ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD

THE memory-tweakers have come in thick and fast this week.

A fellow sheltering under the pseudonym of 'Curious of Sutton Leach', hopes that our erudite readers can put him on the right track with a railway yedscratter.

He writes: "I remember someone once saying that the area known locally as the Intersection, at the bottom of Leach Lane, Sutton, has quite an historical significance.

"This is where the old disused Widnes line crossed the Liverpool-Manchester main line and it was said to be the first example in the world of one railway crossing over the top of another by rail-bridge."

He now wonders if anyone can shed further light on the subject and perhaps say whether the site is protected as being of historical value.

June Brighouse of Consett Road, Nutgrove, lists a cluster of queries.

She writes: "As a child, I remember my grandmother telling me that during the 1950s, while working at Eccleston Hall, she saw the ghost of the Grey Lady."

June hopes some reader can reveal the true identity of that apparition and explain why she haunted that particular location. She'd also love to hear of any other local ghostly goings-on.

"For many years, the small livestock event (especially the pets section) of St Helens Show was organised by my family and friends," says June, in leading up to her next query.

"Has anyone got any photographs or memories of that time?" she asks. "I hope to compile a record and scrapbook."

And while on her pet subject, June adds: "The National Cavy Club has a Peruvian Cavy Cup won in the late 1890s by someone from Liverpool Road, St Helens.

"I would welcome further information and I am attempting to obtain full details of the inscription from the cavy club."

For those a bit baffled, I should explain that a cavy is a small South American rodent, the best known among 'em being the guineapig.

COME on you knowledgable lot, let's see if you can put 'Curious' and June out of their misery. I'd welcome any written replies at: Whalley's World, St Helens Star, YMCA Buildings, Duke Street, St Helens WA10 2HZ.

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