Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 21

Thread: Liverpool - Firsts and Other Facts

  1. #1
    Creator & Administrator Kev's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Under The Stairs >> Under The Mud.
    Posts
    7,488
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default Liverpool - Firsts and Other Facts

    432 - St Patrick said to have sailed from the River Mersey on his mission to Ireland

    ELEVENTH CENTURY

    1007 - First mention of the River Mersey, in a deed from the reign of Ethelread II, the name is old English from Maere, meaning boundary

    TWELFTH CENTURY

    1166 - First mention of Liverpool, in a deed of the Earl of Mortain, later King John.

    THIRTEENTH CENTURY

    1207 - King John signed a Royal Charter, creating the borough of Liverpool, on Tuesday 28th August 1207.

    1235 - Liverpool Castle built (near the modern Derby Square, demolished 1721).

    1272 - First census, population 840.

    1282 - First Mersey ferry, established by monks at Birkenhead Priory.

    FOURTEENTH CENTURY

    1351 - First recorded mayor, William, son of Adam.

    SIXTEENTH CENTURY

    1515 - Liverpool’s first Town Hall built.

    1522 - First grammar school (founded by John Crosse of Crosse-Hall).

    1580 - Liverpool’s first Town Council.

    SEVENTEENTH CENTURY

    1647 - Liverpool was made a free and independent port, no longer subject to Chester.

    1648 - First recorded cargo from America landed at Liverpool.

    1650 - The council passed an order creating Liverpool’s fire brigade: “That the bailiffs cause leather buckets and four or six hooks to be made for pulling down any house being on fire – which God defend”.

    1676 - Liverpool’s second Town Hall built.

    1679 - Liverpool’s Mayor founded the world’s first charity for sailors.

    EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

    1700 - Liverpool’s population 5,714. The first recorded Liverpool slave ship, the Liverpool Merchant, sold a cargo of 220 slaves in Barbados.

    1708 - The first reference to scouse (by Ned Ward in The Wooden World Dissected).

    1709 - First cargo of cotton traded in Liverpool.

    1715 - World’s first wet dock controlled by floodgates (Steer’s Old Dock, Canning Place).

    1754 - Liverpool’s third Town Hall built, designed by John Wood the Elder of Bath.

    1758 - First circulating library (Lyceum).

    1763 - Liverpool’s Dock master built the first lighthouses to use parabolic mirrors (at Hoylake and Bidston).

    1774 - Matthew Dobson, a Liverpool physician, discovered the link between suger and diabetes.

    1776 - First public use of Ether as an anaesthetic. Liverpool’s first newspaper published (Liverpool Advertiser).

    1786 - Europe’s first purpose built prison (Great Howard Street).

    1790 - World’s first American Consul (James Maury).

    1791 - First school for blind people (Commutation Row, and later London Road in 1800).

    1793 - The only municipality with the right to issue its own money (300.00 pounds).

    1795 - Liverpool Town Hall severely damaged by fire, reconstructed by James Wyatt.

    1797 - The Liverpool Athenaeum founded.

    NINETEENTH CENTURY

    1800 - Liverpool’s population 77,708.

    1803 - First underwriters association (Liverpool underwriters Association).

    1812 - The only assassination of a British Prime Minister. Spencer Percival was shot by bankrupt Liverpool merchant John Bellingham. Britain’s first balloon ascent by J Sadler of Liverpool. In 1824, he was ‘thrown out of his balloon near Blackburn, which caused his death’.

    1813 - Liverpool’s first outdoor public sculpture (Nelson Monument in Exchange Flags), first paid for by public subscription.

    1814 - World’s first cast iron church (St Georges, Everton).

    1823 - First mechanics lending library.

    1825 - World’s first school for deaf people.

    1830 - World’s first train shed and first large wooden railway station roof at Crown Street Station). First railway passenger fatality (William Huskisson).

    1835 - World’s first railway timetable published (Lacy’s).

    1838 - First travelling Post Office (a horse box fitted out as a sorting office) ran between Liverpool and Birmingham on 6th January.

    1840 - World’s first scheduled transatlantic passenger service (the wooden paddle-streamer Britannia owned by Samuel Cunard). Britain’s first Borough Engineer appointed. Welsh national Eisteddfod held in Liverpool (and in 1851, 1884,1900 and 1929). World’s first photograph developing and printing service.

