Victoria Square 1954
Victoria Square (original layout)
St Anne Street 1937
Holidays over and time to get back to my blog!
One of the most fascinating aspects of Liverpool’s social history is that of public housing. Astonishingly, no comprehensive book has been written on the subject in recent years – I await one with great anticipation! – although the importance of the many initiatives undertaken is more than worthy of an in-depth study. The first major project was St Martin’s Cottages in 1869 – which survived until the 1980s. Victoria Square was the second initiative, although not until 1885. The Housing of the Working Classes Act of 1890 (imagine calling a piece of legislation that today) resulted in a rapid expansion of local authority housing – and Liverpool took the lead, including the St Anne Street flats of 1914, which showed the imaginative design using high quality materials.
Victoria Square was an ambitious scheme, considered a pioneering venture at the time. It originally contained 270 dwellings but, following war damage in 1941, these were reduced to 215. Substantial improvements were made in the early 1950s, including installing back-boilers for hot water and wiring for electricity. Particular care was taken to maintain the external features – but, in 1961, the original four blocks were reduced to two. Even these improvements were not enough to save the Square and it was demolished to make way for the Wallasey Tunnel.
I raised the point in an earlier blog about the opportunity missed to create a museum of housing. This was mooted at the time of St Martin’s Cottages future being considered and was dismissed on cost grounds (there was a similar proposal for Duke Street Terrace). Somehow, money has been found for the new Museum of Liverpool, a building I consider one of the best modern buildings in the city. However, I have serious misgivings about its proposed content – too early to judge but the advance information suggests style over substance. The collection of the old Museum of Public Health (now in the possession of NML) would have provided a substantial element to a real museum of Liverpool life utilising the structures of buildings which had been part of the great housing initiatives (imagine had Gerrard Gardens been used for such a purpose – and within walking distance of William Brown Street). Building expensive, ‘iconic’ buildings is one thing – history is another.
You rightly mention the Liverpool museums “Public Health” exhibition – which was well laid out in the old dockside museum. I used to take my Access students round the museum, using a useful booklet – “4 ages of Public Health” or words to that effect. I wonder what the new layout will look like? The contribution of people and organisations, local authorities, to our public health over the past two centuries needs to be properly remembered and valued.Perhaps more so today when it is under threat both from our ruling classes and our own behaviours. Dr William duncan is comemorated in a pub [no longer based in his house],and the Duncan Society [www.DuncSoc.] a statue of Kitty Wilkinson is planned and there is a stained glass window to her in the Anglican cathedral. Upper Frederick street, Liverpool 1, was the first wash house established by Liverpool City on Kity Wilkinsons urging. My wife who was born in Lydia Ann Street nearby remembers using the Wash house, demolished in the 1950s I think. In 1972/3 I used to take children to Steble Street Baths [now Park Road Sports Centre] and the wash house there was very much I think as it had been for at least a century.It had public baths [as in "bath tubs"] and showers as well as large wash tubs and dryers. A “toastie” too, very popular with the children after a swim. The commercial Laundrettes["bagwash"] and greater private income enabled most people to afford washing machines, spelling the end for public bath houses. An early 1970s cult film “DeepEnd” with Jane Asher, Diana Dors & John Molder-Brown was set in a Hackney Council public bath house, although a recent Guardian article said it was made in Poland, which was not my recall as when the film was released I was daily using the Hackney baths at the time – massive enamel baths,Russian needle showers, steam baths etc.I was told it was one and the same.
Thanks for the post, Bill. The history of public health deserves more than a passing mention in the new Museum. (Incidentally, my wife used to teach at Beaufort Street Board School – and was taking kids to Steble Street Baths into the 1990s).
Hi. I was surprised to find your site on an internet trawl. I was born in Mill Road Hospital in 1959 and then taken back to my parent’s home in Victoria Square. My mum had inherited the tenancy from her grandparents. Soon afterwards we moved to Blackstock Street and thence to the, then, much better area of Norris Green.
I was delighted to see your pictures of my first home and read the information that went with it.
I live many miles away now but I was delighted to find your site. There’s nothing to beat nostalgia. You’re right that Liverpool should open a museum of social housing. There were many experiments some of which worked well and others not so well. Those that stick in the mind are Cantril Farm, Soho Square and The Bullring.
Keep up the good work. Our history is important and is being eroded daily in the name of progress.