1890: Plan of Liverpool – North Sheet

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This is the north half of a detailed plan of Liverpool published in 1890. It is incredibly detailed, showing every road name, paths within the parks, and even individual buildings in some streets (where those buildings were big enough).

There’s also an index to road names down two sides, making it easy to look up a place of interest.

It’s a partner to a South Sheet, also available on Historic Liverpool. There are also concentric circles showing distances from the Town Hall, each one quarter of a mile apart.

It shows the densely packed city layout at the height of the Industrial Revolution, when Liverpool was experiencing unparalleled levels of immigration from other parts of Britain and beyond the country’s borders. Details of large thoroughfares such as Scotland Road and Erskine Street can be seen in their pre-war state, before extensive redevelopment changed the face of Liverpool forever.

Because of the high level of detail, the map only covers an area from Crosshall Street to Kirkdale Station, but this is one of the most important areas of Liverpool at this time in its history.

119 thoughts on “1890: Plan of Liverpool – North Sheet”

  • donald macsween says:

    Hi There
    is there any possibility you could help me identify where Vesuvius Street was in Liverpool. I see the modern version of that name is off the Scotland Rd, but did it replace the old Vesuvius Street? I am trying to help my wife’s family understand where they were brought up. Sorry if this causes any inconvenience. Many thanks

    regards

    Don

  • tracey says:

    Hi, I am from Sydney Australia and I am trying to find 12 Trafalgar Street, Liverpool or Everton, on my g,g,g grandparents wedding certificate it states Sarah came from Everton Liverpool, is Everton a suburb of Liverpool? I have heard there is an old map of Liverpool with maybe Trafalgar St on it, can you help in any way. They were married in 1831 the year they came out to Australia.

    thanking you,

    Tracey

  • Margaret Morrison (nee Edwards). says:

    Hi, I am writing from Melbourne Australia and am tracing my Family Tree. My Great, Great Great Grandfather appears on the 1871 Census as living in Dinorban Street. I have not been able to find it on any current map. My G, G, G, Grandfather and family also appear on 1861 Census as living either a Cillar Street or Cellar Street. This address is in the parish area of West Derley and the Ecclesiastical District of St Clemont. Any help of the location of either of these address’ would be a great help. Thank you,
    Margaret.

    • Martin Greaney says:

      Dear Margaret,

      Thanks for your message – it’s great to hear that this site is enjoyed from across the other side of the globe!

      Dinorben Street was in Toxteth, to the south of the city centre, and just north of the still-existing Parliament Street. You can see Dinorben Street on the 1890 Plan of Liverpool here (it’s right on the vertical black line). These days it’s covered by industrial units, and can be seen on the History of Toxteth page here (scroll down to the map).

      West Derby is a large parish based around the village of West Derby to the north east. It covered much of Liverpool along with the other parishes of Liverpool, Childwall and Walton-on-the-Hill.

      Hope this is of some help!

      Martin

    • Les Giblin says:

      Hi margare I was born in dinorben street in 1955 and there
      Was a long established Morrison family living there up until around 1960
      Hope this helps they moved about 8 miles to hunts cross Liverpool

  • Sarah Wenham says:

    Can you help me find out where Evans Street Liverpool was i think it was in the vauxhall area its not in the A to Z i am tracing my family history and my dad used to live there. thanks
    Sarah

  • Sheri Bly says:

    Can you tell me what type of housing was on Doon Street in 1901? My grandparents, Matthew Barr lived at 1 Doon St and Jane Matthews lived at 2 Doon St in the 1901 census. Thank you.

    • Martin Greaney says:

      Hi Sheri,

      Doon Street, in Kirkwall, was part of the large area of terraced housing in north Liverpool. The houses were uniform, with small yards behind, and the streets were laid out in a grid pattern. They were built for the large number of working class people (dockers, labourers etc) who worked in the city. I think they were a definite step up from the slum court houses of the city centre, but the council saw fit to demolish them in the middle of the 20th century, and the area is now covered with modern semi-detached houses.