    1841 - Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals, later RSPCA, founded. First British purpose-built office block (Brunswick Buildings).

    1842 - World’s first public Baths and Wash-houses founded by Kitty Wilkinson (Upper Frederick Street).

    1844 - First girl’s day grammar school in England (Blackburne House).

    1846 - Albert Dock opened by Prince Albert, now the country’s largest group of Grade 1 listed buildings.

    1847 - World’s first Medical Officer of Health (Dr William Duncan).

    1848 - First British trades council (Liverpool Trades Guardian Association).

    1850 - First borough to establish a Library Committee. Royal Liver Friendly Society (a burial club) formed, it later became a major insurance company that built the Royal Liver Buildings.

    1851 - First provincial children’s hospital (Upper Hill Street).

    1857 - World’s first Rugby Club (Liverpool Rugby Club). Britain’s first Chess Club (Liverpool Chess Club).

    1859 - First nurse to be paid for looking after the poor (employed by William Rathbone).

    1860 - First purpose built public library.

    1861 - Britain’s first ecumenical conference. First shot in the American Civil War was fired from a gun made by Liverpool firm Fawcett and Preston (also see 1865).

    1862 - First provincial School of Nursing.

    1864 - First major Slum Clearence Scheme, the Liverpool Sanitary Amendment gave the Medical Officer of Health the power to order the demolition of unsafe and unfit buildings.

    1865 - The last confederate ship to surrender at the end of the American Civil War (Shenandoah, 6th November, to the Mayor at Liverpool Town Hall).

    1867 - Liverpool Corporation brought Britain’s first steamroller. Britain’s first cycling club (Liverpool Velocipedes). World’s largest train shed (200 ft/61 meters).

    1868 - First borough to secure and Act of Parliament to establish a tram system.

    1869 - Britain’s first municipal housing (St Martins Cottages, Silvester Street).

    1870 - First society of accountants (Liverpool Society of Accountants).

    1875 - First disarmament campaign (Liverpool Peace Society)

    1877 - First British public Art Gallery (Walker art Gallery)

    1880 - Queen Victoria grants Liverpool the right to call itself a city (11th may). Liverpool’s first Bishop appointed (Rev John Ryle). T.P. O’Connor elected as the first Irish Nationalist MP to represent an English constituency (Liverpool Exchange).

    1883 - The Liverpool Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, later the NSPCC, founded on April 19th by T.F. Agnew and Samuel Smith.

    1884 - Britain’s first woman to qualify as a doctor opens a practice in Liverpool.

    1886 - First under-river railway tunnel constructed under the River Mersey. First purpose-built ambulance in Britain (at the Northern Hospital)

    1889 - First pre-payment gas meters installed by the Liverpool Gas Company (Cazeneau Street). Liverpool’s Police Force the first to be equipped with rubber soled boots for night duty.

    1890 - Football goal nets invented by ex-City Engineer John Brodie.

    1892 - The first Marine Biological Station (at Liverpool University).

    1893 - World’s first overhead electric railway opened by the Marquis of Salisbury on February 4th. League of Welldoers founded by an American, Lee Jones. Queen Victoria grants Liverpool the right to have a Lord Mayor (August 14th).



    1895 - First British School of Architecture and Applied Art.

    1896 - First British use of x-ray in medical diagnosis (at the Southern Hospital).

    1897 - First to employ women health visitors.

    1898 - First to appoint a Municipal Bacteriologist.

    1899 - Britain’s first School of Tropical Medicine opened on April 22nd.

    TWENTIETH CENTURY

    1900 - Liverpool’s population 684,947. The largest tobacco warehouse in the world built at Stanley Dock. It was built of 27 million bricks, has 36 acres of storage space and could hold 70,000 hogsheads of tobacco.

    1901 - Britain’s first anti-tuberculosis campaign. First escalator in a railway station (at Seaforth Sands Station, on the Overhead Railway). Patent for Meccano taken out by Frank Hornby.

    1902 - Britain’s first motor fire engine (at Hatton Garden Fire Station).

    1903 - Liverpool’s first regular tram service began between the Pier Head and St Helen’s.

    1904 - Foundation stone of Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral laid. University of Liverpool the first in Britain to establish a school of Veterinary Science.

