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CIBBIIIB llUBBIBITB landowner Mr Riley held riparian righlS and was
Pickmere is a small hamlet in Mid-Cheshire. about
four miles from the market towns of Northwich and
Knutsford. II lies on the eastern shore of Pickmere
Lake, one of many simiJar stretches of water in the
area. h was, however, the only one which saw any
commercial development and became a mecca for
visitors for well over a hundred years, and for over
sixty years a small an1usemen1 park thrived on its
shore. This is the story o f the rise and ultimate demise
of the fairground al the water's edge.
Visitors began to arrive in Pickmere around 1860,
when the raiIway opened from Manchester to Chester.
and daytrippers would walk or take a horsedrawn
wagonene from Lostock Gralhan1 Station. They came
10 enjoy the peaceful countryside and picnic in the
surrounding fields. The railway aJso brought wealthy
businessmen who found lodgings in fann houses,
cottages and inns in the area. They came to get away
from the pressures of commerce and indulge in
countryside activities such as waJking, riding,
shooting and fishing. Those who wished to fish had to
use the marl pits found in fanners' fields as the lake
and the surrounding land was owned by the Tabley
Estate, whose bailiffs actively discouraged anglers.
Wildfowling was also forbidden.
Around 1880 a change took place. The estate
managers were ordered to sell off several parcels of
land which had no agricultural use. A1nong these \Vas
a strip of land along the eastern shore of the lake,
which had been used to grow willow 1rees which ,vere
pollarded to provide n1aterial for making hurdles. but
that trade had died out. A footpath giving access to
Mere Lane was also included in this sale. The land
was purchased by a Mr Joe Riley fro1n nearby
Wincbam. As soon as he had taken possession of the
deeds he announced his intention to open a boat hire
business. The estate managers were taken aback as the
land hitherto regarded as useless bad suddenly
acquired a commerciaJ value. and they were also faced
with the prospect of the public having access to the
waters they had zeaJously protected for many years.
They immediately applied to the couns for an order
stopping Mr Riley from operating his boats. Mr Riley
had other ideas and went 10 the locaJ inn, where he
plied the farmhands and casual labourers with beer.
He then formed them into a posse and led then, 10 his
collage in Wincham where they lifted one of the boats
he had bought onto their shoulders and headed for the
lake. Someone must have informed the authorities as
they were confronted by a band of ga1nekeepers and
bailiffs. some of whom were armed with shotguns. A
scuffle broke out. but Riley's men. fortified with beer
pushed the estates' 1nen aside and succeeded in
launching their boat. They then staged a pro1es1 sit-in
10 establish the right to use the lake. Their effons were
however not in vain as the coun decreed that as a
entitled to use the lake. The action however was
recorded in locaJ folklore as the Battle of Pickn1ere.
and Mr Riley, from his leadership qualities and a
vague naulicaJ connection became known as Captain
RiJey.
Once Mr Riley had cleared away the willows he
built a landing stage and a boat shed and staned
trading. Boating becaine popular not only with the
wealthier visitors who would hire a boal for a day·s
fishing. but with local people who were able 10 afford
10 take out a boat for an hour's rowing. This was
panicularly favoured by courting couples. ln those
days couples were often chaperoned by younger
sisters, cousins and maiden aunts and a boat on the
lake offered a chance to be alone but still visible fro1n
the shore. Those \Vishing 10 indulge in some more
serious spooning could pull into the reeds a1 the
water's edge.
Around the tum of the century a fi v e -acre piece of
land, a little 10 the south of Riley's ground was bought
by the Spencer family, who under the matriarchal
figure of Mrs Spencer buiJl up a successful boat hire
business. They introduced the first passenger launch,
which was fined with sails and oars. but this was soon
replaced with a petrol engined craft. Refreshment
kiosks were also operated. The Spencers had made
enough money to be able to build a large brick village
called Lake House which was 10 be used as a guest
house, but the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, just
as the building was being finished prevented this. As
far as can be ascenained boating continued during the
war on a reduced scale, but i1 was a welcon1e
diversion for servicemen on leave from the front.
After the War, there was a period of great change.
The wealthy people could now buy motorcars and
take their pleasures further afield, but two means of
1ranspon, the bicycle and the charabanc, began to
bring crowds of people 10 the lake and ensured its
prosperity. Before the war bicycles had been quite
expensive but they began to be mass-produced in
factories which had been producing armaments, al a
price easily afforded by ordinary working people. A
bicycle could not only be used as workday iranspon,
ii could be used as a means of getting out of the
smokey towns and cities and into the fresh air of the
countryside. Pickmere was situated within easy
cycling distance of the cities of Liverpool, Salford and
Manchester and many large industrial towns in South
Lancashire and Nonh Cheshire and it soon became a
popular destination for a day ou1. Charabancs began to
bring families and the less energetic. Before long the
North Western Road Car Co laid on a regular bus
service.
ll was in the early 1920s that three brothers.
