An engraving of the Merchants’ Coffee House in 1882, “after the drawing made for Mr Joseph Mayer FSA” Copyright © Liverpool Central Library and Archives. This image appears on page 50 of the Bygone Liverpool book, “Liverpool’s Slave Gate”
On 27th February, Jim Kenny (who writes for ‘Bygone Liverpool’ under the name Glen Huntley) gave us a fascinating Zoom talk. He explained the origins of the pedimented gateway that stands in Halewood Road, within the perimeter fence of the Woodsome Park apartments – formerly the site of the Gateacre Hall Hotel.
The nickname ‘The Slave Gate’ arose because, right from the start, it was claimed to have been connected with Liverpool’s slave trade. Jim’s researches – outlined in our last Newsletter – have convincingly demonstrated that it was removed from the Merchants’ Coffee House in George’s Dock Gates (alongside St Nicholas’s churchyard) in 1883 when that building was demolished to allow the road to be widened.
In September 1883 an article in the Liverpool Mercury claimed that “the Merchants’ Coffee House must be for ever memorable in the wider history of the nation at large as being the place where the last African slave was sold in England”. A year later, a book entitled ‘Liverpool and Slavery: An Historical Account of the Liverpool African Slave Trade’ was published. Its author, using the pseudonym ‘A genuine Dicky Sam’, wrote that he ‘recollected’ an advertisement from the Liverpool Chronicle: “A fine negro boy, to be sold by auction. He is 11 years of age; the auction will take place at the Merchants’ Coffee House, Old Church Yard. Sale to commence at 7 o’clock, by candle light. By order of Mr Thomas Yates, who hath imported him from Bonny”. A later author, Gomer Williams, referred to the same advertisement in his book ‘History of the Liverpool Privateers and … Slave Trade’ (1897). He mentioned it alongside other slave auction advertisements from the period 1757-58.
The ‘Bygone Liverpool’ book – ‘Liverpool’s Slave Gate’ – co-authored by Jim Kenny, lists a number of similar advertisements from the 18th century, proving that slaves were regularly sold in Liverpool (at least until the celebrated ‘Somersett ruling’ of 1772). There was, however, no slave ‘market’. They would mostly have been ad hoc sales of ‘privilege’ slaves which had been given to ships’ officers by the vessel’s owner by way of thanks for a successful voyage. They were valued as house servants – and fashionable status symbols – by wealthy merchants.
What the ‘Bygone Liverpool’ team have discovered – but previous writers overlooked – is that the Merchants’ Coffee House was, between about 1720 and 1767, the name of an establishment in Dale Street. The building at George’s Dock Gates/Old Churchyard was, from its construction in 1756 until 1773, known as the Bath Coffee House, with a saltwater bath in the basement fed by the tidal waters of the River Mersey. The auctions of slaves, therefore, must have taken place at the Merchants’ Coffee House in Dale Street. Jim Kenny’s theory is that ‘Dicky Sam’ added the words ‘Old Church Yard’ to the alleged advertisement (the original of which has never been discovered) because the demolition of that building had recently been in the news.
Jim’s conclusions are summed up on page 81 of the book:
“The Gateacre gateway came from a coffee house that was built by a slave owner [James Bromfield] and frequented by slave owners, but its reputation as a location of slave auctions appears to owe more to association than to historical fact. There is, though, a strong possibility that slaves, and former slaves that had become servants, passed through the gate accompanying their ‘masters’. It is a remarkable survivor from 18th century Liverpool, of which far too few remain. It is, like the Bluecoat (funded by a slave merchant) a relic of the town in a period of its most rapid development, a development that benefited greatly from the slave trade”.
Update 2024! The Slave Gate – Missing jigsaw piece found!
We are pleased to inform you that Glen Huntley and Darren White, after being able to show the ‘Slave gate’ came from the Merchants’ Coffee House in Liverpool (demolished in 1883) came from its purported location. Although the evidence was overwhelming, they lacked the final piece of evidence to prove it 100%.
