History of Shopping In Wallasey

Shopping In Liscard Village

The 'Queen's Arms Hotel' is the hotel on the corner of Liscard Village and Queens Street and was the original meeting place for the newly formed Commissioners of Wallasey in June, 1845. (Further reading please read Wallasey Local Government)

Joe McCabe was once the landlord in the 1930s, previous landlords being Jack Fewtrell and George Lloyd. There used to be a stable attached to the old public house. Crosville buses use to leave from the Queen's Arms. Buses here also left for Llandudno and Heswall/Parkgate. Edward Mackie, the monumental mason, started up his business next to these premises. Alf Ince once had his smithy opposite Egerton Grove and he had a large horse-shoe above the board bearing his name. Alf used to live at No.14 Valkyrie Road. The post office was built in 1913 on the site of 'Trafford House' and the smithy's building. Prior to 'Trafford House' being built the site was originally occupied by 'Liscard Hall Farm'. When the Post Office was built Alfred Ince moved to 28 Fairview Avenue

On the corner of Manor Road in the 1930s was Griffith's the chemist. At one time there use to be speaking tube by the side door where visitors could speak to the chemist if something was needed during the night. The Central Fire Station was on the opposite side of the road. The superintendant at the time was William Nicholson. The police were also here at one time. There was also once a weighing machine. A company who painted show bills and other forms of advertising matter had the next premises next door was Jim Barnaby, the motor mechanic .Walter Eastwood was the butcher on the corner of the entry. This business was taken over by Thomas Bell, who was a noted butcher in Liscard. It is hard to believe nowadays that back in the 1930s sheep would be slaughtered at the rear of the premises. The village abattoir was once situated close to where Barnwell Avenue is.

Next to the butcher was Monteith's, the grocers, later taken over by Thomas Jones. Fred Clairmont had the small greengrocers at No.22. Sam Spence, the ex-New Brighton footballer took over the shop when he retired from the game. Enoch Roles was the saddler in the next little shop. Alf Poole had what was the Bon-Bon sweetshop and there was a ladies outfitters on the corner of Liscard Crescent. James Byron started as a carrier, then went in for selling and repairing bicycles. Above the windows of his shop he had enameled metal figures of men on bicycles. Also in this block of buildings was Mrs Dillion. She was a wardrobe dealer. The business could have been started by Frank Dillon. The draper's was owned by Mrs. Woodman and then there was Rivett's, the bootmaker. After Rivett's left, George Young, who was also a Wallasey Councillor and Mayor of the town between 1951 and 1952, opened a very successful pork butchers. Miss Loucisa also had a cake shop along here at one time. Maeginn and Curtis then became the confectioners and everybody who smoked cigarettes or a pipe know Marriot's the tobacconists, who had taken over Bailey's old shop. There were insurance offices above and William Brothers were the grocers . The Bank of Liverpool and Martin's were on the corner of Liscard Village and Liscard Road (modern day Liscard Way). They had opened the branch on 22nd August 1908. George Mason, the grocers, took over the grocery business at No. 6-8 and the Home and Colonial Stores opened where the drapers used to be.

On the right-hand side of the village from the Rake Lane end was 'Egerton Cottage'. It had a thatched roof and was demolished in 1913 and 'Hebron Hall' was built on the site. There was also Egerton Grove Cottages and Popular Terrace. The Christian Scientists used to meet at No. 63 in the 1930s. Egerton Grove School was erected in 1928

Dean Terrace was built in 1782 and was three-storeys high. Only the end of the terrace still exists; that being 'The Royal Oak', which was once in the care of Mary Gibson. Jim Creevey had the public house in the late 1920s.The little shops were occupied by Tom Brown, the confectioner, Jack Cooil, the saddler and next to him, the chandler, Mrs Menkie; the shop later became known as the 'Dinky Wool Shop', where the two Jones sisters were in business.

Other businesses were Irving and Hall, the decorators. In 1915 there use to be Pritchard and Davies on the same site. Robert Rawlinson opened a wine stores in the old Jack Gray's ironmongers.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s there were a great number of horses within the town and so consequently this meant animal fodder was in great demand. Fred Cheshire sold hay and straw and his business was taken over by Alf Beynon. At one time Alf was a Coal Merchant. Another member of the family was at No.23 - John Benyon, the florist and nurseryman. At No. 17 Bob Dugdale had a milk-house in Miss Curtis' old shop. Bill Albones was the cobbler. Next to the garage was Joshua Milss and Sons, the painters. They were also plumbers and did a lot of work all over Liscard and other parts of the town. Mrs Eva Nichol was a 'wardrobe dealer' and William Gibbon lived at 'Inglefield' with Stephen Gibbons at No. 1. There used to be a butcher named Jack Fellows along here at No. 11, and Tom Peers had a greengrocers.

