1885: Bacon’s Map of Liverpool

This map of Liverpool by G. W. Bacon (called "The Environs of Liverpool") was published in around 1885. It shows street-level detail, although only the names of the major roads are marked. The map covers the Wirral and the Mersey in the west, stretching across Liverpool to St. Helens in the east. The most distinctive man-made features on the map (and the only features on the key) are the railways, which are marked sleepers and all.

Also standing out are the parks, including Knowsley in the north east and the city centre parks, and are marked in green.

The map is useful or exploring the shape of Liverpool's docklands in the middle of the 19th century.

George Washington Bacon (1830 - 1922) was a London based book and map publisher active in the mid to late 19th century. Bacon's firm G.W. Bacon and Co. purchased the plates created by Edward Weller for the Weekly Dispatch Atlas then modified and updated them for several of their own important atlases, including The New Ordnance Atlas of the British Isles (Geographicus).

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  • fran street

    07/21/2012 02:26:30

    i have been trying to get this map and later versions i have some bodies story which was let to me but i have to make sure it was true. i searched all broswers for 18hrs a day for three months its not enough but a least it is a start but i do thank you for your maps.
    it would be nice to know if you have later maps but again thanks.

    Reply to fran street

    • Martin Greaney

      07/23/2012 22:00:39

      Hi Fran,

      What exactly are you trying to find out? There are later maps on this site on the Old Maps of Liverpool page - perhaps they can help? If there's something specific that people on here might be able to help you with then do let us know!

      Regards,
      Martin

      Reply to Martin Greaney

  • fran street

    07/21/2012 02:31:01

    i will send you a donation but need you to send me your address address

    Reply to fran street

    • Martin Greaney

      07/23/2012 22:03:43

      That's a very kind offer. If you send me an email via the Contact page (my email address is on there) then I can send you a postal address, which I'd rather not put out in public on this site.

      Reply to Martin Greaney

  • tracey

    11/18/2012 21:13:06

    Do you have any information on the parade ground, that is shown on the map at the beginning of kensington? It seems to cover a large area, which is now approx 10-12 streets. This is the first time i have ever seen it on any old map. Any information on kensington would be greatly appreciated!

    Reply to tracey

    • Martin Greaney

      11/24/2012 13:29:03

      Hi Tracey,

      This is a very important feature in Liverpool's landscape, and its history, as it was the site of the "first" Olympic Games (more accurately, the First Grand Olympic Festival), which took place in June 1862, running annually until 1867. It was one of many precursors to the 'official' international Olympic Games which began with an Athens event in 1896.

      Unfortunately, this famous event makes it very hard to find out any 'ordinary' information on the parade ground, though I think it may have been a place for police to practice, and of course, parade! There's a video on the British Pathe website showing Liverpool police officers on parade. This might be at Mount Vernon, though I'd welcome any comments from readers who may be able to use the buildings in the background to confirm or deny this.

      Regards,
      Martin

      Reply to Martin Greaney

  • Nikki Vivian

    01/29/2013 16:46:34

    Hello,

    I'm trying to locate a street in Liverpool with Bennett in the name. My Grandad was an orphan and was named after the street he was found but his doucments were destroyed in the war after the orphanage was bombed. I want to find the area he was found. There is a bennett street in Guston but I want to find out whether there was a bennett street or similar that was destroyed in the war to be sure I can pinpoint the location. Any help from anyone would be greatly appreciated.

    Reply to Nikki Vivian

    • Martin Greaney

      02/07/2013 14:02:52

      Hi Nikki,

      I've been having a look around and I can't find any other roads with the name Bennett in them, so I should think that you're safe assuming you've found the right one. Though, as always, I'm happy to be proven wrong!

      Martin

      Reply to Martin Greaney

      • Chris

        01/23/2021 20:28:20

        Hi, Iam having the same issue. There was a Bennett Street in the North of the City, possibly Everton area. I have ancestors who lived there and baptised their children in St Annes Church. I have ruled out the Garston Bennett Street as its just too far away to be plausible. I just can't find the location of the other Bennett Street!

        Reply to Chris

  • Kevin

    06/09/2013 18:38:14

    Hi there, i am looking for any evidence of a river running under Victoria Street in Liverpool and entering the Mersey by the old floating road.

    Any information welcome.

    Reply to Kevin

    • iain T

      04/23/2020 15:51:28

      Sounds like a misunderstanding about the Pool of Liverpool - originally a tidal creek which ran along Whitechapel, Paradise Street and was later occupied by the Old Dock and Liverpool One Shopping centre to the Mersey.
      . iain T.

      Reply to iain T

  • Derek

    07/01/2017 16:03:47

    hi Matin
    oh can you help me at all , my great grandfather was born in Baptist street in 1851 , i have tried everything to try and get a map of this location it was in Islington , can anyone help i am really struggling to find a map with this street name on .
    i know there was Baptist place and Baptist court , whether they where in the same area i don't know .
    thank you

    Reply to Derek

    • Martin

      07/10/2017 16:53:50

      Hi Derek,

      Baptist Street was around the back of the current World Museum, as can be seen on this old map: https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/334894/391013/13/101757. It ran parallel to Circus Street and Gerard Street, with Baptist Lane in the same area.