      Here’s a map from 1890, with Doon Street circled in blue:

  • Sheri Bly says:

    Hi Martin, Thank you for a description of the housing and the map. I had been able to determine where Doon Street was but the only thing I knew about the area was from my mother who said it was tenement housing. Matthew Barr was a refrigerated engine driver according to one census. Can you tell me anything about this occupation?

    Are there any pictures that exist of Doon Street between 1891 and 1911. The Matthews family lived at 2 Doon St in 1891 and 1901 and the Barr family lined at 1 Doon St in 1891, 1901, and 1911.

    Thank you

    • Martin Greaney says:

      I’ve not come across any pictures of Doon Street, but I’ll let you know if a photo of that area shows up.

      I presume a refrigerated engine driver would refer to something similar to today’s good vehicle drivers. The vehicles would be a lot less sophisticated in those days, with a compartment filled with ice, plus the chilled goods (fish? ice cream? 🙂 ). I don’t know whether ‘engine driver’ suggests he was on the railway or not. Perhaps he worked on the docks transporting ice and goods around the river front. A very intriguing job!

      Martin

  • Dermot says:

    Do you know the location of Broom Street ?
    My great Grandparents married in St Alban’s RC Church 1891 with address given as 5 Broom St.
    Maith thu,
    Dermot.

    • Martin says:

      Hi Dermot,

      I’ve not been able to find a Broom Street in Liverpool, though there is a Brook Street, not far from St. Alban’s church in Vauxhall. Could the address have been mis-transcribed in one of the records?

      Martin

  • bill sanderson says:

    I am trying to locate McKee Street. It is not shown on either the modern map or the 1901 A to Z. I have heard it ran between Scotland Road and Cazneau Street, near Juvenal Street. Can you help? Is there an on-line map showing it?

    • Martin says:

      Hi Bill,

      I don’t know if you’ve already found something, but here’s an old map with McKee Street on it: (see bottom left of map). It’s right where you’d heard it was, near Scotland Road!

      For more of that area, my interactive map of Liverpool shows the road, un-named, running between Lawrence Street and Juvenal Street in the middle of this 1898 map of Liverpool.

      Martin

  • Allan Purcell says:

    I am looking for a pre second world 2 map with the house numbers on it. Does anyone know of such a map of Liverpool.

    Regards,

    Allan.

    • Martin says:

      Hi Allan,

      The earliest Ordnance Survey map I know of with house numbers is the 1950 one, so any pre-war map with them on will be from another publisher. I’ll let you know if I find one, though I don’t know of one so far.

      Martin

  • Martyn says:

    Hello.

    I’m trying to find any existence of Somerville Street in Liverpool where my ancestors lived. I’m expecting it to be in the Kirkdale area. However, I can find no mention of it on neither of these maps nor the Liverpool A-Z. Any help you could provide would be fantastic.

  • DEREK MARSDEN says:

    I am trying to find Hutton street.It appears on the 1891 and 1901 census.It was probably neat the docks or a sugar refinery

  • Kate Rowlands says:

    Hi,
    Would you be able to tell/show n a map where Nottingham Street, Everton would have been please? I had relatives there circa 1898 and earlier at Rose Vale but have been unable to locate it,
    Thanks,
    Kate

  • Nancy says:

    Hi Martin ,
    What a great site -i’ve just found it because i’m trying to find info on a street i have found on a Mcert from 1885 .
    Have you heard of ” BARKER St ” , it is clearly written as that but i can’t locate where it was .The marriage was at St Silas Church so might perhaps be in that parish ?

    • Martin says:

      Hi Nancy,

      I can’t find any information about Barker Street. I wonder whether it’s a mistake on the part of the person who wrote that entry on the certificate (though probably unlikely on a marriage certificate!). There’s a Barker Street on the Wirral, but I think I’m grasping at straws at this point. Sorry not to be of more help.

