Transformation of Earlestown Market Square
For many people around Merseyside, the Market Square in Earlestown isn’t something that they will know much about. For those that live nearby, however, it is a major part of their lives and the transformation that is being planned for the area couldn’t come any sooner.
The historic town square is located in Newton-le-Willows, which will be known to pretty much anyone that has caught the train from Liverpool to Manchester over the years.
Its redevelopment is being undertaken as part of an overarching project that will also include work being carried out to the wider St Helen’s region.
About Earlestown
If you don’t know much about Earlestown, then you’re unlikely to be on your own. Located within the boundaries of Lancashire as a historic county, it was named after the Chairman of the London and North Western Railway, Sir Hardman Earle.
That is because the Warrington and Newtown Railway was opened less than six months after the service from Liverpool to Manchester got underway, giving rise to a station at the junction of the two railways, named Newtown Junction. A works was built to the west of the station, with a model town being constructed for the people that were working there.
@villordsutch Pigeons Flight – Earlestown Town Hall Earlestown Town Hall was constructed in 1892-93. To the designs of a local architect, Thomas Beesley of Earlestown, following a competition. The building was built by Messrs R Neill & Sons of Manchester for £10,200 At the time of this video, 10th August 2025, the clock is currently inactive due to major renovation works inside the Town Hall. This is why each hand has a different time. Footage captured by myself using the DJI Mini 4k on the 10th August 2025. For more information on Earlestowns Town Hall go here:- Historic England – https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1392639?section=official-list-entry To visit Earlestown Town Hall go here – https://maps.app.goo.gl/5UzkBttd27rjAWkRA Music – Whispers of Time – https://www.udio.com/songs/k8qT4jFj7LzLL9NHTZif8C?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing Created using Udio #drone #drones #dronefootage #dronevideo #earlestown #merseyside #townhall #history #historical #fyp #newtonlewillows #nlew #dji #drone4k🛸#dronetok #sthelens ♬ original sound – Villordsutch
In 1837, the station was renamed to become Earlestown. A market had been held at Newton-le-Willows since the 14th century by Royal Charter, moving to Earlestown’s market square when that part of town had outgrown the older section, resulting in the market square becoming the town’s centrepiece.
The Town Hall became an important building, to the extent that The Beatles played a gig there one night in 1962. The excellent railway connections are part of what makes Earlestown such an important hub, which is also part of the reason why a decision has been made to revitalise the town centre.
What is Going On
St Helens Borough Council has been working with its strategic development partner, the English Cities Fund, in order to put ambitious plans in place that will see Earlestown return to being a thriving market town, which it once was.
The proposals that are in place are looking to strengthen what the town has to offer, creating spaces that residents and local businesses alike will be able to use and enjoy. A more attractive and animated market square is an important part of the process, as is the return of the Town Hall as the hub of the community, which will be done alongside making the area more accessible.
For #aDoorableThursday this locked door on a platform at Earlestown Station near St Helens, #Merseyside, one of only two triangular railway stations in the UK (at a junction with platforms on all 3 sides).
— Mary Oz (@maryoz.bsky.social) Apr 10, 2025 at 8:58
In the wake of the decision to transform the area in numerous different ways, a consultation was carried out with the market traders who call the Earlestown Market Square their home. The fact that the square is considered to be central to life in the town means that there is a feeling of extra pressure to get things right from all involved.
The Eric Wright Group was appointed as the main contractor, moving quickly to complete enabling works such as the removal of street furniture to allow work to get underway. The overall preference was for it to start in the January of 2026, which is exactly what has happened.
A New Look for an Old Town
As part of the regeneration of the area, Earlestown Town Hall, which is a Grade II listed building, is being refurbished and extended. That work is being carried out by HH Smith & Sons, with the aim being that the work will be completed by the summer of 2026.
As the MP for St Helens North, David Baines, said, “This is another step forward in the realisation of our exciting plans to regenerate Earlestown. Major projects like this don’t happen overnight and they’re the result of a lot of hard work by many people and organisations working together.” The hope is that it will help to completely revitalise the town.
Whilst the Market Square has remained the central hub of everything that takes place in Earlestown, there can be no question that it has been allowed to become somewhat stagnant over the years.
As a result, the desire to regenerate it in order to return it as the crown jewel of Earlestown is clear, with the opportunity to improve both the infrastructure and the appearance of one of the oldest working markets in the country being one that was seen as too good to miss. There is the added hope that it will encourage people to visit Earlestown who might not have been there for some time, making the market the key part of the local area.
