View Full Version : Liverpool Prefab Houses
1) Huts at an old Army Camp, Knotty Ash. Junction of Queens Drive and Prescot Road.
They were built to accommodate the American Troops during WW1. Purchased afterwards by Liverpool Corp to house families during the post war shortage.
2) Gillmoss prefabs were built to accommodate families that had been bombed during the war.
3) and 4) Bellevale prefabs.
Courtesy: LRO.
lindylou
10-05-2008, 09:06 AM
There were a few on Lowerbreck rd L6.
when I was a kid I remember when they were standing derelict. We used to take a bottle of lemmo and some butties and go inside and play house :)
The kids then didn't dream of smashing places up.
There arn't many pics of prefabs around. Would be great to find some pics of those u mention LL
Spike
10-05-2008, 10:58 AM
I just remember the Belle Vale Prefabs, i remember people in the area talking about how they missed them.
look here Belle Vale Prefab Project - About Us (http://www.bellevaleprefabs.com/about_us.php)
shows what it meant to them.
Belle Vale's prefab site was the largest in the country (I seem to remember reading somewhere)
There were also some in Croft Street and Commercial Road (on my site b&w photos page) and also some in Silvester st and Prince Edwin street.
GNASHER
10-05-2008, 02:01 PM
There was a lot on Shiel Park
burkhilly
10-05-2008, 07:41 PM
I vaguely remember prefabs on a site opposite the Royal Hospital. I was very young at the time, and recall thinking "people live there!!!".
ItsaZappathing
10-05-2008, 08:21 PM
There was Prefabs on Townsend Ave by Broadway barracks. My brother used to do the window cleaning round on them. I have tried to find pics of them but have not been successful. It would be great to see them.:PDT11
taffy
10-05-2008, 08:23 PM
There were prefabs on Garston Park, alongside Long Lane.
Mark R
10-05-2008, 08:40 PM
There were prefabs on the field by Lister Drive (opposite the Fisheries)
kevin
10-06-2008, 07:53 AM
There were quite a lot of prefabs in Speke - the end nearest were the airport originally was. We lived in one in Dymchurch Road from 1955 to 1961.
I vaguely remember prefabs on a site opposite the Royal Hospital. I was very young at the time, and recall thinking "people live there!!!".
These were the ones in the now abolished Croft Street I mentioned earlier. There is a booklet on the Belle Vale prefabs in News from Nowhere showing plenty of pics.
Mark R
10-06-2008, 10:47 AM
Was it prefabs that were opposite the Royal years ago? I thought I remember seeing caravans there sometime in the 1970's...But maybe it was prefabs.
lindylou
10-06-2008, 11:12 AM
Was it prefabs that were opposite the Royal years ago? I thought I remember seeing caravans there sometime in the 1970's...But maybe it was prefabs.
There were some caravans located somewhere around the Everton brow area. After all the streets were demolished travellers moved in.
This would probably be around late 1960s early 70s.
Does anyone remember ?
Sorry, not that old :)
Deffo prefabs in Croft st facing the then new ozzy.
Howie
10-06-2008, 01:33 PM
There were some caravans located somewhere around the Everton brow area. After all the streets were demolished travellers moved in.
This would probably be around late 1960s early 70s.
Does anyone remember ?
The travellers were on the right side of Shaw Street as you approached Everton Brow - about 300 of them if I remember rightly. It was the late sixties/early seventies.
lindylou
10-06-2008, 02:46 PM
Sorry, not that old :)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/rubinda/avatars/0ad34413.gif
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/rubinda/avatars/b22e6273.gif :D
lindylou
10-06-2008, 02:47 PM
The travellers were on the right side of Shaw Street as you approached Everton Brow - about 300 of them if I remember rightly. It was the late sixties/early seventies.