      Martin

    • Stan says:

      Hello Nancy, I expect that you have found Barker Street by now. If not then I can tell you that I found it while searching for the deaths of two of my tree. I went to ‘ search old street names’, entered Barker Street and was presented with a map with a circle over the street. It is very close to Edge Hill railway station. Hope this helps. Stan.

  • Sara Dubiard says:

    Hi Martin, I’ve been trying to find Sandy Lane in Walton, my Great grandfather lived at number 65 in 1870s . Wondered if you could help ? Kind Regards Sara

  • David Chaffin-Power says:

    Hello Martin, just found your site and impressed with the amount of information you pass on to aspiring Family Researchers…. I hope you can help me with a street called Mordan Street in Liverpool. It featured in 1871 Census and my great grandfather and family lived there at the time. Any help will be greatly appreciated.
    David.

    • Martin says:

      Hi David,

      I’ve had a little look but not having much success finding Mordan Street. There’s a Morden Street, which is still there in Kensington, but this wasn’t built until the 20th century so wouldn’t be on the 1871 census. Are there any other clues as to the location, such as where relatives lived which might be nearby?

      Martin

  • David Chaffin-Power says:

    Hello Martin and thanks for your response. On the 1871 Census Mordan Street is shown as being in the Civil Parish of Kirkdale, the Municipal Ward of Everton and District 113. Don’t know if this narrows it down but at present I don’t know of any relatives living nearby.
    Many thanks again.

    • Frances O'Connor says:

      Mordan Street is were my ancestors are from it is off Derby Road BOOTLE, between Bankfield street and Brunswick Place which can be found on a present day map

  • Andrew Hunter says:

    Hi I am looking for Canada Place Kirkdale. G.G.grandfather was there in 1881 census any help would be greatly appreciated.
    Thanks in advance

    Andy

  • Joseph HANLON says:

    hi martin , your map of liverpool 1890 . shows standish street of great cross hall street. liverpool 3. were holy cross church stood. next to the church was the preist.s house . on your map of 1890 .its just a blank white peice of land . this was said to be HANLON COAL AND TINDER yard . which was donated to the church to build the preists house i have seen a map which stated .Hanlon coal and tinder. many years ago but i cannot find it now ? any help . many thanks . Joseph hanlon

    • Martin says:

      Hi Joseph,

      I’ve looked through my own maps, and the wonderful old-maps.co.uk but can’t see one where that white space is labelled. The old-maps.co.uk site has an 1891 map with the church on it, so the map you saw must be earlier than that. I’ll keep my eyes peeled in case another maps crosses my path. Very interesting history about the land donation.

      Regards,
      Martin

  • paul finley says:

    Hi there, I am trying to locate the street my grandad was born in Liverpool and the only place I can see it listed is a webiste on google but when you click through it doesn’t work. The road is Eastwood Road and I think it was off wavertree road L15 if anyone can help?

    Many Thanks

    Paul

  • sandra sugden says:

    Hi Martin. Have only just found this great site. How helpful it is. I noticed an enquiry in 2016 from Declan looking for Broom Street. My Grandmother came from there and it is a tiny street right next to St Albans RC Church, which is not noted on map. The next Street was Birch Street. A bit late I know but maybe of help for future queries.
    Sandra

  • Graham clark says:

    Hi Martin i lived in September rd L6 facing an old laundry,i remember looking into yard and above doors was boys and girls do you know what it used to be.giant fund any info on it thanksgraham

    • Martin says:

      Hi Graham,

      Yes, it seems difficult to find information on it! The old maps show it marked as a laundry all the way back to 1891, when the area was only just being built up. The boys and girls signs are common on old school buildings, but I’ve never heard of the need to separate boys and girls in a laundry (unless they were going there to wash the very clothes they stood up in!). Perhaps it was intended as a school, but never used as one, or indeed there was some reason for boys and girls to use this establishment (and separately!).

