Did ANY of the old 'courts' survive?

[classixuk]

I was just wondering, after looking at so many of the wonderful old photographs on the site...did any of the old 'courts' survive?
I'd love to go and see one, and I'm hoping that at least one was preserved!

???

[Spike]

I dont think so? They should have preserved some.

When we were in School they took us up to Islington to look at Back to back houses ( long gone now ) I remember the teacher kept going on about how poor they were. He seemed to be enjoying it. We were Catholics so probably most of our ancestors lived in these houses.

He was always a fool that teacher.

[Ged]

There will be a mock one preserved in the new Pier Head Museum, similar to the one that used to be in the Mann Island Museum of liverpool life.

[Spike]

Ged is the road ( somewhere in Vauxhall ) still there where you can see just how small the courts were?

Its in one of the books I have..Cant remember . must look it up.

[classixuk]

There will be a mock one preserved in the new Pier Head Museum, similar to the one that used to be in the Mann Island Museum of liverpool life.

OK. That's better than nothing I suppose! Do you know when that will be opening Ged?

I really cannot understand why town planners and councils are so quick to flatten EVERYTHING when a housing project is deemed to be a failure. I look back at the building of Speke photos and can see that those cottages must have just been seen as "a bit of an eyesore" but imagine if just one or 2 were left and preserved...they'd be a massive tourist attraction now.

I also hope that they learn these lessons with the current batch, and leave us with even a small handful of 1960's architecture so that people in 2060 can look back, visit and learn about life in the 1960's tower blocks etc.

[Spike]

From Liverpool Life Museum

[dazza]

Although not strickly following the standard court design, Leda Grove is the closest surviving example to them that I've seen.

The dwellings are only two storey high with no basements.


[My photo.]


[LRO]

Another better view on Flickr here and the street sign here.

[Ged]

Yes, very similar lay out to the old courts dazza. I'm not sure of that old road Spike or whether it's still there and I think the Museum is scheduled to open in Spring next year classixuk but one of the Curators there has also mentioned to me about it possibly being put back another few months.

[wsteve55]

Hi Classixuk,
here are a few pic's of Duke's terrace,from the 80's,when it looked ready for demolition! This was the last court in the city centre,and has, been saved,though I dont think you'd recognise it now! It's been incorporated into a modern development,which is between Duke st.and Seel st,and there's a commemorative plaque on the side of the building! In the grounds of the complex is the statue of William Huskisson,which will give you a clue where to look!

P.S. Just to add that Greg's Dad posted some recent pic's of this,so if you search on Duke's terrace,you should find them!

[dazza]

Great thread challenge classixuk. Thanks



Also, are there any surviving Court Entrances in Liverpool?
Examples are:

Type 1. [Arched passageway].



http://archive.liverpool.gov.uk/dser...ge=7028_75.jpg


Type 2. [Open]



http://www.scottiepress.org/sr2003/sr2003.htm


Type 3. [Storey over]



http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur...w=1131&bih=653

[dazza]

Great photo's Steve. Poor 'ole Huskisson, he's certainly been moved around a few times since his death. Custom House to Upper Parli., and now Duke's Terrace.

Cellars on the photos: I can't image how people could actually survive in them, it must have been absolutely desperate? Most of tenants would have been Irish, escaping from the famine. I think Dr. Duncan was doing his assessment around that time. Conditions - the cellars were predicably damp, and were often unpaved, just soil on the ground, coupled with over-crowding as well. Makes you shudder to think?

---

Thanks Ged, I'd be surprized if any courts still exist? Unless that is, they were reclassified for other purposes: workshops, storage, etc.

Also, maybe some were partially demolished - by pulling down the opposing blocks? There may still be buildings/ structures that once formed part of a court?

I'll post up the maps, if anyone has any contenders?

[GNASHER]

Great thread challenge classixuk. Thanks



Also, are there any surviving Court Entrances in Liverpool?
]

Yes across the road from the School of Tropical Medicine on Pembrook Place.It is at the side of the taylors and was called Watkins Buildings.

[Ged]

Must seek it out, passed there last night too but only seen this post today.

[goldenface]

Always makes me so sad to see how the people in this city used to live. Utter, disease-ridden and disgraceful poverty. Truly awful. I know a lot was done to change things but still, it's heartbreaking.

I too am very surprised at the fact no courts survived because you could argue that they are as much part of this city's fabric as any dock or warehouse that did to survive. It was a way of life for some people for over a hundred years.

[Ged]

Look at all the warehouses that were demolished in the 60 and 70s though before council's/developers got into the change of use mode. The Bibby's Chicagoesque one on Gt Howard Street would have been ripe for apartments these days. It's hardly surprising then that the courts, seen as a sad, squalid remindesr of the past were not spared any second chances, even as museum pieces as their land was snapped up for new ventures. Maybe if one survived right now it would be spared.