After publishing, they were contacted by a descendant of George Hunter Robertson, who owned the house that became the Gateacre Hall Hotel. They were convinced Robertson was the person who relocated the gateway. Along with other photos, he sent Glen and Darren some notes and a photo from 1883 when the gateway had just been installed in Gateacre…
This proves beyond a doubt that the structure is the front door of one of the most famous buildings in 18th century Liverpool.
Our research revealed that the gateway (actually a doorway) originated from the Merchants’ Coffee House. This was located next to the Old Churchyard of St. Nicholas’ church in Liverpool. The Merchants’ Coffee House was one of the most famous buildings in 18th century Liverpool (and incorrectly thought to be infamous due to its supposed role as place were enslaved Africans were sold).
The coffee house was demolished in 1883 and all traces of the building were assumed to have been destroyed. As very few 18th century buildings survive in Liverpool (the Town Hall and the Bluecoat), the discovery of this doorway is of great significance to the architectural history of the city.
Without any definitive proof that the gateway was then relocated to Gateacre, the book provides overwhelming evidence to support our theory that soon after the building was demolished, a cotton broker named George Hunter Robinson purchased the artefact and made it a feature of his house at The Nook in Gateacre.
After we published we were contacted by the Great Grandson of George Hunter Robertson. Charles Fergusson-Wood had some very exciting information for us:-
Fascinating. My great grandfather was George Hunter Robertson and I have some notes and photographs about this going back to about 1883 if you are interested.
Charles Fergusson-Wood
Interested? We couldn’t wait to see what information Charles had! Charles then sent us an email with the following message. It turned out that his photograph would provide the conclusive evidence we were looking for:
I attach a note I have written concerning the Robertsons and what I know about the “Slave Gates”. The Robertsons were a fascinating family and it amuses me to say that Robert the second of Scotland was my 16 times Great Grandfather. I also attach five photos which I hope you get. They will have to be looked at in conjunction with the above mentioned note.
I hope you enjoy this or at least find it interesting.
Charles Fergusson-Wood
The notes Charles shared with us (shown in full further down this post), included this information about the key photograph:
According to my father’s notes, GHR bought the Slave Gates at auction in 1883. I append a photograph of the gates taken about this time, showing, GHR proudly standing to one side and A.N. Other on the other side. It looks as if Gateacre Hall can be seen through the re-erected gates. There is another picture taken from inside the Gates. Incidentally, the 1871 census shows that the address was known as the Laurels, Nook Lane as mentioned as an alternative in the Society’s papers.
Charles Fergusson-Wood
The 1883 date of the photograph is of course the same year the Merchants’ Coffee House was demolished. This incredible photo was the confirmation we had searched for six years The building that can be seen through the gate is Robertson’s home. Later this became the Gateacre Hall Hotel. This was demolished to make way for the modern flats of Woodsome Park (circa 2003/2004).
Gateacre’s Slave Gate. Bought at Auction by George Hunter Robertson (left) 1883.
Copyright Charles Fergusson-Wood 2023
The so-called ‘Slave Gate’ in Gateacre.
Copyright Glen Huntley and Darren White, Bygone Liverpool
The doorway can be seen insitu on the Merchants’ Coffee House below. This watercolour by Edwin Beattie is one of two the artist painted just prior to demolition. This version was previously unpublished prior to our book.
A watercolour by Edwin Beattie showing the Merchants’ Coffee House from the Old Churchyard. Beattie painted this view twice, this version has not been published before. To the left is Stringer’s Alley/Prison Weint and to the right is George’s Dock. The figures to the right of the building are descending a staircase to the dockside. The paved flags in the foreground are actually gravestones. Image: ©Bonhams.
