The following text and photos were saved the original Belle Vale Prefab Project website prior to it suffering a hacking which the website was never recovered and the majority of its data lost. It has been reposted here as an archive to the original and ongoing project as reference material.

The project is still active and welcomes new visitors (written 2024). Every month, on the last Thursday of the month, the project has a get-together for those with prefab connections, or anyone else who would like to come along.

https://www.facebook.com/bellevaleprefabs/

What happens there?

Usually there is no charge, but a small raffle is held at each meeting with a variety of prizes to be won. This helps fund the free tea & coffee available for those that want it. The Millennium Centre bar is open for anyone requiring something cooler or stronger!  In August & December we make a small charge but have a great buffet included to make it more of a party. The next meeting is July and includes the AGM to elect our committee

The main benefit of these gatherings is to catch up with old friends & neighbours and to share memories, which for many are of their childhood, family and communities long since gone.

At the meetings we have large photo albums which anyone can look through, and we display large plans mapping the old prefab locations in Belle Vale. We also have the prefab books on sale including the recent reprint of the first ‘Prefab Days.’

It is also a chance to inform and involve everyone in future projects  e.g. we are currently finalising the theme and pictures for the next BVPP calendar . The 2012 calendar will reflect the 2 big events of next year, the Queen’s diamond jubilee and the Olympics in Britain, with pictures of past sports & celebrations in the prefab days.

Is it the same people who attend each time?

It is still surprising that an organisation founded around  7 years ago still attracts new people but it does. As more people browse the web, more discover us on the internet, some from far and wide.

We also have regular displays at events such as the local history show at St George’s Hall and during the annual Heritage day at locations around Gateacre e.g. St Stephens church. We have held one- off events of our own such as our day at St Basil’s club in Hough Green where may were re-housed when the prefabs were demolished. We do have regular members who come along. Some still live around the area but others attend even though they may now live outside of Liverpool.

At the June meeting it was good to see Alec Cormack who used to live at 7 Lineside Road. He was here on holiday because he now lives north of Sydney in Shelly Beach having emigrated to Australia many years ago.

Barry Kay was another first time attendee and he said he thought it was wrong meeting as lots of pensioners were there – no escaping it Barry your days in 59 Lineside Road were a long time ago! When you talked of being a St Stephen’s church school with Chuck Smith & Reggie Owen & it was clear you were in the right place!

Robert Hands came along for the first time – he used to live in 151 Cloverdale Road but has lived in Bolton for some years now.  Robert’s sister Margaret Harwood came with him to share some of her memories. Robert recognised an old school friend , recalling how she had stood up in class at 8 years old and told the teacher she’d had enough and stormed off home!

Kevin Sales and his wife Angelina made the journey from Leigh after making contact through the website. Kevin had lived in 78 Cloverdale Road and he spent time looking through the albums and talking to others about his life in the prefabs.

Besides all the new faces many regulars were also present catching up on each other’s current lives and reliving days gone by.  Seeing Alex, Barry, Kevin, Margaret and Robert peel back the years and be that child, that teenager again with old school mates and neighbours  I am sure they’d agree it made their journeys worthwhile.

About Us

Beginnings

In 2004 old friends attending the 50^th reunion of former pupils of Belle Vale School began reminiscing about old times and the days they all lived in the Belle Vale prefab community. A few of the ex-pupils recalled their idyllic childhood and it was felt that this extraordinary time in their lives was far too important to be forgotten. They did not envision from this conversation that the Belle Vale Prefab Project would be formed with the intention of bringing together former neighbours and friends. Nor did they realise that a book would follow.

Letters were sent out and leaflets distributed and posted in the local shops and library calling upon anyone who had lived in the Belle Vale Prefabs to attend a meeting in the Millennium centre, which stood on the site of the old Labour Club. Following this first and subsequent meeting the Belle Vale Prefab Project was established and a Project Committee was set up to raise funding and to gather memories and old photographs about life in the Prefabs. The Project was also fortunate to secure the services of Sir Terry Leahy to act as President of our Project. Many will recall that Terry, as a young child, lived in Endbrook Road on the prefab estate.

The First Project

Funding for a book was obtained through various local organisations and contributions were received from both Project members and from others who had emigrated to other parts of the world. They were all linked by a common interest and love of the history of a small but unique community. Their individual enthusiasm and interest is reflected throughout the book and enabled each to express this and to ensure that they all felt a part of this gathering of information No one person has written this book, it is an accumulation of each individuals memories, all working together for one goal to produce a factual and sometimes humorous account of life in the prefabs.

“Prefab Days – A Community Remembers” was published in December 2006 after a hectic 15 months. Inevitably a certain degree of repetition may have occurred, this has been necessary to ensure continuity within each chapter and some of the facts may have become blurred by the passage of time. The book can never be truly finished, new facts are being brought to light as the group continues to grow. We hope it will inspire others to record and pass on their own record of history to produce a sequel and both books will in time become a community’s legacy to future generations.

Going Forward

There are regular meetings for members to be reunited with old friends and neighbours and the group has continued to grow and interact with other local organisations. The Prefab Project has taken part in two exhibitions set up by the Liverpool Museums. The Heroes Project was created to celebrate heroes from local communities and Dick Squires MBE, a former resident of Charlwood Avenue, was honoured for his bravery during his war time services both by this country and Russia. The second project, “Four Corners of Liverpool” our exhibit was a post war prefab, intended to recall memories and aspirations in a time of change and transition.

Get Involved

If you were a resident of Belle Vale Prefabs and wish to be involved with the group why not register to the site and come along to the meetings. On the other hand you may wish to record your memories of life in the community for possible inclusion in the sequel to “Prefab Days”. Do you have old photographs which you want to share with the Project on the web site or do you recognise anyone in the photographs which have so far not been attributed. If so read the following page and start posting your pictures and memories.

