Acrefield Road, 1 May 1988
Our two local amenity societies have developed The Victorian Society’s idea for studying local history on the ground by looking at roads and buildings. These notes are a supplement to what our guides can say in the time available as we walk. We do not want you to read them during the walk; we hope to be audible and so interesting that you will not wish to read them then. Please read them when you get home and they will fill out what we have been saying. We think there is a very great deal to be learned from local history if it is approached in this sort of way – looking at buildings, considering their style and character, and putting people into them.
The guides on this walk would like to emphasise that they have no complete knowledge, though they have done a lot of homework on the area we are covering. In many places they are feeling their way and they base their statements and opinions on features that strike them, and their enthusiasm for architecture and local history. In our study of this area we have had sight of only one set of deeds, but those have been of great help, and we have gathered some oral memories, more than we expected. We hope as we walk this afternoon we shall spark off more memories from you and gather clues to where more material is to be sought. We most particularly want to see any picture of Gateacre Hall, demolished c.1898, and of which we know nothing. Our aim is to identify the architects who designed these houses and to understand how and why they were chosen to build as they did.
Our walk today is along Acrefield Road in the old township of Much Woolton, from the top of Gateacre Brow to Out Lane.
In theory, and in our Notes, we also include a fraction of Little Woolton because the outbuildings of Gateacre Hall were on that side of the boundary line. Our Map is our reconstruction of the state of development in 1871, and the Much Woolton/Little Woolton boundary is shown as a string of sausages coming up the south side of Gateacre Brow and plunging through Gateacre Hall. We interject hastily that the Gateacre Hall on our map was demolished before 1904; Gateacre Hall Hotel in Halewood Road took over the name since the last war.
Recent walks have been through parts of our area affected by the Enclosure Act of 1805; this walk is through “anciently enclosed land” lying to the east of the line A – B (on this map) So we come to the question of the name of Acrefield Road.
Acrefield might be thought to be made up of acre – either “an area of an acre”, or perhaps “cultivated land” plus field. There was a 14th century name Ackers in West Derby which Eilert Ekwall in Place-names of Lancashire derived in just this way. But in Woolton this was not so. Over 200 deeds from c.1200 to 1500 of land in Much & Little Woolton are among the Norris Deeds and from them we can see the name in early forms: 1300 Akeloufeld, 1350 Aclowefeld, making it quite clear that in our case the name was made up Ac – lowe – feld, with Ac being Old English “oak”; lowe (as in Brownlow Hill) being “hill”; and feld being “field”. So we have a name meaning the “field of the hill of oaks” which, when we think of the lie of the land, does not strain the imagination at all.
With this meaning, and some 20 deeds describing strips and parcels of land lying in the Aclowefeld and “Acrefield” being still the name of one strip (the southern side of the site of the Hollies) in 1840, we are going to venture a little further. In the 14th century we would expect to find big open arable fields worked in “strips”, and in Much Woolton, this was one of them. We can identify the direction in which the “strips” ran – parallel with Out Lane, like the boundaries of the Hollies and the next field to the north, and see also the arrows
< – – – > drawn on the map between trees plotted in 1891, growing in “furrows” and all running roughly parallel. That would have been the direction of the ploughing so that the “furrows” would have run-off excess rain. The average length of a “strip” here was 330 yards. The field seems to have extended about 2½ inches beyond the right hand edge of our map to a boundary line from Out Lane Cottages (lower entrance of Out Lane School) to Sandfield Road. (Between that line and Halewood Road, we suspect, lay the Aclowefeld brandurth, an expansion cleared by burning before 1317.)
In the other direction whether the whole distance from Out Lane to Gateacre Brow was all the Aclowefeld we are not sure, but probably it was once. If we have sketched the boundaries of the Aclowefeld right, the area was something like 45 statute acres; in 1840 25 acres of it was still mapped as one big field.
Above the line of Acrefield Road the “strip” just north of Acrefield Cottage – now Glenacres site – was Acrefield Butts in 1840; a clue to development up the hill ? This suggests that the area between Acrefield Road and the line A – B was used as “butts”, short “strips”, just over 100 yards long, in a similar ploughing regime. All that is a clue to the position in which Acrefield lane developed.
Roads
Scholars have told us that the ancient highway in our area ran along the line of Mackets Lane – Halewood Road – Grange Lane, from the ford at Hale to Childwall Church and, probably, West Derby. The name of Out Lane is recorded in 1300, so we may imagine villagers going to anywhere – Roby market, Prescot or Liverpool – using that route in the 14th century.
Cuckoo Lane was made a road in 1748; gates were put across Grange Lane; and we were instructed to go to Childwall Church by Cuckoo Lane. The implication is that previously we went to church by Out Lane and Grange Lane. As late as 1768 Yates & Perry’s map draws Out Lane a bit wider and more important-looking than Acrefield Road, though by that time it must have been used as a through route, not just the occupation road along the edge of the Acrefield used for access to farm lands.
So this was the sort of road that began to develop about the middle of the 18th century, with by 1768 something at Gateacre Hall at one end and Hillside at the other; both probably involved with farming. The farming theme, with something like a market garden at Acrefield Cottage, but a bigger “croft” at the Hollies, persisted to around 1840. (Only one example survives.)
Meantime within 70 yards of the ‘end’ of the village – the Out Lane junction – James Gore, the enterprising builder, had taken the opportunity, in 1829, of buying 2 acres and embarked on a development which in less than 10 years yielded nine modest houses which are still in use and cherished.
But before 1835 another type of house altogether had arrived. Hillcliff was an architect designed Regency villa on a half-acre site (formerly part of John Weston’s estate) set to enjoy the view across the valley, and built for a Liverpool Merchant of some affluence. The new standard of gracious living led to the building of Acrefield and Bankside within about 10 years, on land owned by James Gore, Gore also owned land up Woolton Mount and built lesser gentlemen’s houses, to rent, and it seems that there were people who came to live in Woolton, out of the smoke and dirt of Liverpool, sometimes just for a couple of years or so.
In 1860 Roseleigh was built, a rather different kind of house in much larger grounds and facing the sun. Acrefield, Hillcliff and Hillside were enlarged and lodges were built in this period. Twenty years later Aymestrey Court, a bigger house, was built; but the last in our study, Overdale, was much more restrained.
Rates
Comparing the rates of the Acrefield Road houses with those in Woolton Park and Beaconsfield Road, we find them generally lower; but here, of course, we have also a greater variety. Last year we were feeling some confidence in using fluctuations in R.V’s to date additions in Woolton Park; in Acrefield Road no such rule applies. Now we know we have more to learn about their assessment!
He are conscious that these notes are not great literature – though they have good patches. With our other walks they are a quarry of information – badly in need of an index of persons -and they will, we hope, be used as such.
GATEACRE HALL demolished between 1892 and 1904
The house stood just on the Much Woolton side of the boundary between Much and Little Woolton – where Runnymede Close now joins Acrefield Road; partly on the road and on the site of Nos 1 & 3. The outbuildings, which were extensive, stood on the Little Woolton side, of the line, partly on the site of No.2.
On Yates and Perry’s map of 1768 a building is shown here on the boundary line. From map evidence by 1840 the house was quite large and of considerable complexity.
No architectural description is possible since no drawing or photograph is known. If anyone has any idea where illustrations might be sought, we would be very pleased to hear.
Owners and occupiers
1801?-1811?
John Weston (f l.1801-1818) Merchant, in the West Africa trade, was a son of Samuel Weston who died in 1802. Samuel bought Peck Mill in Little Woolton from Sir Foster Cunliffe in 1786. Because of his father’s landholding, John Weston was allotted the area between the boundary and Woolton Hill Road in 1806, and on the 1813 Enclosure Map for Little Woolton two blocks of outbuildings are shown. John Weston went bankrupt in 1811 and we do not know whether he ever lived in the house – he also had an address .in Bold Street.
GATEACRE HALL (continued):
c.1807-c.1849
Robert Roskell ( c.1776-1847) Watch Manufacturer (Robert & John Roskell, 14 Church St, Liverpool; later Messrs Roskell & Co. 12 & 14 Church St.) succeeded William Tarleton the Liverpool Watchmaker in 1803, and from records of the baptism of children of Robert Roskell & Elizabeth née Tarleton, he had been living in the parish of St Peter’s, Seel Street until 1805, but had moved to the parish of St Bennet’s, Woolton by 1807. This may well be the time when he moved to Gateacre Hall. The 1841 census shows that he was then 65, his second wife Anne, 60, and four daughters Elizabeth, 35; Jannet, 30; Anne, 25 and Mary, 18 with 4 female servants were living here. Robert Roskell died in 1847, was buried at St Bennet’s, and his widow Anne remained here for a few years.
c.1850-c.1854
Thomas A. Bushby, a Broker (Bushby Foster & Co.) shown in the 1851 census as aged 33 and born in Liverpool; with his wife “H.D.” age 25, born in London; a son “W.P” of 4 and a daughter “H.E.” of 3 both born in Cheshire; another son “T.A.” had been born in Liverpool but 4 month old Sidney was born in Childwall parish, Barbara Bushby, 55 and Mary Bushby, 45, gentlewomen born in Wigton, Cumberland were visitors and there were 6 female servants including a nurse. We suggest Bushby was a tenant of the Roskell estate.
c.1854-1892
James Leishman the elder ( c.1813-1871) Coppersmith (Leishman & Welsh, 4 Vulcan Street) came here from 6 Hope Street in about 1854. The 1861 census shows that he was by this time a widower, born in Scotland, and with him was his son James age 17, a scholar born in Liverpool; and his sister Maxwell. They had 3 female house servants and he died on the 8th of March 1871.
The 1867 Rates Book for Much Wool ton shows James Leishman as owner and occupier; Rateable Value (R.V.) £126; extent 3 acres 2 roods 15 perches (3a.2r.15). The earliest Little Woolton 1876 Rates Book shows that he had land in that township R.V. £78.10.0. and extent 3a.1r.14; by which time the Much Woolton R.V. was £156.
GATEACRE HALL (continued):
By the 1871 census James Leishman the younger (1844-1937) was head of the household, a Coppersmith; and with him his two aunts Maxwell aged 50 and Joan 45, his father’s sisters; with a coachman and 4 female servants of whom the 3 youngest were locally born. By the 1881 census James Leishman was calling himself an Engineer, he was still unmarried. His two aunts were still with him, and there were 4 female servants – none local.
