Hi Paul.
Glad to hear that the Everest in its latest guise as a Wetherspoon’s has retained its links with the past in the form of the Hornby memorabilia
It’s a while since I passed that way, but the new build already looked quite substantial, and indeed must have been to warrant the construction of a new station, Maghull North. From memory, I think most, if not all of the land was part of the former hospital site of Park Lane to which had been allocated quite some acreage, as not all the former patients were of a high security risk. I believe - yet another piece of trivia for you, Paul
- that they used to do an ‘escaper alert’ practice each Monday morning by the sounding of a wailing siren which local residents became quite used to, and there must be an element of truth in this as I’d heard it from more than one source
With reference to Frank’s former residence, I do hope I haven’t put you onto a bum steer here Paul, but if it somehow transpires that it wasn’t all purely a figment of my over-active imagination, then do share your captured images with us all here (I doubt many of us would even be involved in the hobby of it hadn’t been for Mr. Hornby; doubt I would anyway as my interest in the real thing was only sparked by his models
.
My paternal grandfather whom I never knew, was employed by Lord Blundell, and is I believe buried in the charming little grave yard in Ince Blundell, but that’s the nearest link to Little Crosby I can claim, my birth certificate recording my birthplace as Crosby (Greater).
I too, Paul, have enjoyed traversing the rural idyll that was once the route of the former Cheshire Lines Committee, entering it beside the road bridge that carries the single carriageway road between Sefton and Maghull, at the point which was once the location of Maghull and Sefton station. We cycled north along the route, out through Lydiate and Altcar, before eventually leaving it just before the village of Halsall, where we continued onto the tow path of the Leeds and Liverpool canal, stopping for lunch and light refreshments at the delightful Saracen’s Head, which you’ll no doubt have visited at some stage, Paul. From there we rode out through the lanes of Halsall and eventually onto Lord Street, Southport - the terminus of the line I’ve just described - where we stopped for coffee. Then it was onto the Coast Road - the track bed of the former Cheshire Lines to Lord Street line you mentioned - before dropping down into the woodland trail adjacent to the Liverpool - Southport line, which led us into Formby via Freshfield, and eventually to the Hightown Hotel adjacent to the station - where my Dad grew up - and from where we were all picked up, far too unfit to carry on by bike after imbibing, and not to mention a bit knackered
After making mention in my last about the former Waterloo and Southport line that was eventually extended to Liverpool, I recalled seeing a display of the line’s terminus at Waterloo shortly after it was built, in a glass case, on display in Crosby library several years ago. Not surprisingly, a lot of the adjacent land was open greenery, punctuated with a (fisherman’s ?) cottage or two, although the Napoleonic buildings along Marine Terrace were much in evidence. Not surprisingly, there was no sign of the Marina nor of the Seaforth Container Terminal
Although I enjoyed many an exhibition at Merchant Taylor’s school in years past, and despite the presence of at least one model railway club in Crosby, I never felt inclined to join any, not being a joiner- inner as such, my growing years spent with footy mad peers (playing mainly), followed by the ubiquitous hiatus due to commitments, socialising and raising a family et al, so like many others, I just pursued the hobby as a lone wolf, and making it up as ai went along: which is probably why I’ve never finished a layout!
Sorry my reply was so long-winded, and if you’d prefer to PM me then fire away, Paul
Best,
Jon
