Widnes- help needed

[Janboo]

Hi - I'm not sure this will help but I got here by accident when researching my family who lived at 54 Cromwell Street Widnes in 1901!   Spooky.  So don't know where the O'Neils had gone but they were not there then.

[debh]

Hi, thanks so much for taking the time to reply.

I've found out lots more about my family and know now that both parents had died by 1901.

As your family were in Cromwell St in 1901, would you happen to have a photograph of the street at that time? I would love to see the place. I've visited there and seen pics of neighbouring streets but never Cromwell Street.

Thanks once again.

[Janboo]

Sorry I have nothing at all from that era. I would love to see something too.  All I can offer is the information that in 1901 living at 56 Cromwell Street was someone called Baldrick!
My family are proving very difficult to research - Lithuanian/Polish - name changed to Williams - no real record of previous name. 

[bucksboy]

Hi, thanks so much for taking the time to reply.

I've found out lots more about my family and know now that both parents had died by 1901.

As your family were in Cromwell St in 1901, would you happen to have a photograph of the street at that time? I would love to see the place. I've visited there and seen pics of neighbouring streets but never Cromwell Street.

Thanks once again.

Maybe an email or two to this site may help. http://www.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk/Widnes/Widnes%20Welcome.htm

In the meantime, I'll ask my sister-in-law (she was born and lived in Widnes for 45 years), if she has any recollections of the area.

Steve.

[debh]

Thank you Steve   

[bucksboy]

Thank you Steve   

Hi Deb,

I've just talked to my sister-in-law.  She says that the houses were mostly back to back terraced houses.  If you look on google streetview maps, and look for  Mersey Road in Widnes, that will give you an idea of what the houses looked like.

Also, she said, if the house had a bay window, they were 3 bedroomed and the others were 'two up, two down'.

Her Grandfather James Thompson, was the Landlord of 'The George'  Public house in Pitt St.  but when that was escapes my sister-in-laws memory.

Unfortunately, Cromwell St. was redeveloped for Industrial and Retail warehousing etc, although the street name still exists.  The area was known as The South Bank and includes St.Mary's Church which is on the Mersey river bank.

Interestingly, there used to be a transport bridge across the Mersey before the 'New Bridge' was built.  It went out of commission in the very early 1960's.  There is quite a few photo's of it about if you google it.  I had quite a few trips on that in my younger days......  http://www.gettyimages.ie/detail/3166056/Hulton-Archive

Hope this helps a little bit.


Steve.

[Janboo]

Hi - I grew up in Widnes in the 50's and 60's - I remember that area being called 'Lugsdale' which always amused me.  there is still a Lugsdale Road nearby.
I google'd Old Widnes photos and found tons of them
Janice

[jangeo]

If your interested I can scan a section from a map I have of 1905 Widnes. Cromwell Street was a one sided street  in that the houses faced the ten foot high wall of what was Boltons Foundry. When I worked at a local ironmongers in the 60's the housing in the area was being demolished.

[Janboo]

that would be great.  There is  a religious (I think) meeting place there now called 'The Foundry' newish building on the place where the old foundry was.