The Rates Book for 1892 shows the house was unoccupied for 22 weeks, it disappears from the Books after that and it was never lived in again. It must have been demolished by 1904 as it is not shown on the 25-inch Ordnance Survey map revised that year. At some time between 1892 and 1899, 2½ acres of the site in Much Woolton and over 3¾ acres in Little Woolton were bought by the owner of Roseleigh (see next house) and added to that estate.
James Leishman’s aunts Joan and Maxwell died in 1902 and 1911 respectively, at Hatherleigh in Devon; but it seems that James lived on to the age of 93 dying in Laurieston, Kirkcudbright on 15 September 1937.
ROSELEIGH – Listed Grade II (Glenrose Road) – now from left Strawberry House, Mossdene and Crawfordsburn.
Architectural description & style –
The first section consisting of Mossdene and the pediment of Crawfordsburn – but think away the square bay and the timber bays – was there in 1861. The first floor window under the open pediment is Italianate in inspiration with its own segmental pediment, console brackets and vestigial pilasters. The asymmetric plan and the breaking of the scholarly rules of composition are characteristic of the cavalier Victorian approach to Classicism of this date.
An extension, Strawberry House, which we cannot date at all closely, is very much in keeping with the first piece. After that a further section, part of Crawfordsburn, seems to have been added. The 1 and 2-storey timber bay windows are post c.1903 but probably pre 1914.
[Illustration: Roseleigh as originally built and as extended].
Owners and Occupiers
1861 -67
Frederick B. Mozley (c.1840- ? ) was here by 7th April 1861, census night, at the age of 21 head of a household containing a brother and 2 sisters – Fanny 19, Alfred 13, a scholar and Eliza D. 10 also a scholar – with John Einhoven, a merchant of 33, born in London and Elizabeth Bentley 32, born Eccles both visitors and a staff of 5 including a groom.
The father of this family, Elias Joseph Mozley, banker of Liverpool, with a private address in Sandon Terrace, died on 20th Jan. 1851, in his 55th year, at Nice – where he had gone for his health. His widow, Rebecca, was still living in Sandon Terrace in 1853 but we have no further news of her.
Three months before the census, Charles Mozley (c.1798-1881) the uncle of Fred ? bought Beaconsfield and came to live in Little Woolton (see Beaconsfield Walk). At that time Charles was head of the banking house of I. Barned & Co., in 1863 he was the first Jewish Mayor of Liverpool, and was a Liberal; in 1866 he went bankrupt, sold Beaconsfield and left Liverpool; he died in London in May 1881 leaving £806.
ROSELEIGH Owners and Occupiers (continued):
In the 1867 Rates Book Fred. Mozley is recorded as owner/ occupier of Roseleigh, R.V. £150, extent (1a.3r.38p), very nearly 2 acres. The house was then empty for 12 months and
1869-1874
Geo. A. MacKenzie was owner/occupier who in 1865 had been at 17 Canning Street as a merchant and a Scot. We see from the 1871 census that he was away from home that night; Elizabeth, his Scottish born wife was 43 & described herself as working in a Merchants Office; they had a 2 year old daughter; Annie MacKenzie, his sister aged 43 was staying with them; and there were 6 servants including a coachman and a lady’s maid – non local. George MacKenzie died in 1874 leaving under £30,000. During his ownership the R.V. was £180.
1875
the house was empty.
1876-1879
Walter Ewing Crum, a Liverpool merchant, became the owner occupier in 1876 (R.V. now £240) and also rented nearly 5 acres of land on the opposite side of Acrefield Rd from the exors. of Joseph L. Palethorpe (cotton broker), but Mr Crum did not stay long.
1879-1888
Alfred Tate, born 1846, son of (Sir) Henry Tate (1819-1899) sugar refiner, himself a sugar refiner, after occupying the house for a year, bought it in 1880. The 1881 census tells us he was 35, his wife Blanche (née Hutton) was 28, they had 3 children aged 5, 4 & 2 of whom the 2 younger and the baby to be born in May were baptised in Gateacre Unitarian Chapel. They had 4 servants and they remained here until 1888. During the ownership of Alfred Tate the R.V. rose from £241 in 1879 to a peak of £255 in 1883-4 and then fell back to £217 by 1885.
ROSELEIGH Owners and Occupiers (continued):
1889-1925
James Bellhouse Gaskell (1848-1925) moved here from Hillcliff (see p.21) in the summer of 1889 – presumably because this was a bigger/newer ? house and the garden was nearly half an acre larger. He remained here to the time of his death. Between 1892 and 1899 Gaskell bought 2½acres of land in M.W. also over 3¾ acres in L.W. previously belonging to Gateacre Hall.
Between 1892 and 1904 Gateacre Hall was demolished and in the Liverpool Directory of 1914 is the first mention of an occupant of the Lodge to Roseleigh on Woolton Hill Road – Joseph Storey, the gardener there.
On 20th Sept. 1925 J.B. Gaskell died and was buried in Gateacre Chapel graveyard. He left £239,212.
1925-1929
during these years the house seems to have been empty.
1930-1934
Louis Nicholas, F.C.A. occupied – and owned ? the house. He was a chartered accountant with his main office at 19 Castle Street.
1935
during this year the house was empty again.
1936-1957
Charles Joseph Doyle, builder and contractor with an office at 15 Victoria Street and works in Old Swan lived here until his death in March 1957, leaving effects of £76,552.
We understand that in about 1958 Mrs F. Ebbs, director of Celebrated Ebbs Houses Ltd., of Forty Pits, Allerton divided the house into three parts.
AYMESTREY COURT – Listed Grade II – and Lodge & Coach House
This house is not properly part of our walk today – we dealt with its history in Gateacre Walk III in August 1980. However as we pass today along Acrefield Road, it is worth pausing to take another look so that we may draw comparisons with Overdale farther along.
First – the main block; “built 1881-2 for Henry Tate (for his daughter) architect unknown. A red-pressed brick 3 storey building with stone dressings and red-tiled roof; bold and with its heavy broad bays (on the far side) rather coarse. Its style carries a lingering whiff of ‘high Victorianism’ (period c.1850-1875).” Thus we wrote in 1980.
Now we add that – ignoring the plumbers’ paradise of pipes arising from conversion to institutional use – the elevation to the road is unsatisfactory because elements of the plan have been unresolved. Note the four first floor sash windows for instance: the 2 to the right light one room (it seems to be a sitting room now) next on the left a similar sized window lights what seems to be a w.c.; the same sized window on the left corner is a bathroom; yet all 4 proclaim by their similarity that they light a room, or rooms, of similar size and status. An architect who had properly resolved his plan would have found a means of either sorting out the rooms, or of adjusting the window sizes and characters, so that such a conflict of uses was not obvious (especially on the front elevation) to all passers-by.
Having been so critical of the main block, we must say that now the composition of the whole group – as seen from across the road rather nearer Woolton – is pleasing; the stable block part of the Coach House (1884) with its ventilator, pyramidal roof and fox weathervane particularly so. Note also on the Lodge of the same date, the terra-cotta panel and the motto “EAST OR WEST, HOME IS BEST” omitted in our 1980 notes. Also in those notes: –
2nd: The Lodge & Coach House, 1884, built for the Robinsons -shows that subtle combination of materials – hand made brick, half timbering, stucco & tile hanging; all ingredients of the Vernacular Revival & so beloved of the Victorian domestic architect.
3rd: the Billiard Room, dated 1887. Gentlemen could withdraw to smoke and play.
4th: the extension to the house, dated 1891, much more refined & sensitive than the main block. Built in a golden age for domestic building in England – architect also unknown.
THE HOLLIES – DEMOLISHED ABOUT 1927
Prehistory: It is possible that the site was part of the property advertised as ‘For Sale’ in 1811, ‘tenanted’ by a widow, Mrs Hall. Bennison’s map of 1835, however, shows quite clearly that there was no building on this long, narrow, site of about one acre which looks as if it was once one of the old strips of the Acrefield.
To some extent we can follow the development of the house on the maps; from a simple rectangle in 1840 quite near the road, to an extended house by 1891. But we offer the following observations on the basis of one photograph only.
Architectural description and style:
The house seems to have started, near the road, with a variety of the 2½ storey vernacular house in brick, possibly built end-on to the road and at some time between 1835 and 1840; so a few years later than Acrefield Cottage.
Then, to the east, and most probably by Scheuten, a double fronted house was added as an extension, in a revived French Renaissance style. This was of two storeys and an attic in a Mansard roof; two 2-storey bays, the left canted, the right square, on either side of a 1-storey porch with a balustrade. Basically this addition was brick, with stucco on the bays and porch, (The older building was re-windowed and re-roofed.)
Further to the east a pavilion was added in the form of a three storey stucco tower with dormers at attic level (prospect tower ?)
Stylistically this was in the French Renaissance Revival Style – proclaimed principally by the Mansard roof. The style was imported from France where one of its leading examples is the new block at the Louvre of 1852-70 by Visconti and Lefuel, architects. This was a style favoured by the ‘nouveau riche’ in England in the 1860s and 70s. The cornice, however, was ultimately derived from Vignola’s Castello Farnese at Caprarola of 1559-64 – this type of cornice was a favourite model for architects during the 19th century. The architraves of the first floor round headed windows wore akin to those on a presently ruined terrace at the Catharine Street end of Princes Road.
THE HOLLIES (continued):
Owners and Occupiers
1840
The 1840 Tithe Map shows the owners to be the Executors of E. L. Brint, the description runs “house, outbuildings and garden on 1 rood 18 perches” and a “field” – of oats – of 3 roods; the occupiers being given as “themselves.”
1841
John Tongue, age 20, a Shoemaker, appears to have been here in the 1841 census – if we have it right – with Ellen his wife, 20, and William their son of a year old; maybe they -were tenants? We know no more of them.
c.1842-c.1856
Margaret Burrell (c.1794-1874) a 57 year old widow was living alone here as a “housekeeper” on census night 1851, She was born in Urswick in Low Furness and 10 years before had been in Orrell. The description “housekeeper” seems to imply that there was a householder absent that night. By 1861 we shall meet Mrs Burrell again in Woolton Mount.
1858-1866
James Henry McKinnell (c.1804-1866) a Calico Printer from Manchester (Darbyshire McKinnell & Co, 77 Tower Buildings) came here from Seacombe in 1858. In 1861 we find he was a widower of 57, born in Halifax, and with him was his step-mother Maria, age 5o ‘housekeeper’, and 2 living-in servants, and 2 more, a Coachman and a gardener apparently in 2 separate establishments.
