A great urban myth......we were always told as kids that there's a full horse up there of which only the head juts out.....

Someone please tell me it's true!

A great urban myth......we were always told as kids that there's a full horse up there of which only the head juts out.....

Someone please tell me it's true!


It's a bust of a horse's head to indicate that the premises were stables.
If it was a real horse's head.........
OMG, do I have to go on?

Hahahaha!!

I MEAN, that there's a full STATUE of the soddin thing up there. We didn't think there was an actual rotting horse up there lad!!

Hahahaha!!

I MEAN, that there's a full STATUE of the soddin thing up there. We didn't think there was an actual rotting horse up there lad!!

No, there's only a head.
If it's a decent day tomorrow, I'll take a photo & put it in the "Some Liverpool Cinemas" thread.

how do you know it's only a head though? Could be true the horse-in-attic thing..??

I shot loads of film of my favourite Liverpool places a couple of years back and that horse is on it. The film's a bit of an ongoing project of mine..I must get back to it. Also shot a Super8 in 92' down the Dock Road (featuring the 3 chimneys) which I've managed to graft into it.

Anyway I've got some great shots from the stills I should maybe publish...

Is it similar to the Lodge Lane example that has recently been restored?

http://static.flickr.com/77/166553476_c4494d1457.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/166553476/)
Shop front restored without the artwork.

No, there's only a head.
If it's a decent day tomorrow, I'll take a photo & put it in the "Some Liverpool Cinemas" thread.

Thanks Philip!
It's weird, we were only discussing it last night about this cinema!

No, there's only a head.
If it's a decent day tomorrow, I'll take a photo & put it in the "Some Liverpool Cinemas" thread.

Thank you, Philip. When I rode on the top deck of the bus as a lad, I would always look out for the horse's head. Did not know the place had been a cinema.

Chris

how do you know it's only a head though? Could be true the horse-in-attic thing..??

I shot loads of film of my favourite Liverpool places a couple of years back and that horse is on it. The film's a bit of an ongoing project of mine..I must get back to it. Also shot a Super8 in 92' down the Dock Road (featuring the 3 chimneys) which I've managed to graft into it.

Anyway I've got some great shots from the stills I should maybe publish...


Yes please!

Where is this place on Smithdown?

Never seen no Horse head down here?

max it is between Ullet Rd, and the railway bridge. I think gressford Ave. is opposite but I can't be sure.:037:

Where is this place on Smithdown?

Never seen no Horse head down here?

As I recall it's on the north side of Smithdown Road near the junction of Smithy and Ullet Roads.

Chris

Gressford Ave well away from the Bridge end.

Could be one of the restuarants?

I'm thinking it might be the old do it yourself shop or next door to it.

It is the DIY shop. Has been that for over 50 years.

I've taken some snaps today.
I'll post them a bit later.
In the "Some Liverpool Cinemas" thread

It is the DIY shop. Has been that for over 50 years.

DIY is evil.:eek:

Horse Head July 2006
http://static.flickr.com/122/298442953_c9d6b9a839.jpg

Horse Head July 2006
http://static.flickr.com/122/298442953_c9d6b9a839.jpg

Thank you.
That's really great.
The zoom on my Box Brownie is cr*p.
They must have restored the head now, because it looks in beautiful condition.
It's just begging for another close up. Hint, hint. :)

oohh great pic! :celb (23):

Excellent pic, Marky! Many thanks.

Chris

Yer the only premises on Sm Rd with a horses head on it is a small DIY shop

It's actually being repainted at this moment if where talking about the same location

It's actually being repainted at this moment if where talking about the same location

Yes, that's the one.

Hello GhostSearch and Teardrop

It occurs to me that you may not be aware of the excellent pictures of the horses' head DIY shop and former Sefton cinema that are being posted in the Some Liverpool Cinemas (http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2333&page=3&highlight=horse) thread by Philip G. and Marky.

Chris

Hello GhostSearch and Teardrop

It occurs to me that you may not be aware of the excellent pictures of the horses' head DIY shop and former Sefton cinema that are being posted in the Some Liverpool Cinemas (http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2333&page=3&highlight=horse) thread by Philip G. and Marky.

Chris
Chris, did you read the post I sent on page 1 of Liverpool Cinemas? What a coincidence meeting up with Ambler. It was meant for Philip, but he never replied back.

