This thread is for those interested in the stories of old Liverpool and it´s watch industry. It starts with an old building, no longer there. It was the so called Old Post Office Buildings and stood on the corner of Church Street and Church Alley. I believe there is today an Old Post Office Place.
But let me start with a quote from the book "The Memorials of Liverpool" by J.Allanson Picton, M.A.
The Post Office about the middle of the last century (18th.) was situated on the east side of John Street. It was a simple dwelling in which lived the postmaster Mr Thomas Statham, with a little hole in the window for delivery of letters. In 1781, the Post office was removed to Lord Street, where it remained until 1800 when it was removed to the Old Post Office Place, Church Street. In 1775 there was only a single letter-carrier for the whole district, no greater number being allowed for any provincial town.
It is not made clear in the book what the building looked like when the Post Office moved to Old Post Office Place, though below is a drawing of the building c1840, from Smith´s Directory of 1843.
The coach on the left is on Church Street, the right side of the building going into Church Ally.
A closer look at the Church Street side, and the letters on the building. Top Centre "Manufactory" below "Jewellery, Clock, & Watches. This was when the building was owned by Mr W. B. Promoli, and his nephew Mr F. L. Hausburg.
This is what Picton had to say about the ownership of this building.
"The block east of the church, (St. Peter´s) between Church Alley and the Post Office Place consisted, to some extent, of the oldest buildings in the street. They were taken down and the line set back under the improvement of 1866. Here resided in the early part of this century (19th), George Coltman, a surgeon of considerable eminence. He had been a surgeons assistant in the navy but was dismissed the service for striking his superior officer who had given him the lie. He was a rough-spoken fellow, greatly addicted to profane swearing, and radical in politics. (John Arnold was the same)
In 1800 the Post-Office was removed from Lord Street to Post-Office place, Mr Thomas Banning was appointed post-master, in whose family the office remained down to 1875. In 1839, the business having, enormously increased, even before the establishment of the penny postage, (Postage Stamps) the Post-Office was removed to its present locality in the Revenue Buildings. (The good old Customs house)
The Customs House, before it was lost in the second world war. In Front the Old Dock.
"At the western corner of Post-Office Place and Church Street, visitors to Liverpool were formerly attracted to a rich and varied collection of articles of taste and vertu, know as Woodfield´s Bazaar. (John Woolfield) This existed while as yet Compton House was not, and was the source of considerable wealth to several successive occupiers. It was originally commenced by Mr John Woolfield who opened a jewellers shop in Paradise Street about 1826 and moved to Church Street in 1828. He was succeeded by his brother Thomas, who greatly enlarged the premises and extended his sphere of operations. about 1840 he retired with ample means, and settled at Cannes, in the south of France, to the success of which he has greatly contributed by his enterprise and outlay of capital. He was succeeded by Mr W.B. Promoli, of Paris, who in a few years transferred the business to his nephew, Mr F.L. Hausburg, who after a very successful career was succeeded in 1860 by Mr Tooke, of London. in 1866 the progress of improvement required the widening of Church Street, which could only be accomplished by the destruction of the famed bazaar. The claims for compensation, both of landlord and tenant, were naturally large for breaking up so profitable a concern. After a protracted and expensive inquiry, an award was finally made for 38,800 pounds for the site, 916 square yards, being about 41 pounds per square yard, and 23,000 pounds for the trade compensation and stock.
This painting by Herdman as the following underneath.
Church Street 1868.
W.G. Herdman. LRO Herdman Collection 304 (curtasy of Liverpool museum)
This is the south side of Church Street, from Church Alley looking towards Ranelagh Street. A Post Office was on the site in 1800, subsequently moving to new, larger premises in 1839. The original building then became known as Old Post-Office Buildings and the Street to the side and rear was named Old Post Office Place. The Liverpool Academy of Arts and later the Liverpool Society of Fine Arts, both held exhibitions in Old Post-Office Buildings, which included the work of WG and William Herdman. When Church Street was widened in the 1860s, this block, by that time probably the oldest in the Street, was demolished. The railings of St Peter´s Churchyard, then the parish church of Liverpool. can just be seen to the right of the picture.
Those who know their way around Liverpool will also know Tha Robert Roskell was ar 11-14 Church Street, Joseph Johnson at 25 Church Street, PeterLitherland at 70, Church Street, and the room made by the demolishment of the Old-Post-Office building gave room for the building that became Russell´s Watch Factory.