March 2007

BVPP Newsletter – Volume 1, Issue 1

PREFAB DAYS – A COMMUNITY REMEMBERS
Book Launch, 14th December 2006

The book is the combined memories of the Belle Vale Prefab community, sometimes poignant, often funny but always with passion. It recalls the memories of this unique community from the time of the first dwellings in 1947 through to the demolition program of 1969. There were over 1000 dwellings on this site which, whilst certainly the largest in the UK, may also have been the biggest in post war Europe. No single book can hope to capture the memories of a thousand families over two decades. It’s simply the way of things that communities everywhere eventually change, grow old, take different shape and often disappear. The unique tapestry that evolves over years from the experiences and interactions of hundreds of individuals and families begins to unravel as soon as the bulldozers move in, as if someone has pulled on a loose thread. In a matter of a few months, all that is left are a few photographs, diaries, journals and stories to be passed to children. These stories of the “Tin Palaces” told by the occupants and their children are related with both enthusiasm and nostalgia all of which is evident throughout this book.

BELLE VALE POST OFFICE TAKES UP THE CAUSE

We would like to thank Mr Jones The Postmaster for his efforts on our behalf in selling “Prefab Days” to customers from the local community. Price £9.99 available from: Belle Vale Post Office (Details below) Or by Post, order via bvpp@blueyonder.co.uk
4 Belle Vale Post Office, 121 Belle Vale Road, Liverpool

SIR TERRY LEAHY BECOMES PRESIDENT

In April 2006 Sir Terry Leahy agreed to become President of the Belle Vale Prefab Project. Many will recall that as a young child, Terry lived in a prefab in Endbrook Road and attended Our Lady of the Assumption. After graduating from the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 1979 Sir Terry entered the Tesco supermarket chain as a marketing executive. In 1992 he was appointed to Tesco’s board of directors, and by the time he was 40 he had worked his way up to become chief executive in 1997. Sir Terry was knighted in 2002, soon after having received the honour of the Freedom of the City of Liverpool which entitles him, amongst other things, to herd his sheep across the city without being arrested.

WEBSITE

Thanks to a grant from the Lee Valley Housing Trust the Prefab Project web site is being developed. Unfortunately due to the amount of work involved in getting the book published in time for Christmas the web site has slipped somewhat. Detailed development is being carried out at the moment and it is hoped that we will go live very soon. You will be informed at the project meeting when this is so. The web site will contain details of meetings of the Project Group, excerpts from the book, a depository of all the photographs we have received, as well as a way of tracing former friends and neighbours. Copies of the last three news letters, as they become available, can be accessed so that it will be possible to look back to see items that you may have missed.

GATEACRE SOCIETY

At the last meeting of the Gateacre Society on Sunday 4th February, members of the Belle Vale Prefab Project were invited to give a talk about our project and the success of the book “Prefab Days” Sandra Sandland and Eddie Lansdowne were amongst the members to volunteer. They had an audience of between 50 and 60 people who were very interested in our photographs and maps and many Gateacre Society members bought the book. There is to be a write up of the talk in the next Gateacre Society newsletter.

RADIO MERSEYSIDE

On 8th December two members of the Committee, Celia Kelly and Rob Langton took part in a broadcast for Radio Merseyside. They were interviewed by Linda McDermott about our book “Prefab Days” Linda McDermott included a question on air for which a copy of “Prefab Days” was to be given as a prize for the first correct answer.

EXHIBITION CALLED “INSPIRED BY A HERO”
PART OF THE “FOUR CORNERS OF LIVERPOOL” PROGRAMME

The exhibition was based on a model depicting a local hero. Mr Dick Squires, who lived in the Belle Vale Prefabs was a War Hero, and was suggested for the project by Pat Wheatley. Mr. Squires a submariner during the War, was decorated by the Russian President, and honoured with the M.B.E. By Her Majesty the Queen. The two sided model was made by an artist from the Liverpool Museums and incorporated photographs, certificates and memorabilia kindly loaned by Mr and Mrs Squires for use in the exhibition.

IN REMEMBRANCE

We would like to take the opportunity to remember two members of the Prefab Project Group. Dot Prenton, a valued member of the Prefab Project Committee who died in February 2006. Ray Kirkham who taught boys from the prefabs the joys of scouting, and more especially built a permanent base for them. In the heart of the prefab estate. The Scout Hut of the 5th Childwall Troop. Ray died in January 2007.

TRIP TO ST. FAGAN’S

St. Fagan’s: National History Museum is one of Europe’s biggest and most exciting open-air museums. Over forty buildings have been taken down stone-by-stone and rebuilt here at St. Fagan’s, Including a Prefab in the same design as the Belle Vale Prefabs. The Museum dismantles these buildings and re-erects them at St Fagan’s as means of ensuring their future. In September 2005 the Liverpool Museums, as part of the Prefab Project start up process, funded a trip to enable the group to revisit their unique history. The day proved to be exceptional as the weather was fine and sunny and the sight of the Prefab and its interior brought back many memories for us all. What made it so memorable was the ability to go inside the prefab and to see how it was furnished in the 1950’s style. A lunch was provided in the cafeteria which was enjoyed by all.

The trip costs £10.50 for members and £15.00 for non members.

BABY BOOMERS

Congratulations to the following members who will celebrate their 60th Birthday this year.

Margaret Cannon nee McDonald
Elaine Connor nee Adams
Jean Downey nee Witter
Sue Glover nee Corness
Peter Heys
Janet Hughes nee Williamson
Pat Stenton nee Blakemore
Linda Thomas nee Kerr
Pat Wheatley nee Hagan

BELLE VALE PREFAB PROJECT FUTURE MEETINGS

Thursday  31st May 2007 (7pm - 9pm)
Thursday  28th June 2007 (7pm - 9pm)
Thursday  26th July 2007 (7pm - 9pm)
Thursday  30th August 2007 (7pm - 9pm)

More Prefab Days – Belle Vale Remembers

Book 2

This book is the second collection of stories from The Belle Vale Prefab Project, following on from the success of the first book, Prefab Days (A Community Remembers), published in December 2006. More Prefab Days (Belle Vale Remembers) will be of interest as a stand alone book, but also to complement the first book.

In producing a second book, we knew how much we wanted to keep the human story that existed in the first book, but also to talk about the politics surrounding the Belle Vale Prefab Estate. The more you read about this unusual community and try to unravel why the memories here are so powrful, the more fascinating stories you find. The memories of this second book echo many in the first book, but also act as a companion, and much of the information provided attempts to fill gaps the group felt existed after the first publication.

More Prefab Days (Belle Vale Remembers) is an important social history of a unique community, and has recently became an important reference for students of both architecture and social history.

Read a review of this book by Jeremy Hawthorn as posted at the Catalyst Creative Media website.

Memories

• 66 Whinhurst Road in 1956 24 Sep 2012 Anthea Cook – Just discovered this site and remembered that I had photos from 1956. My mother was the district midwife and the prefab came with the job. We were subsequently moved to Lee Park and then moved away in 1959. Photos of me, the bigger one, with my next door neighbour’s daughter Maureen Spruin
• 66 Whinhurst Road in 1956 24 Sep 2012 Anthea Cook Forgot to say that our surname was Burgon in case anyobe remembers.

• Cloverdale Road, my childhood memories 18 Sep 2011 borollanI lived in Cloverdale Road, no78, up to 1960 when my mother Margaret Sales (Turner) died.My brothers, Peter, Jonathon and Gordon (Tony) and I went to Joseph Williams school and as I recall, Jonny and I were always up to mischief. I have fond memories of the bread van, we’d be out walking and see the van stop and there’s nothing more gorgeous than the smell of newly baked bread. His doors would be wide open and that scrumptious fragrance would be coming out. The Bread-man would be walking down someone’s footpath and so, after a quick look round, we would grab a loaf, and hi ho silver we would be off with it.
  Another time we crossed the ditch / brook and we had a little suitcase with us to the farmers field, and we filled it with peas. We took it home and my horrified mother told us to take them back where we got them from! Were we supposed to glue them back on the pea stalks?
  We used the same suitcase and filled it full of crab apples and it took the pair of us to carry it home but we weren’t told to take them back, in fact I do recall there was a lot of pinky coloured jam shortly after.The prefabs had big gardens as I remember and my mother always grew carnations down the side of the footpath and dahlias. I hated the dahlias because of earwigs and to this day I’m still no fan of creepy crawlies. My step father, John Turner, told me once to go under the prefab to pull the television aerial wire through a hole he’d drilled in the floor. I wouldn’t go because a spider had bit me not long before and I was terrified it might be still lurking underneath the prefab so my brother Tony ended up crawling under with the cable.
  I remember my brother Tony was fascinated by the bathroom light socket, he pulled the cord, stuck his finger in and pulled the cord again and boy did he get a shock.
  We’d play games, one of us would be in the back garden and one in the front garden and try and throw the ball over the prefab, I couldn’t quite get the hang if it so when it was my turn the ball would go through the kitchen window.
  I remember between our house and Frances Phoenix, the neighbour at no 80, was a corrugated iron coal shelter, probably an ex bomb shelter? too dirty to play in, alas.I remember greatcoats being put on the bed in winter as the prefab was so cold, I don’t know who slept in the sleeve but it wasn’t me! The winters were truly awful, we could write our names in the frost on the window glass from October onwards.At a recent meeting of the prefab society someone remembered my mother used to call us all in for our meals with a little whistle, I imagine that came from her days in the ATS in the war.There must have been an army cadets nearby as my fondest memory of Jonny is his coming home in uniform and singing me to sleep with ‘Around the world in eighty days’.After my mother died we were all split up and put into ‘Cottage’ homes and I would never see him again.  We tried for years to find each other,  Jonny even had an appeal put on TV for his missing brothers but never quite caught each other up, he passed away in 2006. Tony and I are now in contact. We one day hope to find Peter ….Kevin Alan Sales
• David Wylie’s message from Australia 17 Jul 2011 mrschuckWe lived at 57 Charlwood Rd until 1957. The Labour Club was built in our back garden. The Luxon’s lived opposite and I remember the Bibby and the Galanakis and Mahoney families. I live in Australia and have photos from our prefab days.
• help sought 26 May 2011 mrschuckI met with some of you in St George’s Hall recently and chatted about the child who died in the sand in Belle Vale in the 1950s. You asked me to send you the photograph I spoke of and tell you what I knew about the tragedy. I don’t know the little boy’s name but when you suggested David it sounded familiar and I have a vague memory that his brother was named John but I might have dreamt that .This is the story of the tragedy that happened to the little boy as my Dad, brother and sister describe it and as I was told by my late Mum.My maternal aunt was Ruth Wade. In the post-war years she lived with her husband Harold and daughter Patricia (Pat) in a Belle Vale prefab (or a ‘freefab’ as we children called them – still call them). I don’t have their address but I could get it if it’s important as my sister Susan, was born there in 1952 so it will be on her birth certificate. My brother Rob remembers their home backed onto an area ringed with a chain link fence which Uncle Harold utilised as a massive aerial for his short-wave radio. Rob wonders if perhaps it was the golf course. I have some very clear memories of visiting Belle Vale as a small child. I recall going to a self-service shop for the very first time and spending an afternoon picking wild flowers in a field with my cousin. Coming from the narrow, terraced streets of Anfield, I also vividly remember Belle Vale’s wide, clean roads and an incredible sense of light and open space which has stayed with me when I remember that time. Auntie Ruth was rehoused in one of the new Belle Vale properties and stayed there until about 1963 but her friend lived there longer and I recall visiting her home in the late 60s and recollect that her son, who was younger than me, had the most wonderful toys.Auntie Ruth’s friend had once had another son. I believe that he is the boy in the smart coat on the attached photograph which was taken in Belle Vale on 2 June 1953, the day of the Queen’s Coronation. I think he looks about five or six years old so would guess he was born circa 1947. Standing on his right is my cousin Pat who was almost ten. I don’t know anything about the five little girls. The story goes that the boy and two brothers were playing on a construction site in Belle Vale. Both Rob and Sue remember it as being the shopping centre. The three boys dug a tunnel deep into a massive heap of builders’ sand and two of them crawled in. The boy went first followed by one of the brothers but the weight of the sand collapsed the tunnel on top of them trapping the two boys. The other brother ran screaming for help and workmen from the site came very quickly. They dug frantically until they found the brother and by grabbing him by his feet managed to pull him out alive but the sand collapsed still further and by the time they reached the boy he had suffocated. But for the quick actions of these workmen, this innocent boys’ game could so easily have cost not one, but two children their lives and if the sand had held up just a bit longer before collapsing, all three might have died that day. I don’t know when this was for sure but Dad reckons the boy was only about ten years old so circa 1957 which is supported by the other photograph I’ve attached. Taken in 1957, it shows Rob and Sue playing on a tricycle and pedal car that had belonged to the boy which were given to them after his death. I’m the cute baby in the pram.The boy’s mother was distraught and totally inconsolable. I remember Mum telling me that such was her grief that her husband feared that she would never recover and sought medical advice. The doctor told him that the only way to save his wife’s sanity was to have another child so that’s what they did and she gave birth to the boy that I remember, the one with the wonderful toys.I grew up with warnings from my parents not to dig in sand, warnings illustrated by the dreadful tragedy that befell a little boy smiling shyly on a photograph, but there’s no-one left in my family who remembers the exact details and you know what it’s like, memories play tricks and stories get changed over the years. I would just love to know this little lost boy’s name and there has to be someone out there who can tell me. I guess that the two brothers are probably in their late 60s now while the boy’s brother must be in his early fifties. Obviously they would know the dead boy’s name and when he died and could almost certainly tell me how much of the story I’ve got right.The third attached photograph I was delighted to find on (and pilfer from) your website. On the far left of the photo is my cousin Pat with my Auntie Ruth standing behind her with her arms folded. Do you think the little boy on the front row in the same boy from my photograph? Could be, so perhaps his mother is also in this picture.I will look forward to hearing from you plus anyone else who wishes to correspond.
• The End of an Era 03 Feb 2011 mrschuckWe were one of the last families to leave the prefabs in Besford Road. That day is as clear in my mind as it was then. It was 17th March 1970. My baby sister was 3 months old, I was 14 and it was my Dad’s birthday. I left home to go to Childwall Valley High School. I had cookery that day and baked a birthday cake for my Dad. The very strange thing was I left home at 8.15 a.m. and returned to my new home at 4.30 p.m. we had moved to Woolton! That was how simple it was for me. Not so for my Mother! Not only had she to pack up a whole family’s belongings and to move to another house – she had to make sure I had all the ingredients for my cookery lesson!
  It took years to settle into our new home and 40 years later I still miss that prefab. The best years of my life were spent in Besford Road.
  by Eileen Van Der Brock (nee McHale) of 33 Besford Road
• Are you there Father Christmas? 03 Feb 2011 mrschuckAt Christmas when we were young, my sisters & I would be in the living-room writing letters to Father Christmas. Mum would help us send them up the chimney. Once they had gone we would call out to Father Christmas asking him if he had got our letters. In a big booming voice he would rely ‘Yes, and I hope you are all being good for Mum & Dad – I find out these things you know! If you are very good you may get what you have asked for.”
  The shock, surprise and excitement of hearing Father Christmas calling down OUR chimney was unbelievable. Many years passed and it wasn’t until we’d left the prefabs that the truth came out. Dad would tell us he was taking the dog for a walk and go out of the back door, slipping back in the front door unnoticed. He would go straight into the bathroom and open the airing-cupboard, calling to us as if he was Father Christmas. We never recognised his voice as it was much deeper and muffled as it carried through the airing-cupboard into the chimney in the living-room.This is just one of the great memories I have of the prefab days.
  by Eileen Van Der brock (nee McHale) of 33 Besford Road
• From James Smyth 09 Oct 2010 mrschuck – I have just read the 2nd book on the prefab day’s (fantastic) I have some photo’s of our day’s in the prefabs , we lived at 96 Clover dale road Jimmy , Stella , Monica and Billy Smyth, we had great childhood there and great neighbours, I have photo’s of my sister when she was the May Queen with my mum and Aunty helping out as they paraded through the prefabs, we all went to Joseph Williams then on to Our Lady of the Asumption
• It was all a longtime ago 05 Sep 2010 dennie – I lived in the prefabs, derogatory term tin town for 16 years.  It was a peaceful environment, open doors, loads of kids.  When they built Lee Park it all changed and the inner city moved in.  As a child growing up it was a comfortable non threatening place.  We walked to school, we played in the streets and the fields over the railway.  There were footpaths and bits of history all around us.  We were insular and secure!

Mike Bradley – Posted on 29 Sep 2010 by mrschuck

Saturday 1st August 2009 – I was driving along Childwall Valley Road / Belle Vale Road on the way to Springwood Crematorium where my mother was cremated in 1994. This is a journey I make annually, (also for my father who died 29th August 2000) and every time I do, I think of Joseph Williams CP. When I got back home I decided to look up the school on the internet, something I had never considered before. Anyway I did and it led me to a link regarding the Belle Vale Prefab Project. I missed the time when this all came out in 2007 otherwise I would have inputted sooner. If I may, let me tell you my background.

My name is Mike Bradley. I was born 18th March 1944 and, after WWII, my mother – Gladys, father – Alfred (Fred) and I lived in one room at the top of a house on Princes Avenue, Toxteth. From age of 5 to 7 I went to Granby Street Junior School. I had asthma as a child and due to poor health, and the conditions we lived in, we were offered a transfer to either Speke or BelleVale. In 1951 we moved to Belle Vale, address 110 Whinhurst Road. I started school at Joseph Williams CP as soon as I could and have a number of memories about the area and the school which may be of interest.

When we moved into the prefab at first it was overrun by any amount of weeds, green pea shoots etc., Fortunately my father was working for Liverpool Corporation Parks + Gardens and loved gardening so set about refurbishing the place (to the point that, in time, he won prizes for best kept garden). My first friend was from a family over the road (?) named Geoff Donovan. The prefabs were in units of six and we lived on the side adjacent to Childwall Valley road. Over the years the sets of six developed their own community with very little changes. Our neighbours to left and right were the McCormicks and Corsons, Opposite were the Cranneys and Kitchens. There were two spinsters directly opposite but I don’t remember their names. I made friends with other children outside our six – Martin Lloyd who, I remember his father was from London and supported Leyton Orient. Harry Hoare whose father was a magician and, at the time, had the only television. A number of us went to his house at 5pm every Saturday to watch Tex Ritter shows. There was a lady named Dorcas Kelly who lived opposite Martin Lloyd. There were other people including Ken and Ray Smythe, David Hughes, Malcolm Gofton, Harry Noon, Yvonne Stephenson and others. People including Georgie Moon, Kenny Whitehead, Grant McCulloch, Henry Nuttall, Keith Beddowes lived on the other side of Childwall Valley road. We all used to play football on the park at Gateacre and also on the field near the brook on our estate. There are others but their names escape me now. In the early 60’s when the Beatles were starting someone (Richie / Ricky ?), again can’t remember names, started a band called the ‘Young Ones’ and appeared on TV !!

At Joseph Williams I passed my entrance test and was in the same class as Mike McCartney. I remember him being big for his age, I think his birthday was November 1943. I can also remember Paul McCartney in short pants and being a good artist at that age. This was the period when they were living at 12 Ardwick Avenue (?), Speke (which is shown in the video for the Frog Chorus). Strange (?) but I remember the girls names more clearly – June Snow, Sandra Henderson, Margaret Gordon, Margaret Fairhurst (who lived at 3 Bridgefield Road ?). Teachers I remember included the Misses Breeze and Ward (a good looking lady) and, particularly, Fred Wallard, a great teacher and person.

I remember the Church in Bridgefield Road, shaped like a barn, the shops along Bridgefield Road which, if I remember correctly, from left to right were, cake shop, butcher, greengrocer, newsagent, fish and chips and chandler. We had a paraffin stove and had to buy paraffin by the gallon. I remember playing roller skate hockey on the tarmac in front of the shops. I also remember the community centre down near to Lee Park which was a converted church and owned by two Canadians. I don’t remember their names but don’t think they had any children of their own so they set up film shows every Saturday afternoon for sixpence. Good value for cartoons, serial, and major films. They also gave me a kitten, which we had with us for some 13 years.

I remember the park between the shops and the school which had a central show piece and had six paths from the perimeter to the centre. The local Parks + Garden bobby, Reg Williams, lived in the prefabs and was a friend of my father. He once caught me messing about on the centrepiece and I got a rollicking from my dad. Joseph Williams was also used by the Salvation Army as a Sunday school which I attended.

I remember the rag and bone man with his goldfish in jam jars in exchange for old clothing. The Prices bread van man who I helped every Saturday morning in exchange for a jam doughnut !

The other thing about the prefab estate was that there were five farms around it, in particular, one owned by Bill Prickett who also was the local milkman. Bill Pricketts son, Billy Junior was also the cocky watchman at the playground by the railway lines. He knew my father through Liverpool Corporation and collared me and some of my mates as we were crossing the railway lines one day and I got another rollicking from my dad.

Belle Vale was a great flat area, no high rise monsters, with lots of countryside and we used to walk or bike everywhere. If the prefabs had a failing it was the aluminium content which made them cold in winter, subject to condensation, and warm in summer but, as a property, we had two bedrooms, hall, bathroom, living room and kitchen, all with ample built in cupboards and drawers. Pretty adequate for the time.

Anyway, sorry if I’ve been longwinded but the memories seemed to come flooding back. The sad part of the prefab history is when it was decided they had to come down and the communities were broken up. Some going to housing and some to those filing cabinets called flats – us included.

People were leaving piecemeal from the prefabs which was leaving unattended properties around those who were still there. ‘’OUTSIDERS’’ would come and take lumps of garden or wood or fencing and anything else from them. It hurt my old man as he had built up his garden over the years so, instead of letting his garden be vandalized, he offered them pieces of turf from our garden. I have some photos which show what I mean.

After 14 years we eventually left in 1965 and moved to Hartsbourne Heights. A sad time but one with a lot of memories.

Comments

Lou Catterall 14 Jun 2013 at 20:21 – Hi just stumbled across this site again and found it brill to read all the comments and also all the names which came flooding back to remind me of my days in “the prefabs”. I lived in 200 Cloverdale with my mum (who worked in the coffee roast by Penny Lane) and dad who was a bus conductor (so was I and my brother Jimmy in later years).I also remember our neighbours Lees,Foys,Owens,Mrs Carberry,Smythes,Percivals and the Browns who emigrated to Australia, also the McKinleys,Harry Hoare.Bridgefield Road shops hold a lot of memories for me as I married (and am still married to) Paulette whose mum and dad had the “chippy” on Bridgefield Rd,we have been married for 49yrs have 8 children (6 girls,2boys) who have blessed us with 15 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren,so the fresh air in Belle Vale done wonders for us.
Please keep this site going and post all of your memorieswhich have certainly put a welcome smile on my face. Lou Catterall

Greenfingers 11 Apr 2013 at 16:54 – Hi Mike thank you so much for your interesting reflections on your time living in a prefab in Belle Vale. I am amazed at your ability to remember such detail! Smile. My thoughts are more vague but hopefully a true portrait of my experiences. I lived in Cloverdale road. Opposite the Arcaris, Goftons and next door to the Rawcliffe families.
First, you mentioned your garden. My father was an avid gardener believing if you cannot eat it don’t give it garden room!! We even had potatoes growing in the front garden much to my mothers dismay. The back garden was full of vegatables, fruit bushes and trees. We also kept chickens. They were a nightmare. Every so often they would escape from the chicken house! My Mother would shout from the kitchen ‘ the hens are out’ and we would have to run into the avenue and return them from the neighbours gardens. In an attempt to educate us kids to value of our friends and chickens (cannot see the logic in this!) we were encouraged to give the names of our best friends to the chickens. My fathers friend at the time was called Herbert Higgins, so a chicken was named after him.
One day my parents gave us kids money to go to Lewis’s for a meal. This was an usual occurrence but one we really enjoyed. When we returned home to a roast chicken dinner and no chickens in the chicken house we were distraught. This was made worse when my parents said they had killed all the chickens and had given them to the neighbours as a thank you for putting up with the inconvenience and noise. They kept one for the roast dinner. Yes it was Herbert Higgins!!!!! The whole meal was ruined by us kids sobbing saying how much we loved Herbert. Our refusal to eat the chicken was ignored with lectures about people starving in the world.
My father was in no state to argue with us. He found killing the chickens really difficult so was helped by a neighbour, Mr Pheonix (he lived at the back) and large doses of Rum between each attempt to end the chickens lives!! We had 12 chickens so you can imagine a large amount of rum was consumed!! Smile. Not the best family meal eh?

You also said Mike you went to the Salvation Army Sunday School held in Joseph Williams School. So did I. I remember on Mothering Sunday we were all given a daffodil by the Salvation Army to give to our Mother. We left the school clutching the daffodil. What a lovely simple idea that was. The state of the daffodil by the time we got home was another story!! I used to think Major Howarth was wonderful. Did you go to Buxton for an away day with the Salvation Army? Lots of 3 legged and sack races. Once a year the Salvation Army band used to march around the estate. When they reached the bottom of our avenue we used to wait, clap and sing along and then race up to the top of the avenue for them to pass again. When I was a self conscious 12 year old my father told me he had bumped into Major Howarth who said I had to wear a Salvation Army bonnet to Sunday School. It was untrue but I believed him and was mortified at the thought!!
I am sure it was listening to the Salvation Army band on Sunday afternoons that gave me a life long interest in music.
I must have been impressed with the Salvation Army as I ended up a Sunbeam!!! I remember the Sunbeam song but only the adulterated one!! Not to be repeated!! Ha.
Well Mike I could go on but feel I have said enough. Will definitely try and make one of the meetings. I now live down souf! So will plan a trip home soon. Keep up with the memories they are much appreciated. Penny

Joe Baker 17 Sep 2012 at 22:00 – Barbara Lloyd! I certainly remember you, and Peter and Jeffrey. I have a couple of pics of them. I remember you didn’t have a dad – never knew if he was killed in the war. I bumped into Peter in the early 70′s when I worked at a factory in Speke – he was working as a machinist. Where are you now and where are Peter and Jeffrey? I’m in London with a wife and son. Peter was a good mate and Jeffrey was a great kid. As you were a little older you had your own circle of friends and would rarely play with us younger boys. Did you move to Cantrill Farm – i dont remember? What a great pity that we were all scattered to the winds when the prefabs were knocked-down… Please respond!

Barbara Lloyd 03 May 2013 at 11:18 – Hi Joe – Great to hear from you. My dad dies when I was 16 of Lung Cancer, Peter was 10 and Jeffrey 6 – hard times for my mum. Peter in now in Australia and Jeffrey in Spain and yes we were sent to Cantrill Farm when the prefabs were pulled down. We all drifted apart and I lived in Wales for a long time and now in Northamptonshire. I just love Mike Bradley’s memories, they are so clear land bring so much back. Also Penny Mitchell’s memories. We also had chickens and my favourite was called Henrietta and in the same way, dad did away with them and expected us to eat her, which of course we wouldn’t and just sat there crying. I went to the Sunday school in the afternoon and was always surprised when I got home to find mum & dad in bed having a little rest. Never understood why they were so tired. The song went – A Sunbeam a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam. A sunbeam a sunbeam, I’ll be a sunbeam for him. I went to a Prefab meeting once but it is hard when you live away to make Thursday evening because it means staying over. I did go to a huge event a St. George’s Hall where the group had a stand and it was really good and I met a lot of people there who had lived in the prefabs. I think these memories are so important because, not to be too gloomy, once us children of the prefab estate have gone so will all the memories and information. I hope that the new Museum of Life in Liverpool will eventually give the Prefab Community some serious space and put all this info. to good use for the future.

Barbara Myers nee Lloyd 22 Aug 2012 at 20:36 – At last someone who lived in Braehurst Road – Joe Baker at no. 11 I lived at No. 8 with brothers Peter & Jeffrey. I don’t know how many houses where in this street but it went all the way down to the Bridge Inn Pub. I don’t remember Joe but mum’s friend Mrs Kelly lived on that side, odd numbers, and our side was the even numbers. Hazel Prenton lived behind us at No. 6 and Phillip Degenham lived opposite at No. 18. We used to play on that backfield – it led to Sunnyfield, and had lots of rubbish dumped on it. Still great fun to play there until one day whilst dragging a rusty sheet of corrugated metal along for a den another kid jumped onto it and it pulled out of my hands and down both shins knee to ankle. Huge cuts and I still have the scar on one leg to this day. Memories!!!
Hope to hear from more people who lived in Braehurst.