      Martin

  • Vicky says:

    Hi. I’m looking for Penistone Terrace as my great-grandfather lived there in 1891. I can’t find it on current maps so I’m assuming that it’s been demolished. I think it was around the Scotland Rd area. Have you any idea?
    Many thanks.
    Vicky

  • Janet says:

    Hi,
    I am looking for a Linden (Lyndon?) Street/Road. (West Derby?) Researching great, great Grandmother. Any help appreciated
    Thanks.

    • Martin says:

      Hi Janet,

      The nearest I can find is a Linton Street which is in north Liverpool. This area could have been labelled as ‘West Derby’ depending on the record. I can’t find any other road with a similar name, but I’d be grateful if anyone else reading this can help out too.

      Martin

  • Denice says:

    Hello!
    I have just bought a similar map, and was looking for the Anfield stadium, but I can’t find it.. even though it was built in 1884…
    Any help is appreciated

  • Dominic Wall says:

    Dear Martin,
    my wife’s family lived at Smollett Street off Kensington at the very bottom of the north sheet map and she is trying to locate an old photo of the street, before it was demolished in the 1970s to show to her mum as a prompt for memories. Would you have a recommendation for any sites that might be worth trying?
    Many thanks,
    Dominic

  • David McCormick says:

    Hi – I’m trying to find old photographs of Raymond Street (off Scotland Road) and Venmore Street (running up to Anfield).
    These were early addresses for my wife’s parents but anything resembling 19th century photos have been impossible to find.
    Hope you can help!
    Regards
    David McCormick

  • Pauline Campbell says:

    Hello Martin, what wonderful sources of information you and your site are! My father was born in Crown Court , Maidens Green which I know is off Highfield Street. These were slum court houses. Do you know of any map which shows the names of the individual courts? I can see that Maidens Green was at the Leeds Street end of Highfield Street. My father told me it was once where the captains used to promenade their lady friends.

  • Bill Elder says:

    Looking at 1890: Plan of Liverpool – North Sheet, there is an error in that it shows a factory at the bottom of Silvester Street, whereas it should show St Martins Cottages, which were built between 1864 and 1869 and were there until we moved out in 1955. I understand that these were the country’s first municipal housing. They are shown in the 1906 Ordnance Survey map of Liverpool North together with St Martin’s Recreation Ground, which replaced the cemetery on the other side of Silvester Street, and is still there.

  • Stewart smith says:

    Good morning
    I am trying to find out what I can about Wolfe or Upper Wolfe Street. My ancestors appear in the 1851 census in Upper Wolfe Street but, trying to locate other records, I can only find Wolfe Street on current maps. Upper Wolfe Street was probably quite long as house numbers went up to at least 191 but Wolfe Street appears to be just a tiny street these days.
    Many thanks for such an interesting web site.

  • Chris Fleming says:

    Hi,
    I am researching the life of my great uncle, John Coffey, who died in France in 1918.
    The 1901 census shows the family living in 2 Court No 5 Whitley Street. Do you know of any map showing where these houses would have been located, or how the courts were laid out?
    I know at the time of his death he was living in Portland Street (now demolished) just off Vauxhall Road. Did Whitley Street originally extend all the way to Vauxhall Road? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Very best wishes.
    Yours,
    Chris Fleming

    • Martin says:

      Hi Chris,
      There’s a great map showing the courts on Whitley Street on the NLS maps page, which is extracted below. As you can see, Whitley Street never extended all the way to Vauxhall Road. Burlington Road (which still exists) is the street which you can see the beginning of to the right.

      Best wishes,
      Martin

      • Chris Fleming says:

        Hi Martin,
        Thank you so much for your helpful response, much appreciated! Very best wishes.
        Yours,
        Chris Fleming

  • George Millar says:

    Hello,
    I’m doing some research on a soldier who served in the Boer War and then in WW1. He lived in N° 26 McLeod Street which I believe was in the Domingo Ward of Liverpool but I haven’t been able to find the street on any map that I’ve looked at. Any chance you know where to find it?

