ROSE BROW

'Cobblers Shop' not shown on 1848 map; on stylistic grounds we suggest this was built c.1851 by Andrew Barclay Walker with High Victorian features - note: polychromatic slated roof, blocks in eaves cornice, rock faced sandstone walling. By analogy we suggest Cornelius Sherlock as architect - see Gateacre Grange; and that this was built as a smithy.

Rose Brow Cottages. Building shown here on 1813 map, and indeed an indication on Yates & Perry's map of 1768 that something was here then. Can it be that these are indeed a row of 5, or at least 4 (the South one is 'different') cottages surviving from the latter half of the C18 ? Inspection of the rear elevation hints that they are/were stone, so the present brick fronts may be a C19 rebuilding - if this is so they are an interesting contrast with York Cottages of mid C19, In the 1813 enclosure schedule there is a passing reference to 'Barrow's cottages' which might refer to these; in 1840 they belonged to Ashcroft.

'Grange Cottage' (Rose Brow) - so named in 1932 when Dr G.C. Mort the Coroner lived here. A stone carries the date "1787" and the initials "E.B." and a rainwater head carries the date "1837" so we have clues to two building dates. The elevation to the road is confused (even when seen from the top of a bus), but we may attribute the wide and low 8-paned sashes to an 1837 rebuilding and the low half-octagonal extension to the right of the front door is perhaps of the same date. But what of the oak front door -with a Queen Anne flavour, the polygonal porch and the gate in the wall to Rose Brow with a teasing strapwork pattern (echo of a stone in Childwall church ?) - can Dr Mort have added these with his new bathroom ? The North East side is equally confused, but again we may be able to suggest 1837 alterations, and place the 2-storey stone bay in period. In 1848 the house belonged to Miss Fanny Speakman (aged 67) who lived there with her unmarried sisters Betty, Sarah and Rachel - in 1825 'Speakman F.' is recorded as having one of the Academies in Little Woolton - here or elsewhere ?

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