to play there in the '50's. I used to stop whatever I was doing to watch the big Class 9's with a load of Summers trucks labour up the bank. Happy days indeed.
That map Bert has "my time" writ large upon it. I was dragged to Bethany Chapel a few times to sing hymns to a piano that was last tuned on Mafeking night! Has anyone photos of Bethany on Woodchurch Road btw? I note the Swan Hotel was called the White Swan - that a new one to me. Had my first under age pint there. Bents Bitter/Foaming Cleanser - pewk!
Used to try and dam the Fender at where "FB" is (top left) with clay, soil and turf from the banks. Innocent fun indeed.
The roundabout that "did nothing" beyond the bridge. If you got a corpy bus that you failed to see had "Passengers for & beyond Landican Lane Only" on the side blind, when the bus slowed down to drop a cog at the roundabout, it was your only chance to jump off and walk back to your intended stop at Prenton Dell ! Kids today don't know.... etc. etc....
bad memories of that place. I used to play rugby for old instonians on the other side of the railway. For a few seasons we managed to run 6 or 7 teams and regularly played on the recreation ground.. My playing days ended there after a spear tackle damaged shoulder.
I was lucky, I lived opposite Landican Lane, so no problem except for the Crosvilles, where you could duck under the chain and hop off. Looking on google maps the little bridge over the Fender is still there, I presume the railway bridge is also still there, but doesn't lead to the Flat Lanes anymore, we used to put 6" nails and pennies on the rails for the 9Fs to flatten, looking back I'm horrified. I always wondered where the Solly name came from, thanks for your reply and to Bert1 for his map.
I quite forgotten about ducking under the chain ! On the same theme.... coming down the stairs and giving the handles on the rear blind boxes a few turns. After you've alighted you can see your handiwork. 77 Moreton Shore via New Chester Road or 71a Laird Street via Four Bridges. All good clean fun !!
The site was left by Alderman SOLLY for the benefit of the youth of Birkenhead and is administered by a Trust comprising mostly of Trustees from Birkenhead Scouting. Although only mainly used at the moment for playing football by Glenavon Football Club. There used to be two buildings there (Wooden) which were vandalised many years ago. They were used by Arrowe Venture Scout Unit and by Wirral Alsatian Training.
Ok I admit it I used to play around there and up to the bottom of the Flat Lanes. I seem to remember they used to hold gymkanans there and used to hide in the haystacks. Good old days - I used to walk couldn't afford bus fares like you rich kids:)
I used to go to the gymkhana as a kid, but it was held at football ground a bit further north than the Solly, alongside the railway. I don't know whose ground it was/is. Green painted corrugated iron stand. Maybe it was held at the Solly Rec at one time, then moved? The only time(?) the buses displayed "To The Show" on the top blind. (Useless info. No.352b). The mobile Ladies and Gents toilets at the show were old corpy buses painted a sort of vomit cream - and stunk!!! Ah sweet memories indeed.
Me - a rich kid ? Nah. My pocket money stretched as far as the Beano or the Dandy, but not both!
Do you mean the Birkenhead Horse Show, held once a year on August Bank Holiday weekend (could have been Whit weekend)held on Birkenhead School playing field, further along the railway, we used to bunk in over the railway embankment, I remember the bus toilets as well, also the bar was open all day, the only reason my Dad went. I think the last time I went was about 1961/62, so when it stopped being held I don't know, it used to be quite an event in the 50s.
Yes locomotive, that was it, at the B'head School Playing Field. I think its full title was The Birkenhead Horse Show and Gymkhana. A right memory blaster ! Thanks.
No it's not; it's called f**king freezing. All it did for my character was to make me hate any game played in winter. Another influence was being taken by my father on a cold, wet, Saturday to watch Tranmere Rovers, which gave me a lifetime of disinterest in football.