  • George Millar says:

    Hello Martin,
    Firstly sorry for the delay in replying. Many thanks for finding the street I was looking for, much appreciated. However, I have another which I cannot find, it’s listed as “Nontenoy ?? Street” in the marriage record of John Tierney and Jane Mullin dated 19th January 1880. I had a look on the map you listed for me but it doesn’t register with it. Would you happen to know where this might be or am I reading it wrong in the marriage record. Sorry to bother you once again. thanks in advance.
    Regards
    George

    • Martin says:

      Not a problem! 🙂 I think the entry probably should read ‘Fontenoy Street’, which shows up in the map search. I’m happy to help with things like this – search boxes will never be as good as human knowledge when it comes to difficult-to-read sources!

  • George Millar says:

    Hi Martin,
    Many thanks once again and for the quick reply. As you say, local knowledge is a big help. Once again, much appreciated.
    Regards
    George

  • Chris Yates says:

    Hi

    My Gr Gr Granfather is identified as living at 15 House, 1 Court, Warfield Street in 1881

    The only thing I’ve found to confirm even its existence is a bride living at that address who was married at St Matthias’.

    Can you throw any light on where it was, what sort of housing it was and if there are any plans/pictures of this or similar properties.

    Thanks for any help you might be able to give

  • Cal says:

    Hi Martin
    I wonder if you can help me. My gggg grandfather has his address on his child’s baptism record in 1827 as Crown Court, Highfield St Liverpool. Same address given on her burial record in 1832…. He was a printer by trade. Would this be the name of a court (courtyard) off Highfield St or would it have been an address associated with Crown Court on that street?
    Thank you for any help you may be able to give me
    Regards

  • Stephen Lester says:

    Hello Martin,

    My family have moved in a very close area over 20 years. 1901 they were on Ullswater Street, 1911 they were on Boycott Street and around 1920 moved to St. Domingo Grove. Could you theorise as to the potential reasons why they would moved, but only a little further north of the neighbourhood? I can’t seem to find any differences. Thank you for your time.

    Kind Regards

    Stephen

    • Martin Greaney says:

      Hi Stephen,

      You’re right, those all look like very similar houses (assuming they didn’t move into the massive houses on St Domingo Grove!).

      The main things that come to mind are falling out with the landlord or neighbours, problems with the house, and related to this perhaps similar houses in better repair. It might be useful to cross-reference these moves with any other records that you can find, such as births, or jobs, to see if circumstances changed for them in other ways too.

      Regards,
      Martin

  • Sue renshaw says:

    Hi
    Does anyone happen to know where Fletcher’s Gardens where in liverpool? Found name on a wedding certificate for 1907 they were married at all saints Church.
    Thanks
    Sue

  • Patricia Flanagan says:

    Hello Martin,
    I’ve been researching my family tree for some years now. If we had an ancestral home it would be Browns Buildings, Prince Edwin Street! I’m unable to find on any maps – and I’ve bought quite a few – exactly where Browns Buildings was. Judging by its placement in various censuses, it was at the church end of the road and on the same sode. My family lived in numbers 1,2 and 6 Browns Buildings for about 40 years. There doesn’t seem to be an existing picture either, not even in the Liverpool Archive.
    I would be really grateful if you could help me. I’ve visited Prince Edwin St but as you know, it has completely changed. Some of the old street names still exist, which is excellent, but they are all in different locations in relation to Prince Edwin St.
    Thanks and best wishes,
    Pat

    • Martin Greaney says:

      Hi Patricia,

      It might be a long shot but I found a photo of Prince Edwin Lane (not Street, I know) showing some three-storey buildings in the background. They are the kind of tenements that were often called ‘Something Buildings’, so perhaps this is similar to the one your ancestors lived in: https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cWNX07l6C_k/UJet0EgwKZI/AAAAAAAARX8/EV4nPNTinsU/s1600/Prince+Edwin+lane+refuse+collection.jpg

      It’s on the excellent Liverpool Picturebook website, so see this page and search on it for ‘Prince Edwin lane refuse collection’ https://www.liverpoolpicturebook.com/p/l4-l5.html

