(An
extract from 1811 Gores Directory.)
LIVERPOOL
Is a
commercial town of first rate importance, in the
County
of
Lancaster
, near the
mouth of the River Mersey, about 204 miles distant from
London
, and 36 from
Manchester
. On the arrival of
the Romans in
England
, the ground on which this town now stands was part of a Kingdom inhabited
by the Brigantes.
When the
Saxons divided this country, it formed a portion of the kingdom of
Northumberland; we afterwards find, that in the year 1360, the tower, which had
been erected in the town by Roger of Poitiers, was the property of Sir Thomas
Latham; he gave it with his daughter to Sir J Stanley, and by him it was rebuilt
and strongly fortified. Shortly after this early date, charters were granted to
the town by Henry I and John; and Henry II, for a fine of 10 marks, made it a
corporation and free borough for ever. Since which time, various other charters
have been granted, at different periods by succeeding monarchs.
As a town of
importance
Liverpool
cannot claim a high antiquity; in the year 1565 there were only 138
householders and cottagers, and the church was dependant on the adjoining parish
of Walton. In the reign of William III an act of parliament was obtained
enabling the corporation to build and endow a new church, and to make
Liverpool
independent of Walton; and
from acts of parliament passed in succeeding reigns, we have evidence of the
progressive prosperity and opulence of the town. St Peter’s was built at
beginning of the last century, and Queen Anne granted to the corporation a lease
for 150 years, of the ground on
which stood the castle, that had long been in ruins, at the yearly rent of £6
13s 4d and gave them all the old materials for the purpose of erecting a third
church, which lease George I afterwards made for ever; the building when
finished, was dedicated to St George, in honour of that
prince.
St Thomas
’s church was
consecrated in the year 1750; in the year 1769
St Paul
’s was completed;
and since that period fifteen other have been opened for the increasing
population of the town. Here are also 25 chapels for dissenters , a meeting
house for the Society of Friends, and a Jews’ synagogue.
The Town
Hall, generally called the Exchange, was erected in 1749, at an expence of £30,000.
It is a noble stone building, with two elegant fronts decorated with some fine
pieces of sculpture; one of which, representing Commerce presenting her
treasures to Neptune, is particularly admired; within the buildings are the town
hall, council room, assembly room &c. In 1803 the ground to the north was
cleared of the old and almost useless buildings by which it was covered, and in
their place three ranges of offices and warehouses have been erected, which
form, with the old exchange, a most elegant square, the centre of which is
ornamented by a noble monument, to the memory of the late Lord Nelson. In the
area of this square the merchants assemble, for the daily transaction of
business, elegant piazzas\affording a complete shelter when the weather is
unfavourable; and a news room, situated in one of the wings, offers every
information newspapers, reviews, &c. are capable of affording.
The whole of
these buildings have an aspect of metropolitan grandeur, and form one of the
principal ornaments of the town. The other public buildings are, the Corn
Exchange , where a market is held every Tuesday and Saturday, from ten to one
o’ clock. The Lyceum News Room, is a handsome building and advantageously
situated. The Union News Room is a fine structure, and in the upper apartments
the Society for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts has an annual exhibition of
paintings, drawings and sculpture, &c.- This institution reflects honour on
its patrons and supporters; it would be difficult to devise a better mode of
disseminating a taste for elegant pursuits. The Athenium in
Church Street
is a neat
structure, with an excellent news room. The Theatre is a
commodius building in
Williamson Square
, and in
Christian Street
is a circus, for the exhibition of equestrian and other performances. Nor
must we omit to notice the Botanic Garden in
Oxford Street East
; it is laid out with taste, and supplied with plants from various parts
of the globe, procured at a great expence. This garden furnishes proof, that a
love of science is not incompatible with commercial pursuits.
