Table Manners
Jeni McConnell
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - jeni mcconnell people | place | ARTIST | object | archive jeni.mcconnell@gmail.com jenimcconnell.com @jenimcconnell 07722 519889 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Table Manners Halton Heritage Partnership
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - A dinner table laid with the best silverware, set in grand surroundings. At each place setting name cards, images and objects announce twelve guests; people from Halton’s past. These quirky things were used to provoke a discussion about Halton’s history, and changing table manners - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jeni McConnell Artist in Residence
TABLE GUESTS 1.
William Hankinson | 1829-1907 Runcorn & District Historical Society
2.
Caroline Sutton Timmis | 1837-1902 Civic Collection, Runcorn Town Hall
3.
Mary Shaw | 1841-1913 Runcorn Family History Group
- WORKING THROUGH THE FIRST WORLD WAR 4.
Anne Jane Proctor | 1847-1941 Halton Libraries
5.
Henry Pawsey | 1869-1936 Norton Priory Museum
- WORKING THROUGH BOTH WORLD WARS 6.
Alf Salt | 1886-1951 Widnes Rugby Union Football Club
7.
Joseph Aloysius Mercer | 1888-1947 Widnes Historical Society
8.
Ted Basnett | 1891-1968 Preston Brook & District History Group
9.
William Tyler | 1898-1972 Catalyst Museum
10. John ‘Jack’ Gerrard | 1899-1989 St Marie’s Heritage Group - WORKING THROUGH THE SECOND WORLD WAR 11. Kenneth Thomas | 1911-1984 Daresbury District Heritage Group 12. John Law | 1943-2007 Sankey Canal Restoration Society
INTRODUCTION Sitting at a table is something most of us do quite regularly, as an act of solitude or joining with others. Through our working lives we encounter tables at interviews, in meetings, as working spaces and negotiating places. At home a table becomes a more relaxed gathering space, a place to eat, to share the stories of the day, discuss worries and maybe even debate life over. TABLE MANNERS was created as an event to bring the partnership together in an unusual way, each partner presenting a table ‘guest’ known to them through their research, some well known, others less so. Each person has a story to be heard and each will have encountered many experiences of tables and table manners throughout their lives. The event was specifically designed to provide a focus for engaging both existing and new audiences with heritage in the grand setting of Runcorn Town Hall. It enabled the best silverware and china to come out of the cabinets and cupboards - breathing fresh life into objects that are now mostly held as museum pieces. The audience were asked to look around the grand table and the presented information, then we sat to discuss: - how have tables shaped our lives, both personally and in our working lives - what are good table manners - have table manners changed over time, and how important are they This booklet supports the event, providing a way of looking back as a reminder, triggering memories of the setting and conversation, how and why we engaged as we did. It is also looking forward, as a springboard to think about new ways of engaging audiences, ways to develop and enrich the stories of Halton’s past through its present and future. Parts of the event conversation and other discussions are presented on the following pages, interleaved with more information about each of our table guests. JENI MCCONNELL Artist in Residence
ARTISTS & MUSEUMS Over the past few years, artists across the UK have developed exciting and engaging projects with heritage sites, archives and collections. While many of these are events or interventions in high profile locations, it is more exciting to those working with both artists and communities to see long term creative interaction between artists and local heritage organisations. Activity which develops into a real understanding between artist and audience and where artists are learning from those working in a different sphere, brings a new perspective and insights to familiar places and histories. Jeni’s work with the Halton Heritage Partnership in the Working Lives: Working Together project, and building on her previous work with Halton’s public collections holds these values close. By undertaking her own research and working with over a dozen voluntary and public collections Jeni has taken her own interests in maps, walking and hidden histories and created unique walks and talks with and for the local community. Working with health networks, local historians and collections Jeni has brought a wide range of people, many unfamiliar with the history of the local area, into a creative engagement with the past and created dialogues about who we perceive to be ‘important’ in telling the stories of our past. Using objects to tell stories is a familiar one for museums, but when used by an artist in a public event, where opinions and ideas can be freely exchanged, chance encounters can yield new stories and a new way of sharing our history can be found. People feel much closer to their history when it seems tangible, and taking objects in context, such as the use of a dinner service that is part of the Halton Civic Collection to lay a table for historic guests, facilitates a more imaginative experience. This ties in with other events developed as part of the Working Lives: Working Together project; such as the Between Dreams bus tour; which used real stories and fictional characters to form an historic guided tour with a difference, and the Canalival event, also delivered by the Suitcase Ensemble and Halton Young People’s Theatre, re-imagining a fictional event, but told in stories taken from oral histories collected as part of this project. LOUISE HESKETH Arts Development Officer, Halton Borough Council
