ALAN WHALLEY'S WORLD

THE Cromwellian issue rages on . . .

Opinion has clashed over whether the Roundheads and their Lord Protector leader ever marched through the Thatto Heath district.

One reader had earlier suggested that the name Thatto Heath may have been derived from a remark by Oliver Cromwell when he suggested that his men should make camp on "That Old (hence Thatto) Heath."

Another - a keen local history buff - punctured that theory.

But now, Stan Roberts steps into the musket fire by insisting: "Cromwell was in the vicinity of Thatto Heath. This is authenticated and on record."

"Cromwell's horse is buried in a field at Rainhill Stoops," adds Stan, of Wharmby Road, Haydock, "so it isn't ridiculous to believe that he might have travelled around the area, including Thatto Heath.

"Consider the facts," Stan urges, "there are Cromwellian soldiers buried near Wargrave at Newton-le-Willows, and Cromwell obviously crossed the Mersey at Warrington."

The Academy and his statue bear witness to this.

And Stan surged deeper into battle: "It is known that Prescot was a staging point for London at the time so I think it obvious that Cromwell's scouts would scour a number of miles in each direction, thus covering a large number of local places."

WELL, there you have it! Did Old Ollie (warts an' all) leave a footprint in the history of Thatto Heath, and the Prescot and St Helens areas in general? I'd love to hear more on this fascinating subject.

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