Christmas in Cheshire 1898: Looking back on life 125 years ago

It is interesting to note that 'a Christmas Tree' refers to a Christmas party.

In Knutsford, it was reported that a Christmas Tree was to be held in the local Conservative Club on Boxing Day.

There was to be a gathering of members’ children, where gifts of toys, sweets, fruit, and biscuits would be distributed by Father Christmas from the tree.

The local theatre in Northwich called the Central, was presenting two plays, a grand sacred recital of 'The Passion Play' on Christmas Day as a matinee and in the evening, Charles March’s Company presenting a great romantic French drama called 'The Gamester from Metz'.

It wasn’t until 1908 that the first animated pictures were shown, advertised as ‘pictures that sing, talk, and live!'.

The Central Theatre was thought to have been renamed the Central Palace Picture Theatre in 1934 and was located on Witton Street near where Iceland is now.

The parish church in Middlewich (Image: Rose Hurley)

The Primitive Methodist Sunday School which had moved to the corner of Witton Street with Brook Street, was holding a Christmas Tree (see previous explanation) and Sale of Work on Boxing Day followed by an Annual Tea with proceeds going to the Sunday School funds.

There was to be a Mid Cheshire exhibition of Fine Art and Industrial Art at the Verdin Technical Schools Northwich for one week.

The loaned collection was of the finest quality and by artists of the highest repute. There would be entertainment including orchestral music, Kinematographs, an early term for motion picture mechanisms, and lectures.

Special trains were laid on by the London and North Western Railway and the Cheshire Lines Railway.

Josiah Whate Confectioner and Castle House in Northwich (Image: Rose Hurley)

The Knutsford Friendly Society was to hold a ball, courts of Canute and Cholmondeley, at the Town Hall.

Dancing would commence at 6.30pm and the Canute Band would provide the music. There would be a moderate charge for refreshments.

In the Middlewich parish church, a choral rendition of Handel’s oratorio of 'The Messiah'.

A band and an augmented chorus by the combined choral societies of Middlewich and Northwich would take part.

Special trains were again laid on from Middlewich station to and from Northwich, Sandbach, and Crewe.

Knutsford Town Hall during the 1920s and 1930s (Image: Rose Hurley)

To complete our visit to 1898 a few of the Christmas adverts appearing in the same newspaper present an insight into the local shops in existence at that time.

Firstly, an ad for a Special Christmas Show of Genuine Forfeited Jewellery at James Worsley’s jewellery establishment at 1-3 Leicester Street.

We also find a Grand Christmas Show at Castle House with toys, dolls, games, etc., and a very popular Penny Dip. Father Christmas would be in attendance to the special delight of the children.

There were wines, puddings, sweets, chocolate, and cakes at Whate’s shop and catering establishment, located at 35 Witton Street and 60 Station Road.

Whilst J W Coombs, Compton House Northwich had a splendid selection of seasonal gifts including gentlemen’s mufflers and ladies' finely embroidered silk handkerchiefs.

An outlet for Coombs was located on Witton Street and was still there in the 1970s.

So now we say goodbye to our 1898 visit into Christmas past whilst wishing everyone all the best for the festive season in 2023 from the Looking Back column.