Gateacre

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Coordinates: 53°22′59″N 2°51′40″W / 53.3831°N 2.861°W / 53.3831; -2.861
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Gattaca, a 1997 film with an identical-sounding name.

Gateacre
Metropolitan county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLIVERPOOL
Postcode districtL25
Dialling code0151
PoliceMerseyside
FireMerseyside
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Merseyside
53°22′59″N 2°51′40″W / 53.3831°N 2.861°W / 53.3831; -2.861

Gateacre (

listed buildings within a quarter-mile of its centre, making it one of the most important historic areas in the city.[2]

Gateacre can trace its roots back to at least the 1100s, although it was not until the mid-1600s that the name was first used to refer to the area. It remained a primarily rural village until the 1800s, when it began to grow rapidly as new transport links and businesses developed. Gateacre was officially absorbed into Liverpool in 1913, but did not become part of the city's

Gateacre Community Comprehensive School
and a shopping centre being built. In order to protect the area's historic buildings, Gateacre was declared a conservation area in 1969, becoming one of the first in Liverpool.

History

Toponymy

The name Gateacre was first used in the mid-16th century to refer to the area that had previously been part of the townships of 'Little' and 'Much' Woolton.[3] The origin of the name is not fully known, although there are two parallel theories on where it may have come from. The first explanation suggests that the name may derive from 'gata' – meaning path or 'the way' in Middle English – to the 'acre field' of Much Woolton (which approximately encompasses what is modern day Woolton).[3][4] An alternative suggestion is that the name may have developed from the Anglo-Saxon term gāt-æcer, which means a "newly cultivated plot where goats are kept".[3]

Origins and early history

The origins of modern-day Gateacre date back to at least the 12th century, to the historic townships of Much Woolton and Little Woolton.[5] Much Woolton was centred on the nearby village of Woolton, with Little Woolton covering an almost entirely rural area adjacent to it. The area that would later become Gateacre was situated on the boundary between the two townships. The present day Halewood Road and Grange Lane approximately sit on the path of a former packhorse trail, which went from Hale to West Derby.[4]

The ownership of the land changed numerous times over the next several hundred years, with Gateacre remaining a primarily rural area. There are records of several buildings and tenants on the land,[5] although it wasn't until the mid 16th century that Gateacre was referred to, as a place in its own right.[3]

The oldest surviving buildings in Gateacre are Grange Lodge, which dates to the late 17th century, and the Unitarian Chapel, which was built in 1700 for the local English Presbyterian congregation.[6] Although Gateacre remained a mainly rural area until the nineteenth century, maps from the eighteenth century do show the crossroads in the centre of the Village. Subsequently, Gateacre was likely a central point for travellers across the region and it is during this period that both the Black Bull and Bear & Ragged Staff (today known as just the Bear and Staff) Inns emerged, providing shelter and accommodation for those travelling through the village.[4]

Nineteenth century and rapid growth

During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Gateacre became a rural retreat for the wealthy business classes of Liverpool, Widnes or Warrington.[6] Villas and rural cottages were constructed during this time, using sandstone and brick from the local quarry in Woolton,[7] and many of these buildings survive.[8]

The Jubilee Memorial is located on Gateacre's village green, in front of the Black Bull pub

Gateacre began to grow as a village in the 19th century. Employment in the area expanded beyond agriculture, with the opening of the Gateacre Brewery mid-century

mock-Tudor
becoming popular.

In the mid-to-late nineteenth century, several notable residents moved into Gateacre, including

Golden Jubilee. He commissioned his nephew Count Gleichen to sculpt a bronze bust of the Queen to be placed upon it.[8]

Twentieth century and incorporation into Liverpool

Gateacre was officially absorbed into Liverpool in 1913, although the area was at the time still relatively rural.

Gateacre Comprehensive School (today known as Gateacre Community Comprehensive School), the UK's
first purpose-built comprehensive school opened on Grange Lane. The school relocated to Belle Vale in 2011.

As the

Belle Vale and the area was soon engulfed within the city.[12] In order to protect the area's historic buildings, Gateacre was subsequently designated a conservation area in the city, whilst the natural assets around Gateacre Grange were protected through the city's first tree preservation order.[12] On 15 April 1972, Gateacre railway station closed to passengers, with the last freight trains running along the line in 1975. Despite hopes that the station would be re-opened, the tracks were removed in 1979 and the line now forms part of the Trans Pennine Trail.[11]

In 2008, as part of Liverpool's year-long celebrations as the European Capital of Culture, Gateacre became home to Tudorlambanana, one of 125 replica Superlambananas created throughout the city. Located in the centre of Gateacre Village, Tudorlambanana was designed by students at Gateacre Community Comprehensive School based upon the distinct mock Tudor architecture in the area.[14]

Description

Gateacre is today a largely affluent suburb of Liverpool, containing mainly residential premises. Housing is primarily a mix of large

terraced housing remains, particularly around Gateacre Village. More recent developments, such as Woodsome Park on the site of the former Gateacre Hall Hotel, have increased the number of apartment
properties in the area. The majority of the housing dates from the post-war period, particularly the 1960s, when the area grew into and became part of the Liverpool conurbation.

