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West Derby is one of the eight Hundreds of Lancashire and fifteen townships came under its jurisdiction. Its original name, Derbei is from the Old Norse "dyr" and Anglo-Saxon "deor" meaning deer. During the Anglo Saxon times and until the 13th Century, West Derby stood in a huge forest approximately 11 miles long, which would explain the notable existence of deer and other wildlife. At the time West Derby was more
prominent than Liverpool itself and as such featured in the domesday book
whereas Liverpool did not register. Like Liverpool, West Derby had a castle
which stood in the area
until the early 1800's. By the thirteenth century the area declined in importance as Liverpool grew. The village of West Derby is now a conservation area and is still rich in it's ancient history. |
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The parish
church of St Mary the Virgin stands adjacent to the entrance to the Croxteth
Park Estate. St Mary's church designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in the
1850's replaced a smaller church which is marked by a monument known as
the Village Cross given to the community between 1861 and 1870 by a Mrs
Pemberton Heywood of Norris Green.
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| Close to the Village Cross stands a stone drinking fountain which was erected in 1894. An inscription on the fountain reads "Water is best". Ironically, water has not passed through the fountain for many years. Fortunately, three Public Houses located in a triangle surrounding the fountain provide alternative liquid refreshment. |
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Mill Lane runs from the Mill on Millbank (near the Jolly Miller Public House) down to the drinking fountain in West Derby Village. The large volume of sandstone walls and buildings in the West Derby area are clearly evident along Mill Lane. |
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These two photographs
of the Village Cross taken over 90 years apart demonstrate how very little
has changed in the area. The West Derby Public House, known locally as
"The Barrys" is in the background.
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| A path adjacent St Mary's Church leads to Croxteth Hall, an 18th Century Mansion, which was given to Merseyside County Council in 1974 by the late Lady Sefton. It was opened to the public in 1976 and, along with its large 500 acre country park, is one of the most popular attractions in the City. The park is certainly a popular attraction to birds with over 130 different species recorded in the area in the last 20 years. |
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| The courthouse which stands redundant was built in the sixteenth century and was last used in the early nineteenth century. The Wapentake Court was transferred from West Derby in 1207 by King John as the charter was granted to Liverpool. | ||
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Yeoman's House was built in 1660 and is currently believed to be awaiting development since it's purchase several years ago by an unknown individual (thought to be american). It's original sandstone appearance has been carefully restored recently, having been whitewashed for many years. |
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The Village
stocks were originally located at the end of the courthouse and moved
in 1904 to it's current location which was the old village pound. A small
garden decorates the stocks surrounded by wrought iron fencing. The stocks
are recorded to have held a local drunk, "Peg-Leg Harry" in
the 1830's who was pelted with rotten fruit.
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| West Derby is also the home of both Liverpool and Everton Football Club training grounds. Melwood (right) was originally a farm field and was taken over as a sports ground in the 1920's by St Francis Xavier's College until it was bought by Liverpool Football Club in 1951. Bellefield was originally the home of Sir Edward Bates who founded the shipping company associated with the Cunard Line. Everton Football Club rented the ground after World War II and acquired the freehold in 1960. |
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The aerial photograph (left) was taken in 1921 and shows West Derby Village before modern housing developments began. The field (bottom right) in the photograph was recently renamed "The Bill Shankly Playing Fields" in rememberance of the Liverpool manager who would train youngsters on the fields almost every evening. Shankly lived on nearby Bellefield Avenue, overlooking Everton's training ground. "If Everton were playing at the foot of my garden I'd draw the curtains." - Bill Shankly |
| The photograph (right) was taken from the top of St Mary's Church on a sunny afternoon in 1975. |
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©2002 Timbo's Liverpool - copyright notice |
