Calderstones Park is situated in the Allerton area of the
city and from 1845 until 1954 the stones that gave the park its name were
situated in a circular arrangement on a site at the junction of Calderstones
Road and Menlove Avenue. It is believed that the stones belonged to a burial
chamber that was covered by a large mound of earth and that they were used
as a tomb around 5000 years ago.
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Calderstones in 1840 ©The Northern Antiquarian |
The tomb probably dates back to the Ice Age when the
inhabitants of Liverpool were camped along the periphery of the Mersey and
those who farmed further inland. The tomb would have been a place for the
inhabitants to lay to rest the dead and exalt and pay homage to those of their
ancestors who had passed. There are carved markings or circles on the remaining stones of the type used by the
Celts in Anglesey the various tribes that occupied Anglesey erected similar
stone burial chambers, standing stones, and hill forts, many of which survived
the ages in good condition and can still be visited today.
At the junction of Calderstones Road and Menlove Avenue there
is a circular stone wall and this is probably within metres of the original
tomb. The stones have been variously known as the dojer, rojer or Caldway
stones and the mound were they were originally located was disturbed several
times over the years but was destroyed in 1833. We know this because of a
letter that was found quoting a farmhand who stated that "when the stones
were dug down to, they looked as if there had been a little hut or cellar
below" . He also recalled that
there was a cartload or two of burnt bones on the site.
During the mid and later 19th century certain academics had
declared the Calderstones to have been part of a druidical circle. In the
closing years of the century Professor Herdman returned to the earlier evidence
and concluded that the stones were once part of a ruined dolmen or megalithic
tomb which had been mistakenly taken for a circle due to the false impression
held that all druidical remains should be so arranged.
The six surviving stones are of local sandstone and their
sizes range from approximately eight by three feet to three and a half by two
and a half feet. The markings which had been studied the previous century by
Simpson were again analysed and latex moulds were made of the stones and
carvings, which both enabled a precise record to be made and also highlight
other worn carvings which were not previously visible. The carvings were placed
into six categories; spirals, concentric circles, arcs, cup marks, cup and ring
marks and footprints. There is also evidence of post-medieval and modern
graffiti. Several of the carvings are similar to examples found in Anglesey and
the late-neolithic burial site of Newgrange in the Boyne Valley.
The stones were relocated by Joseph Need Walker during his
ownership, becoming a gateway feature to the eponymous estate. The stones are
now housed in the Harthill Greenhouses in Calderstones Park having been moved
from their previous location in an enclosure just outside the park gates in
1954 to protect them from further weathering.
Calderstones Mansion House © Rept0n1x at Wikimedia |
Originally part of the 1,583-acre (6.41 km2) expanse of the
Manor of Allerton, around 1726 the area now known as Calderstones Park was sold
by its owners to settle family debts.
Eventually, the Liverpool merchant Thomas Martin became owner. He added to the
estate before selling the area to Joseph Need Walker, a lead shot manufacturer
with business interests in Liverpool. Walker acquired the estate in 1825 when
the principal building was known as "The Old House". By 1828 this old
farmhouse had been swept aside to make way for the mansion, Calderstones House.
In 1875 the estate was sold to Charles MacIver for £52,000.
A Liverpool shipping magnate, he had joined Samuel Cunard in establishing the
British and North American Royal Steam Packet Company - later and better known
as Cunard Line. Charles MacIver retired in 1874 and his younger sons, Henry and
Charles, took the reins.
In 1902 the MacIvers sold Calderstones for the sum of
£43,000, to Liverpool Corporation.
The Reader Organisation has announced that they have signed
a lease with Liverpool City Council for Calderstones Mansion House giving them
residency for 125 years.
The park now hosts numerous events throughout the year,
follow the links below for more information.
Location: Liverpool, England, UK
Coordinates 53°22′54″N 2°53′39″WCoordinates: 53°22′54″N 2°53′39″W
Area : 126 acres (0.51 km2)[1]
Created: 1905 [2]
Operated by: Liverpool City Council
Open: All year
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Calderstones Park 2017 |
Sources
Liverpool Central Library
Liverpool Records Office
Wikipedia
Liverpool City Council
Robert F Edwards
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