1867-1874
Joseph Scheuten (c.1828-1905 ) a General Merchant (H. Cox & Co.) came here from Bold House, Tuebrook but in 1861 he had described himself as a Cotton Merchant (before the cotton famine). In our 1871 census we see he was born in Prussia and a British subject; and Mary his wife, 36, was born in Ireland; they had 2 servants, one local the ether Irish. The 2 daughters recorded 10 years before would by this time have been 17 and 16 but were not at home. We have not been able to trace him further; but a Peter Joseph Scheuten of 87 Berkley St, Liverpool, gentleman, died in 1905 leaving £273 2s 9d, aged 77 years.
The 1867 Rates show Joseph Scheuten was owner and occupier of a house and garden R.V. £125, extent 4 acres 0 roods 20½ perches; next year the R.V. was £200.
For much of 1874 and 1875 the house was empty.
THE HOLLIES Owners and Occupiers (continued):
1876-1880
Henry Clay Quinby, a Dentist probably practising in Duke Street and living at 21 Rodney Street, was owner and occupier for a few years.
1881-1909
Thomas Brocklebank junior (1848-1911) Merchant and Shipowner, born at Springwood, Allerton, bought the house in 1881 and was here until 1909. In the 1881 census he appears with his wife Agnes Lydia, aged 34, daughter of the eminent Midland Railway Manager Sir James J. Allport. They were married in 1872 and the children Aubrey, 7; John Jasper, 5; Annie, 3 and Robert Allport 2 were recorded. (They were later to have Stephen, and Agnes-&-Evelyn, twins). Their living-in staff were 7 including a Governess; also a Coachman John Stanley with his wife & family in the Lodge, and Gardener Thomas Carling with his wife and child in the Cottage.
The firm of Brocklebanks was established at the end of the 18th century. In Whitehaven early Brocklebanks were shipbuilders, and they built ships in Liverpool too. There came a time when T. & J. Brocklebank possessed the largest private fleet in the world. With the introduction of steam and iron, they ceased to build for themselves, but the firm with immense capital was second to none in its commercial reputation as an employer of men (from Orchard.) When The Hollies was advertised “to be Sold” in May 1879 it was described: –
“Detached Residence … with two cottages, stabling for 6 horses, coachhouse, shippon, poultry house, orchard house, vineries, storehouse, cucumber house, peach house, melon house, gardens, pleasure grounds, small croft, the whole comprising 4 acres of freehold land – Drawing and Dining Room each 27 ft. x 18 ft, Morning Room and Billiard Room each 27ft x 18 ft., Smokeroom, 11 Bedrooms, 2 Dressing Rooms 2 Bathrooms.
Apply to Mr, S. Waterhouse, Cook Street, Liverpool.”
In 1906 Sir Thomas Brocklebank (1814-1906) created First Baronet in 1885, died at the age of 92. His son Thomas junior succeeded him and continued to live at The Hollies until c.1909. He moved to 13 Abercromby Square and died in 1911, leaving £538,681.
THE HOLLIES Owners and Occupiers (continued):
1910-c.1927
Edward Herbert Cozens-Hardy (1873-1957) “of Letheringsett Hall, Norfolk” came here in 1910 with his wife Gladys Lily & their 3 year old son Herbert Arthur; two daughters were born at The Hollies. He succeeded his brother as 3rd Baron in 1924. Lord Cozens-Hardy, a Director of Pilkingtons, left The Hollies about 1927 moving to 27A Greenbank Drive, later retiring to Letheringsett, where he died in 1957, leaving £58,801.
The house was demolished c.1927 and Hollytree Road laid out on the site.
It is to the courtesy and resourcefulness of the Hon. Beryl Cozens-Hardy, elder daughter of Lord Cozens-Hardy, herself born at The Hollies, that we have obtained a photograph of the house and so been able to make an assessment of its qualities.
ACREFIELD COTTAGE – Listed Grade II.
Architectural description and style
This is an example of the 2½ storey double pile house of the early part of the 19th century; the double fronted variety which has the front door in the centre of the front. It is built in brick (rendered some years ago) with a stone plinth and a low pitched slate roof, lead lined stone cornice gutters, end chimney stacks, double hung sash windows front and back and, to light the attics, windows in the gables.
Above: Roseleigh as extended during the 19th century
Above: Drawing of a typical ‘double-pile 2½ storey’ vernacular house
The timber bay windows have been added since 1904, and a stylistic clue to their date is the curved feature in the timbering of the roof linking them. There are similar white painted wooden porches in Queens Drive, Allerton dating from just before World War I; we note too that J.S. Remer was a timber merchant who came here in 1914, so they may be attributable to him.
ACREFIELD COTTAGE (continued):
Owners and Occupiers
1835-1840
On Bennison’s map of 1835 J. Turton is shown at this house and Joseph Turton (born 1796) is confirmed as owner by the 1840 Tithe Map and Schedule, William Burnett being the occupier. The extent given was 1 rood 18 perches. (In the 1841 census for Little Woolton Joseph Turton is shown as the farmer at Grange Farm, Grange Lane with his wife Ann aged 43 and James Turton aged 67, born in Halewood – his father ? with them).
1841-1856
Harriet Evans 25, Catherine Evans 23 & Emma Evans 22, all teachers, appear as occupiers in the 1841 census with one servant; and we see from the Liverpool Directory of 1843 that the Misses Evans were running a ladies boarding school here. By the 1851 census Emma Evans, teacher, was still here with a visitor John Marshall, a barrister-at-law, born in Hull with 1 female servant. (Emma later moved on to Elm Cottage in Gateacre).
1856-1877
Joseph Stubbs (c.1821-1885) a seed merchant, born in Stafford was living here in 1861 with his wife Jane nee Rowe born at Northwich, Cheshire their 2 daughters and an 11 month old son with 1 female servant.
The 1867 Rates Book shows the house owned by William Rowe, the father of Jane Stubbs, and occupied by Miss Ann Sutton, R..V. £30; however the garden, also owned by William Rowe was occupied by Henry Mee, R.V. £20; together having an extant of 1 rood 22 perches. Ann Sutton continued to live here until 18779 the 1871 census disclosing that she was unmarried, born in Liverpool c.1816, with her two younger sisters Sarah and Catherine who were born in Linacre – and no occupations are recorded. They had 2 servants, one Mary Whitefield, born in Hale, being a ladies maid.
On the 11th February 1875 William Rowe (c.1801-1875) a retired hatter, died ‘at Rainhill’, his will being proved by Wm. Croft of Hollybank, Woolton, book keeper, the estate was under £200. So in 1876 Jane Stubbs, Rowe’s daughter, as executor became the owner; with in 1876 & 77 the garden occupied by Samuel Healey, Ann Sutton being in the house.
ACREFIELD COTTAGE Owners and Occupiers (continued):
1878-1885
William Croft (1847-?1885) in 1878 became the occupier of both house and garden, R.V. £50 and from the 1881 census we see that he was 34, the secretary of a safe deposit company and a Liverpool organist and choir master. He was married to Sarah Jane aged 27, the eldest daughter of Joseph Stubbs who died in 1885, and they had 5 children (the one year old Arthur Patrick was buried in 1888 at St Peters Woolton.) They had 2 servants, one of whom was a nurse. From 1881 William Croft appears as owner and occupier until 1885 when the owner is recorded as the “trustees of William Croft”.
1885-1890
But another William Croft – a relative ? – stock and share broker was the occupier by 1885 (and that there were two William Crofts living here in 1885 is confirmed by the Liverpool Directory). In 1890 William Croft II is down as the owner occupier but he shortly moved to Allerton where he died on 26th February 1892 leaving estate of £1,065 which included Acrefield Cottage.
1891-1905
Thomas Driver (c.1817-1905) became the occupant in 1891 until 1905, when he is described in the Directory as a gentleman. He was the Preston born Chemist & Druggist who came to Much Woolton c.1847 to open a shop at 14 Woolton St. he took many of our early photographs and by 1891 must have retired at the age of about 74. He died 18th July 1905, left £1,137 and was buried at St. Peters. His son John George Driver was also a chemist.
In 1892 after the death of Wm. Croft II the owner became William Henry Tate.
1908-1913
Miss Emily J. Brown and Miss Grace Gillie became the occupiers followed by
1914-1923
John Sutton Remer, timber merchant (Cunard Buildings) and his wife Mary lived here. Mr, Remer died 26.4.1916 leaving effects of £9,681, he was 63 and buried at St. Peters and his widow continued living here until c.1923
The house was then empty for many years and the last occupier we record was Frank W. Hunt in the Liverpool Directory of 1940.
Illustration: The double-pile vernacular house of 2½ storeys as met with locally, but found all over the country.
Above: Drawings of Coalpit Heath vicarage, Gloucestershire
Above: An illustration from J.C. Loudon’s ‘Encyclopaedia of Cottage, Farm and Villa Architecture and Furniture’
OVERDALE – built 1884, architect G. E. Grayson.
We are unusually fortunate that The Woolton Society’s archives contain a copy of the Specification for this house, drawn up by G. E. Grayson, architect, and dated Dec. 1883.
George Enoch Grayson (c.1834-1912) set up in practice in Liverpool in 1860, took Edward A. Ould (c.1850-1909) into partnership in 1886, retired on the last day of 1899 and died in 1912.
In Woolton Grayson was architect of the Village Club in 1885; and St Peter’s Church with the Foundation Stone laid on 30 May 1886 must have been one of the first works of the partnership. We attribute the Lych Gate to Edward Ould and note that with the appearance of Ould the firm’s standard of design became outstanding.
It is not possible to say what Grayson’s domestic architecture was like before his partnership with Ould because not enough of his work is known; so we cannot say whether Overdale is characteristic of his work.
We can pass Overdale daily for years without taking any notice of it; but today, having just looked at Aymestrey Court, built a couple of years earlier, we must stop and look properly. (This building too is in multiple occupation, hence too many pipes.)
Architectural description – Stylistically – and this is so refreshing after Aymestrey Court – here we see an architect in complete control of the plan, and the elevations accord with the plan. It is a very simple building and highly satisfactory. Possibly because Grayson was building to a limited budget, there are no displays of decorative features; just simple but subtle strings of polychromatic brickwork.
The contrast between the red brick and white painted woodwork of the Porch is the only reflection of the Queen Anne movement -red brick and tile hanging are the characteristics – and the Porch is the only part reflecting this style. In as minor a detail as the buttresses of the Porch there is a judicious choice of a suitable motif.
The rest of the building is shorn of all extraneous details.
