SO the nickname Bug Row - bestowed on bygone cottages of an ancient St Helens side-street - had nothing to do with things that crawl and bite!

Quite the reverse, in fact. For the rather creepy-sounding nickname could be interpreted as a glowing compliment.

But let reader Eileen Carey of Birley Street Newton-le-Willows advance the following unusual theory regarding that little string of cottages along what is properly called Windle City.

"When Royalty and top dignitaries visited the Pilkington works," she explains, "the entrance they drove through was in the form of two large gates at the top end of Windle City.

"These VIPs were referred to as 'big bugs' - and thus Bug Row."

And Eileen reckons that she ought to know, because she lived there from the age of two in 1939 until she married in 1958.

"We lived at No. 32 , with my grandparents at No. 34. My father, aunts and uncles were all born in the 'City' and my Auntie Ivy Carter, who now lives in Rivington Avenue, is 81 and can tell a tale or two about Bug Row."

Eileen also recalls that only the dwellings at either end of the row were built from stone. "The rest were brick built with small gardens, all lovingly cared for. The house at the bottom was used as a Sunday school until the Gamble Memorial Hall was built nearby in City Gardens."

But the reason why Windle City was granted 'city' status still remains a bit of a mystery. Eileen vaguely remembers learning some time ago that the spelling of the street name had been corrupted over the years and that its original title had something to do with tax collection.

Further than that she cannot say.

Another customer of this column, Steve Rotherham, also defends the squeaky-clean reputation of Bug Row. "I never saw any bugs there," he declares via e-mail.

Explaining that the side-street was a continuation of Bishop Road, up to the Pilks factory gates, he recalls that back in 1946 he had his wedding pictures taken in Windle City by a professional photographer who had a well-kept studio almost against the Pilks gates.

THANKS to all who have contributed to this fascinating Bug Row theme.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.