Yes that's right.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/rubinda/avatars/0ad34413.gif
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y249/rubinda/avatars/b22e6273.gif :D
Which one's you Lindy :034:
gregs dad
10-06-2008, 03:36 PM
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/148/437656233_3f5bcc135a_o.jpg
Here is one of my old pics of prefabs in Prince Edwin St
Yes that's a great pic GD, one of my all time faves because we used to cut across that oller and through those old landing houses (where my nan and uncle lived) and through amongst the prefabs on our way to St. Gregs school which is just being built there across Prinny Eddy. The prefabs were empty and approaching dereliction by then though, it would have been approx 1973/74. I don't think these ones lasted much after that.
Waterways
10-06-2008, 05:30 PM
The travellers were on the right side of Shaw Street as you approached Everton Brow - about 300 of them if I remember rightly. It was the late sixties/early seventies.
I recall the trouble around there with them too. They were all over from Ireland in their caravans. They must have been quite dumb to have setup camp there as all there was was trouble most nights. No one sane would live like that.
The council/police got rid of them in one swoop. They had trucks and cranes in convoys with big square logs on them and large tow trucks. They were told to get off the land. Those who never were dragged off by the tow trucks and the area had the large logs all around to prevent them getting back on.
They should have taken them to the Irish ferry and sent them back.
hmtmaj
10-06-2008, 08:49 PM
Was it prefabs that were opposite the Royal years ago? I thought I remember seeing caravans there sometime in the 1970's...But maybe it was prefabs.
I remember the caravans being there, when they cleared the old prefabs away.
I had put up a screenshot from a video months ago, which included a shot of them. Not great quality but it was from a film from the 50's :rolleyes:
here is the link:
prefabs low hill on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24059077@N07/2285047345/in/set-72157603969061109/)
lindylou
10-06-2008, 11:06 PM
I remember the caravans being there, when they cleared the old prefabs away.
I had put up a screenshot from a video months ago, which included a shot of them. Not great quality but it was from a film from the 50's :rolleyes:
here is the link:
prefabs low hill on Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24059077@N07/2285047345/in/set-72157603969061109/)
This has jogged my memory - - I think I do recall some prefabs on the opposite side to where the Royal is. Were they still there late 1960's ?
kevin
10-07-2008, 08:21 AM
This has jogged my memory - - I think I do recall some prefabs on the opposite side to where the Royal is. Were they still there late 1960's ?
Don't know if they were still there then but remember them from a few years earlier - often passed them on the bus into town when leaving my grandmother's in kensington.
GNASHER
11-10-2008, 08:18 PM
Here are 4 'high rise'.on top of the old Tomkinson building in Gt Newton St.
ItsaZappathing
11-10-2008, 08:24 PM
Wow,cracker pic Gnasher :handclap:. Looks well out of place.
I am looking for a pic of the prefabs that where on Townsend Ave near the army barracks. No luck yet.
GNASHER
11-10-2008, 08:39 PM
Thanks,it was taken from here.
ItsaZappathing
11-10-2008, 09:01 PM
:PDT_Xtremez_42: WOW!!
Norm NZ
11-11-2008, 12:53 AM
Here are 4 'high rise'.on top of the old Tomkinson building in Gt Newton St.
Nice Pic! but not 'Prefabs' as we know them! These are 'Porto-Cabins'!!
Cadfael
12-08-2009, 07:30 PM
Down in Cardiff over the weekend, I visited the excellent St Fagan's Open Air Museum in which there are many old houses and buildings reconstructed to show how the people of Wales lived from the 1700's onwards.
A few pictures of the prefab that was constructed:
11843
11844
11845
11846
ChrisGeorge
12-08-2009, 08:21 PM
Very fine, Cadfael! :handclap:
Chris :PDT_Aliboronz_24:
ChrisGeorge
12-08-2009, 08:23 PM
PS I didn't know they had named a saint after Ged Fagan. :PDT_Aliboronz_24:
ItsaZappathing
12-08-2009, 08:53 PM
PS I didn't know they had named a saint after Ged Fagan. :PDT_Aliboronz_24:
Nice one Cad:PDT11
A saint, after Ged ? No way.A devilish imp maybe:PDT_Xtremez_42:
Ha ha. I was actually named after St. Gerard. The patron saint of pregnant women believe it or not.
