Old Billy, A Warrington Tail

Written by Flick Goodman, Illustrated by Stef Woof and Published by Culture Warrington

Old Billy is one of the great figures of Warrington history. Billy was born at Wilgreave Farm in Woolston in 1760 and died at Old Warps in Latchford in 1822. Old Billy is claimed by many people to have been the World’s oldest ever horse.

Working with the archives team at Culture Warrington, I wrote a ballad style poem inspired by the way that communities told stories during the Industrial Revolution. The words were then handed to Stef Woof, who beautifully illustrated the story.

Copies of the book can be purchased from Warrington Museum or borrowed from one of Warrington’s libraries. You can learn more about the life of Old Billy on the museum’s website

Old Billy Workshop

Inspired by Culture Warrington’s Old Billy, A Warrington Tail (Written by Flick Goodman and Illustrated by Stef Woof), this workshop will have children creating their own ballad inspired by the characters found in the pages of picture book. We’ll share facts from the Industrial Revolution along the River Mersey and find out why ballads were so important. Please get in touch, if you would like to find out more about this workshop.

Turning All Day by Flick Goodman and Year 2 Bewsey Lodge Primary School