Gardens, Tenements and Courts

[Ged]

1944 Drawings showing the plans for tenement/apartment blocks to replace Washington Street and other delapidated properties leading up to the Anglican Cathedral.





This is what was to be cleared, shown here in 1934. It was eventually cleared, 3 decades later and only subsequently built on in the late 80s.





By 1947, just two years later, the plans had changed again. All pics and pictures from the LRO.






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[brian daley]

Wonderful drawings Ged,could have been designed by Albert Speer,monumentally fascist. I reckon Liverpool had a lucky escape in ending up with what it has got. Having lived in one of those Gardens of stone,and grateful at the time, they were neo-brutal and ,though not lacking in community spirit in the early years, became places of deprivation.

[gregs dad]

And here`s one of my old ones before the demolishing

[Ged]

Yes, the way the tennies were left to wrack and ruin by the council, they'd have been coming back down again almost as soon as the Cathedral was finished in 1978. That incline to the cathedral shouldn't even be crowded by what's there now. It should be a fine plaza/public area with widely stepped up at interval to reveal that massive door under the central tower which is now somewhat hidden. Great pic too Joe.

[Waterways]

Yes, the way the tennies were left to wrack and ruin by the council, they'd have been coming back down again almost as soon as the Cathedral was finished in 1978. That incline to the cathedral shouldn't even be crowded by what's there now. It should be a fine plaza/public area with widely stepped up at interval to reveal that massive door under the central tower which is now somewhat hidden. Great pic too Joe.

Ged I agree. A plaza is the best idea - a public community space. A park could have been from Kings Dock right up to the main door. However, the original idea was to have the cathedral amongst the people, towering above the adjacent houses, as seen in some Spanish cities. That was what it was like until the 1970s.

[wsteve55]

Yeh Ged,
got to agree, look at the difference the steps made to the Catholic cathedral, a much improved setting!

[Jay Patrick]

Just found this youtube link for a ' Cook Da Books' video from the 80's - think it's filmed in Gerrard Gardens - but a few of the ex-ressies may be able to confirm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBF0I...eature=related

[The Gardens]

Yes, you are right, this was shot in November 1986 in Gerard Gardens. The tenements were demolished the following summer.

[yozzer2001]

My nan was the longest resident in King Gardens ,Sara Burns .
Not many pictures of King Gardens though

[JEAHAN]

I lived in soho street in the four squares, queen ann place, in the 60's. Our square was changed to cullen close. we moved not long after. I remember going to taylors fruit and veg and leeceys the newsagents

[Spike]

Hi Jeahan and welcome to the forum

Tony

[Ged]

Hiya Jeahan. Welcome, I take it you've seen the 4 square pics on my site then. I remember the name change to Cullen and Concorde close.

[The Gardens]

I lived in soho street in the four squares, queen ann place, in the 60's. Our square was changed to cullen close. we moved not long after. I remember going to taylors fruit and veg and leeceys the newsagents

Hi Jeahan

My mam used to shop in Soho Street and shopped in Nellie Rimmer's Fruit and Veg, and Eddie Weighwell's butchers. I used to call into Caplans shop for sweets on my way to The Friary.

[Windsor]

My mum lived in the 4 squares and then moved to Canterbury street where I was born. We then moved to Windsor Gardens. Rough as anything but I have great memories. I went to St Annes school opposite Gerrard Gardens and would travel all the way from Windsor gardens by foot in all weathers. I remember the fruit and veg shop - Nellie Rimmers, I believe she lives in Australia now and was over last year to visit friends. My mum gave me a copy of an A3 size poster the other week it lists all the families who lived in Harker Street during 1954. Not sure where she got it from, but I recognised loads of names on it. Does anyone out there have any pictures of Canterbuty Street, we lived in the big house on the end No 2. Thanks

[Ged]

Canterbury street is on my site - try the pre war and post war pages.