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Changes
in Edge Hill by Anne Roberts
Recently
a questionnaire was handed to me, asking how many changes I’ve seen
over the past 60 years.
This prompted my thoughts to the area I grew up in - Edge Hill.
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Image
courtesy of Freddy & Frank O'Connor.
The Lybro Factory was a well known landmark until its demolition
in 1983. |
The 1960s saw radical change - a new hospital was being planned,
so a whole community had to go. Left standing was the old Royal
hospital, linked in the past to the famous Dr. Duncan.
A short walk away stood St. Jude’s church, which has links to the
Rev. Abraham Hume who worked as an urban sociologist, building up
a community in Vauxhall after the mass migration of people fleeing
the famine in Ireland.
Mission
work for the ragged children of the parish brought about four schools
in the area.
The
washhouse in Minshull Street was built on the inspiration and work
of Kitty Wilkinson, and her good friend Eleanor Rathbone.
The Catholic social services office in Brownlow Hill, recently closed
down, was part of the site of the old workhouse. I remember, too,
picture houses, the bridewell, the Ministry of Pensions - all great
buildings. And in this area known as Edge Hill, you’d find two up/two
downs, Georgian houses with grand fronts, courts and homes built
on landings above shops - and prefabs built after the war.
And of course the Mole of Edge Hill - and his scheme to help the
unemployed, building network of tunnels - world famous now.
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