OVERDALE (continued):
Owners and Occupiers
1885-1903
The Rev. William Davies B.A. (c.1841-1893) was 3rd Minister of Wool ton Congregational Church from 1867 to his death in 1893. He was a student at Lancashire (Independent) College and, in Woolton, was a very popular minister and the inspiration for the founding of the Village Club. At first he was living as a lodger with John Foulkes, the joiner at 20 Church Road; later with his wife Sophia Grant Davies at 116 Allerton Road – see Directory for 1884. But in 1885 Mr & Mrs Davies moved into their new house, as owner occupiers: R.V, £42.10.0d. The Minister died in June 1893 and was buried at St Peter’s, Woolton. His widow went on living at Overdale until 1903.
1905-1911
Walter Poulsom, a Stevedore with an office in Tower Buildings, was the next owner and occupier, paying rates from 1905. He was probably the son of William Poulson, Stevedore, Mayor of Bootle 1880-81, and inventor of grain elevators. The Rates Book for 1911 shows a R.V. of £68.
1912-1952
Sydney Dickens Grundy (c.1879-1947) an Underwriter (Elder Dempster & Co.) and sometime Chairman of the Liverpool Underwriters Association came here in c.1912. In Woolton he was Chairman of the Liverpool Convalescent Home and is remembered for his regular donations to the Woolton Swimming Club. He died in 1947, leaving £35,610, and the funeral service was at St Stephen’s, Gateacre, he was buried at Halewood. (His brother lived at “Overdale” in Wambo Lane, Gateacre). His widow, Mary Fletcher Grundy went on living at Overdale to her death in 1952.
THE LODGE OF HILLCLIFF
From the combined evidence of map and census we date the building to the years between 1846 and 1851.
Architectural description
Stylistically this little lodge, which has been very much altered, is strongly Classical. But its Classical incorrectness from the planning stage with a pediment over a window, rather than the front door, on to the details of that pediment (compare with Greek Lodge, Knolle Park) are a reflection of a date in the late 1840s, by which time designers were not so concerned with scholarly correctness. (Before recent alterations the stucco retained ruled masonry lines).
Above: ‘Correct’ and ‘incorrect’ Classical pediments
THE LODGE OF HILLCLIFF (continued):
Occupiers
c.1851-1878
Timothy Askew (1805-1878) the gardener, a staunch Methodist and affectionately remembered as “Daddy Askew”, born at Orton, Westmorland, and his wife Mary, born in 1803 at Drigg, Cumberland, appear in the 1851 census probably at the Lodge. Living with them was a 10 year old “visitor” Henry Tomkins, a scholar, born in Liverpool; and Henry was still living with them 10 years later, by that time a commercial clerk. The Askews again appeared on the 1871 census, but in 1878 Timothy died leaving under £600 and was buried at St Peters with his wife who had died in 1874.
1881
In the 1881 census the occupier of the Lodge was John Patterson, aged 27 the Irish gardener, his wife Isobel age 30 born in Bristol, their 6 month old son & a visitor.
1882-1883
after Mr Healey’s death Lodge & House were empty.
1884-1895
William Kneale, gardener seems to have been here and remained until 1895. The Lodge then seems to have been unoccupied for 2 years.
From 1898 – 1900 David Jones was there, but from 1901-1904 it appears to have been empty again. James Eaton, gardener came next in 1905 for 2 or 3 years, followed by Alfred Pinnington, a postman then James Wright, gardener around 1916/17. Arthur H. Clay was there in 1924, giving way by 1930 to David T. Lindsey & by 1936 Edmund Metcalf Peters was here as chauffeur.
(The Lodge was built at the opposite corner of the extra added acre. Site was split up again after World War II & La Casita was built on the separated acre between 1968-1971).
HILLCLIFF (or West Bank) – Listed Grade II
Architectural description
Hillcliff (or, earlier, West Bank) was built before 1835. It is Regency in its chaste classicism, and thoroughly Regency in its elegant ironwork. It is instructive to compare the simplicity of its classicism with the more robust and mannered Victorian versions of classicism to be seen on this walk, at Roseleigh in the 60s, and even at Acrefield before 1840.
With the Verandah designed to link the house with the landscape (see Woolton Park Walk) goes the sash window which runs down to floor level to welcome the garden into the house. Note too that the Verandah at its centre bays steps forward with the setting forward of the front door and vestibule; at first floor level the wall of the centre bay recedes a few inches; a subtle modelling of the surface of the facade.
In passing round the right hand end, one is surprised to find an added canted bay on the end of this simple original block. Then we see a further large extension at the rear designed in the robust and mannered Victorian classicism already referred to. The second stage of this extension, with Egyptian capitals to the columns of the side door, and – in a more slender proportion – to the upstairs window, are an echo of the Egyptian revival of the early decades of the 19th century. (The capitals are designed with the Egyptian version of acanthus; the leaf behind is papyrus – though usually this is rendered with a curled over top). The dormer windows suggest a date in the 1860s also.
Owners and Occupiers
c.1835?-1847
“Mr Lynch” appears here on Bennison’s map of 1835 at what may well have been his new house. This may have been John Lynch Merchant (John Lynch & Co. 7 James Street) who, 10 years earlier, was living at 21 Rose Place, Everton.
On the 1840 Tithe Map Hillcliff, standing in just over half an acre of grounds, was owned and occupied by Gerard Lynch. Next year the census, shows Gerard Lynch aged about 30 and John Lynch about 20 living here, and from later Liverpool Directories we see they were Corn Merchants. With them was Alice Westhead, age 80 and ‘Independent’ – Grandma ? – and 3 female servants. We surmise that the 2 young men wore sons of “Mr Lynch”, perhaps. By 1847 Gerard Lynch was living in Catharine Street.
HILLCLIFF Owners and Occupiers (continued):
1847-1881
Samuel Robert Healey (c.1813-1881) Accountant/share broker and one of the first members of the Liverpool Stock Exchange, came here in 1847. By 1851 he was 38, his wife Ann Mosley Healey 34, and their three daughters – the youngest aged 2 was born in Much Woolton – were here with 3 female servants, none local.
Samuel Healey shared with his younger brother Elkanah (see Gateacre Walk II) a devotion to the Wesleyan Methodist Church -inspired by their father’s personal meeting with John Wesley in Rochdale – and were founder members of St James’s Church, Woolton, built 1865-6 (architect C.O. Ellison). Samuel Healey’s particular service was as District Treasurer to Foreign Missions. By 1861 Mr Healey was a widower and living with him were his 5 daughters, his son Samuel Ernest aged 8; 5 servants (born in Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man) and the Governess, Fanny Farrell aged 45 and born in Ireland.
In the 1867 Rates Book we find Healey as the owner and occupier of the house and gardens, R.V. £160, extent by this time just over 1½ acres – the extra acre probably added by Healey by purchase from the Marquess of Salisbury.
On the night of the 1871 census Mr Healey was not at home, the house was in the charge of the 2nd daughter Emily, with her younger sister and brother – by now a Merchants Clerk; and 5 servants, cook, housemaid and parlourmaid.
In 1881 we see that Mr Healey had married again – his wife Fanny, aged 65 and born in Ireland was, we suggest, the Governess we noted in 1861. With them was Emily; a married niece and her small daughter of 5 months, and 4 servants.
Mr Healey died on 17 April, 8 days after the census, and from his will we see his personal estate was £50,000.
In 1882 & 1885 the house was empty – belonging to the Executors of Samuel R. Healey.
1884-1889
James Bellhouse Gaskell (1848-1925) in 1884 a Cement Manufacturer, became owner and occupier that year. He was the second son of Holbrook Gaskell (1815-1909) of Woolton Wood; and had married Harriet May Mellard in 1880.
HILLCLIFF Owners and Occupiers (continued):
From the Rates Books we see that from 1884 to 1890 the R.V. of Hillcliff was £110.10.0d. with an extent of 1 acre 2 roods 5 perches; & extra ‘garden’ rented from the Marquess of Salisbury, extent not quoted but rated at £4.15.0d. (Roseleigh’s R.V. in 1885 was £217). On 25 July 1889 the Gaskells moved in to Roseleigh – see p. 8.
1890-1895
Hillcliff was empty from 1890 to 1895
1895-1900
Austin Taylor B.A. Cantab., Merchant and Shipowner (Hugh Evans & Co. ) – the firm were managers of the Maranham Steamship Co. (later Alfred Booth & Co.) – was the occupier for about 5 years.
In 1896 Frank Gaskell (1855-1957) youngest son of Holbrook Gaskell (1813-1909) became the owner and retained ownership until 1911 at least (our last Rates Book.)
In 1900 the house was empty for 9 months
1901-1905/8
Mrs Margaret M. Bateson was living here with her son Wilfred, a Bankers Clerk, for some years.
In 1908 – 1909 the house was empty.
1911-1915
John S. Clayton, a Cotton Broker, came here about 1911 and was here until 1915.
From 1916 to 1921 the house was empty again.
1924-1959
Cecil Embree Turner, a Shipbroker, of Edward W. Turner & Son, with Offices in Cunard Buildings came here .in 1924 and died at Hillcliff on 9 April 1959, his effects were £14,064. He is still remembered for his son’s handsome Bentley in British Racing Green, often seen around Wool ton.
ACREFIELD (Rosenfels c.1865) – Listed Grade II.
Architectural description
Built between 1835 and 1840 and extended at the northern end probably in the 1860s. The entrance front has been much mutilated to the left, and a huge 1st floor picture window has been inserted in the garden front to Acrefield Road.
Stylistically this is very much a Classical house; but a certain heaviness can, by this date (1840) be seen in the console brackets of the upper windows on the entrance front. When we turn the corner to the garden front we see that heaviness full blown. Note, too, the circular motif below the first floor triple window in the bowed extension, which we suggest dates from c.1865. This extension may have been an entertainment suite and, at the far end, is an engagingly arranged garden entrance with niche above the door. In this example we see the growing richness and coarseness of detail of the period, but the Victorians’ feeling for enjoyment of building in a non-purist kind of way is well exhibited. (There are now no signs in the window sashes of the removal of the glazing bars we must expect to find in 1840. We conclude that the house was re-windowed by Hausburg in c.1865 in plate glass, by that time the fashionable material).
Owners and Occupiers
c.1840-1842
John Shepherd born c.1791, of independent means, was owner and occupier of the house and just over half an acre of land from c.1840 – he had previously been living at 13 Prescot St. In 1841 we see that he had a wife Alice born c.1786 and a son John born c.1820, also independent, and they had 2 servants. In 1842 he went to Great Crosby.
