That's true. Dicken's was signed up as a special constable in Liverpool close to or in Duke Street, and that was to form the basis of some of his observations in The Uncommon Traveller - although I had a quick look through, and couldn't find any direct references. Maybe it's worth another look.
Thomas Paine's bones - ha, I wonder if that's true....it turned up in a Byron poem, maybe it is? The Custom House in question would have been the one on the site of the new John Lewis today in Liverpool One.
"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."... ... ... Mark Twain.
Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.
Yup, it looks like we're closing in on our target now: Colin's Bridewell is just off the bottom of Duke Street and was definitely an old police station, complete with cells for prisoners. The dining alcoves in this restaurant make use of these original cells (cosy if you're into that kind of thing!). He's now sold it though and it's now known as Jalon's Bridewell, so not sure what name it would be best to Google under...
There's a thread about Dickens connections in Liverpool here:
http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/sho...hlight=dickens
Worth reading because it's an urban myth about Dickens and Jalons Bridewell (1861 - too late).
The police/fire station in Seel Street/Duke Street, next to Dukes Terrace is probably the one where Dickens was made an honourary constable.
There's also a thread about Bridewells here:
http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/sho...ight=bridewell
At that URL quoted above it states "Washington Irving's literary connection with Liverpool was tenuous". Really? This would appear to be an ill-informed statement. Irving wrote an appreciation of Liverpool's great man of the day, William Roscoe. In addition, in "Roscoe" he describes visiting Roscoe's former country home, Allerton Hall, in The Sketch Book (1820). Roscoe had by then become bankrupt and the hall sold, and Irving finishes his essay by quoting the writer's moving "To My Books" about having to sell his library. Irving also includes some censure of the citizens of Liverpool for allowing the great man to be reduced to such circumstances.
Chris
Christopher T. George
Editor, Ripperologist
Editor, Loch Raven Review
http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/
Chris on Flickr and on MySpace
Here are some Googled links about the matter of Thomas Paine's bones and their connection to Liverpool.
Chris
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Christopher T. George
Editor, Ripperologist
Editor, Loch Raven Review
http://christophertgeorge.blogspot.com/
Chris on Flickr and on MySpace
Tom Paine's Bones:
John Lewis Department Store, [Liverpool One] should have a blue plaque placed on their store commemorating the historic fact that Tom Paine's bones, the author of Common Sense, and The Rights of Man had occupied space within William Cobbett's luggage whilst being interviewed at the 4th Custom's House, by the Old Dock, 21st November 1819. Now the site of John Lewis.
Further reading:
"Cobbett might have derived some encouragement from the warm reception of a crowd which had gathered to greet him when the 'Hercules' docked in Liverpool on the twenty-first of November, 1819. Less enthusiasm however was manifested for his dead companion and there was even some jeering when Cobbett displayed the cadaver at the customs house, declaring :
There, gentlemen, are the mortal remains of the immortal Thomas Paine."
Originally appeared, in edited form, in The Surrey Advertiser 22nd September 1989.
Source here.
"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."... ... ... Mark Twain.
Hi squiggs, I noticed you were trying to access the 1911 census, was it to find your grandmother? If you like pm me the details and I'll try next time for you? One of us should get through.
"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."... ... ... Mark Twain.
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