YOU remember a couple of weeks ago that Jacky Fitzsimons had said: “I think the photograph of the castle in May 24th Star was at Carr Mill”… Well, John Kain of Thatto Heath rang to confirm that he remembers the castle at Carr Mill.

He recalls that it was part of the fairground and stood on the land now occupied by the pub. He thinks that a slide came out of it.

Bingo! Kenny Graham emailed: “This is the first time I have contacted you although I do read your column, with great interest, every time I can get my hands on a St Helens Star. You have probably been inundated with the photograph I have attached to this e-mail.

“It is of the Castle at Carr Mill. I think it was in the corner in 'Garswood Old Road', where you turn left towards Happy Valley and the boat house.”

Harry Bradbury added: “Regarding the Carr Mill pleasure complex, you could enter this via a turnstyle, one off Carr Mill Road in a wooded area, the other being in the main building on Garswood Old Road. We paid sixpence to get in.

"On the site were various types of swings and slides, and a paddling pool. You could hire rowing or small motor boats on the dam’s edge. The ground level of the main building housed a chip shop and a doughnut outlet.

“I also recall a small ghost castle which you paid to enter. On the roof stood the helter skelter. If you were lucky you could have a ride on the train which took you as far as the boat house.

“In its heyday it would attract hundreds of visitors from all over St Helens. You could see them all walking up College Street, and from Liverpool down the East Lancs Road. Nearly everybody ended up having a picnic on the banks of the steps.

“To lots of people this was the only day out they could afford, but happy days. This was 1963.”

Ray Kimble added this memory: “I remember the castle at Carr Mill. It was on the site were the Waterside Restaurant/Hotel is now. In the mid to late Fifties we used to walk from Parr through Blackbrook and along a woodland path leading to Carr Mill.

“There was a coin-operated turnstile at the entrance to a small beach area. On the beach was a castle with turrets and dark stairways. There were also a few small stalls, doughnuts (I think) and toffee apples.”

Cllr Allan Jones of Rainford adds: “Hi Chris. I remember the castle. It was built in the late fifties as a Fun House.

“Inside there were passages, steps and a slide (rather like a "haunted house") It wasn't a solid construction and was built from some sort of prefabricated material. It occupied a position just as you went through the main entrance. This would have been somewhere around where the far side of the Waterside Pub is now.

“The "Fairy Steps" area was a popular picnic area with families from all over town and took the "overflow" water from the Dam. The sloping grass area was an ideal place to sun bathe in good weather (notably the long hot summer of 1959).

“I was also interested in Brian Cook's reference to Naylor Street North, as on that street was Redman's grocer's where my late father (John) was manager from 1948 until the shop closed in the early seventies. Along the same street was Freeman Hardy Willis and Hawkins and Marr's fish shop.

“From time to time Lady Mavis Pilkington also ran a Charity Shop on the same street. I wonder if any one remembers buying bacon from my dad in those "good old days"!