Teenage courage on Liverpool Road: a St Helens story from 1906
One hundred and twenty years ago this week a 15-year-old girl from St Helens did something locals say was extraordinary: she intervened in a street attack and is credited with saving a policeman's life.
The incident took place on the evening of 11 August 1906 near a chip shop on Liverpool Road and nearby Phythian Street. A young Frances Polding, described in contemporary reports as "respectably-dressed" and living at 180 Westfield Street, stepped into a violent scene to shield PC Thomas Doig from his assailants.
"Frances Polding... thrust her way through the crowd to shield PC Doig from his attackers, managed to snatch his whistle from his tunic and summoned the assistance of other policemen..."
The account, printed in the local paper and later recounted in town histories, says PC Doig had been attempting to arrest James McCormick, who was allegedly intoxicated. Reports state the constable was struck, had his head banged on the pavement and was hit with a clog; others in the crowd are said to have kicked him while he was down.
According to the contemporary citation, Frances forced her way through the mob, took the constable's whistle and called for help. The three men identified — McCormick, James Ashall and John Connolly — were arrested and later given prison sentences of three months.
Awards and local recognition
Her actions did not go unnoticed. The Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society presented Frances with a framed vote of thanks, a sovereign and a silver medal for bravery. At a civic presentation the Mayor of St Helens said it was clear her intervention had saved the constable's life.
The town’s chief constable at the time, Arthur Ellerington, also praised her modest bearing when giving evidence. Officers of the force, moved by her conduct, pooled money to buy the teenager a silver watch and chain — a tangible token of gratitude from the men she helped.
| Item | Presented to Frances Polding |
|---|---|
| From Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society | Framed vote of thanks, sovereign, silver medal for bravery |
| From St Helens police officers | Silver watch and chain |
Why it matters for St Helens now
This episode is a reminder of the everyday courage that runs through local history and the way small acts can have outsized effects. For residents today, the story highlights:
- Community spirit — a young local stepping into danger to protect an officer;
- Partnership between civic institutions — recognition from both a maritime charity and municipal figures;
- Policing and public life — how ordinary streets could turn violent and how the community responded over a century ago.
It also underlines how much of local memory is kept alive by newspaper reporting and the stewardship of archives. The photograph of Frances, long thought lost, surfaced in local reports much later and helps anchor the tale in a recognisable St Helens setting.
That setting — Liverpool Road and the streets around it — remains a part of town life. Stories like this give modern residents a sharper sense of continuity: they show St Helens people have long been prepared to step up when they see wrong being done.
One hundred and twenty years on, the civic responses — the medal, the sovereign, and the watch — sound quaint but were significant marks of esteem. They also record a straightforward fact: a teenage girl put herself between violence and a constable, and the town recognised her for it.
For local historians and residents who value the patchwork of community memory, Frances Polding’s deed is an episode worth retelling. It offers a plain lesson: bravery doesn’t always wear a uniform, and sometimes the most unlikely person becomes the town’s quietest hero.
