The paragraph
below describes West Derby in the early eighteenth century:
The township
lies on the edge of the open country, where the smoke-laden air of the city is
exchanged for the fresher breezes which blow over open fields and through
masses of foliage. True, there is hardly a break in the long line of houses
from the city to the village of West Derby, but the larger houses set amidst
gardens and paddocks are separated by airy spaces and are overshadowed by
trees. The country is very flat, and has, except in the far east, the
unmistakable stamp of sub urbanism. In the easterly direction are the
plantations and grounds of Croxteth Hall; in the north is open land which was
once moss land, a large cemetery being a conspicuous object in the level
country. South and west are more crowded with houses, where such suburban
neighbourhoods as Knotty Ash, Broad Green, and Old Swan are situated. The
old-fashioned village of West Derby still presents a countrified aspect. The open ground is chiefly pasture, but crops of corn and
potatoes are raised in a loamy soil.
Access to the
township from Liverpool, was originally from a road that ran eastward called Rake Lane. After
passing the Upper Breck, the road, became Rocky Lane, which descended the hill,
and then crossed Tue Brook, which gives its name to the current neighbourhood.
It crossed Green Lane which led to the
'Old Swan.' The main road, and continued upward to the Mill-house, near which
had stood the ancient Derby windmill, Lark Hill. Mill Lane then descended to
the village with its ancient chapel, continuing, as Castle Lane, in the
direction of Croxteth Hall.
![]() |
West Derby Village cross-roads c1900 |
The village
cross-roads led south-east to Town Row, from which Deys Lane branched off; and
north-west past New Hall in Carr Lane to Walton village. Carr Lane was a
continuation of a road from Liverpool which crossed the Tue Brook at Club Moor,
and went deviously onward to Kirkby. In this part of the township was the
hamlet of Dog and Gun, and West Derby Cemetery, opened 1884, to the west, and
the district called Gill Moss. From Derby mill mentioned above a lane led south
past Blackmoor Moss. A little to the east stood the Round House, otherwise
known as Sandfield.
The roads described above continue to be the main thoroughfares. Many of them were used by the
Liverpool tramway system, which facilitated access to the village, and also to
Old Swan and Knotty Ash, where there is a junction with the South-west
Lancashire tramway system. The London and North-Western Company's railway line
from Liverpool also passed through West Derby. The Cheshire Lines Committee's
Southport Railway also passed through, more to the east, with stations at
Knotty Ash and West Derby, opened in 1884.
![]() |
West Derby Station - Early 20th Century. |
West Derby was
the capital manor of the hundred, to which it gave its name. (The West Derby
Hundred) As a royal manor it is listed in the first in Domesday Book, the
description of the land reads:
'Between
Ribble and Mersey,' and with its six berewicks was assessed at four hides;
there was land for fifteen ploughs; and a forest two leagues long and one
broad, with an aery of hawks. King Edward held it in 1066, and by the Conqueror
it was given to Roger of Poitou who had temporarily lost his fief (sic) before
1086; but in 1094 Count Roger gave the tithe of his demesne in this vill
(sic) to the abbey of St. Martin of Séez.It is possible that he built the
castle here. After his banishment in 1102 West Derby with his other manors
escheated to the crown, and was about 1115 granted to Stephen of Blois as part
of the honour of Lancaster'.
West Derby had a
Castle which was mentioned again in the Domesday book in 1197 when the castle
was repaired at a cost of 100 shillings.
After the death of King Richard a garrison was stationed in it to
preserve the peace of the county; three years later considerable additions and
repairs were carried out. During his struggle with the barons King John kept a
sufficient garrison there. By 1297, however, it had ceased to exist, for it was
returned that 'in the town fields of Derby there was a certain site of an old
castle, where the capital messuage used to be, with the circuit of the
ditches'.
