From "Ladies Walk" to Coal Bunker

According to Edward Baines, in his book, History of the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster (1836), there were two 'Ladies Walks' in Liverpool: one parallel to Duke Street and another just off Old Hall Street, opposite Old Leeds Street.

This is an account of the second.

"... at the end of Old Hall-street was formally a fine walk called "The Ladies' Walk," with a double row of trees on each side, very much frequented by respectable inhabitants, and especially by merchants, who found it a good post of observation from which to observe the approach of their vessels to the port. The direction of the walk was towards the shore, where it terminated in a flight of steps opposite the old baths. The destruction of this beautiful walk, with the fine avenue of trees, was cause of great lamentation at the time; and the whole site is now occupied by coal yards, while the baths, and the fort to which it conducted, have all been swallowed up by the Regent's Dock [later renamed "Princes Dock"]."

Interestingly, the Ladies Walk led straight to the Old Baths on Bath Street.

George Perry's Map, 1769. Ladies Walk highlighted in green.
https://scontent-frt3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...b5&oe=5709AFB0


Three maps: 1796, 1807 & 1848, Ladies Walk highlighted in green
https://scontent-frt3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...1b&oe=5731AFF4


The site of Ladies Walk today, highlighted in green.
https://scontent-frt3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...22&oe=57096E97


The site of Ladies Walk today, highlighted in green.
https://scontent-frt3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...4b&oe=573BC2EA


It wasn't all pleasant strolls through a leafy garden on the Ladies Walk, as James Stonehouse explains in his book, Recollections of Old Liverpool...'

"Not far from the baths was once a pleasant public walk of which I have often heard my father and mother speak. It was called the "Ladies Walk," and extended from the site of the present Canal bridge by Old Hall-street, down to the river. It was a sort of a terraced gravel walk, having four rows of fine Lombardy poplars, and seats underneath. On fine evenings all the gay and fashionable world of Liverpool used to take the air and show off their hoops and high heels, and the gentlemen their brocaded silk coats, and three-cornered hats. The sword was often drawn by the gallants for some fancied affront, and occasionally a little blood was spilt, a matter of no moment in those days. Great was the grief when it was announced that the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Company had resolved on the destruction of the Ladies Walk."


These are the 'Lombardy Poplars' -- trees mentioned by James Stonehouse, above. Four rows of poplars would have made an impressive site.
https://scontent-frt3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...78&oe=573C7420


The Ladies Walk, reimagined.
https://scontent-frt3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...36&oe=5703C5B8