My ’Lost Liverpool’ has created quite a bit of interest and, in particular, incredulity that so many fine buildings have been demolished over the last sixty years. However, Liverpool has been luckier than most cities. Newcastle, Manchester, Glasgow and Bath suffered wholesale destruction (remember T. Dan Smith and the wilful destruction of Eldon Square in Newcastle). Cities do require constant reinvention to accommodate economic and social changes and sometimes, as in the case of the Overhead Railway, the cost of preservation can seem to be far too high (not many people had a crystal ball predicting Liverpool would become a major tourist city). However, my point is that the buildings I have listed had unique qualities that would have graced any city and that by highlighting such losses, it makes it more difficult to remove further pieces of our heritage for usually short term gains. Today’s three buildings fit very much into that category.
12 Liverpool Central Station. Liverpool has Michael Heseltine to thank for saving the Lyceum at the foot of Bold Street. Sadly, he was not around to save the frontage of Central Station from being turned into one of the ugliest shopping malls you will find in any city. The magnificent interior also deserves a mention. (Manchester at least got GMex which proves that imaginative uses can be found for most buildings worth keeping).
13 West Dingle. A fine villa on the banks of the Mersey. Designed by Decimus Burton (he was the tenth child, hence his name), the architect of Kew Gardens, parts of Regents Park and also the new town of Fleetwood). Built as a house for Joseph Yates, it was allowed to fall into disrepair before being demolished in 1955.
14 The Old Hutt. Although strictly in Halewood, this was a major architectural loss. The Old Hutt was a medieval moated house (not many of them around in Merseyside) – although only the gatehouse remained intact. Archaeological studies have indicated a substantial manor house with residential buildings grouped around a great hall. At the time of the gatehouse’s destruction (photographed here in 1949 ), in 1960, only three buildings remained as well as fragments of the 14th century Great Hall . The house was part of the Ireland estate (the Lords of Hale) and, although it had been modified over the centuries, was recognised as being a site of national importance. Nonetheless, when Ford built its factory, they were not prepared to modify their plans, even though the Old Hutt was on an approach road rather than under the main building. Would such a destruction happen today with tighter listed building controls? I would hope not – but now there aren’t many medieval buildings left to protect in Liverpool.
The photograph of ‘West Dingle’, taken from the ‘lawn’ [which is labelled No. 454 on the tithe map, 1847, LRO. Hf912TOX.] at the back of the property and is owned by Mr. J.B.Yates. The tithe map describes it as ‘Lawn and plantations, formally ‘Little Pingle’ and the state of cultivation is listed as ‘Meadow’. The field to the left of the photograph, No. 455, [owned by Richard Vaughan Yates, though occupied by John Cropper] is known as ‘Old Woman’s Hey, in two Parts…’ is described as ‘Pasture and Meadow’. The photograph is looking in the direction of Dingle Lane, with the photographers back to The Dingle.
http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/showthread.php?21638-Dingle-Glen-in-Old-Photos/page2
Tithe drawing and schedules are posted on the above link. Refer to post#20.
Regards,
Darren
["dazza" on Yo-Liverpool]
Very pleased to finally see a picture of the Old Hutt. Having traced it across some early 20th Century maps, and to then see it disappear under the Ford complex triggered a great sense of curiosity! In equal parts fascinating and frustrating to read the details of its history!
Fascinating pictures thank you so much for sharing them.