      Best wishes,
      Martin

      • Patricia Flanagan says:

        Hi Martin,

        Many thanks for the website references – at least I have an idea of what Brown’s Buildings might have looked like. Also, I looked at the Map Archive on the Lost Tribe Of Everton website, and one map shows the fields that existed before many of the properties were built. The fields had owners names on them and the owner of the field on which I think Brown’s Buildings was erected, was a William Brown. Another clue as to the location of the buildings perhaps. This was possibly the Liverpool MP at the time, Sir William Brown.
        Thanks again for your help,
        Best Wishes,
        Pat

  • Vance Lupton says:

    I’m trying to locate a street in West Derby circa 1878 where my Great Grandfather – John (Bustow ?) Lupton lived. He was a Grocer according to the birth certificate of my grandfather (John Harley Lupton). As you would expect, the certificate does give the name of the street but it is difficult to decipher. It looks like 220 Falstnes or Faerlnes or Fa***nes Street, West Derby, so obviously it was/is a long street in the area for that year with at least 220 dwellings on it. I’ve looked on a few old maps of the area but so far I haven’t found anything that fits.
    Do you have any records that might help?

    • Martin Greaney says:

      Hi Vance,

      I’ve done a search on my Old Streets map for ‘nes’ and the nearest name that comes up is Furness Street. It’s not in what we think of as West Derby, but it might still count as being in the parish of that name. There are a few other streets that are candidates (Falstaff Street, also not really West Derby). Faulkner Street comes to mind too, especially with a lot of houses on it, but that’s straying a bit from your clues… Try the map yourself: https://historic-liverpool.co.uk/interactive-maps/old-streets-liverpool

      Regards,
      Martin

  • Pauline Jenkins says:

    Hello Martin,
    I’m trying to find information and photos about Llewellyn Street. My mother lived there about 1920s. I think it was near Cramer/Cranmer Street Kirkdale. Hope you can. THanks

  • Tarquin Christian says:

    I’m currently looking for places where my father was born and grew up but it seems to be mainly bomb sites Etc. Is there anywhere that may have pictures and locations of Rushton Street, Albion Terrace, 109 Rose Vale and 8 Wykeham Street . The last 3 I’ve found but when I visited Liverpool the last 2 are no longer there, so Any clues on pictures would be great

    Thanks

    Tarquin

    • Sebastian Grant says:

      Hi Tarquin

      I have been trying to locate Albion Terrace in Liverpool. Did you have any joy finding anything about it? I can’t find it on any of the old maps…

      Would be great if you could point me in the right direction!

      Thanks

      Sebastian.

  • Louise Kennedy says:

    Hi Martin, I’m not sure if you can help with this one, but the house numbers on Cromer Road Aigburth start with 3 and 4. Do you know why they don’t start with 1 and 2? Were 1 and 2 destroyed in the was perhaps? Knocked down to build a road? Or we’re just never labelled as 1 and 2?

    Louise

    • Martin Greaney says:

      Hi Louise,

      Looking at the old maps it looks like there were never any houses on that end of the street next to Aigburth Road, and that’s going back as far as 1908. It’s a puzzle! I wonder whether there were vague plans to widen Aigburth Road at some point. The old maps show the houses were built in sections, with some roads being half completed for some time. Perhaps the builder had to leave the Aigburth Road-end houses until the end, and then went bust, and they couldn’t renumber because people were already living in existing houses.

      Regards,
      Martin

  • stephen brown says:

    Hi Martin.
    I would like to know anything you can tell me about Walnut Street Toxteth Livrpool 1889. I believe the site is now covered by Liverpool University. Is it on any map, what type of area was it back then, was it an affluent area etc.

  • Sebastian Grant says:

    Hi Martin

    I’ve been trying to locate Albion Terrace that I have as an address for my great grandparents in Low Hill on their marriage certificate. I’ve looked at your excellent maps but haven’t been able to locate where it was. Can you help?

    Best wishes

    Sebastian

  • Peter Sharp says:

    1871 England Census… a predecessor of mine is listed as living at 119 C Block, Scotland Ward, Liverpool, is any chance you can give me an idea of where this is exactly? If it has any bearing on anything, the head of the household was born in Ireland, all the rest were Scottish, and prior to this Census, and from the 1881 Census, they were Living in Scotland.

  • Mandy Harwood says:

    Hi Martin,

    My son and I are working through our family tree. I enjoy finding the old streets on various old maps. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s we appear to have been very much a ‘Kirkdale Family’ census returns, birth/death certificates show… Hopwood Street, Wrexham Street, Major Street, Latham Street.

    The 1911 census shows 4 generations, TEN people, all living in one house in ‘Poynty Street off Kirkdale Road’
    I can’t for the life of me find the location of Poynty Street. Can you help?

    Many Thanks
    Mandy

  • John Sewell says:

    Hi Martin,

    Can you tell me more about the slum clearance programmes of the 1960’s, especially in the Everton Park area? When were the houses in the streets that ran down to Scotty Road actually built and were they really in that bad a condition to warrant demolition?

    Can you suggest any further reading on this emotive subject?

    Thanks!

    John Sewell

    • Martin Greaney says:

      Hi John,

      The houses in that area were largely built in the late 18th – early 19th centuries, and they included the notorious court houses as well as terraces. I’m certain that the demolition and clearance projects were more enthusiastic than they needed to be, as it was the 1960s and I think many things seemed possible in the new future that was promised! I think the state of the buildings would have varied, but I’m sure the authorities didn’t consider anything other than large scale demolition.

      The courts would have had to come down. They weren’t suitable for inhabitation when they were built. For instance, there was a lack of sanitary facilities that we’d no longer find acceptable, and I’ve heard it said that some were built using bricks cut in half – lengthways! The buildings themselves were often thrown up extremely quickly.

      However, the terraces might have been a different story. I’m sure some would have been better maintained by their owners than others, but they would have been a class above courts. Still, I think the view was that the buildings that would replace all this housing would be better. We now know that the situation would not be so simple.

      The old maps from c.1900 show that the courts and terraces were intermingled, and so it would be easy to strike off whole areas as fit for demolition instead of trying to look in detail at what needed knocking down. Of course, when you demolish housing you also destroy communities, and so this is, as you identify, an emotive subject, and not just a debate about architecture!

      Most of the books I’ve read say pretty much what I’ve summarised above, but there is one book that’s not afraid to be emotive, and comes at it from a proudly biased point of view, which makes it good reading. The book is “Liverpool: it all came tumbling down” which came out in 1986. It’s a small paperback, written by Freddy O’Connor who was born just off Scotland Road. It has a fair portion of nostalgia, but is also a detailed photographic record of the demolition, with before and after photos (by O’Connor himself), and old maps too. You can still get it second hand on Amazon, and you can probably find it in second hand book shops now and again.

      Best wishes,
      Martin

  • Nick Regan says:

    Hello. Thanks for the brilliant website. Could I ask the following: my great uncle died at 159 North Hill Street L8 in 1957. Nowadays there’s a small park there, at the corner with Maud Street, and there are no house numbers 145-175. Could you tell me what was there in 1957? And why it might have been pulled down?

  • David O’Brien says:

    Hello , my grandparents lived at number 4 Devon Street Liverpool and whilst I’ve located a map showing Devon Street I don’t know where number 4 is on the map , can you assist please .
    Regards
    David

    • Martin Greaney says:

      Hi David,

      Assuming the numbering went from east to west when your grandparents lived there, as it does now, I think number 4 would have been close to the junction with Finch Place (which today comes through to Devon Street, but didn’t before the Second World War). There are a few buildings which could be houses, though the ones directly opposite Finch Place on the early 20th century maps look more like they’re associated with the houses fronting onto Islington. So I wonder whether your grandparents’ houses was further west, where there are some buildings which look more like independent properties.

      Best wishes,
      Martin

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