GNASHER
12-08-2009, 11:50 PM
Nice Pic! but not 'Prefabs' as we know them! These are 'Porto-Cabins'!!
No,they are prefabs,Mk.II 1960s I think.Have a look at gregs dads pic in post No.20.
Mk I's were late '40s made of asbestos,see cadfaels pic.There was an estate of them on Shiel Park.The 'town' lane of West Derby Rd from Shiel Rd to opp Norwood Grove was built where they where.
George
12-09-2009, 01:23 AM
There arn't many pics of prefabs around. Would be great to find some pics of those u mention LL
Prefabs adorn a quarter of the lower end of Princess drive at the begining of Mab Lane.
GNASHER
12-09-2009, 07:03 AM
The last time I saw any being lived in was about 8/9 years ago.That was in Malvern Ave,Ellesmere Port,they were the asbestos type.
baloffski
12-09-2009, 12:37 PM
I don't remember them being up, but remember playing in the demolished wreckage of prefabs in Dovecot. They were off Finch Lane and backed onto what I think was the Liverpool Corpy Bus playing fields. I doubt I would have been so keen on looking for woodlice under the boards if I knew then what I know now about the dangers of asbestos!!
The Imperial War Museum at Duxford has a preserved Prefab on display and I think there is one in Wales somewhere
Norm NZ
12-09-2009, 09:08 PM
No,they are prefabs,Mk.II 1960s I think.Have a look at gregs dads pic in post No.20.
Mk I's were late '40s made of asbestos,see cadfaels pic.There was an estate of them on Shiel Park.The 'town' lane of West Derby Rd from Shiel Rd to opp Norwood Grove was built where they where.
OK! BUT to me, Pre-Fabs are the ones built in the 1940/50s, they had chimney's to service the solid fuel burners (which had doors) that were installed. The pic that you showed looked more like the Porto- Cabins that we see many of these days! I guess the words 'Pre-Fab' does apply to lots of structures, but to me I prefare the old ex-war type.:PDT_Aliboronz_11:
gerry_2
12-09-2009, 11:01 PM
I don't remember them being up, but remember playing in the demolished wreckage of prefabs in Dovecot. They were off Finch Lane and backed onto what I think was the Liverpool Corpy Bus playing fields. I doubt I would have been so keen on looking for woodlice under the boards if I knew then what I know now about the dangers of asbestos!!
The Imperial War Museum at Duxford has a preserved Prefab on display and I think there is one in Wales somewhere
I remember thoes prefabs being built. They where built on what we called the Gypsy Field in the late 40s. It was quite a big estate, built around the Corpy Bus sports ground, and borderd by East Prescot rd, Lordens rd, and Finch Lane. In thoes days they where of a ultra modern interior with a builtin allnight coal stove and a fridge. A lot of people didnt want them demolished, as they where quite happy to stay in them.
GNASHER
12-09-2009, 11:32 PM
A mate of one of my brothers lived in one on that estate.
Tom"O"
12-10-2009, 04:01 PM
I remember prefabs early 1950s between Kingsley Rd and Alt St, Tiber St end
Tom"O"
hmtmaj
12-10-2009, 06:06 PM
From the LRO
1) Stanley Road - Hermia Street Date 01/07/1950 Description A photograph of Stanley Road and Hermia Street. There are prefabricated houses in the photograph and some children on the street
2) Children's Playground, Lineside Road - Belle Vale Date 20/04/1954 Description A photograph of a children's playground on Lineside Road and Belle Vale. A number of children are playing there. There are prefab houses behind the playground
3) Panorama from 'Coronation Court' Roof - View 3 Date 06/05/1957 Description A panoramic view from the roof of the Sparrow Hall multi-storey flats looking towards East Lancashire Road and Lower House Lane roundabout. An estate of prefab housing is visible on the left and West Derby Cemetery is to the right of this.
az_gila
12-10-2009, 07:23 PM
I seem to remember that the pre-fabs on Garston Park (Long Lane side) had a flat roof, like the ones in the first thumbnail.