1851-52
The Rev. John Stubbs Bushby (c.1824-1852) a Curate of Childwall was living here in 1851 with his wife Mary Sophia, born at Abbots Langley, Herts, with their daughter Ada Lucy 6mths. born in M.W., 4 servants – cook, housemaid and 2 nurses. Mr Bushby died 25th Sept. 1852 and was buried at Holy Trinity, Wavertree.
ACREFIELD Owners and Occupiers (continued):
c.1852-1873
Friedrich Ludwig Leopold Hausburg (c.1815-1886) a widowed jeweller/goldsmith, who retired in 1860,was here from c.1852 and we see from the 1861 census that he was living with his two unmarried daughters Catherine Mossop and Emilie Mossop Hausburg, aged 21 and 18, both born in Liverpool, and their companion Ann Norton, age 39, born in London. They had a Welsh housemaid and a cook aged 23 born in M.W. Hausburg had been the proprietor of Woolfield’s Bazaar at the corner of Post Office Place, Church St. which opened in 1828 – an emporium for the sale of “articles of taste and vertu” – and in 1840 taken over by his uncle Mr W.B. Promoli of Paris who in a few years transferred the business to Hausburg. F..L. Hausburg, who was born in Berlin, by 1871 had remarried, Isabella was 25 years his junior and they were still living here, with 3 servants including a 17 year old footman. They were still in residence in 1873 but then left to live in the south of England and he died in Cannes on 9 January 1886 leaving effects of £180,574.
The 1867 Rates book shows Hausburg as the owner occupier of the house and garden, R.V. £146 & extent of over half an acre.
1874-75
The house was empty for about 18 months.
1875-1889
Emily Jones (1805-1887) widow of the Rev. Noah Jones (1801-1861) late minister of Gateacre Unitarian Chapel, whose home The Nook in Halewood Road had just been demolished with the coming of the railway, became the occupier, the house being now owned by Miss Janet Rodick (1833-1904), a daughter of Thomas Rodick (1789-1855) and born at Kendal Cottage, 4 Gateacre Brow. From the 1881 census we see that Mrs. Jones was living with 2 unmarried daughters, Louisa age 43 and Frances 41 both born in Derby, and 3 servants including a 14 year old temporary help – for the spring cleaning?
Mrs. Jones died 13 January 1887 leaving personal estate of £3,294 and her daughter Louisa continued as occupier to 1889.
1889-1895
Herbert K. Bibby (c.1837-1927) from 1 Woolton Mount, but 1895 by this time described in the Liverpool Directories as a Shipowner, became occupier in 1889 and remained here till 1895; but the house remained in the ownership of Miss Rodick. Herbert Bibby died in London 15 Nov. 1927 leaving £182,346.
ACREFIELD Owners and Occupiers (continued):
1896
the house was empty.
1897-1899
Lynch H. Prioleau, Captain in Seaforth Highlanders (recruiting staff officer) became the occupier until 1899.
1900-1914
Mrs Mary Louisa Needham, with her son Ronald Allport Needham, engineer, was the occupier from 1900 to c.1914 though the house continued to remain in Rodick ownership, from 1905 being vested in the exors. of Margaret Rodick, Janet’s sister.
1916
During this year the house was occupied by a caretaker George Harrison.
1917-1922
Thomas William Strang Pollock, a rope manufacturer 1922 (Hutchison & Pollock Ltd) and his wife Alice Dora were here from 1917 to about 1922, after which he moved to Bidston, dying there on 2nd March 1931 leaving £9,495.
1927-1930
Col. Ernest Briggs D.S.O., B.Sc. was here from c.1927 to 1930.
1933-1935
Mrs Edith Woods followed in about 1933 to 1935, but the house then seems to have been empty to at least 1940.
1940
Arthur Maiden, advertising contractor, came here.
Introduction to Woolton Mount
The three houses at the top of the Private Roadway, “Woolton Mount” – a semi-detached., pair to the south (of which only one, Ashtor, remains) and The Mount to the north have presented us with problems. We are unsure of their numbering (as, we think, were others before us) and because these houses remained in the possession of James Gore (1784-1872) the builder, and his heirs until the death of his grandson James Cross in 1921 (see Woolton Park Walk) there are no early deeds to help. We have attempted to put early residents into houses, and to show a convincing succession of residents for each, but we may very well be in error before the first Rates Book of 1867. If any of our readers know of diaries, letters or old drawings or photographs which would help we would be delighted to hear of them.
The Private Roadway ”Woolton Mount” with its now unique (in Liverpool) surface of large Woolton sandstone blocks must have been constructed between 1840 and 1846.
THE MOUNT – built between 1840 and 1846 Listed Grade II
First we list some alterations: the bay on the east was added between 1891 and 1904; on the south entrance front the addition on the left (forming garage) came just before the last war; swimming pool added in 1978 when there was work to the roof and all the original stucco and dripstones were removed to be replaced with cement rendering, when it was revealed that the brickwork of the house was built with a rough surface as a base for the stucco (note also that the west elevation to the yard is stone, not stucco) and between 1984 and 1986 the house was rewindowed with u.p.v.c. for double glazing.
Architectural description – this is a simple 2-storey house built at a time when the shell could have been given a Classic or a Gothic finish. The Mount has dripstones and with this slight Gothic accent it could be termed a Gothic Villa. On the east front the ground floor windows come right clown to floor level as we have seen before.
THE MOUNT (continued):
Owners and Occupiers
1851-1854
James Proctor (c.1804-1871) widower, Merchant “gentleman” (L.H. MacIntyre & Co. Commission Merchants and Shipowners) seems to have been living here in the 1851 census with 14 year old Leonard Atkinson, a scholar born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne visiting; and one Derbyshire born servant, He had previously been at 8 Cambridge St. and by 1855 was listed in the Directory at 33 Hope Street. He died in 1871 leaving under £600. (There was a Robert Proctor, corn merchant (Sir J. Walmsley & Co.) living in Much Woolton in 1843 who may have been James Proctor’s father ?)
1861
John Scott born c.1815, wine & spirit merchant is shown living here in the 1861 census with his wife Margaret, age 42, born in Whitehaven and their 3 teenage children born in Liverpool. They had 2 servants not born locally. John Scott was born at Newcastle-upon-Tyne and by 1856/7 was at 44 Islington with an office at 20 Water St.
1867
Henry Hodgson Bardswell (c.1837-1921) cotton broker, who had served his apprenticeship with Cunningham and Hinshaw and by 1863 became a partner in the firm. A son of Chas. Bardswell the well-known Liverpool Solicitor. Educated at King’s College School, London, he & his family were here in the 1870s. He was Vice-President of the Liverpool Cotton Association & in 1902 was elected President. But it was in 1892 he displayed the highest talents of a cotton broker when the managing clerk of an old and wealthy firm was found to have embezzled a large sum & lost it through speculation. 20 eminent firms – brokers & merchants – found they had 87,000 bales of cotton to dispose of without upsetting the tenor of the market. He was deputed to act on their behalf & did so successfully by selling 2,500 bales a day at a reasonable profit, thus earning great respect for his skilful service to the trade. He played tennis & chess and was secretary & captain of Childwall Cricket Club. He married twice – secondly to Sarah Ellen, daughter of Wm. Ainsworh of Southport, where he lived latterly. His daughter Eileen married J. Monro Walker, youngest son of Sir A.B. Walker of Gateacre Grange.
[Illustration: Mr H. H. Bardswell]
Above: Henry Hodgson Bardswell (c.1837-1921), cotton broker, of The Mount, Acrefield Road
THE MOUNT Owners and Occupiers (continued):
1878-1889
Herbert Kirkham Bibby (c.1845-1927) a General Broker born in Wiesbaden came here in 1878. By 1881 his wife Julia of 23, born in Woolwich, 2 sons Thomas 2 & Claud 7 months, his brother Ernest an apprentice copper smelter, with his wife Sarah and their small son Kenneth & 2 servants were here with him on census night. The brothers were members of the Bibby family of steamship owners (Bibby Steamship Co.), Copper Smelters of Garston & St. Helens and Oil Cake Mfrs. In 1889 Herbert Bibby and his family moved to Acrefield.
1890-1893
The next occupier of this house was Edgar C. Hornby, son of Henry H. Hornby of Grassendale, a cotton broker (Hornby & Hemelryk) established by his father c.1860. He was a life member of the Liverpool Cricket Club. He died in 1922 leaving a, widow, 1 son and 2 daughters.
1894-1898
On the first of January 1984 H.C. Neilson moved in. He was a stock & share broker (Neilson & Graves), by 1907 he was living at Aston Hall, Hawarden.
1898-1902
When Malcolm Blair became tenant in 1898 the R.V. had gone down to £49.
1903 -1911: From the 1903 Rates Book Alfred Maybrick and William J. Bush seem to be sharing the house, but from 1904 to 1911 the tenant is just W.J. Bush. From his probate in 1920 we see that when he died on 17th July he was living at Alma Cottage, Parkgate with his wife Charlotte. Effects £5,717. He had been the manager of the Liverpool Warehousing Co.
1912: The house was empty.
1913-1917: Stanley Rimmer, a timber merchant, was here.
1918-1919: The house appears to have been empty again.
1920-1921: George F. Morrell, provision merchant (John Morrell & Co, Victoria Street) was the tenant.
1922-1935: Mrs Richard Bulman (née Kindle) bought the house from the widow of James Cross, and ? after her death, her daughter Miss Mary Florence Bulman lived here.
THE MOUNT Owners and Occupiers (continued):
1935-1952
Alfred Christopher Standish Bennett bought The Mount, moving in from his previous residence in Grassendale Park.
3 and 5 WOOLTON MOUNT – semi-detached pair, built c.1850 ?
Of this semi detached pair only No. 3, Ashtor, survives; No. 5, its mirror image, was demolished since the last war and the site has been absorbed into the garden of No. 3. We attribute this demolition to the somewhat impractical planning arrangement whereby access to the front door of No. 5 had to be through the garden and past the front windows of No. 3, an essentially awkward arrangement. Access to the back doors was segregated, though at the cost of a very small yard for No. 3. The pair survived in this tandem form for more than a century.
When we prepared Woolton Park Walk last year we had no photograph of Longworth (built 1858-9), but thanks to a friend of our Vice Chairman we now have illustrations of this house. In the light of this new information we can now see elements in common with Ashtor of c.1850, in spite of alterations with Summer Hill c.1868 and with another pair of houses we will visit later today, Nos. 8 & 10 Acrefield Road of 1835-40.