A rough map, I made. hope it helps.
Allan
But let me start with a quote from the book "The Memorials of Liverpool" by J.Allanson Picton, M.A.
The Post Office about the middle of the last century (18th.) was situated on the east side of John Street. It was a simple dwelling in which lived the postmaster Mr Thomas Statham, with a little hole in the window for delivery of letters. In 1781, the Post office was removed to Lord Street, where it remained until 1800 when it was removed to the Old Post Office Place, Church Street. In 1775 there was only a single letter-carrier for the whole district, no greater number being allowed for any provincial town.
It is not made clear in the book what the building looked like when the Post Office moved to Old Post Office Place, though below is a drawing of the building c1840, from Smith´s Directory of 1843.
The coach on the left is on Church Street, the right side of the building going into Church Ally.
A closer look at the Church Street side, and the letters on the building. Top Centre "Manufactory" below "Jewellery, Clock, & Watches. This was when the building was owned by Mr W. B. Promoli, and his nephew Mr F. L. Hausburg.This is what Picton had to say about the ownership of this building.
"The block east of the church, (St. Peter´s) between Church Alley and the Post Office Place consisted, to some extent, of the oldest buildings in the street. They were taken down and the line set back under the improvement of 1866. Here resided in the early part of this century (19th), George Coltman, a surgeon of considerable eminence. He had been a surgeons assistant in the navy but was dismissed the service for striking his superior officer who had given him the lie. He was a rough-spoken fellow, greatly addicted to profane swearing, and radical in politics. (John Arnold was the same)
In 1800 the Post-Office was removed from Lord Street to Post-Office place, Mr Thomas Banning was appointed post-master, in whose family the office remained down to 1875. In 1839, the business having, enormously increased, even before the establishment of the penny postage, (Postage Stamps) the Post-Office was removed to its present locality in the Revenue Buildings. (The good old Customs house)
The Customs House, before it was lost in the second world war. In Front the Old Dock."At the western corner of Post-Office Place and Church Street, visitors to Liverpool were formerly attracted to a rich and varied collection of articles of taste and vertu, know as Woodfield´s Bazaar. (John Woolfield) This existed while as yet Compton House was not, and was the source of considerable wealth to several successive occupiers. It was originally commenced by Mr John Woolfield who opened a jewellers shop in Paradise Street about 1826 and moved to Church Street in 1828. He was succeeded by his brother Thomas, who greatly enlarged the premises and extended his sphere of operations. about 1840 he retired with ample means, and settled at Cannes, in the south of France, to the success of which he has greatly contributed by his enterprise and outlay of capital. He was succeeded by Mr W.B. Promoli, of Paris, who in a few years transferred the business to his nephew, Mr F.L. Hausburg, who after a very successful career was succeeded in 1860 by Mr Tooke, of London. in 1866 the progress of improvement required the widening of Church Street, which could only be accomplished by the destruction of the famed bazaar. The claims for compensation, both of landlord and tenant, were naturally large for breaking up so profitable a concern. After a protracted and expensive inquiry, an award was finally made for 38,800 pounds for the site, 916 square yards, being about 41 pounds per square yard, and 23,000 pounds for the trade compensation and stock.
This painting by Herdman as the following underneath.Church Street 1868.
W.G. Herdman. LRO Herdman Collection 304 (curtasy of Liverpool museum)
This is the south side of Church Street, from Church Alley looking towards Ranelagh Street. A Post Office was on the site in 1800, subsequently moving to new, larger premises in 1839. The original building then became known as Old Post-Office Buildings and the Street to the side and rear was named Old Post Office Place. The Liverpool Academy of Arts and later the Liverpool Society of Fine Arts, both held exhibitions in Old Post-Office Buildings, which included the work of WG and William Herdman. When Church Street was widened in the 1860s, this block, by that time probably the oldest in the Street, was demolished. The railings of St Peter´s Churchyard, then the parish church of Liverpool. can just be seen to the right of the picture.
Those who know their way around Liverpool will also know Tha Robert Roskell was ar 11-14 Church Street, Joseph Johnson at 25 Church Street, PeterLitherland at 70, Church Street, and the room made by the demolishment of the Old-Post-Office building gave room for the building that became Russell´s Watch Factory.
A rough map, I made. hope it helps.Allan