Chris, did you read the post I sent on page 1 of Liverpool Cinemas? What a coincidence meeting up with Ambler. It was meant for Philip, but he never replied back.

Very interesting. Thank you, Dave. :)

Chris

Chris, did you read the post I sent on page 1 of Liverpool Cinemas? What a coincidence meeting up with Ambler. It was meant for Philip, but he never replied back.

Pardon, Dave?

Do you mean this?

"Philip, do you have any pics of the Paladium, Hippodrome and Majestic? They were my local cinemas as a kid living in Hughes St, L6."

It must have been my twin who posted pictures of those 3 cinemas.

If you're taliking about the Curzon post, I responded to that.




__________________

I'll have to wait for brighter weather to capture a straight-on view. Something I noticed when blowing a pic up is the word 'valentine' inscribed on the wall to one side of the horses' head.

I'll have to wait for brighter weather to capture a straight-on view. Something I noticed when blowing a pic up is the word 'valentine' inscribed on the wall to one side of the horses' head.

A great picture, Marky.
Could Valentine be the horse's name?

I've just done a Google
http://www.mischiefblue.co.uk/grandnational.html
and found this:

Fences: 9 & 25 VALENTINE'S BROOK
Height: 5ft
There's nothing romantic about Valentine's. The fence precedes a traversing road and is a slightly smaller version Becher's, offering a drop on the landing side. The fence was named after Irish jockey Alan Power's steed Valentine in 1840, who pulled up at the fence before spectacularly clearing it from a stationary position.

I thought the name might be the horse or even the sculptor. The name 'valentine' has probably remained hidden under the plaster/paint for many years. A bust of a Grand National horse would be quite a find, and of interest to the races' historians. I couldn't even guess why it it would be there so long after the famous Grand National incident, unless of course the original owner of the building just happened to have a horse called valentine. It'd be great to find out the facts.

The Old Slaughter House, Garston. I've never noticed the heads of Livestock before but I'm hooked :PDT_Piratz_26:. Where are the others located? There must be hundreds around the city.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/137/330925487_a0fba7c062.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/330925487/)

Great pic, Kev, of the ram on the Slaughter House, Garston. Also in that neck of the woods, there is a lion head at the main entrance to Allerton Hall. There is a drawing of it on the half title page of Buildings of Liverpool, by the Liverpool Heritage Bureau, 1978. I'll post full details of the book in the books thread. :celb (23):

Great pic, Kev, of the ram on the Slaughter House, Garston. Also in that neck of the woods, there is a lion head at the main entrance to Allerton Hall. There is a drawing of it on the half title page of Buildings of Liverpool, by the Liverpool Heritage Bureau, 1978. I'll post full details of the book in the books thread. :celb (23):

This one?

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/63/228181416_5cea79c8dd.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijob/228181416/)

That's it! Good work, Kev. Also the elephant head at The Elephant pub in Woolton which I assume is still there. . . I think but am not totally certain there may be an elephant head on the frieze round the Town Hall which includes representations of Africans, etc.

Chris

27 Holmefield Road.

This is (arguably) the oldest house in Aigburth.
(Apart from Stanlawe Grange which was built as a barn.)

It was built some time in the 18th century.
Commonly described as a hunting lodge (which is just a supposition), it was decorated with sculpted animal heads in Victorian times.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/186/388341828_6a3d4c35db_o.jpg

You can have one of All Saints Childwall church tower - these gargoyles are 47ft up from the ground!

Aw man, the topic is for animal heads around Liverpool, not crazy monsters!
My art lecturer would go ape hearing you call them 'gargoyles' if they don't have a water spout.
Minus a spout they're a 'grotesque'.

Back on topic, there's a rubbish (possibly plastic) rhino head above a shop on West Derby Road near the Bellmont pub.
It's not really something worth looking at, but it makes me laugh as its so cack.
:020:

Is it that junk shop by the post office? It sells all kinds. :) :)

I think your right Lindy, it also has a Native American Cheif plastic statue outside it when the shop is open.

Nope it's not Aladdin's Cave. I'm not sure what shop it is, but it's just past E.H. Roberts undertakers.

