Wavertree Liverpool

[Puzzle]

Can anyone help me re Wavertree about 1905 - 1910? I don't know the area and I would like to know what sort of a place it was then, village, suburb, respectable - or not- my mother was born in Heathfield Road, and I would like to get the feel of the family about that time.
As I live in France, it's difficult to go to local libraries etc where I'm sure I would find what I want.
Thank you anyone who can fill me in a bit, or point me in an internet direction.

[purlin]

Hi Puzzle,

Heathfield Rd.runs or ran off Smithdown place,  off Westgate Rd.  off Smithdown Rd. Wavertree which was then Liverpool 15

I don't know Heathfield Rd off hand but i do know Smithdown Rd.  and parts of that area.  There's a huge wreck or playground there that used to be or still is called 'the mystery'  i was told as a kid that it was so called because no one knew the name of the benefactor.  There also used to be a huge old hospital on Smithdown Rd.  which along with the playground was probably there in your Grandparents time.  There was also an old time Music Hall that i can remember going to.  Many of the streets off Smithdown Rd. which is really the main thoroughfare, would have been terraced housing with quite often a corner shop at one end and a pub at the other!  There was certainly no shortage of pubs in the area. 

This site gives you a feel for the area http://www.allertonoak.com/merseySights/SouthLiverpoolWV.html

hope that helps

[garstonite]

I live 4 miles from Wavertree.....The Mystery is a huge public  park with a running track with a football pitch in the centre of it .at the back of the park is Bluecoat College and to one side is Picton Road Baths ...the hospital is Sefton General Hospital and the odds are that your mum was registered there ...they had a register office within the hospital for births and deaths...I myself am registered Wavertree and so are my 2 oldest sons - they were born in Sefton General...
Wavertree Road was a large shopping area , but as time goes by . shops are demolished and Retail Parks take there place - plenty of pubs - but again , they are slowly closing down .
It was not - and is not a village / suburb ...it is terraced housing very similar to "Coronation Street " off the telly .Toxteth Park Cemetery is on Smithdown Road and Ege Hill Train station is on Wavertree Road ..it is a
built up area just outside Liverpool City Centre (2 miles ).
If I can help in any way , let me know
regards
allan

[Puzzle]

Thanks for that, it's what I imagined, places go up and down in a hundred years don't they? It's difficult to get a feel from a distance. My guess is  in 1907 my grandfathers house was probably fairly a new build, semi. I think he was a fairly successful salesman in soap. Possibly to do with Levers.
 A few years later they moved to Meols, then bought their own house in Meols. I have more information about that period. Anyway, thank you for helping me to get the picture.

[polly88]

Although it was/still is terraced housing, it was very respectable.  My family come from Wavertree - Tiverton St, Taunton St and the Dales (eg Sunningdale).  In Tivvy St there used to be lovely iron railings, and the brass and steps were always polished.  There were a lot of railway men - my grandfather was a train driver - and their house even had a bathroom (unheard of then!); mind you the lavvy was still outside!  The entries were always clean too.  I loved it.  I went back a few years ago and the railings had all gone, and the windows and doors had been changed.  Very sad.

[polly88]

Oh, and what about Wavertree Garden Village?  Lovely place, though I always thought it posh!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/localhistory/mersey_times/issue_01/garden_suburb.shtml

[Lleucu]

Heathfield Road  converges with Church Road( Blue Coat School) opposite Penny Lane ( of Beatles Fame)  and runs into Woolton Road the other end. It is adjacent to Allerton Road.
It's a nice area with substantial housing and good transport links to the city centre.
The Smithdown Hospital site is now an Asda although there are still some medical facilities on the site.
The Mystery is home to an Athletic Centre and a 'new' Swimming Pool and Gym.
Hope this gives you a flavour of the area.
Lleucu
 

[clwyd2]

Hi Puzzle  Heathfield Rd runs from Church Rd [near Penny Lane] to Woolton Rd
the houses are quite large not 2up 2down it is quite an affluent area ,a lot of Jewish families live in the surrounding area. Go to Google street view to look
at ---Heathfield Rd L15

[garstonite]

Apologies - I didn`t realise that area came under Wavertree- John Lennon lived in Norwich Road at one time , which is more or less opposite ? am I correct ?