Liverpool

Liverpool. Source: Illustrated London News 1 (1842): 328. Click on image to enlarge it.

Liverpool, the first commercial city in the British empire, if not in the world, is situated on the north-west coast of England, and upon the northern shore of the river Mersey. Its range of extensive and magnificent docks excites the admiration of all stranger visitors, and, when coupled with the general appearance of the town, at once establishes its claim to being considered one of the finest cities in Europe.

Although Liverpool has attained this high standing amongst the towns of England, yet this eminence has only been acquired of late years. The etymology of the two first syllables of its name, Liver, or Lever, is derived from the fact of the district, part of which gives site to the town, being originally the possession of the family of Lever, whose pedigree and arms are noted in the Harlein Collection. The latter portion of the name, pool, is traced to the fact of this portion of Lancashire being formerly a marsh or pool. The derivation of Lever, as above, has been disputed; and some etymologists have advanced claims to this portion of the name being derived from Liver, the name of a bird which is said to have frequented this place. -.It also deserves the attention of the historian from being the residence of Roger de Poictiers, lord of the honour of Lancaster, who possessed a castle so early as 1076. This castle was dismantled in 1659, and remained in a dilapidated state till 1721, when it was finally demolished, and the church of St. George was erected on its site. In the two insurrections-in the north in the cause of the exiled Stuarts the inhabitants of the town, from its defenceless condition, were under serious apprehension for its safety; for, though a fort was constructed at its north-western extremity, it was inadequate to the security of a port of such rising consequence.

Its commerce extends to all parts of the known world, and the docks are continually crowded with British and foreign merchantmen trading between England and the European continent, the West Indies, America, Africa, and Asia. An immense traffic is also carried on here with Scotland and Ireland, in the interchange of goods, &c. Strangers are particularly struck with the number and immensity of the Liverpool Docks. They are reckoned the first known; and their magnitude corresponds with the importance of the town. Clarence Dock is the principal resort of steam-vessels of all sizes and from various parts. It was opened in 1830, and has a surface of 29,313 square yards.

It were needless, here, to enumerate particulars relative to the rapid extension of the commercial character of Liverpool; nor is it necessary that we should enter into full details relative to the rapid growth of the town—we may cite one proof:—In St. Martin’s district alone (which is a strip of land lying between New Scotland-road and, the canal, bounded on the south by Burlington-street, and on the north by Boundary-street), there have been 300 houses built within the last fifteen months, containing, upon the most moderate computation, 2100 souls; and it is calculated that 300 houses more will be built-in the course of another year. The total population of the district at present is 10,000. In five or six years this will probably be doubled; and, when the whole-space is covered with buildings, there will be not less than 40,000 inhabitants, all of the working classes.

The houses of Liverpool are constructed both of brick and stone,, and many of them are very spacious; perhaps no other town in England has received greater improvement, during the past half century, than has been conferred upon'Liverpool. Before that period the streets were narrow and inconvenient, and the houses were devoid of all claim to architectural beauty; but the alterations of late years give the town an air of elegance and commodiousness not to be met with in any of our English seaport towns. This alteration has been produced by the exertions of the corporation, in whom is vested the proprietary of a great proportion of the houses. As the leases of these have progressively worn out, they have been re-let only on condition of expending certain sums necessary for their embellishment. The appearance of the tovrn is enriched with a great number of beautiful churches and other public buildings, markets, arcade, cemetery, &c. &c. The value of bonded property in the port cannot be valued at less than two millions sterling. The borough sends two members to Parliament.

[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the Hathi Trust and the University of Michigan and (2) link your document to this URL. — George P. Landow]

Bibliography

“Liverpool.” Illustrated London News. 1 (1842): 328. HathiTrust online version of a copy in the University of Michigan Library. Web. 24 September 2022.


Created 24 September 2022