Just spotted a great website - Domesday reloaded - If you type in Formby into the search box then click on one of the squares on the map - look then at the written descriptions of Formby 1986 - there is a great one about what shops were in the village - 1986 might seem like ages ago to you but it was my finest hour - this is definitely a website to show your mums and dads ....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday