I had never come across the annual Orange marches until I came to Liverpool. My first experience was when I worked in Seel Street in 1974 and heard an incredible thumping of drums and the wail of bagpipes. Rushing up to Berry Street, I was mesmerised by a long procession of pipers, drummers, baton carriers and serious looking men and women with orange bands all marching in time. Above all was the sight of numerous King Billys (all women dressed up with flowing wigs) with their consort, Queen Mary, alongside them.
This was the Dingle contingent marching to catch the train to Southport and, in the early 1970s, they made up a sizeable crowd.
Sectarianism is one of those unspoken aspects of Liverpool’s history and the violent riots of the early twentieth century have been pushed back from memory. However one views its historical past, I am surprised that the annual parades have not been better documented. They are a fascinating part of local history and judging by recent thinly attended parades, might follow Judas burning and other once common ceremonies into folk lore. Photographs like these two are not about partisanship but about recording for posterity – although I am not sure whether the three girls in their yellow costumes would be quite as keen.
These are fantastic captures of social history.
I love the shop sign ‘J.Willis’ in the background on the top photo.
The Orange parades were an integral part of Liverpool life. The thriving hard working communities, from where the Orangemen and women came, were proud of their Protestant roots. An outsider would not understand the social importance of these Lodges in the community, and will usually interpret the events as something they were not. People came from all over England to witness the Orange Walk on the 12th. It was a great event in the City. It may be smaller in 2010, but is still very much alive and kicking, and not yet ready to follow ‘judas burning’ into history. Far from it.
Hi John,
I am surprised there has been no history about the significance of the Orange Lodges. As you say, they were a very important part of working class life yet their significance seems to have been overlooked. Maybe we will get such a book one day.
j.willis was a jewellers,i actually seen a old fashioned smash and grab there when i was a young lad
Liverpool is a Catholic city
Correct Roy – I assume you mean ‘Universal’ as in the proper interpretation of the word ‘Catholic’ in the Christian sense.
Otherwise you are grossly wrong if you mean Roman Catholic. Liverpool has one of the highest concentration of Roman Catholics in England – 25% as opposed to 3% across the country.