Established 1861
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The Beginning
In 1849, Sir John Gerard began a regiment of the Lancashire Hussars. William Cansfield
“The Second Barron Gerard” was an officer in the Second Life Guards and Colonel in
the Lancashire Hussars, one of the finest Yeomanry Corps in the North of England,
mostly drawn from the Gerard Estate. His men took part in the Boer War, (1899-
It was from ‘Lord Gerard’s Hussars Band’ that ‘The Haydock Band’ was formed.
At one time, the Gerard's owned a considerable amount of land in various parts of England. Locally named places are Gerards Bridge and Gerards Hall in St. Helens. There is also a Gerard Street in Ashton and there was once a Gerard Arms. Some of the wealth of the Gerard's came from the coal dug up on their land and were helped by the building of the Sankey Brook Canal in the 18th Century. Coal mining became an important part of the history of Haydock Band.
The Colliery Years
With the introduction of the mining industry into Haydock, the band was adopted by the Colliery and incorporated the name Colliery into its title and so became known as The Haydock Colliery Band. A long standing association between the pit and band was to follow.
The Haydock Colliery Band practised for some 80 years in the colliery stable yard canteen. Two of the local conductors were Tom Mullin and Jim Stephens. In 1912, J. A. Greenwood a composer and conductor of note, conducted the band at the famous Belle View Contest and were awarded 2nd prize. In 1917, he won the contest with Haydock Colliery Band playing the test piece “A Souvenier of Gounod”.
More Recent Times…
Since the early 1990s, Haydock Band has gradually worked its way up through the sections
from the 4th section. A particular high-