Gibson, Thomas and Marcus Cheetham from nearby

rI,
&1.JW,I
Herbert Si/cock'sfair or Pick111ere Lake in 1925.
Altrincham began to visit 1he lake. They were
successful coal merchants and they could see that a
boa1 hire business would provide them with
e111ploymeo1 and income in the su,nmer when the coal
trade was quiet. Ln 1923 the plot of land between
Riley's and Spencer's came on the market and this
was duly purchased. It consisted of a field bordering
Mere Lane, which became known as the Top Field, a
steep grassy bank called the Hill, which led down to a
Oat strip at the water's edge known as the Front. The
whole lot covered about three acres.
Once the land bad been cleared and an entrance on
10 Mere Lane opened up, a large shed ,vas constructed
on the front. This provided winter storage space for a
neet of rowing boats acquired from various sources,
including some that bad been used on the lake at
Trafford Park in Manchester, before the park became
the site of one of Britains first industrial estates. Ln the
summer part of the shed was used to serve
refreshments while the remainder served as a secure
cycle park, where for twopence riders could leave
their machines in safety. for even in the so called good
old days there was no shortage o f bicycle thieves.
After a while it was realised that in order to keep
allead of the competitors some other attractions were
required, which ,vould not only provide extra income,
but bold the custon1ers on the families land and
hopefully lure them into their boats. Fairground
amusements seemed a logical choice and Herbert
Silcock, who presented fairs in local villages, was
contacted and be agreed to stage a fair on the August
Bank Holiday weekend in 1925.
Herbert was the third of four brothers: the other
..... "
three, Lawrence, Edward and Arthur fonned the well
known firm of Silcock Brothers Amusements o f
Warrington. but Herbert then a young man in his early
1wenties had decided to go into business on his own
account. He bought a set of Gallopers and built up a
run of fairs in the Wigan area. He also ventured into
the villages on the West Lancashire mosses and spent
a few weeks in mid Cheshire opening in villages such
as Acton Bridge. Kingsley, Norley and Crowton,
places which would not nowadays support a fair. But
in the days when there were large numbers of people
working on the land, with no other entertainment
available, the annual fairs were very popular and
provided Herbert with a reasonable living.
Herbert's presentation at Pickmere consisted of his
Tidman Gallopers. adult swings and spinner, with a bit
of sidestuff provided by bis regular tenants. The
swings were known as Silcock's Airships as it was
around this time that airships were capturing the
headlines. The spinner was a popular attraction at the
fairs it attended and was well known for the high
quality of the prizes offered.
The fair built up on the front only yards from the
water's edge. The trucks were lined up on the top field
and ,vinched down the hill using the ,vire rope on
Herbert's Burrell engine, The Wonder. which was then
carefully reversed down the grass slope.
On the August Monday the weather was very hot
and large crowds had gathered, but the amuse,nents
were not doing too well as the people were either
boating or sunbathing. Herbert recalled, however, that
around lunchtin1e a few clouds appeared and there
was a short shower. not enough to send the punters
 home, but enough 10 damp the gr.iss and soon the
Gallopers were riding to capacity. Herbert pulled
down on the Monday night and at first light coupled
the loads up and took lhem onto Spencer's land and up
their hill before lhey were awake.
This was done without their permission, but
avoided the arduous task of winching the loads back
up the grass hill.
Herbert was invited to open for a full season, but he
declined the offer as he did not want 10 give up the run
of places he had built up, so the Cheetham family
decided 10 acquire some equipment and establish a
small amusement park. The first item to appear was
wooden Lighthouse Slip. This was quite a large
structure, probably dating from the early pan of the
century. TI1e departure platform at the top was housed
in a square cabin which resembled a garden shed. The
chute sloped quite steeply and did two full turns
around the tower. Adjoining the slip was a wooden
shed, built at the bottom of the hill, end on 10 the lake.
This was called ·Laughterland' and was fitted out as a
walk-round show, similar 10 the funhouses seen on
today's fa.irs.
A large prefabricated building was purchased from
the nnny camp at IUnmel Bay in Nonh Wales. This
was erected end on 10 the lake at the nonh end of the
front. It was used to serve teas and refreshrnents in the
daytime and on Friday and Saturday evenings in the
season, for dancing, which was popular at this time. It
became known as the 'Dancehall' and was patronised
by IOcal people, weekend residents who rented plots
of land in 1he fields around the lake and built a motley
collection of temporary dwellings. and campers who
pitched their tents on Spencer's field.