1. William Hankinson | 1829-1907 Runcorn & District Historical Society William Hankinson started his first mineral water company in 1871 with Daniel Harrison Lowry under the name of Hankinson & Lowry from business premises on Alcock Street, Runcorn. Lowry’s connection was short lived with their business being dissolved in 1873. William continued to make mineral waters for the rest of his life, from 1873 under his own name, and from 1896 as Hankinson & Son with his eldest son Henry. They opened a second business in Northwich in 1896, which Henry managed until 1914. William and his wife Eleanor had 4 children, Henry, Emma, an artist, probation officer and parish rescue preacher, and Eleanor, a housekeeper, and Bertha. For a time they lived at Camden House and then Camden Cottage on High Street, Runcorn. As well as his manufacturing business, William was also a Captain in the 2nd Cheshire Rifle Volunteers and stood as a councillor for the Mersey Ward, in the first Urban Council elections of 1894, in which he was not successful. William obviously had some degree of standing as an employer, Captain in the Militia & possibly in the Temperance movement in Runcorn too.
2. Caroline Sutton Timmis | 1837-1902 Civic Collection, Runcorn Town Hall Caroline was born in Salford. Her father was Assistant Governor at New Bailey Prison, Salford; an occupational link which ran strongly in the male line of her family, with her uncles and grandfather also governing there. In 1861, aged 24 she married Thomas Sutton Timmis. They had seven children, living in Riversdale Road, Aigburth and then latterly at Holmleigh, Grassendale. In 1873 Mrs Sutton Timmis laid the memorial stone for the Wesleyan School Chapel on Oakland Street in West Bank, Widnes and was presented with this ivory handled silver trowel to commemorate the occasion. This would have been a familiar practice to both of the Sutton Timmis’ as there are a number of trowels held in the Town Hall collection which bear the family name. They were a generous family, with many noted donations to religious, academic and healthcare institutions around the Widnes and Liverpool area. On her death in 1902 her husband set up the Mrs Sutton Timmis Memorial Fund at the University of Liverpool, with £10,000 to be spent at £1000 per year ‘til it was exhausted, or the cause of cancer discovered’.
3. Mary Shaw | 1841-1913 Runcorn Family History Group Mary Quayle was born in 1841 in Foxdale, Isle of Man, she was the daughter of a lead miner. She moved to Liverpool for work and met her husband to be, William. They married in 1865, both aged 24, and lived in Liverpool. Mary had 13 children, 2 of which died in childhood. William and Mary moved to Runcorn in 1875 to start their missionary work, the New Mersey Mission to Seamen was built & opened during this time, and they ran a soup kitchen to support others in difficult times, such as icy winter weather when boats couldn’t move. The front room of their home at 22 Waterloo Rd was used as a hospital ward to nurse sick seamen back to health. After her death in 1913, a stained glass window was erected & dedicated to Mary’s memory. After the Mission was demolished a medallion containing part of the window was erected in the vestry of St Michaels Church in Greenway Road.
4. Anne Jane Proctor | 1847-1941 Halton Libraries Anne Jane Proctor was born in Carlisle in 1847. She moved to the Widnes area with her family after her father’s death and began work as a school teacher, according to the 1881 census. In 1887 she became the Librarian of the first Widnes Free Library which was housed in the rear of Widnes Town Hall, when it opened on 16th May. The public library was a huge success and in 1896 it moved to purpose built premises within the new Technical School, where it still remains today within Kingsway Learning Centre. Miss Proctor was a very modern and innovative librarian for the era. She was a founder member of the Librarians of Mersey District Association which formed in 1887. She also pushed for the new library to operate under an ‘Open Access’ system, where library users find books on the shelves themselves, whereas previously all books were requested via the librarian. Widnes library became only the second library in Lancashire to operate under this system in 1896.
