Recollections of Old Liverpool

A nonagenarian native looks back across a century of Liverpool’s bustling docks, crowded streets, and intimate neighborhoods, recalling a world that has largely vanished. He paints vivid scenes of childhood mischief, the dreaded ducking‑stool, grand civic celebrations like George III’s birthday, and the launch of the frigate Mary Ellen. Through familiar landmarks—St. Peter’s churchyard, the salt houses, the lively Folly Tavern—his memories form a rich tapestry of everyday life.

The memoir also delves into the harsher side of the city, describing the cramped borough gaol, fever‑ridden inmates, and occasional daring escapes. Political passions flare in colorful accounts of noisy elections, duels that settled grudges, and the panic stirred by the feared French invasion of 1797. Interspersed with lighter moments—skating on Finch Street, the chatter at the Wishing Gate, and sailors sharing gifts—the narrative offers listeners a walk through Liverpool’s past, as vivid as a stroll down its historic cobbles.