Photo-a-Day (Sunday, 15th June, 2025)
Not Quite 'Spite' Row!
They are said to have been built by Catholics to 'Spitefully' block the view of the now Protestant St Wilfrid's Church following the Reformation.
I believe the Stocks were relocated to their present location when 'Spite Row' was demolished some time around 1930, the land on which those houses stood was given by James Martland Ainscough J.P. 'For the improvement of his native village'.
Photo: Colin Traynor (iPhone)
If those cars weren't in the picture, little has changed since the 1930s.
I think there was an almighty row a few years back when Standish was accused of stealing those relaid cobbles from Aspull.
They should still use that stocks today with what's going on in society.
I am sick and tired of seeing bikes and scooters flouting the law.....where is our Police.
I remember the story of "Spite Row", and wasn't there also a well there once, near the cross and stocks? I seem to recall hearing that an army vehicle had caused damage to it during the war. Church Street looks so open on the photo; when I worked in Standish in the 1970s there were a lot of terraced houses there.....I imagine they've since been demolished. A good photo, Colin.
Irene, The Well is just behind me, it has featured many times over the years so didn’t include it in the shot. It is a nice feature of Market Place though and attracts a lot of attention from those not familiar with the area.
Behind the Cross where that tree is, is a small park. I can remember in the late 1960’s there were terraced houses along there and girl named Enid lived in one, she worked in the office at Timberlakes Garage in Library Street. I wonder where she is now.
My husband's brother went out with a girl from Church Street when I worked at Richardson's Chemists in High Street around 1970/71, but I can't recall her name....it definitely wasn't Enid. We have a friend who worked at Timberlakes in the 1960s.
That pub in the background now The Lychgate was in the 1960’s The Black Horse.
It's a nice little garden and a quiet place to sit too is that benched area Colin, as some years ago I would be walking the RSPCA dogs that were in kennels at Gilmore vets, and I would stop there letting the dogs have a lie down on the grass with a chew stick or two before going back to the kennels. They were really nice pleasant dogs too, and always seemed happy and grateful to be out and about having a sniff for half an hour or so.
The house where Worthington butcher was, now looks to be very shaded, with it being painted white before it wasn't at all noticeable to be in the shade.