PARTNER COMMENT SUSAN BROWNRIGG | Norton Priory Museum Modern families are more likely to eat their dinner’s from their laps sat on the settee in front of the TV, so Table Manners was a great reminder of how things used to be. The concept was very clever - the table was set with the finest crockery and beautiful candlesticks. Then each place setting included information about the guest along with an object or photograph representing their working life. It was fascinating to discuss what people from different walks of life would have found in common, imagining the conversations they may have had if actually dining in such a situation. Table Manners was a imaginative way to bring together the different elements of Halton’s heritage and the groups that work to promote it – and has reaffirmed the importance of the Halton Heritage partnership. Norton Priory enjoyed being part of the event and look forward to more events in the future. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - FRANK LAWLESS | Widnes Historical Society The ‘Table Manners’ event reflected the growth especially in the chemical industry on both sides of the River Mersey. Members of the Widnes Historical Society attending the event, reflected on memories depicted around the table and swapped memories and discovered other peoples everyday lives, just as those of years gone by. Life in this area changed in the early 19th century as people from all areas of Britain and many different countries came to fill the need for labour and expertise in the new chemical industry and so brought their own customs including eating habits. The common factor was that all people needed nourishment and required to be able to communicate with each other, the best place was around the dining table. Whether it be in a back to back house as many of those who came to labour in Widnes had, to the leaders of industry with their grand houses and dining tables that showed their success.
PARTNER COMMENT JOHN WHITAKER | Runcorn Town Hall The event was very good. I really enjoyed chatting to the people who attended. We talked about the objects on the table and I was also asked about the paintings and photos that are in the building too. As Mayor’s Attendant for many years I am familiar with a lot of these things, but I still heard things I didn’t know. I was pleased that we included Caroline Sutton Timmis in the event; we know much more about her husband, but very little about her. She was a mother to seven children so she must have been a very busy person. The silver trowel that she was represented with is quite unique in the Town Hall collection. It is displayed in the Mayor’s Parlour, alongside other commemorative trowels, but this is the only one that has a female name. It is dated 1873, before the right of ladies to vote, but at the time of the beginnings of the pressure groups campaigning for women’s rights. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - PETER BLACKMORE | Runcorn & District Historical Society The Table Manners event was a perfect opportunity for all the participating groups & societies, to bring to life local people, that many may have not been aware of. In the case of my group, the Runcorn & District Historical Society, it was a chance to tell everyone about a local man who made his mark selling pop! In Victorian Britain it was called Mineral Waters, and one local man who made a successful business from it’s manufacture was William Hankinson. Not only did he employ people in this town, he also employed people in Northwich. He was also a Captain in the Cheshire Volunteers, and stood for local council. Although in this he was unsuccessful. In reality, from the production of a simple drink, William was able to affect people’s lives. The event was also a good opportunity to hear tales of eating & cooking, from some of the audience. Who had many varied tales from their childhood and beyond.
5. Henry Pawsey | 1869-1936 Norton Priory Museum Henry Pawsey was chauffeur to the Brookes at Norton Priory. He joined in 1910 and worked for the family until they left the Runcorn area in 1920. The position of chauffeur was important, providing a longterm job along with the prestige of working for such a significant family. Henry worked at the mansion when the head of the household was Sir Richard Brooke, 8th Baronet of Norton Priory. Henry would have driven Sir Richard, the family and important guests to meetings and social gatherings, as well as more regular outings to the family church, St Mary’s, Halton village. The Brookes had good relationships with their servants, giving them parties on special occasions and relatively well furnished living quarters. As a chauffeur, Henry would have enjoyed a stronger connection to the Brooke family than many of his colleagues. It may also have given his family a better chance to secure work at the mansion. When Henry’s daughter Irene reached the age of 14 she gained the job of parlour maid to the Brookes. The photograph, above, shows Henry Pawsey sitting in the driving seat of a car outside the stables.
