Prescot

[lindac8941]

Just a little bit of Prescot history, Which some of you may find interesting.

Prescot is one of the oldest towns in Merseyside and it is believed that an early Christian church was established here in the 7th century. In medieval times Prescot was a thriving market town and the ecclesiastical centre of a large parish covering much of south west Lancashire.

The 18th century brought considerable changes to Prescot and the continued growth in a number of craft industries created one of the earliest centres of the Industrial Revolution. These craft industries were concentrated around watch making, tool making and the potteries, resulting in Prescot’s increased prosperity. The town also had close links with Liverpool’s expanding overseas trade and as a result became an important coaching centre on the Lancashire Turnpike System. As the old trades disappeared other industries replaced them and during the 20th century BICC was a big local employer, utilising the highly skilled watch making workforce. Prescot once had an unusual tradition known as the Perrying Ceremony. It involved the officers of the Court Leet throwing heated pennies from the windows of the Town Hall into the market place below. People would then scramble to pick them up.

[Waterways]

Prescott was a world leader in timepiece making and design - well before Switzerland knew what a cuckoo clock was.

[lindac8941]

It certainly was. I lived in a watchmakers house at one time in Prescot. But he had long since gone.

[Spike]

I worked up there for a few years. Nice place.

Good War memorial for Prescot online here http://www.prescot-rollofhonour.info/

Its ran by Steve. Well worth a read.

[pablo42]

Nice one Linda. Where's Prescot...

[smudger95]

Prescot Museum. Been there today, with wife & two youngest grandchildren. There were very interested in the layout and history at this lovely museum, listing what the area had in days gone by. The receptionist was very helpful with knowledge. The unfortunate part of Prescot is that it has lost a lot of it's wonderful olde worlde character, by opening a big retail park.

[Oudeis]

Prescot Museum. Been there today, with wife & two youngest grandchildren. There were very interested in the layout and history at this lovely museum, listing what the area had in days gone by. The receptionist was very helpful with knowledge. The unfortunate part of Prescot is that it has lost a lot of it's wonderful olde worlde character, by opening a big retail park.

A retail park, you say?

And there was me thinking Blackburn had all the holes in Lancashire. :)

[Oddsocks]

Also noted for File (metal rasp) manufacturing.

[pablo42]

Also noted for File (metal rasp) manufacturing.

Is that recent Oddsocks? I've never heard of that.

[Oddsocks]

Yes Pablo, it was as recent as 1970 (mediaeval times to some). Here's a block of text from HERE (http://www.harrison-associates.co.uk/prescot/pdf/02_cp_watchmaking.pdf)

Watchmaking in Prescot
Prescot was well established as a centre of watchmaking by the 18th century, and
during the following hundred years, would become world famous for the quality of its
produce. Famous watchmakers such as John Wyke started their businesses at
Prescot, and by the beginning of the Victorian age in 1837, watchmaking was thriving
in Prescot. This happened for a number of reasons. The area was already well
known for its tools, especially files, and metal working. Very high quality tools and
metal were required by the watchmakers so it was natural that the industries should
be set up along side each other. Another important factor was the close proximity of
Prescot to Liverpool, which by 1837 was a major commercial port. This enabled the
watchmakers to supply the demand for watches in other countries, especially
America.

[pablo42]

Well I never knew that. I'd heard aboout the watch and clock making, but I thought the only other thing Prescot made was cables. Hence the Cables Retail Park in town.

[lindac8941]

What really annoys me, as you have read. Prescot was known for clock and watchmaking. A few years ago , a new shopping mall called Inshops was developed, it was really good at the time for Prescot. In the centre of the ceiling was a lovely very large clock, which used to play a tune on the hour and these little figures used to come out from the 4 faces of the clock. It was quite unusual, and my kids used to love waiting to watch this happen. Then all of a sudden, either the clock broke or something, but it disappeared. So much for Prescot and its speciality of clock and watches. The council or whoever couldnt even maintain or keep that going.!