Notes and other photographs from Charles Fergusson-Wood
The Time Capsule that Charles mentions was made by Robertson’s and was discovered when the buildings were demolished. This would prove to be a unique piece of dating evidence as the boys gave very detailed descriptions of the houses in The Nook as they were in 1881. But critically, they gave no mention of the ‘Slave Gate’. This was a great help in proving that the gateway was not in Gateacre at the time the Merchants’ Coffee House was still standing. To learn more about the fascinating time capsule, here’s a video made by the Gateacre Society.
Background notes regarding George Hunter Robertson.
Born Bagatelle, Greenock 1836 Died Woodfield Hoole,
Chester 1912. The elder son of Dr James Hunter Robertson, (merchant banker turned psychiatrist of Bagatelle, Greenock now a care home (see internet “a mere bagatelle”). In turn, James Hunter Robertson was the youngest of 12 children of George Robertson who built the mansion on the corner of Ardgowan Square and Robertson Street, Greenock. The latter is still there (2023) as the Tontine Hotel.
GHR, as he was known, concerned himself with numerous commercial undertakings although devoted some time to charitable organisations. He was a member of the firm Finlay Robertson and co , cotton brokers (1865-1884), chairman of the London and Lancashire Fire Insurance Co, vice chairman of the Liverpool Overhead Railway, chairman of Peter Erickson and Co, director of the National Telephone Co Ltd and many more. He was also High Sheriff of Denbighshire.
His brother was Sir Helenus Robertson, (1841-1919), chairman of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.
Their ancestry can be traced back via the Isle of Bute to Robert 2nd of Scotland, Robert the Bruce and before.
Re The Time Capsules about which I knew nothing til now: The two boys mentioned as having made handwritten notes for the capsules were GHR’s sons, my grand uncles, George H Finlay Robertson (1866- 1946), stockbroker, JP, High Sheriff then aged 15 and James Robertson, then aged 11 who became rector of Babcary then St Paul’s Clifton, Bristol and Hon Canon of Bristol Cathedral.
According to my father’s notes, GHR bought the Slave Gates at auction in 1883. I append a photograph of the gates taken about this time, showing, GHR proudly standing to one side and A.N.Other on the other side. It looks as if Gateacre Hall can be seen through the re-erected gates. There is another picture taken from inside the Gates. Incidentally, the 1871 census shows that the address was known as the Laurels, Nook Lane as mentioned as an alternative in the Society’s papers.
According to my father’s notes, my great Aunt Constance Robertson was born at Gateacre Hall on 10 November 1871 (died 1963). The property was bought by GHR in circa 1870. They went to Southport about 1873, returned to Gateacre about 1880, left for Plas Newydd in March 1891 and sold Gateacre 1913 (after GHR had died in 1912). They had a number of residences, but I also append a photo of the magnificent Plas Newydd famous for “The ladies of Llangollen”
I include a photograph from 1883 of my great Aunty Barbara’s (1883-1983) christening, probably taken at Gateacre. This shows all 6 of GHR’s children (except Barbara!) including my grandmother Rubina Robertson (1876-1976), Helena (1874-1967) the other sister Constance Robertson (1872-1963). Also in the picture are GHR, GHFR and James (known as Hunter –both of the “Time Capsule” and my great grandmother Constance
(1844-1906). There was obviously an early game of tennis going on.
The final appended picture shows my great grandparents (GHR and Mrs GHR), my grandmother—Rubina Robertson and Barbara Robertson taken in Las Palmas in about 1900.
Charles Fergusson-Wood May 2023. Great grandson of George Hunter Robertson, 2023
Gateacre Hall. The Laurels, Nook Lane. GHR c.1870-March 1891
Copyright Charles Fergusson-Wood 2023
B.D.Robertson’s christening 1883. GHR 2nd from rght, back row. GHFR & Hunter, R.R &Helena. Also Dr Still.Copyright Charles Fergusson-Wood 2023
Rubina Robertson- CFW’s grandmother. Mrs GHR, GHR and BDR. Las PalmasCopyright Charles Fergusson-Wood 2023
Plas Newyd, Llangollen.
