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Draft Chapter 2 - Liverpool pre-1800

29/3/2016

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The story of Abercromby Square as we know it starts twenty years before the first brick was laid. But the story of the importance of the land it stands on goes back two hundred years, and maybe further. I don’t want to overstate the case, but the Moss Lake was actually vital for the growth, and even creation of Liverpool as a thriving port.
 
I said I didn’t want to overstate the case. I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it! But there is an element of truth in the claim, and for all we can definitively know today, it could well be true to say that Liverpool in its shape and size in 1800 arose in part because of the Moss lake. And it goes back to the Moore and Molyneux family feuds in the 1600s.

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At the time Liverpool itself was a small town, only seven streets ( depending how you count them), and none of the artificial docks had yet been built. The natural inlet next to the castle, where Liverpool One and the police station reside now, was known as the ‘sea lake’, the harbour.  This lead to ‘the pool’, the river leading up the current Paradise Street and Whitechapel, crossed by ferry or latterly bridge, and where ships were originally built. And this was the southern edge of the town.
 
Beyond this was the Great Heath ( or Great Common) stretching out past the boundary wall ( where we find Parliament Street now) into the separate settlements of Toxteth Park, run by the Molyneauxs.
 
If you follow the wandering path of the stream inland, it winds around the North side of Lime Street, through Eastham Mill, up parallel to London Road, crossing by the current hospital into the edge of Moss Lake Fields, then still known variously as West Derby fen and Esmedune Moss.  Here, the Moss Lake fed fresh water downhill all the way to the Mersey and the sea. But that’s only half the story.
 
I should add at this point that the Moss-Lake brook wasn’t the only stream to run down into the Sea Lake. Over time there has been a combination of four water courses which combined at the head of the ‘Pool, but in the earliest stages the fastest running, and the primary source of powering the water mill came from the Moss lake, so for simplicity I’ll leave the explanation of the others to more general Liverpool history sites and books, of which there are many.

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Water Course

28/3/2016

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In preparation for my Liverpool History Society talk in May I walked the route to the venue today, so I know where it is, and despite the fact I'm referred to as Chris Williamson on their programme. I forgive them though, as they're lovely and provide great resources for local historians.

Anyhoo, the reason I mention it is that I took a slightly circuitous route, following the path of the Moss Lake brook from its rising point by the end of Myrtle Street down past London Road and down into the old 'pool itself.

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My reason? I'm revising my long promised second chapter on Liverpool pre-1800 to start posting to you and wanted to walk to the route to check it out so I get details right, and because I find it interesting to follow the contours and hollows of land still visible today, which shaped our streets and city. It was fun :-)

What do you mean 'I should get out more', you cheeky sod!

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Easter break

24/3/2016

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Before I go, those able to come to my talk will be able to see the lovely shiny new map update of done of all 34 houses on the square ( yes there were 34!). I may post on here too but without the context of how and when numbers changed it may not help you much. You'll just have to come to the talk to hear the explanation.

Yes, that's what we call teaser marketing :-)

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So...

22/3/2016

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Picture
Found a few more photos for my talk and think I'll add in a little about restoration. The photo above shows a paint test we did during the refurbishment. The bright square you can see is the colour the the ceiling of number 19 should be! The difference is quite remarkable, but it would sadly cost a fortune to restore as the only way is manually cleaning and restoring inch by inch.

I'm thinking in the absence of shouts otherwise I'll skip the civil war connections in the main, as I've covered those elsewhere, and concentrate more on the names people might not know so much about.



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Talk update

21/3/2016

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Okay then, can't say I didn't give you the chance so don't blame me if I don't talk about the bits you're interested in ;)

I shall start by gathering together some lovely images and start the talk with James Newlands, as he's the one that first inspired me. Then I'm going to talk about railways. And plantations. And painters. And a bloke with a weird name called Augustus Lemonius. So there! :-)

oh, and possibly plants. And gas.

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Society Talk

20/3/2016

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No preferences?  Aww go on, e-mail me and suggest something. You know you want to. Its lonely here in cyber space...
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Come and see little 'ole me

17/3/2016

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So, details confirmed now for my talk to Liverpool History Society on 15th May on the History of Abercromby square so have gathered a few materials and photos already, but the question is, what to include?

Obviously the history of the Square is huge, as you might tell from this blog, and some parts of are obvious in terms of the building, the general influence and a few key figures ( Chavasse, Newlands, Booth, Gladstone) but what else to focus on, as I'll only have an hour or so. So I thought I'd turn to my trusty readership...

Are there any occupants of the Square you'd like me to talk about, or any areas to focus on. The influence on Medicine is one link, slavery is another ( not just American civil war but plantations and trade with India and China), the interiors of the houses, the Liverpool to Manchester Railway, deaths ( and murders) in the square, St Catherine's Church, artists patronage ( Whistler, Stubbs etc), the later University years, politics, life below stairs, the layout of the houses.

I thought I'd throw open a call to see if there's any particular aspect those reading the blog might like to hear more about. Thoughts?

Or, as a new challenge to myself, I could randomly pick a few names of occupant families and let you lot pick one for me to talk about?

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