Gibsons' stables were at the end of the road and was established in 1860. Today the site is now derelict though at one time was the Capitol Cinema. Gibsons' had a large yard, stables and carriage buildings. They hired out horses for the Fire Brigade. They were carriage proprietors and they were often hired for weddings and funerals. They were soon to move with the times and went over to motor vehicles. Mr Gibson moved down the road to No.25 and had a fine, large garage. Mr Harold Gibson was at No.23. In front of their forecourt were large iron gates which were kept closed and only opened to allow the cars to go in and out. As the years went by, the firm became part of the John W. Griffith and Son, the leading wedding and funeral directors in the town. The buildings were later demolished to make way for rebuilding.

One of the most popular shops in Liscard Village was 'Ellison Brothers' at No.15. They then took over Nos.13 to 17. The business was started by Harry and his brother in King Street, long before the First World War. The local plumbers persuaded him to stock their needs and soon Ellison's were to sell cast-iron toilet cisterns bearing their name on the sides. They moved to Liscard in the early 1930s and soon became the leading shop for wallpaper and paints, selling a large selection of colours in all sorts finishes and brands. They opened new premises in Oxton Road and Conway Street, as well as keeping the one in King Street (although they had moved to new premises) and Heswall. Eventually the business was taken over by a Yorkshire company who called their shops 'Decca Mecca' and a few years later they in turn were taken over by 'Fads' and the old building was demolished to make for a modern D.I.Y store. Today Tesco Metro occupies the site.


Liscard Village : 1898
No. Name No. Name
1 Stephen Gibsons
Carriage Proprietor
2 Robert James Harton
Newsagent
9 Thomas Evans
Fruiterer & Greengrocer
4 Enoch Roles
Sadler & Harness Maker
11 John Fellowes
Butcher
6 & 8 Fred Hughes
Pork Butcher
13 Mrs Annabella Mills 10 Mary Worthington
Confectioner
13 & 15 Joshua Mills & Sons
Painters & Plumbers
12 Mrs Frances Teare
Tobacconist
17 Mrs Rose E. Brenton
Confectioner
14 William Rivett
Boot & Shoemaker
23 John Benyon
Florist & Nurseryman
16 Margaret E Brown
Milliner
25 Alfred Benyon
Coal Merchant
18 "Ivy Cottage"
Robert H. Reddy
27 Frederick Cheshire
Provision Dealer
20 Mrs Sarah Hughes
Confectioner
35 John M Gray
Ironmonger and Gasfitter
20 Mrs Kate Wynne
Certified Midwife
39 Royal Oak
Mary Napoleon Gibson
22 Sarah Lightbound
Dressmaker
41 Thomas Little
Fruiterer
24 Frank Gibson
Grocer & Tea Dealer
43 William Hughes
Confectioner
26 Walter Eastwood
Butcher
45 Thomas C Huxley
Provision Dealer
Urban District Council weighing machine
Enoch H. Spragg Keeper
"Thorn Villa"
Mrs Ellen Williams
Manor Road
53 Thomas Dutton
Contractor
28 James Byron
Carter
Prospect Buildings
32 John Green
Physician & Surgeon
1 John Keegan
Gardener
Frank Graveson
Grocer
2 Mrs Mary Parry
Smithy Lane
3 Richard Henderson 1 Thomas Davies
Boot & Shoemaker
4 Walter Anthony 2 Richard Davies
Car driver
5 Thomas Williams 3 James McDonald
Brickmaker
Egerton Grove
Alfred Inch
Blacksmith
Eileen Leonard 52 Edward F.Mackie
Monumental Mason
Robert Buckley Queen's Arms Pub
George Lloyd
1 Edwin Rawcliffe
Artist
2 Thomas Borlace
Clerk in Post Office
3 Mrs Caroline Salthouse
4 John Robinson
Custom House Clerk
5 William Robert Spence
Book Keeper
6 Samuel Richards
Gardener
7 Henry E. Madders
Book Keeper
Egerton Grove
any house numbers in grey are private dwellings