Just thought of the pair of snarling lions on the massive doors of an old bank building on Water Street. Quite an unusual design.
:020:

Just thought of the pair of snarling lions on the massive doors of an old bank building on Water Street. Quite an unusual design.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/157/390350562_04c931c3ed_o.jpg

27 Holmefield Road.

This is (arguably) the oldest house in Aigburth.
(Apart from Stanlawe Grange which was built as a barn.)

It was built some time in the 18th century.
Commonly described as a hunting lodge (which is just a supposition), it was decorated with sculpted animal heads in Victorian times.
]

A photo taken in 2003. I have the building as the hunting lodge for the Oaklands estate which belonged at one time (1830s or so) to the Harrison family who are buried in St Michael in the Hamlet, Toxteth Park, graveyard. They owned the fishing and hunting rights along the Aigburth stretch of the River Mersey.

A few more photos taken in 2003. I have the building as the hunting lodge for the Oaklands estate which belonged at one time (1830s or so) to the Harrison family who are buried in St Michael in the Hamlet, Toxteth Park, graveyard. They owned the fishing and hunting rights along the Aigburth stretch of the River Mersey.

Thanks for the photos.

It was the lodge for either Oaklands or Holmefield (the house), but is actually older than both those buildings.
The arms are of the Harrison family (shipping - was it the Blue Funnel line?).
The knight (?) is on a turtle.
I knew Mrs Roberts who lived there, but the early history of the house isn't known.
It is certainly older than the other mansions which were built in the 1830s.
The oak tree is ancient.

It has a commanding view down Holmefield Road, and the river would have been visible before the properties on Aigburth Road were built.
There is a boundary down the middle of Holmefield Road, and I wonder if perhaps it was some sort of toll bar.

Mrs Roberts said Nicholas Monsarratt lived there at some stage (1940s/1950s?)
His family lived in the area (possibly Holmefield?).

I keep meaning to do more research.

That's Wisteria on the first photo, and it always bloomed, but the Russian Vine on the other side was a b*gger, and I was forever cutting it back! :eek:
Your photos would have been taken after Mrs R. died, which explains why the Wisteria is so overgrown.
Mrs Roberts was the widow of Alex Roberts who taught John Lennon at Quarry Bank.
She was the School secretary at Wellington Road, and was there when Billy Fury went there.

27 Holmefield Road.

This is (arguably) the oldest house in Aigburth.
(Apart from Stanlawe Grange which was built as a barn.)

It was built some time in the 18th century.
Commonly described as a hunting lodge (which is just a supposition), it was decorated with sculpted animal heads in Victorian times.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/186/388341828_6a3d4c35db_o.jpg

brilliant pic philip
this really reminds me of the diy shop in smithdown road that used to be a cinema...

They're the ones. Cheers PhilipG.

They look like they belong in the Conan movie.

:020:

Rhino...I think it's still Rocky Lane at this point.

Great pics, Marky, Taffy, and PhilipG! Also great to learn more about the so-called Hunting Lodge in Holmefield Road, of which I have pleasant memories and a colour pic of my own taken in the Sixties that I will try to post sometime when I get it scanned.

Chris

Seems like the Elephant's Head pub in Woolton has gone for a Burton.....

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/echonews/tm_headline=what-have-you-done-with-our-elephant%2D%26method=full%26objectid=18728427%26si teid=50061-name_page.html

Seems like the Elephant's Head pub in Woolton has gone for a Burton.....


http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/liverpoolecho/news/echonews/tm_headline=what-have-you-done-with-our-elephant%2D%26method=full%26objectid=18728427%26si teid=50061-name_page.html

Yep it looks like the place will be renamed but the actual elephant's head looks will be restored and put back up. Quoting from that article:

"But a spokeswoman for new owners, the Korova group, today denied the famous statue had been damaged or destroyed.

She said: “The elephant head wasn’t sledge-hammered off, it was taken down.

“It was a bit rickety and it will be restored and put back up. The whole place is being restored.

“The name will change, but the new name hasn’t been confirmed yet.”

I wonder how the claim could be made that the head was "sledge-hammered off" when it wasn't!!!

Chris

Several of these carved Lions' heads under the windows at the Cunard Building

Two lions heads on the somewhat battered door of the old Wavertree Town Hall

Thanks, Taffy. Both pics are great to see.