6. Alf Salt | 1886-1951 Widnes Rugby Union Football Club Alf Salt (standing, right) is credited with the founding of Widnes Rugby Union Football Club in the 1930’s. He was born around 1886 and educated as a young boy at Warrington Road Junior School, Widnes and later at Widnes Secondary School. He later went onto Hartley University College, Southampton and returned to Widnes in 1906 as an assistant master at Simms Cross School. At the outbreak of WWI he was granted a commission and in 1918 was awarded the Military Cross for bravery in action; during an attack on the enemy’s position near Mortho Wood he found the infantry were held up by machine gun fire. He took his mortars into the open, in front of the infantry, and opened fire with complete success. From 1920 to 1951 he was a master at Widnes Secondary School, then onto Wade Deacon Grammar School, Widnes. It was during this period he introduced Rugby Union to the school and formed the Old Widnesians to encourage old boys from the schools of Wade Deacon in Widnes, West Park in St Helens and St. Edwards in Liverpool to continue playing Rugby Union. He was nicknamed by pupils “Sniffer” due to the habit he had formed after being gassed in the trenches earlier in the 1st World War.
7. Joseph Aloysius Mercer | 1888-1947 Widnes Historical Society Lieut. J A Mercer was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs J Mercer of Rydal Mount, Hough Green. He was educated at St. Francis Xavier’s College, Liverpool and Mount St. Mary’s College, Derbyshire. When war broke After training he was sent to December, 1916 Regiment.
out in 1914 he joined the Liverpool PALS. in Hooton Park, Knowsley and Grantham, Cambridge and received his commission in in the King’s Own Royal North Lancaster
He first saw service in Egypt and Palestine and then went to France in July 1918 where as acting-captain, he was given a difficult job in clearing a wood held by the enemy and machine guns. He, and the men under him, did the work so gallantly that he was decorated with the ribbon of the M.C. in the trenches, ”he kept very cool under heavy fire, and set a fine example to his men throughout the day”. The investiture, by Prince Arthur of Connaught, was a public recognition of a very gallant deed performed by him and his company of men during the operation in France which finally led to the defeat of the enemy in the summer of 1918.
8. Ted Basnett | 1891-1968 Preston Brook & District History Group Ted was born in Runcorn, one of seven children. He left home at 16 to lodge at Cotton’s Bridge and work as a warehouseman for the Bridgewater Canal Company at Norton. By 1911 he was working as a horse driver for the company. In 1914 he enlisted at Frodsham as a Private in the 8th Battalion (B Company) of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. After training at Aldershot and using his knowledge of horses he was allocated to the Transport Section. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in 1915, and whilst on leave married Bertha Jones at Greenway Road Primitive Methodist Church in Runcorn. Only nine days later Ted was posted to France to begin active service. He was promoted to Sergeant in January 1916 and during the Battle of the Somme, whilst his battalion was attacking Delville Wood, Ted won the Military Medal for “conspicuous devotion to duty”, on the 18th July 1916. He was also awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal. After the war he worked as a water engineer for Runcorn R.D.C. and was a founder member of Halton British Legion branch. Shortly before he died he was awarded one of the highest awards the British Legion offers; the Gold Badge.
EVENT CONVERSATIONS . . . These two pages of text are direct comments from the event, gathered into key themes: ► LAYING THE TABLE There are rules about where things go, fish knives and fork to the outside, side plates to the right. I think for most of us that’s something we inherit and nobody would check in a book - I just watched my Mum do it, or it became your task, as a child your task was setting the table. You are shown how to do it and then that’s it, you’re off. I can remember as a young lad I used to set the table and we used to have a budgerigar as well, of course the budgerigar was flying around and it used to come onto the table and knock the knives and forks off. Unfortunately, there was a window left open and the budgie flew away. ► MATCHING SETS When I was young my mother worked in service, she started off as a scullery maid and worked her way up to a ladies maid. We were a working class family, the cutlery didn’t match and the crockery didn’t match, the glasses didn’t match, but it was laid out like she would serving at the house. And we’d go to the chippy for fish and chips and we’d come back and the table would be laid and there’d be a rose bowl with petals in because we were having fish. That’s my memory of my childhood. ► SEATING PLANS I have an interesting image of a cricket dinner with the top table, where you have the chairman, secretary, treasurer and also the director of the company and it’s quite clear that it’s the top table. Down the two arms are the people who play cricket. They knew from quite an early age that that’s how it would be, directors on the top and them on the sides - and that might be the more fun end of the table! ► TABLE SHAPES I think we should insist on sitting at the table. Round tables, so much more conversation . . . ► WAITING TO BEGIN I wonder if there is a cultural difference as well and whether we are picking that up in some ways from America, whereas in Europe, when I visited Italian families, they were very much always sitting round the table.
