A house on a Merseyside street caused havoc despite being officially empty.
The property, dubbed the "House of Shame" by papers at the time, sat on Back Bolton Street, St Helens. A "mysterious tenant" paid the rent, despite no one living at the address officially.
Neighbours were up in arms over the commotion at the house - with some reporting "courting couples" entering and leaving the property all night. As well as this, the house did not have a toilet - plaguing the street with a smell caused by a "makeshift" toilet made in one of the rooms.
READ MORE: Ghost hunters forced to abandon investigation after chilling discovery
According to local historian Stephen Wainwright, in May 18 1965, the St Helens Newspaper published: "House of Shame – Courting Couples Use Its Rooms at Night"
"Residents of Back Bolton Street have begun a campaign to rid the neighbourhood of a “house of shame” which has been a blot for more than two years. Their first step will be to write to the Premier, Mr. Harold Wilson. Since the house went empty in 1963 it has been the home for unofficial lodgers.
"Leader of the campaign, housewife Doreen McCarthy, of number 17, quoted several instances.
- Courting couples spending the night there.
- Quantities of stolen wire being stored there. Often residents claim police have called at the house to make arrests.
- Laughing, giggling and bad language which goes on until the early hours of the morning.
"But the main thing that has aroused the anger of these normally placid housewives is the SMELL. The house is in a state of disrepair and has no toilet. But the “lodgers” have converted one of the bedrooms for this use.
"Repeated protests have been made to both the Sanitary Department and the police, but, allege the residents, no action has been taken. Now they have decided to appeal to Mr. Harold Wilson.
"Said 43-years-old Peggy Murphy, of number 25: “It is a disgraceful situation. You can hear men and women coming along the street at one and two o’clock in the morning and going into the house. It sets a shocking example for the children of the street, who are naturally curious.”
"Twenty-six-years-old Mrs. McCarthy, who lives right next to the house, had this to say to the Newspaper:
“We have tried hard to keep our houses in good repair and respectable, but when we have this in our midst, it gives us no hope. She continued: “My husband works turns and is unable to stay up to wait for these people. In the early hours of the morning you can hear them moving about and laughing.
“The house attracts children during the day, as all empty houses do. It's most unhealthy, and the smell is indescribable. We once had a young health inspector down here, but he said the place was ‘healthy’.”
"Mrs. Valerie Sharrocks from number 21 echoed her sentiments: “We feel that by writing to Harold Wilson we might get something done. We have complained many times to the local authority, but they just claim they are not legally responsible.”
Mr N Birch, the Chief Public Health Inspector, told the paper, his department was fully aware of the problem but was faced with a dilemma. Staff had contacted the agent who told them the house was still being rented by the man who left the house two years ago.
Mr Birch added, however, the agent had promised him that as soon as a suitable contractor could be found, alterations would be made to prevent people from getting into the house."
Stephen Wainwright's book The Hidden History Of St Helens is available from St Helens Book Stop at 11 Bridge Street, St Helens, and online via eBay here.
READ NEXT
Brits warned not to sleep with a fan on despite soaring temperatures
Liverpool landmark voted third most beautiful sight to see in the UK
Brits warned not to sleep with a fan on despite soaring temperatures
'Remarkable' parents made makeshift cold cot to bring home baby son
Baby born 11 weeks early 'wouldn't be here' but for 'incredible' hospital
