Park Lane/Jamaica Street c1930
The same area 1995
Another dramatic comparison between the Liverpool of the 1930s and today (or, more accurately, the 1990s). Annoyingly, the plane’s wing is obscuring Brick Street where Pat O’Mara (author of The Autobiography of a Liverpool Slummy) lived and where I have my offices but, directly below the wing tip you can make out St Vincent’s primary school, with children playing in the yard (see post of May 27). Everywhere is industry, from the long sheds of Park Lane Goods Station to the countless warehouses. The large block underneath the plane wing is now the Contemporary Urban Centre – but all around are equally impressive warehouses (all demolished). Great Georges Square is just above the wing – and a couple of streets along is the Church of St Michael (bombed in the War). In the centre (to the left of The Contemporary Urban Centre) is a rather pitiful playground for the hundreds of children who lived in the immediate locality.
Compare the density of the 1930s photograph with the one I took in 1995. Liverpool’s population had peaked in the 1931 Census at 846,00. By 1991, it had shrunk to 470,000 (over a much larger physical area). Back in the 1930s, that wedge of streets around St Michael’s church (Pitt Street, Kent Street, Upper Frederick Street) was a concentrated slum of overcrowded terraces and courts – many were demolished in the following years to make way for tenements. Park Lane was a major thoroughfare, lined with shops and businesses – a very different city.
My mum had been looking for the church in this picture, St. Michaels in Upper Pitt Street, for ages and had no joy finding it. That is to say until I found it on your site. Brill! I’d be grateful if you send me or publish any more about this church. My great grandparents were married there in 1887 and my mother christened there in 1935. Cheers.
Hi Pete,
St Michael’s was one of Liverpool’s finest churches – the spire was 203ft high.
It was closely modelled on St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square. It was started in 1816 but the cost proved too much for the parish and the Corporation was forced to step in and fund its completion. It opened in 1826 but was firebombed in the war and demolished in 1946.
I was born in 1945 and lived in Kent Gardens, I was Christened, and confirmed at St. Michaels and attended the GFS and Sunday Schools. We had to use the Church Hall for all our services until the new church was built. I remember a wonderful lady by the name of Miss Bun who was always there to help us if needed. I practised to be a member of the newly formeda girls choir for the existing (new church) a gentleman by the name of Mr Tishmarsh worked tirelessly with us girls, weekly at the GFS, the poor man. We were proud to be asked to be part of a choir even though none of us could sing, we giggled. However, the new Vicar, Mr Hunter, I think his name was, had other ideas and threw us out hahaha. Mr Minter (Vicar) followed later, he and his wife ran Pathfinder Classes from their home and moved on to Chile to become missioneries.