There is no waiting, it’s down, it’s in. You don’t want cold food and you it eat as quickly as you can. ► LEAVING SOMETHING ON THE PLATE Some of the table manners we take for granted now actually go back hundreds of years. One that springs to mind for me is always leaving something on your plate. It’s good manners to leave something on your plate and that goes back to Tudor times what you left on your plate was what the servants ate. ► POLITENESS There’s a restaurant I used to go to very occasionally as a student, with my parents and my partner, and my partner is left handed so he would always move his wine glass and water to be on his left hand side and between every course the staff would come round and gently change everything. He was far too polite to say something, but when they’d gone he’d just move it back. ► NOWADAYS I think it’s sad that our youngsters today don’t sit at the table, they sit in front of the TV. We do lose that communication; you’d row round the table, you’d laugh, you’d cry, and that’s being lost. That kitchen dining space has become a much more social space. Living room, dining room, kitchen, very often people don’t use their dining room. They’re knocking the dining into the kitchen, cook and talk to your friends far more important than having the dining space separately that you only use on special occasions and Xmas day. Most social housing only has one living space. ► AND FINALLY, we discussed geographical differences in eating habits, which led to this, which sums up the whole event quite nicely: That reminds me of something my wife says, of watching people eat peas, and the different ways they eat them. Oh, that reminds me of a poem: I eat my peas with honey I’ve done it all my life it makes them taste quite funny but it keeps them on the knife
9. William Tyler | 1898-1972 Catalyst Museum At fourteen William Tyler worked in a bakery, and then a brickworks. On his sixteenth birthday he enlisted in the Cheshire Regiment and was transferred to the Machine-Gun Corps. He was awarded the Military Medal in 1917 for holding an advanced position for 12 hours, after his officer and most of the gun crew had been killed. Demobilised in 1919 with the rank of sergeant, he returned to the brickyard. In 1927 he entered the chemical industry as a "rigger", skilled in handling heavy weights and lifting tackle. Riggers are important because of frequent alterations and repairs to plant. He also became a member of the Works Fire Brigade and First Aid Team. He specialised in the use of Salvus Breathing Apparatus, which enables rescue men to work in smoke and fumes, and is specially valuable where poisonous gases are likely to be encountered. With the threat of WWII, William became an A.R.P. instructor; in 1940 he was appointed assistant A.R.P. Officer, and three years later became Safety Officer in the works. He had to see that the provisions of the Factory Acts were carried out and to educate workers in the proper and regular use of goggles and protective clothing.
10. John ‘Jack’ Gerrard | 1899-1989 St Marie’s Heritage Group Jack was church organist at St Marie's for 54 years. He was awarded the Benemerenti medal by Pope Paul VI in 1966 for 42 years of service to the Church. The family lived in Lacey St, Widnes only a few hundred yards from the church. Jack trained as a Royal Naval Air Service Navigator but didn’t see active service. During WW2 he was involved with the Air Training Corp’s in Widnes and an Officer in 310 Squadron. He worked all his life at the old Widnes Town Hall in the Borough Treasurers Office and retired in 1970. Jack married Ellen (Nellie) Dwyer a fellow parishioner from Anne St, and they eventually moved to Birchfield Rd, in the 1930’s. Despite the move, Jack never severed ties with St Marie’s and always walked to and from the church in all weathers. This would require two journeys on Sundays for morning Mass and afternoon Benediction. The Benemerenti Medal is an honour awarded by the Pope to members of the clergy and laity for service to the Catholic Church. The medal was presented to Jack by Archbishop Beck of Liverpool.
