Issue 106 – May 2015
OLD SCHOOL TIES By Stephen Guy, West Derby Society WOODED parkland covered the gentle slopes, providing residents with quiet retreats from the busy business world of the nearby port. Wealthy merchants increasingly saw the potential of the area in late Georgian times shortly before Queen Victoria came to the throne. Ancient West Derby took on a new role as an upmarket residential area for those with cash to spend. Elegant mansions began to be built in substantial numbers from the 1830s, starting a trend lasting around 50 years. The Molyneux family – later Earls of Sefton – settled here in Tudor times when they built a small house which grew over time into Croxteth Hall. Four big houses would eventually become part of Holly Lodge School. The first was
Holly Lodge House (pictured about 1930) which was followed by Sandheys, Fremont and Uplands. Wealthy miller Edward Hutchinson was the best-known resident of Holly Lodge House. He carried out extensive alterations and extensions around 1885, installing the colourful stained glass window recently moved to
the new school hall. Uplands was one of two houses with the same name in an area marked on old maps as The Uplands – hence The Lowlands in Haymans Green. Both Uplands and Lowlands were occupied by the Withers family. Wealthy stockbroker Richard Withers, of Uplands, was married three times, widowed twice, and had numerous children. Fremont, on Mill Lane behind the Jolly Miller pub, features an unusual garden room or summer house. Nearby Sandheys was home to members of the Bright family before becoming an orphanage after the First World War. Originally there was a house between Fremont and Sandheys, quaintly called The Bingle. It was demolished after being badly damaged by a stray bomb in the Second World War. Barnfield was a big rambling house dating from 1828 which stood at the end of Mill Lane. It was demolished in the 1930s when Queens Drive was widened. Building company Redrow plan to develop the Holly Lodge House site with 60 houses. Both Fremont and Sandheys are Grade IIlisted and will be returned to residential use. The pond, a popular feature of the grounds, will become a public amenity. However, Holly Lodge House – although in good condition and capable of being converted – is not listed so will be demolished under the current plans. Join the West Derby Society at its next meeting 7.30 pm on Wednesday May 20 at Lowlands, 13 Haymans Green, Liverpool.