In October 2023, I posted a comparison picture collage via my social media channels of the former private residence known as ‘Sandown’ and the current site today, Sandown Court, a 1960s tower block on the corner of Leicester Street and Albert Road. This in turn led me down a rabbit hole into early organised cricket in Southport, which, as far as I am aware, was believed to date from 1859. Sandown wasn’t always called Sandown, it was originally (and one could say coincidently)

Recently, I was asked to speak on Radio 4’s Today news programme, about the history & cultural importance of Southport Pier. This blog is...

As a child during the late 1980’s, I remember well, wanting to look at Peter Aughton’s book,  Southport & North Meols: A History. As part...

Scarisbrick Lodge, the Southport home of Sir Charles Scarisbrick from 1888 until his death in 1923 was up until recently, a building that...

By British Government - This photograph Q 42037 comes from the collections of the Imperial War Museums., Public Domain,...

Section of 1889 Town Plan showing High Park FC Wennington Road/Roe Lane ground. Reproduced with kind permission from the National Library of Scotland. The placename of High Park dates back to at least 1762. It was first distinguished on mid C19th maps, originally lying outside of Southport proper, until a further boundary extension in 1875. Upon becoming part of the expanding town, it experienced rapid growth in the latter part of the C19th. As well as local families, who res

Emperor Napoleon III in 1862. Image source: https://art.rmngp.fr/en/library/artworks/hippolyte-flandrin_napoleon-iii-en-uniforme-de-general-de-d The town of Southport has been given many appellations during its 230 year existence, my personal favourite being, ‘The Montpellier of England’ which was given by Dr Joseph Brandreth, at some time prior to his death in 1815. Later in the C19th and well into the C20th, Southport was known as, ‘Englands Seaside Garden City’. Not quite

(The Lost Farm, near Southport. Drawn by G.Pickering and engraved by Edward Finden. Published by Longman & Co 1831. Authors archive)...

No.90 Roe Lane is a prominent C19th cottage, which is unique in Northern Southport, situated on one of the oldest thoroughfares in the district. Roe Lane was of course at one point considered a hamlet in it’s own right within North Meols, recorded in Bishop Gastrell’s Notitia survey of c1720 as New Row. Bailey mentions a document of 1600 describing The Newe Rowe, undoubtedly the same place. The area is shown clearly on Yates’ 1786 map as Row Lane. Image source: Southport Yes

Nestled amongst the bed & breakfast town houses of Bath Street and just off from the flashing arcade lights of Nevill Street, stands a neat detached building of almost 170 years old, which many people probably miss if walking by on foot. They may stop to use the post box situated within the front wall, or inquisitively ponder over an inconspicuous plaque, that recalls the time that Lord Strathclyde opened the Bath Street guest house improvements scheme in March 1990. The buil

Image credit: Norfolk Muserum Service, Norfolk Castle Musuem & Art Gallery http://norfolkmuseumscollections.org/collections/objects/object-2323992331.html/#!/?q=James%2BWillia James William Walker was born in Higham, Norwich on 20th February 1831, to parents James and Martha. Little has been uncovered about his early life however, In the 1851 census he is listed as a painter aged twenty, living with his parents in Norwich. In 1855 he married Eleanor Bridgeman, also of Norwic

At the top of Coronation Walk facing the sea, stood a unique building which has been confused many times as being Whiteley’s repository. This time I am referring to ‘The Lodge’. Peter Aughton states it was built by Samuel Whiteley in 1840 and this is probably where the confusion arises that it was his repository. The date of 1840 is backed up by the earliest image of the Lodge, an engraving by W.H. Bartlett and J.C. Armytage entitled, ‘The Sands at Southport’. The Victoria Ba

We can trace the origins of Coronation Walk back to an entrepreneur from Bolton, Samuel Whiteley, born circa 1783. In 1812 he built his...

Scarisbrick Avenue, a Victorian thoroughfare, constructed during the mid to late 1880’s, connecting pedestrians from Lord Street to the...

In late October 2020, I spotted an item on eBay which I deemed to be a rare view of an old Southport cottage. It was a magic lantern...