Robert Goldthorpe Brook
Robert Goldthorpe Brook (I) was born in (Clifton or Brighouse), Yorkshire in March of 1838. Newspaper articles regarding his death in St. Helen's Lancashire on December 1, 1917 however indicated his age at that time to be 84 years. Robert settled in St. Helens, Lancashire (between Liverpool and Manchester) at an early age, and owned an Ironmonger business in partnership with another gentleman. After a period of time in business together, the partnership dissolved when Robert purchased his partner's interest in the firm. He changed the name of the business to R.G. Brook & Co. and contracted John Bally Whittaker to build Wolverhampton House on what was then named Raven Street (Now Church Street), where he moved the business to. The family's residence, servants quarters and apprentice rooms were located on the three floors to the right and above the raven sculpture at the main entrance to the building. R.G. Brook was still listed in the 1905 Trade Directory in St. Helens, however R.G. Brook & Co. Ironmongers was eventually either sold or dissolved. An Ironmongery continued at the same location occupying the one-floor structure which is now the Rendezvous Bar. It was named C.W. Grundy Ironmonger after its owner and was in business for several years.
Wolverhampton House in the late 1880's (left) and in 2010 (right). All photos shown were taken by an R.G. Brook
Wolverhampton House showing R.G. Brook & Co. occupying the entire first floor (left) and a closer look at the entrance (right).
Three of the above photographs of Wolverhampton House show a triangular bay-type window extending out from the building on the second floor. Supporting this window from below is this unique sculpture. Bird experts contest that this is a blackbird and not a raven as had been assumed for many years, since the address was originally Raven Street. While this bird has been painted numerous times throughout its life, I wonder about the original paint colours, and whether or not the beak, legs, feet and claws were once a colour more suited to that of a Raven. Whatever the case, I personally prefer to think of this bird as a Raven, and can just imagine how many times our ancestor must have looked up at this sculpture entering the doors to either his family's living quarters or his business premises.
The Raven at Wolverhampton House, St. Helens, Lancashire
The Raven at Wolverhampton House, St. Helens, Lancashire
During the late 19th century there was a shortage of official small change coins. Inadequate supplies of these coins led to a fresh output of unofficial tokens. Unlike the shortage in the early 1800's when silver coins were scarce, it was silver coins that were traded for these new unofficial coins (like the one shown below made of brass). Many of these Ironmonger coins were traded to the public for their abundant silver coins, which were then traded locally in exchange for goods. The brass coin shown below is an extremely rare coin. Unfortunately It is not owned by any member of the Brook family in spite of my efforts to obtain this very coin from its current owner or to even locate others like it.
Unofficial Victorian brass farthing issued by R.G.Brook & Co. Ironmongers.
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 These two ads were located via internet searches and through an internet friend named Stephen Wainwright from St. Helens who has been a tremendous source of information and direction. It was he who first informed me of Wolverhampton House, and supplied me with images of the front of the building and a closeup of the Raven sculpture. Stephen has a website documenting the history of Sutton and St. Helens and we have been exchanging photos and information to assist with each other's knowledge for well over a year now.
Click here to go directly to Stephen's Website which documents our ancestor R.G. Brook. Check out the "Sherdley Estate" link on the left side of Stephen's home page - it's worth the visit! |
Wolverhampton House
Wolverhampton House was built for our ancestor by John "Bally" Whittaker of St. Helen's (photographed by R.G. Brook) in the 1800's. Note the odd/even brick extensions at the ends of the main structure and the single window in the vast brick wall on the Rendezvous Bar end of Wolverhampton house? This was to extend Wolverhampton House in the event the one floor structure was ever levelled. You will notice that without the addition, wolverhampton house is asymmetrical when viewed from the front.
During our visit to St. Helens, Jeff and I visited the Rendezvous Bar and spoke at length with the owner and patrons. We were told stories of paranormal activity and given a tour of the cellar in the area under the bar. Interesting enough, the physical bar/serving area and the space behind it were used by RG Brook and his family as the parlour and kitchen.
During our visit to St. Helens, Jeff and I visited the Rendezvous Bar and spoke at length with the owner and patrons. We were told stories of paranormal activity and given a tour of the cellar in the area under the bar. Interesting enough, the physical bar/serving area and the space behind it were used by RG Brook and his family as the parlour and kitchen.
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The photo on the left is in the first room of the cellar looking deeper into the structure. See the brass bell hanging in the doorway? The owner rings it every time she has to enter the basement to alert the 'spirits" that she is coming! Although it looks like one of the worst electrical wiring jobs in history, the tubes you see are actually draft feeding tubes taking beer from the kegs up to the bar (now that's my kind of basement!). The photo on the right is further into the cellar. nothing really special here other than old brick, a sealed doorway, and no images of the paranormal anywhere. The ceilings are low, the rooms are small and the place is rather dank. Access to the cellars under Wolverhampton House wasn't available for us.