What were they used for and where as the entrance to them?
Or were they part of the courts?
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What were they used for and where as the entrance to them?
Or were they part of the courts?
As far as I know, they were the cellars from old pubs, general buildings from the 1700s.
The picture is of the basement area of the old Customs House which was located on Canning Place (now Chavasse Park) which took a direct hit in the May Blitz of 1940. I have very fond memories of a incident that occured in that bombed out basement one very wet summers evening about 1952/3. Mind you when I arrived home about midnight, soaked to the skin and looking like a drowned moggie, I got battered by me nan. But hey, I thought it was well worth it.;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Kev
They were something else I wanted to photograph but left too late... Some were the customs house, some weren't. I talked to a bloke at the book launch for the Liverpool Blitz Diary book (I forget the author) and he was saying that the Echo had said they were all filled in after the war, but this guy said a lot of them were still standing in the 60s, as he used to play there as a kid. They were then later demolished and basements covered.
Does anybody have any more photos? I remember walking down there and seeing that collapsed lift car and some old bottles and things.
They were there open until about 1967, when the site was cleared for the new modern buildings there (now demolished). The basement walls were left up to ground level and all the rubble removed. I assume the walls were left to reinfoce any foundations that infilled.Quote:
Originally Posted by snappel
The walls were very thick as the picture shows and you could walk on them no problems - two kids abreast. We used to jump the walls. It was like a maze in there.
I 'dug these out' from 2004. I originally had them online but they were deleted some reason, anyway, here they are again. Now (2007) buried deep beneath the Paradise Street development car park:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1145/...dbac7ebac3.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1374/...81eb8bce86.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1382/...5172f7d6d9.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1136/...abe5fdc83c.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1043/...8d04673b69.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1340/...1daff7107a.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1160/...c27b763d36.jpg
Uncovered well, centre of the pic:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1155/...eca2b0997f.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1411/...5fce67765a.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1049/...eb7506bc02.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1219/...d84a18cd25.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1203/...ddadfd57b6.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1302/...60d637e95f.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1208/...49ec5e6b14.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1429/...dbca8ade37.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1009/...2d07b63753.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1253/...25a9ad4e5d.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1084/...edeefc6373.jpg
Kev
Thank you mate
They bring back memories of yesteryear lol
As a matter of interest one of the buildings was occupied by a firm called >>> wait for it .......
"The Jurex Rubber Company",
not to be taken as the more 'prominent' company of the same name bar one letter :slywink:
I think they were into very early tire retreads (not sure).
May I have you permission to use the pics on a 'Military' site I use >>
http://www.armymedic.net/index.php
and also to my local British Legion Club of which I am a member ??
Thanks again and if you say NO I will understand. NP/
Fred (In Arduis Fidelis)
I am supprised = the link works lol
ps = thats a long post from me :lol:
Use them, thanks :PDT11Quote:
Originally Posted by phredd
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1043/...8d04673b69.jpg
I used to jump on and off these wall when I was a kid.
Were they exposed back then?
What year was that ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Waterways
1960s. The basement of the Customs House was left just as you see it - the whole block. Then it was cleared to build dross which was eventually demolished. In 1951 they turned down a 50 floor plus block on this site.Quote:
Originally Posted by phredd
It looks as if you can still see the whitewash on the cellar wall.
Thanks John, wasn't the old customs house further to the left of the pic and to back towards the road?
It took up the whole block. From the Dock Road back to the Sailors Home, from South Castle St to Park Lane.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kev
The Customs House was totally restorable. It was only burnt out with the structure intact. It was demolished around 1949. The Customs decided to move their operations to London and abandoned Liverpool in big way. Another example of Liverpool being gradually raped by the South.
When I took the pics in 2004, I had no idea. Thanks.
They're fantastic pics Kev - my dad will be interested to see those.
This map shows the Custom House in 1850.
Paradise Street is on the right hand side of Coopers Row.
http://www.leverpoole.co.uk/misc/canning.jpg
There are two drawings of the previous custom house by Herdman, in 1856, available http://www.leverpoole.co.uk/misc/customhouse.shtm
Thanks Tony. Here's more about the Old Customs HouseQuote:
Originally Posted by TonyS