Archaeology
November 13, 2018 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | Leave a Comment
This is part of a series of pages based on the talks given at the Recent Developments in Merseyside Archaeology conference. It was held on the 13th October 2018, and... read more
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October 29, 2018 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | 4 Comments on Fort Crosby: protecting the Mersey coast
The following post about Fort Crosby is based on a talk Alison Burns gave at the Recent Developments in Merseyside Archaeology conference, held in the Museum of Liverpool on 13th... read more
Hidden History
January 30, 2018 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | Leave a Comment
Hale township occupies a spot at the widest part of the River Mersey. Because of this the water slows down significantly. So much so that, at times in the past,... read more
Buildings
January 29, 2018 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | Leave a Comment
The River Mersey at Hale Point can be dangerous, as the Hale Ford demonstrates. Conditions change with each tide, and formerly dry land can become swift and deep channels. The... read more
January 25, 2018 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | 11 Comments on Hale Hall
Hale Hall was a quadrangular building, begun in the early 17th century, built of local stone with a red shale driveway. It was altered near the end of the century,... read more
January 12, 2018 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | 11 Comments on Allerton Hall
Perhaps the most significant of the merchant houses in the history of Allerton is Allerton Hall itself. The wealthy Lathom family built the first house on the site back in... read more
January 3, 2018 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | Leave a Comment
The thing which inspired this website from the outset was the huge number of historic features in Liverpool that we take for granted every day. The Queensway Tunnel is one... read more
November 11, 2017 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | 1 Comment on Viking boat at Meols
In 2007, Professor Stephen Harding and a team of archaeologists from the University of Nottingham brought attention to a possible Viking boat buried under the car park at the Railway... read more
November 11, 2017 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | 1 Comment on World War II Grenades, Kirkby
In 2009, workmen discovered twenty Second World War grenades in Ruffwood Drive, Kirkby, while digging foundations. Police carried out controlled explosions on the grenades. The AW Bombs (manufactured by Albright... read more
August 15, 2017 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | 5 Comments on Ridge and Furrow, Medieval farming remains in West Derby
Ridge and Furrow formations are possibly one of the best-known archaeological features which survive into the modern day. You can see these long, sinuous raises beds of earth across Britain.... read more
February 5, 2017 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | Leave a Comment
The ‘Yeoman’s House’ (as it is known locally) dates from the 1580s, so is a cherished historical feature in the village of West Derby. Others include the similarly-aged courthouse across... read more
Landscapes
January 9, 2017 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | Leave a Comment
A question came in back in October 2016, looking for information on Paton Street in Kirkdale. I couldn’t find out any information on this myself, as there were few clues.... read more
May 22, 2016 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | 1 Comment on Neolithic Anglesey and the Merseyside connection
Anglesey and North Wales are very close to Liverpool hearts. Countless Welsh builders helped create some of our inner suburbs in distinctive yellow brick, and the red bricks of the... read more
February 20, 2016 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | Leave a Comment
Following the curve of Princes Parade, on the north west side of Princes Dock, are a set of rails which are one of the few clues left to the presence... read more
February 12, 2016 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | 5 Comments on Parkside Drive – a West Derby bypass?
Plans were once put together to make West Derby a more peaceful village. Only a few clues now remain to those plans, like Parkside Drive. Martin’s Note: I’m indebted to... read more
February 6, 2016 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | 4 Comments on Speke Hall and the Speke Estate
Speke Hall is one of the most famous historical features on Merseyside. Its distinctive black and white appearance, highlighting its amazing timber structure, make it a memorable sight for visitors.... read more
January 30, 2016 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | 1 Comment on Clarke Gardens Pillbox, Allerton
There is an octagonal pillbox in the grounds of Allerton Hall, seemingly ‘defending’ Springwood Avenue from an invisible army. While many no doubt pass it day to day without a... read more
Landmarks
January 20, 2016 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | 4 Comments on Calder Stones: an ancient burial site in suburban Liverpool
The Calder Stones name refers these days to a group of six megaliths which once stood in a greenhouse, but now have a new home in Calderstones Park. These are... read more
January 14, 2016 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | 4 Comments on Blackburne Place ventilation shaft and the Wapping Tunnel
This red brick and sandstone tower on Blackburne Place is a beautiful ventilation shaft for a railway which once ran beneath it, and could be seen as representing the tunnel... read more
January 9, 2016 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | 2 Comments on Robin Hood’s Stone
Robin Hood’s Stone (or the Robin Hood Stone) is a Neolithic or Bronze Age standing stone currently to be found within a set of railings on the corner of Booker... read more
December 15, 2015 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | Leave a Comment
In the woods above Woolton lie mysterious remains, amounting to little more than some dry stone walls. Camp Hill is a location reputed to have once held so much more.... read more
November 26, 2015 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | Leave a Comment
In the Victorian period Liverpool was Britain’s second greatest port. So there are hundreds of remnants of Liverpool’s trading golden age dotted around the landscape. We’re all familiar with the... read more
November 10, 2015 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | Leave a Comment
Liverpool has always been a trading port, and so it’s no surprise that features have come and gone in the landscape which sought to make this as easy and safe... read more
November 4, 2015 / July 15, 2025 by Martin Greaney | 4 Comments on Springfield Park, Prescot Road entrance
Knotty Ash Village, and Springfield Park, are part of a historic area. They’re on the edge of West Derby and also on the main route between Liverpool and Prescot, and... read more