In the context of last year’s walk down Woolton Park where many of the houses showed markedly High Victorian features, Longworth stands out as being much more conservative in design than the rest.
From this we offer the following explanation:- that the design of .this series, developing from the late Georgian 8 and 10 Acrefield Road, through Longworth with ground floor sash windows running down to floor level, to Summer Hill which, though retaining a fairly low pitched roof and sash windows upstairs, had tall stone framed and mullioned casements, as well as a bay, on the ground floor, is recognisable as a series developing over some 30 years. It represents the style adopted by James Gore when building houses he intended to retain as investments and to be rented.
With all this in mind, looking now at Ashtor (and re-erecting No. 5 in imagination) we see a pair of houses of a more complex form than a simple rectangle & with east facing front windows to take advantage of the view; but built of brick with stone quoins, fairly low pitched roof and traditional sash windows, an unadventurous design.
3 WOOLTON MOUNT – Occupiers
1850-1852
William Roskell, born c.1812, watchmaker, son of Robert Roskell of Gateacre Hall was living here with his wife Elizabeth, born c.1815 in Manchester and 3 children aged 5, 3 & 1, the eldest born in Penketh and the others in M.W., with them were 3 “house servants”, none born locally. William Roskell’s place of business was in Pitt Street. By 1853 we find that he had moved house to Olive Mount Villa, Wavertree.
1854/5-1857
James Walker, a commission merchant (Walker & Syers) 1857 was the next tenant who then moved on to Oxton, Cheshire.
1861-63
Ellen Rodick (1829-1900) widow of James Dawson Rodick who had died 1856, was living here with 2 children – Janet aged 9 and Charles Napier aged 6, both born in L.W. (Belle Vale Road) and a nephew Thomas, 11, born at Arnside, Westmorland. They had just one servant who came from Scotland. Ellen Rodick, born Tarbock, was sister of Sir H. Fleetwood Bt., M.P. for Preston. J.D. Rodick was a ‘Barrister in Law, Cambs.’.
1864-1884
Thomas Wheeler Turmeau (c.1815-1878) tobacconist and cigar importer, who had been at Sandown, Wavertree came here with his widowed sister Penelope Glover Clare, aged 52, about 1864. His shop was at 11 Castle Street and from the 1871 census we see that his niece Marion Turmeau was staying with them and they had 1 Irish servant.
In the 1867 Rates we find that the house he occupied was owned by James Gore (1784-1872), the R.V. was £48 and the extent was 36 perches (It is by comparing these R.V’s and extents – see map for the extra access path to No. 5, hence the larger extent for that house – that we differentiate between 5 and 3.)
Thomas Turmeau was one of the sons of John Turmeau born the portrait painter “of Castle Street” a member of the Liverpool Academy 1810-1834. He was described in the 1871 census as “deaf” and was unmarried; he died 13th August 1878 at Penmaenmawr leaving personal estate of £16,000. Penelope Clare went on occupying the house until 1884 when it was empty for 2 months.
3 WOOLTON MOUNT – Occupiers (continued)
1885-1891
Matthew Mark, of Matthew Mark & Sons, Grocers, Factors & dealers in Fireproof Safes, 12 Cook Street was living here until 1891.
1891-1940
Alfred Johnson, cotton broker and his wife Emily came next & remained until his death 9.2.1940, his effects in his will were “nil” – a fortune lost in the 1930s slump.
5 WOOLTON MOUNT – (the south semi)
1857
In the Directory of this year Richard Bell, corn merchant (Bell & Campbell), office at 15 Drury Lane, who seems to have been living in Gateacre previously, is recorded here.
1861-1874
Margaret Burrell (c.1794-1874), a widow who had formerly been a housekeeper at the Hollies, an annuitant born at Urswick, Low Furness was living here with her servant Margaret Green born in Huyton in the 1861 census. From the 1867 Rates we find that the house she occupied was owned by James Gore, the builder. The R.V. was £41.10.0 and the extent was 38 perches. She was still here in the 1871 census living with her niece Agnes Hodgson, also born in Urswick, and 2 servants – the younger Alice Whitefield born in Much Woolton. Mrs. Burrell died here 9th November 1874 leaving under £2,000.
1875-1879
Julius Smith, ‘gentleman’ who had been living in Birkenhead, became the next occupier; the owners by that time being the executors of James Gore. He died Southport 1905.
1880-1889
Thomas Bailey Cross (c.1823-1889) West India Merchant, who had married Elizabeth Brierwood, the younger daughter of James Gore in c.1854. He had been born at Hale and they had a son James born M.W. in 1855, who had “no occupation” in the 1881 census. T.B. Cross died 2 May 1889 leaving estate of £1,780.
5 WOOLTON MOUNT – Occupiers (continued):
1891-1938
Miss Annie Teebay became the next tenant and lived in 1938 this house for most of the rest of her life, dying in St Joseph’s Home, Oakhill Park in 1938 leaving just over £4,000.
The ownership of this house, and Nos. 3 and 1 Woolton Mount, followed the pattern of The Riffel etc., (see Woolton Park Walk 1987) where ownership remained with the executors/ trustees of James Gore until c.1893, in 1894 becoming vested in M.A. Cross (the widow of Dr John Cross and James Gore’s elder daughter) until 1903 when James Cross (1855-1921) inherited all these properties from his Aunt . It was only after the death of James Cross in 1921 that these properties came on the market.
BANKSIDE – built between 1840 & 1846, Listed Grade II. (about 1846 called Holme Leigh).
The chief alterations here are the addition of the 2-storey bay to the right of the porch on the entrance front, dating from the 1860s; additions at the rear and the bay on the east front to Acrefield Road which was built after 1891 – (our map of 1871 is incorrect in this detail).
Architectural description
If we visualise this house as it was at first without the two bay windows we can see that, like The Mount, it too has something of the character of a 2-storey shell which could have been treated as Classic or Gothic., but here there is more Gothic detail.
Gothic are the crenellations to the porch; and the elaborate bargeboards with among their tracery motifs mouchettes and quatrefoils; octagonal chimney stacks,-and dripstones like those at The Mount.
BANKSIDE (continued):
Owners and Occupiers
?1843-1855/6: John Armitage Pearson (c.1804-1863) who, in 1841, had been living at the home of Joshua Lace, Throstles Nest in L.W. and whose daughter Frances (c.1802-1869) he later married. In the 1843 Directory we find him living in M.W. and we suggest he was at this house. We find from the 1851 census that he was then 47, born at Kingston, Yorks., his wife was born in Liverpool and that they had a housemaid, a cook and a groom, and as we so often find, none of the servants were born locally. His professional education was at Guy’s and St. Thomas’s Hospitals gaining his L.S.A. in 1825, M.R.C.S. in 1826 and F.R.C.S. 1856. He was Surgeon of “Woolton Dispensary” for 25 years before leaving for Buxton where he was Surgeon to the Devonshire Hospital and Bath Charity until his death (6.6.1863) when he left under £4,000.
c.1858-1876: Mary Ann Hopley (c.1820-1886), widow of Charles Hopley, who in the mid 1850s had been living at Oxton Hall, in Cheshire, was here for the 1861 census with her son. Charles William then 16 and a merchant’s clerk, her daughter Ann aged 19 – both children being born in Rio-de-Janeiro. (Charles Hopley senior had died in 1859, aged 30, shortly after coming to Bankside, leaving effects of under £20,000. He was buried at St Peters). They had 4 servants including a coachman – none born locally. From the Rates Book of 1867 we see that Mrs Hopley was the owner of this house with a R.V. of £120 and an extent of just over half an acre. By 1871 Charles William Hopley, now aged 26 was recorded by the census as the head of the household and a Brazil merchant, but he was still unmarried, living with his mother. They moved to Beaconsfield Road in 1876.
1876-1891: The house was empty from that time to 1891 though it remained in Mrs Hopley’s ownership, and after 1886 when she died in the ownership of her executors – her son having died in 1882 – for the benefit of her two orphan grandchildren. And so it remained until 1911 at least.
1891-1934: James Wilkie (c.1857-1927) eldest son of James Wilkie of Acre, Largs, Ayrshire and a cotton broker with the firm of Cunningham & Hinshaw became the tenant in 1891. He lived there with his wife Annie Hinshaw Wilkie to 1927 when he died leaving £164,000. His widow remained in the house until 1934 when she died.
1936: By 1936 Alfred Henry Bramley lived at Bankside, he was a director of J. Bramley & Sons Ltd., corn merchants and millers of 30 Manesty’s Lane.
THE LODGE TO HILLSIDE – Listed Grade II (as Lodge to Blair Lea)
This small Lodge shows the full-blooded characteristics of the High Victorian Gothic Revival. It was built as the Lodge to Hillside, probably in 1866, as the Catholic Francis W. Reynolds came that year. Hence the emphasis on the Cross motif which appears on the Porch Column and its base, in the polychromy of the brickwork, as a support to one Griffin etc.
The small Porch, no longer the way into the house, is surmounted by a stage with a pyramidal roof (re-slated) at whose base, at each corner, projects the lively carving of a griffin, each one supported with a different motif. The four griffins might be described as “overscaled” but really they are just handled boldly as High Victorians liked to do things. The French Gothic capital of the Porch Column, the fact that the Column is a dumpy one, and the most characteristically High Victorian motif – polychromy – best seen in the lozenges (clumsy on the south front, more competently executed on the other two sides) are all features we should expect to find at this date. So is the eclecticism in the choice of the English Gothic nail-head motif juxtaposed with the French Gothic capital. These are all things we expect to see in High Victorian design, and in order of precedence: –
i polychromy
ii dumpy-ness of column
iii “punched” style of cross on base of column
iv choice of French Gothic for capital
THE LODGE TO HILLSIDE (continued):
Owners and Occupiers
1867-1875
The first mention of the Lodge is in the 1867 Rates Book as ‘the lodge to Hillside’ and owned by F.W. Reynolds. We see from the 1871 census that Thomas Hailwood, a gardener born in Aughton, and his wife Elizabeth born in Lathom and their sons William and Thomas were living here and they remained until 1874 at least.
c.1876-c.1905
By 1881 the gardener was James Calland, aged 36, born in West Derby as was his wife Annie aged 35; of their 6 children William, aged 5, had been born in Woolton thus suggesting a date for their coming of c.1876. James Calland remained here in this capacity as gardener until c.1905 when he moved into Hillside itself as caretaker until the coming of Mr Atkinson in 1911.
c.1905-1908
From about 1905 until 1908 his place in the Lodge was taken by Mrs Annie Shaw.