    1909 - Britain’s first woman Councillor (Eleanor Rathbone). Britain’s first Woolworth’s opened at 25 Church Street.

    1911 - The Royal Liver Building Clock, the biggest in Britain, started at the moment of King George V’s Coronation, June 22nd.

    1912 - First automatic telephone exchange.

    1913 - Britain’s first Flag Day held, in aid of the Council of Social Service. The world’s first crossword puzzle was compiled by Liverpool born Arthur Wynne and appeared in the New York World.

    1919 - First and only Police Force to go on strike. First department of Oceanography (at Liverpool University).

    1924 - First hyperbolic cooling tower in Britain (at Lister Drive power station).

    1927 - Liverpool’s first woman Lord Mayor (Margaret Bevan). First British Arts Centre (Bluecoat).

    1932 - First purpose built boxing stadium in Britain (Bixteth Street).

    1933 - Foundation stone of Liverpool’s Roman Catholic Cathedral laid. First use of gas and air in childbirth (Dr R.J. Minnett at the Maternity Hospital). Liverpool Airport opened at Speke.

    1934 - First Mersey Tunnel opened (Queensway). First British police force to use a two way radio communications system. First provincial news theatre (the Tatler in Church Street).

    1936 - First act giving a council the right to buy, sell and develop land (Liverpool Corporation Act). First purpose built municipal industrial estate (Speke).

    1937 - Liverpool highest recorded population 867,000.

    1944 - Britain’s first Chinese newspaper (Hua Chow Pao).

    1946 - First footballer to score three consecutive hat-tricks (Jack Balmer, playing for Liverpool FC).

    1947 - World’s first Radar Lighthouse.

    1952 - First hospital radio service. Britain’s first package holiday flight (from Liverpool Airport).

    1953 - Liverpool singer Lita Roza the first British woman to top the chats (How Much is that Doggy in the Window?).

    1959 - Britain’s first drive-in bank (National Westminster Bank in Prince’s Road). First mass x-ray campaign.

    1960 - First bank in the world to use a computer (Martin’s)

    1962 - First port in Britain to use a computer (Mersey Docks & Harbour Company).

    1964 - First Police Force to use closed-circuit television.

    1967 - First seminar in Britain for orchestra conductors (held by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra). Liverpool’s Roman Catholic Cathedral consecrated.

    1970 - Britain’s first public planetarium (Liverpool Museum).

    1971 - Second Mersey Tunnel opened (Kingsway).

    1978 - Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral is consecrated. The world’s largest Anglican Cathedral has the world’s largest organ and highest and heaviest peal of bells.

    1984 - First football club to win three major competitions in one season (Liverpool FC).

    TWENTY FIRST CENTURY

    2007 - Liverpool celebrates its 800th birthday.

    2008 - Liverpool is European Capital of Culture.

    Taken from ‘marketing’ publication by Liverpool City Council
    Last edited by Kev; 08-28-2013 at 10:54 PM.
    Become A Supporter 👇


    Donate Via PayPal


    Donate


  2. #2

    Cool Past & Present...

    Kev, there are some truly remarkable facts here, thanks for posting them.

    some fascinating things have come out of Liverpool...

    Lemmo...

  3. #3
    Member phill's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Perth, Australia
    Posts
    25

    Default

    No mention of the thousands of Irish immigrants to Liverpool mid 19century and shame, shame, shame not even a whisper to acknowledge the erection, pardon the pun, of the Lewis’s statue in 1952/53’ … it had many ladies of Liverpool complaining that it was too high while others were complaining it was too big … It was reported on the day that many lady shop assistants walked out of the store that day saying they had no intention of working under a big pr*ck like that.

    No offence intended, it just happens to be the scuttle butt that was doing the rounds in Liverpool at the time.

  4. #4
    Senior Member Waterways's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Posts
    2,924
    Blog Entries
    22

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by phill View Post
    No mention of the thousands of Irish immigrants to Liverpool mid 19century
    A note of history, not a first.

    and shame, shame, shame not even a whisper to acknowledge the erection, pardon the pun, of the Lewis’s statue in 1952/53’
    A first?
    The new Amsterdam at Liverpool?
    Save Liverpool Docks and Waterways - Click

    Deprived of its unique dockland waters Liverpool
    becomes a Venice without canals, just another city, no
    longer of special interest to anyone, least of all the
    tourist. Would we visit a modernised Venice of filled in
    canals to view its modern museum describing
    how it once was?