Music was provided by an automatic piano
supplied b y the Robino company of Manchester and
soft drinks only were served.
Other attractions included a palmist. a sn1all wheel­
em-in stall and a Crazy Kitchen (saucer smasher). ln
years to come divers and archaeologists may be
puzzled by the large amounts of broken crockery on
the lake bed.
After a short time another shed was built next 10
Laughterland which was called 'The Funhouse'. This
contained a selection of automatic machines, n1any of
which were quite old, but as there was no competition
it didn't really matter. The slot machines however
Look more n1oaey than Laughterland and before long
the show effects were removed, the buildings joined
together and more machines installed.
By 1925 as well as the Cheethams and Spencers,
another local family. the Robinsons set up a small boat
hire business and tearoom at the eastern end of the
lake. They were however a litlle isolated and did not
do too well. They stayed in business for a few seasons
but eventually sold their boats to the Cheethams. The
RiJeys were still operating, bu1 as two separate
concerns. The Captain had died and left the business
to bis two sons, Young Joe and David, (known as
Daffy).
Unfortunately the brothers could not agree about
anything and split the business into two halves and
spent tlie ensuing years arguing and entering into
expensive and pointless litigation with each oilier, the
only beneficiaries being their solicitors.
Mrs Spencer had seen what had happened 10 the
Rileys and to avoid a similar situation arising in her
family, on her death in 1926. she left instructions that
the business and land be sold off and the proceed
divided amongst her successors. One of her sons,
Jack, took some of the boats, rented a small plot of
land on the south eastern shore of the lake, built a
wooden bungalow and a boatshed and eked out a
living hiring boats to fishermen.
Lake House, with its catering facilities, coach and
cycle park and around five acres of land were put up
for auction.
The auction anracted a good deal of interest, but the
two main contendors were the Cheethams and
Greenall Whitleys. the Warrington brewers. After
some brisk bidding Greenalls dropped out and the
Cheethams becan1e the new owners. Until this time
the boating business had been run as an offshoot of the
coal business, but a new company, The Pickmere
Boating Company, wa� se1 up LO run the operation,
with i1s headquarters at Lake House.
There was now plenty of room on the front to
extend the amusement area. The cycle shed was
removed and rebuilt as an extension to the workshop
which had been buiJt at tlie rear of the Dancehall. A
concrete retaining wall ,vas buiJt along the waier's
edge and landing stages for the rowing boats added. A
larger landing stage was soon required as two motor
launches, The Duchess and Srar were purchased.
The Lighthouse Slip was sold and a straight slide,
The Mountain Glide. took its place. This came fro111
Anhur Barns who operated arnusernents at the Marine
Lake at Rhyl.
A set of Gallopers was advertised in the World's
Fair by the Nonh famiJy of Sheffield. After a trip to
Yorkshire to view the machine which was in storage in
an old mi II, a deal was struck and Barrows of
Nonhwich, a local haulage contractor, was engaged to
bring the ride home There were no packing trucks so.
two Foden steam wagons were sen1 to carry the
component pans and to pull the centre and organ
trucks. Such was the nature of road haulage in those
days, there was no undue worry when the Fodens
failed 10 appear after several days. The finally arrived
after a delay caused by the organ truck losing one of
its iron tyres.
After a good wash and varnish and o coat of Dayzol
orange on the platforms and steps the ride looked
quite presentable. Research suggests tliat it was a very
early machine. It had an unusually large centre pole
and a powerful Robey centre engine which had
replaced an earlier Tadman engine. The Ttdman organ
engine was retained to drive a large Gavioli trumpet
barrel instrument. A few modifications were carried
out which included tlie installation of universal joints
I
Principal auractio11: the Cheethan, fa,nily's Lightlwuse Slip, the first ride they presented at Pick,nere, standing
by the water's edge in /927.
on the crank rods, Lhe replacement of the middle row
of mounts, large heavy cockerels, with horses bought
from Herbert Silcock and Lhe addition of a lift pump
to enable the water Lanks to be replenished from the
lake. This did away with the laborious task of filling
the tanks by hand using buckeLS, a job usually carried
out at the end of Lhe day's business, which in those
times could be as late as I am.
Around this lime a set of adult swings was acquired
and built up next to the Gallopers.
It will be noticed that none of the attraclions
required any electricity, apart from a few lighls. This
was just as weU as until 1930 there was no mains
eleclricity in the Lhe village. Current to light Lhe
amusemenLS and Lake House was supplied from a 60
volt petrol/paraffin generator, housed in a small shed
at the back of the Fun House.
As well as developments on the fairground. a
nun1ber of new rowing boats were purchased. These
were beautifully constructed from fine mahogany, oak
and pitchpine with copper and brass fastenings. The
ornamental ironwork was all hand-made and
galvanised and the boats came complete with oars, a
rudder, seat cushions and coco matting carpets 10
protect the bottom boards. All this crafLSmanship for
the princely sum of £17.10 shillings each.