?1911-?1913
Joseph Butte(r)field seems to have been there in 1911 and stayed until 1913.
1914-1916
Peter Harrison followed, being there between 1914-16.
?1917
Henry Spencer was the occupier
c.1920-1936
John Phythian was the last occupant we note from c.1920 to 1936 – or so ?
HILLSIDE – demolished about 10 years ago.
Architectural description (based on photographs and maps).
This 3-storey house, latterly a number of flats, had been much extended with a single storey billiard room on the south, kitchen, nursery and bedrooms to the north, two 2-storey bays to the east, a stone porch to the front door oh the west.
Above ground level the house was of brick (in Flemish bond as 45 & 47 Woolton Street dating possibly from c.1790; and Eton Hall, Woolton Road, Wavertree built for Rev. Hezekiah Kirkpatrick in 1776). Photographs show quoins and window surrounds on the west and east fronts, but those taken during demolition reveal that the quoins were painted stucco, not stone, as were the window surrounds which from their heaviness and shape of console brackets could date from the 1860s.
Shorn of accretions it is possible to isolate a 3-bay 3½-storey double pile house of a vernacular type here, with that window-high-in-the-gable-between-chimney-stacks which is characteristic of the local type. This example, however, though 3-bay on the entrance front, apparently had 4-bays on the east side. There were cellars which, because of the slope of the ground, were semi basement only on the east.
It seems probable that when F.W. Reynolds moved here in the mid 1860s the house he came to was like that; and he was responsible, over the next quarter century, for the stone porch, for re-windowing in sheet glass and the stucco window surrounds, for the two eastern bay windows and the later additions in due course for his large family. It is intriguing to note that there was a house here – or hereabouts – on the map of 1768.
HILLSIDE (continued)
Owners and Occupiers
Mrs Joan Worthington (née Atkinson) who was born at this house tells us that it was an 18th century farmhouse, but who built it we do not know (yet).
c.1802-1829
Hugh Bullen (1777-1829) brewer, of Liverpool, came to 1829 live in Woolton with his wife Jane (née Tarleton) and from the record of the baptism of his daughter Henrietta at St Bennet’s Priory on 4 December 1802 we can date his coming. There was a large family, 9 children survived, but when Hugh Bullen died in 1829 his estate was broken up and the house sold.
c.1834-c.1845
George Yates, born c.1796 is shown on Bennison’s map of 1835, and on the 1840 Tithe Map and Schedule he is recorded as owner and occupier of the house and gardens etc., extending to 1a. 2r. 36p; about 25 acres of the “Acrefield” (to the boundary of the Hollies); 5 acres of the Outlane Meadow and the 5 Outlane Cottages.
The 1841 census suggests that he was 45, had a wife Eliza of 35, Mary Yates – his mother ? – of 75 “independent”, with 1 manservant and 2 female servants. He described himself as merchant and ship broker, and in the 1832 Directory had been living at 56 Hanover Street, he remained at Hillside until at least 1843.
c.1848
Thomas Wilson, born c.1807, seems to have come to the house about 1848 and the 1851 census describes him as a widower and shipbuilder; with 6 children under the age of 11. Living with him was his widowed sister Charlotte Middleton of 28, an annuitant, 2 nieces called Wilson of 8 and 7, and 3 female servants – non local.
1854-1864
William Durning (c.1813-14.6.1881) cotton broker (George Holt & Co. India Buildings) came here about 1854 with his wife Elizabeth aged 43 in 1861 and born in Huyton, and a teenage daughter with 3 female servants. William Durning was born in Edge Hill (Durning Road is named after the family) and moved on to Beechwood (Archbishops House) in 1864, where he died in 1881 leaving a widow Margaret and £20,564.
HILLSIDE Owners and Occupiers (continued)
c.1866-1899
Francis William Reynolds (c.1825-24.3.1899) cotton broker (Reynolds & Gibson) is shown here in the 1867 Rates. In the 1871 census he had a wife Clare aged 45, born in Manchester; a widowed mother Charlotte aged 70 born in Birmingham, and 6 children at home, ages ranging from 21 to 6 years, of whom the 4 youngest, including James Philip aged 6 were born in Egremont. They had 2 visitors and 6 living in servants including a governess.
The 1867 Rates Book shows him as the owner occupier of a house, garden and lodge R.V. £210, extent 2a. 0r 36½p; also of land R.V. £77, extent 25a. 1r. 22p. (the remaining “Acrefield”).
In the 1881 census we see the family 10 years later, without the widowed Charlotte, and indeed with just one 21 year old daughter at home. They now had 4 living-in female servants. Mrs. Reynolds died in 1895 aged 69 and Francis William in 1899, leaving £356,809. They were buried in St Mary’s Churchyard.
1905-1911
during these years James Calland was listed as gardener/caretaker living in the house.
1911
William James Arthur Atkinson, a flour merchant who had 1946 been living at Browside, 4 Gateacre Brow for the last 10 years bought the house in 1911. In 1908 he had married Gertrude Gilding, daughter of Henry Gilding of Rockfield, Cuckoo Lane, Gateacre, proprietor of Frisby Dyke’s in Lord Street. Mr & Mrs Atkinson had three children -Marjorie born at Browside in 1909; and Joan born 1911 and Douglas born 1917, both at Hillside. Mr. Atkinson died in 1946 leaving £34,753 and Mrs Atkinson turned it into flats.
The building of 4 & 6, 8/10 and 12/14 Acrefield Road
(from deeds and maps)
Once upon a time in Georgian Much Woolton there was a joiner, Edward Holmes. He had a wife Sarah, a son John also a joiner, and daughters Sarah and Ellen (two children, Thomas and Elizabeth, predeceased him). Edward Holmes made his will in 1810 and died in 1821.
In 1829 James Gore (1784-1872) the builder, bought 2 statute acres, part of the Mill Croft, from Holmes’ estate. This was the area we can still define – the site of Yewfield on Church Road, and on Acrefield Road the frontage from No.2 (White Horse) to No. 20. We might expect that James Gore would start developing at the south end, next door to 2 Woolton Street which, in an earlier state, was there from 1768 at least. It seems probable that No.2 Acrefield Road was the first built, perhaps for the young shoemaker, Mathias Potter.
Henry Averill (c.18o3-1867) the Staffordshire born school-master (“Private Tutor” according to J.P. Marsh) married Joice Jones at St Phillips Church, Hardman Street in May 1833 and on 22 June 1834 their daughter Anne was baptised by the Rev. Robert Leicester at St. Peters Woolton. So it would seem that by 1834 Mr. & Mrs. Averill were living in Woolton, probably at No. 4 Acrefield Road, where they were 6 years later, when it was described as “house, school & garden”. Henry Averill’s property owning career in Woolton began in Oct. 1832 with a year’s lease (a form of deposit?), from James Gore, probably of the site of Nos 12 & 14 Acrefield Rd., renewed in 1834, and becoming a purchase in March 1835 when it was still a parcel of land, lying between William Williams’ No.16 on the north and Benjamin Armstrong’s site for Nos 8 & 10 to the south.
Bennison’s map of 1835 shows that at the time of his survey No. 2,No. 4, No.16 and Nos 18 & 20 were built, the sites of Nos 8 & 10 and Nos 12 & 14 were still gardens. The building of Nos 12 & 14 must have followed within 3 years, as on 21 April 1838 Mr Averill was borrowing £260 on security of the site “with 2 cottages recently erected” from John Okill of The Lee in L.W. Three days later he was using the money thus raised to buy Miss Alice King’s house, which we identify as No.4 – in which the Averills lived – as well as Benjamin Armstrong’s pair of houses Nos 8 & 10. Thus by 1840 we see Henry Averill, the schoolmaster, recorded as owner of No.4, Nos 8 & 10 and Nos 12 & 14 Acrefield Road, and by December 1843 he had repaid the money borrowed to Mr. Okill.
From this story we can obtain some idea of the way in which enough money could be raised to finance the building of such simple and modest houses as No.2 to No.20 Acrefield Road in the first half of the 19th century.
18 & 20 ACREFIELD ROAD – built between 1829 & 1835 – Listed Grade II.
Architectural description
A pair of wholly brick built houses of 2 storeys and cellars, under a pyramidal slate roof. Set on a rather more generous plot than its neighbours and placed square with Acrefield Rd., they have just enough space on either side to accommodate, now, a garage. The design is extremely simple, the front doors with round heads are in the sides, leaving two sash windows at the front to light the bedroom and parlour; the eaves have cast iron gutters.
(In the following lists of owners and occupiers of these houses we have had to limit ourselves to names of heads of households and dates only – more information is available if required).
Occupiers of No.20:
c.1840-c.1851 Richard Atkinson
c.1861-(1871) Joseph Blackmore
1867-1868 James Phythian
1868-1881 Jane Phythian
1882-1903 William Tuson
1904 empty
1905-1927 Mrs Mary Ellis.
Owners of No.20:
1840- ? Mrs. Rushton
c.1867-1881 William Sumner
1882-1887 Exors. of R. Twist
1888-1890 ”Massam”
1891-1892 Enoch Twist
1893-1903 Ann Massam
1904 John Smith
1905-1911 Mrs Mary Ellis.
18 & 20 ACREFIELD ROAD (continued):
Occupiers of No. 18:
c.1840-c.1841 Anne Hill
1851-185? William Hill
1861-186? William Gore
1867 Hannah Burgess
1868 Thomas Denton
1869-1873 James Simm(s)
1873-1875 Adam Telford
1876″Westbrook”
1877-1878 Empty
1879-1882 George Carter
1883-1887 Thomas Corrin
1888-1903 Ben. A. Shaw
1903-1908 George Smith
1908-1911 John Smith
1911-1918 Mrs Smith
1918-1927 J. Braithwaite
Owners of No.18:
as No.20 until1905 George Smith1911 Mrs Elizabeth Smith
16 ACREFIELD ROAD, built between 1829-1835. Listed Grade II
Architectural description
A detached house on such a narrow site that the building extends from boundary to boundary and following these lines the front is not square with Acrefield Road. It is a very simple brick built house of 2-storeys, the roof is slate with the moulded stone cornice lined with lead as eaves gutter -as is common in Woolton at this date. Because of the narrowness of the site beside the front door is a second door to the entry; and the windows, one downstairs and 2 above -slightly shorter – were sashes.