11. Kenneth Thomas | 1911-1984 Daresbury District Heritage Group Kenneth lived under an umbrella on the canal bank in Moore for the last few years of his life. His story is based largely on anecdotes recounted by villagers. He was a skilled painter and decorator and served in the army in WW2. He contracted a form of malaria, never really recovered and preferred to sleep outdoors. He had a family in Manchester, but after his wife died suddenly, he was never able to sleep indoors again. He moved from place to place along the Bridgewater Canal, doing decorating jobs and sleeping wherever he could. But fishing was his passion and he loved Moore, so he set up home on the canal bank and lived under an umbrella. Villagers used to take him hot meals and offered him baths. When they met him along the canal, they would stop and chat to him. The children were especially fond of him. After his death, a stone was laid on the canal bank, though it is sadly overgrown now. A fishing competition was set up in his memory and local children could compete for the ‘Kenneth Thomas Memorial Trophy’.
12. John Law | 1943-2007 Sankey Canal Restoration Society John Law was one of West Bank's more colourful characters spotted most days around West Bank, collecting scrap, walking someone's dog, or operating the lock gates. John was born in Davies Street, the son of father Charles and mother Maggie. His donkey jacket and wellingtons were his trademark and few people ever saw him without his beard. Appearances are deceiving because under the tatty clothes and unkempt appearance beat the biggest 'heart of gold'. Residents remember him as a gentle giant who was part of the fabric of West Bank; “although he was not a boat owner, he was perhaps for many years the most important person in the life of West Bank Boat Club. Not only did he provide an ever present and imposing figure alongside the canal but he also took on the role of lock-keeper with a relish�. All knew to keep their lines tight when 'Big John' was operating the sluices! John's reliability was unquestioned. There is a memorial bench situated on the canalside, a place to sit and reminisce about this gentle giant and a statuette of him on loan to the Catalyst collection.
EVENT FEEDBACK After the event, Hayley Trowbridge filmed a discussion with Jeni McConnell, transcribed here: WHAT VISION DID YOU HAVE FOR THE EVENT? My vision for the event today was pretty much that lots of people would turn up and enjoy a conversation having looked at his fantastic table that we’ve laid out today, and taken a little bit of information away with them about who the guests were that were all proposed by the partners of the Halton Heritage Partnership. IS ENGAGEMENT IMPORTANT? I think the important thing for me is that you find different ways for people to engage, so the fact that we’ve got the civic silverware out of the cabinet, it’s on a physical table where people can see it, it looks different and it gives them a different view of what the markers are that we have in these cabinets, of the heritage of the area. WHY DO YOU TAKE THIS APPROACH? I like creating things where we are looking at something in a different way, you are having something presented to you that is maybe about the same subject, but it’s different in the way it’s presented. WHO WAS YOUR FAVOURITE? I quite like Mrs Sutton-Timmis because she was very much a wife, by all we can find out, but that might not be the case at all. I like John Law and the man who lived on the bank of the canal, partly because they had connections to water and I love the idea of being connected to water, but partly about them living a very different life and being comfortable with that life, even though other people may have viewed them as being different, or unusual in some way. You can listen to it at this link: www.tinyurl.com/HHP-TableManners
HALTON HERITAGE PARTNERSHIP The partnership brings Halton’s community heritage groups and four public collections together to create a shared heritage strategy and focus for the borough of Halton. We have created an interactive partnership website and hold events to highlight the rich history of this area. Our partners are always delighted to welcome new members, please get in touch with the specific group(s)► 1. Catalyst Museum Catalyst is an accredited museum and interactive science centre. Our main theme is chemistry and how the processes and products of chemistry are, and have been, used in everyday life with particular reference to the Widnes and Runcorn area. ► www.catalyst.org.uk 2. Daresbury District Heritage Group The group brings together local people who are interested in discovering the histories of Daresbury, Moore, Preston Brook, Hatton and Sandymoor. We share all our research with the local community through workshops, displays, talks, walks, our website and Facebook page. ► www.ddhg.org.uk 3. Civic Collection, Runcorn Town Hall The Town Hall collection is publicly accessible on the first Saturday in December each year, when the Mayors Parlour is open and local school groups visit to sing carols. At other times by arrangement. ► kathryn.mackenzie@halton.gov.uk 4. Halton Libraries A wide range of local studies reference material, including historical maps, archive of local newspapers, local parish records and many other resources to aid research. ► www.halton.gov.uk/libraries 5. Norton Priory Museum A major new museum alongside the medieval ruins of Europe’s most excavated monastery tells the stories of the site from priory to country mansion. Visitors can explore the 12th century undercroft, wander through 42 acres of woodland, and relax in the beautiful Georgian walled garden. ► www.nortonpriory.org
