Rathbone Park - Old Swan in the 1980's

Hello 1st post :)

I was talking to my 9 year old son about where I grew up in the 80's (Old Swan) and was telling him about the skate board park (Rathbone Park) and how busy it was with bmx's etc and how the tv crews would film the stunt riders etc in the summer.
I was also telling him about the flats and shops as well which have now since been knocked down.

Has anyone got any photos of the above places or can give me a link to website that has?

Thanks - you will put a smile on a 36 yr old and a 9 yr olds faces :)

Lets hope u get a good response,

Welcome Dennis :PDT11

Thanks Kev - this looks a good informative site will have a proper look around in between working ;)

If I'm not mistaken, the concrete 'bowl' section of the skateboard park is still there - though closed off now. How many shopping trolleys it's taken since...!

I go past all the time with my son and say to him that it used to be so busy in the summer.
It had a big youth center in the middle plus all the skateboard ramps, the football pitches, the concrete bowl, the swings etc but sadly it has all gone. I'm surprised it hasn't been turned into a housing estate.

Just wanted some pics to go with the memories...

Have been to the park with my Old Swan mate in the late 70s. If you mean the tenement flats around St. Oswalds road, check my 'Other tenements' page on my site below.

Have a look through here-

http://www.mersey-gateway.org/chambr...=SearchResults

Thanks Ged and lindylou.
Cannot check your site out Ged till later, works firewall blocking it.
Lindy good site but the photos are a bit before my time.

I remember playing on there with roller skates

just spotted this thread. I took these pics of the skateboard park couple of weeks ago
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...icture1596.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...icture1597.jpg

Used to sit off there in the summer after a few sherbets in the Parafin Oil Lamp when I lived on Edge Lane

that's still there
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...icture1592.jpg

as for the Old Omnibus I didn't bother with a pic of that as it's be butchered beyond recognition. Modernised and lost all it's original character on the outside that I remember as a kid.

Thats the kidda, nice one quincyg, as to the Omnibus I remember see Ricky Tomlinson doing stand up there of a Sunday morning many years ago as a warm up to the strippers.

I was more of Wellington local myself though on Edge Lane, although thats gone along with the Dryden, The Travellers Rest and the Edge Lane, only the Railway left now...is that progress ?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cockney-fella

Thats the kidda, nice one quincyg, as to the Omnibus I remember see Ricky Tomlinson doing stand up there of a Sunday morning many years ago as a warm up to the strippers.

I was more of Wellington local myself though on Edge Lane, although thats gone along with the Dryden, The Travellers Rest and the Edge Lane, only the Railway left now...is that progress ?

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got pics of some of those. all taken a couple of weeks ago
Railway
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...icture1604.jpg

Wellington
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ture1608-1.jpg

Dryden
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ture1614-1.jpg

Cheers quincyg on an oil rig in the north sea at the moment wishing I was back home, I did work behind the bar in the Welly at one point, drank there for 12 years..shame it closed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cockney-fella

Cheers quincyg on an oil rig in the north sea at the moment wishing I was back home, I did work behind the bar in the Welly at one point, drank there for 12 years..shame it closed.

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you're very welcome. I'm sure you're here in spirit.

have a safe stint :PDT_Aliboronz_24:

The park had pre-fabs on it just after WW2. They were there until the 1960s. They looked pretty then they pulled them down and left waste land for a couple decades. Rathbone Rd was nice, with some nice shops and a dairy.

That skateboard park looks pretty glum now, the boarders preferring to use any slope they can find in the city centre instead aka Silkhouse court, the pier head, vic monument, Manchester st etc etc.

Pity the council can't spruce it up with a dash of weed killer and a lick of paint.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ged

That skateboard park looks pretty glum now, the boarders preferring to use any slope they can find in the city centre instead aka Silkhouse court, the pier head, vic monument, Manchester st etc etc.

Pity the council can't spruce it up with a dash of weed killer and a lick of paint.

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I'm sure they could if they felt it would be used. Sefton Council spent a few bob on one in the North park. it's always in use when ever I go past.
Blakedown Sport and Play to constructed it. it has a grind rail and other metal bits around the top.

I used to ride Rathbone Skate park all the time... I have a folder full of old skool & some recent pics of the park on my facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...&id=1070259558