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.

continued . . .