ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD

THE plea from reader N. Smith, of Cooper Street, St Helens, for any information about the placename origins of the Wargrave area of Newton-le-Willows has drawn interesting response.

Keen historical fact-finder Stan Roberts of Wharmby Road, Haydock, tells us: "The name originates from the fact that some of Cromwell's men were buried in that district during the Civil War."

They were, claims Stan (67), killed at the nearby Battle of Red Bank. And he believes that other victims were lain to rest in the Hermitage Green area. Legend has it they were buried along with their helmets and swords.

Another readership response, this time to a query of long standing, comes from 73-year-old Tommy Roberts of South John Street, Fingerpost.

He reveals that the old first world war battle tank which once graced the entrance to the Queens Rec park at Boundary Road, was cut up for scrap by his late uncle, George Gleave.

George, who worked for the Todd Brothers foundry, also cut up the park's railings, as part of the 1939-45 war effort (scrap was required for making munitions and the like).

It seems that George worked overtime with that burner torch, also having had a hand in slicing up the town's old tram lines.

ANYONE else got a bygone memory to share with us? If so, please write to me at the Star.

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