Chris

Heres whats replaced the Elephant Head.:Smiliz_Kingz_PDT_13

http://casadelcocodrilo.com/

Brownlow Hill:

2769

There is another one further up but it's virtually impossible to take a picture of now that they're put railings up.

Spotted on Drury House office building

Built as stables, but was a cinema from 1909 to 1929.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/195/491028920_f237f6b7ea_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/190/491028914_c11c8aad11_o.jpg

And the Head Is In my homeland too.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

Been there many times for DIY materials.:eek:

So was the old Brook House on that site before the stables?

And the Head Is In my homeland too.:PDT_Aliboronz_24:

Been there many times for DIY materials.:eek:

So was the old Brook House on that site before the stables?

No, it was the Town side of Lidderdale Road, set back from Smithdown Road. (before Lidderdale Road was built).

Wavertree had two towns eh, cool.

Wavertree had two towns eh, cool.

Max, there are times when I don't understand what you're saying.
When I've got the time, I'll scan the map and post it in the Old Brook House thread, then you'll know the answer.
But this thread is about Animal Heads. :PDT10

Wavertree had two towns eh, cool.

Hi Max

To clarify, when Philip said, "No, it was the Town side of Lidderdale Road, set back from Smithdown Road. (before Lidderdale Road was built)." he meant on the side of Lidderdale Road toward downtown Liverpool, i.e., the west side of Lidderdale.

Chris

Great photographs of the Horse's head on Smithdown Road at the DIY shop and former cinema, Philip!!! The Horse's head has great memories for me from when I used to ride on the top deck of the the no. 80 or 86 bus from downtown. :) :handclap: :PDT11

The 'Blackie'...I'm not sure if its' a lion or a dog. There are several around the top of the building.
Park Road, facing Steble Street.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/206/503163015_cea6191200_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/222/503163017_b3e82c29d9_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/231/503163019_60a5cfa1fd_o.jpg

Great pics Phil..I like the Basil Brush one mate :handclap:

Great pics Phil..I like the Basil Brush one mate :handclap:

The middle one?

Yes, I'm pleased with that.

Thanks, Gerard.
Gerat to meet you, again.

The only animal head more gruesome looking than those, would be 'The Mad Butchers' pigs head.

Spotted as one of a pair on an old derelict building at the junction of Mill St and Park St. Not sure what the original use of this building was. It has some ornate stucco work. A decaying sign shows it was once the Park St Chapel but no doubt it had earlier uses.

Spotted as one of a pair on an old derelict building at the junction of Mill St and Park St. Not sure what the original use of this building was. It has some ornate stucco work. A decaying sign shows it was once the Park St Chapel but no doubt it had earlier uses.

I never knew it had animal heads!

Between the wars the ground floor was the Co-op and the upper floor was a billiard hall from the mid-1920s when the stucco work was probably put on.
The chapel only dated from around 1980, and the building has been derelict for at least the past 10 years.

I never knew it had animal heads!

Between the wars the ground floor was the Co-op and the upper floor was a billiard hall from the mid-1920s when the stucco work was probably put on.
The chapel only dated from around 1980, and the building has been derelict for at least the past 10 years.

Thanks Philip for the extra info. I only spotted the lion's head by chance.

Spotted above a doorway on Belvidere Rd, Prince's Park

Well I think it's a dragon. Spotted on Old Police Station, Lark Lane, Sefton Park, Liverpool

Well I think it's a dragon. Spotted on Old Police Station, Lark Lane, Sefton Park, Liverpool

A bit hard to tell from this angle, Taffy, but you are probably right. Definitely a gargoyle of some type. Was it a working waterspout?

Chris

A bit hard to tell from this angle, Taffy, but you are probably right. Definitely a gargoyle of some type. Was it a working waterspout?

Chris

Don't think it was a waterspout, just an ornamental feature

Interesting cast iron lions heads adorning the base of a Woolton triple lamp holder

Well and their body too. Delightful sculpture found guarding a house in Victoria Park Wavertree

There are two lions' heads on this building.
This is the other one.

Scroll up for the other, and info about the building.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1278/817909321_cde7bf5f5c_o.jpg

Not sure whay this bull's head is on this building. It's to be found at the junction of Seddon Rd and St Mary's Rd in Garston. The building has recently been tastefully renovated.