Copyright Charles Fergusson-Wood 2023
George Hunter Robertson.
Copyright Charles Fergusson-Wood 2023
Glen and Darren White would like to thank Charles Fergusson-Wood for sharing his incredible photographs and notes. Having feedback like this makes the years of hard work researching these posts worthwhile.
The book ‘Liverpool’s Slave Gate’, is available as a PDF download from bit.ly/LSG2023
Please note that, although the PDF is available free of charge, the web page includes a ‘BuyMeACoffee’ button enabling readers to make a voluntary donation towards the costs of the project.
Did an 18th century stone gateway in suburban Liverpool originate from a building where enslaved Africans were sold?
Bygone Liverpool have discovered the original building this structure came from, and tell its amazing history.
According to local legend, this old stone gateway in Gateacre originally belonged to an 18th century building in central Liverpool. Enslaved Africans supposedly passed through it to their place of auction, before being transported to the plantations in the West Indies.
When this building was demolished, the gateway was salvaged and relocated six miles away to the village of Gateacre. Later, this legend earned it the name of the Slave Gate. The Slave Gate has been permanently locked since it was erected in Gateacre. With that came the local story of a curse to anyone who did walk through it. In 1975 the gateway was awarded Grade II listed status.
The actual building the gateway came from was a complete mystery, until now. Our research shows it originated from one of the most famous buildings of 18th century Liverpool. We tell the fascinating history of this unique building, with high quality original illustrations, photographs, maps, and 3D reconstructions.
As the ‘Slave Gate’ story is a legend relating to the enslavement of Africans, the book continues Bygone Liverpool’s research into Liverpool’s shameful role in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. We also investigate some of the other oral traditions that appeared in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Slave Gate is an important relic of the town at the time of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. But was the associated story of auctions of enslaved Africans true?
About the authors
Bygone Liverpool is a collaboration of Darren White and Glen Huntley. We had worked together on individual projects prior, but it was the research into the Slave Gate where we decided to join forces and start this website.
This book is the result of over four year’s work, and thousands of hours of research. Inspiration for many of posts we have published since 2020 came from the in-depth research we undertook to discover the origin of the Slave Gate.
We began looking into the ‘Slave Gate’ of Gateacre back in 2017. A year later, we had discovered the location of the original building that the gateway belonged to. Proving that conclusively would take us several years more. As we delved deeper into the people and structures of Liverpool in the 18th century, we realized that the story was bigger than just one book. That’s how the Bygone Liverpool History Project was born.
For their assistance and support, we would like to thank (in alphabetical order):
Mike Chitty, David Hearn, Simon Newman, Mike Royden, Liz Stewart, Tony Tibbles, and Laurence Westgaph.
We would also like to thank our friend Ross Walsh, who told us about the existence of the Slave Gate in the first place.
After such a busy two years, we have decided to take a rest in 2023, but we still have several posts to publish in the future. You can follow us on WordPress so you don’t miss any news.
About the book
The book has 100 pages and features many rare images from Liverpool’s archives. Some have never been published before. Some images have only appeared on recent Bygone Liverpool posts.
A selection of some of the book’s pages can be seen below.
(C) Bygone Liverpool
We originally intended to publish our research as a printed book. These plans were delayed by the Covid 19 pandemic of 2020/21. Now, to enable a much wider audience, we have decided that a digital format would be better.
FREE to download
In these cash-strapped times, we decided that the book should be able to be downloaded for FREE. If you enjoy the book please leave a comment.
How to download
You can browse the book below. If you wish to download it, simply click on the button.
You are free to share the information within the book, but please credit the site and supply a link to this post.
Copyright notice:
Copyright of original archive images belongs to those named below the images. All original research, photographs taken by ourselves, illustrations, artists impressions, and archive images and maps that have notes added are all ©Bygone Liverpool. Permission to share is only granted if the site is credited and a link provided.