Liverpool's Seven Streets
Home I Castle Street I Chapel Street I Dale Street I High Street I Old Hall Street I Tithebarn Street I Water Street
The original street plan of Liverpool is said to have been designed by King John near the same time it was granted a royal charter, making it a borough.
The original seven streets were laid out in a H shape:
- Bank Street (now Water Street)
- Castle Street,
- Chapel Street
- Dale Street
- Juggler Street (now High Street)
- Moor Street (now Tithebarn Street)
- Whiteacre Street (now Oldhall Street)
Map donated by Tony Swarbrick of Leverpoole.co.ukThe following text has been copied from the Ramsay Muir's 'Bygone Liverpool', 1913:
Streets, Buildings, and Sanitary Provisions
The original town, as set out by King John, consisted of two streets crossing each other at right angles, forming four arms, called respectively Castle Street, Juggler Street (afterwards High Street), Dale Street, and Water Street, The centre where they met was called the High Cross. Chapel Street and More Street (afterwards Tithebarn Street), and Mylne Street (afterwards Oldhall Street), were subsequently added, their intersection with Juggler Street being called the White Cross. So the town continued for many ages, with little improvement or extension down to the Restoration.
In 1558, in appointing a committee of the burgesses, four were selected from each principal street. These are repeatedly recognised in the records.
In 1565, seven street are named, containing 184 tenements. These returns, however, vary, considerably from 184 down to 138 in the course of a few years.
In 1581 a subsidy was levied on the inhabitants, of whom a list is given in the records. About 100 names are given, residing in six streets. There were doubtless many omitted who were too poor to contribute.
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Please click on the links above or below for further information and images.
Grateful thanks to the The Athenaeum for supplying maps plans and images.
All material is copyright © of the Liverpool's Seven Streets website 2007
Liverpool's Seven Streets Committee:
Christina Clarke
Florence Gersten
Brenda Murray
Patrick Neill
Robin Riley
Dave WoodPhotographs by Dave Wood, Patrick Neill, Jonathan Neill & Tony Swarbrick
See the new web site devoted to Liverpool streets: LiverpoolStreetGallery.com
(With your help, this could become a great resource!)Website created by Liverpool Pictorial & Friends of Liverpool Monuments
