New book on the history and archaeology of Lancashire

Dear Sir/Madam,

I thought that you, and your members, may be interested in a new book that I have written on the history and archaeology of Lancashire (based on the County Palatine, and therefore including Liverpool/Merseyside and also the Wirral) and surrounding area because it deals with the area around Liverpool in particular. I am originally from the local area but now work as an archaeologist, based at Cambridge University, and have had the help of many local people over the years when carrying out research. Many of the objects that I write about are to be found in the Liverpool Museums.

The book is the product of a number of years of research into the historymand archaeology of the local area. In particular it considers the early history and archaeology of the coast from the Wirral round to Formby, beginning with the first hunter-gatherer groups in the Mesolithic and then the first clearance of the forests (using new pollen evidence). The book also includes evidence for the local prehistoric sites including the Calderstones, with new data and interpretations of the site. Also of interest are 30 new AMS radiocarbon datesfrom the burials of the early Bronze Age, including burials from Wavertree, which give new insights intomthe changing burial practices through the late Neolthic and early Bronze Age. I also include new osteological evidence based on studies of the cremated bone from which, in some cases, it has been possible to determine the sex/age of the person buried. This evidence sheds new light on
associations between burial goods and the sex/age of the person buried.

The book will be of interest to anyone living in and around Liverpool who has an interest in local history and archaeology, and I would be grateful if you could let your members know about it, possibly by forwarding thisn e-mail to your membership list or mentioning it on your website.

If you are interested the book, which costs £19.99 can be obtained on-line through Amazon, from local bookshops or I can arrange to supply a copy if people send me a cheque.

The details of the book are as follows:

Prehistoric Lancashire
David Barrowclough
2008
History Press (formerly Tempus Books)
ISBN 9780752447087

Many thanks!

Yours faithfully,

David

Dr David Barrowclough
Fellow in Archaeology
Wolfson College
University of Cambridge
CB3 9BB

Twilight and Wallflowers

Dear Sir/Madam,

My mother's first cousin twice removed, Annie Reid, wrote 'A Little History about Liverpool' in 1911. It was published by Henry Frowde, Oxford University Press, Hodder & Stoughton.

We have a copy of the book, but don't know how or why she came to write it. Do you have any information on this?

On a separate topic, my mother, Jean Arnold, has written her childhood memoirs - 'Twilight and Wallflowers' (Peacock Publications, Norwood, ISBN 1921008903, paperback, 322pp). A revised edition was published in December 2008. I attach a .pdf of the front and back covers for your information. The book sells for eighteen pounds (including post and packing).

The back cover of the book contains this description:

"Twilight and Wallflowers is a warm story of the author's childhood. Set largely in Liverpool, but with sojourns whilst evacuated in Colomendy, North Wales, and after the war, a time in Barton-upon-Humber. The story speaks with feeling, but not shallow sentimentality, of the joys, the wonders, the people, and the sadnesses of life in the Depression and later the war as seen through young eyes.

"Jean Arnold has brought to life the generations of people who populated her childhood.She has done so with a style that makes us feel we have known them and her, So too, Liverpool of the thirties and forties lives before us through her descriptions - a city of warmth and of bustle that may have moved beyond its golden age of prosperity by that time,
but remained irrepressible nevertheless."

Does the Liverpool History Society provide a means of advising members of the availability of books such as my mothers?

I look forward to your response,

Yours sincerely,

Dr Lynn Arnold AO,

43 Charlick Circuit

Adelaide, S Australia 5000

Australia

Publish Post

Peter Hope

I am seeking information regarding "Peter Hope" as well as any notable accomplishments etc. He lived during the late eighteenth century and purchased a parcel of property from a Jonathan Swift. This deed may be recorded in Liverpool. This is all the info I have to give at this time; hopefully, you can help.

Thank you,

Robert Prather

rprather@bbtel.com
270.735.5195 mobile
270.828.2538 home

Jack Jones

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am trying to find out where in Garston the late trade union leader jack Jones was born, also do you know anyone in Garston who knew him ?

Please call on the numbers below.

Thanks,

ANDY GILL
Merseyside Reporter, BBC North West Tonight
0151 794 0920
07764 335769

104 Falkner street

Hello

I hope you can help.

My ancestors lived in Toxteth Park around the early 1900s.

In the 1911 census, Annie Abrahams was a patient in the Toxteth Park Samaritan Hospital For Women (36 Up parliament Street). Would you be able to tell me what manner of hospital this was?

In 1924, her mother Hannah Abrahams died at 104 Falkner street. What was this street like in the 1920s? Was it a respectable area or rather less so?

I hope that you will be able to help.

Dan Abrahams

Johnsons of Everton & Joseph Miles, brewer of Liverpool

Dear Liverpool History Society,

I am not certain where to begin with this story which starts (or so I thought) with a grand old house in West End, Hampstead, belonging to the Miles family who were deeply into the book trade in London.

