How did the Crab creep into it?

AS I'd suspected, a historic and once-imposing stone building, recently demolished in North Road, St Helens, was a farmhouse long before it became locked into a network of terraced streets.

Confirmation comes from reader Jimmy Biro who lived at that ancient address for five years during the 1950s.

"I have learned a bit of history about that dwelling, built around 1805," writes Jimmy, who now lives in nearby Campbell Street. "It was a farmhouse long before that location became a built-up area."

And he has other interesting details of the agricultural type.

"In Crab Lane (now known as Crab Street) stood a row of cottages which housed farmworkers. There were about eight of them, standing on ground now occupied by Lowe House Social Club, and they were demolished in 1938."

For many years, the old farmhouse was the home of the Fishwicks, a greengrocery family, adds Jimmy. It was converted into flats, then became Casey's electrical supplies store before standing empty and near derelict for the final years of its existence.

"The cellar still had rails, hooks and boilers as a reminder of its past," Jimmy adds, "but now all that remains is a patch of waste ground."

Thanks for that fascinating info, Jimmy.

Mention of Crab Lane (Street) leads me on to another issue which has always puzzled me. Being 11 miles from the nearest shoreline, how on earth did a St Helens side-street earn that unusual, shellfishy title?

IF anyone can put me in the picture, I'd be much obliged. Letters on this (or any other subject, for that matter) can be sent to me 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.