In 1930 a set of Over the Tops was purchased from
Wallis's of Seaforth. This was a very heavy machine,
an early version of todays much lighter Swinging
Gyms. The main frames of the ride 's struclure were
made from stout timbers and required a system of
pulleys and blocks Lo pull them into their vertical
position. The cages were also well built and hung on
eight counterweighted arms. The packing truck was a
low bow-roofed vehicle, probably a scenic railway
packing truck, built to the railway loading gauge. The
cages were carried in a frame built on the roof. The
whole lot weighed in at around 15 tons.
The machine proved popular with the young lads
who having cycled 20 miles would then compete
amongst themselves to be the first to get their cage to
complete a full revolution. Money was light in the
early 1930s but things improved and in 1934 it was
fell that a new machine was needed. At the May Day
fair in Knutsford, ii was noticeable that Bates's
Dodgem was riding well and inquiries were made at
Orton and Spooner's. In their yard at Burton was a
Dodgem which had been supplied to a coastal site. but
had been repossessed. A price of six hundred pounds
was agreed and arrangements made to have the
machine delivered to the goods yard at Lostock
Station.
Before the machine could be built up, a large
amount of earth had to be dug away from the bonom
of the hill, and a retaining wall built. Concrete blocks
were cast in situ to carry the transverse sleepers of the
track.
A smaJJ Dennis lorry was borrowed from the coal
business to ferry the partS of the ride from the station.
The machine was square ended and measured
approximately 72 feet by 36 feet overall. The bottom
frame was of heavy timber construction and supported
80 floor sections. The steel plates were 7 feet by 4
feet, with a row of 6 feet long plates at the ends, giving
a long narrow running area of 68 by 32 feeL This was
further reduced by lhe fitting of buffers across the
corners of lhe track. The uprights were carried through
the lop of lhe machine and carried match-board
roundings, bearing the slogan, 'The Latest American
Auto-Scooter Sensation'. The tilt only reached the
inside quanerings, narrow tilts which covered the
verandah were lost in transit. The paybox sat on one of
the comer run-ups, a 3 phase to 11Ov de converter
which provided power for the cars was housed in a
wooden box on one of the others.
The cars were believed to be of British 1nanufacture
and had two 1notor and gearbox units under the seat,
one per rear wheel. A differential effect was provided
by a system of studs under the car actuated by a wiper
on the steering column which applied cu1Tent to both
motors on the straights and shut off current to the
inside motor when cornering. The pedal was a
rudimentary knife switch which would give today's
health and safety inspectors a night mare. There was
little in the way of insulation and ladies' handbag
frames often got welded between the switch and the
steering column. Coconut bags were provided for
riders with clog irons to throw over the pedal before
the cu1Tent was switched on. The ride proved
extremely popular and attracted crowds of prospective
riders and spectators alike.
Fearing damage to the tilt from the strong winds
wllich blow down the lake, a builder was instructed to
strengthen lhe top frame and fit a tongue and grooved
board felted roof. While the builder was on site, he
was given a photograph of a Ghost Train which had
JiJ11 Cheetha111, son of Gibson Cheetha,11, 011 the platfon11 of the Gallopers at Pickn1ere circ:a /935.
appeared in the Worlds Fair and told to draw plans for
a permanent building, based on the picture. The plans
were accepted and construction got undenvay. Four
cars, believed to be of Supercar manufacture, a
quantity of track and some effects were bought
secondhand. The ride was duly finished and with lhe
backnash and high front boards decorated by a
lheatrical scene painter. looked very impressive.
Unfortunately the takings were very poor and afler the
first season the bold step of removing the cars and
effects and filling lhe building with slot machines was
contemplated. It was decided, however, to carry on for
another season and suddenly the takings increased and
the ride was lefl as it was and becan1e a good
moneytaker.
As time went on the Gallopers began to lose favour
with lhe customers, who were now becoming used to
the modem thrill rides such as the Ark, Swirl and
Mont Blanc.
It was clear lhat a replacement was needed and in
1937 an Ark owned by the Thwaites family of
Lancashire travellers came up for sale. Thwaites
would nol sell the machine to a non-Guild operator, so
it was bought via a lhird pany, the Warburtons of
Altrincham who supplied horses to showmen and
operated donkey rides at local fairs and were Guild
members. The Gallopers were hurriedly pulled down
and packed away and the Ark was delivered direct
[rom its last gaff at Weaverham Carnival.
Michnel Houldeo
To be co111i11ued in the 11ext edition. Michael Hou/den
is the grandson of Gibson Cheetha111.