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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Lancashire => Topic started by: skyblueFF on Thursday 05 March 09 10:01 GMT (UK)
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It is said in our family that before she married in 1923, my grandmother worked in the Liver Building in Liverpool. She actually lived in Oxton, Birkenhead.
On her marriage cert. there is just a dash under rank or profession.
Can anyone tell me what was the business there at that time?
Would she have travelled on the ferry every day?
Michael
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Michael
The Liver Building was the purpose-built Head Office of the Royal Liver Assurance company - essentially an organization set up to offer life assurance/insurance. It was also one of (if not *the* ?) first building in the world of its size to be be constructed using re-inforced concrete - not that it looks like it !
As to the profession of your ancestor, the building probably housed > a thousand staff so the possibilities are the obvious associated with assurance/insurance through all the support staff neede to run an organization of that size.
And in the early 20th century the Mersey ferry was the most likely means of transport from over the river.
And despite the ugly new blocks that have sprung up nearby, the Liverpool waterfront remains one of the most awe-inspring in the world (but I would say that being a "native" ;) ).
cheers!
Ian
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Hi
As Ian says, the Liver Building has always been full of offices and employs many people, I think mainly in insurance companies.
As for travelling on the ferry, it's a possibility (especially in nice weather) but I think Oxton is near the railway system on the Wirral, a rail tunnel to Liverpool was opened in the 1890's . She may have got the train under the Mersey and got off at James St station, not far from the Liver Building.
John
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Many thanks for those replies. It all helps to build up a picture of her life. I think she was probably a typist.
Michael
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There are also Shipping Offices. seem to remember Brocklebank Line, Furness Withy Line and I think the Bibby Line had offices there, or did in the 1960's
Jean
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The Liver Buildings were built for the Royal Liver Insurance Company.
during WW2 there were some American Forces based there.
The building next door to the Liver Building was the Cunard Building and the third one of The Mersey Docks & Harbour Board
Across The Strand from these three buildings was the Offices of the White Star Line where Bruce Ismay (Titantic) had his offices.
The Liver Buildings were completed in about 1911 , and was the first building of its size built from concrete and steel construction.
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Visited Liverpool last week.... Friendly folks, helpful in the RO. Looking forward to going back, if you need a look up Michael.
BTW.. Does anyone know the history behind the two birds ???
Here's a photo of one ontop the Liver building.
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Oh I remember watching the Liver Birds on TV
This has more info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Liver_Building
Sylviaann
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Many thanks for these recent replies. I have very strong family connections with Liverpool but I have never been there. I feel a visit coming on in the near future.
Michael
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The Liver Birds were supposedly based on the Cormorants, I believe these were part of the City of Liverpool ensignia in some way.
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http://www.ngw.nl/int/gbr/l/liverpoo.htm
At last... found this about them..
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The Liver Birds
The one facing out to the river is the female.
She is watching for the sailors returning from the sea.
The male is watching over the city - - to see if the pubs are open yet!!!!
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Hiya Michael...I am Liverpool born and bred (in Garston) and as a child in the 1950`s I can remember queueing for hours waiting with my dad for his Car Tax and Car Registration....I don`t know if this happened as early as the 1920`s but a huge section of the ground floor was used for the registration of ownership of cars / motorbikes /vans etc and also to tax them
allan :)
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The Royal Liver Insurance company presumably have or had several of the floors for their head office.
Other shipping companies and Insurance companies would probably have rented offices.
Maybe Government departments had offices there.
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The first Mersey ROAD Tunnel was not opened until 1933 or thereabouts. Alternative to the ferry was the railway which had a tunnel under the river.
James Street station is now about three hundred yards away from the Liver Buildings.
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Hello
Thanks for those snippets, it all helps to build up a picture I don't suppose I will ever find out which of those departments she worked in.
It is said that she met her husband on a train or bus. He was an apprentice at Cammell Laird and lived in Walton on the Hill so it does make some sense, except they would be traveling in different directions. ???
Michael
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If he was on a late shift or an evening shift, then he could have been on his way to work as she was on her way home.
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In Kelly's Directory, 1968 edition, about 75 different outfits occupied parts of the Royal Liver Building, including many shipping* and freight businesses, tax offices (including the motor tax dept), consulates, government offices, insurance brokers and agents, timber merchants etc, etc, as well as the Royal Liver Friendly Society on part of the ground, 8th and 9th floors.
* Including Canadian Pacific, Lamport & Holt, Clan Line, Houlder, Leyland, Palm Line, Bank Line, Anchor Line and others. Happy days!
A
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I remember hearing the Liver Bird was based on an eagle so I checked the Liverpool Museums website and they confirm this. It was a rather badly drawn eagle though!
Along the way however, it has been thought of as other birds including the cormorant!
Lynne
http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/archive/displayGuide.aspx?sid=27&mode=html
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* Including Canadian Pacific, Lamport & Holt, Clan Line, Houlder, Leyland, Palm Line, Bank Line, Anchor Line and others. Happy days!
A
Happy memories of my first two jobs after leaving school. Was an office junior in a shipping agents and went round all the shipping lines, consulates plus of course MDHB booking space for all sorts of things. People effects when emigrating, machinery/goods etc being exported. Oh yes they were Happy days :)
Jean