Looking At Liscard Village :
1952 - 1994
1952
1966
1994
No. Name No. Name No. Name
Mill Lane
1 Capitol Cinema 1 Capitol Cinema 1 Capitol Bingo
3 National Registration Office 5 Barclays Bank 3-7 Vacant
3 Food Office 9 J Lloyd & Son
Footwear
9-11 Haworth & Gallagher
Solicitors
5 Barclays Bank 11 R. Zalud
Gowns
15-17 Homestyle By Fads
Interior Decorators
7 Northern Western Gas Board (Showroom) 13-17 Ellison Brothers Ltd
Builders
25-25a Spring Gardens
Greengrocers
9 Robert Chatham Ltd
Electrical Contractors
23 Gibbons
Funeral Directors
27 Rham Records
11 R. Zalud
Gowns
25 P.J Pratley
Carpet Dealers
29a Blondy's
Hairdressers
13-17 Ellison Brothers Ltd
Builders
25a County Borough of Wallasey Welfare Food Distributing Centre 31 John Charles Dodd
Opticians
23 Gibbons
Funeral Directors
27 Adrienne
Ladies Hairdresser
33 Threshers
Off-Licence
23 Gibbons
Car Proprietors
29 W.H. Farrell Ltd
Builders
35 Royal Oak
25 Anne's
Ladies Hairdresser
31 J. Charles Dodd & Son
Opticians
Council Officers & Health Centre
25a Leisurecraft Gifts Shop
Fancy Goods Dealers
33 Royal Liver Friendly Assurance Society
27 Mrs R. Maitland Bakers 33a Anthony Lockhart
29 Drakes
Liscard Restaurant
33b Joe Brown (Wallasey)
Turf Commission Agents
31 John Charles Dodd
Opticians
35 The Salad Shop
Greengrocers
33
(rear)
Thomas Hall & Son
Contractors
39 Royal Oak
35 Abraham & Devereux
Greengrocers
41 Misses C&W Jones
Woolen Drapers
39 Royal Oak
Robert Morecroft
43 Misses H.& E.Brown
Newsagents
41 Misses C&W Jones
Woolen Drapers
45 Richard Breheny
Boot & Shoe Repairers
43 Thomas G. Woodman
Newsagents
45 Richard Breheny
Boot & Shoe Repairers
Prospect Buildings
Prospect Cottages
Wallasey Education Committee School Clinic
47 William Thomas Davies
Caretaker
Hebron Hall
Christian Mission
63a R.J Leary & Co
Builders
63 Miss Mary Emily Sharp
65 Frederick J.Roberts
Estate Agent & Valuer
65 Burnley Building Society
No. Name No. Name No. Name
Martins Bank Chambers Martins Bank Chambers
Martins Bank Martins Bank 2-6 Barclays Bank
George E.Jones & Son
Certified Accountants
George E.Jones & Son
Certified Accountants
8 entrance
Borough Of Wallasey Butchers Borough Of Wallasey Butchers 10 Kruger
Jeweler
Hannaford & Taggart
Solicitors
Hannaford & Taggart
Solicitors
12 Best Possible Taste
6-8 George J.Mason Ltd
Grocers
6-8 George J.Mason Ltd
Grocers
14-16 National Provisional Bank
Central Chambers
Central Chambers
18 Yorkshire Bank
8 Pearl Assurance Co.Ltd 8 Pearl Assurance Co.Ltd
10 George Young
Tobacconist
10 Marriots
Tobacconist
12 George Young
Pork Butcher
10 Lloyd Beachcomber
Int. Travel Bureau
18a William Leslie White
Cafe
12 George Young
Pork Butcher
14-16 Telefusion Ltd
TV Sales
18 National Provisional Bank
Liscard Crescent
20a Benjamin Pickford
Provisions Dealer
20a Exchange Mart
Gentlemen Dealers
20 Bon Bon
Sweet Shop
20 Miss Doris King
Stationery
20a Joe Brown (Wallasey)
Turf Commission Agent
22a Harvest
Deli
22 Daniel Rea & Son
Colliery Agents
20b Haworth & Gallagher
Solicitors
24 Thomas Edward Jones
Grocer
20 S. Hewlett
Newsagent
26 Thomas Ewart Bell
Butcher
22a Jones Bros.
Fruiterer
Fire (Central) Station 24 Kenny Campbell Ltd
Athletic Outfitters
26 Thomas Ewart Bell
Butcher
Fire (Central) Station
Manor Road
30 Griffiths Chemist 30 Griffiths Chemist 30 Ching Ming
Wallasey Post, MOT and Telephoic Express Delivery Office Wallasey Post, MOT and Telephoic Express Delivery Office Post Office
Queen's Arms Pub Queen's Arms Pub Queen's Arms Pub

Liscard Crescent : 1952 - 1994
1952
1966
1994
No. Name No. Name No. Name
Newell Road
16 Griffith Funerals 16 Griffith Funerals 16 Jon Gary Hairdressers
22 Bloombery 22 E. Davies
Hairdressers
22 La Gondola
Restaurant
24 A.E Evans
Shopkeeper
22a Hobbies Shop
Toy Dealers
24 Pet Needs
Pets / Supplies
26 Miss Emma Hasler
Private Dwelling
24 Pet Needs
Pets / Supplies
26-28 Wagon Finance
28 Bertha Andrews
Private Dwelling
26 Miss Emma Hasler
Private Dwelling
any house numbers in grey are private dwellings.