Further enquires show, interestingly, that the publisher, John Miles of Hampstead, was actually born in Byrom St, Liverpool (20/10/1784) the son of Joseph Miles, brewer of Liverpool (confirmed in Liverpool directory, 1790, and Gazetteer of Liverpool Breweries, 1803 etc), and Mary Johnson. In fact it was through an uncle of his mother's that
John Miles inherited the publishing business. This uncle was Joseph Johnson (1738 - 1809) sometimes called "father of the book trade." Joseph Johnson came from Everton, Liverpool.

To date I am not certain of all the family connections re the Johnsons of Everton, Liverpool, but it appears that they were strongly aligned with the Baptist Churches in the area. For example, in 1741 a John Johnson (1706 - 1791) was the minister of the Baptist Church at Byrom
Street. This did not last for long however, as there was dissension in the church regarding some of the Rev John Johnson's more radical? views. The resulting splinter group, headed by Rev John Johnson, started their own chapel in Stanley Street....

I think this was the group who were later labelled the "Johnsonian Baptists". It was when I began to read some of their material (taken from old pamphlets, letters etc) that I realised that the radical and dissenting publisher, Joseph Johnson (please see above) must have been
strongly influenced by these ideas as a young Baptist living in Everton....Joseph Johnson's later associations with the radical thinkers of his day, his strong support of the Unitarian Church
movement (some of their ideas were not that far removed from the Johnsonians...) and finally his imprisonment, all make much more sense in the light of his early family connections and religious affiliations. It all began in Liverpool.

My apologies for the preamble, but wanted to give a little background to show why I am curious to learn more about the Johnsons of Everton - their occupations, various family connections, church affiliations etc. Also, I am be very interested in the Miles brewing
establishment. I am not certain that the Miles - Johnson marriage (poss 1781, St Paul's, Liverpool) would have been approved of by the Johnsons who may not have been pleased about Joseph Miles brewing connections. Joseph Miles family came from Westmorland I believe, and there appears to be a family connection (not yet confirmed) with the Miles of Kendal and possibly Ambleside etc who were millers, and so able to supply the malt to the Liverpool brewery/s.

There are some interesting connections and possibilities re these two families. My interest is both local history and family history, Joseph Miles and Mary (nee Johnson) Miles being my great x 4 grandparents.

Perhaps you may be able to point me further in the right direction re this enquiry please. Having discovered firm family links to Liverpool, I am keen to learn more of the area, and follow up on some of these family and other interesting connections. I have a lot of questions...For example, as the Johnsons have been described as yeoman and landowners of Everton, I wonder was this area still rural in the 18th century...? What did the chapel in Byrom Street look like.?..and
so on.

Any info, guidance or pointers, on any of the above would be very much appreciated. I would also be very interested to make contact with others who may have similar interests or family connections. I suspect the Everton "Johnsonians" were relations of my Mary nee
Johnson Miles, and that they had a strong influence on the radical bookseller/publisher Joseph Johnson.

I look forward to your knowledgeable assistance an/or advice.

Sincere regards,
Rosemary Totton, Auckland, New Zealand

Information on World War 2 from South Liverpool

My name is Dan Morris and i was wondering if you have any information on world war 2 from south Liverpool. I need information for my project at school and i would be grateful if you could help me out.

Specifically I'm trying to find out if anywhere was bombed around the mossley hill / aigburth / smithdown road area of the city.

Thanks

Dan

(daneatsspam@hotmail.co.uk)

Victorian sculptor, Benjamin Spence Born 1822 - Died 1866

Dear Sir or Madame:

My name is Barbara Behan, and I am a descendant of the Victorian sculptor, Benjamin Spence. (Benjamin's brother was my direct ancestor. This brother eventually emigrated to Canada, and one of his sons was my grandmother's father, settling in Montana.)

I'm interested in learning more about Benjamin Spence's work and life. I understand from online articles from a Liverpool newspaper that three of his sculptures were vandalised in 2005. I wonder if these were repaired?

I'd like any information on them that you have. I did also find, online, a photograph of "Highland Mary" that appeared to have been taked in 2009, but I couldn't verify this date.

Would you mind letting me know if these sculptures were repaired? Also, if you could give me a brief overview of other information you may have on Spence and his work, I'd also appreciate that.

Many thanks to you,

Barbara C. Behan
Missoula, Montana
USA

behansmith@earthlink.net

Fulwood Lodge

Hello Linda,
please see the above photograph of Fulwood Lodge.
Best regards
Rob Ainsworth

Ray and Miles, of London Road

Hello,

I was hoping to post this query on your blog, but can’t seem to work out how to do it, so am hoping it might be possible to do it via this email!

I am trying to find out more about a cabinet making firm called Ray and Miles, of London Road, Liverpool. I’ve contacted the LRO and they don’t have any company records, nor can I find them via A2A.

I am hoping you might have someone in your membership who would know more about them or might be interested in talking to me.

Many thanks,

Jenni