Architecture

The variety of architectural styles in Gateacre is considerable and is reflective of the long history of the area.

listed buildings within a quarter-mile radius of the village centre, making the area one of the most important historic locations in the city.[2]

Generally the majority of buildings in and around the village date from the early nineteenth century, although there are buildings that date back as far as the late seventeenth century. The area's proximity to the

Mock Tudor' style became more common and is today synonymous with the area.[8]

The Church Cottages on Belle Vale Road are an example of mock-Tudor design that Gateacre is known for

Gateacre Brow is noted for its late-Georgian and early-Victorian era

Grade II listed buildings.[16]

Grange Lane, which is home to the area's oldest building, Grange Lodge, is noted for a series of cottage and farm buildings. The oldest of these, the Grade II listed Paradise Cottages, were built at the beginning of the eighteenth century from rough sandstone, with ashlar

Tudor Style with an open front courtyard and built from brick, with panelled stone-mullioned windows.[18]

On Belle Vale Road, on land adjacent to the Church of St. Stephen are the Church Cottages. Built in the late-nineteenth century the cottages were built from a combination of timber and brick in mock-Tudor style. One of their most noted features are the large diagonally set

chimneys.[19] Also on Belle Vale Road are a series of early-nineteenth century houses built from sandstone ashlar with slate roofs.[18]

Buildings

Name Image Description Ref(s)
The Black Bull Public House The Black Bull Public House is located in the centre of Gateacre Village overlooking the village green. The building, which has a half-timber frame and is designed in mock-Tudor style, has a cobbled forecourt adjacent to the green, and is generally recognised as the symbol of Gateacre. It is believed to have been originally constructed during the eighteenth century, providing shelter and accommodation for travellers passing through the area. The pub was extensively redeveloped at the end of the nineteenth century by Sir Andrew Barclay Walker, when it was given its current look. [4][13][20]
The Church of St. Stephen The Church of St. Stephen is located on Belle Vale road and was constructed between 1872 and 1874. It was designed by the architect
Gothic style decorations, whilst the stained glass windows in the church were provided by the architect and designer William Morris
. 		[19]
Clegg's Felt Factory The Clegg's
storeys high and was built using a variety of coloured bricks. In 2005 plans were submitted to convert the building into a series of residential apartments. As the building is listed, part of the redevelopment has seen restoration of many of the original Victorian
features. 		[9][21][22]
Gateacre Unitarian Chapel The Gateacre Unitarian chapel building is situated on Gateacre Brow, just up from the village green. It was constructed in 1700, making it one of the oldest church buildings in Liverpool, being further expanded in 1719. Like many other buildings in Gateacre, it was built from sandstone from the local quarry in Woolton. Alongside the chapel is a small graveyard and the smaller Chapel Hall, which bears a significant resemblance to the main building itself. [10][15]
No. 28 Gateacre Brow No. 28 Gateacre Brow sits on the corner of the junction with Sandfield Road. It was built in 1889 by the
Prudential Assurance Company
. The building's ground floor was constructed using locally sourced red sandstone, with brackets supporting the plaster and timber upper levels. On the north-west corner of the building is an octagonal turret with bell shaped roof, which is one of its most noted features. The building's mock-Tudor facade is decorated with 3-dimensional plaster panels that depict various stories from the bible. 		[10]
The Wilson Memorial Fountain The Wilson Memorial Fountain was built in 1883 by the people of Gateacre in honour of John Hays Wilson, the chairman of the Liverpool Water Authority. It was built in recognition of the development of water supplies in Liverpool, in particular due to the construction of a
gargoyles, mermaids and the liver bird
, the symbol of Liverpool. 		[20][23]

Notable people

References

  1. ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0
    .
  2. ^ a b "Guarding the Past – Safeguarding the Future". Gateacre Society. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d "Gateacre". National Museums Liverpool. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d "A Brief History of Gateacre – Index". Gateacre Society. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
  5. ^ a b "Townships – Little Woolton". British History Online. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  6. ^ a b "A Brief History of Gateacre – Page 2". Gateacre Society. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
  7. ^ a b c Moscardini, p52
  8. ^ a b c d "A Brief History of Gateacre – Page 3". Gateacre Society. Archived from the original on 7 August 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  9. ^ a b "The former Clegg's Felt Factory: History". Liverpool.ndo.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
  10. ^ a b c Moscardini, p56
  11. ^ a b "Station Name: Gateacre". Disused Stations. Retrieved 26 June 2009.
  12. ^ a b c d "A Brief History of Gateacre – Page 6". Gateacre Society. Archived from the original on 7 August 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  13. ^ a b c d "A Brief History of Gateacre – Page 4". Gateacre Society. Archived from the original on 29 August 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2009.
  14. ^ Woodland, Guy; Shaw, Fiona (2008). Go Superlambananas: The Book. Cities 500.
  15. ^ a b c Moscardini, p55
  16. ^ a b Moscardini, p54
  17. ^ Moscardini, p63
  18. ^ a b Moscardini, p62
  19. ^ a b Moscardini, p61
  20. ^ a b Moscardini, p59
  21. ^ "The former Clegg's Felt Factory: Present". Liverpool.ndo.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
  22. ^ "Redevelopment Proposals". Liverpool.ndo.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
  23. Sutton Publishing
    .
  24. ^ "In Conversation with Serafinowicz". Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  25. ^ "The Observer profile: Peter Serafinowicz". The Guardian. 14 October 2007.

Bibliography

  • Moscardini, Anthony (2008). Woolton & Gateacre: Architecture and Heritage.
    ISBN 978-1-904438-43-4
    .

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gateacre.
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