Croxteth Hall,
formerly called Barret's Hall, the chief seat of the earl of Sefton, is
situated in this township on the borders of Croxteth Park, from which it takes
its name. The Molyneux family acquired it in Henry VI's reign, when Sir Richard
Molyneux was steward of the manor, and about 1540 was one of the chief residences
of the Molyneux family. The deeds at Croxteth show various acquisitions of land
in West Derby, beginning in 1545. A north wing was added about 1790, and in
1902–4 was rebuilt to harmonize with the west front, the old brewhouse and
bakehouse, which had been incorporated with the work of 1790, being destroyed
in the process. In 1874–7 an east front was built and the south front
lengthened to join it, while the dining-room at the south end of the west wing
was lengthened southwards and the grand staircase renewed. The present house is
built round a quadrangle, and its greatest dimensions are 205 ft. by 135. Its
chief merit lies in the early eighteenth-century work, with its detailed
panelling being of an excellent standard.
![]() |
St Mary's West Derby 1800s |
The first
distinct allusion to the chapel in West Derby occurs in the middle of the
fourteenth century. In 1494 Henry VII allowed five marks out of the issues of
the manor towards the maintenance of a chapel for the celebration of divine
service within the lordship. The next time it is mentioned, is in connection
with the Reformation period. During the succeeding century its history is
obscure; probably the new services were maintained more or less regularly, a
'reading minister' being supplied, as was the case about 1612. In 1650 the
surveyors found 'a godly minister,' Mr. Norcott, and after the Restoration the
older order probably returned. Bishop Gastrell, in about 1720, In 1719 leave
had been given to build an aisle on each side of the chapel. There was a
resident curate, for the 'house and ground' is mentioned, and about this time
the township built a house called the 'Parsonage' for the curate. A new service
of communion plate was provided in 1760. The ancient structure was pulled down
after the building of the new church, 1853–6. It seems to have undergone much
rebuilding in the eighteenth century, but at its destruction part of an ancient
gable was discovered in the west wall, so that something at least of the old
work remained. The chief records of its later history are to be found in the
earliest West Derby Vestry Book, begun in 1744. In 1745 the stone pillars under
the steeple and the steeple itself were taken down and rebuilt, and in 1747 the
chapel was 'uniformed down on both sides to the west end of the steeple.' In
1786 the chancel and other ruinous parts were taken down and rebuilt and the
chapel enlarged.
West Derby
retains a courthouse built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I: the first
(Wapentake) court in West Derby was established around 1,000 years ago. The
West Derby Courthouse, built in 1586, was restored and conserved in 2005 and is
the only freestanding post-medieval courthouse in Britain. Opposite the
courthouse is a set of Victorian cast iron stocks once used as a public restraint
punishment for offenders the villages used fruit and rotten vegetables to throw
at the offenders. The stocks were placed in their current position to
commemorate the coronation of Edward VII in 1902. Temporarily removed in 2008
whilst the site was renovated, the stocks have since been put back in place.
West Derby is
also home to a number of schools that have produced famous pupils: West Derby
School, one of whose alumni is actor Craig Charles. St. Edward's College
produced Sir Terry Leahy, former England rugby union player Mike Slemen and
actor Michael Williams. Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School includes Liverpool
footballer Steven Gerrard, professional boxer David Price and musicians Mike di
Scala, Terry Marr, David Kent and Neo-Psychedelia 3 piece outfit Idle Jack as
former pupils. Previously called Cardinal Allen Grammar School, it was attended
by Everton footballer Colin Harvey and actor Paul McGann. Broughton Hall High
School former pupils include singer Natasha Hamilton of Atomic Kitten, and
actress Jennifer Ellison. Ellison later moved to St. Edward's College for sixth
form. Other schools in the area include Holly Lodge Girls' College, St. Paul's
Junior School and Blackmoor Park Junior School. And finally, the
former Channel 4 soap opera Brookside was filmed on a housing development built
on part of Lord Sefton's estate.
Links
Sources
British History
on line
National
Archives
Liverpool
Central Library
Liverpool
Records Office
Wikipedia
By Robert F
Edwards