    Giving Liverpool a full Metro - CLICK
    Rapid-transit rail: Everton, Liverpool & Arena - CLICK

    Save Royal Iris - Sign Petition

  5. #5
    Member bigpab's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Haydock,St Helens.
    Posts
    36

    Default

    I didn't realise that liverpool had all these firsts! makes me even prouder to be a scouser!!!

  6. #6
    Smurf Member scouse smurf's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Bootle
    Age
    50
    Posts
    933

    Default

    I've just been looking on ebay and found this book.

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Early-History-...QQcmdZViewItem

    Is this another first ?

    Sorry if it's been mentioned elsewhere, I did have a quick search but couldn't see anything

  7. #7
    Re-member Ged's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Here, there & everywhere.
    Posts
    7,197

    Default

    I've seen that in most book shops in town. News from nowhere dertainly has it.
    www.inacityliving.piczo.com/

    Updated weekly with old and new pics.

  8. #8
    Smurf Member scouse smurf's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Bootle
    Age
    50
    Posts
    933

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ged View Post
    I've seen that in most book shops in town. News from nowhere dertainly has it.
    I was just wondering if the books subject was a another first of Liverpool that hadn't been mentioned so far

  9. #9
    Senior Member lindylou's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    3,677

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by scouse smurf View Post
    I've just been looking on ebay and found this book.

    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Early-History-...QQcmdZViewItem

    Is this another first ?

    Sorry if it's been mentioned elsewhere, I did have a quick search but couldn't see anything
    I've read that book. You can get it in the library.

  10. #10
    Smurf Member scouse smurf's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Bootle
    Age
    50
    Posts
    933

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by lindylou View Post
    I've read that book. You can get it in the library.
    I only like picture books, am too lazy to read. . btw, I'm not the one selling the book so I wasn't trying to plug it on here.

  11. #11
    Senior Member Paul D's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Posts
    1,099

    Default

    George Harrison started benefit concerts when he arranged his concert for Bangladesh,without him there may not have been Live Aid/Live 8 etc.

  12. #12
    Senior Member wsteve55's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Crosby
    Posts
    2,199

    Question league of welldoers

    hi kev,
    just been looking at the "Scottie Press" site, and apparently,Lee Jones was born in Runcorn.(1870) His full name was Herbert Lee Jackson Jones, which does seem to bear out some sort of American connection,though?

  13. #13
    Re-member Ged's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Here, there & everywhere.
    Posts
    7,197

    Default

    You could do a whole page of firsts just on Sport in Liverpool.

    Red rum triple National winner, 1st numbers on shirts in football (Everton), 1st Match of the day game (Liverpool), Dixie Dean - 1st (and only) time 60 goals in a season, many LFC achievements etc etc...
    www.inacityliving.piczo.com/

    Updated weekly with old and new pics.

  14. #14

    Default first newspaper

    Liverpool's first newspaper was surely the "Liverpool Advertiser and Mercantile Register" starting I think 1757, (PRO has microfilm) - I have transcribed material for it from 1759; and I seem to recall also that there may have been a short-lived newspaper back in the 1720s or 30s - although I don't know if copies survive.

    Keith

    http://tinyurl.com/2b78lg my main 18thC Liverpool site

  15. #15
    Member beatlegirl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Pickering, Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    9

    Unhappy

    Quote Originally Posted by Paul D View Post
    George Harrison started benefit concerts when he arranged his concert for Bangladesh,without him there may not have been Live Aid/Live 8 etc.
    Yesssss! Thanks for mentioning that! I miss George soooo much.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Interesting facts
    By George in forum Liverpool North
    Replies: 26
    Last Post: 11-05-2009, 01:28 AM
  2. Facts and figures....
    By Kev in forum European Capital of Culture 2008
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 01-10-2009, 09:09 PM
  3. Liverpool - Firsts and Other Facts
    By Kev in forum Kev's Liverpool History and Pictures
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: 01-05-2009, 04:55 AM
  4. Liverpool Police Firsts - Law and Order
    By Kev in forum Liverpool Firsts, Facts and Achievements
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 09-11-2007, 01:03 AM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •