algy

Also the Kilton public house or rather the motel attached to it, and Bill definitely the Fir Grove which is part of the Best Western empire. I believe those at the Lord Daresbury (Daresbury Park) have been provided with brand new bicycles because it is remote from public conveniences. The housing developers at the massive new house building site at Daresbury are taking a massive gamble on selling their new properties so close to an immigrant establishment at Daresbury.

Gary, a bit late now but by all means credit me if you ever decide to publish the article, it may not do any good but at least townsfolk would be aware of its history, sorry about the delay in my replying but I am easily distracted nowadays and both my wife have been in poor health after contracting Covid19 but thankfully we are now recovering plus i have had a couple of falls and believe me when you are in your 80's you don't bounce back the same as you used to. Stay safe and well. Algy.

Thanks for your reply Gary and I totally agree that some action should be taken, would there be any point publishing the article in Warrington Worldwide at least it may raise some interest as I honestly think that most townspeople see it as it is and not for the history of the building. The Packet House Inn - History.docx

Perhaps this potted history of "The Packet House Inn" I have compiled may be of interest to members. The Packet House Inn (Formerly The Queens Head). 137.Bridge Street (Formerly 139. Bridge Street). One building of historical interest situated in Warrington town centre, standing empty and neglected needs to be saved for future posterity, that building is “The Packet House Inn”, built in 1764 it stands on the south east corner at the lower end of Bridge Street, it is the last remaining commercial link that our town has with the river Mersey. The Inn served as a ticket office and waiting area for weary passengers awaiting the arrival of packet boats enabling them to make the eight hour journey from Warrington to Manchester or Liverpool via Runcorn where they would board the steam ferry to continue their journey across the river Mersey . Long distance travel in those times would entail travelling by stage coach and the journey to and from Liverpool when available would generally only be affordable to affluent people also the road to Liverpool was notorious for its poor condition between the city and Prescot being badly rutted and impassable after rain had softened the ground, leaving the less fortunate folk the alternative method of travel by the river and this is where the Inn played it’s part in provided shelter, food and drink for some of those weary and exhausted passengers who may have walked many miles to reach the packet stage situated across Mersey street. Owner or Licencee. 1764. The Packet House had originally been built as a private dwelling with the first occupants recorded as living there was a Mr Joseph Dennett a surgeon, also recorded as living there was Mr John Boardman the Clerk Rector of Warrington. 1799. Occupied by John Foster and his wife Mary, Nicholas Gremshaw is also recorded as living there. 1818. Licensee. John Winchurch. The building is now a licensed public house called “The Queens Head”. 1820. Licensee. David Summer. 1821. The Inn has a change of name from the “Queens Head” to the “Packet House Inn”. The reason for this name change is that inn was being used as a depositary for packages and parcels being deposited there from the packet boats travelling up the river from Liverpool where they were loaded on to the coaches to continue their journey to Manchester. 1823-1836. Licensee. Samuel Eyton. 1828. The owner Anthony McGovern dies, John Rylands is executor of the will and the pub is sold to a William Fairhurst. 1844. Licensee. John Newton. 1848. Licensee. John Blythe. 1852/3. Warrington Council announce that plans have been drawn up to widen Bridge Street with the first phase having a direct affect on the buildings of lower Bridge Street, the “Packet House” would be one of them. 1854. All plots of land at the lower end and front of Bridge Street are under the ownership of George Preston which are leased to a William Wood as tenant who has a certain pump and house in the area known as the “Queens Head” yard, the areas affected include the shop on the corner of Bridge Street with Mersey Street this being part of the site known as the “Packet House Inn” and occupied by Frances Blythe, the Licensee appears to have rebuilt part of the Inn resulting in the shop on the corner of the building being removed thus causing the “Packet House Inn” to have a distinctive bowed corner (part of which has been retained to date although with the removal of the doorway on the corner and replaced by a window only the upper part of the bow remains). With the removal of the shop the Inn became the last building on the north corner of Bridge Street with Mersey Street. 1857. Licensee. Mrs Frances Blythe. 1857. Licensee. Leonard C Smith. 1861. Licensee. Ethel Smith. 1864. William Wetch (the surname may not be correct as the record is written in pencil and barely legible) . The Packet House had a name change to “The Railway & Packet House Inn”. 1871-1875. Licensee. William Atherton. Name of the Inn recorded as “The Railway & Packet House Inn”. 1876. Licensee. Elizabeth Lightfoot. 1881. Licensee. Thomas Clare. 1890-1895. Licensee. John Monks. 1901-1907. Licensee. Elizabeth Monks (wife of John Monks). 1908-1912. Licensee. Arthur E. Denham. 1913. Licensee. J. H. Fair. 1921. Licensee. S. Fair. 1929-1948. Licensee. Louise Fair. 1949-1957. Licensee. Leonard C. Smith. 1961-1976 Licensee. Ethel Smith. Little is known about the years after 1976 other than in the 1980’s “The Packet House Inn” name was dropped and it became the “Continental”, later another change in ownership took place with the name again changed to “TigerToo” and then Bar Zero. The establishment finally closed its doors in the 1990’s. June 2022 the Packet House is put up for sale, who knows what its future will be?.

Sid, I worked with a guy that was so mean he would keep the same teabag to keep brewing a cup of tea until it barely coloured the water, now he had an answer to your question No.5 he used to slit an almost empty toothpaste tube to scrape the last bit of toothpaste out before discarding it. His nickname was Isaiah as one of his eyes was literally higher than the other.

Hi!, LL. Sid and Bill, great to hear from you all and the welcome, I shall endeavour to comunicate/contribute, you lads were never a problem and I can only say the same for Obs and Co, anyway that is water under the bridge so to speak, does Dizz and Baz still appear, I do remember Cleo seemed to drift off after the loss of her husband and was never heard from again. I had a coronary twelve months las Christmas but after having three stents fitted I am fit (well sort of) and healthy and had a dose of the Delta strain of Covid which I was lucky with as it was little more than a light cold and had gone after a few days, I hope you are all keeping well, Algy.

Wow!, I have had a notification by a No.1 by the side of a little bell (Notifications) at the top of the forum page and when I clicked on it the message stated that I was to be congratulated on achieving and awarded a badge for "One years membership since joining the forum" strange as I actually joined in May 2010" now I know I don't visit as often as I should do mainly due to the fact that another member (no names no pack drill) and myself constantly bickered with each other and it got to the point where I was no longer enjoying my participation in topics on here so decided to take a long sabbatical but one year since joining, come on now!. Anyway I hope everyone is keeping well in these stressful and difficult times, Algy. PS, on submitting this post I see I have now got a conversation starters badge, is there no end my newfound talents 🏅🏅🏆

If there are aliens out there that were thinking of colonising earth I bet they have lost interest in paying us a visit sometime in the future and have totally lost interest in coming here now, probably decided to wait until we have wiped ourselves out completely which lets face shouldn't be too long now.

We used to hide under the stairs or if there was time out in the brick air raid shelter in our backs, everyone holding saucers with lit candles on them.

The Brook Inn.

How many of you use these car wash stations dotted around the town because if you do then I would suggest that you are condoning immigration either legal or illegal!.

I am getting old and my eyesight is not as efficient as it used to be so perhaps my judgement has also become impaired, however I do not not see much social distancing being practised in the new market or perhaps the video gives a false sense of perspective although the hairdresser does appear to be wearing some PPE.

A video slideshow of the old Warrington Market.

I met my wife when I was 17 in 1956 at the Church Hall Saturday night 'Hop', Stockton Heath, we married at St Lukes church on Liverpool Road six years later and have been married 58 years this September.