16 ACREFIELD ROAD (continued):
Occupiers of No. 16:
1840-184? Miss M. Birchall
184?-c.1851 Lydia Foulkes
1861-1880 Robert Twist
1881 Henry Lloyd
1882″Case”
1883 Alfred Arnold
1884-1894 William Davies
1895 -1900 Robert Mason
1901 Elizabeth Mason
1902 empty
1903-1907 Robert Mason
1908-1909 John Smith
1911 Robert Dixon
1913-1914 Walter Maybrick
1914-1921 Daniel Jackson
1924-1927 Mrs Annie Jackson
Owners of No.16:
c.1833-? William Williams
?1849-185? Lydia Foulkes ? ?
1867 -1880 Robert Twist
1881 -1882 Exors. of R. Twist
1883-1890 Enoch Twist
1891-1900 William Ashe
1901 Ex. of Wm. Ashe
1902-1911 William Ashe II
12 & 14 ACREFIELD ROAD, built between 1835 & 1838, Listed Grade II.
Architectural description
A pair of houses, brick at the front but stone at the sides, back and chimneys, of 2-storeys under a slate roof with lead-lined stone moulded gutter. Front doors with rubbed brick arches and fanlights, No. 14 retaining its decorative glazing, and the variety of panelled door which elsewhere Miss Gnosspelius impulsively described as the “Liverpool pattern”. Four sash windows have lost their glazing bars, and the fifth, over the front doors, is blind.
In the garden of No. 14 is a small 2-storey stone building with a mono-pitch roof, of which the upper room, generously lit with two south facing sash windows and with a simple fireplace in the north wall. This was the schoolroom for Mr. Averill, added about 1850.
Occupiers of No.14:
1840 Thomas Black
1841-1849? David Foulkes
1851-1867 Henry Averill
1867-1871 Joice Averill
1872 Wm. Henry Averill
1873-1875 empty
1876-1884 John Dumbell
1885-1887 John Jennings
1888-1900 John Johnson
1901-1902 empty
1903 John Burgess
1904-1905 George Berrington
1908-1909 empty
1911 Jane McKay
1912-1916 Mrs Ellen Ashe
1918 Arthur Piggot
1920-1921 John Henry Deakin
1924-1927 William Ashe II
12 & 14 ACREFIELD ROAD (continued):
Occupiers of No.12:
1840 Joseph Lucas
1841 John McGahey – lithographer
1851 Philip Lott – miller
1861 John Rigby – journeyman butcher
1867 Martha Rigby
1868 Thomas Lawton
1869 empty
1870-1878 John Wright – travelling bookseller
1879-1924 Richard Taylor – boot & shoe maker
1927 Joseph Blackmore
1930 Mrs Eliz. Blackmore
Owners of Nos 12 & 14:
1835 – 1867 Henry Averill
1867 – 1871 Exors. of Henry Averill
1871 – 1872 William Henry Averill
1872 – 1876 Exors. of Wm. Henry Averill
1876 – 1900 William Ashe
1901 – 1911 Exors. of William Ashe
8 & 10 ACREFIELD ROAD, built between 1835 & 1838, Listed Grade II.
Architectural description
A pair of houses, the smallest in the group, brick with stone quoins at the front, but stone at the sides and back, of 2-storeys under a slate roof with lead-lined stone cornice gutter projecting some 9 inches. Both front doors are of the “Liverpool pattern” with blind fanlights under brick arches – No. 10 has added timber -ground “shell porch”. Of the 4 sash windows, some have lost their glazing bars, but No. 8 has been re-windowed in u.p.v.c. with a very-conspicuous meeting rail. The centre window upstairs is blind. A rather less plain and simple pair than the others, but in common with No.4, Nos 12 & 14 and No.16 not set square with Acrefield Road and hence, too, the lack of a distinct building line from Nos 18 & 20 to this block, but from here to No. 2 a line develops.
8 & 10 ACREFIELD ROAD (continued):
Occupiers of No. 10:
c.1840-1841 Jonathan Harrison
1851 William Chalmers
1861 George Evans
1867-1871 John Drysdale
1872-1874 John Johnson
1875-1878 Edward Elson
1879-1886 William Davies
1887 James Noble
1888 & 1889 empty
1890-1894 Thomas Hughes
1895-1897 George Doman
1898-1924 William Allen
Occupiers of No. 8:
c.1840-1841 George Barber
1851 William Gore
1861-1875 William Smith
1875-1879 William Davies
1879-1880 Walter Jones
1881-1907 Anne Hodgetts
1909 William Bushell
1911-1914 Richard Banks
1916-1917 Edward Hall
1918-1927 Albert V. Last
Owners of Nos 8 & 10:
c.1836-1838 Benjamin Armstrong, mason, then as Nos.12 & 14.
Nos 4 & 6 ACREFIELD ROAD, built c.1833.
Architectural description
Originally a single house structurally detached from No. 2 and of two bays; built wholly of brick with slate roof and lead lined stone moulded gutter.. It has been a good deal altered with an added shop projecting on the left and a shop front on the right; behind the house also a large workshop used by Joshua Hayes, the printer, from c.1921.
Shorn of these additions the floor area of the original house was nearly as much as the combined areas of Nos. 8 & 10, so it was quite commodious. But so far as we can now make an assessment the design was very simple.
Occupiers of Nos 4 & 6:
1833-1850 Henry Averill – commercial Schoolmaster
1850-1860 Joseph Blackmore – gardener
1861-1866 John Rawlinson – agricultural labourer.
Occupiers of No. 4 (Shop):
1867-1875 Thomas Hamer
1876 William Ashe
1877-1886 John Tuson
22.11.1887 Joseph Hodgetts
1888-1889 George Blundell
1889-1913 Frank W.P. Ashton
1914-1920 empty
1921-1936 Joshua Hayes
Occupiers of No.6 (House & garden):
1867-1875 William Smith
1876 William Robinson
1877-1878 empty
1879-1881 John Plumpton
1882-1895 Peter Leather
1896 empty
1897-1913 Frank W.P. Ashton
1914-1927 John R. Banks
1928-1936 Joshua Hayes
Nos 4 & 6 ACREFIELD ROAD (continued):
Owners of No.4 & No.6:
1833-1838 Miss Alice King
1838-1867 Henry Averill, schoolmaster
1867-1871 Exors. of Henry Averill
1871-1872 William Henry Averill, watchmaker
1872-1876 Exors. of Wm. H. Averill
1876-1900 William Ashe (Mrs Ashe was the daughter of Henry Averill)
1901-1911 Exors. of William Ashe.
No.2 ACREFIELD ROAD, The White Horse, built c.1833
The building has been very much altered, but it is possible that it was built as a 3½-storey 3-bay vernacular house, though whether all brick or stone we cannot now determine.
Now we see it as it was refurbished as a beerhouse, probably about 1897-8 as the Rates went up from £25.10.0d. to £30 in that year. The front, with a stone dado was roughcast below and given a black and white timber treatment above the first floor window heads. A gable was formed on the right (a bigger window for the licensee’s sitting room ?) and the front half of the roof was covered with red tiles.
The 2-storey bow window on the left is topped with a cove in the South Lancashire & Cheshire tradition, and the lower lights are glazed with etched glass. There is stained glass in many upper lights. In the centre the front doorway and window above, in yellow stone, are Baroque -especially the blocks of the window jambs – as was fashionable in 1895-1905.
Internally the bar was extended back in the 1920s or 1930s to incorporate most of the ground floor. The work, in good solid oak with panelling and a Tudor-style door, is high class work, and the ceiling patterning in anaglypta is very effective.
No.2 ACREFIELD ROAD, The White Horse (continued):
Occupiers of No. 2:
c.1833-after 1851 Mathias Potter, master shoemaker.
before 1861-1871 John Hall, beerseller
1872-1874 William Taylor, beerseller (absconded)
1875-1885 Edward Brocklebank, beerseller
1886-1897 John Leadbeater, beerseller
1898-after 1914 Mrs Jane Leadbeater, beerseller
c.1921-1927 Mrs Lily Millet, beerseller
Owners of No. 2:
1833-after 1851 Mathias Potter, master shoemaker
c.1861-1878 James Simm(s), gardener
1879 Exors. of James Simm(s)
1880-1892 James Simm(s) – son of James Simm(s) ?
1893 Mr. T, Gregory
1894-1911 J. & T. Gregory, brewers of Gateacre and Tarbock
Contents:
R.V’s. in £ in 1886 – Building dates – Address (dem. = now demolished)
136 – pre 1768 ? – Gateacre Hall (dem. c.1898?)
255 – 1860 – “Roseleigh”
127½ – 1881 etc – Aymestrey Court
228 – 1835-40 etc. – The Hollies (dem. c.1927)
42½ – pre 1835 – Acrefield Cottage
42½ – 1884 – Overdale
4¼ – 1846-51 -Lodge to Hillcliff
110½ – pre 1835 – Hillcliff
170 – 1835-40 – Acrefield
Introduction to The Mount
59½ – 1840-46 – The Mount
29¾ – c.1850 – 3 Woolton Mount
29¾ – c.1850 – 5 Woolton Mount (dem. c.1950)
68 – 1840-46 – Bankside
5¾ – c.1886 – Lodge of Hillside
170 – pre 1768 etc. – Hillside (dem. c.1978)
Introduction to Nos 2-20 Acrefield Road
12/12 – 1829-35 – 18 & 20 Acrefield Road
12¾ – 1829-35 – 16 Acrefield Road
12/12¾ – 1835-38 – 12 & 14 Acrefield Road
10¼/10¼ – 1835-38 – 8 & 10 Acrefield Road
8½/12 – c.1833 – 4/6 Acrefield Road
25½ – c.1833 – White Horse (No. 2)
Sources:
The sources we have used are available in the Liverpool Record Office in the City Library, and in Lancashire County Record Office at Preston. We listed our sources in Woolton Park Walk last year, & have extended our range to the Land Tax for 1801, though we have made more use of Probate Records.
We need more studies of this kind all over Much and Little Woolton before we can understand the 19th century history of our area, but we are now sure this is a valid way of studying the people, the houses they chose to live in and the way they lived. If any readers can suggest new sources, please tell us!
John Dewsnap
Janet Gnosspelius
Joan Borrowscale
Sylvia Lewis
April 1988
The Notes were transcribed in 2011 from the original (1988) mimeographed typescript.
Please notify the Gateacre Society of any errors and omissions which may be found, so that
these can be recorded above for the benefit of future researchers.