Rainford village is so well connected (From St Helens Star)

Rainford village is so well connected

4:00pm Sunday 20th January 2013 in News By Stephen Mather, Senior reporter

A TEAM of history buffs have set out to trace and map every old well in one of the oldest villages in the area.

Rainford Heritage Society is carrying out historical surveys around the parish, which includes Rainford Junction, Crank and Kings Moss.

Long before people could rely on fresh, clean water in their homes, the only method of getting water was from wells, and Rainford is dotted with them.

With 65 identified so far, a map has been put up in Rainford Library to allow villagers to follow the society’s progress.

Ray Waring and Peter Lewis from the society are using old Ordnance Survey maps to carry out the project.

They have also discovered that some wells are not marked on the maps and people are coming forward with information about them being in houses and outbuildings.

Uncharted wells have also been revealed during building work and when driveways have collapsed under vehicles.

There was also an incident in which an unsuspecting gardener had a lucky escape, when he stepped on a hidden well and almost tumbled in.

The map is already creating so much interest that the society is appealing for people who have any information about a well to pop into the library and fill in one of their questionnaires.

At the end of the survey, the society will produce a booklet and Ray will give a talk, describing their findings.

They will also shortly start a photographic survey of Rainford date stones, which will be marked on the map in blue.

For information about the Heritage Society, contact Ray Waring on 01744 885547, or alternatively you can email rayw91141@ yahoo.co.uk.