Smithy Heritage Centre

04/10/2026

Hi - some of you may wonder what we do over the winter months when were closed ? 🤔......

Well this gives us time to start planning for next year. What exhibition to do ?, what additional events to plan, what and who we need.

On a personal level i never stop collecting - you never know what you find. Some of you may remember our exhibition from 2024 which was "Fashion on the Ration" from WW2.

This mornings purchase from the Antiques Fair at Aintree racecourse was 2 Littewoods catalogues.
Autumn & Winter 1944.
Littlewoods opened their 1st Liverpool plysical store at Church Street in 1944 so these "Store" copies are right from their beginning. Prior to that was mail order.
Things like this are facinating are remarkable how they have survived.
Over 100 pages of history captured.

20/09/2026

A huge "Thank you" to everyone that entered our 11th "Eccleston Bake off".

Every cake looked incredible and were sure the ladies from the St Helens Womens Institute had a hard job choosing the winners.

The trophys were awarded as follows -

1st Prize : Suzanne King - Victoria Sponge with a Lemon twist.

2nd Prize : Joanne Mercer - Coffee, Cardamom & Hazelnut Cake.

Best Decorated / Peoples choice : Elizabeth Davies - Chocolate Caramel Crown.

19/09/2026

19/09/2026

DONT FORGET !!!!!

Tomorrow - Sunday 20th Sept....

Eccleston "BAKE OFF" Competition....

Anyone can enter.

All cakes must be submitted by 3pm.

Eccleston village hall,kiln lane,St Helens WA10 4RA.

See rules & entry form below (entry can be made on the day too but must meet criteria listed).

Get Baking !!!!!!!!

19/09/2026

TODAY !!!!!!! & TOMORROW !!!

HERITAGE OPEN DAY - The Smithy Heritage Museum. Kiln Lane, Eccleston. WA10 4RA.

Loads of refreshments - all handmade cakes.....

This years exhibition - "What no Sweets". Children in Wartime. Guided tours 1pm & 3pm each day.
(Exhibition will close end of September).

Its Raining outside - come and spend the day with us - have a brew & a chat.....everyone welcome (inc your 4 legged friend 🐕‍🦺🦮🐕).

14/09/2026

This weekend !!!!!!

SATURDAY & SUNDAY 19th & 20th September.

Open 12 noon to 5pm

This years exhibition - "What no sweets" - children in wartime.
Guided tours 1pm & 3pm every day.

Refreshments available - homemade cakes.

Everyone welcome.........

14/09/2026

This Sunday - The Great Eccleston Bake off !!!!!

Get your cakes in .......

Anyone can enter.....

1st & 2nd prize and also best decorated cake.

Rules & entry sheet below.

07/09/2026

Hi

Remember 2 weeks till the "Eccleston Bake off"...........

Anyone can enter !!!!

Get baking !!!!!!

31/08/2026

Hi and welcome to item 11 from this years exhibition.
This has been one of my favourite items to display this year.
A little girls knitted dress in 2 shades of green.
For this to have survived is amazing. The child must only have been about 2 so would have been too young to be evacuated so stayed with her mum.
The dress has numerous repairs all over it - you can imagine her mum sitting stitching it time after time.
Unlike today where even with 1 rip it would have been thrown away the "Make do & Mend" and restrictions on purchasing new clothes under the clothing coupons system made it wastefull to throw it.
I also think it must have meant something special to have been kept for many many years - i wonder what the really story is ??????