One of the exhibits in the Global Port gallery of the new Museum of Liverpool concentrates itself on the Ah Thi laundry. This was a laundry owned by our friend Kit in the 1970s.

The Ah Thi was one of the earliest Chinese Laundries in Liverpool and was inherited by Mr Lou from his father-in-law. Originally it was based on Scotland Road but was bombed in 1941, the equipment being rescued from the rubble whereupon new premises were opened on Richmond Row in 1959.

Later, Kit turned those premises into the chippy we frequented so much during school dinner hours and at weekends and he transferred his laundry business into premises on Soho Street facing Birkett Street tenements, living overhead.

One of the exhibits is an actual 19th Century stove. I was talking to some of the Chinese who were taking an interest in this exhibition yesterday who said Kit was known to them too and remarked what a small world it is.


Workers at the Ah Thi laundry.






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The 19th century stove




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The Ah Thi was at one time located on this block before Kit ventured out into becoming a fried fish dealer which was situated between Railtons sweet shop and Joe Mitchells scrap dealers. Photo by Frank Lenhan.




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The Ah Thi would end its days here on nearby Soho Street next door to Leo Cotter's barbers. Photo by Joe Devine.




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