Joe Baker 13 Aug 2012 at 00:06 – I lived at 11 Braehurst Road. Our house was about 30 yards from the ‘joey willys’ school. Our family was me, (Joe) my brother Aussie, mum (Rhoda) and dad (Percy). My dad was a painter and decorator by trade. However, our house was probably one of the scruffiest in the street. My mum worked at the (jam?) factory in Wambo Lane. Where did THAT name originate?! My dad played piano, and then organ, at the Brick Wall Inn pub in Tarbock – five nights a week for 37 years until his death in 1986. Our prefab backed onto the ‘Back Field’ or the ‘Backie’ as we called it. Then came the park and the row of shops. I remember ‘Begleys’ the newsagent. There was a chippy and an ironmongers – other shops I don’t recall too well. On one side of us were the Stevensons – David and his sister, mum & dad. Also in our street: my mate Tony Dunn, the Joliffes, the Mathers, the Brunts. I remember Gwen (Berry) – her dad user to get loads of tennis balls. Peter Lloyd lived nearby. I can picture all of the residents of our street but names escape me. At school I was ‘in love’ with 3 girls – at different times – but will withold names to avoid any blushes… It was a wonderful time to be young – such a feeling of freedom! I’m going to get to one of these meetings soon – maybe next month’s!

michele cattell nee Rooney 29 Aug 2011 at 22:12 – Hi…the barbers was in Hedgefield not Bridgefield…Oh I remember it well..I had such awful hair and my Mother did all she could with the help of the hairdresser…also in Hedgefield, to make something of it!!!!..thoroughly enjoyed reading all these recollections. Thank you so much, Michele

James Smyth 20 Jul 2011 at 14:09 – My memories of the prefabs, Ilived at 196Cloverdale road, our neighbours were Browns, the Catteralls the Lee’s Foyes, Mrs Carberry and the Owens, The lad’s I knew there , Boko, Johnny Jones, Fracie, Louis Catteral Tony, Ronnie and Eric McKinley, the Clarks,we had a great time , after Joseph williams, I went to Our lady of the Asumption, the lad’s in my year were Alan Gick, Paddy Cleary, Kenny Hanlon, Terry Harrison, Joey Dillon and our Mates were John Harry, John Foster,

John Williams 24 Jun 2011 at 13:14 – Mike, I was very interested in your account because I lived in 110 Whinhurst Road before you.We moved there when it was new in late 1947 when I was just 5.We moved out in summer 1951 to a house in Speke.We moved because the prefab had become too small for Mam,Dad and 5 kids.As I remember it the MacCormacks were the next door neighbours on one side and the Corsons on the other side.We used to enjoy playing in the Charlewoods and at Jackson’s pond.Joseph Williams school had not been built when we first lived there so I had to go to Gateacre Village School.I used to walk each morning to Bridge Inn then take a penny bus ride to Gateacre (I think the bus number was 66 but I am not sure). Any mother these days letting a 5 year old do that journey on a dark winter morning would have Social Services knocking at the door. At age 7 I went to the newly opened Joseph Williams school in Miss Breeze’s class.The following year the teacher was Miss Ward.

Tony Arcari 02 Apr 2013 at 18:48 Mike. I lived at 50 Cloverdale Road from approx 1950-62.also attended Joseph Williams and was in Miss Breezes class ,then to Joseph Williams in Garston.Our neighbours if I remember correctly were~Goftons,Rawcliffes,Thomas,Teppit,Banks,Turner,came across the site by accident so it was great reading the memories of other former residents.

Laurence Roberts 16 Oct 2010 at 20:15 I loved reading this. Brought back memories. So many. i was glad to see Grant Mc Culloch mentioned and the farms and Billy the cocky watch man from the swings in Lineside Road. It was a wonderful place to be. We lived Birkside Road in the same little ‘avenue ( line of 6 prefabs) as did Grant and his mum and dad. Also I loved being reminded of Bridgefield Road and the lsiting of the shops– thgere was a barbers there too ! all the best Laurence, now living in London

June Cianelli-Edwards 22 May 2013 at 11:58 – I lived in Bridgefield Road and I also love to read about the row of shops we had in our road and also the park we had to play in Winter and Sommertime. Joseph William School was also very convienient, very close. We could all just work home for lunch together. Hardly anyone had a car! The community and the upbringing we had, is really to be wished for in this
day and age. For the past 45 years I have lived abroad. Leaving our Prefab for Halewood was definately part of the reason why I wanted to see another Country. P.S. dont think there was a barbers shop, think that was on Lineside Road. Living in Switzerland

Louis Catterall 15 Jun 2013 at 00:25 – Hi June you are right there was no barbers shop on Bridgefield rd shops,there was a bakers,butchers,green grocers,grocers,newsagent,chip shop,a house and a chandlers.How I remember these is because I was a paper boy for Begleys newsagents but not only that I married Paulette Van-Hien whose mum and dad owned the chippy.I vaguely remember your name,I hope you remember me. Lou

Sandra Montgomery (nee Smith) 08 Aug 2013 at 22:33 – I was born in the prefabs , 79 Whinhurst Road and lived there until I was 19 years old when we moved and the prefabs where demolished. Such h
appy Days. Sandra

Rosina clark was Geeleher 18 Aug 2013 at 22:48 – Hi Sandra, I was only thinking about you when I found this site.How you doing? Bernie is getting over having had a malignant tumour removed from her leg,she is great and now got 2 little granddaughters. Have you ever seen or heard anything from Carol Shine?
love Rosina x

Jimmy Denny Age 67 01 Aug 2013 at 18:07 – I lived at 121Cloverdale road 1946 till 1965 GoodDays

maureen yates (nee bush) 30 Mar 2013 at 21:40 – my family moved to 19 cloverdale road in 1947/48 just behind the TA Barracks. i have,nt great memory for names but i remember the Meakins.dot lever/Ottersons/Ledwiths/Waggots/ we all lived the green with shops at one end.

Tom Warburton 20 Jan 2013 at 18:08 – I was born at 25 Sunnyfield Rd in 1954, There are pictures of my three sister in the photo gallery but they have been named wrongly. It was such a happy childhood and a wonderful community. Tom Warburton

Keith Gabriel 18 Aug 2013 at 15:46 – I lived first at 148 Lineside Rd then 161 Besford Rd from 1947 until 1968 when I immigrated to Canada . Tom do you know a fellow named Peter Louis? I met him in Canada he lived on Sunnyfield road, His sister later worked at Gateacre comp as a secretary, Last time in Liverpool I visited Bill Edwards who I believe was the Dep headmaster at the comp, I can remember a young boy who suffocated in the collapse of a sand bank on the corner of hedge field road and Childwall valley road . who also lived on Sunnyfield road, I think that was the road to Joseph Williams ?