[Oudeis]

What really annoys me, as you have read. Prescot was known for clock and watchmaking. A few years ago , a new shopping mall called Inshops was developed, it was really good at the time for Prescot. In the centre of the ceiling was a lovely very large clock, which used to play a tune on the hour and these little figures used to come out from the 4 faces of the clock. It was quite unusual, and my kids used to love waiting to watch this happen. Then all of a sudden, either the clock broke or something, but it disappeared. So much for Prescot and its speciality of clock and watches. The council or whoever couldnt even maintain or keep that going.!

Odd this. No news via Google on this either. :(

[pablo42]

Never heard of that neither Linda.

[Oddsocks]

I'm not trying to hijack the thread. Just a piece of additional info.

Here's a Needle File of the type that was made in Prescot. This particular one was manufactured by a small factory in Pottery Fields, amid streets of terraced houses.
The size is ideal for working with small items.

[pablo42]

Nice one Oddsocks.

[gregs dad]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2279/2464900836_925781a101_o.jpg
Shopping mall in Prescot
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2047/2464902572_96710dee1e_o.jpg
The Museum
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2131/2464072495_c4054ff7d5_o.jpg
War memorial
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2339/2459169415_bc894370a6_o.jpg
The town centre
I think I might have posted these before

[lindac8941]

If you look at gregs dad`s picture of the shopping centre, it was under that clock, only indoors.

Prescot
Notable residents
Screenwriter Peter Briggs who wrote the film Hellboy, was born in neighbouring Whiston and grew up in Prescot.
Actor Daniel Craig (James Bond 007), spent at least part of his childhood growing up in Prescot.
Actor Sue Johnston (Brookside, The Royle Family).
Shakespearean actor John Philip Kemble was born in Prescot. His house has since been demolished, but the road has been renamed Kemble Street. The John Kemble Pub stands on this street in his memory.
Actor Sam Kelly (Porridge, The Two Ronnies, All or Nothing)
Nonsense-poet and artist Edward Lear.
Classical pianist Paul Lewis, who featured as a soloist at the 2005 Last Night of the Proms, was a student at Prescot Grammar School.
David McCabe - Lead singer of the Merseyside Band The Zutons.
Danny McCall, former Brookside actor and star of West-End hit The Sound of Fury, based on the life of Billy Fury
Australian politician Jeanette Powell
Lord Stanley, one-time Governor General of Canada after whom the Stanley Cup and Stanley Park in Vancouver, British Columbia, was named
Stuart Sutcliffe, early member of The Beatles attended Prescot Grammar School
Organist Professor Ian Tracey of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral
Professor Sid Watkins, world-renowned neurosurgeon who served twenty-six years as the FIA Formula One Safety Delegate and Medical Delegate, head of the Formula One on-track medical team, and first responder in case of a crash.
Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson was once a Member of Parliament for Huyton, incorporating Prescot
Former Everton FC player Mark Ward.

[pablo42]

You're a little mine of information Linda, nice one.

Now tell us more about this remarkable little town.

[gregs dad]

You're a little mine of information Linda, nice one.

Now tell us more about this remarkable little town.
They had football team Prescot Cables

[pablo42]

They a football team Prescot Cables

Nice one Joe. Where do they play? can't recall seeing a footie pitch there.

[lindac8941]

My nephew used to play for Cables , my daughter works there and I am having my wedding reception there in the function room. ha ha.

[lindac8941]

They had football team Prescot Cables


They still have. ha ha ha.

[lindac8941]

I lived in Prescot from 1977 to 1992 and was there earlier on today shopping.

[pablo42]

Nice one Linda.

[wsteve55]

Anyone got any pic's of the church/cemetery? (sorry,not sure of it's name!!!)

[Diane Louise]

Unfortunately, Prescot town centre is not thriving due to the fact that Prescot Retail Park has taken business away from the small shops there. Wheras Huyton town centre which has a big Asda seems to have increased their trade and small shops do not seem to have been affected by the super store.