The Taylor home was at number 9 Esther Street Widnes. The street faced onto a tip of chemical waste from the nearby chemical plant. Despite the fence it was a favourite playground with the local children. They used to slide down the slopes of the tip on their behinds.
Annie, husband Walter Taylor and their first four children lived at 9 Esther Street (above) in Widnes in 1911. Esther Street was in the West Bank area, close to the River Mersey. It no longer exists. Other family addresses were 47 Moor Lane (gone) and 6 Bradshaw Street (still standing).
After the birth of fifth child Dorothy in 1911 and the death of Walter, Annie moved with the five children back to the village of Farnworth, living in a small cottage at 11 Farnworth Street next to the Sailmakers Warehouse. Later they moved to a new council house at 27 Gloucester Road in Farnworth. Nan lived there until her death in 1969, with unmarried children Ike and Nellie.
Photo Google
27 Gloucester Road today
The Taylor Girls
Minnie (born 1909), Helen (born 1903) and Dorothy (born 1911)
Note their 1930's style outfits
HelenTaylor (always called Nellie) never married. She lived with Nan and Ike and died a year after her in 1968, age 65. Nellie worked at the Everite Asbestos Factory in Derby Road.
Nellie holding Evelyn, daughter of May and Bill
MinnieTaylor trained as a state registered nurse and married Harold Gandy in 1936. They lived in Derby Road, Farnworth.
Nurse Minnie Gandy
During the war Minnie worked at Rainhill War Hospital looking after injured soldiers.Son Eric arrived in 1945, after the war. Minnie and husband Harold died within weeks of each other in 1989, both 80 years old.
DorothyTaylor (our Doll) married Francis Hayes in 1937.
Wedding of Dorothy Taylor and Francis Hayes 1937.
Behind Francis his father Harry Hayes. On father Harry's right is Francis' brother Harry and in front of him brother Les. Behind Dorothy we see sister Minnie and Harold Gandy. To the right brother Bill behind his wife May Taylor. Far right seated is mother Annie Abbott Taylor. Bridesmaids were sister Nellie Taylor and neice Evelyn Taylor.
Dorothy and Francis had three sons: Leslie born in 1939, Frank in 1944 and Roger in 1949. She worked at the Griffin Public House in the village and the village dry cleaners. She lived at 22 Farnworth Street, opposite the early family home at number 11. Dorothy died in 1992, 81 years old.
William (Bill) Taylor
Eldest son Bill married May Pennington and they had one child, daughter Evelyn, born 1932. Bill and May lived at William Street in Widnes and later in Warrington Road. Bill worked as a clerk in the office at chemical company ICI Pilkingtons.
Bill and daughter Evelyn in 1932
Bill was a keen cricketer and played in the same team as my father Harold Gandy
(ICI Pilks Rec)
Bill died in the year 2000, 95 years old. Wife May died two years earlier, 90 years old.
Isaac (Ike) Taylor
Second son Ike did not marry and lived with mother Nan and older sister Nellie in Gloucester Road, Farnworth.
Ike served in the British Army in India between approx.1936 and 1946/7 in the Royal Army Pay Corps attached to the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry Regiment.
Ike used to tell us children stories about the tribesmen who crept up at night to steal the soldiers' weapons. So they chained the rifles to their bodies so that they could get some sleep. Ike didn't think the British Army would even mange to defeat the tribesmen of the Khyber Pass.
Ike was a sportman - mainly bowls in Victoria Park and horseracing at Haydock Park. He also worked in the offices at chemical company ICI.
Ike tossing the coin at Victoria Park bowling green.
Photo courtesy Mary Hines
Another view of Esther Street, showing the chemical plant of Barium Chemicals Ltd. The area was dominated by the towering waste tip. The end of Esther Street can be seen in the middle distance. At least the workers didn't have far to travel to work.
