Punch-ups near the holy cross!

They were picking up on earlier contributions from Roy J. Hull, of Parr Mount Court, appealing for information as to how the Fingerpost area of Parr got its unusual name, and from Mrs L. M. Feeney of Thatto Heath who delved back to several ancient local landmarks.

Now, Jim Rimmer of Humber Crescent, Sutton Leach, steps up to say that Mrs Feeney was correct about a roadside cross having given its name to the Peasley Cross district.

"However," he adds, "it was only one of three standing in a line to Farnworth Church -- the others being Marshalls Cross and Tibbets Cross.

"Burial parties going to Farnworth would use these as resting places and say prayers there for the deceased.

"These crosses also stood on an ancient track from Fiddlers Ferry and would be used by travellers to pray for safety from perils of the road.

"The track," he rounds off, "passed through St Helens up North Road and on to Billinge."

Kevin Heneghan, a frequent contributor to this page, provides further interesting detail, starting with Roy Hull's Fingerpost query.

"Fingerposts were originally wooden signposts, standing at road junctions, showing a pointing finger of hand. The one I recall at Fingerpost was made of metal, probably replacing an earlier wooden sign.

"It stood on a small road island at the top of Higher Parr Street, with one arm pointing the way to Bolton and another to Parr, Newton and Warrington."

Kevin cannot remember when this sign was removed.

He goes on: "Some people believe that Thatto Heath got its name from a similar fingerpost which pointed 'That to Heath.'"

My old chum Kevin has also produced a wealth of fascinating detail concerning the origins of Parr and Peasley Cross and also touching upon religious punch-ups that could sometimes result from attempts to drive away evil spirits at certain of the crosses which had acquired a devotional purpose.

ALL great stuff which I intend to publish at length in the very near future.