Irene Young(Nee Edwards) 12 Aug 2012 at 19:05 – Hi Lou.only just read your reply,good to here from you again.When i met your frank think it was in the regency night club,and he took me for a drink in “the prince of wales pub in kent street(readies i think it we called,you’ll have to ask him if he remembers.My word you have a big family,bet it costs you alot at xmas!!!!Yes i do remember the chippy and paulett,(great chippy) & we all used to sit on the wall near the shop eating them.By the way the prince of wales pub is still standing although closed at the moment.What is the name of your daughters coffe shop here in widnes,i must know of it,must go in and introduce myself to her,till next time:)

Louis Catterall 15 Jun 2013 at 23:50 – Hi Irene, sorry just read your comment,its been some time since I was on this site,my daughters coffee shop is called Coffee and Cream yes do call in ask for Claire or Becky and introduce yourself and either will get a message to me. Oh I am sorry to tell you our Frank passed away last year after being ill for a short time. Anyway keep in touch, Lou

Irene Young 21 Jul 2013 at 19:39 – Hi Lou,just read your message from 15th june,been on holiday and with one thing or another time just flys by.Sorry to hear about Frank passing away,thinking he maybe round my age (65).Now i know the name of your daughters shop in widnes i will try and call in to meet her.I have been in touch with chris young,he lived in our road number 8,he had a sister angela.Chris lives in warrington.& was in the army in germany.Through him i found on facebook Jean Young,lived at 41 Bridgefield,has a brother Phil who is 71,he worked for merseyside tourisim.She attends the meetings on childwall valley road, & would like me to go to meet her sometime!!!.I also found on facebook Eileen Woolley,lived opposite to us next door to the taylors,had a sister called norma,they moved over to the estate at the top of our road,me and eileen were great friends for years,followed the groups from liverpool everywere,she enden up marrying a lad from a group called “The Crying Shames” who has since died, Great Memories.:),Keep in touch.

eddie bolton 13 Aug 2013 at 19:47 – louis i remember you and your family you had a sunday paper round at begleys i had a night round mary and ronnie worked there i remember jimmy and francis he played in a band with sid rimmer and i think your wifes brother pier they called him he u i am eddie boltonse to play guitar by the shops and was in the band there was a man name bob dickenson lived next door to you they went out to australia he drove a big oil tanker if i remember your wife paulette uncle lived in hartsbourn avenue his name was vinny i also remember your mum and dad i lived in cloverdale rd 138 i was mates with jimmy smyth good memories louis sorry to here about francis was jimmy the oldest i have 2 sisters ruth and kathleen and brother jim i am eddie bolton

Louis Catterall 06 Jul 2012 at 20:46 – Hi, I lived in 200 Coverdale in the 50′s I had 2 brothers Jim & Frank Catterall. Our neighbours were the Percival’s,Smyth’s, Brown’s – does anyone remember us I would love to speak to old friends. My wife PauletteCatterall worked for her dad and mum who had the “Chippy” on Bridgefield road next to Beglies paper shop. We would both love to hear from anyone who remembers us
PauletteCatterall & Lou Catterall

celiaruthkelly 10 May 2011 at 23:12 – Hi Chris – there is a picture in “More Prefab Days” of ten sets of twins at Joseph Williams Primary School. This was in 1953 so you would not have been at school then – only three. What school did you go to?

Irene Young(Nee Edwards) 11 May 2012 at 22:23 – I have recently bought a copy of more prefab days as on page 20 there is a picture of my self irene,my younger sister june and lillian taylor who lived opposite us at 29 bridgefield rd,we lived on the opposite corner at 2 bridgefield by the park.(Irene young,(nee edwards)

Lou Catterall 29 Jul 2012 at 13:05 – Hi Irene, I remember you when we were young,I lived in 200 Cloverdale with my mum (Rose) dad (Joe) and my 2 brothers Jim and Frank,our immediate neighbours were Percivals SmythsBrowns and Mr and Mrs Carbery,I would love to hear from anyone at all who remembers us,oh by the way the Taylors live in the same town as us (Runcorn),and my wife,s (Paulette) dad had the chippy on Brdgefield.

Irene Young(Nee Edwards) 29 Jul 2012 at 14:50 – Hi Lou,good to hear from you.Yes i do remember all of you,in fact i remember meeting frankie in a pub or club in widnes,i lived in halewood then,we went out for a drink in widnes some 40 years ago as i have beem married 40 years next year,so along time ago.My 2 sisters are june & barbara,june lives in switzerland has done for over 40 years,married to an italian has 2 boys oliver & colin & about to become a grandmother.Barbara lives in bath & also has lived there along time,she has no children.I have 2 children natalie who is 36 & is a solicitor in London, & stuart 26 who works on the wirral & lives in hunts cross,neither of them have any children.I’ve seen a few people from the prefabs here in widnes.Love to here from you again with all your family history,thanks for getting in touch:)x.x.x.

Louis Catterall 29 Jul 2012 at 20:55 – Hi Irene it was great to hear from you,we were in our Franks yesterday (sat) when we went on the website and had a good reminisce and left a few posts hoping that someone would reply and boy what a pleasant surprise when I read your post.Do you live in Widnes ? If so what a coincidence as we live in Runcorn, I don’t know if you will remember my wife Paulette her mum and dad had the chippie on Bridgefield, we have been married for 48yrs now we have 6 girls, Paulette, Debbie, Claire, Emma, Natalie and Rebecca and 2 boys Paul and Darren,16 grandchildren,4 great-grandchildren,we all live in Runcorn, except Debbie who lives in Wolverhampton and would you believe Claire who lives in Widnes and a has a coffee bar in Widnes. It has been great to be able to contact you,please keep in touch with any memories of the prefabs. Lou

chris howard 24 Apr 2011 at 00:51 – i was born at 36 sunnyfield rd on 1 2 1950 one of twins my sister is caroline