They were still there in the 60's, a single row along the edge of the park.
From the LRO
1) Stanley Road - Hermia Street Date 01/07/1950 Description A photograph of Stanley Road and Hermia Street. There are prefabricated houses in the photograph and some children on the street
2) Children's Playground, Lineside Road - Belle Vale Date 20/04/1954 Description A photograph of a children's playground on Lineside Road and Belle Vale. A number of children are playing there. There are prefab houses behind the playground
3) Panorama from 'Coronation Court' Roof - View 3 Date 06/05/1957 Description A panoramic view from the roof of the Sparrow Hall multi-storey flats looking towards East Lancashire Road and Lower House Lane roundabout. An estate of prefab housing is visible on the left and West Derby Cemetery is to the right of this.
M6AJJ
12-10-2009, 09:41 PM
Dead right, they were still there in the 60's. Would anybody have a photo of them?
kevin
12-11-2009, 08:29 AM
I seem to remember that the pre-fabs on Garston Park (Long Lane side) had a flat roof, like the ones in the first thumbnail.
They were still there in the 60's, a single row along the edge of the park.
Remember them well. We used to play cricket or football most nights in that park, when I was in my early teens.
az_gila
12-11-2009, 03:02 PM
Remember them well. We used to play cricket or football most nights in that park, when I was in my early teens.
...from Duncombe Rd. primary school were at the park, so we were there weekly.
Also used to play evenings and weekends there, and fly chuck gliders and even Jetex planes, but in the late 50's it wasn't a place to be after dark...:disgust:
The local Nov. 5th bonfire/fireworks was also there, as well as the occasional fair.
Partsky
12-11-2009, 07:28 PM
There was a small estate of prefabs on Longmoor Lane, Fazakerley, on the site of what is now the Somerfield. My friend lived in them unti the 60s. I thought they were great but she was ashamed of living there as she got stick at school for it. Anyone got any pics of them? I would love to see them. Years later, I found out that my Father in Law lived in one in Tinklepeg Lane (I am not making this up) in Kirkby, in between the Imperial Metals site and Knowsley Village although he always said he lived in a bungalow. Again, I gather he was teased because of it. God knows why. Where I live in Lydiate we have a small estate off the Southport Road called Seafore Close. They look like two storied hybrid prefabs. Local legend is they were built by either English Electric or Courtaulds for their workers. Hard to get a mortgage on them though.
I seem to remember that the pre-fabs on Garston Park (Long Lane side) had a flat roof, like the ones in the first thumbnail.
They were still there in the 60's, a single row along the edge of the park.
I lived in the Long Lane prefabs (number 33) from 1953 (Coronation Year) until 1963 when they were demolished. it was great living the with the Park as an extended back- garden.
They were great little buildings with fitted kitchens, fridge multi-fuel burning stove, fitted cupboards in living room, hall, bedrooms and bathroom which also included a heated towel rail and partial central heating with heat from the burner. A large airing cupboard, and an immersion heater, front and back gardens, and even a pre-cast garden shed. The whole place was luxury. Buses past the door every 6 minutes, railway station 5 minutes away. Shops at the end of the road and in the village. Garston Park was a kids wonderland, footie, cricket, hide and seek, Punch and Judy in the summer, and a swing park with a "jerker" Been to the beam many times. Happy days, never a dull moment with magnetic football, cluedo and monopoly, didn't need an X-box. Then in 1963 moved to Halewood in an upstairs maisonette, "Enough said"
Many thanks to Ged and Norm, I'm happy you liked the info about the Long Lane prefabs.
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