Issue 116 – March 2016
LOST LANDSCAPES
Derby. Constructed in 1863, Blackmoor was originally called Peterhof after the Tsar’s summer palace. THE transformation began in the 1920s when people The house was served by two lodges. One (pictured) once demanded more manageable and affordable homes. stood in Eaton Road on the site of Danescourt Road – the Britain changed radically after the First World War other survives on Leyfield Road opposite Thornhead Lane. as social change accelerated with the demands of the The two were connected by a drive incorporating an conflict. ancient footpath originally linking Low Hill and Knowsley. At first it seemed little had altered as people welcomed Known locally as Blessig’s Stile, this picturesque – but to the return of peace. Many families lost fathers, sons and some intimidating – tree-lined byway was retained when brothers on land, sea and air. the Blackmoor estate was built. Few were exempt: the Earl of Sefton’s 16-year-old son It was closed by magistrates, possibly illegally, in 1965 died in the Battle of Jutland while other West Derby fambut a short stretch was retained off Leyfield Road. ilies lost one or even two members. Many others were Among the other lost landscapes are Alder Hey whose also wounded or mentally scarred. Grade II-listed lodge and adjacent gateway survive. Large numbers of people worked in service before The Walker Playing Field was originally the garden 1914. Houses such as Lowlands, Broughton Hall, behind Kiln Hey house where refurbishment is nearing Claremont and St Clare employed many servants as did completion. numerous other large residences. During the war women took many jobs formerly done by men. Women and girls – previously in domestic service - worked in factories and on buses, for example. Big houses needed large numbers of people to run them. Without people to fetch and carry, they became uncomfortable and impractical as well as being expensive to maintain. As the 1920s progressed, increasing numbers of large houses and their big gardens – miniature country estates - were devoured by developers. Blackmoor house had one of the largest spreads in West Derby, standing in 15 acres between Eaton Road and Leyfield Road. Merchant Philip Jacob Blessig moved from St Petersburg in 1845 to settle in Liverpool. The Russian was very successful and decided to build a new house in West
By Stephen Guy, West Derby Society
HAPPY
MOTHER’S
DAY
Join the West Derby Society at its next meeting 7.30 pm on Wednesday 16 March at Lowlands, 13 Haymans Green, Liverpool L12 7JG.
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