      Regards,
      Martin

      Reply to Martin

  • Diane Howells

    02/06/2018 18:13:38

    I'm looking for Cornwall Street, Everton, West Derby, Lancashire as my 2x great grandfather was living there during the 1871 census and I'd like to see where it was in case it has been redeveloped. Can you give me any help please?

    Reply to Diane Howells

  • Pauline Wiggin

    09/09/2018 14:11:19

    Hello I am trying to locate my Grandmothers street in Liverpool. She was born in 1887 on Harold Street, Toxteth Park area. Do you know what street this is today? Thank you.

    Reply to Pauline Wiggin

    • Martin

      09/20/2018 12:00:39

      Hi Pauline,

      I'm not sure if this is a red herring answer for you, but I noticed that on my Plan of Liverpool - South Sheet there is an entry in the list of programmes down the side which include Harold Street, but when you look at the map itself it looks very much like Harold Street has been corrected to Harbord Street. See the hand-corrected Harold Street here: https://historic-liverpool.co.uk/old-maps-of-liverpool/plan-of-liverpool-south-sheet-1890/#5/78.287/25.972

      Harbord Street still exists: https://goo.gl/maps/4RvWTa1jQMD2

      This might be a coincidence, but I haven't found another reference to a Harold Street yet.

      Martin

      Reply to Martin

    • Arthur2063

      03/01/2020 11:52:08

      Harold Street (previously Castle Street) was off Beaumont Street, parallel with Lorton Street. Not sure when it was originally re-developed, but it now forms part of the Commerce Way Business Park. See https://maps.nls.uk/view/126523145 for a map.

      Reply to Arthur2063

      • Martin

        03/20/2020 17:24:00

        Fantastic, thanks for locating that! On this map it's here, unlabelled: https://historic-liverpool.co.uk/old-maps-of-liverpool/plan-of-liverpool-south-sheet-1890/#5/68.432/30.718

        Reply to Martin

        • L A Cruse

          05/14/2022 12:31:58

          I have a photo of my dad and on the back it says he is outside Harold Street. I know he went to St Clements School. Looking at your map I can see St Clements Church School so I think this is the right location. Thank you.

          Reply to L A Cruse

  • sheila gibbons

    07/17/2020 15:45:25

    Can anyone tell me when Toft street was made into a street that ran between Needham Road and Holt road, i was always told that there had been a wall running between what is now 31 and 32 the old maps it is shown but in the 1881 census houses ran from number 1-27 odd side, 2-24,can this be what became 31-55 and 32-58 there has been mention number 25 west and 25 east can this be explained.

    Reply to sheila gibbons

    • Martin

      07/17/2020 21:48:26

      Hi Sheila,
      I can’t find an exact reason, or the wall itself, but I spotted something interesting on the old maps. It seems there’s a change in the layout of all the houses that border onto the line you mentioned. I’ve attached a map with the line scribbled on top, below. Check the rear extensions on the terraces, which alternate except at that point. I suspect means that this was the border of an old parcel of land, and was developed at slightly different times or by different people. So a wall might have exited at one point. Perhaps a field boundary.



      PS looking at Street View it seems the surviving houses either side of that line are different in architecture too!

      Reply to Martin

  • Chris

    06/09/2022 14:02:00

    Would love any further info on Stand Park in Netherton near Aintree, I'm sure it was nothing but ordinary farmland by the time this map was made, but I' can find very little online, only a few comments from N Blundells Diary referring to it.

    Looks a grand country estate but never knew anyone who has heard of it.

    Reply to Chris

    • Martin Greaney

      06/17/2022 11:51:24

      Hi Chris,

      Looking at a slightly more detailed map of the same period, I can see that there's a large set of buildings called Stand Park in that area (where Our Lady Of Walsingham RC Primary School is now). It looks a little like a farmstead, but there's also a New Park Farm to the north, so maybe Stand Park is a residence.

      You can see the house / farmstead here: https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=17&lat=53.48205&lon=-2.97037&layers=168&right=ESRIWorld

      Best wishes,
      Martin

      Reply to Martin Greaney

  • S.Taylor

    06/12/2022 10:35:42

    Hi
    Can anybody help with any photos and info on a few places please?
    Wood Street Liverpool John Walmsley a marble mason lived here (1780ish-1811), he later built his own house Berry St, which is at the top of the street, (will this building be there now or bombed in WW2?, It was said to be Georgian style, I'm not big on my building styles) He also did some work in the Unitarian chapel on Paradise st, now part of Liverpool one. It was turned into the Royal Colosseum Theatre, (any pics of inside surviving to see what his work was like would be great please). He was buried at St Andrews Renshaw st,
    His dad in the mid 1700s lived in Tithebarn st, which I've been told was much narrower than now, so was this on the style of the Shambles in York would anybody know, as I don't think anything would survive now, unless anybody did a painting? He later moved to Toxteth park area, as he was a stone mason and it was near the Quarry I believe, but now the Cathedral?
    Sorry for the heavy load, any help would be lovely. Many Thanks

    Reply to S.Taylor

  • A.R

    01/26/2023 12:14:44

    Hello,
    I was wondering if you knew anything about the Magdalen Asylum/Laundry on 8 Mount Vernon Green, opened in 1860? Many thanks.

    Reply to A.R

  • Lynn

    06/01/2024 20:27:42

    I believe Bennett Street was close to Gerard Street in the Islington area of Liverpool

    Reply to Lynn