Liverpool
may truly boast of its
numerous and useful charitable establishments. In the school called the
Blue-coat
Hospital
, upwards of 200
children are maintained , clothed and educated. The Infirmary was founded and
continues to be supported, on the most enlarged and liberal principles. Adjoining to it is the Hospital for Seamen, their widows and children; this is
maintained by a monthly collection of sixpence, deducted from the pay of every
seaman who sails from
Liverpool
, by authority of an act of parliament. In
Church Street
is the
Dispensary, where two physicians and a surgeon attend every day, at stated hours
and about 10,000 persons are annually said to receive medicine or
advice from this institution. In a neat building on the London road,
enlightened humanity has established an asylum for those unfortunate individuals
who have not the benefit of sight; in this admirable school, the Blind are
supported, and taught some useful employment, while the cleanliness, order, and
contentment which pervade every part
of the institution, forcibly affect every feeling mind. The corporation, in the
year, established at their own expence, the institution for the recovery of
apparently drowned persons. The Poor
house was erected in the year 1771. Here is also a society for the benefit of
masters of vessels, their widows and children. Besides the above,
Liverpool
has an auxiliary Bible Society,
National
Schools
, and many other
benevolent institutions, for the relief of instruction of persons of different
descriptions.
The
Custom-house, situated at the east end of the old dock, in nearly the centre of
the town, is a brick building ornamented with stone. The tobacco
warehouses where that article is deposited previously to the payment of duty,
are extensive and commodious edifices, situated on opposite sides of the
King’s dock.
The docks
are of a magnitude corresponding with the commercial importance of the town. So
far back as the year 1699, the Old Dock was constructed; and in 1738 an act was
passed for enlarging the entrance, erecting piers &c. The trade of the port
encreasing, it was found necessary to construct other docks-Salthouse and
St George’s
were finished; the
first stone of the latter was laid
April 1st 1767
. These being found insufficient, King’s Dock was opened on
3rd October 1788
; yet so rapid was the increase of trade, that another was found
necessary, and the Queen’s Dock admitted shipping into her spacious bosom on
17th April 1795
. Some of these docks communicate, so that ships can pass from one to the
other, and into the graving docks, without being obliged to return into the
river. All the wet docks are also connected by large tunnels,
for the purpose of one dock washing or cleansing another. Here are also
five graving docks and three dry docks.
In
convenient situations, contiguous to the shipping, immense ranges of warehouses
are constructed; some of these are much admired for their height and extent. On
the 15th
February 1802
, a fine range on the east side of the
St George’s
Dock was destroyed by fire; the damage was estimated at £323,000. Others
have since been constructed; and so near are the warehouses to the vessels that
the expence of loading and unloading is considerably less than in most other
commercial places.
Liverpool
carries on a trade to most
parts of the world , and is a depot for West Indian and American produce. From
this port the various manufacturers of
Manchester
,
Birmingham
,
Sheffield
, Staffordshire,
Leeds
&c. are spread over the surface
of the greater part of the habitable globe. By inland navigation,
Liverpool
communicates with every
principal town in the kingdom, and by this means receives additional wealth and
importance. Packets also sail to and from
Dublin
,
Belfast
,
Isle of Man
&c.
The
manufacturers of
Liverpool
are principally refined sugar, glass, watches, soap, &c. there are
also salt works, copperas works, iron works, and many considerable breweries.
Near the town are many wind mills for grinding corn and other articles; there is
also a large tide mill. An immense number of shipwrights or carpenters, ropers,
sail makers, &c. are also constantly employed in making, repairing, and
equipping vessels.
The more
ancient parts of the town are close and irregularly built, but the greater part
is of modern construction, the streets are spacious, the houses regularly built
, and some of them truly magnificent; there are also several elegant squares.
Everton, which is is covered with houses, inhabited by the principal merchants
of the town.
The air is
considered salubrious, and the town is resorted to, in the bathing season, by
great numbers of people from the surrounding country. A public spirited
individual, Mr Coglan, is now constructing an extensive Floating Bath, which will add much to the
convenience and comfort of bathers, whether inhabitants or visitors. The
facility with which provisions may be conveyed by the
Mersey
, ensures a plentiful supply; the
river itself furnishing an abundance of fish. In short,
Liverpool
has every advantage that can arise
from a favourable commercial situation, improved by art. It is surrounded by a
populous and productive country, that furnishes ample cargoes for exportation;
and consumes the rich returns of the enterprising merchant.
Liverpool
is a corporate town, and returns two
members to parliament. It is governed by a mayor, and two bailiffs, assisted by
a town clerk, recorder, and common council. Market days Wednesday and Saturday;
corn markets Tuesday and Saturday. Fairs, for horses and horned cattle, July 25th,
and November 11th. The population is upwards of 94,000.