Local History

local history by Stephen Guy, West Derby Society

Constant Change

Old maps reveal how our environment alters over time with new roads, houses and other buildings transforming areas. This is a process of constant change, even in places where time appears to have stood still. There may be more subtle adjustments in conservation areas, for example. Even legally protected buildings can be altered to make them suited for modern use.

Detailed, accurate maps started to appear in the 18th century. Previously they had many shortcomings and as society became more sophisticated people wanted to know exactly what was where.

If maps had been widely available in medieval times they would have shown great changes to the landscape, similar to today. Plagues such as the Black Death (1346 - 1353) devastated much of Europe. In Britain, whole neighbourhoods were wiped out. There are lost villages from this time where only grassy mounds remain to remind us of vanished communities. Before regulations were tightened in the 1970s, there was widespread destruction of historic areas which could have been preserved. Huyton Village, adjacent to the ancient church, was largely wiped off the map around 1962 to make way for modern buildings and improved roads. Such destruction is unlikely today as planners now tend to keep the best of the old to complement the new. Some destruction may result from the best intentions. William, 4th Earl of Sefton, redesigned West Derby Village from about 1860.

He wanted a suitable entrance to his home, Croxteth Hall, and swept away a mishmash of old buildings including the old chapel in the middle of the road. However, William retained several historic buildings including the Tudor courthouse - still a working building at that time - and the Yeoman’s House.

Deysbrook Lane is pictured looking towards Liverpool in January 1952. The wall on the left marks the site of historic Deysbrook House, demolished a few years earlier to be replaced by army barracks. It is now the site of the superstore. Houses in Bevan’s Lane can just be seen in the distance. Deysbrook House, one of West Derby’s great lost buildings, featured ornate painted ceilings. These were carefully removed before the house was demolished. The ceilings were packed into crates and stored away, unopened to this day, awaiting a suitable new use. Land around Deysbrook Lane was developed from the early 1950s, transforming a rural backwater into a thriving suburb.

Visit the West Derby Society website: westderbysociety.wixsite.com/westderbysociety

west derby & croxteth park

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