6. Preston Brook & District History Group Meet on the third Thursday of the month for 7 months (Jan-May & Sept-Dec) at 7:45pm at Preston on the Hill Methodist Chapel. We have speakers on a variety of interesting subjects. For the summer months we go on outside visits. ► John Ackroyd | 01928 712509 7. Runcorn & District Historical Society Meet once a month for talks and events which relate to both the history of Runcorn and to that of the surrounding area. We keep an archive which holds a growing number of documents, photographs and historical material. ► www.runcornhistsoc.org.uk 8. Runcorn Family History Group Group that traces its ancestors and helps others to trace theirs. Meets every first Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm with talks open to members and non members. They hold transcriptions of many local church baptisms, marriages and burials which are available for research. ► linwild@virginmedia.com 9. St Marie’s Heritage Group Team of volunteers who focus on protecting the heritage of St Marie’s following the redevelopment of the building in 2014 through the craftsmanship of the building and the thousands of people who worshipped there. We organise tours, events and talks. ► www.stmarieschurch.com 10. Sankey Canal Restoration Society Formed in 1985, the principal aim of the Society is to achieve the full restoration of the canal. The Society actively publicises and promotes the cause of the canal, particularly in the three boroughs through which it runs – Halton (Widnes), Warrington, and St Helens. ► www.sankeycanal.co.uk 11. Runcorn Locks Restoration Society The Unlock Runcorn group champions the restoration of the old flight of locks which connected the Bridgewater Canal to the Manchester Ship Canal, giving impetus to the re-emergence of Runcorn’s previous heritage as a National centre for boating. ► www.unlockruncorn.org
12. Widnes Family History The group aims are to encourage like minded family historians and to transcribe local records and make them available to members and the public. Monthly meetings generally consist of Members Research evenings interspersed with four Speakers evenings and one trip out per year. ► www.liverpool-genealogy.org.uk/widnes-group 13. Widnes Historical Society Open to all interested in local history and meets monthly for presentations. We invite visitors and new members to join us for our programme of evening lectures and occasional visits to places of historic interest. ► www.widneshistoricalsociety.org.uk 14. Widnes Rugby League Museum The Museum exists to promote the unique heritage of Widnes RLFC, build and maintain an extensive collection of related memorabilia, and to educate and inspire future generations. With over 3,000 items in the collection we aim to rotate displays on a regular basis. ► www.widnesrlmuseum.com 15. Widnes Rugby Union Football Club Formalised in 2009, when Widnes RUFC celebrated its Golden Jubilee, our Heritage Collection includes 30 hours of oral history, thousands of photographs and an as-yet uncatalogued horde of trophies, shirts, ties and memorabilia. ► johnloughnane@hotmail.co.uk
... and FINALLY MAKING CONTACT
We can be contacted in the following ways: WEB: www.haltonheritage.co.uk EMAIL: haltonheritage@gmail.com FACEBOOK: /HaltonHeritagePartnership TWITTER: @haltonheritage PARTNERSHIP NEWSLETTERS, EVENTS AND UPDATES If you would like to be kept informed of partnership events, please email us with your contact details to the address above. We only send messages when we have something we really want to tell you about. JOINING OUR PARTNER GROUPS The previous pages list the partnership groups and their contact details, please contact them directly for information about membership, meetings and areas of research. JOINING THE PARTNERSHIP If you are a group involved in researching the history and heritage in the borough of Halton then please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
IMAGES & ACCURACY
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
With grateful thanks to everyone who contributed and took part in the Table Manners event. Thank you to our individual partner groups for the table guest research information and images, and to Hayley Trowbridge for the event images and film. Finally, thanks go to our funders, without whom this whole project would not have taken place.