At the heart of our community
FREE copy
28,000 Copies - 23,000 into Homes + 5,000 into Businesses
Issue 128 – December 2017
from everyone at The LINK
FRUIT & VEGETABLES By Stephen Guy
IN GEORGIAN and Victorian times many big houses had walled gardens for growing fruit and vegetables under glass as well as in the open. his self sufficiency re uired gardening staff but often the house owners would take an active part in growing and harvesting. Reynolds Park and Calderstones have walled gardens and there are several others in the Liverpool area. Many more have been destroyed with passing time and the continual demand for land to build new developments. Olive Mount in Wavertree has a particular link with one type of fruit – oranges. Valencia Road is named after the grand family home of fruit merchant William McGeorge. He made a very comfortable living importing the luscious fruit from Valencia in Spain. Originally called Hill House, William re-named it Valencia House about 1908.
INSIDE
WIN, WIN, WIN Win tickets to Snow White panto
see page 5
An interview with Gerry Marsden
page 3
It is not known if he grew oranges in his garden but other exotic fruit was cultivated along with vegetables. There was a 40ft long greenhouse, an orchard growing both apples and pears plus a
chicken run and rabbit hut. Rabbits were kept as a cheap source of meat. Blackberry and raspberry bushes provided late summer and autumn fruits for pies and ams. reen figs were grown in a sheltered corner. Valencia House was pulled down around 1927 after it had been divided into three for some years. The mansion, with soaring chimneys and full-length windows, stood at the junction of Victoria Park’s North Drive and Mill Lane. A tinted postcard (pictured) from about this time shows the view looking north. All that remains is the stone wall – the house and outbuildings in the picture were demolished long ago. Valencia House stood to the left just out of view. Mill Lane was straightened
so the original bend in the road is now called Old Mill Lane. Grade II-listed Olive Mount mansion, part of the hospital, dates from the late 18th century. In Edwardian times this was the site of Olive Mount Cottage Homes. Set in 49 acres of grounds, there were 16 cottage homes run by foster mothers. The complex was designed for the residential education of healthy children although most only stayed for a short period. It closed as a children’s home in 1955 before linking up with Alder Hey to become a hospital. n Learn more about the history of Liverpool at the Museum of Liverpool, Pier Head, open 10am to 5pm every day, admission free.
LIFE ‘n’ STYLE with Jade Ainsworth
– Page 15
Car review – Volvo V60 Cross Country
page 17
Strange Tales by Anton Valdemart SERVICES LINK
page 8
Need a decorator, plasterer, gas fitter, electrician, plumber, cleaner etc...
WHAT’S ON
Advertise your event, charities etc...
and much, much more