
St Helens in 50 Buildings
Sue Gerrard(Author)
Amberley Publishing
Published on 15. August 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
96 pages
978-1-3981-2284-0 (ISBN)
Description
St Helens was a giant of the Industrial Revolution, transforming itself through invention and innovation to become a leading voice around the world. It grew from four rural townships - Eccleston, Parr, Sutton and Windle - to become a municipal borough in 1868 and a centre for industries such as glassmaking, coal mining and copper smelting. The town's industrial heritage is echoed through the town's buildings such as Cannington Shaw and the Crown Glass Works and the Beecham's Building, which was the first factory in the world built to manufacture medicines. St Helens was also located on the first canal built in Britain in the Industrial Revolution - the Sankey Canal - and the pioneering Liverpool to Manchester passenger railway, of which one of the oldest passenger railway stations in the world is located at St Helens Junction. Venues such as the Hippodrome which played host to Charlie Chaplin and George Formby entertained the rapidly growing population, and St Helens' story continues today with the opening of the sustainable Glass Futures plant in 2023.
St Helens in 50 Buildings explores the history of this town in Merseyside through a selection of its most interesting buildings and structures, showing the changes that have taken place over the years. The book will appeal to all those who live in St Helens or who have an interest in the area.
St Helens in 50 Buildings explores the history of this town in Merseyside through a selection of its most interesting buildings and structures, showing the changes that have taken place over the years. The book will appeal to all those who live in St Helens or who have an interest in the area.
Reviews / Votes
'The book is a treasure trove for local residents and anyone interested in architecture and heritage.' -- St Helens Star, July 2025 'As the title suggests, Sue's book shines the spotlight on fifty of the town's most iconic buildings, such as the Beecham's Building, The Gambles Institute and The Hippodrome.' -- Local Life St Helens Magazine, September 2025More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Chalford
United Kingdom
Illustrations
120 Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 165 mm
Width: 234 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight
344 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3981-2284-0 (9781398122840)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Sue Gerrard was born in St Helens and has lived there most of her life. She has worked as a chartered librarian, a journalist and a lecturer at the University Centre, St. Helens. She currently teaches online for the National Collegiate of Colleges. Sue has written several local history books, including 'Secret St. Helens', nine books of poetry, a collection of ghost stories and two novellas. She performs her own work and has appeared at the Edinburgh Festival and Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester. She co-wrote the musical 'The Childe of Hale' and regularly exhibits her work in galleries throughout the North West of England. Sue has twice been awarded the' Robert Lord Writing Residency' in New Zealand which resulted in the poetry collection 'Poems the Cottage' being published there by Apple Tree Press.